Chapter – 09
“I’ve never even seen my parents’ faces, yet I grew up so beautifully, like a fairy.”
“…I’m genuinely confused. Do you really think you look like a fairy, or are you joking?”
“Ugh, hey! I’m wearing such pretty clothes and I even did my makeup!”
“That’s just an ordinary shrine maiden outfit.”
The two of them bickered as they approached the officials.
When they arrived, the officials were shivering at Kyle’s cruelty for even killing a baby bear.
Di remembered that the people of Petten loved animals far more than she had expected.
So it wasn’t surprising that they considered Kyle a cold-blooded person for killing the baby bear.
Di tiptoed to whisper to Kyle.
“Don’t say a word. Got it?”
Startled by her sudden closeness, Kyle quickly composed himself and said flatly,
“Why not?”
“If you speak, I’ll tell everyone that after you caught the bear, you were looking around to see who noticed my heroics.”
“…Damn it.”
Muttering while showing a troubled expression, Kyle’s mouth was shut by Di. She then began acting as if she were sobbing and rushed toward Stephanie in the distance.
“Stefanii! I almost died while wandering in the forest just now!”
“Eh… really?”
“Suddenly, that baby bear charged at me thinking I was a fairy, trying to play, and I almost died… but Kyle saved me!”
“You… His Majesty?”
“Yeah! Then suddenly the bear’s mom or dad showed up and tried to attack Kyle, but he, in an incredibly cool pose… with amazing arm muscles, drew his bow and hunted the bear so heroically!”
Hearing her repeat how “amazing” he was made Kyle turn his head in discomfort.
He had wanted at least a few people to witness his skills, but not this kind of commotion.
To make matters worse, Rita ran over and shouted at him.
“His Majesty saved the shrine maiden! Lord Roxand would be pleased!”
“No, priest… you really believe that fraud is a shrine maiden…”
Kyle tried to speak, but Di, with her hands behind her back, pretended to search around.
“Ah, I wonder if anyone saw my amazing archery skills.”
Stephanie, unable to understand her threat, tilted her head.
“Shrine Maiden, what is the matter all of a sudden?”
“Oh, I must have been so scared earlier that my head went fuzzy…”
“Oh my, you should lie down and rest immediately.”
Under Di’s threat, Kyle remained silent.
Soon, some locals passing by murmured upon seeing the bear.
“Oh my, who could have caught such a young bear? So cruel.”
“I heard His Majesty Kyle caught it?”
“Oh dear, really.”
They couldn’t say it aloud for fear of Kyle hearing, but their expressions clearly showed their disdain for Kyle’s cruelty in killing the baby bear.
Then a soldier spoke.
“Ah, that… it seems the bear charged at the shrine maiden, so His Majesty had no choice but to catch it.”
“Oh, I see. Then it can’t be helped.”
“Oh my, the shrine maiden was almost in danger.”
Hearing their conversation, Di, pretending to be hurt, clutched her chest and said as if distressed,
“Do you know how much pain Kyle felt after killing the baby bear? He made sure to pierce the nape cleanly so the bear wouldn’t suffer.”
“Oh my. His Majesty must have felt bad too, shrine maiden.”
Kyle frowned.
‘How can she lie so casually… That fraud.’
Di’s shamelessly stretching Kyle’s heroics amazed him. Since arriving in Petten, he had never received such positive attention.
He was irritated, but there was no denying he owed this fraud a favor.
He felt slight gratitude, but also vowed never—absolutely never—to be fooled by her. If he didn’t stay alert, the country might be in danger.
The hunting contest ended this year once again with Kyle’s victory. After the bear incident, no one else could even catch anything despite Kyle waiting for them.
A few days later, when Kyle told the officials he wouldn’t participate in next year’s contest, they were delighted like office workers hearing a canceled company event.
Lord Roxand, after returning to Petten Castle, drank every day and lazed around, but one day suddenly left for the western shrine in search of freedom.
Now, Di’s anger exploded—she had to prove she was the real shrine maiden.
“No! I need to prove I’m the shrine maiden! I even got him drunk for this!”
Rita, alarmed, tried to stop her.
“Sh-shrine maiden! You shouldn’t say that…”
“Just wait until I meet him!”
Rita was moved, while Di angrily slammed a chart of constellations.
“Why am I so talented at astrology? I don’t even want to do this, yet I’m so good at it! It just sticks in my head!”
Originally, Diana the shrine maiden was skilled at astrology, as Rita had read in books, but she had no chance to mention it while calming Di.
At that moment, chaos also seemed to be happening outside. Di peeked out and saw two middle-aged officials arguing. One of them was Telden, who lived on expensive land he had visited before.
“Heavens! Diana the shrine maiden is more spiritual! She knew I had a daughter as soon as she saw me!”
