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Chapter – 22
As I had expected, the princess didn’t seem to like the Marquis all that much.
“Salome! My little sister, it’s been a while.”
“Brother Izmel, it’s been a long time. What brings you all the way to the temple?”
“Well, I came because I wanted to see my beloved sister.”
“Stop talking nonsense. You should get your head straight, considering your age.”
“As I thought, my sister is still fiery. That’s part of your charm.”
Princess Salome laughed and boldly swore. I could somewhat understand her feelings. For some reason, growing up under a brother who cared so intensely for her must have been stifling. Moreover, it seemed the Marquis wasn’t hurt at all, no matter what she said.
“By the way, what did you discuss with Priest Johan?”
“That’s still a secret. I’ll bring you good news soon.”
“I’m not particularly interested in whatever good news you have to share.”
The Marquis winked at me. It seemed he was preparing some kind of surprise news for his sister.
If I were truly going to marry the princess, she would be the main party, yet they were discussing the marriage without including her at all. I didn’t even know where to start pointing out the absurdity.
“I wish I could talk more with my lovely sister, but… time has flown. I really must go. Let’s meet again soon, Salome. Stay healthy until then.”
“Yes, brother. Live long and well!”
The Marquis left with his usual smiling face. Princess Salome seemed to want to say something to me, but my mind was too tangled to have a proper conversation.
I had no choice but to let her go and returned to my office.
It felt as if a storm had just passed. I sat at my desk lost in thought. Somehow, I had the sense that I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on work for the next few days and that I might spend the night awake. And such ominous feelings never failed to come true.
That night, I dreamed of Princess Salome.
When I opened my eyes in the dream, it was morning. I was lying in a soft bed, and the princess was snuggled in my arms.
I shook her gently while smiling. She slowly opened her eyes. I placed a brief bird’s kiss on her forehead.
“—Good morning, my love.”
The princess called me that. My love? A strange term. Isn’t that what married couples call each other? Yet in the dream, I didn’t think it was strange at all.
She lightly kissed my cheek. We got up from the bed and had tea together.
Soft sunlight streamed onto the terrace. The servants brought the tea set to the table. The princess sipped her tea with a pleased expression. I smiled faintly and spoke to her.
“Princess, you look happy.”
“It’s true that I feel happy… but how long are you going to keep calling me ‘Princess’? I told you to call me by my name.”
“But…”
“Now, say it. My name.”
Hesitating, I whispered her name softly.
“Salome.”
“Say it again.”
“Salome.”
“Louder.”
“Salome.”
I said her name over and over. Salome quietly listened, her face full of happiness.
Strangely, the more I called her name, the faster my heart beat. It felt as if something was filling the emptiness in my chest. Did her name hold some kind of magic? It was a question I couldn’t help but ask myself.
Just then, the door swung open, and a child ran in. About six years old, the child had red hair like the princess.
But the eye color was different. The golden eyes seemed to resemble mine. The child naturally nestled into the princess’s arms, smiling.
“Mother, good morning!”
“Good morning, Ciel. Did you sleep well last night?”
“Of course! You and Father appeared in my dream.”
The child, called Ciel, turned toward me. His features resembled the princess perfectly. Her pure smile made me smile brightly as well. I spoke to the child naturally.
“Ciel, what did you do in the dream?”
“I went on a picnic with Father and Mother! It was so, so fun. So… can we go on a picnic today?”
“A picnic? That sounds lovely. We don’t have any special plans today. Shall we go together, my love?”
The princess looked at me and spoke. I hesitated briefly. Although we had no plans, there were some documents I had to deal with. The child approached me, resting against my knee, pleading.
“Father, please! Can we go on a picnic? Huh? Huh?”
I couldn’t help but nod at his earnest request. Excited, the child ran around the room. I warned him to be careful not to fall.
The child returned to me and hugged me again. I lifted him onto my shoulders for a ride, and the princess giggled at the sight.
“Now, let’s get ready for the picnic. Ciel, change into clothes suitable for going on a picnic.”
The child hugged both me and the princess one last time and ran to his room. The princess then called the maid and gave her various instructions. I left the room to change clothes. After dressing appropriately, I read the morning newspaper. It was an extremely peaceful day.
Finally, when the lady announced that she was ready, I headed to the master bedroom. As I entered, our eyes met. The princess had twirled once in place wearing a green dress.
“How does it look? Does it suit me?”
No adjective could capture her radiance. She resembled both the deep green of summer and the warm sunlight of spring.
I stared at her in a daze, then hugged her tightly. She let out a small laugh.
“Let’s go. Ciel will be waiting.”
We held hands and walked to the entrance. Ciel was waiting with a maid. The princess held Ciel close as we stepped outside.
Just as I tried to follow them, my feet wouldn’t move. They hurried on without looking back. I called their names, Salome and Ciel, but it seemed they couldn’t hear me.
By the time they had shrunk into tiny dots in the distance, I woke up.
“What… what kind of dream was that?”
I gasped for air. In the dream, I had married the princess, and we had a son. A completely impossible dream.
I drank the cold water from the table. I must have gone insane. A servant of the gods having such sacrilegious dreams… I must be completely lost.
I hurriedly changed into ceremonial robes and headed to the prayer room. Marriage was forbidden for priests. Even if it was just a dream, it was still sinful.
I entered the prayer room and locked the door. For hours, I prayed without rest. I couldn’t get the princess out of my mind.
“Ataras said: Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever sins is a servant of sin. A servant shall never dwell in the house, but a son shall dwell forever.”
Repeating the scripture over and over helped calm me a little. But as soon as I finished, the princess’s radiant smile flashed before my eyes. And the princess and Ciel, who had left me behind, kept appearing in my mind. My face flushed.
“Therefore, sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, for all have sinned.”
For a week, I stayed in the prayer room as if possessed. Anton and the other priests were deeply worried.
Even when asked what had happened, I couldn’t answer honestly. I reassured them with excuses, but some priests remained suspicious.
Even after a week of prayers, waiting for Ataras’s answer, all I felt was guilt. I had no choice but to visit Priestess Margaret, who oversaw the sacred water.
She welcomed me warmly, noting my pale appearance. I hadn’t slept well for a week; whenever I fell asleep, Princess Salome appeared in my dreams.
“Priestess Margaret… could you pour sacred water over my head?”
“What? Priest Johan… has something happened?”
“I’ve been having wicked dreams, committing sins in my sleep. Perhaps this is a trial from Ataras. I want to overcome it. Please, Priestess.”
“Oh my, that is serious.”
After a moment’s thought, Margaret left. She returned shortly with the sacred water. I knelt before her, hands clasped.
She slowly poured the water over my head while reciting a prayer. I closed my eyes tightly. A cold sensation ran over my head.
“In the name of Ataras, who possesses infinite power, I command you, demons, to enter the bag of the Holy Spirit!”
I forced my mind blank, hoping only faith in Ataras would remain.
Then it happened. The door of the chapel suddenly burst open, and someone entered.
“Priest Johan? What are you doing here?”
It was Princess Salome.
