Chapter 34

Chapter 34

“Then, let me introduce you to the priests.”

After rejecting Duke Icard’s request to the end, the High Priest began to introduce the priests behind him. Since they entered the temple and left behind everything, they didn’t have a last name.

“My name is Marcel.”

A priest with silver hair and black eyes, whom I had been keeping my eyes on, gently greeted me in the middle of the line. A pure gold ring was flashed on his fourth finger.

“I won’t let down and do my best, my blessing.”

Duke Icard said with a slight frowning.

“Aren’t you familiar with the Imperial language?”

“It’s still difficult, the imperial language.”

Marcel replied with a nod.

“I studied abroad in Carovantes. I’m not good at it yet, the language.”

Carovantes was the only country that spoke an ancient language as a holy nation attached to the edge of the continent. If he had studied there, he would have taken the most elite course as a priest.

And, right now, Marcel seemed to follow the word order of the ancient language.

“You are a priest who is in the top twenty in terms of power at a young age, you must be quite talented. I guess it’s because you studied abroad.”

Hearing that, Duke Icard muttered as though interested.

“When I was a kid, I went to Carovantes for a while as well.”

The High Priest added with a smile. “He’s in the top rankings because he’s young, and he’s a boy with a tremendous amount of divinity. Maybe in a few more years, he could be my closest aide.”

“The compliment. I thank you.”

Saying so, Marcel smiled shyly.

“Then, let’s start with the prepared meal.”

‘They’re going to eat at this hour…?’

When I tilted my head out of curiosity, Duke Icard opened his mouth calmly.

“How much did I pay? I can have a meal.”

I was worried that I might have an upset stomach while eating at this time.

‘But, it’s a good opportunity.’

The temple’s dining area was filled with rather luxurious food.

Duke Icard indifferently whispered something to the servant who followed him. The servant immediately opened the box in his hand, and, surprisingly, it was a wine. All the priests couldn’t keep their mouths shut at the seemingly expensive wine.

“Thank you for inviting me.”

It was a rule for nobility to prepare wine when invited to a meal. The same was for the temple, and the priest’s eyes sparkled.

“It’s… a wine I’ve brought myself from the Ollodna region.”

Duke Icard said with a mixture of cynicism.

“If you need a clear mind for blessing, then I’ll just take it back.”

“No need.”

The High Priest had already begun to fiddle the wine glass.

“If you feel good enough, the blessings will inevitably be maximized. So, don’t say that. Why would we do that?”

“Yes, who would dare to?”

[ T/N: It’s a pun because ‘be bitten’ and ‘remove or return’ (and others) have the same verb. So basically, Duke Icard low-key threatened them. ]

“Hahahahaha!”

“Hahahaha!”

At that, the table became noisy. The High Priest even clapped and tilted his head back, saying that his stomach hurt, his eyes filled with tears. This made it clear…

The temple was rotten, too.

The Duke’s humor worked like a litmus paper. It was perfect to distinguish between those who are sincere and those who are not.

[ T/N: Litmus Paper it’s used to measure the concentration of Hydrogen Ions contained in a substance or solution. ]

“Pfft. Hahaha…”

I also laughed along, but on the inside, I thought, ‘Me, too, but the monsters of capitalism are incredible.’ Perhaps, the priests would look at me and think, ‘That daughter-in-law is an extreme job.’

“As expected, you’re amazing! I’ve heard rumors, but you really have witty humor!”

He must have swallowed all the swear words. At the same time, I felt the great wealth and power of Duke Icard. Oh, after all, wealthy people live in the presence of so many rattles.

As I was watching in the laughter session, as soon as the atmosphere calmed down, I quickly stepped in.

“Father, may I pour wine for the priests?”

“Laria, you want to?”

“Yes, they prepared a dinner for me, so I want to show my sincerity.”

It was only polite for guests to pour the wine that they had prepared. Since I also had Icard’s last name, it wasn’t rude of me to do so.

I smiled and continued.

“It’s just… it’s so touching to think that all this is for me.”

“…Though you’re still a minor, so make you pour the liquor—”

“I’m sorry, father…”

“Why?”

“I want to express my gratitude by doing something small like this, Father.”

At my words, Duke Icard’s expression was still stiff, so I decided to drop my head slightly with a sad look.

“Can’t I do that?”

“Laria?”

“Am I being too presumptuous right now?

“…”

“Am I stepping out of place?”

“No, it’s not like that. You can do whatever you want, Laria.”

He finally handed me the bottle of wine in fear of my sad words.

Holding the bottle tightly, I approached Duke Icard first to pour wine into his glass but he stopped me.

“It’s fine. I don’t usually drink.”

“What?”

The High Priest intervened gently.

“Duke is a very weak drinker. That’s why he never drinks. He is famous for not drinking even if His Majesty the Emperor suggested.”

If the High Priest knew about it, then it seemed to be a well-known fact to everyone. So, with the exception of the Duke, I wholeheartedly poured wine to each of the priests. And lastly, I went up to Marcel and poured him some wine, and…

“Oh, right! You’re also a minor!”

Suddenly, I shouted as if surprised and pulled out the bottle, pouring all the wine on his white robe. Marcel jumped, startled.

“Oh, my God!”

“Oh, my, what did I do?! Oh, I’m sorry!”

When I fussed as if I didn’t know what to do, he spoke trying to soothe me.

“It’s okay. Bathroom, I’m going to clean up.”

After Marcel stood up and left the dining room, wiping his collar, I put down the bottle of wine and looked as if confused.

“What do I do? He seemed very upset…”

“Angry at you?”

Duke Icard said indifferently.

“That’s possible.”

“But…”

“He won’t die just because he got a little wine stain. Do not worry about it.”

‘What do you mean don’t worry? That’s what the victim would say out of courtesy, not what the perpetrator should say.’ I shook my head as I disagreed with him.

“I let it be. I think I should follow him and apologize one more time.”

At those words, the high priest also smiled politely.

“That’s all right, princess. You don’t have to do that.”

“No, still… Oh…why did I make such a stupid mistake…?”

“It’s okay, sit down. You’re too kind for your own good. That priest…”

No, weren’t you praising him for his divine power and being in the top twenty?

“It’s nothing serious. Why would you go after and apologize to him? Don’t move when you’re sick.”

‘Why is Duke Icard so determined? If you do this, the plan will go wrong.’

If so, then…

“Cough.”

“Laria?”

“Cough, Cough, I… Cough, I need to go to the bathroom.”

I looked restless, but I took a sigh and left the dining hall. After leaving, I looked around and found Marcel heading to the far end of the hallway.

“Priest Marcel!”

I sprinted as fast as I could and stood in front of him.

“What’s the matter?”

Looking around, there was no one in the empty hallways of the temple. So, I lowered my voice to the point that the people in the dining hall wouldn’t hear me and spoke coldly.

“Hey.”

It was a little rude, though to capture the spirit of the opponent, I had to go strong from the beginning. Especially, if the opponent was a swindler, overpowering them was very important.

My words continued before Marcel’s forehead had a frown on it.

“You’re fake, aren’t you?”

Marcel’s black eyes shook for a moment.

“W-what are you–”

Before he could finish, I grabbed his hand and removed the pure gold ring from his fourth finger.

Then, his silver hair turned blue.