Uninvited Guest
For a moment, I was so shocked I almost hiccuped.
I held my breath briefly, then let it out with a puff and plastered an innocent expression on my face.
“Demon?”
“Yes, little lady.”
“Grandpa said there’s a demon at our house… But I never saw one…”
When I spoke with sparkly eyes about demons and then pouted, saying I hadn’t seen any, Diandre gave a perfectly painted smile.
“Haha, the Winston demon rumors are quite famous. I was just teasing you, but I may have frightened you instead.”
“Okaaay…”
What kind of grown man teases a five-year-old about demons?
Yep. He’s insane.
I rolled my eyes like a shy child and, with Diandre’s help, stepped down from the platform and walked toward the door.
“This is a sacred area filled with holy water. Outsiders aren’t allowed here.”
“Okaaay.”
“If you really had made a contract with Winston’s demon, you wouldn’t have been able to enter the temple at all.”
“…”
I couldn’t exactly say, “Well, I have,” so I just tilted my head like a child who didn’t understand difficult words.
Perhaps Diandre wasn’t expecting any more understanding from me. He just chuckled quietly.
“Ever since the Empress Dowager made a pact with an ancient demon, I’ve been curious…”
The temple was the biggest supporter of the Empress Dowager, who was rumored to have contracted with an ancient demon.
They were the ones who had exalted her as a saint in the first place.
Though Marianne was a real saint with immense holy power, the Empress Dowager was not.
There were only rumors—no one had ever actually seen her use divine power.
Still, people believed she was a saint simply because the temple guaranteed it.
That’s what raised my suspicions.
If the temple supports someone with a demonic contract, what’s their relationship with demons?
And how do the priests still use divine power if they’re tied to demons?
Shouldn’t they have lost the grace of the gods by now?
Or maybe… the gods don’t actually exist?
Maybe they’re just watching silently from afar?
But then again, divine power does exist, and demons besides Dollens lose their strength here—
so clearly the temple still operates under the gods’ influence.
My thoughts kept spinning.
Back in my old world, many religions described demons as fallen angels.
So, perhaps angels and demons were originally the same?
Maybe, in this world, good and evil coexist within divine beings too… and the gods just turn a blind eye to it?
Ugh, whatever.
There was no point in mulling over things I couldn’t solve.
It’s not like I could just go meet the gods of this world myself.
Whether the gods intervene or not, my goal was clear:
Destroy the temple—the enemy of Winston.
“Dia!”
“Mommy!”
As soon as I stepped outside, Veronica rushed over, looking anxiously relieved.
I ran into her arms.
Her familiar scent relaxed my stiff, tense body.
“Dia, are you okay? Are you feeling better now?”
“Mm-hm! I’m not sick at all anymore!”
“That’s such a relief…”
Even after hearing that I was fine, Veronica’s face contorted like she might cry.
The illness would’ve gone away on its own anyway, but I still felt bad for making her worry.
“I’m so glad, Dia. Did it hurt a lot?”
“Um…”
Standing behind her was Dantellion.
Being this close must have been what allowed Dollens to approach me earlier.
The other direct bloodlines weren’t here—just the two of them.
Well, it was a sacred place, after all, and outsiders were probably strictly restricted.
Veronica was my mother, and Dantellion was the emperor—both had every right to be here.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I’m sorry, Dia. I’ve been so busy, I haven’t been able to care for you properly.”
“It’s okay. Mommy said you were busy.”
“She did?”
“Uh-huh.”
When I nodded, Dantellion gave a wry smile and gently stroked my head.
Then he turned to look behind me.
“High Priest, do we have the results from the investigation into the attack on the child?”
He was speaking to Diandre, who stood just behind me.
I glanced back as Diandre answered Dantellion’s question with a serene smile.
“It seems we still need more time.”
“And why is it taking this long to investigate?”
“My apologies, Your Majesty. It is entirely our inadequacy.”
“…”
Diandre bowed his head.
Dantellion looked down on him coldly.
He’s right. They’re all in league with that ancient demon the Empress Dowager sent.
It really was ironic—entrusting the investigation to the very people behind the attack.
Of course, only I knew the truth about the Empress Dowager and the temple.
Since they still wore the mask of righteousness, I couldn’t just expose their identities recklessly.
Even the Winstons only suspect Cedric for now.
When Veronica met Cedric, it was clear he had already heard from the Empress Dowager about the plan to harm me.
So she and the Duke of Winston believed Cedric was behind the attack—
unaware that the Empress Dowager was pulling the strings.
Dantellion might already be suspicious of the Empress Dowager…
I glanced sideways at Dantellion, who was staring sharply at Diandre.
He had known the Empress Dowager since childhood.
Even if she was a master of deception, he might have caught on.
If someone were to expose her true identity,
there was no one better suited than Dantellion.
“I trust the representatives of the gods wouldn’t lie to conceal a criminal.”
“Of course not. That would never happen, Your Majesty.”
Dantellion’s sharp words were met with Diandre’s ever-smiling response.
Dantellion’s cold, expressionless pressure was formidable—
but Diandre didn’t flinch in the slightest.
I watched the two of them, feeling tense without realizing it.
That’s when Veronica, still hugging me tightly, spoke up.
“Your Majesty, I think Dia and I will head back now.”
“…!”
What?
I stared at Veronica with wide eyes.
Dollens hadn’t returned yet—I didn’t know where Nathaniel was—
and now she wanted to leave?
Besides, she’d been so focused on me the whole time,
she barely got to talk to Dantellion.
When are they supposed to fall in love and get married?!
It was enough to make me want to scream.
“I didn’t consider that. The young lady should take the child home.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I have matters to discuss with the Duke, so I’ll return with you.”
“…Very well.”
Though Veronica still seemed hesitant around Dantellion, like she had at the coronation,
this time she didn’t run away.
She must have softened after hearing he rushed here when he learned I was sick.
I need to hurry up and get her to divorce Cedric and start something with Dantellion.
Resolving myself, I clenched my little fists in secret.
That’s when—
[Master, I have returned.]
Dollens! Did you find the boy in the basement?
[Yes. He was bound in a most vile manner.]
Dollens’ voice was grim, clearly disturbed just remembering it.
And as I suspected, Nathaniel was indeed in the basement.
I asked eagerly:
Do you think you can sneak him out?
[I cannot do it myself since I lack a physical form, but I can manipulate someone or use a proxy.]
Don’t let Dantellion find out yet… Can you control someone and sneak the boy out?
[Understood. However, breaking the spell binding the child will alert the enemy immediately.]
As long as we get him out first, that’s fine.
[I shall do my best.]
Dollens gave his most reliable response before vanishing again.
Now I could trust him to handle Nathaniel.
But where should I hide him once we get him out?
Security was bound to be tighter after my “attack.”
Would I really be able to hide Nathaniel?
As I worried, Veronica began stepping outside with Dantellion escorting her.
“Oh my, Veronica. Leaving already?”
“……!”
Someone suddenly stepped in front of her.
Veronica’s eyes widened in surprise,
while Dantellion’s expression hardened with visible displeasure.
“…Uncle.”
“Hmph.”
A middle-aged man with the same black hair as Veronica gave a displeasing smirk.
