Chapter – 79
In the meantime, Dei had asked Stephanie for one particular item. It was the red cloak she always carried around—the one she used to exploit the identity of the “Red-Cloaked Fortune Teller,” who had now practically become her alter ego.
When she casually draped the cloak over herself and stepped into the banquet hall with an air of mysticism, all eyes immediately turned to her.
“T-That’s the famous Red-Cloaked Fortune Teller!”
“The one who cured Princess Philia’s epidemic memory loss! What is someone that famous doing here?!”
As the crowd buzzed in excitement, the emperor and empress also stepped outside to see her.
Dei pressed the back of her hand to her forehead and spoke dramatically.
“Ahh… I sense an evil presence here….”
At the word evil, screams erupted everywhere. William rushed forward in panic.
“E-Evil presence? What do you mean?”
“You cannot feel such a powerful aura? Ignorant mortals!”
“Ugh….”
“Ah… the aura of a curse is swirling about. What shall we do…? At this rate, not only Princess Philia but everyone here will fall victim to a dreadful illness.”
“T-This can’t be…! Then what must we do, Fortune Teller?!”
William urgently asked, and Dei slowly closed and reopened her eyes.
“Since I have a connection with Princess Philia, I shall tell you the method. First, you must bring a tree.”
“A-A tree?”
“And that tree must be decorated… beautifully. No matter what.”
“Beautifully… A-And then?”
“If you have things like stockings, hang those. And lanterns. Perhaps even some cupcake-shaped ornaments?”
“…Are you asking me? Aren’t you supposed to drive out the curse?”
“How harsh! What is most important in driving out a curse? Sincerity! A pure and courageous heart determined to banish it! It is not I alone who will expel it—we must combine all our hearts together! Yes?”
“I-I see!”
And so, to satisfy the fortune teller’s personal desires, the banquet hall began transforming into a Christmas atmosphere. A tree was brought inside along with its roots and soil. Magical lanterns filled with floating books adorned the walls.
As they busily decorated to “banish the curse,” people’s faces grew bright and cheerful. Soon, a splendid tree stood decorated, and stockings hung along the walls.
“I feel like the curse is already disappearing. It feels warm….”
While people chatted happily, Dei—who had unconsciously become deeply engrossed in making garlands—suddenly jerked her head up.
She had gotten carried away by the Christmas spirit! This was no time for that!
Quickly, she grabbed Amila’s arm and slipped out of the banquet hall. The others, now fully absorbed in “curse-banishing decorations,” didn’t even notice the fortune teller’s disappearance.
* * *
When the two saintesses ran out, Kyle looked at Dei in disbelief.
“When will people realize that the Red-Cloaked Fortune Teller is a fraud?”
“Never.”
“Sian knows.”
“Yes, he does. He told them when selecting the High Priest. That’s why he must be under pressure now. He’ll know I’m making a move.”
Apparently quite fond of her Red-Cloaked persona, Dei shrugged and even did a little shoulder dance while wearing the cloak.
Kyle jerked his chin toward the massive tree visible through the window.
“And what culture is that from?”
“Oh, it’s one of the holidays in our Fairy Realm.”
“What kind of holiday?”
“Hmm… On that day, a grandfather in the Fairy Realm wakes up the next morning and gives presents to all the fairy children.”
“There’s such a grand archmage?”
“Well, it’s the Fairy Realm.”
Dei replied matter-of-factly, reviving a sliver of Kyle’s long-lost childhood innocence before heading toward the horses. As if it were the most natural thing, Kyle lifted Dei onto his horse and mounted behind her. Amila climbed onto another.
Dei had no idea that in the future, this continent would establish a new annual tradition—decorating trees and hanging stockings on this day to drive away evil spirits—as they rode toward the Temple of Catiline.
* * *
Peyton’s group soon arrived at the Temple of Catiline.
While riding, Dei had been deep in thought. She spotted the temple priests blocking the entrance. Judging by their rigid expressions, this was not an unexpected situation for them.
“A trap,” Kyle muttered.
Dei examined them.
“Hmm. Maybe… wait a moment.”
At that moment, Ritader—who had remained inside anxiously—ran toward them the instant he saw allies.
“Saintess! Saintess! I think this is a trap! Let’s go back!”
Dei nodded, satisfied, and turned to Kyle.
“It’s not a trap.”
“…Why did we wait?”
“You’re fairly smart. But if even Ritader noticed it, then it’s not a trap. If anything, they’d hope we’d assume it was one and retreat.”
