PRKE 29

CHAPTER 29……………………………………………….

Giovanni spoke as he let go of my hand.

“The Empire’s land is barren. If you ride on wheels like this, they won’t last long before breaking.”

“……”

“Compared to the Empire, everything in the Kingdom feels so gentle.”

“The Empire seems strong, but life there must be difficult.”

“It’s a place where the weak die.”

“……Even if I obtain citizenship, my residence wouldn’t change, then.”

Giovanni gave a faint smile.

Suddenly, I recalled the peculiar look he had while watching the Kingdom people enjoying their leisurely tea time.

Thinking back now, it was a gaze comparing the harsh life of the Empire with the life of the Kingdom people before him.

The relationship between the Kingdom and the Empire is strangely tight.

The Kingdom fears the Empire while looking down on it, and the Empire mocks the Kingdom while secretly admiring it.

“It feels a little strange to say this when I’m in a position to rely on the Prince’s help.”

Giovanni’s gaze turned to me.

“I hope the Prince can get what he wants from here.”

His eyes narrowed slightly and then returned to normal.

“I hope so too.”

“……”

“To do that, we need to cooperate diligently. Don’t speak idly of opera in such a critical situation.”

His words made the smile on my face harden.

‘This irritating lifeline of a man.’

“You thought it was idle? I only suggested it to let you enjoy the culture of the Kingdom while you’re here.”

“That’s considerate of you.”

…No, that sounds sarcastic.

‘Looking at him now, he does have a slightly mischievous streak.’

But it was true that this was a critical moment.

If I lived carelessly, even without wrongdoing, I could end up on the guillotine.

Like Aris, powerless and without backing, I needed this man’s cooperation to fully preserve my life.

I snapped awake. Strength returned to my legs.

‘I have to do my best too.’

Following him would require every ounce of effort, enough to tear my legs apart.

Then, I realized walking wasn’t as hard as I thought.

Giovanni walked slowly. A normal pace for me, but it must have been very slow by his standards.

‘He has some consideration.’

A bit rude, but also capable of consideration. Not bad compared to Hubert’s hollow kindness.

True to its name, the Temple of Water was built over the water.

Placing my foot on the paving stone sent gentle ripples across the surface.

Below, crimson fish no larger than my palm swam, flicking their tails.

It was a peaceful, leisurely scene, as always. My mind began to calm, but Giovanni suddenly spoke.

“The water is full.”

He looked down at it with a fascinated expression.

I found myself staring at him. He looked like a child who had discovered a toy.

Then I snapped back to reality when I noticed his bulging forearms.

‘A child? That man must have been a walking weapon even as a kid.’

Giovanni’s pace slowed, then finally stopped.

“How can this be?”

“Pardon?”

“I mean, all of this beneath is water. Do they always keep it filled? It must be hard to maintain. And it’s so clear and clean.”

His words came in quick succession, leaving me dumbfounded. He stared at me intently.

‘He’s waiting for my answer.’

Feeling pressured, I quickly looked away.

“That’s a feature unique to this temple. The water below never dries.”

Giovanni’s eyes widened. That expression, different from his usual intimidating demeanor, almost made me laugh.

I bit the inside of my cheek to suppress it.

‘Don’t forget, this man’s whole body is a weapon.’

Clearing my throat, I asked,

“Prince, do you like water?”

“Yes. I like water. It makes me feel good for no reason. Unfortunately, my country lacks it.”

He nodded, then his expression suddenly became serious. I was secretly curious about what he might say next.

“Are all temples in the Kingdom like this?”

“Not exactly. Are you aware that the House of Lorenst studies Marta, the water deity?”

“Yes.”

“They participate in temple excavations. Most temples discovered have lost their functions; too much time has passed for memories to remain. Still, occasionally statues with blessings are found.”

“You mean the statues the Kingdom occasionally sends as tributes?”

He nodded.

“By praying through the statue, Marta responds. But basically, except for old records, temples have no special function. Except this one.”

I splashed the water beneath the temple lightly with my toes.

“It’s different.”

Though the outside air was warm, the water on my toes was cool.

I smiled unconsciously, feeling a sting on my cheek.

Giovanni was silently watching me.

“Why?”

“Hmm, never mind. Continue.”

Oh, that’s anticlimactic.

“This temple existed before I was born, and even before my mother was born. Exactly as it is now. It has existed so long we don’t even know when, so it must be sacred and special.”

“……”

“Thinking about it, myths are strange.”

“In what way?”

“No one has ever seen the gods, yet we never doubt their existence.”

