Chapter 08
“Is that true?”
People around Gordon were trying to wake him as he nearly fainted.
I bit my lip.
What if I’m wrong?
Watching the man grieve made a seed of doubt grow inside me.
But when I saw the murderous aura pouring from the doll and heard a scream that sounded like someone crying out just before death—
“I’m sure. Please trust me just this once.”
“I do trust you. But we’ll need evidence to convince everyone. Do you have any?”
I had expected that question.
Last night, after finding the body, I had run to the knights in tears.
Even though it was the middle of the night, the whole place had erupted into chaos. Liam had worried about me and told me to go back to my room and finish sleeping.
‘…I had a fiancé.’
That was when I first heard the ghost’s story.
‘I never liked him from the beginning. He always wore a fake smile, but I knew he was actually a gambler and a womanizer.’
“Yes, I do have evidence.”
I took out the paper I had been hiding in my pocket.
‘I sent him a letter asking to break off the engagement. I was actually in love with Sir Patrick, and that man knew it too. Since our engagement was only for money, I thought he’d agree easily if I told him he wouldn’t have to repay what he’d borrowed, but…’
“It’s a torn piece of a letter. I picked it up in the forest while coming out yesterday.”
I handed the dirt-stained paper to the Pope. The wrinkles on it showed how tightly I had been clutching it.
“It’s a letter arranging a meeting between Lady Camilla and Young Master Gordon. The date is written on it too.”
“This is…”
The Pope looked around, then took my hand and led me somewhere private.
As soon as he confirmed no one else was nearby, he let out a sigh.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“I wanted to confirm it with my own eyes.”
‘When we met, he begged me not to break off the engagement. I think he decided my dowry and the Baron family’s wealth were worth more than having part of his debt forgiven. He owed money everywhere.’
‘He borrowed money?’
‘Rumor had it that after everyone stopped lending to him, he even borrowed from loan sharks. As the repayment deadline approached, he must have become desperate. He demanded that I swear never to break off the engagement, and when I refused, he became violent. I fought back with everything I had, but…’
“Lady Camilla should be holding Gordon’s brooch in her fist. It was torn off during the struggle…”
The Pope stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“So he even borrowed money to gamble. There should be debt documents in the drawer of his room.”
“This is the first time I’ve heard of such a detailed oracle.”
Feeling guilty, I quickly changed the subject.
After all, there had never been any oracle.
“It’s all an act.”
Gordon was clinging to the Baroness and crying, but somehow, his eyes were dry.
He was only pretending to cry while watching everyone’s reactions.
“All right. I’ll handle things from here. Go back and get some rest.”
He nodded and gently patted my head.
“…!”
“You’ve worked hard. You had to see something no child should.”
“N-No. I just couldn’t let such an unfair death go unanswered.”
The Pope smiled sincerely for the first time.
Only then did I finally relax.
[Quest Progress: 30%]
Reveal the truth before the funeral ends.
“Huh?”
“Yes?”
“N-Nothing…”
“Diane. Go hold your doll and get some sleep. You barely slept because of your sleepwalking.”
“I’m really okay.”
I shook my head at the Pope’s concern.
Before the funeral ends?
There wasn’t much time.
My hand holding the doll had become damp with sweat.
I casually wiped around its button eyes with my sleeve and checked the time.
It’s about to begin.
* * *
The Pope watched Diane run off with the rabbit doll on her short little legs and let out a sigh.
Such a young child had carried the burden of an oracle all by herself without saying anything.
He had completely failed as her guardian.
While he was lost in thought, he heard footsteps approaching.
“Michael.”
“What Saintess Diane said was correct.”
Michael handed him a brooch stained with blood and spoke quietly.
“It belongs to the Black family.”
“…!”
The Pope pressed his aching forehead.
“Contact the Imperial Knights.”
“Should we arrest him immediately?”
“I think it’s better to wait until the knights arrive. Causing unnecessary chaos here will only make matters worse.”
