CHAPTER 78…………
‘What is he even saying, this First Prince?’
Did he just say he would bring out private property from the temple?
I was about to burst out in disbelief when, at a perfect timing, priests of the First Division came walking from afar.
As soon as they reached us, the priests bowed politely.
“We greet His Highness Dmitri Epsilon Kaliburg, First Prince of the Empire, and Her Highness Lilien Sha Kaliburg, First Princess. May the radiance of the Goddess Eridium rest upon you both. I am Hebzel, Priest of the First Division.”
“I greet Your Highnesses. I am Ella, Priest of the First Division.”
“I am Cotelli, Priest of the First Division.”
Led by Hebzel, the rest of the priests also offered their greetings. They looked at me and Dmitri with gentle smiles and softened eyes.
Then Hebzel spoke.
“We heard that Her Highness the First Princess suffered an unfortunate incident. Your body must be greatly weakened. Are you all right now?”
Dmitri answered coldly:
“If she were fine, we wouldn’t have bothered to come to the temple, would we?”
“You are right, Your Highness. Forgive my lack of thought.”
Even at Dmitri’s sarcastic tone, Hebzel remained excessively polite. Perhaps that was only natural for those who served the Goddess and the Pope.
Their refined, flawless demeanor was itself a measure of their pride.
“This way, please.”
Hebzel led Dmitri and me deep inside the temple, into the waiting chamber.
The waiting chamber was even more lavish than the outer hall. If the symbol of the Imperial Palace was gold, the temple’s symbolic stone was lapis lazuli.
White marble was inlaid with lapis in beautiful patterns, dotted with diamond grains.
Hebzel guided Dmitri to the prayer seat and stretched out his hand.
“By custom, both Your Highnesses should offer an hour-long prayer. However, given the Princess’s current condition, only His Highness Dmitri will pray today.”
“I will pray with her after she is healed.”
“That goes against our tradition, Your Highness. Please understand.”
“I was commanded by His Majesty the Emperor not to leave my sister’s side even for a moment. Are you saying the temple intends to defy His Majesty’s decree?”
At Dmitri’s invocation of the Emperor’s name, Hebzel and the priests looked troubled, shifting their gazes between him and me.
“This is but a process of showing respect to the Goddess—”
“And what of it? My sister is in pain, nearly dying—how does that matter now?”
“His Holiness the Pope will heal her shortly. It will not take long.”
“Which is why I said I will wait.”
“But….”
Hebzel’s composed face began to crumble, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
Feeling a little sorry for him, I tugged on Dmitri’s sleeve to mediate.
His sharp gaze softened slightly when it fell on me.
‘What is this?’
Dmitri’s emotions were always centered on Yevgeny—just that boy.
But now, seeing him react emotionally like this reminded me of how he acted when Yevgeny was ill.
I narrowed my eyes.
‘Could it be because I was hurt during the Hunting Festival?’
I recalled the three boys who had run toward me before I fainted—
Richard and Zeron with pale faces, and Dmitri who rushed ahead and held me in his arms.
‘Yes. He changed after that.’
I sighed inwardly.
“I’m fine.”
“Not a single word of yours reassures me.”
“…Really, I’m fine. Besides, there are Holy Knights in the temple.”
I glanced at the armored knights behind the priests. Meeting my gaze, they bowed lightly.
Dmitri still looked displeased, but the priests were visibly relieved that I had settled the matter.
“Indeed, our Holy Knights are highly skilled. Within the temple, there are barriers as well.”
“If danger comes, we will sacrifice ourselves to ensure Her Highness’s safety.”
Finishing his words, Hebzel stretched out his hand again, clearly asking Dmitri to entrust me to him.
“We will serve Her Highness with utmost devotion.”
I whispered quietly in Dmitri’s ear:
“If anything happens, I’ll scream. All right?”
That small whisper finally ended the long standoff.
The priests looked at me with admiring eyes, especially Hebzel, who seemed grateful that I ended the quarrel.
“We will take good care of Her Highness.”
As he carefully received me into his arms, I nodded.
Soon, the priests and I left the prayer room so Dmitri could perform his prayer.
Hebzel said as we walked:
“His Holiness awaits Her Highness in the Grand Blessing Chamber.”
“The Grand Blessing Chamber?”
“Yes. Her Highness knows of it?”
The chamber was where newborns, regardless of status, were blessed and baptized by the Pope himself.
“His Holiness has long awaited Your Highness.”
“Pope Maridris?”
Hebzel only nodded, leaving me puzzled.
We soon reached the chamber doors. Hebzel knocked.
“Your Holiness, we have brought the First Princess.”
The doors opened.
Only Hebzel and I stepped inside; the other priests and knights halted outside.
Boom—!
The massive doors closed.
Hebzel carried me toward the altar. My eyes followed his direction—
And there I met the gaze of a striking man with golden hair, wearing the papal zucchetto.
His gray-blue eyes curved into a radiant smile.
‘That must be Pope Michael Maridris.’
I remembered how Yevgeny often boasted of the Pope’s beauty whenever he visited my palace.
Indeed, he was worth boasting of.
The Pope descended from the altar, his long golden hair shimmering with each step.
As he neared, he spoke to Hebzel:
“Thank you for bringing Her Highness.”
He extended his hand, and in an instant, I was passed from Hebzel’s arms into his.
“You may leave.”
“Blessings upon you.”
Hebzel departed, leaving only me and the Pope.
The Pope tightened his hold slightly and looked at me.
