PUBW 32

Chapter  32

The fact that they knew I was at Artif’s house but didn’t storm in… that’s actually kind of surprising.

“Why? Technically, he’s Your Highness’s descendant, isn’t he? Seriously, why do you hate your own descendant so much?”

The Redmonds and the imperial family had always been at odds, but Chase seemed to despise Artif even more than usual.

“A curse is always a blood-borne curse. You absorbed it directly, so it became engraved onto your soul.”

“Which means…”

The fragments of paintings floating all around gathered into one.

Artif, who so often concealed his appearance. The way he wasn’t surprised when I understood human speech. And lastly, when he said he had a request for me.

“Yes. My curse manifested in the current duke.”

“But I don’t understand. Artif is suffering because of Your Highness. So why do you hate him so much?”

“Artif… you call him quite familiarly.”

“That’s not the point right now.”

The reason Artif said I wouldn’t see him for half a month was because he kept turning into an animal.

That lonely smile he wore under the moonless sky still lingered in my mind like an afterimage.

“Isn’t it obvious that I would hate my own descendant who was cursed because of me?”

“Obvious?”

My fist clenched tightly around my robe. To think he could be so brazen when he should be begging for forgiveness.

“The duke did anything and everything to break the curse, no matter how cruel. In the end, he even turned to black magic.”

“Artif… did that?”

But the man I knew was one who cared deeply for his people, who carried out his duties wisely, who was a leader worthy of respect.

“You were deceived. Once he realized you were the saint, he disguised his intentions to break the curse. If you think carefully, there must be suspicious parts.”

“Artif would never…”

Artif had realized that I could understand human speech. He had shown signs of obsession with me, too.

When he turned human, he had been surprised—but not by the fact that I was human.

‘He looked startled, but it was more like… because I transformed suddenly.’

And when I appeared in his bed, he hadn’t asked me a single question.

I was lost in thought when Chase spoke again.

“Don’t ever get close to him. To break the curse, if he could, he would steal every last bit of your divine power. And there’s no guarantee your soul would remain intact afterward.”

At that, I couldn’t say anything in return.

Even as the maid helped me wash and change into a negligee, even as I drifted off to sleep—

A seed of doubt began to sprout.

The next day, I told my family everything.

That I turned into a cat. That I was Saintess Elluna. And that Chase was none other than Calix, the founder of the Redmond line.

Father said Chase’s words couldn’t be trusted and immediately requested an audience with the Pope.

To our surprise, the notoriously lazy Pope accepted right away. That’s why I was now arriving at the temple.

“Be careful, Sharl.”

I took Leandro’s hand as I stepped out of the carriage.

“Aren’t you busy, brother?”

I appreciated him coming with me, but didn’t he have a mountain of work back home?

“I already handled everything while Father was away. This time it’s his turn.”

Leandro, whose face had regained its healthy glow since my return, spoke brightly.

Though Father’s dark circles practically reached his chin.

“Welcome, Viscount Retel, Lady Sharlize Retel. I am Colin, chief priest in service to His Holiness the Pope.”

Colin, dressed in a pure white clerical robe, approached us. His face looked just as haggard as Father’s.

“Allow me to escort you immediately.”

He looked as if to say, I’m exhausted, so let’s skip the tour and just go straight there.

I followed Colin, glancing around as we walked.

This wasn’t my first visit, but knowing now that I was the saintess gave everything a strange feeling.

Did I once live here?

I thought maybe I’d remember something upon returning, but nothing came.

“His Holiness awaits you inside.”

Leandro and I entered the room we were guided to.

It wasn’t particularly large, but light from a high skylight shone down on a statue of Odros, god of the moon.

At the center sat a sphere that seemed to be a divine power detector.

But the Pope was nowhere to be seen.

“His Holiness…”

“My apologies. Please wait just a moment.”

Colin, all politeness despite his grim face, walked behind the statue.

That’s when I noticed a foot sticking out from behind it.

After a brief rustling, Pope Seth finally appeared.

“Yaaawn~ You came early.”

His watery-colored hair was tousled, his glasses crooked as he pushed them back into place.

“Well, since this is our second meeting, let’s skip the greetings. Come here.”

It had been ages since our first meeting, but I had no desire to exchange pleasantries anyway.

Still, was it really okay for a clergyman to be wearing his shoes crushed at the heel like that?

“Your Holiness, I recall asking for this matter to be handled in utmost secrecy,” Leandro said, eyeing Colin.

“Ah…”

Seth reacted slowly, as though still half-asleep.

“My apologies. Then I will take my leave—”

“Forget it.”

Seth cut Colin off shamelessly.

“I don’t do any work anyway. He does it all. Just think of me as a puppet pope. From now on, just talk to him instead. In fact, let him conduct the divine power verification too.”

And with that, he actually started heading for the door.

“Your Holiness.”

Leandro’s voice stopped him. Seth turned back, annoyance plain on his face.

“If you are truly the pope, you cannot leave this place. If you are not, then you cannot leave his side.”

I frowned at Leandro’s excessively roundabout noble phrasing.

“Heh.”

Unlike me, Seth immediately understood, letting out a dry laugh before approaching again.

“The young lord issues death threats with such refinement.”

Leandro only smiled brightly.

So he really was threatening him. I knew it—he has that hidden mastermind vibe.

Perhaps not wanting to die, Seth waved Colin away instead.

“Why are you still here, young lord?”

“And why should I leave?”

“Ordinary people may not attend official verifications.”

“….”

Grumbling, Seth muttered with discontent.

“What are you, a helicopter parent? Hovering over her divine power test?”

Well, he wasn’t wrong. My family was overprotective.

“This way, young lady.”

Seth spoke, slouching as usual.

I swallowed hard as I stepped up to the sphere.

I thought I had accepted being Saintess Elluna. But the thought of officially measuring my divine power had me trembling with nerves.

“W-Will the results come out right away?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“You’ll see.”

So much for an explanation. And he’d even driven out Leandro under the excuse of formality.

“Now, place your hand on it quickly. I’m busy, you know.”

With no other choice, I slowly pressed my hand to the sphere. My hand sank into it at once.

“Ugh!”

A blinding light erupted, engulfing both Seth and me.

I blinked open my eyes against the dazzling brightness.

“Where… am I?”

I stood alone in the middle of a dense forest.

“Wow. This time you’re a child?”

Stretching out my hand, I saw it was tiny—like pulling at jelly, it seemed smaller and softer.

Then a rustle came, and out from the bushes popped a small child, just my size.

The child’s face lit up instantly as they ran over.

“I’ve been waiting! Why were you just standing here instead of coming?”

“….”

Had I promised to meet this child? Maybe I wasn’t small, maybe I had fainted and was dreaming.

“Huh? Why aren’t you answering? I missed you!”

The child grabbed my hand warmly. For a dream, the touch was far too real.

“Eh? El~lu~na~”

“Ah…”

The child called me by name—Saintess Elluna. I was witnessing the past.

“Are you sick?”

Their hot little hand pressed to my forehead.

“No. Did you wait long?”

I shook my head, plucking a leaf from their fiery red hair.

“As long as you came, it’s fine. Let’s hurry and play!”