CHAPTER 16
“A blessing for a sinner like me…”
Adele’s voice, standing at the front, blended naturally into the soft chant.
When did she even learn something like that?
Jacqueline, who had only been mouthing along, looked around in disbelief. The priestesses were glaring at her, but Adele didn’t seem the least bit bothered.
‘Is she just incredibly bold… or shameless?’
A mere mortal like her couldn’t understand.
Still, one thing was certain—anyone following this lady wouldn’t be taken lightly or lose out wherever they went.
“Let’s end here for today. And the two newcomers, please wait for Sister Rebecca to arrive.”
“Yes. May Enes’s blessing be with you.”
Only a day had passed, yet Adele had already grown more natural with the formalities.
Some looked on in awe, others glanced at her like a foreign object—but Adele consistently held firm to the image of a “humble servant.”
As soon as the head priestess exited, Jacqueline sidled up to Adele and whispered,
“Miss, was that true earlier?”
“Hmm? What?” Adele replied casually while clearing her throat and looking over the sheet music.
“Oh… this part doesn’t go up well for me.”
Though she looked completely immersed in the hymn now, Jacqueline had known her for over ten years. She couldn’t be fooled.
“…What you said about not being interested in the Holy Knight Commander. That you’d look for someone else.”
“You’ve got sharp ears.”
“Were you serious? You’d really settle for any holy knight?”
“Of course not.”
Adele quickly covered her face with the sheet music and lowered her voice.
“If it were you, would you be able to look at anyone else after setting your sights on the Commander? Sooner or later, Father will find out about him too. Then he’ll say, ‘What were you doing, ignoring someone like that,’ and click his tongue.”
“Well, that’s true… Then why did you say it? Oh! I get it! Is this some jealousy tactic or something?”
“Jealousy’s only effective between people who like each other. That man has no interest in women, period.”
Sad but true. Stating facts helped her plan clearly.
Adele recalled the sharp, blade-like gaze of his.
Whether someone liked her or not, every man who had seen her for the first time had always looked surprised—except Killian. To him, she was nothing more than an annoying intruder.
“Then why…?”
“At the very least, I need to make him suspicious of me.”
Jealousy tactics only work on humans, after all.
Today confirmed it—he was a man of unwavering will and clarity.
If that’s his personality, then ambiguity and unease are the best ways to throw him off balance.
“If he thinks I’m chasing after him, it’s too obvious. He’ll just go, ‘Oh, I see. Then do as you like.’ But what if he can’t take his eyes off me because he’s worried about what I might be doing with his knights?”
“Then… he wouldn’t be able to take his eyes off you.”
“Exactly.”
It didn’t matter how it started. As long as she got where she needed to go—by any means.
A man that rigid and unyielding wouldn’t even blink no matter how hard she tried to appeal to him.
So instead, she had to make him care.
And yesterday…
‘The mood didn’t seem that bad, honestly.’
Though she hadn’t realized it at the time due to being suddenly dragged away, thinking back on it last night, something felt off.
When she had been speaking, he hadn’t treated her coldly. He had even chuckled quietly at times and responded with a calm demeanor.
Then, suddenly, he turned ice-cold.
“You must consider the day when you’ll go to the Imperial Palace.”
It seemed to start from that line.
Adele tried to guess the exact moment Killian’s mood had shifted—but shook her head. She couldn’t figure it out.
From that moment, his eyes that had been watching her grew dry and gritty, like sand.
“Are you saying such a marriage is natural for a lady like you?”
…Of course, it is.
Whether others saw her as materialistic or a slave to money, Adele truly liked the life she lived now.
There was no need to beg favors, and she could have anything she wanted.
Most of all, she could claim the fruits of her labor without having them stolen by others.
‘That’s what scarred me the most, really.’
Even in her past life, Adele hadn’t asked for much. She’d never dreamed of free money or overnight wealth. If only her efforts had been fairly recognized, she wouldn’t have carried such a grudge into this life.
