ILOIML 27

Chapter 27

I spun around sharply.

“Very well, Your Majesty.”

I turned back with a face I couldn’t hide my joy from. Aaron sighed deeply.

My steps, light as feathers, hurried after Aaron into the restricted area.

I strained my eyes so I wouldn’t miss a single detail, no matter how small.

When Aaron briefly turned to explain the rules and saw how excited my eyes were, he flinched—and that stung a bit.

We passed the corridor used by apprentice priests, peeked into their prayer room, and kept going.

My expression darkened compared to before.

I had leaped around and knocked on walls like a madwoman, hoping for any sign of luck—but there was nothing.

“Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell?”

Aaron asked gently, noticing my change in expression.

“No.” 

I answered shortly and spun away.

I could feel Aaron’s nervousness.

Trying to comfort me, he led me into another forbidden zone—one I hadn’t asked to see.

“This is where the statue of the Goddess stands. We’ve never opened it because we feared damaging it.”

He guided me down another hallway.

A small courtyard appeared between corridors, lit softly.

In its center stood an aged stone statue.

“A very old statue.”

I approached the goddess’s sculpture and ran my hand over its worn surface.

I couldn’t help but laugh at how many times I’d stroked similar statues back in Aster’s temple.

You really thought there’d be a secret device here?

I smiled bitterly and began feeling around the statue’s back.

Click.

…It moved?

“Uh…?”

I stood frozen as the statue’s upper body rotated strangely against its lower half.

When the motion stopped, a palm-sized door opened in the statue’s base.

No way…

My hand trembled as I slipped it inside.

If the Goddess’s torch were really here, what excuse would I have for my luck?

I rummaged in the dark until I felt something catch.

I took a deep breath and pulled it out.

But I couldn’t hide my disappointment.

In my palm lay a tiny bracelet—only big enough for a child’s wrist.

Any original color was long gone.

I couldn’t be that lucky. I’d likely burned all of my fortune finding Aisar by chance.

“Your Majesty, would you like to stay here longer?”

Aaron’s voice brought me back. I quickly closed the little door and clenched the bracelet behind my back.

Aaron approached with a calm smile.

“This moved on its own…” I began, but he raised an eyebrow in confusion.

When the statue shifted and the door opened, Aaron had shown no surprise.

Now he acted as if he’d seen nothing.

“Did you not see anything just now?”

“What do you mean?”

I pointed at the statue.

A flicker of doubt crossed his face—if he’d truly seen it, he wouldn’t pretend ignorance.

“Never mind.”

I squeezed the bracelet tighter.

“Let’s return to the gift ceremony.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to see more?”

Aaron’s smile brightened. I felt a sudden urge to drag him through the restricted areas all night, but I bit my tongue.

I’d lost all desire to explore with that useless bracelet in hand, and a hollow emptiness filled me.

Why risk Cassia’s favor hunting a torch meant for the goddess? I should just rely on Leon.

At that thought, I missed Leon fiercely.

Right now, I’d do anything to please him.

Aside from sacred relics, another secret of mine was staying away from Lucas—but that worry vanished the moment I arrived in Esta.

Back in the ceremony hall, I listened to the deputy envoy’s endless words of thanks.

As soon as it ended, I excused myself, claiming to feel unwell, and went straight to my room.

“Let’s return to Aster tomorrow.”

“Excuse me?”

Amy and Mary paused and looked at me, puzzled by my sudden decision after planning to stay a week.

I didn’t owe them an explanation.

“I just don’t want to stay here anymore.”

“Oh…”

Their soft sigh said it all.

They’d grown used to Bella’s mood swings, so my whim posed no problem—it was just another of my sudden changes.

“Very well. We’ll prepare for departure tomorrow.”

They busied themselves as I sat on the sofa, staring at the bracelet.

It was useless—but I couldn’t throw away something found in a secret chamber.

I told Amy to pack it carefully into my luggage.

After hearing I planned to return tomorrow, Cassia requested a late-night meeting.

“I heard you’d stay a week—why leave so soon?”

“It’s just gotten boring.”

Cassia’s calm face darkened at my words.

“Of course, you don’t mean about the Goddess.”

I hastily added.

“Yes, I know.”

I’m sure she has no idea. She still doesn’t really know me.

“Sigh… The Saintess will stay longer, I assume?”

“No. Like Your Majesty, I return tomorrow. After the ceremony, the deputy envoy gave me a surprise gift.”

Cassia lifted her chin proudly.

She’s here to boast, isn’t she?

And he’d given her a gift—while I, who promised support, got nothing.

The envoy wasn’t as kind as he seemed.

“…”

At a loss for words, I watched Cassia smile slyly.

“He gave me a portrait imbued with the Holy Power of Goddess Thea. Though I found the relic by prophecy, I never expected one so easily.”

“A portrait?” I tilted my head.

Not a torch? My prejudice was clear—I didn’t even know what the Goddess’s torch looked like.

In stories, the torch never appeared directly—only mentioned in conversations.

If the portrait showed the goddess holding her torch…

I understood why Cassia didn’t carry it around.

It wouldn’t shield blows like a real torch, nor drape over her back—how silly that would look.

Imagining Cassia lugging a framed picture over her shoulder made me burst out laughing.

“Why are you laughing?”

Cassia narrowed her eyes.

“Oh, sorry. Just a silly thought.”

I waved my hand. Carrying a portrait on my back sounded dreadful too.

I felt a lightness in my chest. Now, I could focus on Leon again.

“Saintess, next time we meet, I’ll prepare plenty of delicious desserts.”

“…Do as you wish.”

Cassia lowered her gaze, pouting slightly.

When will we meet again?

I smiled bitterly, picturing her walking beside me and Leon in the future.

* * *

Back in Aster, I received unexpected good news: Lucas and the Royal Knights had returned to the capital.

Their investigation found no more monsters, so they cut their trip short.

That was perfect for me.

“I never thought Bella would be so happy. That bastard left me a letter on his way out.”

Leon handed me the crumpled note.

“It’s not worth reading. Burn it.”

I tore it to shreds before giving it to Amy—just to prevent any secret delivery back to Leon.

He clapped his hands in delight, truly pleased to see it gone.

“Bella planned to pray for Leon’s health all week—why did he return so soon?”

“Um… so Leon dies faster?”