“Pfft, did you not see Amila the shrine maiden shoot her bow? She was exactly like a shrine maiden!”
“But… Stephanie, the head maid, said the shrine maiden read the sadness in her heart even without seeing her face?”
The other insisted it was all about “appearance.” Di pouted, thinking,
‘Objectively speaking, I’m more spiritual…’
Telden shouted,
“Then why don’t we meet Amila and see what revelations she gives!”
“Ah… Amila the shrine maiden is always meditating. Ordinary people like us can’t meet her.”
“Then let’s ask Diana the shrine maiden!”
‘No, why me!’
Di hurriedly returned to her table. She planned to pretend to meditate, but Rita looked puzzled, unused to this behavior.
Meanwhile, Telden came in.
“Shrine maiden, please hear me out.”
“I’m meditating, Telden.”
“It’s urgent… Walter has a question for you.”
Her false eyelashes must have been drooping.
Di sighed and opened her eyes. Telden continued.
“You know, shrine maiden, half the people in the city now follow the Eastern shrine maiden. They match the rumors—black hair and ruby-like eyes.”
Di assumed that even she would believe the Eastern shrine maiden’s appearance.
When she opened her eyes, Walter’s face was full of disbelief. Di lifted her chin arrogantly.
“You dare test me?”
Walter flinched. She had struck the nerve.
Clearing his throat nervously, Walter said,
“I heard you are skilled in astrology.”
“And?”
“I want to know how long I can continue my duties.”
Walter’s sarcasm prompted Di to lean forward and stare at him with her mystical green eyes.
“Tell me your birth year and time.”
Di wrote it down in Korean. Walter flinched—it was a language he hadn’t seen before. After moving to this world, she had naturally become bilingual.
Di theatrically shouted in Korean, “Oh! God of Astrology!” Walter turned pale with fear.
Di rested her chin on her hand and asked lazily,
“Your joints hurt, don’t they?”
“How… how did you know?”
Di continued,
“When you sit and stand, your knees must ache recently, right?”
“Y-yes…”
Di shook her head as if pitying him.
“You were born under a star that will give you weak joints in old age.”
Most people’s joints worsen with age, but as Master Kim Seonnyeo said, giving a general prediction is not a disadvantage.
Her experience living with the matron of fraudsters had been invaluable.
Walter was on the verge of tears.
“What should I do, shrine maiden?”
“Take care of your knees if you want to last long. Don’t just sit all the time; take a walk at least once a day.”
“W-walk?”
“Yes. On flat ground, not hills. Hills are worse for your knees.”
‘I don’t know if I’m a doctor or a fraud…’ Di mused. Walter looked happy nonetheless.
He trembled as he said,
“I’m sorry for any disrespect, shrine maiden.”
“I’m going out to meditate.”
Di lazily shooed him away. Telden shrugged. At that moment, a priest entered the shrine.
“Diana the shrine maiden, His Majesty summons you.”
“Ugh, it’s been only a few days since I last saw him…”
The word “His Majesty” sent shivers down her spine. Whenever summoned, she felt as if he intended to kill her and all the priests. She forced herself to rise and slowly made her way to the king’s office.
At the same time, Amila emerged from the opposite shrine and saw Di. She glared at her.
“Western shrine maiden.”
Her eyes were not just colored—they were emotionless and chilling.
Honestly, since Amila appeared, Di hadn’t even wanted to be a shrine maiden and wished she could run away. But for the lives of Rita and the priests, she couldn’t escape. Di smiled lightly.
“Hello, Eastern shrine maiden.”
“You fraud is still holding up well.”
“I’m not a fraud. I came here because Lord Roxand called me.”
Amila stared at her expressionlessly. Since day one, Di noticed Amila rarely changed her expression.
Amila slowly spoke,
“If I win, I won’t just kill you.”
“…Huh?”
“I’ll make you wish you were dead.”
A chill ran down Di’s spine.
‘I knew she wasn’t ordinary, but I didn’t expect a sociopath…’
Di asked seriously,
“Amila, you don’t have any friends, right?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“If you have no friends, your star foretells loneliness in old age. Make friends—even someone like me.”
“I don’t feel emotions.”
‘I know. You’re clearly a sociopath by your star…’
At that moment, the office door opened.
Kyle, buried in paperwork, frowned as the two entered. He leaned back in his chair and said,
“You both know Gotins, right? Where it is?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Amila smiled gently, while Di’s eyes rolled at the unfamiliar place. Kyle continued,
“Recently, ghosts have been appearing there, causing people to have heart attacks.”
“Gotins is already rumored to be haunted, isn’t it?”
“Yes, but recently it seems more serious than just rumors.”
“Understood.”
“I’ll recognize as the shrine maiden whoever goes and resolves it first.”
“Yes, we’ll prepare immediately, Your Majesty.”