“I’ll order a search of his estate.”
“She said there are debt documents in his drawer. Confirm it.”
“Yes, Your Holiness.”
Just as Michael was about to leave—
“Normally…”
“…?”
“It’s unusual for a child to see a corpse.”
“I suppose so.”
“She was far too calm. It worries me.”
He was talking about the Saintess.
Even Michael thought the child was unusual.
She seemed indifferent to everything.
“Doesn’t that simply mean she’s lived a very difficult life?”
The Pope didn’t answer.
He noticed the candy still in his hand—the small comfort he had never managed to give her.
“You can always treat her well from now on.”
“…I’ve never…”
He stared blankly at the candy.
“…I’ve never raised a child before.”
“…Ah.”
The Pope quietly slipped the candy back into his pocket.
* * *
The atmosphere inside the funeral hall was solemn.
The bereaved family couldn’t stop crying, so the ceremony had been delayed.
No one complained.
At the center of the hall stood a coffin surrounded by flowers.
Camilla’s body rested inside.
My stomach churned.
As I looked around, I spotted Liam standing by the wall.
Liam didn’t know.
He had no idea this woman had loved him, died, and stayed behind as a ghost because of him.
“…”
Soon, one of the priests stepped forward and began the prayer.
The funeral had officially begun.
“Mother… Mother is so sorry…”
“…”
The Baroness collapsed over the coffin, sobbing.
The Baron silently placed a white chrysanthemum beside it and wiped away his tears.
Then Gordon stepped forward.
Dabbing at his eyes with a handkerchief, he slowly took something out.
“Though this is heartbreaking, I have something I must tell everyone.”
I hugged the doll tighter.
A bad feeling settled in my chest.
“The day before Camilla disappeared, she officially signed our marriage contract.”
“…!”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell everyone sooner. I was too busy searching for Camilla’s whereabouts…”
That’s impossible.
Camilla wanted to break off the engagement.
“According to that contract, forty percent of her estate will now be inherited by me.”
Thud.
It felt as if my heart had fallen to the floor.
“I’ll handle the inheritance matters gradually at a later date.”
“…What are you saying…?”
He took a document from inside his coat and handed it to the Baron.
“This is tragic, but…”
I clearly saw the corner of his mouth twitch.
“…that’s how things stand.”
A desperate scream echoed in my ears.
Red tears streamed from the doll’s eyes.
“You bastard.”
Had I said it too loudly?
Everyone’s gaze turned toward me.
I quickly covered my mouth, but Gordon’s face had already twisted with anger.
“You little brat! Stay out of this!”
He rolled up his sleeves and charged toward me.
Liam stepped in front of him.
Behind Liam, the Holy Knights all raised their swords and spears at Gordon in perfect unison.
Faced with the cold steel at his throat, Gordon immediately backed away like a frightened dog.
“That is the Saintess.”
“…?”
“Show her proper respect.”
The blade pressed against his neck made Gordon stumble backward.
“S-Saintess?”
“Someone that young?”
“She looks barely three years old!”
No.
I’m five.
“I really am the Saintess.”
I slowly opened my eyes after closing them for a moment.
As if I had just received a divine revelation.
At that moment, the wind swept through the hall, making my silver hair flutter.
“I received an oracle last night.”
Staring straight at Gordon, I spoke through clenched teeth.
“That man murdered Lady Camilla Triele. I’m certain of it.”
“…!”
The Baroness trembled violently.
“N-No way…”
“I-I didn’t do it, my lady! I swear! E-Evidence! That’s right! You can’t accuse me without evidence—”
“My.”
The Pope, who had been watching from behind, stepped forward.
He called me gently.
“Diane.”
He gestured for me to come.
I ran into his arms.
Like a Saintess who was cherished and protected.
Only then did everyone’s expressions change.
A child embraced by the Pope himself.
“She truly is the Saintess…”
Someone whispered in awe, and murmurs quickly spread throughout the hall.
