Chapter 66
Vaileon couldn’t answer easily. The reason became clear soon enough.
“Your head and heart are at odds.”
There are things in the world one doesn’t need to know. Yet, when Marien suspected that someone—herself included—was hiding something from her, a wave of frustration washed over her.
Marien let out a soft groan.
“Perhaps I tried to resolve this too easily. I wrestled with the same dilemma, but no matter how I thought about it, there was no answer. So I thought, why not ask Lord Beers directly? I’d follow whatever decision he makes! That’s how I came here.”
“So what you’re saying is…”
Vaileon spoke in a gentle tone.
“You’re confused about whether to tell me or keep it secret.”
“Yes.”
“…Does this have something to do with the Fourth Princess?”
Marien rolled her eyes quietly. Vaileon was clever, perceptive, and thoughtful. How much did he already know?
I’m the one possessed by the book, yet why does it feel like everyone else here is a master of mind-reading except me?
Thanks to the secretly sent investigators and informants, Marien had no external help. I’m always the one running around on my own.
Marien cautiously looked up at her lover and nodded, her eyes conveying the message: “How could I, a mere mortal, refuse the orders of Her Highness the Princess?”
“I’m ready to listen. Tell me.”
Oh no… if this works this fast, it could be awkward in another sense.
Marien was inwardly flustered and raised one hand, signaling for him to wait.
“P-please, calm down.”
“Do I look excited to you?”
Vaileon smiled faintly.
“I didn’t know before, but now is not the time to be clueless. You’re calmer than ever, so speak.”
“But Lord Beers would surely dislike this. Or… do you already know roughly what it’s about?”
“Marien, don’t try to fish for answers. Otherwise, our conversation will just circle and you’ll stew in your own frustration, understand?”
This was a serious problem.
Everything Vaileon said sounded reasonable. And it wasn’t wrong either.
Every time, Marien wished there were a machine that would tell her the correct answer for a fee. Even just an O or X would do! A little consideration for those of us not born a genius!
Because that’s exactly who I am!
“I wish I had the same confidence in my words and actions as the Fourth Princess…”
Marien muttered unconsciously. Though it wasn’t the question Vaileon expected, he didn’t miss it.
“Interesting. When I think of Marien, the first image that comes to mind is you entering the office, brimming with confidence.”
“Excuse me?”
“If I had to pick a recent example, it would be when you tried to make Duke Blackwood bald.”
Marien’s lips slowly parted in surprise at his totally unexpected insight.
Vaileon recounted calmly that it was one of the most bewildering things he had ever heard in his life.
“And you didn’t even tell me why. You said there were circumstances you couldn’t reveal, and that you’d explain later. Yet, I still helped you because…”
Vaileon gently tapped Marien’s round cheek. A soft smile played on his lips.
“It was your overwhelming desperation and absolute certainty that compelled me.”
“I see.”
“I guarantee, with that level of certainty, you could start a whole new religion.”
So that was the kind of madness that could make someone a legitimate cult leader.
Marien recalled herself that day. Her sparkling bald head, shining beautifully. The melody that had dominated her thoughts like a round-song returned to her memory one after another.
Soon, she faced an uncomfortable truth.
Perhaps I’m closer to that Cain I despise than I thought.
When she wanted to protect someone she cared for, her mind went blank. But when she wanted to teach someone a lesson, her mind worked perfectly.
Specialized in making others suffer.
She frowned naturally. She had no expectations of being on par with someone like Odette or Vaileon. Marien understood her own level.
But she certainly didn’t want to become the morally bankrupt Cain Blackwood!
“Speaking of religion, I just remembered what I wanted to say.”
Marien took a deep breath before starting her story.
“I have to go to the temple with Priest Anais tomorrow. I was told to ask a few questions while I’m there.”
Marien kept the explanation as concise as possible. Telling the full truth would only upset the listener.
“When you go to the temple the day after tomorrow, braid your hair loosely to one side and let it fall in front. I’ll lend you glasses with no prescription, so wear those too. Clothes… dress moderately. Avoid anything that overly resembles someone specific.”
She couldn’t tell Vaileon that Odette had dictated even her outfit. But Vaileon understood the situation from her condensed explanation.
“So Her Highness has defined Marien’s role.”
Marien felt a slight sense of alienation at how effortlessly Odette and Vaileon seemed to communicate even from a distance.
“It’s not about defining a role. It’s more about seeing if sending me as a messenger works. A sort of test, I suppose.”
“You’re so lovable.”
