Chapter 26

After the Grand Duke left, Adelia and Emily could enjoy a quiet time.

‘How long has it been since my last tea time?’

Adelia slurped her properly heated tea and cast her eyes over the balcony.

Her eyes turned to Emily who was rolling in the white snow.

After learning how to make a snowman from Adelia, Emily had been eager to make a snowman all day.

At this point she might turn to a snowman but it’s alright because you’re smiling. 

Adelia couldn’t take her eyes off the smile that rose around Emily’s little mouth.

All right. That’ll do.

If you can keep that smile….

knock, knock

A calm knock interrupted Adelia’s thought.

Adelia breathed a sigh and said,

“Come on in,”

When permission was given, an old man with white hair entered Adelia’s room.

“Excuse me for a moment,”

The visitor was none other than Liam.

Liam asked with a surprised look when he found Adelia drinking tea with her balcony window open.

“Aren’t you cold?”

“A little,”

“You’ll catch a cold.”

Adelia smiled softly at Liam’s worried voice.

“I’m afraid I’ve caused you to worry. So, what brings you here?”

“We have a visitor for Adelia-nim.”

Visitor? 

Liam did not reveal the details of the guest, but just described him as a guest.

It meant that he was a hidden guest.

Adelia stroked her chin and wondered what to do.

But the trouble didn’t last long.

Because only two people know that Adelia is in the Great Wall.

“Let me meet him in person.”

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“I’ll show you to the drawing-room.”

“I think it’s better to go alone.”

“But it may be dangerous,”

Liam’s concern was reasonable.

Because he didn’t know the identity of the hidden visitor.

Adelia smiled softly and said to Liam, who could not hide her anxiety.

“Don’t worry about it, for he can’t hurt me.”

The parlor of the duchy was like a room made of ice. It is made of glass stone that illuminates things transparently, adding a sense of mystery.

Adelia stood still and looked round the drawing-room.

Then her gaze stopped in one place. A person wearing a pure white robe from top to the bottom without any patterns.

‘The Cardinal Eustaf,’

Adelia could feel the divine power flowing out of him, although he had been completely hidden.

“Cardinal Eustaf,”

At Adelia’s call, Eustaf, a man in a robe, raised his head.

“You recognized me at once.”

“You’re leaking your divine power. It would be strange if I didn’t recognize you.”

A deep smile rose around cardinal Eustaf’s mouth and quickly disappeared.

Eustaf rose from his seat and slowly removed the robe.

His handsome appearance was revealed with white robes and gray hair that were indistinguishable.

For a moment, she felt as if a magnificent chant was ringing in her ears.

‘He is handsome.’

He shines so much even when he is surrounded by a shabby robe, and if you decorate it properly, he will shine even more.

If he hadn’t devoted himself to God, he would have made a name for himself as a social prodigy.

While Adelia imagined, Eustaf bent down and set a perfect example.

“He who has the will of God, greets the Saint.”

Seeing Cardinal Eustaf’s polite manner, Adelia felt burdened for a moment, but did not show it.

“Stand up, Cardinal.”

“Saint, speak comfortably. I’m someone who will serve you.”

“…okay, Eustaf. But please know that in front of others I have no choice but to be polite.”

“Of course,”

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Adelia and Eustaf sat facing each other.

“So… may I ask what brings you here?”

Adelia’s question kept Eustaf quiet for a moment.

Soon Eustaf’s smooth lips moved.

“How is life in the Duchy?”

Adelia blinked and answered a blander question than she had been expecting.

“I’m living my life without any shortage.”

“…I see,”

Adelia’s mouth gave a positive answer, and Eustaf’s face darkened for a moment.

Eustaf lowered his head and bit his lips.

“That’s too bad. I can take care of you, too.”

Adelia smiled awkwardly and soothed Eustaf, who exuded gloomy energy.

“You couldn’t help it. You’ve been busy leading the Knights Templar.”

“Yes… Please reach out to me next time.”

“Yes, if I need any help.”

Only after Adelia nodded her head did Eustaf’s face brighten.

“But it seems that you’re not just here to just say your greetings.”