“I have been waiting. You must have suffered.”
“Ah—no, it was bearable.”
“It is truly an honor to finally meet you. Ah, I haven’t introduced myself. I am Michael Maridris.”
“I am Lilien Sha Kaliburg, First Princess. It is my great honor to meet Your Holiness.”
“Then let us begin the healing.”
Light condensed in his right palm into a glowing sphere.
“Place your hand upon it.”
Without hesitation, I obeyed.
The orb shattered, scattering fragments of light that rushed toward me. Startled, I instinctively grabbed his sleeve.
“Do not worry. It will not hurt. These fragments will seep into your body and restore what is damaged.”
As he said, the fragments sank into me, warming wherever they touched.
Shivering at the odd sensation, I heard his gentle laugh above.
“Are you all right?”
“Y-yes.”
“The wound on your head should be fully healed. As for the broken bone, it will take about a day for it to mend, so please refrain from strenuous movement today.”
“Yes.”
“Good. The healing is complete.”
‘That was fast…’
I wanted to return to Dmitri quickly, but then the Pope called me.
“Princess.”
When our eyes met, he smiled slyly.
“Once you are fully healed, come find me.”
“Why?”
“Because the One I serve commanded me to watch over you.”
…What?
My face hardened, but he only raised a finger to his lips, chuckling softly.
“The rest, tomorrow. You’ll be staying in the temple for a few days anyway, won’t you?”
“…”
“I shall wait.”
He handed me back to Hebzel waiting at the door.
As the doors closed, I finally averted my gaze from him.
“It seems the healing went well, Princess. The wound on your head is completely gone.”
“Yes.”
I smiled at Hebzel—or rather, at the six pairs of wings symbolizing Eridium behind him.
‘Ah, this is troublesome.’
My past worries about whether to wear Orichalcum or Hamthmaclion charms vanished in an instant.
Of course they would.
‘Because the Pope favors me, not Yevgeny!’
There was one fact I hadn’t mentioned about Michael Maridris—
He was a fanatic.
A zealot of the Goddess Eridium.
And since the Goddess herself commanded him to watch me, it was only natural that he welcomed me so fervently.
No wonder he had seemed so desperate to see me!
‘From today on, I shall be a devout Christian.’
I smirked inwardly.
“Truly… you’re healed.”
“Yes!”
I beamed.
By the time Hebzel brought me back to the prayer room, Dmitri had already recited the full hour’s prayer at lightning speed.
The priests stared at him in shock, but he ignored them, snatched me back into his arms, and spoke as soon as he saw my face:
“You’re really healed.”
Color returned to his face as he looked at the cleanly healed wound on my head.
“But why isn’t your leg healed?”
“Ah, His Holiness said the bone will need a day to mend. By tomorrow it’ll be fine.”
“Then shall we return?”
“Wh-what?”
“We were supposed to stay here for several days, but since you’re healed, there’s no need. It’s less comfortable than the palace. We should return.”
What? No!
I panicked, clutching his jacket and shaking my head furiously.
“L-let’s stay a bit longer!”
“You don’t want to go back?”
“It’s just that…”
I glanced at Hebzel for help.
Realizing my plea, he quickly stepped in.
“His Holiness has prepared a banquet for Their Highnesses.”
“Then we’ll leave after that.”
“It is a banquet for three full days.”
“…”
“It is the Pope’s sincere hospitality.”
Even Dmitri, despite being the strongest candidate for Crown Prince, could not easily dismiss the Pope’s “hospitality.”
“Then allow me to show Your Highnesses to your chambers.”
Oblivious or not, Hebzel cheerfully led the way. I silently cheered him on, while Dmitri’s face grew darker.
We were taken to our rooms, with Dmitri’s right beside mine so he could respond immediately if anything happened.
He laid me on the bed and said:
“There is some time until the banquet. Rest if you’re tired; I’ll wake you.”
“And you, Your Highness? What will you do?”
“Watch over you.”
There was indeed a chair by the bed. And yes—he actually sat down, crossed his legs, and watched me.
I was exhausted, yet his burning stare made it hard to sleep. I rolled my eyes around before turning my back to him.
‘He really intends to stay there the whole time.’
Then, the blanket was pulled up under my chin.
Startled, I peeked back. Dmitri looked away, pretending not to.
I turned back, hiding my smile.
‘Almost laughed out loud.’
With a grin, I closed my eyes. Dawn came quickly.
When I awoke, the banquet was imminent.
Dmitri was gone, replaced by Ilia and Mulin, who dressed me neatly.
“Mmm… where is His Highness?”
“He just left. Once you’re ready, he will join you to escort you to the banquet.”
“I see….”
“You must still be tired, Princess.”
I nodded vaguely.
Thanks to the Pope’s healing, my body felt light as a feather, though my leg wasn’t fully healed yet. Even so, Ilia and Mulin were overjoyed at my recovery.
“We should send word to the Empress that the Princess has been healed safely.”
Ilia tied my hair neatly.
“You’re ready now, Princess. Shall we go?”
“His Highness is waiting outside.”
Indeed, Dmitri awaited, dressed in pure white ceremonial attire, looking every bit like an angel.
He reached out, lifting me effortlessly as if it were second nature.
‘Strange… his arms feel comfortable now.’
Perhaps all those years of carrying Yevgeny hadn’t been wasted.
Resting my chin on his shoulder, I entered the banquet hall.
Instantly, countless eyes—priests of the First Division and the Pope seated at the high table—turned to us.
