Chapter 13
The rope Ivlea pulled was the one used in prayer rooms to call attendants when needed.
From the moment Paisley had been clinging to her while crying, Ivlea had simply sat down anywhere because it was uncomfortable—luckily right next to the bell rope.
‘If not, I would’ve had to walk over there… how embarrassing.’
Now was the time to show what a true noble was. She absolutely could not look awkward—especially with that girl constantly calling her “young lady” and correcting everything she said.
“Did you call for me?”
A trainee priest rushed in after knocking.
Without hesitation, Ivlea grabbed her necklace. With a sharp snap, it broke in her hand.
She handed it to the trainee priest and pointed.
“Throw this away.”
Where she pointed was the blazing fireplace.
That meant she was going to burn an expensive, perfectly fine necklace.
Paisley’s eyes widened.
“Pardon?”
The trainee priest also blinked in confusion, but quickly regained himself under Ivlea’s cold golden gaze. He took the necklace and hurriedly threw it into the fire as instructed.
“Lady! That’s such a waste!”
Paisley shouted in shock, but Ivlea didn’t care.
“Thank you. You may go now.”
At her dismissal, the trainee priest bowed quickly and left. Now only the two of them remained.
“Remember this clearly. Selling things is not in my dictionary. I’d rather throw it away.”
“…That is such a waste.”
Paisley’s face showed clear disgust. Ivlea scoffed internally.
While enjoying all the benefits of nobility, she acted like she had morals.
“How is it a waste? It’s just different from what you consider waste, Saint.”
Paisley asked sharply.
“Then what do you consider waste?”
“Borrowing money to buy things you can’t afford. Isn’t that what waste is?”
Paisley’s expression stiffened.
“Are you talking about me?”
“Pardon? Of course not.”
It was exactly about her, but Ivlea denied it casually.
“You’re not someone who can’t repay it, Saint. You clearly have the ability.”
“Right. Only low-class people insult others to their face. A noble lady of House Kallin would never do something so vulgar.”
“Of course. I would never do anything so vulgar. And borrowing money for unnecessary luxury is also something only low-class people do. I would never do that either.”
“….”
Paisley stared at her with a blank expression. Ivlea smiled calmly back.
“Are you going to continue praying, Lady Kallin?”
That question made Ivlea even more irritated.
Because she hadn’t been able to pray properly at all.
“No.”
Then a hand suddenly appeared in front of her.
“…?”
“Before you leave, let me give you a blessing. May I take your hand?”
It wasn’t an invitation to leave together—fortunately. But it was an invitation to hold hands.
Ivlea hesitated, then grabbed it anyway. She was already irritated from dealing with this girl, so she might as well take the blessing.
Paisley gently held her hand, closed her eyes, and rested her forehead against it.
“May the god Peluna bless you.”
Ivlea stared down at her.
Nothing happened.
No warmth. No light. No change at all.
‘…That’s it?’
She felt strangely offended, as if she had been forced to sit through something pointless.
When she left the prayer room, an unexpected person was waiting.
Calypso Aedas was leaning against the wall.
Ivlea hadn’t expected him to be outside.
‘He was supposed to already be in the carriage.’
Before she could answer, Paisley spoke first.
“Yes! Of course!”
Ivlea closed her mouth.
Calypso’s gaze shifted between them.
Paisley stepped forward happily.
“I prayed for Adrian today.”
“Good.”
Calypso nodded slightly.
“I hope something good happens. Truly.”
Ivlea watched them from a distance with annoyance.
So that’s how it is.
That girl was a master at acting innocent, and Calypso was a fool falling for it.
‘So this isn’t a romance story… it’s just a fool being played by a scheming woman.’
She turned away, deciding to leave first.
But then someone else appeared at the end of the hallway.
The High Priest.
Ivlea stiffened.
‘Of all people…’
She couldn’t bring up money in front of Calypso, and now there were too many eyes.
But she had already decided.
‘Fine. I’ll just put everything under House Kallin’s name.’
She hated the idea of her father finding out, but she hated more the idea of hesitating in front of the High Priest.
And especially in front of Paisley.
“Oh my. High Priest. Perfect timing.”
Ivlea smiled brightly.
“I feel great after praying today.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“Yes. I think I’ll come more often.”
That was a lie, of course.
Then—
“And about the temple donation and the vase you broke…”
Ivlea thought: here it comes.
“I already received it from His Grace the Grand Duke. He said Lady Kallin asked him to handle it.”
“…Pardon?”
“…Huh?”
“Yes, that’s right!”
Ivlea nodded quickly.
Relief washed over her. Calypso had handled it.
She looked at him slightly moved.
Then the High Priest added,
“But… that was quite a large amount.”
“What?”
“Wasn’t it one hundred thousand gold?”
“…Pardon?”
Ivlea froze completely.
One hundred thousand gold.
