SBP 07

Chapter  7

 The Princess of the Temple (1)

“Everyone!”

“I-I saw the princess! The new princess!”

“I ran into her on my way here!”

“What?!”

“I want to see her too!”

“She’s over there.”

“She’s being carried by Sister Rosa on the way to the dining hall.”

“I can only see her from behind!”

“She has fluffy white hair!”

“What does she look like?”

“Tell us!”

“Like a doll.”

“She has huge round eyes.”

“She’s so adorable.”

“But why is she here?”

“Why is she wearing priest’s robes?”

“Don’t tell me…”

“The royal family refused to accept her?”

“I heard no one even knows who her father is.”

“Shh!”

Whisper…

Whisper…

Whisper…

Since life at the temple rarely changed from one day to the next…

My arrival had apparently become the hottest topic around.

Everyone at the temple—regardless of age, gender, or rank—ate together in the great dining hall.

Today, Rosa carried me while Yuz walked beside us as we headed there for breakfast.

“Sister Sierra left before dawn today.”

“She’s out doing volunteer work.”

“What a shame.”

“Today’s breakfast is pancakes.”

Pancakes?

How long had it been since I’d heard such a beautiful word?

I could practically imagine their soft, fluffy texture…

Drool almost escaped my mouth before I snapped back to my senses.

This isn’t the time for that.

I quickly surveyed the dining hall.

Fortunately, since Rosa was carrying me, I didn’t have to struggle to see over the crowd.

It didn’t take long to find him.

His appearance stood out so much that I felt like I could recognize him from a thousand cubits away.

Phaeon was dressed far more casually than I’d ever seen before.

Instead of his formal uniform, he wore a simple white tunic trimmed with embroidered borders.

I’d only ever known him in full ceremonial attire.

This was surprisingly refreshing.

More importantly…

No one was sitting at his table.

…Is he being ostracized?

Every other table had at least two people…

Some had six.

Yet he sat alone at that enormous table.

He looked…

Lonely.

Well…

If I had a superior like him, I’d probably lose my appetite too.

I hurriedly received my tray and marched straight toward him.

Behind me, Yuz and Rosa froze.

“Y-Your Highness…”

“M-Maybe we should just sit somewhere closer…”

Rosa mumbled hesitantly.

I ignored her.

Pattering across the floor, I arrived at Phaeon’s table and placed my little tray down with a loud clunk.

“Papa.”

“Good morning.”

Still reading the newspaper without a care in the world…

He jerked his head up in surprise.

“What are you—”

I could already feel the entire dining hall erupting into murmurs behind me.

“S-Sir Parsiel…”

“May Lord Lux’s light shine upon you.”

“Good morning.”

Forced to follow after me, Rosa and Yuz reluctantly sat beside me and greeted him.

I’m sorry for dragging you two into this…

“…May Lord Lux’s light shine upon you as well.”

He returned the greeting stiffly.

I quickly finished saying grace before meals.

Then…

I peeked at his tray.

“Huh?”

“Papa doesn’t have pancakes.”

Apparently he’d only taken vegetable soup and coffee.

Then again…

It was difficult to imagine him cutting pancakes with a knife.

“Papa…”

“Do you want one bite of Asha’s?”

I immediately cut off a small piece and held it out to him.

“No.”

“I don’t care for sweets.”

He frowned and avoided my fork.

“Really?”

“That’s too bad.”

“But…”

“The honey looks just like Papa’s hair.”

“It looks sweet.”

“…”

Yuz and Rosa’s facial muscles twitched.

They looked as though they couldn’t decide whether to laugh or hold it in.

Whenever I stopped talking…

The table fell into terrifying silence.

So I kept chatting.

“What’s Papa drinking?”

“It’s black water.”

“…It isn’t something Your Highness should be drinking yet.”

“Can I have just one sip?”

Yuz gasped.

Even Phaeon raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

“Just one sip, please.”

I pleaded with sparkling eyes.