Vaileon suddenly looked lonely.
“It won’t fail, right?”
“Ahaha.”
Marien only gave an awkward laugh.
“Thanks for the generous evaluation. Anyway, whether this works or not, it’s a problem. Her Highness is probably expecting the latter.”
As Marien stepped closer to Vaileon, she caught his pleasant scent. Just breathing it in made her feel calm.
She opened her arms and hugged him, hoping it might ease his anxiety even slightly. Feeling the comfort of holding someone dear tightly, she recalled, was supposed to be satisfying. And it certainly made her feel good too.
“Lord Beers.”
“I’m listening.”
“Vaileon.”
“…….”
“You’re not angry, are you? It’s just a joke…”
Vaileon stammered slightly.
“No. I’m not angry. I was just… suddenly—”
“Startled?”
“Yes, suddenly hearing you call my name.”
Vaileon’s hand ran through her hair. Even strands she hadn’t noticed felt the touch.
Her shoulders flinched and trembled with each sweep of his large hand through her pink hair, sending a tingling sensation down to her toes.
“I like it so much.”
Vaileon’s head slowly lowered, his breath smelling faintly of toothpaste approaching her. His voice sounded deeper, hoarser than before.
“I feel dizzy.”
“Yes… Ah, wait. Are you… dizzy?”
So that’s why he’s leaning on her.
“Do you want to sit down? Or should I lay you on the bed, Beers…?”
Marien couldn’t finish her sentence. When she looked up, Vaileon’s heated gaze was on her.
She instinctively knew: Vaileon wasn’t truly dizzy.
“Marien, remember what I said earlier? That I’d give a proper warning before kissing you.”
Did she nod? Would a slight nod be enough for him to notice? He did notice.
“Can I… do it now?”
Vaileon’s beautiful green eyes were so close that Marien couldn’t look away from her reflection in them. She felt spellbound, unable to move.
When she nodded weakly, he let out a trembling sigh of relief.
Then, their lips met smoothly.
Her ears caught his rapid, shallow breaths.
Vaileon’s hand slowly stroked her back. Marien never imagined her first kiss would last this long.
As he said, it was an overwhelmingly sweet, dizzying night.
◇ ◆ ◇
The next day.
Before entering the temple, Marien checked her appearance one last time.
She wore a blouse with vertical frills at the front, a long skirt, and her hair loosely braided to one side.
With the round glasses Odette had given her, she looked more like a librarian than a royal attendant on a mission.
That hairstyle is for virtuous but sickly mothers, isn’t it?
It had appeared so often it earned the nickname “short-lived hair.” The female character with this hair would die young of illness.
Odette’s mother hadn’t died young, but she still had the hairstyle associated with misfortune. Perhaps that was why.
Savebril Harun.
A spy from the Haman Kingdom, a neighboring nation and long-time rival of the empire. Fluent in eight languages, able to decipher any code, and capable of disarming armed soldiers with her bare hands.
Odette had clearly inherited her mother’s exceptional intellect. Before the imperial agents caught them, Savebril personally trained her young daughter.
But a spy who even captivated the Crown Prince… maybe there’s a reason she seems so alluring.
Marien quietly observed herself in the mirror.
Librarian, diligent model student, volunteer, church sister always carrying a Bible. Nothing else came to mind.
Well, I do look safe enough.
Odette’s father, the Crown Prince at the time, would have been trained from a young age to be cautious of sensual types due to his noble status.
To approach such a wary man, presenting a “safe” appearance was probably the best choice.
Whatever the reason, she was definitely smarter and prettier than I am…
Enough chatter—time to accomplish the mission.
Marien boldly stepped into the temple. To her, it looked like a den of perverted cultists. Everything seemed suspicious through those colored lenses.
“Sister, do you need any help?”
An older woman approached with a gentle smile.
Judging from her priestly robe, she appeared to be a priest like Leslie. Marien now understood what a proper priest’s robe looked like.
It looks solemn and clean. Doesn’t seem uncomfortable to move in. That guy was the problem.
Like a hero entering a villain’s lair, Marien had been ready to fight anyone she saw.
But seeing the gentle priest holding a child, she smiled like a rabbit angel who had just landed on the ground.
“Hello. I came to see Priest Anais.”
“Oh, she’s in the confession room right now. It might take some time. Would you like to wait on that chair?”
“Understood. Thank you.”
The priest passed Marien, holding the child. Instead of sitting on the chair, Marien walked deeper into the corridor.
