CHAPTER 15
Birds chirped, and sunlight tickled her eyes—a morning so picturesque and peaceful it could have come straight out of a painting.
Because of that, she had ended up oversleeping, but her body and mind felt light and refreshed.
After a simple breakfast, Adele strolled around the Great Temple, breathing in the crisp air deeply.
‘This isn’t bad at all.’
She wanted to stretch like someone in a picture book, but too many eyes were watching.
Though the High Priestess was a kind and generous person who embraced everything, the other priestesses were not the same.
One of them, a priestess named Rebecca, had shown open hostility toward Adele from the moment they met.
“Miss, do you think things will be alright today? It didn’t seem like they’d leave us alone.”
“No, if that’s all, then she’s being kind.”
“Sorry, what?”
“If it were me, and someone like me just rolled in uninvited, I’d have tied her up and tossed her to the eagles.”
“……”
“They even gave us a place to sleep and food to eat. We should do our part. Come on, let’s go.”
Adele pointed to the temple hymnbook Jacqueline was holding. If they wanted to at least harmonize during the morning and evening prayers, they had to study it.
Seeing Adele hum along to the sheet music made Jacqueline feel a little conflicted.
“Miss, you really are something else. I know you were trained as a successor, but the way you adapt to all this so naturally—anyone would think you’ve lived this life before.”
“You really do catch on quickly.”
“Pardon? What do you mean?”
“Nothing. Anyway, look here. There are two sharps in front of this line. ‘A blessing for a sinner like me’—we should sing the word ‘blessing’ with more emphasis.”
Adele corrected Jacqueline’s pitch.
Compared to her past life in Korea as a sales rep, this was practically heaven.
Back then, reciting Buddhist scriptures in the morning and giving testimonies in the afternoon had been the norm. In contrast, San Fidelio had an incredibly relaxed atmosphere.
At its center were the High Priest and the High Priestess, surrounded by priests, priestesses, and the holy knights who protected them.
It reminded Adele a little of Roman temples, but this world was purely fictional, built around divine power.
The doctrines and philosophies were entirely different. Since the religion had been created for the novel’s world, it mostly served as a comforting backdrop for the main characters.
It was the sort of place where a humiliated heroine would collapse at a deity’s statue and sob, “I really love him,” only for the male lead to suddenly appear behind her, shout “You fool!” and embrace her.
‘To think they’d use such a sacred place for that.’
Adele frowned as she recalled the original novel.
Though it was created as a fictional setting, the temple was far too grand, solemn, and beautiful.
The Great Temple where the High Priest stayed, the garden and prayer room of the High Priestess, the training grounds for the holy knights—all of it…
“…Miss, look over there.”
“Yeah, I see it.”
“I didn’t realize it before… but it’s truly awe-inspiring.”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
Haap!
A loud shout erupted from the training ground. Knights were practicing swordsmanship, physical training, and some were even kicking balls.
Jacqueline couldn’t take her eyes off the shirtless knights doing push-ups.
“This might sound strange, but I suddenly feel like I can survive here.”
“…Well, I guess that’s good.”
“Oh my, someone’s coming! I think he saw us watching!”
You always use us at times like this.
Adele calmly placed a hand on Jacqueline’s shoulder. It was too late to run anyway, and there was no need.
They had to stay here for a week. It wouldn’t hurt to get to know some people. Adele stood her ground as a tall knight approached.
“Wow, you must be the famous Lady from House Sergio, right? I recognized you instantly!”
“…Here, I’m just a humble servant of the divine, Agnes.”
Adele greeted him with her usual businesslike smile.
His unique epaulet and the fact that he’d left the training ground without issue meant he must be a high-ranking officer in the knights.
“I’m Vice-Captain Reynald! A pleasure to meet you!”
“The honor is mine. Oh, and this is Sister Jacqueline.”
Conclusion: she needed to build connections. Naturally, she introduced Jacqueline as well, and soon many eyes turned toward them.
“You’re even more beautiful than they said. I thought they were exaggerating.”
“Oh, you flatter me.”
“You’re staying at the volunteer quarters, right? If there’s ever anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask!”
His boisterous laughter was unrestrained.
Reynald…
Adele’s smile grew more meaningful.
If he’d climbed to an executive position despite his carefree nature, it meant he had both a noble background and genuine skill. That only made her more interested.
“You must be great company for your fellow knights.”
