TVIOWHFW 87

The Duchess of Blanchet vomited blood.

“Is that true?”

A huge commotion erupted in the quiet chapel.

“Blood, blood? Did you perhaps suffer an ambush?”

“I just followed the priests, so I can be sure of that. There was no ambush. The Holy Maiden suddenly vomited blood while she was alone with the lady. That’s why there’s talk that the Holy Maiden might have hurt the Duchess of Blanchet.”

People were still accustomed to Estelle’s villainous image. So, the current situation felt even more unnatural to them.

“It may be a suspicion, but to be involved in such a horrific incident with the Holy Maiden is…”

“Come to think of it, it’s the Duchess of Blanchet and the Holy Maiden again this time. Even if the Holy Maiden meant no harm, doesn’t it seem like she’s unilaterally harming the Duchess of Blanchet?”

“Wasn’t it the Holy Maiden herself who called the Duchess just now? What exactly did she do…?”

At that moment, a devout noble stepped forward to protect the Holy Maiden.

“Nonsense! Has no one heard that the Holy Maiden used her divine power to heal people? Do you think the Holy Maiden would harm anyone?”

“That’s true, but…”

“Surely she must have some reason. It’s not too late to clarify the exact situation.”

As one person firmly took a stand, the atmosphere shifted back to defending the Holy Maiden. However, the suspicions remaining among the crowd did not disappear.

‘At least once, but this is the second time.’

‘Rather than believing her outright as the Holy Maiden, I should go and check once more myself.’

The nobles in the chapel carefully headed towards the scene where the Duchess of Blanchet had collapsed. It hadn’t been long since she fell, so the situation was still unresolved.

~·~·*· . ·*· . ·*· . ·*·~·~

The Holy Maiden Stella ran to Cardinal Simon with a face stained with tears.

“Si, Cardinal Simon!”

Because the people who arrived at the moment Estelle collapsed were giving suspicious glances toward the Holy Maiden.

Among them was also a young lady who had been supporting her.

Cardinal Simon gently patted the crying Holy Maiden and calmly asked about the situation.

“Holy Maiden, are you okay?”

“Cardinal… I didn’t do anything. Truly.”

Stella, with her eyes reddened, looked innocent enough to seem blameless. But she wasn’t more intense than Estelle, who had vomited blood and collapsed in front of her.

People were more shocked at Estelle’s condition than listening to Stella’s explanation.

With her shining, translucent platinum hair, her unusually pale and white face, and beneath her beautiful face, blood so tragically stained.

She was perfectly still, almost as if she had stopped breathing, to the point that one might mistake her for having died rather than fainted.

The priests examined the unconscious Estelle, who looked like a broken puppet.

“Cardinal, the Duchess of Blanchet is safe.”

Cardinal Simon frowned and asked.

“But why isn’t the Duchess opening her eyes?”

“Well, we also don’t know…”

“It seems she was suddenly shocked, but since we don’t have the full details…”

The priests’ gazes turned toward Stella, who had been with Estelle until the last moment.

Everyone’s eyes were on Stella.

She, pale as a ghost, backed away tremblingly. Her eyes shimmereded with transparent tears, as if they might fall at any moment.

“W-why are you looking at me with such eyes? I didn’t do anything.”

In truth, no one was looking at Stella with sharp suspicion. It was just a normal, questioning gaze, demanding an explanation for the strange situation.

But Stella, unfamiliar with anything beyond affection and admiration, perceived those looks as hostility.

The more confused and frightened Stella became, the more the glances of the people around her seemed to turn into suspicion.

Cardinal Simon tried to calm the situation and comforted Stella.

“Holy Maiden, please calm down. Everyone trusts you. How could you think that the Holy Maiden would try to harm anyone?”

“Is that really true?”

“Yes. But since you were with the Duchess until the very end, we’re just trying to understand what happened immediately before. Could you tell us what happened between you and the Duchess?”

