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CHAPTER 79…………..
“Does the food suit your taste?”
At the Pope’s words, Dmitri and I gave a small nod.
Ah, I want to go back to the Imperial Palace.
…Truthfully, the food wasn’t really to my taste at all.
The splendid grand dining hall.
The enormous chandelier hanging from the center of the ceiling, and the dining hall decorated with pure white marble and lapis lazuli—it all felt like stepping into a banquet hall for the gods.
An endless number of dishes were lined up in rows across the long table.
But no matter what fancy words you dressed it up with, this place was still a temple.
Meat is forbidden here.
That’s why my insides were rotting away.
Unseasoned salad (a pile of raw greens they dared call salad), soup made from mashed potatoes with milk and a sprinkle of salt, and various mushroom dishes….
Delicious, but honestly, really not delicious.
Three meals a day for three days straight with food like this? I’d rather just go back—
“As per principle, since I, Pope Michael Maridris, performed the treatment for Her Highness the First Princess, I could rightfully demand an astronomical sum of funding…”
The Pope continued with a benevolent smile.
“But after consulting with the First Division priests, we decided not to, in accordance with the words of the Goddess of Eiridium: ‘Bestow wisdom and salvation upon the people, and then the dawn shall also shine upon you.’”
Canceled. Cancel that.
I could practically live here forever. My appetite suddenly perked up, and even the squishy, strange-textured mushroom dishes looked like they’d go down smoothly.
Well, of course, Pope Maridris is just showing favor because the Goddess herself commanded him to watch over the princess.
Only Dmitri, who didn’t know the full story, raised an eyebrow as he studied the Pope, wondering about his true intent.
“That Pope Michael Maridris would be so generous… Surely even the Goddess of Eiridium herself must be deeply moved.”
When was it that you were milking donations, and now you suddenly act all virtuous—
That’s what he meant.
The First Division priests, who had been lined up along the wall behind the table, all glared at Dmitri at once.
“…”
The Pope silenced them with a hard stare, and they quickly lowered their heads.
Then he chuckled heartily, lifting his gold-embroidered goblet to wet his throat.
“I understand perfectly well that Their Highnesses, the First Prince and First Princess, may be unsettled by my sudden conduct. But please do not misunderstand. I wish only to help the First Princess out of pure goodwill.”
“Hah…”
Dmitri gave a small laugh, as if utterly dumbfounded.
He set down his utensils, no longer in the mood to eat.
At that moment—
“However… there is one favor I would ask.”
“And what would that be?”
As if expecting this, Dmitri narrowed his eyes with a disrespectful gaze.
“Her Highness the Princess—”
My eyes met Maridris’s. He curved his lips into a graceful smile and spoke.
“Please allow me a private audience with Her Highness the Princess. Furthermore, may I continue to maintain communication with her?”
“…Excuse me?”
“I wish to speak privately with the princess. Oh, of course, in the morning. I am not so shameless as to disturb the rest of a young princess.”
“That will not do.”
“May I ask the reason?”
“Perhaps you might recall the ever-precarious relationship between the Temple and the Imperial House.”
“But one cannot go on living forever as sworn enemies. If that is your only reason, I cannot accept it.”
His persistent objection spilled from his lips.
Even Dmitri—famous among nobles for being imperturbable—showed cracks in his composure when pestered this much.
See? He’s about to blow.
Three vertical creases had formed between his brows, and the light was fading from his eyes, replaced by irritation and contempt.
This won’t do. I need to step in.
The Pope had asked Dmitri merely as a formality. Since I had not yet been formally granted the right to speak as a royal, he had no choice but to address Dmitri first.
But his true goal was for me—the one who could diffuse the tension—to intervene.
So I smiled innocently and broke the heavy silence.
“Excuse me.”
“What is it, Lirien?”
“Yes, Your Highness the First Princess?”
Both men turned to me at once.
One looked annoyed, the other as if he had been waiting for this very moment.
“Please, speak freely, Princess. Ah—perhaps a glass of water? Someone, pour a glass of water for Her Highness.”