“Why are you so cruel? Ritader is a competent priest.”
“As a priest, sure. But look.”
She suddenly turned to Ritader.
“R-Ritader! Behind you—the Goddess Catiline!”
“Whaaat?!”
He whipped around, then gasped.
“I don’t see her! As expected, Saintess—you can see the Goddess Catiline! Ah, how magnificent…!”
Dei grinned and turned to Kyle.
“See? If he figured it out, it’s not a trap.”
“…I apologize, Diana. It was a mistake assigning someone like him to the western temple.”
Dei pretended to be offended and pointed at the priests.
“Our boy’s such a good hype man! Do you know how many times he’s saved me?”
“Really?”
Kyle turned toward the priests—only to cover his face and groan. They were whispering among themselves.
“Did the Goddess truly appear?”
“If Saintess Diana said so, it must be true!”
“After serving her for so long and still not seeing her… perhaps I should retire….”
Amila read their lips aloud.
“They believe the Goddess Catiline has appeared, Your Highness.”
Kyle nodded reluctantly, ashamed of his countrymen.
They needed to go inside and check the coffin.
Kyle dismounted, drew his sword, and walked forward.
“Move. Unless you wish to die.”
The priests trembled—but did not step aside. Instead, they shut their eyes and spread their arms.
“Y-Your Highness is a decent man—you can’t kill us!”
One priest shouted.
Kyle frowned in confusion. From behind, Dei shouted:
“They’re saying you won’t kill innocent people, but Jason would—so they’ll side with Jason!”
“W-We never said that!”
Dei replied confidently.
“Perhaps you don’t know, but this Saintess can see straight into your minds.”
Kyle was about to scoff, but the priests collapsed to their knees in tears.
“As expected of the legendary Saintess Diana… of course she can read our hearts….”
Don’t believe her, you fools… This is humiliating.
Kyle gestured to his soldiers.
“Arrest them.”
The Peyton soldiers rushed forward and bound the priests. Then the High Priest, standing farthest inside, pressed a dagger to his own throat.
“If Your Highness comes any closer, I will stab myself.”
Kyle turned to Amila.
“Amila. Bow.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
As she aimed at the High Priest, Kyle spoke again.
“Move.”
“I-I cannot, Your Highness. I beg you.”
Kyle sighed. Whether threatened by Jason or Sian, he couldn’t bring himself to cut down their throats.
He stepped back to think.
Suddenly, Dei gasped and pointed at empty air.
“The Goddess Catiline still lingers here, High Priest.”
The priests glanced at the air she indicated. Dei spread her arms and spun slowly.
“I can feel the warm presence of the Goddess Catiline….”
“I-I think I feel it too!”
“Me too!”
With a warm, mature smile, Dei addressed the High Priest.
“You know well that our Goddess dislikes cold tools. How rude to brandish a blade before her shrine.”
“Y-You’re right. What is my life worth to show such disrespect….”
The High Priest dropped the dagger.
Kyle felt profound shame as his men bound him.
Then Kyle cleared his throat and spoke discreetly.
“In truth, Saintess Diana said that the Goddess Catiline is concerned whether Prince Sian’s coffin remains undisturbed. That is why we have come.”
“…Then it cannot be helped.”
The dutiful High Priest nodded and led the way.
Dei snickered.
“Who were you calling a fraud?”
“…Be quiet.”
Kyle grumbled, grabbing a torch from the wall and following.
* * *
Apparently aware that someone had once dug up the ground, Sian’s coffin had been moved multiple times within the temple. It now rested in the “High Priest’s Chamber,” where the coffins of former High Priests were kept.
To reach it, they had to descend dark stairs.
Frightened of the darkness, Dei clung tightly to Amila’s back.
“A-Amila… What if ghosts appear underground? They will, right? With so many bodies, there has to be at least one ghost.”
“If one appears, we’ll catch it.”
“…As expected of our Amila. Nothing scares you.”
Comforted by Amila’s cold composure, Dei chattered nervously as Kyle descended with the torch, stopping before an iron door.
Standing before it was Saintess Renette, who had always accompanied Jason.
Upon seeing them, she spoke in a trembling voice.
“While praying in the temple, I heard Prince Sian calling me. I came here. High Priest, only you can open this door—please, open it at once.”
“Y-Yes, Saintess Renette!”
With trembling hands bound by rope, the High Priest took out a key and unlocked the iron door.