“Haha, I don’t want to brag, but…”
She didn’t miss the faces of the other knights twisting in annoyance behind his back.
A wild beast who hasn’t been tamed, huh?
Adele stifled a laugh.
“By the way, you haven’t been assigned a role yet, right?”
“No. They said they’d tell me in the afternoon. The place is so large, I don’t know where I’ll be sent.”
“It’d be great if you were placed with us.”
“…With the knights?”
That would be ideal. Adele pretended not to understand as she observed their barracks.
Unlike the other white marble buildings, the knights’ red-brick tower gave off a dynamic and slightly out-of-place vibe.
“Well, I’ll just go wherever the High Priestess assigns me…”
“There are lots of affiliated buildings. Below here are the academy and squire dorms, and beneath that…”
People like this, when in a good mood, are very helpful—but they’re also the type who won’t do anything they don’t like, no matter what.
Adele memorized the details Reynald shared.
‘If I want to do anything, I need to end up near the knights.’
The scale of the place made it feel like a campus from a Western film.
For anything to happen between a man and a woman, they needed to be within 100 meters of each other. But with a lake that size in the middle, that wasn’t happening.
“Don’t worry too much. Ladies are usually assigned to places like the library or the weapons vault. All you have to do is manage records, so it won’t be too hard.”
“A volunteer doesn’t get to pick her duties.”
The library sounds great. No, the weapons vault is even better.
She could already picture a hundred romantic scenarios—reaching for a book and a hand appears from behind, or hesitating over a weapon’s name only for someone to write it down with a smirk…
“Reynald, you seem quite idle.”
“C-Captain!”
And just like that, a cold wind blew between the budding camaraderie.
“I thought I could leave a training session like this to you.”
“N-no, I just thought it proper to greet the new volunteers…”
Even though Adele quickly lowered her eyes, the sharp and cold gaze brushed over her.
In a typical romance novel, the man would grab her hand in jealousy and pull her away—but this man was calm and unshaken.
Well, if he was difficult yesterday, why would he be easy today?
And Adele wasn’t here for romance anyway—she just had a goal to achieve.
“You’re here, Captain.”
“…Lady Adele.”
His voice was as subtle as his gaze. Like he was looking at a cat blocking his path—couldn’t drag it away, couldn’t swing a sword.
Michaelo, sensing Killian’s discomfort, nudged Reynald aside.
“Aren’t you going back? Training never ends, remember?”
“You always show up at moments like this. Geez.”
Reynald waved goodbye to Adele right before turning back, and she returned his smile.
The fact that even a wild beast like him backed off so easily spoke volumes about Killian’s influence in the knight order.
“…You’re smiling.”
This man wasn’t just a wild beast.
His every movement and word were precise and composed—but that wasn’t all.
If she had to define him, he was like a mythological god of war commanding beasts at his feet.
“There’s no reason not to smile when I’m in the presence of the divine.”
“Lady Adelaide.”
“Agnes.”
“…When did that happen again?”
Even mumbling, he had a sacred aura. The twitch of his eyebrow and the flicker at the corners of his mouth were somehow reassuring.
Killian’s voice grew stern.
“You treated everything lightly yesterday, and today is no different.”
“Lightly?”
Adele raised her head, and their eyes met directly.
Neither looked away or stepped back.
“I respect your rejection. That was your decision. But I won’t accept you belittling my intentions.”
“Then you were serious?”
“I’ve never made a proposal I didn’t mean.”
“….”
“Every word I say and action I take affects an enormous number of people and finances. Knowing that, how could I ever make a careless joke?”
Adele’s smile faded, and Jacqueline, watching from a distance, wrung her hands anxiously.
The tension between the two was palpable. It was best to keep as much distance as possible to avoid getting caught in the fire.
“Didn’t you yourself say that if it were so important, I should wait for the High Priest’s return? Everyone has their own circumstances. For me, this is something more important than anything else.”
“Are you referring to how you suddenly became ‘Agnes’ overnight?”
“…Did you say ‘suddenly transformed’?”
Well, well—did this statue just talk?
Adele scoffed and bit her lip.
Apparently, this stern man said whatever he pleased.
Even now, with one eye twitching, he seemed to have quite a few complaints.
“The affairs of the Great Temple are not to be taken lightly. Nothing here is easy.”
He glanced at the hymnal she was holding. His expression was awkward yet firm, as if stifling a laugh.
