RFNM 04

Chapter 04

Sinkester.

Our kingdom is the only “Holy Kingdom” on the Elysium continent.

All of its citizens are born with divine power, and among them, the royal family is born with far greater divine power.

Since Sinkester is a theocracy, my older brother Erdan, who was born with immense divine power, was both the Pope and the King.

But unfairly, perhaps because I, Charlotte, am a villainess, I have no divine power.

That’s why I become jealous of Aurora and try to kill her, only to be executed by Cedric.

“Aurora, why do you think I don’t have any divine power?”

“Huh? Well…”

When I suddenly asked on the way to the altar, Aurora’s face showed discomfort.

I had asked out of pure curiosity, but Aurora seemed to think I was deeply troubled about it.

Her blue eyes wavered, and she avoided my gaze.

“Maybe it’s because His Majesty the King has so much divine power? It’s said that when one sibling has exceptionally high divine power, another may have almost none.”

“So you’re saying it’s because of my brother?”

“Oh my goodness! Don’t say that!!”

Aurora flailed her hands in shock.

“If His Majesty hears that, he’ll collapse in tears! Do you know how much he loves you?”

“Of course I do. That’s why he entrusted me with the important duty of managing the sacred relics of the royal palace.”

Originally, it was Erdan’s responsibility as both Pope and King.

But to solidify my position in the palace despite my lack of divine power, he assigned it to me despite the nobles’ opposition.

Of course, Aurora, the Saint, also supported me, saying I was qualified.

“Aurora, I’m grateful to you too. I mean it.”

“Charlotte…”

Aurora briefly showed a touched expression before taking my hand.

“You don’t have to thank me for that. I live in the temple outside the palace. Managing the temple’s relics alone is already exhausting, so if you take care of the palace relics, I’m more than happy.”

“Are you really a Saint?”

“Even Saints get tired.”

“Well, your character is certainly clear.”

At that moment—

As we walked down the corridor, a sudden chill ran through my entire body.

Aurora noticed it first.

Following her gaze, I saw a man in uniform.

Since he was facing away, I didn’t see his face, only the emblem on his cloak.

A pitch-black background, a dense forest, two gray wolves on either side, and a greatsword planted firmly in the center.

The emblem of Blackwood, the eastern house of the Blake Empire.

There was only one person on the continent allowed to wear such a grotesque and dark emblem on a uniform, so I had no choice but to stop.

Sensing our presence, he slowly turned around.

As expected, it was Prince Leonard, the 6th prince of Blake.

“……”

Honestly, he didn’t look like an extra at all.

His hair was as red as blood, his nose sharp, and his sleek jawline looked somewhat stubborn.

Even without seeing clearly, the physique visible beneath his cloak made it obvious how much he had trained in swordsmanship.

A broad and solid chest, a large and sturdy build, and long legs extending beneath thighs that looked ready to burst.

But more than anything, what stole my attention were his red eyes.

Those blood-colored eyes felt detached, as if he had transcended all worldly matters, yet at the same time they chilled anyone to the bone.

Could a gaze be both dazzling and terrifying?

As I stood there speechless, caught in that contradiction—

He noticed us and approached with the sound of his footsteps.

“Charlotte, pull yourself together.”

Aurora’s words finally snapped me back to my senses.

Still stiff, I straightened my back and lifted my chin proudly.

He stopped a step away and politely greeted us.

“It is truly an honor to meet the beautiful Princess of Sinkester and the holy Saint of the Elysium continent.”

“……”

“Though I regret that the setting is merely a corridor. If I have interrupted your private conversation, I ask for your forgiveness.”

To be honest, he didn’t seem sorry at all.

He simply tilted his head slightly and spoke stiffly. Even considering he was an imperial prince, it was quite arrogant.

Unfortunately, I suffered from a peculiar incurable condition where I trembled in front of handsome men.

Raising my voice confidently, grabbing his collar, or challenging him to a duel—those things were completely impossible for me.

But unlike me, Aurora, whose heroine energy was maxed out, was firm.

“Prince, we have a question. Why are you in this ‘Dawn Corridor’?”

“…What do you mean?”

“The Dawn Corridor leads from His Majesty’s office to the palace altar. It is far from the guest palace where visitors stay. So why are you here?”

Indeed, the place we were passing through was the corridor leading to the Sacred Blood Altar.

And that altar housed the “sacred relic” that protected Sinkester from invaders.

So wasn’t it extremely strange for a foreign prince to be here?

Coming to my senses, I stepped beside Aurora and spoke.

“The Saint is correct, Your Highness. And if you had arrived at the palace, I should have received a report. But I have not.”

At my words, his head tilted slightly.

“How unfortunate. The news must have been delayed. I arrived half a day ago.”

“Half a day ago? I received no such report.”

“Naturally. You postponed our meeting, saying you were changing your dress.”

As his perfectly shaped brows drooped slightly, I panicked.

“First, I apologize for postponing the meeting. But I truly wasn’t informed of your arrival.”

“Then it must have been a delivery error. However, I have already presented myself to His Majesty.”

His polite and logical answers left me speechless.

But unlike me, Aurora didn’t back down.

“Arriving half a day ago and being in this corridor are separate matters. I asked why you are here.”

“Because I got lost.”

“For half a day?”

“…Yes.”

Aurora still seemed suspicious. She crossed her arms and twisted her lips.

This is going to turn into a fight.

For the sake of Aurora’s reputation as the Saint and my friend, and to show the generosity expected of a princess, I whispered quietly.

“Aurora, let’s just let it go for now.”

“Charlotte, you…”

Then I smiled at Leonard.

“Your Highness, since this is your first time here, it’s understandable that you might lose your way. Our palace is quite beautiful, after all—it’s easy to get distracted while walking.”

“It certainly is beautiful.”

“But saying you were lost for half a day is a bit too much of a joke, don’t you think? No matter how poor your sense of direction is, you’d find a knight or maid if you stepped outside.”

I smiled shyly and fluttered my fan, ignoring Aurora’s glare beside me.

“…Yes.”

But for some reason, his expression didn’t look good as he nodded. As if what he said earlier had been the truth.

“It was indeed meant as a joke.”

“Your Highness?”

“However, I did genuinely have difficulty finding my way in an unfamiliar palace. So could you guide me out?”

“Ah… Ah! Of course. I will assign one of my attendants to escort you.”

I quickly ordered one of my attendants to guide him to the guest palace.

“Then, I look forward to meeting you properly at the banquet next time.”

The prince soon walked away.

But why did I feel uneasy?

Usually, I only felt refreshed in front of handsome men—never uneasy like this.

As I stood there staring at his retreating figure, Aurora poked my side.

“Stop staring already.”

The door to the Rose Room—assigned to the 6th prince of Blake in the guest palace—burst open.

Wondering who would dare act so rudely, it turned out to be Leonard.

William, who had been sitting on the sofa handling piled-up documents, turned his head toward him.

“You have returned, Your Highness?”

But upon closer inspection, the prince’s expression wasn’t very good.

A faint trace of irritation lingered on his perfectly handsome face.

At this point, to be honest…

True to his heaven-given lack of direction, Leonard had genuinely gotten lost.