Stella hesitated to answer.

She covered her face with her slender hands and trembled. Cardinal Simon looked at her with concern.

“Holy Maiden?”

“The Duchess of Blanchet was just having a normal conversation with me. It was such a normal conversation that…”

“That’s enough. You must have been very shocked, so just answer calmly.”

Despite Cardinal Simon’s gentle questions, Stella couldn’t give a clear answer.

“I only said that people suddenly gathered and caused trouble at the temple entrance…”

“And what else?”

“Then, the Duchess suddenly pushed me, and I fell, so I don’t really remember what happened after that—”

“Did our Lady push the Holy Maiden?”

At that moment, a sharp sneer cut into Stella’s testimony.

It was Erich, who had followed to assist Estelle. He looked at Stella with furious eyes and shot her a glare.

“Are you asking me to believe that?”

“But it’s the truth.”

“Are you implying I’m doubting the Holy Maiden’s testimony now?”

Cardinal Simon responded displeased by Erich’s suspicion. As a powerful figure among the church, no noble wanted to be on bad terms with him.

But Erich didn’t care about that at all.

“So, you’re saying we shouldn’t doubt that the Holy Maiden, while the Duchess of Blanchet was collapsed and vulnerable, fell and got hurt, and yet you want us to believe her and show her respect?”

Erich’s icy gray eyes flashed fiercely, like a vicious dog.

Momentarily overwhelmed by his presence, Cardinal Simon flinched and raised his voice.

“Isn’t it still not confirmed that the Holy Maiden committed a crime?! That’s a violation of respect toward her!”

“Do you dare raise your voice in front of the collapsed Lady of our house in this place?! Our Lady is delicate and sensitive to nonsense! Stop with the nonsense!”

Erich shouted at the cardinal as if it were obvious, and Cardinal Simon was too stunned to respond immediately.

‘What, what is this…’

For the first time in his life, Cardinal Simon encountered someone so blatantly rude. At that moment, he realized that the person was Baron Bloné.

‘The mad dog of the Blanchet estate, Baron Bloné.’

He was one of the most trusted vassals of the Duke of Blanchet and notorious as the dirtiest rabid dog in the empire, known for his grumpy temper.

‘Acting recklessly, disregarding his life, on behalf of the Duke of Blanchet.’

He generally didn’t associate with crazed fools. Without realizing it, Cardinal Simon subtly stepped back and cleared his throat.

“I- I apologize. I only meant that I hoped the Blanchet estate would consider the situation in the Holy Kingdom as well.”

“I understand.”

Erich nodded quietly.

“So, you interpret this as the Holy Kingdom’s attempt to assassinate the Duchess of Blanchet and cover up the incident?”

“What?!”

“If not, then the Holy Maiden must clarify her position more clearly, or the temple should find the culprit.”

At that moment, Stella tugged at Cardinal Simon’s sleeve and spoke.

“But, but the Duchess of Blanchet has a chronic illness. It happened suddenly because of her condition, so I don’t know what I can do about that.”

Her words sounded reasonable at first glance. When Erich hesitated briefly, Cardinal Simon also gained confidence and shouted.

“Until now, you’ve been blaming the temple and neglecting to check your master’s health! Isn’t that right? And didn’t we ask the Holy Maiden for help to treat the Duchess of Blanchet’s chronic illness?”

“…”

“How can you doubt the Holy Maiden immediately after that?!”

The nobles around them continued to gather closer.

The situation was increasingly serious, but no one stepped forward right away. Instead, they were watching the unfolding scene carefully.

“Did the Duchess of Blanchet really have a chronic illness?”

“I thought she was just weak, but it turns out it was a serious illness that required temple help?”

At that moment, a young lady among the nobles cautiously spoke up.

“But, Holy Maiden, didn’t you say that you completely healed the Duchess of Blanchet’s illness?”

“Yes?”

Stella’s eyes widened. The young lady, who had been hesitating, cautiously spoke.

