Chapter 33
“Surprising. I didn’t expect you to come all the way to the chapel to meet me. You could have spoken through Sophia, couldn’t you? Is it because the conversation isn’t suitable to have inside the castle?”
Lucia led Teresia to the confessional tucked into a corner of the chapel, speaking softly as she walked.
“There’s no place safer from gossip than the confessional.”
She opened the door she gestured to, revealing a small, enclosed space with nothing but a single chair.
Teresia scanned the room with an indifferent gaze and stepped inside. Sitting on the hard, unremarkable chair, the stifling atmosphere pressed down on her, almost suffocating.
Feeling genuinely like a sinner, Teresia waited in silence for Lucia to enter the opposite side of the confessional.
After a moment, she heard the sound of Lucia taking a seat across from her.
“Shall we begin? Tell me, what brings you here today?”
Her voice was warm and compassionate, ready to listen to anything. In contrast, Teresia’s voice came out dry and cracked, parched as if it could split at any moment.
“I heard that the saintess inherits the goddess’ most precious power through generations. I remember wondering as a child why it isn’t the strongest power, but the most precious.”
“……”
“And why is the highest-ranking person in the temple the Vicar, not the saintess praised as the daughter of the goddess?”
From beyond the wall, even the faintest breath seemed to vanish. Teresia pressed on, unfazed by the lack of response.
“The saintess’ power isn’t just divine energy.”
“It seems you already know the answer,” Lucia said.
“I want to know about the goddess’ most precious power… the ancient sacred energy.”
Lucia fell silent for a moment. She seemed to struggle with what to say, or perhaps she was troubled by the uncomfortable topic.
Teresia waited patiently. With nowhere left to retreat, the only choice was to cling to this hope.
Recognizing Teresia wouldn’t relent easily, Lucia let out a low sigh and finally spoke.
“This must be related to the Count, isn’t it? The fact that you came personally indicates as much.”
“Yes. You’re the only one I could ask about this.”
Hesitant, Lucia began explaining carefully.
“The ancient sacred energy… is the primordial power your mother was born with. It’s the energy born from the first words the land received, inscribed in the language of the gods—unknown to ordinary people. In that sense, yes. It can be called the most precious power.”
“So… can it be interpreted?”
Teresia leaned forward so her face was almost touching the wall. But instead of excitement, Lucia’s voice remained solemn.
“However, it is also the power that fades the fastest over generations. That’s why the saintess can’t surpass the Vicar in rank. Half a century has passed since the Empire was founded, and what remains of the ancient sacred energy is barely a trace… I may not be able to provide much help, for whatever reason.”
“But I can’t ask the Vicar. If the ancient sacred energy is passed only to the saintess, I don’t need the Vicar’s assistance at all.”
“And what exactly have you discovered?”
“…A forbidden book.”
Teresia spoke almost in a whisper, then cleared her throat and added,
“At first, I thought it was a book banned by the royal family, but it’s unrelated to dark magic. Then the only place it could be is the temple.”
“If it’s a book the Vicar himself has forbidden, there’s nothing I can do. Even the saintess belongs to the temple and isn’t free from its rules.”
“Of course. I’m not asking you to interpret it directly. I just need even the smallest clue… I’m willing to stake everything on it.”
The confessional was silent again. Teresia held her breath, listening to every tiny movement from the opposite side.
Yet Lucia remained eerily quiet, as if she had already left.
Perhaps she was contemplating something. If so, Teresia had to offer what Lucia most desired. She hurriedly revealed her card.
“If the forbidden book can be solved, I’ll leave the north immediately.”
“But…”
“If I can break the contract bound by blood, he won’t need me anymore anyway. And he’ll want that too.”
And you will hope for that as well.
Teresia bit the inside of her cheek, watching Lucia beyond the wall. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth, but she paid it no mind. Thinking of him swept up in that blood made even the pain feel guilty.
“That’s certainly an enticing proposal.”
“……”
“Very well. Before the engagement, I need to visit the temple briefly… Give me about half a month. I’ll see if there’s a way to unlock the forbidden book.”
Half a month. It wasn’t a short period for Aiden, but internally, Teresia felt a quiet relief at having this grace period and sneered inwardly.
“I’ll leave the forbidden book here. I’ll await news…”
Before sinking into deeper contemplation, she rose quickly, driven by the need to leave.
“Your Highness.”
At that moment, Lucia stopped her. Her voice was unusually low and cold.
“…No. Let’s hope everything proceeds as we all desire.”
Yet the response that followed was surprisingly bland.
Still, for some reason, a chill ran down Teresia’s spine, as if she had received a silent warning.
She swallowed a bitter smile and left the confessional.
“As we all desire…”
She had no luxury to entertain other intentions; she never really had a choice.
By the time she left the chapel, dusk had already fallen. Teresia crossed the busy residential streets filled with the aroma of dinner preparations. The way back to the castle was rich with the smell of warm food.
Oddly, she felt hunger. Her stomach, which had only been filled out of obligation in recent years, demanded something to eat.
Ignoring the unfamiliar sensation, she continued walking. The dark path stretched endlessly, barely lit.
Finally, the castle gates appeared in the distance. Teresia was panting as she approached.
She gave a small nod to the knights guarding the gates and turned as she sensed someone approaching from behind.
The castle’s master, Aiden, and his knights were walking in formation. Teresia froze, surprised by their unexpected presence.
Her eyes met Aiden’s briefly. His gaze was as cold and emotionless as ever. She immediately bowed her head to let them pass.
Aiden, who seemed ready to pass her by, unexpectedly approached Teresia.
She glanced at the waiting knights, then looked up at him reluctantly.
“You’ve been spending a lot of time with Lucia lately,” he said.
She winced at herself for noticing that she now referred to the saintess by name rather than title.
“Don’t do anything reckless,” his voice cut like ice, sharp enough to make Cecil behind him click his tongue.
Teresia slowly raised her eyes to Aiden, then, expressionless, nodded calmly.
“Alright, I’ll take your advice. If you won’t yield, I’ll move on.”
Her upright, graceful posture reflected her noble upbringing. Aiden’s gaze lingered on the way her red hair shimmered as she walked.
She thought everything had burned away, yet before his eyes, the flames continued to burn brightly.
