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Chapter 72
Ernst didn’t take his eyes off Adelheid’s retreating back as she walked briskly away.
‘Strange.’
She was a person with a unique energy.
Her long platinum hair shimmered beautifully in the moonlight, her blue eyes sparkled like embedded jewels, and her skin was so clear it felt almost transparent.
Contrasting with her delicate appearance were her piercing gaze and the confident, assured way she spoke.
Even if one couldn’t sense her aura, she was someone hard to forget…
‘And yet, I’ve never seen her before.’
That too was odd. The Patelles Temple was a place frequented by every noble who lived in the capital.
It wasn’t just a place for prayer—it was also a venue for socializing.
He remembered people by their energy, which meant he rarely forgot someone once he met them.
So if someone had such a distinctive aura—and was that beautiful to boot—there’s no way she wouldn’t have stuck in his mind.
And yet she was a stranger. He had never once seen this woman during his long stays at the Patelles Temple.
“Kerak.”
“Yes?”
“Do you know who that devotee was?”
Kerak, who had no desire to get involved with Adelheid, replied immediately to Ernst’s question.
“I do not.”
But that answer earned him the cold, sharp gaze he least wanted to face.
“That’s odd. You should have recorded the donation ledger.”
“Ah, that person…”
But Kerak, the temple’s priest in charge of offerings, was no pushover either.
“She requested to donate anonymously.”
“…I see.”
Was she truly someone who bore the energy of Demeter?
Still, something felt off—the dark aura he sensed from her.
Of course, everyone carried karmic burdens. Even killing a single bug added to one’s karma.
Perhaps Ernst himself, who had judged heretics and punished the wicked, had accumulated so much karma that he might feel ashamed standing before Demeter.
But the aura he felt from that devotee was of a different nature.
‘I’ll have to ask again.’
He had been chasing traces of the goddess that hadn’t appeared for a long time.
Since arriving in the capital, he’d tried to sense her presence again but failed—until now. He had finally met someone touched by Demeter’s light.
He couldn’t let her slip away.
Normally, he would’ve at least offered a greeting, but he had been too deep in thought. Without even offering Kerak a blessing, he pushed forward aimlessly.
Fortunately, Adelheid’s tall, graceful silhouette soon came back into view.
But just as he was about to catch up—
“Ah, my lady…!”
Someone beat him to her.
“I was worried. Wh-where did you go…?”
“I told you, I had something to take care of.”
The petite woman with a gentle face looked like a maid, judging by her attire.
“Still, y-you shouldn’t wander around the temple alone….”
“I said I got it.”
But Ernst didn’t stop to avoid interrupting their conversation.
It was because he had a good memory—especially for things that made a deep impression.
And now he realized something.
That maid’s voice—it was familiar. And the aura she gave off wasn’t unfamiliar either.
That was—
“What should we do? My lady seems… like she’s been possessed by something evil.”
“No, maybe… maybe she really did sell her soul to a demon. I mean, she even dug up the family grave… sob.”
Now that he thought about it—he was certain.
So that peculiar devotee was the very “lady who sold her soul to a demon”?
“Ha…”
Ernst let out a short, stunned laugh before he could stop himself.
It wasn’t so much disappointment as… bewilderment.
He had finally met the unbeliever he had been searching for, but instead of the aura of a dark god, she was radiating the energy of Demeter.
Of course, that wasn’t all he felt from her…
“Perhaps… she’s torn between good and evil.”
If the maid’s words were true, this beautiful devotee needed to be watched carefully.
Besides, wasn’t it his duty to guide those confused between greed and righteousness back to the path of virtue?
But before that—
“My lady, the carriage is this way!”
He had to find out more about her.
Ernst stepped back, memorizing the crest on the carriage that Adelheid and Sophie boarded.
Under the goddess’s providence, he would surely meet her again.
✦✦✦
“Why does the back of my neck feel cold…”
It was already past noon, but I still couldn’t bring myself to get out of bed.
I thought I’d be able to sleep comfortably after solving that urgent matter and landing a hit on Kerak, but my sleep had been strangely unrestful.
“Phew, it’s probably just my imagination.”
Honestly, I did come home at dawn and fell asleep really late, so feeling off was probably natural.
Even so, today wasn’t a day to wallow in gloomy feelings.
Because today was the long-awaited day—the day the Queen of Spring would be chosen.
“My lady, you’re awake.”
I didn’t know when she came in, but Sophie was standing beside me and spoke gently as I stirred.
“Mmm, but I think I’ll lie down a bit more.”
“I-I think you should get up… One of the empress’s ladies-in-waiting is here….”
Ah, right. The empress’s attendants went around to each noble house to collect votes, didn’t they?
Even though I hadn’t unlocked the social route, I’d always participated in the Queen of Spring vote.
“I guess I have to go down.”
Even though my whole body ached with fatigue, I dragged myself up, did the bare minimum to look presentable, and headed down to the parlor.
“Sophie.”
“Yes?”
“Later, call Marco for me. I need to talk to him.”
“O-oh, okay….”
No matter how busy he was, I had to put my foot down: absolutely no more night shifts.
After briefly instructing Sophie, I entered the parlor and saw Paula with an unfamiliar noblewoman.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Ana Ragel, a lady-in-waiting from Her Majesty’s palace.”
“Welcome to the duchy, Lady Ragel. I’m Paula Ulmer.”
“I’m Adelheid Ulmer.”
After following Paula’s lead in offering a polite greeting, the empress’s maid quickly got to the point.
“I’ve come to collect your opinions for this year’s Queen of Spring, as per Her Majesty’s wishes. Please write the name of the candidate you think is most suitable and place it in this envelope.”
“Understood.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Once Paula and I received our papers, Lady Ragel stood up and turned away, perhaps to give us privacy while writing names.
Well, it wouldn’t take long.
To be honest, whenever I played the game, I always wrote my own name on the Queen of Spring ballot.
Adelheid Ulmer
It was a bad habit, if anything…
I had zero interest in the social route and didn’t even know most of the other ladies’ names properly. I could’ve written Paula’s name, but I always wrote mine instead.
Maybe if you checked the votes back then, I might’ve gotten exactly one.
Anyway, after writing my name and sealing the envelope, I finally noticed something strange.
‘Oh.’
Why… did I instinctively write my own name again?
Even worse, Paula, who was writing next to me, probably saw what I wrote…
I glanced sideways to check and sure enough, Paula was looking at me like I was ridiculous.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave. I’ll see you both at the evening ball.”
“Yes, Lady Ragel. Take care.”
“Goodbye.”
As soon as we said a rough goodbye and Lady Ragel left, I headed for the door to follow her out.
“Adelheid, you…”
I heard Paula calling me, but I brazened it out.
“I’m a bit busy, so I’ll go ahead.”
“Wait, hold on. Did you really…!”
If I back down now, I lose.
If I back down, I lose.
“Well then.”
Pretending not to hear Paula, who kept talking to me, I quickly exited the parlor.
“Ugggghhh!”
Once back in my room, I dove into bed and kicked the covers in shame.
