Chapter 3
The High Priest unconsciously wore an expression of pure rapture.
A moment later, he nodded as though he had no other choice.
“Very well. For the sake of His Grace, the Duke of Windsorice, who always strives to protect the Empire, I shall send Liriette.”
“You have my gratitude for your generosity, Your Eminence.”
Neither of them noticed that Liriette, who had been standing quietly in the corner, clenched her fists, her cheeks faintly flushed.
Everything is going exactly according to my plan.
Villaim spoke.
“As Your Eminence knows, His Grace the Duke of Windsorice is an exceptionally decisive man. He dislikes being kept waiting.”
The High Priest smiled and nodded.
“Understood. We will make the necessary preparations. Come back in three days to take Liriette.”
After Villaim departed, the High Priest turned to Liriette.
“Liriette, don’t get carried away just because you’re going outside. Keep your mouth shut. That means no pointless chatter.”
“…”
“Especially don’t tell anyone things like how you occasionally receive beatings with the rod because you fail to obey me.”
“If you so much as mention a single word, it will be reported to me immediately. You know what will happen then, don’t you?”
The High Priest glared down at Liriette with a menacing expression as he tapped his staff against the floor.
It was a blunt threat: if she disobeyed him, severe punishment awaited.
Liriette folded her hands together and nodded.
“Yes. I’ll be careful.”
The High Priest smiled in satisfaction.
It was the smile one would give a loyal dog that obeyed every command.
“Good. Now leave and make your preparations. Don’t be late.”
“Yes.”
Liriette answered obediently and left the room.
The moment she entered her own quarters, she covered her mouth.
“Urgh…”
She felt as though she might vomit at any moment.
Ever since returning to the past, this happened whenever she saw the High Priest.
At least I can pretend nothing’s wrong.
Thanks to that, the High Priest still believed Liriette was the same innocent child who worshipped him unconditionally.
That was why everything had gone so smoothly.
He thinks I’ll return to the temple after meeting the Duke of Windsorice.
What a foolish misunderstanding.
Liriette would never return to this hell.
Never.
Just then—
Knock. Knock.
A slow, gentle knock sounded.
The door opened, and Noel stepped inside.
Moving her hands in sign language, Noel said,
“Liri. I heard the news. You’re going to visit the Duke of Windsorice?”
“Yeah. That’s how it turned out.”
No matter how oblivious Noel usually was, even she understood.
Everything that had happened stemmed from the letter Liriette had sent a short while ago.
But Noel didn’t ask what Liriette was planning.
Unlike me, Liri is clever. She must have some amazing plan I couldn’t even understand if she explained it.
Instead, Noel did what she could.
She gently wrapped a pure white scarf around Liriette’s slender neck.
Liriette’s eyes widened.
She had always worn the same stiff gray robes as the priests, devoid of any ornament.
This was the first time she had ever worn such a soft, fluffy scarf.
Smiling brightly, Noel signed,
“I bought it as soon as I heard you were going north. They say it’s terribly cold there.”
The High Priest strictly forbade priests from owning personal possessions.
Without his permission, they couldn’t buy anything.
Reading Liriette’s thoughts, Noel hurriedly signed again.
“Don’t worry. I got permission from the High Priest. I told him it would be terrible if you caught a cold in such a cold place, and he allowed it.”
She spoke as though it were nothing.
But Liriette knew the truth.
The High Priest had probably exploded in irritation, demanding why such a trivial thing mattered.
Even so, Noel must have trembled in fear while repeatedly pleading until he relented.
“…Where did you get the money? You don’t have any.”
The High Priest never spent money on others.
Not even on Liriette.
“Well…”
Noel smiled awkwardly.
Something felt wrong.
Liriette reached out and pulled back the hood covering Noel’s head.
Her long, ebony-black hair had been cut short.
Seeing Liriette’s frozen expression, Noel frantically signed,
“It’s okay! I got permission to cut my hair too. I won’t get in trouble. Really!”
She was desperately trying to reassure Liriette, afraid she’d worry because of her.
Kind, foolish Noel.
Looking at her with conflicted eyes, Liriette quietly asked,
“Noel… if you had the chance to leave the temple with me… would you come?”
Noel’s eyes widened in surprise.
A moment later, tears welled up as she slowly moved her hands.
“I’m sorry, Liri. I can’t.”
Ever since childhood—a childhood she barely even remembered—Noel had wandered the streets alone.
The High Priest had brought her into the temple when she was on the verge of starving to death.
It hadn’t been an act of compassion.
It had merely been hypocrisy for the public to admire.
Even so…
To Noel, it had been salvation.
From that day on, she came to worship the High Priest as though he were a god.
She’ll never leave this place. Just like she didn’t in my previous life.
Liriette looked at Noel with a heavy heart before quietly stepping into her embrace.
Noel hugged her tightly and repeated over and over in a voice that barely came out,
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry, Liri.”
* * *
Every day, the High Priest summoned Liriette and gave her the same instructions.
“Absolutely do not say anything unnecessary.”
“No matter what you say, end it by saying it was all thanks to me.”
“Whatever His Grace says, smile and humor him.”
Grinning, he continued,
“If he grows fond of you, perhaps he’ll make another donation.”
Liriette barely managed to suppress the nausea rising in her throat.
Three days passed.
Then the Knights of Windsorice arrived.
Unlike before, a massive white carriage stood at the center of the formation.
Villaim, standing at the very front, strode confidently toward the High Priest.
The High Priest welcomed him with a beaming smile.
“Welcome.”
After giving a respectful bow, Villaim had one of his men present an enormous chest.
The High Priest lifted the lid just enough to peek inside.
The corners of his mouth stretched nearly to his ears.
Inside was the promised two billion gold.
Beaming with happiness, the High Priest gently brushed Liriette’s hair back.
“Go safely, Liriette.”
The place his hand touched felt as though it would rot away.
Suppressing the overwhelming revulsion inside her, Liriette quietly answered,
“Yes.”
She then walked toward Villaim, who was waiting nearby.
Although this was already their second meeting, she still couldn’t get used to his enormous size.
He’s really huge… just like a bear.
Bringing her hands together, she bowed politely.
“I look forward to your guidance, Sir Villaim.”
Villaim stared silently at the top of Liriette’s head as she greeted him.
Divine power or not…
To him, Liriette looked like nothing more than a tiny, fragile child who could be lifted with one finger.
It’s impossible to imagine someone this small being of any help to His Grace.
But he quickly dismissed the thought.
It’s not my place to judge.
His only duty was to carry out his master’s orders.
With his usual stern expression, he said,
“Please board the carriage.”
His imposing presence was intimidating enough to make an ordinary child burst into tears, crying,
“Waaah! Please don’t take me!”
But Liriette simply nodded obediently and tried to climb aboard.
Even with the small step provided, the carriage sat so high that she struggled to get up.
Seeing her awkwardly trying, Villaim stepped forward and effortlessly lifted her into the air.
Before she could even react, he gently set her inside the carriage.
Despite his fearsome appearance, his movements were remarkably careful.
Liriette’s face turned bright red all the way to her ears.
“Thank you very much.”
“Think nothing of it.”
With that brief reply, Villaim closed the carriage door.
Seated inside, Liriette gazed out the window.
Then her eyes widened.
Far away, peeking out from between the temple’s columns, she spotted Noel.
Though the distance made her hard to see clearly, Liriette knew.
She could see the worry filling Noel’s eyes as she watched her leave.
In a trembling voice, Liriette whispered,
“I’m sorry, Noel.
I’m leaving this place.”
