Chapter 20
Thanks to Hesed’s blessing, I was able to finish more than ten of the thick tomes in the temple library every day. After making good use of it for a while, I had gained a solid grasp of this world’s basic knowledge.
At this point, even if I fled in the middle of the night, I wouldn’t be left standing there wondering where I was or who I was anymore.
And since I could use divine power to heal people whenever I wanted, earning money wouldn’t be difficult.
Unlike priests, who mainly treated nobles and required expensive offerings, there was apparently a profession called healer, where people treated commoners for reasonable fees. Of course, they couldn’t use divine power and instead relied on medicinal herbs and folk remedies.
I could probably find work in something like that.
I was busily flipping through books while making plans for my future when Daisy knocked and entered.
“Saintess, you have a visitor.”
I blinked in confusion and closed my book.
“A visitor?”
I couldn’t think of anyone who would come to see me personally.
The original Ariel had no friends.
Nor was she on good terms with her family, so it was unlikely they had come.
“Yes. His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince, is waiting for you.”
My eyes widened in shock at Daisy’s next words.
Why would the Crown Prince come all the way to the temple to see me?
My last meeting with him was still vivid in my mind. Just remembering Ariel’s ridiculous proposal letter to him was enough to make me feel ashamed.
And I’d even run away without saying goodbye that day.
“Tell him I’m not feeling well today and ask him to leave. Cough.“
His growling voice still echoed in my ears. Having no confidence whatsoever in facing him again, I deliberately let out an exaggerated cough.
Just then, a low voice came from outside the door.
“That cough was remarkably unconvincing.”
…Damn.
Standing just outside the now-open door was a man with blazing red hair.
I stared at him, speechless.
When did he get all the way to my door?
He casually tapped his fist against the already-open door, belatedly knocking.
“I have no intention of leaving.”
Still stunned, I rose to my feet.
“May the blessings of the Nine Gods be upon Your Imperial Highnessā”
“Come with me. I’m here to finish the conversation we never had.”
Interrupting my formal greeting, he frowned.
[The God of Destruction, Ciel, pats you on the shoulder in encouragement.]
Oh, right.
Ciel was the Crown Prince’s patron god.
I’d blamed Ciel for the lightning strike that Hesed had unleashed, which had even destroyed the statue.
[The God of Destruction, Ciel, gives you a playful wink.]
…That really was an unfair accusation.
Thinking that to myself, I trudged after him.
Soon we walked side by side toward the rear garden. As we passed through the courtyard, I could feel the glances of priests and priestesses following us.
Well, that’s only natural.
The Crown Prince secretly meeting the Saintess?
Anyone would find that suspicious.
The Crown Prince I knew from the original novel would never devote this much time to the fake saintessāthe villainess.
Then again… the other male leads weren’t supposed to, either.
When we reached a secluded spot and stopped, he turned to face me and silently studied me for quite some time.
[The God of Art, Monde, holds his breath.]
[The God of Knowledge, Hesed, prepares a bolt of lightning.]
[The God of Destruction, Ciel, swiftly restrains Hesed.]
[The God of Love, Odysseus, watches the two of you with sparkling, excited eyes.]
I had no idea why the gods were causing such a commotion, but I certainly didn’t want lightning crashing down onto the temple.
So, for the first time, I decided to try using one of the system’s functions.
[Would you like to temporarily disable the <Oracle> function?
(Yes / No)]
The transparent text that had been tucked away in the corner of my vision became clear the moment I focused on it.
[The God of Art, Monde, hurriedly reaches out his handā]
The instant I mentally selected Yes, every glowing notification window disappeared.
“Last time,” Kyle said, drawing my attention away from the vanished messages, “I was impressed by how convincingly you played the role of the Saintess.”
I focused on his words.
“But your coughing performance was terrible.”
A pang of guilt struck my chest, but I kept a calm expression and didn’t respond.
“Enough jokes.”
After a brief silence, he continued.
“I came to warn you.”
His low voice reached my ears.
His imposing height, broad shoulders, actor-like handsome face, and the fierce intensity burning in his crimson eyes sharpened every one of my senses.
“I’ve received information that Alberto Michael, the Empress’s younger brother, had been in contact with someone inside the temple.”
His red lips moved once more.
“He was trying to uncover the Saintess’s weakness.”
“A fatal weakness connected to me.”
The unrest among the people had settled after the appearance of the Saintess.
Kyle had been using that fact for the past two years to strengthen his own political position.
That was why Kyle and Reyhas had conspired to create a fake saintess.
And now, the Empressāhis political rivalāseemed to have caught the scent of that connection and had begun investigating the Saintess.
Especially after I openly defended him at the banquet…
Looking him in the eye, I asked,
“Do you know who the informant is?”
“No.”
He frowned.
“What’s suspicious is that Alberto is currently searching for that informant.”
“Didn’t you just say they were already working together?”
Kyle nodded slightly.
“It seems something happened recently to the person he’d been meeting in secret. Alberto’s been making even more noise because of it.”
“That’s good news for us.”
He inclined his head before continuing.
“Even if their informant has disappeared, they won’t simply give up.”
“If anything, they’ll become even more desperate to pick up the trail.”
“…”
“And it’s possible that informant already passed along important information.”
He fixed me with a steady gaze.
“Does anything come to mind?”
“I don’t know.”
For someone like meāa fake saintessāthis was a situation that demanded extreme caution.
“If anything suspicious happens, report it immediately.”
I nodded.
“I understand.”
Then, something I’d wanted to say to Kyle for a long time suddenly came to mind.
Since he’d come all this way, I decided to gather my courage.
“Actually… there’s something I’d like to ask of you.”
He was the Crown Prince of the Empire, a man who had pushed his swordsmanship to its absolute limit at a young age.
The Empire’s legitimate heir.
The future conqueror who would command the Empire’s military might and dominate the continent.
Surely a man like that could afford a little generosity.
“I prevented your reputation from being damaged the other day, and we’re allies now.”
“So… I thought it wouldn’t be unreasonable to ask for one favor.”
Kyle looked at me with a faint frown.
“Another marriage proposal?”
“What? No!”
I nearly jumped in surprise.
“I’ll never pull a tasteless prank like that again.”
Then I hurriedly stated my real request.
“There’s only one thing I want.”
“I want a guarantee that I’ll stay alive.”
“…A guarantee of your life.”
“So long as I don’t become Your Highness’s enemy…”
“…promise me you won’t kill me.”
In the original novel, Kyle had been mercilessly cold toward Ariel.
And for the sake of the true Saintess, he had cut Ariel down without the slightest hesitation.
Even as Ariel lay dying, she looked toward Kyle’s feet.
He never even spared her a glance before turning his back and walking away.
His brows drew together.
“You think I’d kill you?”
His icy response made me even more nervous than I’d expected, but I answered calmly.
“I simply want your promise.”
I’d already watched Ariel die at the hands of the three male leads in the original story.
There was no way I could avoid being wary of Kyle.
Besides…
I was a fake saintess created to secure his political position.
I was practically his greatest weakness.
Once the real Saintess appeared, he’d have every reason to eliminate me.
The original Ariel had accepted the role without ever considering the danger that came with being a fake.
“I’m working hard for the political stability of both Your Highness and High Priest Reyhas.”
“So even if you can’t promise me lifetime job security…”
“…at least promise me my life.”
“It’ll certainly help motivate me to continue giving this job my all.”
Looking him straight in the eye, I spoke with complete sincerity.