“Yes, Your Holiness.”
One of the First Division priests hurried over and filled my cup.
How sly.
Pope Maridris, lest I be cowed by Dmitri’s presence, cleverly drew my attention back to himself.
I politely sipped the water, then spoke brightly.
“I don’t mind! I’d like to hear more about the Temple as well.”
“I am delighted.”
“No.”
“But, Your Highness the First Prince, it is His Holiness’s request.”
Think carefully about our position here.
Dmitri had the Empress as his strong backing.
The Empress’s father, Duke Alphe, would do anything to see Dmitri crowned.
If word spread that he had refused a personal request from the Pope… people might see it as scorning the man who, for the sake of the Empire’s citizens, ensured they received holy water and blessings every year.
Not that I don’t understand Dmitri’s concern.
He probably feared that the Pope might plant strange ideas in the mind of a young royal.
For a royal to publicly side with the Temple was practically to acknowledge the Temple’s supremacy over the crown.
But I cannot allow the Temple to stand above me.
I intended to use them, exploit them, drain them dry. Dmitri’s protection, though well-meaning, was utterly useless.
On the contrary—it only got in my way.
Sorry, but just this once, I’d have to ignore Dmitri.
“I don’t mind at all! If necessary, we can draft a formal agreement to ensure neither side is harmed. And instead of demanding funds, His Holiness only wishes to spend some time with me, isn’t that right?”
For someone like Pope Maridris, this was extraordinary.
He was not merely a zealot of the Goddess of Eiridium, but the leader of a vast organization spread throughout the Estier Empire.
It was as if he had willingly taken a step back and lowered his head before a rival.
Sure enough, some of the First Division priests nodded in agreement with my words, while the Pope shot Dmitri a sidelong glance as if to say, What now?
“….”
Dmitri remained silent, but after a brief, indifferent glance at me, he picked up his utensils again.
As he reached for a mushroom dish, he spoke:
“Very well. If you are fine with it, then I will not object further. I will inform His Majesty. Until then, the matter of private audiences will be held in abeyance.”
“Yes.”
“Thank you!”
I cheerfully picked up my utensils again. The Pope smiled as he reached to offer me some food—
Clink—!
“….”
“….”
“….”
The three of us froze.
Just as the Pope was reaching over with tongs to give me salad, Dmitri simultaneously placed a portion of mushrooms onto my plate, and their utensils collided.
Gulp—
Someone swallowed audibly.
I gave an awkward smile as their gazes crossed.
“Vegetables help you grow strong and tall.”
“Mushrooms are also very nourishing, Your Holiness.”
“Vegetables first.”
“The princess is shy around strangers. It is only proper that I, as her brother, serve her food.”
“For someone shy, these mushrooms are rather large, aren’t they? You’ve practically shredded them to bits. Will Her Highness even taste them at this rate?”
The Pope pointed at Dmitri’s plate.
What had once been mushrooms were now utterly mangled.
That day, the First Division priests spread a rumor throughout the capital:
The Pope dotes on the First Princess.
The First Prince and His Holiness seem to be in that sort of relationship.
When asked why, they replied:
“They clashed utensils…!”
Oh, heavens!
Dmitri’s wrath later fell unjustly upon poor Bael.
The next morning, Ilia entered my room to wake me, holding two letters sealed with the imperial crest.
One from Mother, and the other from the Emperor.
I read Mother’s first, then the Emperor’s.
[If the Pope tries any nonsense with you, use the enclosed item on his eyes. It works instantly.]
What on earth had they sent?
“That’s right, Your Highness. His Majesty also sent a gift!”
Ilia, right on cue, handed me the object.
It was wrapped in pink paper, palm-sized, and round.
When I unwrapped it, my eyes went a little blurry.
“Oh my? It’s… a self-defense spray? Why would His Majesty send this as a gift?”
Why else? If the Pope tried to lay hands on me, I was to spray it straight in his eyes and run.
The letter ended by assuring me he would clean up the aftermath. I handed the spray to Ilia with a firm resolve.
There are even five chili pepper icons printed on it. This could blind the Pope for life.