Giovanni grinned.

“You speak like an atheist.”

“Me?”

I blinked, then chuckled softly.

“Of course not. I’m from the Kingdom.”

“What difference does that make?”

“No one who has witnessed a priest’s power can deny the gods. You’ve seen it, haven’t you? There’s no place with fewer atheists than the Kingdom.”

“I see……”

Giovanni nodded and fell silent.

So did I.

We walked in silence.

The awkwardness made me sweat nervously.

Unlike me, Giovanni’s expression was unreadable.

“Interesting.”

He spoke just before we entered the central prayer hall.

“Excuse me? What is?”

His gaze fell on me, his eyes carrying a hint of amusement.

“That no one has ever seen a god in myth, yet no one doubts their existence.”

“……”

“I do not believe in gods.”

I widened my eyes at his words.

The Prince of the Empire, who had even received a prophecy, was an atheist.

“But you will be different.”

“……”

“Egrain Lorenst. Bring me the myth you believe in.”

The Myth of Water.

The tension that had loosened during our conversation instantly returned.

The very person responsible walked calmly into the prayer hall. Watching his large back, I muttered,

“You’re asking too much of me.”

Unlike the sparsely used offering room, the prayer hall was crowded.

The offering room is for individuals; the prayer hall is dominated by priests’ prayers.

Kingdom people prefer to pray with priests.

Still, there were more people than usual.

I noticed that a statue had been set up on the usually empty platform—a young-looking Marta.

“The priest must be about to pray. We timed it well.”

I looked at Giovanni.

“You’ve likely seen it, but the priest’s prayers are popular.”

A young priest walked toward the statue.

The wide sleeves of his white robes fluttered like skirts with each step.

“What is that?”

Giovanni asked, eyes fixed on the priest’s neck.

“It’s a symbol of the priest. Priests value aquamarine, the gemstone closest to water. Though the temple says otherwise, there’s a rumor that this stone strengthens a priest’s power.”

“Really?”

Giovanni stared at the priest, or more precisely, the necklace.

‘Is he interested in gemstones?’

He didn’t look like it.

“Could one steal that?”

I doubted my ears.

“Pardon?”

Giovanni lowered his gaze to me. His downward stare brought an odd sense of foreboding.

“The statues offered by the Kingdom occasionally bring rain. Soon, they lose their shine and become ordinary stones. But if there were a statue that never lost its shine? Or such an object?”

His voice lowered, eyes intense. My throat dried.

“Our sorcerers say that is the Kingdom’s sacred artifact.”

“……”

“The Kingdom has the secret of water. That’s why the sorcerer desires the artifact.”

My mouth went dry. Learning the hidden purpose of this Kingdom visit wasn’t so important.

“I want the Kingdom’s sacred artifact.”

“I… see. But why tell me this…?”

I pretended not to notice.

“Did you ask because you don’t know?”

He stared quietly at me.

I thought of the jewelry box I kept deep in my drawer. Sweat broke out despite the cool air.

‘How did he know?’

My father said that if I could restrain my greed, I had the makings of a great swordsman. Meaning my greed was strong enough to be a problem.

I get easily distracted by valuable things, and recently, it happened again.

A few days ago, at the delegation’s welcoming banquet.

“The outfit I wore that day was a gift from the king. I didn’t care about the clothes, I noticed something else later.”

“……”

“My cufflinks were gone.”

Sweat formed on my forehead.

The purple cufflinks were rare gems, hard to obtain even with money. I realized this while dancing.

He was to be my partner, so I repeatedly reminded myself to resist my greed.

‘No, I thought I had resisted.’

When I saw the jewelry at home, I even screamed.

‘My eyes went completely wild. Completely!’

“I was flabbergasted realizing it afterward.”

“I’ll… return it. I was momentarily crazy back then…”

“I wasn’t angry.”

I lifted my head sharply. The gentle smile, different from his usual expressionless demeanor, felt more intimidating.

“Talent is precious. No matter what ability it is.”

“……”

“I need your help while in the Kingdom.”

“……”

“You can bring the Myth of Water.”

So that’s what he meant!

Having been fully exposed, denying it was impossible.

“Do you consider aquamarine to be the sacred artifact?”

“Not necessarily. I just collect it. The sorcerer will decide the rest.”

“……”

“Do it.”

“Y-Yes……”

—

If you want, I can also make a **more polished, natural English version** that reads smoothly like a novel rather than a literal translation. It would preserve the nuance and tension between the characters while keeping it immersive. Do you want me to do that?