Chapter 8
“I think something went into my ear. Can you clean it out for me?”
“Nothing went into your ear, Leon. You heard me right. I’ve decided to go to the temple for a week to pray.”
“Waaah! I want to go too!!”
Why is he acting like this when he clearly should be happy I’m leaving the castle?
Because I walk around so actively inside the castle, Leon has been struggling to secretly train and handle work. I’m trying to ease his burden, at least for a week. So why is he saying he wants to come along? I really don’t get it.
I didn’t want to blame him for not hiding his happiness — I’d even seen him quickly hiding whenever he finished training and saw me. I was being really generous.
Maybe he was just whining out of habit, like continuing his usual act?
Something felt a little strange.
Should I take him with me?
I shook my head hard as the thought crossed my mind. He’d only be a distraction.
“Leon, I’m going to pray for your health. They say it works better if I go alone.”
“Waaah, that’s a lie!! You’re lying so you can leave me behind!”
Well… that was true. But what’s wrong with him today?
“Leon, be a good boy, okay?”
I gently cupped his face in my hands and looked deep into his red eyes, hoping he’d understand my feelings.
Hey, I know all your secrets. I’ll bring back something good, so get your money ready.
Maybe he got the message, because his eyes rolled around shyly before he looked down.
“Let go!!”
He slapped my hands away and quickly stepped back.
He turned his head angrily and wouldn’t even look at me.
“Go!! Just go!”
“Okay. I’ll be back soon.”
I left Leon sulking behind me and quickly got on the carriage heading to the temple.
It was the largest temple of the goddess Thea in the north. But after the former Duke of Aster died without an heir, and Leon — known as a fool — inherited the title, all support and connections had been cut off.
When I got off the carriage, I stopped at the holy spring to wash my hands before entering.
As I looked around, impressed by the grand temple, the elderly high priest, supported by others, came out to greet me in person.
I hadn’t informed them I was coming to avoid a big fuss, but the crest on the carriage had given me away.
The high priest, with a hoarse voice, said,
“To think the Duchess would visit our temple… I’m deeply moved.”
“Ah… yes.”
I suddenly felt embarrassed for not bringing any donations or supplies. I’d left in a hurry and hadn’t thought about it at all. I was planning to stay for a week — how thoughtless of me.
“I’ll personally show you around the temple.”
“Oh, no, it’s really okay.”
I worried he might collapse from the effort. If that happened, people might say I pushed him too hard, and rumors would spread throughout the empire.
“I heard you asked to stay here for a week. We’ll prepare a room for you as soon as possible.”
“It’s alright. My maids are already looking for a place nearby.”
“But since you’re here, staying inside the temple would be more comfortable.”
He really wanted me to stay inside, so I nodded. For now, I’d stay outside and move in once the room was ready.
“If you tell us your prayer request, all the priests here will pray with you for that purpose.”
Huh? Why are they joining my prayer? That’s a lot of pressure.
“Ah… I came to pray for the Duke’s health and world peace.”
My textbook answer surprised the priests, including the high priest.
I could guess what rumors they’d heard about me. As the high priest quickly tried to hide his reaction and forced a smile, the others followed.
“I’m truly moved by your kind heart. I’ll do my best to help convey your prayers to the goddess.”
I smiled gently and nodded. The high priest’s eyes were filled with trust. He seemed very pleased.
“Yes, thank you. I’d like to go pray now…”
“The temple tour…”
“For Leon — ah, Leon is the Duke’s name. We call each other by name. Oh dear, I’m rambling. I just really want to pray for him as soon as possible.”
I really wanted to find the sacred sword and make money. Please, just leave already.
The high priest, thankfully quick-witted, told the priests to take good care of me and left.
I washed my hands at the holy spring and entered the inner temple.
There were many people praying in the main hall.
But I wasn’t here to pray — I came for something else.
So instead of praying, I just looked around. A priest came over to me.
“Your Grace, are you uncomfortable?” he asked quietly.
“I heard there’s a private prayer room. Can I go there now? Too many eyes here make me uncomfortable.”
“Is that so?”
The priest looked around the hall and then signaled to another priest. They whispered to each other.
People started looking at me, so I bowed my head to hide my face.
“There’s a private prayer room in the basement. Luckily, one is available. I’ll guide you there.”
I followed him downstairs. Along the hallway, rooms were lined up on both sides.
He led me to the very last one.
The small room had stone walls, a statue of the goddess, a prayer table, and a chair.
“There are trainee priests patrolling the hallway. If you need anything, ring this bell.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
Once he left, I plopped into the chair and stared at the goddess statue.
“How did Kasia find the sacred relic?”
In the novel, she told Leon she found it by accident in a secret place in the Aster Temple.
But the novel didn’t explain exactly where.
I tried hard to remember any clues about the sword “Aisar,” but nothing more came to mind.
Leon, with that sacred sword, had been amazing. Every time he swung it, monsters disappeared.
If I could find it, I could sell it to Leon for a high price.
“If it’s a secret place, wouldn’t it be underground?”
I was a little nervous seeing all the prayer rooms lined up here, but I was determined to find it.
Like a mantra, I stood up and began checking the goddess statue.
In movies, there’s always a secret switch or something, but… nothing.
“Of course. I didn’t expect to find it right away.”
I sighed in disappointment. If not here, I’d just check all the other rooms one by one.
“I don’t like this room — the wall has a crack.”
“I want to pray in a different room for a change of mood.”
From that day, I used all kinds of excuses to switch between underground prayer rooms.
After three days, the priests started
frowning every time they saw me.
That’s how I became a troublemaker at the temple.
