You Are Dead, Chapter 82………………………………………
As I was about to respond to the emperor, the cardinal stepped forward and spoke first.
“Your Majesty. Please discuss that matter with me.”
He looked rather urgent, but that impression was only apparent to me, knowing the reason behind it.
“Very well, then.”
The emperor gestured to the man waiting behind him, and the man immediately stepped forward.
“Where is the prepared item?”
“It’s at the imperial palace. Shall I bring it now?”
“No. As for the Melissa temple gift…”
I frowned slightly, having not heard clearly, and the cardinal beside me glanced at me.
I quickly returned to pretending I didn’t know anything.
Once their conversation seemed over, the man behind them stepped back.
As I followed his steps with my eyes, the emperor’s voice reached me again.
“Have it moved directly by carriage.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
My memory was hazy on whether they had ever had such conversations in front of me before.
Back then, I was only aware of the whispers from the nobles, paying attention solely to their chatter.
Of course, even if I had overheard this conversation, it probably wouldn’t have made any difference.
Could the gift the emperor mentioned now be a relic?
I had thought this gathering was only a celebration of the founding anniversary, but the emperor’s earlier mention of war lingered in my mind.
Why, after never even noticing Melissa before, would he suddenly call me to the founding celebration with a gift—could it be connected to the war?
As if answering my curiosity, the emperor spoke again.
“I wonder if other nations must go to war just to see Saint Melissa, like we do.”
At his words, I lifted my head and stared directly at him.
The cardinals, unsure of what to do, awkwardly chuckled.
“Haha. Just a joke.”
As I briefly turned my gaze to the back, I met the princess’s eyes again.
She quickly turned away, but I could sense that the longer the emperor spoke, the deeper her hostility toward me grew.
The princess of the Vandola Empire.
I had never even spoken with her before, so I had no particular memories of her.
Ah. There was one.
‘Oh my. If you need a place to rest, there’s a lounge over there. If you want some fresh air, go to the balcony.’
‘Ah! The farthest balcony is quiet since people rarely go there.’
It was the playful mischief of the ladies surrounding me in the past.
They were the ones who had insulted me, yet foolishly, I had taken their words seriously at the time.
Fearing that I might cry if I faced them, I hurried to the farthest balcony they had pointed out.
Though the curtains were drawn, I did not understand the meaning at the time and opened the door.
There, the princess was waiting.
Her gaze toward me was chillingly cold.
I hurriedly apologized and moved into another empty balcony, and overhearing the conversation outside, I realized that they had done it on purpose.
‘I’m curious. What might the princess have said?’
‘She may have insulted her to her face.’
‘Indeed, she opposed Melissa coming to the empire from the temple, didn’t she?’
‘That’s why she paid respects to Your Majesty.’
‘Right. And as punishment, she wasn’t allowed outside the palace until yesterday.’
‘How much must she have disliked an orphaned saint.’
‘Just imagine a lowly orphan spending a day in the royal palace. Ugh, I’d hate it too.’
‘Still, the princess’s temper isn’t ordinary. If we got caught, wouldn’t we all be in trouble?’
‘Even before, the saint barely spoke in front of us, so how could she speak in front of the terrifying princess?’
‘Pfft. True enough.’
When I glanced at the princess, her expression was just as unpleasant as before.
Of course, with the emperor present, she didn’t make the same expression as that time.
It wasn’t mere contempt.
Looking back now, it was a strange sense of déjà vu in her disdain.
After pondering, I found an answer but quickly pushed it out of my mind at the emperor’s voice.
“Then, may the saint enjoy herself.”
I hurriedly lifted the corners of my mouth.
Only after the emperor greeted us first could I descend from the high platform.
“Saint.”
It was none other than the cardinal who called me. I stopped on the stairs and looked up, and those behind him also halted following my lead.
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
“Future exchanges with the Vandola Empire are important, so conversing with the nobles might be beneficial.”
“Is that so?”
The cardinal nodded as if urging me to listen, then continued.
“This is for Melissa’s sake.”
“Then, should I also dance with the crown prince?”
“W-well…”
At my words, the cardinals exchanged glances.
One cardinal trailed off, and another beside him spoke instead.
“It would be proper to accept if the crown prince requests a dance.”
“I see.”
I replied briefly and resumed walking.
It was a meaningless conversation, but I responded merely to gauge their expressions.
Should I ask what gift the emperor had prepared, and see their reactions?
Yet, I suppressed such curiosity, not wanting their vigilance to heighten over such a trivial matter.
Descending the stairs, I glanced around the banquet hall.
As with the Kingdom of Helen, it seemed the banquet only began once the crown prince led the first dance. Although the music started, no one stepped to the center.
Soon, the many gazes that had followed us shifted to the crown prince.
When the crown prince and the future crown princess took the center, the music changed.
Unconsciously, I traced another reflection in their appearance.
I slightly lowered my head, trying to erase it, when Alec approached me.
“Saint.”
“Oh. Captain.”
I turned back and saw that the other Melissa people were now conversing with the Vandola nobles.
The Vandola nobles’ glances toward the Melissa nobles were different from how they had looked at me.
Their conversation contained no trace of contempt.
I suppressed a chuckle and straightened my head.
“The emperor’s earlier words… I think it is a relic. What do you think, Saint?”
I spoke quietly, trying not to shape my lips.
“I think so too. And it’s probably a war spoil as well.”
He stayed silent for a moment, a silence of agreement.
Alec and I did not look at each other. Our gaze remained on the dancing crown prince. We did not want to reveal we were conversing.
If only we could talk on the balcony, it would be easier.
But it was obvious what the nobles would gossip if Alec and I went alone to the balcony, so there was no other choice.
Still, it was a relief that we were given even a moment to converse.
Unlike in the Kingdom of Helen, now every move was cautious.
Even in the conversation Alec had overheard, they assumed I was different from other saints.
There was no need to remind them.
“I’ll go check outside.”
“Captain.”
I stopped him as he tried to move. Alec looked down at me, but I did not meet his gaze, just whispered:
“Jace… that knight might take it.”
“Excuse me?”
“That man is from Fabivan.”
Alec stayed silent. I rolled my eyes slightly toward him.
He seemed thoughtful, yet not startled.
“So, you noticed as well, Captain?”
“I wasn’t certain. It’s just that I’d been uneasy about it for some time.”
I smiled faintly.
“Then… that child of yours, Saint…”
I subtly shook my head.
“I’m not sure.”
He seemed to linger on my expression, but I feigned distraction.
Soon, Alec spoke again.
“I’ll find out where the relic is kept.”
Where it was currently kept didn’t matter.
A song had ended, and the crown prince and future crown princess returned to the center as the music changed.
By now, whoever went to fetch the ‘gift’ from the imperial palace should have returned.
Jace would likely try to take the relic for the next pilgrimage all at once, but I felt strangely uneasy.
“What if we swap it?”
If he wasn’t taking this relic immediately…
Alec hesitated, then gave a brief nod, either reading my thought or merely humoring me.
“Understood.”
Just as he started toward the banquet hall door, a cardinal conversing with nobles behind him called out and approached me.
I had been watching someone head to the balcony and only then turned my head.
