WMCT 09

Chapter 09

“So the princess, after coming in earlier cursing about the work and lying that she was going to the temple so she wouldn’t get scolded by the duke, deliberately got into this carriage?”

“She thought that if she killed some time and went home later, her father might be less angry. Hehe.”

Iblea glanced at Calypso’s expression and gave a small, awkward smile. But it didn’t last long. As Calypso’s expression hardened, her smile gradually faded.

“By the way, Princess.”

“Yes?”

“Why did you bother telling the truth? I wouldn’t have known you were lying even if you hadn’t said anything.”

Iblea let out a small sigh. So this is where it comes.

“I didn’t have any money.”

“What?”

Calypso asked again, wondering if she had heard correctly. At his reaction, Iblea spread both arms as if telling him to look closely at her.

“Look. I don’t have a wallet right now, and of course I don’t have a maid carrying one for me either. I can’t go to the temple like this. So what choice did I have? I had to be honest with His Grace the Grand Duke.”

“So you’re not going into the temple?”

“Yes. So, while Your Grace is attending to your business… may I just stay quietly in this carriage?”

“Quietly? You?”

Calypso looked as if he had just heard the strangest word in the world.

No, this man?!

Iblea flared up internally, but from Calypso Aiders’ perspective, it was understandable that he didn’t trust her. After everything she had done from the ducal estate until now.

“I swear I won’t step one foot outside the carriage until you return, Your Grace. Please believe me. I swear on the name of the Calin family.”

She even raised her hand solemnly, as if taking an oath.

I even put my family name on it. This should be enough.

The weight of a noble family name was not light—it was heavy. To swear upon one’s house meant nothing less than absolute certainty.

“Hm. Since we’re already here, why not come with me? I can lend you the money.”

But what was this distrust? Even with an offer of money. To have distrust so deep that even the weight of her family name couldn’t overcome it—Iblea felt like crying over the image of herself that had clearly formed in Calypso’s mind.

creeeak—

After running for a while, the carriage finally came to a stop. They had arrived at the temple. As expected, a knight’s voice came from outside.

“We have arrived at the temple.”

Without hesitation, Calypso reached for the carriage door handle.

But Iblea quickly grabbed his hand. Calypso’s brow twitched at the sudden action.

“Princess. What is this?”

“You absolutely cannot open that door. Absolutely not!”

“What…?”

“You must not open it!”

“What do you mean—no, first let go of my hand. I won’t open the door like you said.”

Only then did Iblea realize her hand was on his. In her urgency, she had grabbed Calypso without thinking. She quickly let go. With his hand freed, Calypso also released the door handle.

“What is it? Why can’t I open the door?”

“Your Grace. You don’t realize you almost caused a huge incident just now, do you?”

“A huge incident?”

“If you had gotten out just now, a scandal between us would’ve exploded!”

“A scandal… what nonsense.”

“It’s not nonsense. Think about it. You’re unmarried. I’m unmarried. If an unmarried man and woman get out of the same carriage together? Oh my goodness.”

Iblea dramatically covered her mouth, acting as if shocked. Then she shivered as if frightened.

“There are so many eyes at the temple. Ugh… rumors about us would spread across the capital within half a day.”

“…So what are you suggesting?”

“What else? I’ll stay perfectly still inside the carriage so you don’t get caught in an unwanted scandal. I’ll stick to the seat like this, and you can open the door. If I stay like this, no one will think there’s anyone else inside except you.”

With that, she pressed her entire body against the seat—head and all—flattening herself dramatically.

“Go on!”

But even after a second, then five seconds passed, there was no sound of the door opening. Suspicious, Iblea slowly lifted her head from the seat.

Calypso, legs crossed and arms folded, was staring at her as if she were ridiculous. But Iblea didn’t care and started complaining.

“Your Grace. Are you not getting out? I’m a little uncomfortable here.”

Instead of answering, Calypso reached for the door handle and stood up. Thinking he might actually leave this time, Iblea plastered herself back onto the seat.

The sound of the door opening came.

“Princess Calin.”

