ILOIML 15

Chapter 15

He grabbed his stomach and started laughing. It seemed like he was genuinely amused, which hurt a little.

‘He really thinks I’m just like him, doesn’t he?’

As I silently stared at him laughing, he eventually stopped—maybe realizing the mood had changed.

“I’m thinking of going back to Aster today.”

“What? You can’t go today.”

“I mean, you can stay here. I’ll go alone. All you do is tease me. I guess I’m not important to you.”

“Wahh, Bell-bell, I’m sorry! Don’t go. It’s my fault.”

Just as the much bigger Leon ran toward me crying to hug me, I quickly stepped aside. He stopped himself just in time.

I was about to keep pouting, but then remembered a promise I made before.

‘Leon is the boss.’

I shook my head, trying to push aside the bitter feeling.

“Alright. I accept your apology. But promise you won’t tease me again.”

“Okay, I promise.”

Leon held out his pinky. He still remembered the pinky promise I’d taught him before. I smiled and linked my pinky with his, nodding in satisfaction.

The fact that he didn’t mention Lucas again was a nice bonus. I hoped he’d never bring him up again. I shook our pinkies firmly, just to make sure.

We ate lunch together, and Leon was almost crying as he was dragged back to the palace. We promised to go sightseeing together in the capital once he returned.

While he was gone, instead of staying in my room doing nothing, I decided to visit the Temple of the Goddess Thea. There weren’t any rumors about a holy relic being there, but maybe I’d get lucky. Since finding the holy sword Aesar, my faith in Thea had grown strong.

“You’re really so devout, even here,” Amy said with her hands clasped over her chest, looking touched.

“I told you. I pray really hard for the Duke. Right, Amy?”

Forget Lucas—please tell Leon about things like this.

“But isn’t the biggest temple in the capital the one for Rianus? The new Saint is also from the Rianus temple.”

Was Cassia from the Rianus temple? I tilted my head, deciding firmly not to go there. Meeting the main female lead Cassia wouldn’t lead to anything good. I definitely preferred the Goddess Thea.

“I like Thea. You might not know this, but the Rianus faith actually originated from Thea.”

“What? I’ve never heard that! You shouldn’t say things like that out loud.”

Amy lowered her voice. From the serious look on Amy and Mary’s faces, they weren’t joking. I realized I might’ve accidentally said something from the novel without noticing. But it’s true, girls. I was frustrated but nodded quietly to avoid any trouble.

“If you’re lucky, you might even meet the Saint at the Rianus temple!” Mary said, her eyes sparkling.

I shook my head firmly. They looked disappointed. Why were they being so pushy today? Were they trying to force me to meet the female lead early so I’d be kicked out of the story faster?

Well, I had no intention of leaving early.

The Temple of Thea in the capital was actually smaller than the one in Aster.

I hadn’t sent any notice I was visiting, and no priests greeted us at the entrance. One priest who saw me getting off the carriage just ignored me and kept walking.

It didn’t bother me—nobles were common here. With Amy and Mary, I casually looked around the temple. Nothing special stood out, and no scenes from the novel popped into my head.

“Should we go back?” I asked.

“Aren’t you here to pray?” Amy looked surprised.

‘Is that such a shocking thing to say? Plans can change!’

Still, for the sake of Leon’s health and world peace, I sighed and started looking around.

“Where’s the prayer room? I can’t find it.”

“It’s over there,” Mary said, pointing.

With a reluctant look, I went into the prayer room, feeling surrounded by them.

“We’ll wait outside,” they said.

“Aren’t you going to pray too?”

“You don’t usually like it when we watch you pray,” Amy said, tilting her head.

“…Oh, right.”

I remembered my tantrum at the Thea temple in Aster.

The prayer room was quite large. Only one other person was there, already praying. I sat down with a sigh, planning to wait a bit and then leave.

I was just about to get up when the person in front stood up too. Feeling awkward, I quickly clasped my hands like I was praying. I heard their footsteps getting closer… and then stopping right beside me.

Why aren’t they leaving?

Should I call Amy or the guards? If this person was dangerous, I needed to yell and run. I took a deep breath and braced myself—but they still didn’t move.

“Amy!!” I shouted, jumping up. But someone grabbed my arm tightly, nearly pulling me off balance.

I managed to catch myself by grabbing the bench and looked between the person holding my arm and Amy rushing in through the door.

Lucas?

“Lucas, why are you here?”

Before he answered, I saw Amy’s suspicious gaze. I followed her eyes and quickly shook Lucas’s hand off me.

“Amy, let me explain—”

“My lady!! Are you alright?” Mary and the guards rushed in behind Amy but froze when they saw me and Lucas.

“This isn’t what it looks like—”

Why was I the one explaining?

They were the ones who sent me into the prayer room. I did say I wanted to go back to the hotel.

But they seemed to have forgotten that completely.

Amy’s face turned cold. She grabbed Mary’s arm and walked out with the guards. The loud slam of the door echoed in my heart. I wanted to sit down and cry.

“What are you even doing here?” I asked.

“What else? Praying, of course.”

Lucas looked at me like I was being ridiculous.

“You’re a count—why are you following me around? Are you planning to stalk me the whole time I’m in the capital?”

“What are you talking about? I didn’t even know you were coming. You knew I came here every Wednesday. You even came once and said that as long as God knows, it doesn’t matter what others think. Don’t you remember? And—”

“Enough!!”

I couldn’t take it anymore. His words were too cringy.

This wasn’t the time to be dealing with Lucas. I needed to explain myself to Amy.

I glared at him and stormed out. Amy and Mary were standing outside looking frosty. I was just about to speak when Amy beat me to it.

“My lady, what are you planning to do?”

She had completely misunderstood.

“Amy, listen. I did say I wanted to go back to the hotel. And you’re the ones who sent me into the prayer room, right?”

“But it was you who insisted on coming to the Thea temple instead of the Rianus temple, even after we tried so hard to convince you.”