PRKE 28

CHAPTER 28……………………………………………….

Unlike the roof, which had barely regained its balance, the cracks in the pillars spread like spiderwebs.

Psss-skt!

The moment the cracks reached the point where the roof met the pillars, I found myself leaping out instinctively.

“Watch out!”

When I shouted, the Veil Maid looked at me. Her chest heaved up and down as if she were catching her breath.

She looked at me, then lifted her gaze to the sky.

Ku-ku-gung!

At the same time, the upper part of the pillar collapsed.

“The pillar’s falling!”

Someone shouted.

‘What am I doing? Even if I jump like this, I won’t reach the Veil Maid.’

Still, I moved my legs. At my fastest speed, gasping for air until it hit my jaw.

I reached out and grabbed the Veil Maid’s wrist.

Pulling with all my strength, she staggered and was dragged along with me.

But I couldn’t be certain we were completely clear of the roof’s fall zone.

‘Faster… faster!’

But the Veil Maid was frozen stiff with fear. It was impossible to run off with her like this.

‘Damn it. At this rate, I’ll get caught in it too.’

It wasn’t like me to act heroically.

Still, I didn’t want the miracle the Veil Maid had wrought—the blue droplet I had discovered from her—to vanish.

I struggled to move just a little further away.

“Careful!”

Someone screamed. I turned my head and saw a pillar that had completely detached from the roof falling down.

‘Already?’

Panic rose. There wasn’t enough time to move more.

If any fragments bounced off our faces as the pillar fell, it would be disastrous.

I tried to wrap my arms around the Veil Maid’s shoulders and crouch down.

At that moment, a strong, thick arm wrapped around my waist.

A strong, dry scent rushed into my nose. I didn’t need to see the face to know who it was.

Giovanni lifted both the Veil Maid and me under each of our waists in one swift motion.

‘What is he planning?’

The question barely crossed my mind.

In an instant, we were far from where we had been. My eyes widened. The speed was inhuman.

Thud!

The moment we cleared the spot, a deafening crash followed. I looked over Giovanni’s shoulder.

A massive pillar, blackened and charred, lay sprawled on the ground.

Thud, thud, thud, thud.

My heart started racing belatedly.

If we had been even a little slower, we wouldn’t have screamed—they’d have crushed us instantly.

“Are you always this reckless?”

I lifted my head. Giovanni was staring at me.

“Of course not.”

For the humans of Amtein, the body is the most precious thing. It’s their greatest asset—so of course he wouldn’t be reckless. Even to me, this situation was extraordinary.

Shrugging my shoulders as I stepped out of Giovanni’s hold:

“I didn’t expect the pillar to fall that fast.”

He seemed about to say something.

“Thank you, both of you.”

The Veil Maid had approached closely. Giovanni stayed silent, watching her.

She clasped her hands together and bowed her head.

“You saved my life.”

Even when reciting the sacred texts, I had thought her voice was clear, elegant, and somehow dignified.

“I didn’t really do much. If it weren’t for the prince, it would have been disastrous.”

“You stepped forward to save me. I am grateful, but the lady was also very brave.”

Behind the veil, it felt as if her lips were smiling widely.

My gaze unintentionally fell to her elbow. The sleeve had slid down, hiding the droplet-shaped tattoo. I felt an unexpected pang of disappointment.

I wanted to see it again.

‘Can I ask her about it?’

At that moment, murmurs from the crowd reached us.

“It’s a relief they’re safe.”

“A relief indeed. I’m disappointed in Count Lorenst. Only saving people from his own family, huh?”

“Even a frail young lady stepped forward.”

“Looks like he’s seeing people differently now.”

Apparently, Hubert had been protecting Aris when the pillar fell.

Given his position, it would’ve been difficult for him to care for the Veil Maid as well.

Since I, who had nothing to do with the Veil Maid, stepped in, his actions protecting Aris looked like saving only his own family.

For Aris, she had stepped up with little to show for it, drawing only the scrutiny of others.

Because she kept sniffling all along, the journey back to the Count’s manor was a bit noisy.

A week later.

The capital’s cafes buzzed with people’s chatter.

“Well, the banquet welcoming the Empire’s delegation was supposed to be spectacular.”

“I attended for one day too. You could hardly see any of the Empire people. The prince I’d only heard about—he’s enormous, too intimidating to even greet.”

“You’ve seen that barbarian! How long will he stay?”

“Judging from the signs, it doesn’t seem like he’ll leave soon.”

“They say he’s here to find a marriage partner.”

“Ugh! Impossible! Who would marry that barbarian?”

“I’ve heard the nobles think differently. Still, it’s the Empire, you know.”

“Even so…”

The voices of the crowd filtered through the thin partition.