After a long pause…

He reluctantly handed me his cup.

“…Just one sip.”

I immediately took it.

Gulp.

…

Bleh.

Bitter.

Terribly bitter.

Just like you.

Though…

He was always perfectly awake already.

Why did he even need coffee?

“…It’s bitter.”

I grimaced.

Yuz smiled as though I were unbearably cute.

“Your Highness still needs to drink milk.”

“Here.”

“I’ll add some honey.”

“It’ll taste much better.”

Soon…

I happily enjoyed my breakfast.

Milk foam covered my lips.

I didn’t care in the slightest.

“Eating together…”

“With all my angels…”

“Makes Asha so happy.”

“So, so happy.”

“So are we.”

Rosa and Yuz smiled warmly.

Phaeon…

Said nothing.

Instead, he abruptly stood up.

“I should be going.”

“Please enjoy your meal.”

Before he could pick up his tray…

I blocked it.

Then I spoke with complete seriousness.

“Papa.”

“You left food.”

“If you waste food…”

“Lord Lux will punish you.”

“…”

A faint blush appeared on his face.

Rosa and Yuz looked at me awkwardly.

Neither of them tried to stop me.

“Finish it.”

“Asha will be watching.”

He stood there awkwardly for several moments.

Then…

Apparently realizing hundreds of eyes throughout the dining hall were staring at him…

He slowly sat back down.

His face had turned noticeably red.

So…

You actually know what embarrassment feels like.

That surprised me a little.

Pretending not to notice…

I picked up his spoon and handed it to him.

“Papa…”

“Good boy.”

In the end…

He quietly finished every last drop of soup.

As for me…

I savored the sweet taste of victory while leisurely finishing the rest of my breakfast.

◇ ◆ ◇

What had happened that morning spread through the temple like wildfire.

Before long…

The rumors had even reached the royal palace.

The new princess had completely wrapped that Sir Parsiel around her finger.

She’d actually lectured Sir Parsiel.

Sir Parsiel couldn’t stand up to one tiny little girl.

The princess truly possessed the qualities of a future ruler.

“…Seriously?”

Stella fumed.

“Calling her fit to be queen over something like that?”

“To be honest…”

“She’s simply rude.”

“She has none of the dignity expected of a princess.”

“And Father immediately sent her off to the temple.”

“What on earth is he thinking?”

“It actually seems like quite an effective strategy.”

Aquila quietly remarked before taking a graceful sip of tea.

“…Strategy?”

“Whose strategy?”

“Who else?”

“The esteemed High Priest’s.”

“H-High Priest Bellus?”

Stella hurried closer and whispered.

“So…”

“You still don’t believe the oracle, do you?”

“Of course not.”

“I’d sooner believe some obscure god from a distant eastern continent.”

“B-But…”

“What if she really is God’s Child?”

“For a four-year-old…”

“Her devotion certainly wasn’t ordinary.”

“That level of faith could be taught.”

Aquila calmly replied.

“However…”

Her deep emerald eyes sharpened.

“I’ve heard something… rather interesting from Juditium.”

“Juditium?”

“You mean the underground prison outside the capital?”

“Yes.”

“Her adoptive parents and their son were brought there.”

“They claimed…”

“The child can use magic.”

“What?”

“A four-year-old?”

“Even Sister Tris…”

“The genius everyone praised…”

“Didn’t develop mana sensitivity until she was seven.”

“Exactly.”

“They say the girl proved she’d been abused using a recording crystal.”

“But before a recording crystal can capture anything…”

“It first has to be transformed into a magical artifact.”

“Even the greatest genius in history couldn’t accomplish that at her age.”

“…Then what does it mean?”

“It means the High Priest staged everything.”

Aquila answered without hesitation.

“He first gained everyone’s sympathy.”

“Then earned Father’s trust with a fake prophecy and manufactured piety.”

“Now he intends to secure the girl’s position entirely under the temple.”

“Next…”

“They’ll spread rumors that she can use magic.”