Adelia’s gaze turned to a large bundle placed on one side of the sofa.

Noticing the gaze, Eustaf hurriedly unpacked the package.

Adelia leaned her head as she looked at the thick, large book that came out of the bundle.

Eustaf smiled and explained what it was.

“It’s a replica of the Bible.”

“What…?”

“Please accept it.”

Eustaf shoved the “book” into the frozen Adelia.

Adelia accepted the book as if possessed.

Whoosh~

The sound of a stiff sheet of paper ringing in the drawing-room.

Soon after, Adelia’s pupils shook relentlessly like a ship in the midst of a strong wind.

Mistaking that Adelia was surprised by the book itself, Eustaf raised her eyebrows and said:

“These are the oracles that were passed down through the holy stones. The notes written in the margin are my own interpretation.”

However, Adelia was not surprised by the oracle she barely read. 

Although it was a bit different. It was something she had seen back in her original world. And what surprised her is the familiar characters of the words. 

‘Korean language.’

I never thought I would see this handwriting here again.

“Cardinal Eustaf. May I ask you one thing?”

“You can ask me anything.”

“The language of the oracle here… Was it written exactly like this on the holy stone?”

At Adelia’s question, Eustaf nodded without hesitation, as if it was natural.

“Of course,”

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“…I see,”

As if being sucked into a book, Adelia stared intently at the Korean language called oracle.

[Today’s weather is clear nationwide. We plan to keep the weather sunny for the time being. It rained a lot during the rainy season. It is essential to store water. When the northwest wind blows….]

“Is this an oracle about the weather?”

I don’t know why, but I think I’ve seen it somewhere.

“Can you interpret it?”

Eustaf asked with high expectations.

Only then did Adelia remove her gaze from the book and raise her head.

“…surprisingly, it’s very familiar.”

It’s natural, it’s my mother tongue.

“As expected,”

Eustaf remembered a situation with a serious look on his face, as if he had expected it.

“Saint, may I ask you a favor?”

Adelia narrowed her eyes and opened her mouth.

“I’ll listen to it and accept it if I can.”

“It’s not difficult. But it can be a little troublesome.”

“Tell me,”

“Will you interpret the oracle properly again?”

The re-interpretation of the oracle…

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It was an unwelcome word for Adelia.

if it wasn’t for the oracle’s reinterpretation, she wouldn’t have had to go back to the capital and take the saint’s test. 

Adelia agonized with a blank look.

Eustaf kept the tension and faced Adelia directly.

“Very well,”

At last Adelia’s mouth answered.

Eustaf’s face was filled with emotions resembling joy.

“Thank you! Now we can predict disasters more accurately. so that nothing like Rohen would ever happen again.”

“Yes, I won’t let that happen again.”

At Adelia’s low-pitched voice, Eustaf bowed his head.

“…I made a mistake.”

Adelia laughed and shook her head.

“No, you don’t have to apologize. for the cardinal is doing the right thing. I also needed the contents of the oracle.”

Eustaf, without a word, simply bowed his head once more, expressing his gratitude.

“This amount will take some time.”

“It’s all right. I can wait for you as long as you want.”

It was a very faithful posture.

Adelia swallowed a smile and shook her head.

“By the way, I heard that Cardinal Eustaf studied under the Pope.”

“That’s right. I know him very well.”

Eustaf said, flushing his cheeks as if he were thrilled.

“Can I see the Pope in person?”

Eustaf’s face, which had been gently loosened, hardened for a moment.

He immediately spoke in a troubled voice.

“Unfortunately, His Holiness is out of town. It’s already been a year.”

“That long?”

The absence of the Pope, who should have been at the center, would have further accelerated the crack.

Perhaps the Pope knew that his absence would create such a problem.

“Where did he go? It seems to be very important.”

What did he prioritize over the stability of the empire?

“He has gone to the Holy Land.”

Holy land 

It was the world’s most sacred and closest place to God.

A land that only those chosen by God can step on.

Why on earth did the Pope go there?

Was there such content in the original?

No. Obviously, the Pope had not taken a single step from the Holy Land.

‘Is this one of the unexpected events? I wanted to ask him something.’