At the deep voice calling her name, Iblea jerked her head around in shock.

Why are you saying my name out loud? What if someone hears?

“Aren’t you getting out? You said you had business at the temple.”

Calypso tilted his head slightly.

Iblea was completely dumbfounded. She had just carefully explained why she needed to hide in the carriage, and now he was acting like he had never heard any of it.

“Princess Calin.”

And again, Calypso called her without awareness of the situation. Iblea, desperate to shut him up, rhythmically tapped her finger against her lips.

Shut up! Your Grace! That mouth of yours—

As she desperately tried to send telepathic signals, she suddenly noticed a familiar yet unfamiliar face behind Calypso.

Huh?

Blond hair. Green eyes.

It was clearly someone she had met five years ago—Paisley. Their eyes met for a brief moment. Paisley’s green eyes widened slightly before returning to normal.

“Come out.”

As Calypso opened the door and gestured, Iblea tore her gaze away from Paisley and stood up.

Since she had been discovered, there was no choice but to get out.

With Calypso’s help, she stepped down from the carriage. Aside from Paisley, several priests were there as well. Among them, the high priest greeted her warmly, though surprised.

“Princess Calin, you’ve come as well.”

“It’s been a while, High Priest Philip.”

“I heard you had awakened, but seeing it with my own eyes brings me great joy. However…”

His gaze shifted between the two standing side by side.

“How did the two of you arrive together?”

“Oh! My carriage broke down on the way, and just then, His Grace’s carriage happened to pass by. The Grand Duke kindly allowed me to take the remaining seat, so I ended up coming along.”

She covered her mouth and laughed lightly.

“Hohoho. Since Your Grace visits the temple regularly, you must be a very kind-hearted person.”

Calypso looked at her in disbelief. How could she lie so smoothly without even blinking?

“Let’s go inside.”

“Oh dear, I’ve kept such honored guests standing outside. My apologies. Please follow me.”

Inside the temple were high ceilings, long corridors, and artworks and decorations placed along the walls. They were displayed openly without any protection.

That was because this was not a place anyone could freely enter. Only VIPs—those who had donated large sums of money—were allowed in. Since wealthy people came here, no one would dare steal anything. It also served as a display of trust from the temple.

Calypso walked ahead without even glancing at the artworks, and Iblea, having seen them many times five years ago, wasn’t interested either. Still, she looked around casually to pass the time.

“How is Adrian doing lately?”

Calypso glanced sideways at her. At some point, Paisley had slowed down and approached him with a worried expression.

“It would be fortunate if he doesn’t get worse.”

“That’s concerning. Sigh… I need to awaken my healing power quickly so that Adrian…”

clang—!

A sudden loud crash echoed through the hall. Everyone turned toward the source.

Scattered shards of a shattered ceramic vase and a fallen jewel lay on the floor. Beside it stood a trembling figure with golden eyes.

“Uh, um…”

The culprit—no, Iblea—slowly lifted her head.

Iblea Calin. Currently: no money whatsoever.

“H-how much is this?”

Her voice trembled as she asked the high priest.

Calypso felt like laughing.

He had never seen such a disaster-maker in his life.

The corridor they were walking through was wide enough that there was absolutely no reason to approach or touch the displayed ornaments unless one deliberately went out of their way.

Moreover, this was a place only high-status, wealthy individuals visited. That meant none of them had any interest in such decorations.

But Iblea Calin had become interested. She had gone over, touched it, and finally broke it. She had accomplished what no one else ever did.

It was probably the first time since the temple was built.

A person who broke one of its ornaments.

And that very first person was now trembling slightly, having just heard the price from the high priest checking the ledger. Yet Iblea Calin smiled calmly as if nothing had happened.

“Understood, High Priest Philip. I will compensate for it on my way out.”

The high priest nodded, not particularly alarmed. Knowing the wealth of House Calin, he didn’t think it was a big issue.

But what he didn’t know was—

Iblea was already in full internal crisis.

No money. And on top of that, this was humiliating.

Damn it! I just touched the jewel because I was curious!