“I heard that you fully healed the Duchess of Blanchet’s illness with divine power last time. So, her chronic illness wasn’t cured after all?”

Cardinal Simon sharply turned his head and looked at Stella.

“…That’s, well…”

Stella caught her breath and clasped her hands in prayer-like fashion.

“It seems the Duchess of Blanchet’s illness has relapsed.”

“Divine power isn’t capable of curing everything?”

The nobles, who believed in divine power as a miracle cure and admired the Holy Maiden, murmured. Stella lowered her long lashes and explained calmly.

“Sometimes, if the condition is too severe, the illness can return.”

“I see.”

“If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be best for the Holy Maiden to treat the Duchess of Blanchet now? Just like before.”

The Holy Maiden offered a gentle smile.

“I was already upset because I felt responsible for the Duchess of Blanchet’s collapse, so I’m glad I can help.”

The Holy Maiden slowly approached Estelle and closed her eyes tightly. Bright divine energy radiated around her, shimmering like an aura.

It was a breathtaking sight.

‘Is that divine power?’

‘As expected, the Holy Maiden is different.’

Everyone secretly admired her.

“Oh, Atena, please bless the Duchess of Blanchet.”

The Holy Maiden murmured softly with a heartfelt voice.

The divine energy enveloped Estelle’s body and was absorbed. Everyone watched quietly as Estelle’s closed eyes remained unchanged.

‘Is she about to regain consciousness?’

‘To see such a miracle with my own eyes…’

But contrary to expectations, Estelle didn’t open her eyes.

A strange silence fell.

‘When will the divine power take effect?’

‘The Holy Maiden said divine power can heal even someone on the verge of death…’

Their patience waned little by little. Among them, the most tense was none other than Cardinal Simon.

‘It’s been a while since she should have already awakened.’

Divine power from the Holy Maiden usually manifests immediately. So, everyone believed in her greatness without doubt.

‘There’s no way her divine power could be faulty.’

Suddenly, a question arose in Cardinal Simon’s mind.

‘Could it be that the Holy Maiden truly harmed the Duchess of Blanchet and is deliberately refusing to heal her?’

At that moment, Erich asked irritably.

“How long are you going to keep praying and pouring divine power? Are you really sure our Lady is going to be healed?”

Stella flinched and looked away.

‘Why isn’t the divine power working? Why?!’

~·~·*· . ·*· . ·*· . ·*·~·~

I opened my eyes and looked around.

‘Where am I?’

It was very dark around me. The place was filled with stones, and there was a damp, foul smell—like a cave.

‘Why did I suddenly vomit blood?’

The trees told me that I wouldn’t vomit blood again.

‘Is this related to the Holy Maiden grabbing me?’

If so, this place must be somehow connected. I groped around and headed toward the faint light I saw.

Clink—

At that moment, I accidentally touched a cup-like object on the ground. Hearing the clattering of a golden cup rolling, I tilted my head in confusion.

‘Why is there a cup here?’

Suddenly, something hanging under the bright light slowly lifted its body. Its shimmering blonde hair caught my eye immediately.

“Why are you here?”

Its vivid golden eyes widened like a predator’s.

“Am I dreaming again?”

It was Prince Carlos.

‘Where on earth is this?’

Caught off guard by an unexpected encounter, Carlos the prince rushed over like a madman and grabbed me.

“Even if I go crazy and say I’m watching you, it doesn’t matter. Because I’m watching you, it’s become clearer.”

Unfathomable longing filled his golden eyes.

“I was wrong. I need you.”

…Am I crazy?

~·~·*· . ·**##^^##**· . ·*·~·~

Hey there, It’s Green Rose 😉

Since I human I might have make some mistakes while translating so please if you find them let me know here in the comments or in the Discord group so I can correct them and be careful in the future so they do not repeat.

Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

~~~Next Chapter~~~

Next chapter will be released Tomorrow.

See you then!!