“No one can beat me at chess.”

“Goodness, Marsha, why have you gotten so beautiful?”

“Shall we go to the temple to pray tonight?”

Unlike the lively chatter outside, the room I was in felt like a lonely island.

The fragrant aroma of tea rose from the cup.

Beyond it, Giovanni stood with his arms crossed.

Glancing at his face, I sighed heavily in frustration.

It was all because of King Hermanon that I was stuck like this with that blunt man on such a fine day.

[Egrain, show the prince around the capital. The weather’s nice; let the young people have a little date. The prince suggested you’d be the best guide. Haha, you’re both so quiet—my concern never ends.]

In other words, since the prince had a dull personality and didn’t seek romance or amusement, I was to take the initiative.

It was essentially a forced “date” disguised as sightseeing.

Unaware of this, Aris was incredibly irritable.

Her tantrums, even for someone used to them, were shocking. The maids seemed irritated as well.

It made sense; Aris’s moodiness had continued for a week. Complaining about breakfast was routine.

The reason was obvious: after shining at the palace but being overshadowed by the Veil Maid, and with attention turning to me, she was upset.

I remembered her clinging to Hubert, whining that she felt unwell from poor digestion, and I couldn’t help humming to myself.

‘I’ll stir up more trouble for her when we get back.’

Glancing straight ahead, Giovanni remained large and solid as ever.

I absentmindedly picked at a hangnail.

‘Why so quiet?’

Same expression as when answering the king—no sign of speaking.

I didn’t usually like excessively quiet people, but I was willing to summon patience I normally reserved for the golden rope.

“Do you want to do something?”

“…….”

“If not, how about the opera? The kingdom’s opera is especially popular among the nobles.”

I spoke as kindly as I could.

Did it work?

Finally, his closed eyes opened. In the deep, black eyes like an endless sea, I glimpsed boredom.

“I have no interest in the kingdom nobles’ clowning.”

And he shut his mouth immediately.

I’d only known him a few days, but I realized something: he was extremely practical.

After some time passed, his heavy lips moved.

“The temple.”

“…….”

“I want to go to the temple.”

He looked at me directly. The previously bored eyes were clear now. He seemed sincere.

Unexpected, I rolled my eyes.

“A date at the temple… very, um, holy, I guess.”

Meaning, not romantic.

“The king will laugh.”

He meant it would seem odd.

“If I go alone, it would raise suspicion. But with you, it’s different. Tell the king you suggested it first.”

“Eh?”

His head rose. Tilting my neck to look up, he gestured outside.

“Let’s go.”

Watching him stride ahead, I exhaled heavily.

‘This is definitely a disguised date.’

“Aren’t you coming?”

“Y-yes. I’m coming.”

The temple.

The kingdom’s most sacred institution, where priests are trained, prayers are received from worshippers, and rain rituals are performed.

Most priests are tested at the temple for their water affinity and receive education necessary for priesthood.

Aris also studied at the temple in her youth.

Naturally, I did not. I had barely ever entered, let alone studied there.

The life of a maid, hands immersed in chores from morning to night, left little room to casually visit the temple.

Even after joining the Count’s household, things didn’t change.

Though I no longer did menial labor, overseeing the manor’s work kept me busier than before.

So a priest praying elegantly at the temple, earning fame, and reciting sacred texts to summon rain was someone I admired.

[If only I could become a priest, it would greatly help my family.]

「Help your family? You just want Hubert to like you.」

[Of course, but it’d be nice to help the family too. It would improve my situation.]

「A calculating human finding me…」

[Might as well call me a thief like before.]

「You like that?」

[…Would I?]

「Wait. You saw me, others didn’t. If you lacked the talent, that wouldn’t happen. The irritating human girl can’t see me either. Don’t you get it?」

[You mean Aris?]

「Yes. At first I wasn’t sure, but now I am. You have the talent humans call a priest—more than anyone. That’s why I felt close to you from the start.」

[Really? Can I believe that?]

「Well, maybe not.」

[Leo!]

Yet, I had never summoned rain until facing the guillotine.

Perhaps Leo was mistaken.

Lately, a frightening thought occurred: if his sacrifice was due to that mistake…

‘How could I apologize then?’

It reminded me of the guilt I felt for Jenny, who died serving powerless me.

‘No. Leo said spirits don’t die. So it’s not completely gone.’

I calmed the subtle unease clawing at me and lifted my head.

Outside the stationary carriage, the majestic temple came into view.

“The kingdom’s carriages are surprisingly smooth.”

“Not so in the Empire?”

Giovanni, stepping down first, offered me his hand with a nod.

I hesitated. Naturally, I looked at the hand before me and carefully placed my own on his bare hand.

Without gloves, it was still large, hot, and rough.