“Regardless of what you say, my answer won’t change. I only mention this so you won’t waste your energy.”
“Hold on. Who said I was trying to change your mind?”
Killian’s frown deepened more than ever before.
A man who always spoke like a statue now seemed surprisingly animated.
“Well, Lady Adelaide—”
“Agnes.”
“…Very well. Since Miss Agnes proposed to me and was rejected yesterday—”
“Yes, and that matter ended yesterday, didn’t it?”
He always looked like a statue, but never more so than now.
His frozen eyes and lips made it worse.
Ordinary people might describe such an expression as shocked or at a loss for words.
Oh dear.
Adele’s pink eyes widened in confusion.
“I don’t dwell on the past. I’m too busy for that. Just like I’ve erased yesterday’s events from memory, you should feel free to do the same.”
“…Then why are you still here?”
“Well, I still need a husband. And among all the knights of San Fidelio, surely at least one would share my goals.”
Adele gestured toward the hard-training knights.
While she smiled sweetly at them, Killian stood there radiating frost.
“…I see.”
“Oh, did you perhaps misunderstand? Did you think I stayed to win you back?”
“I did not.”
“Then that’s a relief.”
As her pink eyes smiled, Killian’s brow furrowed.
Though he returned to his usual cold demeanor shortly after, his gaze never left her.
He seemed to be trying to understand this pale, delicate woman—but that would be impossible for someone who had just emerged from an ice cave.
Ding!
A bell rang in the distance. It was time for morning prayers.
A gentle chorus of priestesses’ voices echoed through the temple, bringing peace—everywhere but where those two stood.
As Killian’s icy aura crackled in the air, Commander Michaelo became alert.
Jacqueline, who served the young lady, braced herself, unsure when the storm would explode.
Who would speak first?
Everyone’s eyes turned toward them, and then a voice was heard.
“You…”
“A blessing for a sinner like me…”
It wasn’t speech—it was song. Adele had begun to sing along with the priestesses’ hymn.
“I follow the voice of the divine…”
With her eyes lowered to the sheet music, Adele’s voice was clear and unwavering.
All earthly worries—and even the man before her—vanished, as she focused only on the song for the divine and turned away.
What is this?
Killian, frozen with one hand outstretched, slowly ran his fingers through his hair.
The hymn, now at its climax, filled every corner of the Great Temple.
If nothing else, this round had gone to Adele.
“Um, Captain… Are you alright?”
“…Of course.”
Michaelo carefully approached and bowed his head. He hadn’t done anything wrong, but for some reason, it was hard to meet his superior’s gaze.
Killian’s expression remained stoic as ever, but the hand that had brushed his hair had disheveled his bangs.
It was a minor detail, but against his otherwise perfectly polished appearance, it stood out starkly.
The contrast between his sharp demeanor and slight disorder made even Michaelo, a fellow man, unable to look away.
“Ah, it seems a rumor has already spread among the knights… The High Priestess has personally taken her in.”
“Why would she…”
Even Killian couldn’t oppose the High Priestess’s wishes.
But did he want to? He wasn’t sure. Confused seemed like the right word.
His expression hardened, pushing those thoughts aside.
“Did she mention House Sergio’s sponsorship again?”
“Pardon?”
“She’s certainly the type who would.”
Killian recalled Adele’s smile from before—like she was ready to take on the world. And his confusion deepened.
“Ah, I don’t think so. I heard she sent the House Sergio carriage away right after meeting the High Priestess yesterday.”
“…She sent it away?”
Killian looked at Michaelo.
“Yes. I think she’s made up her mind. Maybe the High Priestess inspired her?”
“No. Agnes—Lady Adele—is not that kind of person.”
“Sorry?”
Michaelo flinched at the rare certainty in Killian’s voice.
He’d only just met her yesterday, and he wasn’t one to ever speak so firmly about others.
“She had everything she needed in that carriage, but she only took some clothes and sent the rest back.”
Michaelo trailed off at Killian’s grim expression.
Tap.
Killian’s thumb tapped his sword hilt, revealing his discomfort.
“Haha…”
Unable to bear the silence, Michaelo let out an awkward laugh.
It was late, but he tried to offer something pleasing.
“…Still, how long can she keep this up? A day or two at most.”
“A day or two?”
“I overheard Priestess Rebecca earlier. She’s decided where Miss Agnes—er, Lady Adele—will be sent.”