“Little by little…”

“They’ll strengthen her influence.”

“So…”

“Sir Parsiel was working with them?”

“I can’t imagine someone that rigid participating in something like that…”

“In the end…”

“He’s still a man of the temple.”

Aquila spoke firmly.

“Regardless…”

“I won’t sit by while they try to turn the royal family into puppets.”

“The temple’s influence has already grown too great because of Father.”

“And once the balance of power collapses…”

“It only takes a moment for everything else to crumble.”

Stella’s expression turned grim.

These past several days had pushed her patience to its limits.

The sister she admired above all else…

Brilliant.

Wise.

Blessed with the same silver hair and emerald eyes as herself.

At long last…

Aquila had finally obtained the position she deserved.

Yet suddenly…

A single pebble had rolled in and threatened everything.

And now…

That pebble might even become the seed of Santora’s destruction.

“No.”

“I won’t allow it.”

“You may not care about the succession, Sister…”

“But no one is more suited to that throne than you.”

“No one loves Santora more than you do.”

“Thank you for saying that, Stella.”

Aquila smiled gently.

“But I truly have no ambition.”

“…Still.”

“As her aunt…”

“It pains me to watch our poor little niece become the temple’s pawn.”

“…All because of that little illegitimate girl.”

As Stella muttered bitterly…

Aquila quietly set down her teacup.

“First…”

“We must put an end to this ridiculous talk about her being God’s Child.”

◇ ◆ ◇

Just as I’d expected…

After that morning…

Phaeon completely stopped coming to the dining hall.

He’d rather starve than run into me.

Every day…

I’d peek into the dining hall hoping to find him.

Every day…

He was absent.

Seeing me become more and more dejected…

Sierra tried to comfort me.

“Your Highness…”

“Please don’t be too sad.”

“Sir Parsiel is…”

“Well…”

“He’s probably just too busy to come.”

“No.”

“Papa…”

“Doesn’t like Asha.”

Thud.

The three priestesses instantly turned pale.

“Y-Your Highness!”

“What do you mean he doesn’t like you?”

“Who could possibly dislike Your Highness?”

“Papa…”

“Thinks Asha’s a sinner.”

“A sinner?!”

“Papa knows…”

“Asha never went to the temple before.”

“So…”

“Of course he doesn’t like Asha.”

I lowered my head sadly.

The three priestesses exchanged worried glances.

Soon…

They quietly stepped outside the room to discuss the matter.

“Sister Sierra…”

“Please.”

“You’re the closest to him…”

“What are you talking about?”

“I only exchanged a word or two with him during the war!”

Sierra protested helplessly.

But after several more minutes of persuasion…

She was finally pushed toward Phaeon.

I wonder…

Can Sierra really pull this off?

◇ ◆ ◇

“Sir Parsiel…”

“It’s really not such a difficult request.”

“I’ve already told you.”

“No.”

Even after Sierra’s earnest pleading…

Phaeon remained immovable.

“Come on…”

“Would sharing just one meal a day with her really be so difficult?”

Sierra sighed softly before continuing.

“Your Highness is…”

“How should I put this…”

“She’s clearly imprinted on you.”

“You know how ducklings think the first person they see is their parent?”

“You were the one who rescued her from that horrific situation.”

“That’s why she follows you so devotedly.”

“So even if it’s inconvenient…”

“Couldn’t you please show her just a little kindness?”

“That is precisely why I must distance myself.”

“If this continues…”

“It won’t be good for either of us.”

His stubbornness was as solid as a brick wall.

Finally losing her patience…

Sierra blurted out something she normally would never dare say.

“…You’re actually just embarrassed because the princess scolded you, aren’t you?”

“…!”

Phaeon’s face reddened slightly.

But only for a moment.

He quickly regained his composure.

“If there’s nothing else…”

“I’ll be leaving.”

Just then…

A young knight dressed in the white uniform of the Holy Knights came running toward them.

“C-Commander!”

“Have you heard the rumor?”