I must never use it.
With that resolution, I left my room.
Since the Emperor had approved my interactions with the Pope, I dressed with a smile and headed out.
“You’re here.”
“Your Highness?”
I looked at him in surprise.
He had his arm extended. I glanced at my legs, then at Dmitri, muttering softly.
“My legs are healed.”
“….”
“They don’t hurt anymore.”
See?
I stomped my once-broken leg on the floor and even lifted it into the air.
Behind me, Ilia and Mulin exclaimed, “Oh my, oh dear…!” and I turned back at them.
What?
They looked as if they pitied Dmitri.
Though his face was expressionless as always, something was off—his mood seemed terribly sour.
“So your leg is healed.”
“Yes. His Holiness said it would take about a day, and when I woke up, it really was fine. So you don’t need to carry me anymore.”
I can walk on my own now.
Just as I thought this, Dmitri slowly lowered his arm, speaking in a strangely subdued tone.
“You’re going to see His Holiness?”
“Yes! For the private audience!”
“It’s early.”
He reached his hand out and blinked. Dmitri said nothing. Confused, I stared at his hand.
“My, Princess…”
Unable to watch any longer, Ilia bent down and whispered in my ear.
“You’re supposed to take his hand.”
“What?”
“He’s offering to escort you!”
Ah—right. It had been so long since I’d gone outside that I forgot. Carefully, I placed my hand in his large palm.
Only then did his dark mood ease somewhat.
He remained silent all the way to the Pope’s audience chamber.
When we arrived, he stopped before the door and lowered his gaze.
Since I was naturally looking up, our eyes met easily.
He murmured softly.
“His Majesty sent you a gift, didn’t he.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t forget to use it.”
“…Yes.”
After a pause, I nodded obediently, and Dmitri’s lips curved faintly.
“I’ll stand guard outside.”
“Yes.”
“I’ve brought the First Princess.”
The doors opened, and I stepped into the Pope’s audience chamber.
“These cookies were made by the First Division priests themselves. Every year, we send some to the orphanages. They won’t compare to what you’re used to in the palace, but I hope you find them acceptable.”
The Pope offered me a plate piled with cookies, along with a cup of tea.
The cookies, apparently made with whole wheat, were dry and tough. Not to my taste, so after a couple bites I set them down.
Wiping the crumbs from my lips, I looked up at him.
“So, what is the reason you requested this private audience? And what exactly do you mean by ‘continuing exchanges’?”
“Do you recall yesterday, in the Great Blessing Hall, when I said the Goddess had instructed me to watch over you?”
I nodded.
I was wondering about that myself.
In my previous life, I had never so much as gone near the temple, let alone received a divine calling. It was Yevgeny and his mother who frequented it as if it were their second home.
My regression was something the Goddess forced upon me, wasn’t it?
Could it have been intentional, arranged by someone?
And that’s why he was told to watch me?
As I pieced things together in thought—
“Forgive me for asking, but… is Your Highness able to converse with the Goddess of Eiridium?”
“…What?”
I stared wide-eyed at him. He gave a wistful smile.
“I may serve as the Goddess’s aide, but I cannot converse with her directly. I merely interpret the oracles that descend and relay them to the Empire.”
“But you said the Goddess told you to watch me?”
“That, too, was not from an official oracle. It came instead through a dream—two days before I received Your Highness’s letter.”
“A dream…?”
“Yes. I dreamt of the Goddess of Eiridium herself.”
He exhaled as if intoxicated.
“She was so beautiful. Though I was ‘bound,’ unable to move my body or speak freely, she told me personally to ‘watch the coral-colored star.’ Since stars signify the children of the Imperial House, a coral-hued star could only mean one person.”
In other words—me.
“I see. So that is why you’ve shown me such favor.”
“Yes. And in that moment, I thought it would be good to maintain contact as well. So I ask again—can Your Highness converse with the Goddess?”
“Well…”
“Well?”
His eyes shone with anticipation. I answered flatly.
“I don’t know.”
I’ve only had a single encounter with her, after all.
