ICOF 15

Chapter 15

His voice echoed clearly inside my head, just like it did in reality.

—Keep going like this. Can you feel it?
—When you feel the energy I’m sending, draw your divine power up from your shoulders to the top of your head.

I flinched slightly and raised my shoulders.

—Good.
—Now a cool current will flow. Don’t be startled.

The refreshing sensation felt like the same energy he had sent me before.

—Focus. Only one last current remains. Do you feel a warmer flow? Catch it.
—Good. Relax. Now take a deep breath to finish.

He encouraged me the whole time, helping me stay focused until the end.

With the new energy he guided into me, the unrefined divine power that had been weighing down my shoulders was finally lifted up to my head.

Now I could use it more freely.

When he finally removed his hand from my forehead, I let out a long breath.

Lurbihi also sighed heavily.

It was late at night, and unlike the temple, he couldn’t draw on external energy here.

He had used only his own power, so he was clearly exhausted.

Seeing him steady himself with one hand on the floor, I grabbed his arm.

“Are you alright? You used a lot of energy because of me, didn’t you?”

“I’m fine. Once I return to the temple, I’ll recover quickly. How do you feel?”

I stood up with a bright smile, feeling light, like I could dance.

“I feel so light… almost like I could float. Is this how it’s supposed to feel?”

He lifted his pale face and nodded.

“If you continue regular inner purification, you’ll be able to maintain it.”

I sat down beside him and asked,

“Have you ever struggled like me? Not being able to control your power, or suffering from spiritual illness?”

“Most priests go through that.”

“So that’s why you understood me so well… I don’t know how to thank you.”

I bowed politely.

When our eyes met, my heart fluttered strangely.

I felt even more grateful, thinking how difficult it would have been without him.

“I only did what I should. I’m glad you’re better.”

As he stood up, he staggered slightly.

I tried to support him, but lost my balance—

And ended up hugging him.

We froze like that, almost like a couple.

…Wait.

Why is a priest’s body this solid… and muscular?

Startled, he quickly grabbed my arms and stepped back.

I hurried to apologize.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to—I just lost my balance.”

(Well… maybe just a tiny bit of intention.)

Seeing his frown, I apologized again.

Is he angry? Uncomfortable? Is it a big deal for a woman to touch a priest?

“U-um… you don’t have to go confess this or anything, right? I wasn’t being improper—I was just trying to help.”

At that, Lurbihi looked at me strangely.

“Confess?… Do you think priests are required to remain celibate?”

“…Aren’t they?”

He answered immediately.

“Priests in Lewelln are allowed to marry.”

My eyes widened.

Really? Then why—

“Then why did you react like that just now?”

As I blinked, he adjusted his clothes and hesitated slightly.

“…Because I’m a man too.”

“…”

He said it calmly, but I suddenly felt embarrassed.

He’s a man too… he’s a man…!

Does that mean he was aware of me?

Does that mean something?

“Your Highness?”

His voice snapped me back to reality.

“Ahem—yes!”

“It’s late. Prince Lucas will investigate who did this once morning comes. Please don’t worry and get some rest. I’ll take my leave now.”

As always, he spoke gently and left.

But for some reason, I felt a little disappointed that he left so quickly.

After calming down, I lay in bed and thought—

What if my ‘free dating’ partner was Lurbihi?

As I wondered what that would be like, I drifted off to sleep.

…

…

“Grandmother… can’t I go back to where I originally lived?”

The spirit inside me—Heavenly Grandmother—answered.

“What would you do if you went back? Just live here, get married, and have children.”

“I wonder if my mom and little sibling are doing well…”

My mom… my cute little sibling… How are they living after I died?

Grandmother scolded me.

“Worry about yourself. The living will find a way. You may feel like an outsider here, but you’re living well—well-fed, cared for, and loved. That’s why you were sent here.”

“Grand…mother…”

I kept calling her in my dream.

But there was no answer.

****

Things were getting strange.

To find out who had put the metal bell in my clothes, Lucas gathered Lin and all the maids responsible for my room and began questioning them.

I repeatedly insisted that it couldn’t be Lin—that there must be some misunderstanding.

But he didn’t listen.

I sat in my room, annoyed, waiting for Lin to return.

She was the first maid I met after regaining consciousness.

She helped me with everything, never pointing out or mocking my strange behavior.

And with how pathetic I am—unable to even change those complicated dresses on my own—why would she do something like this?

“Ugh! No matter what, Lin wouldn’t do something like that. How am I supposed to apologize if I’m wrong…?”

Knock knock—

The door opened slightly, and Lin peeked in.

“Your Highness, it’s me. May I come in?”

“Of course, come in! Hurry!”

I was so glad to see her after hours.

I grabbed her hands and apologized.

“My brother gave you a hard time, didn’t he? I told him it wasn’t you…”

But suddenly, Lin dropped to her knees.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

“…”

I froze.

What?

It was you?

Why?

Didn’t you like me?

“If it’s you, then what does that make me? It shouldn’t be you!”

“I really didn’t know. A kitchen maid secretly took your room key, copied it, and has been coming in.”

“A kitchen maid? Then… it wasn’t you?”

My voice lifted with relief.

But Lin kept her head down.

“It wasn’t me… but it’s still because of me. I scolded that maid before, and I think that caused this.”

I leaned my head back and sighed.

“Ha… that’s not your fault. I thought you did it on purpose…”

“But you suffered because of it. So it is my fault.”

Sigh… she’s too kind.

Losing the key was carelessness—but she’s not the bad one.

The one who stole it is.

“No. It’s not your fault. But how did that maid know I’m sensitive to metal sounds?”

“She saw you acting strangely when you heard it.”

“I said something strange?”

I looked up, trying to recall.

Ah… There was one moment.

That metal tray!

The maid who dropped it the day Christoph proposed—

So it was her.

But why go as far as putting a bell in my clothes?

Just because Lin scolded her?

That’s a serious crime.

Something didn’t feel right.

Was there something else I didn’t know?

…

Anyway, trying to uncover the truth might expose my secret, which made things complicated.

When I voiced my concern, Lin shook her head.

“Don’t worry, Your Highness. Don’t you know? Because of the rumors that you’re a divine priestess chosen by revelation, everyone admires you.”

A divine priestess… me?

The priestesses I saw at the temple…

Well, like Lurbihi—wearing white robes with long, beautiful hair…

Like celestial maidens.

And me?

Seriously?

Lin glanced at me and added,

“Well… you don’t exactly look like one, but I’m sure there are priestesses like you somewhere.”

“…What? That tone sounded weird.”

“Are you teasing me?”

“Huh? You said you liked honesty.”

“I never said that! I love compliments!”

“Yes. Then I’ll lie more often from now on.”

“Hey, you—come here!”

Knock knock—

As we were bickering, someone knocked.

Lin opened the door, and Lucas strode in.

He signaled to Lin.

“Leave us.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After she left, Lucas approached me with a serious expression.

“You really don’t remember anything?”