That’s why this life felt like heaven to Adele. It was precious beyond words, and naturally, she wanted to protect it.
So… a loveless marriage was nothing.
She could do far worse.
‘…First, I’ll have to look for an opening.’
With resolve burning in her eyes, Adele bit her lip.
The unease about yesterday lingered, but now wasn’t the time to dwell on it.
She would stay here, no matter what, and win him over.
And judging by today… there might be the slightest glimmer of hope.
‘Just like Reynard said, maybe the armory or library would be a good place to start.’
“Miss, over here! Sister Rebecca is coming!”
“Ah, right.”
At Jacqueline’s nudge, Adele quickly put down her sheet music.
That woman was probably out for her blood.
From the first greeting, Sister Rebecca had shown open hostility toward Adele.
Honestly, Adele wasn’t exactly thrilled either, but she actually found it easier to deal with people who were openly two-faced than those who pretended to be kind.
“Were you practicing the hymn, Sister Agnes?”
“Oh. You’re here, Sister.”
Now what’s going on?
Adele turned around feigning innocence, focusing on the smile rising on Rebecca’s face.
She had expected sharp glares and biting remarks from the get-go. Instead, Rebecca’s lips were curled upward.
It wasn’t the kind smile of the High Priestess, but it wasn’t hostile either.
Instead, she looked at the sheet music in Adele’s hands as if she were ready to help.
“That’s the ‘Sinner’s Hymn,’ isn’t it? Were there any difficult parts?”
“Not at all. It’s a song I’ve often listened to—very familiar.”
Adele smiled sweetly and stayed composed.
Panicking now wouldn’t help. She decided to just observe for the time being.
‘I’ve got nothing to lose.’
People like this always reveal their true colors soon enough, and with a little push, it’d happen even faster.
Adele already knew exactly what about her made Rebecca twitch.
“For some reason, this song always calms my heart. It makes me feel a bit closer to Enes.”
“…I-I see.”
Rebecca’s voice wavered slightly, but the smile remained.
She’s holding it in better than I expected.
Surprised, Adele feigned interest in the sheet music.
Despite gasping for breath at Adele’s natural acting and sudden display of faith, Rebecca was holding on somehow.
“To think Count Sergio believes in Enes so deeply. Quite unexpected.”
“Father used to sing this to me as a lullaby.”
That wasn’t a lie. When little Adele rubbed her sleepy eyes, the Count would sit by her bed and hum the hymn of Saint Fidelio.
“Father, does singing this song really bring the god’s blessing?”
“Well… there are a lot of people in the world.”
“…Then does that mean singing it is pointless?”
“Not at all. You should call out to many gods. At least one of them will probably bless you.”
After the Saint Fidelio hymn came the wedding hymn of the Medina temple, then the evening chant of the Tena temple—a full temple tour to end her day.
“Then you must also know ‘When the Sun Sets on Saint Fidelio’, right? It’s usually sung during evening prayer.”
“Of course. Ahem… ‘When the red sun settles on the mountain peak…’”
“…That’s the hymn of the Medina temple.”
“Ah, well… the melody seemed a bit similar. When the shadow of the high sun falls upon the mountain… yes, that part.”
Praying to so many gods did have side effects—like mixing them up.
Why are there so many mountain-themed hymns in this country? Adele subtly avoided Rebecca’s gaze.
“…Now that you mention it, I see the resemblance, Sister Agnes.”
Rebecca managed to get through that slip-up too.
Her lips trembled slightly, but she didn’t show anger. That meant she was clearly hiding something.
At this point, even Adele felt nervous.
“Thank you for listening to my humble opinion. My heart may be eager, but I still have much to learn.”
“No, no. That kind of passion is what truly matters, isn’t it?”
Finally, a smile crept up to Rebecca’s eyes.
As if she had been waiting for this very moment, she clasped her hands in front of Adele.
“I’ve found a place where Sister Agnes can fully express that passion.”
“…You didn’t have to go that far…”
“No. You must go.”
