🔊 TTS Settings
chapter 12
Four lifeless eyes stared intently at the apple in her hand.
Gurgle.
That sound—there was no mistaking it—came from the children’s stomachs.
‘Are these kids hungry?’
After a brief pause, Sienna held out the apple toward them.
She was very hungry herself, but she wasn’t heartless enough to ignore starving children.
“Here, eat this.”
“…”
Strange. Instead of rushing to take the apple, the children stepped back.
Sienna tilted her head in confusion.
Even Anna, who was as thin as winter firewood, hesitated. Maybe there was a rule in the temple that the children couldn’t eat freely.
‘You know, like how saint candidates have to watch their figure.’
Then offering the apple…
‘Wait, am I like that kid in the orphanage who ordered chicken without thinking?’
At that moment, a scream pierced Sienna’s ears.
“Mo… monster!”
Before she could respond, the children scattered like little birds.
“I’m a… monster? Why on earth?”
Sienna scrunched up her face in frustration. Being called a monster by starving kids, and by such a pretty saint!
Just then, a chuckling sound came from somewhere.
“They said it wouldn’t matter if I were a monster from hell, but I never thought I’d actually hear someone call me one.”
“Eeek!”
“Monsters make strange noises. Usually, girls don’t react like that when they see me.”
It was someone Sienna hadn’t expected to meet here. Shocked, she covered her mouth with both hands.
Arthur stepped closer to her.
His black and blue eyes met hers at close range.
Eyes so deep, they seemed to pull her in.
Sienna strained her eyes to resist his charm.
“The person who proposed to me twice speaks rather rudely.”
I’m no longer a beggar—I’m a recognized saint!
Sienna was clean and confident in her beauty, yet Arthur seemed unaffected.
“Ah, that’s right.”
Even her sharp tone didn’t faze him.
As she prepared to say more, a warning rang in her mind.
‘Get a grip, Sienna! He’s the male lead. Don’t talk too much.’
She straightened her posture. It was time to take her leave.
“Well, I have to prepare for the ceremony tomorrow, so I’ll be going.”
“Wait.”
Arthur stopped her as she tried to leave quickly.
“Yes?”
Perhaps because their first encounter was between a beggar and a grand duke, her feet froze automatically.
“Extend your arm.”
Sienna complied. Her reaction was also shaped by social hierarchy.
‘Why am I like this? I could just turn and leave.’
Her slender wrist still shone with the bracelet.
Arthur took a small charm from a velvet pouch—a tiny, pretty piece inlaid with a violet gem.
Sienna swallowed hard.
‘How much is that worth?’
Arthur, noticing her interest, smiled lightly.
“Looks like you like it.”
Click. He attached the charm to her bracelet. The firm touch of his fingers on her wrist sent a ticklish sensation.
“What is this?”
“A bribe.”
Arthur smiled.
Sienna fiddled with the charm, giving him a suspicious look.
‘This seems expensive. Is it okay to accept it?’
It had been only half a day since she had thrown a fit over returning a charity dagger.
‘If I sold the bracelet and charm, I could escape and live well for sure.’
Seeing her hesitation, Arthur said,
“It’s a token of my trust. No need to worry about returning it.”
Sienna, still wary, replied.
“Um… thank you…?”
Despite the awkward thanks, Arthur merely smiled with his eyes closed. His smile made Sienna uneasy; she wanted to leave quickly.
Yet, for some reason, turning around immediately felt uncomfortable.
As she hesitated and took a few steps back, Arthur gave her permission.
“Go on.”
“Y-yes!”
As she finally turned, Sienna thought,
‘I felt the hierarchy again just now…?’
Was she still acting like a beggar at heart?
Blaming herself for her automatically polite behavior, Sienna hurried off, wanting to put as much distance as possible between herself and the male lead.
With each step, the charm swung and glittered.
The temple was quite large. Beyond the central hall with the altar, countless attached buildings sprawled around.
Sienna’s assigned bedroom was in a secluded corner.
She took in the surroundings carefully as she walked.
‘The wall is low. If I climb with a little effort, I can get over it.’
It was only about twenty steps from the wall to her bedroom.
Tall, flexible bamboo blocked the path, planted deliberately to prevent anyone from spying on the temple.
The low risk of being caught climbing over worked to Sienna’s advantage.
‘Escaping tonight shouldn’t be a problem.’
A small pond also stood nearby. A family of ducks splashed and played in the water.
‘I want smoked duck.’
Even her stomach grumbled, but the sight of the ducks made her more aware of her hunger.
‘If I escape and sell the bracelet, the first thing I’ll eat is meat.’
Her body was desperate for food.
Lost in thought, Sienna reached her bedroom.
“The one in the farthest corner, with roses and skulls carved on the door.”
The sturdy wooden door bore delicate carvings of roses and skulls.
‘Why does it have to be such a grim skull?’
Sienna grumbled, then pushed the door open.
Creak.
The room was large, more like a suite with a sitting area and dress room.
“Oh, quite luxurious.”
Like the bathroom, it was surprisingly lavish for a temple.
Stepping into the bedroom, a sharp voice like glass scraping met her.
“How dare you. Do you know where this is?”
Startled, Sienna turned.
A girl, face red with anger, sat on the bed and glared at her.
Long honey-colored hair, dressed in white like Sienna, roughly the same age.
‘Why is she so angry?’
Sienna watched blankly, only angering the girl further.
The girl jumped off the bed, dodged the piles of belongings, and approached.
“You met the royals and didn’t even greet them?”
‘Royals? What are those?’
Before Sienna could process the word, the girl moved closer.
Her gem-like green eyes scanned Sienna with disgust.
When they landed on the bracelet, “Tear of Dawn,” she bit her red lips.
“You? The newly born saint?”
The girl stood directly in front of Sienna.
Her porcelain-white face was flawless, her long hair untouched.
Her body was slim but healthy. Unlike the hungry children or Anna from earlier.
‘Not all saint candidates are treated the same, huh?’
Sienna looked at her, confused.
The girl seemed displeased again, a flash of dissatisfaction in her eyes.
“You’ve gotten rather arrogant, Sienna.”
…Sienna?
Hearing her name made Sienna instantly alert.
She tilted her head.
“Do I know you?”
How does this girl know me, a beggar Sienna who begged outside the temple?
