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Chapter 13
After that, we didn’t say another word.
Ah, well, I complained endlessly in my head.
Right. He had only treated a suspicious, questionable woman like me as his wife for a few days. Why would it be jealousy?
I felt embarrassed and ashamed for getting the wrong idea.
More importantly, he had said he was sleepy, yet his eyes were still as clear and sharp as ever.
He was resting his chin on one hand, silently gazing out the window with an expression that revealed nothing of what he was thinking.
Still, there was something unusual about that look. It seemed firm, as though he were silently reaffirming some kind of resolve…
But what was the point of me trying to understand his feelings?
I was nothing more than a wife in name, someone he would never truly love.
‘…It still stings a little.’
If only he’d teased me like he always did, I probably wouldn’t be thinking like this.
I, too, sat there with my lips tightly sealed and a stiff expression until the carriage finally came to a stop.
The carriage door opened, and Blake stepped down first before naturally extending a hand toward me.
I swallowed a sigh at the effortless gesture of escorting me and took his cold hand.
The moment I stepped down, he quietly withdrew it.
How heartless.
“Welcome, Your Imperial Highness, Crown Prince. And the lady accompanying you is…?”
Priests with graying hair and long flowing beards approached Blake, their eyes sparkling with excitement.
Just from the look in their eyes, it was obvious they already regarded Blake as an ascetic, the Son of God.
“She is my wife.”
Blake answered in the same indifferent tone as always.
“As expected, Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess. Welcome.”
Among the priests greeting me were a few whose eyes clearly showed they weren’t pleased to see me.
Well… I could understand how they felt.
The Son of God—or God’s representative—ought to have a worthy woman by his side.
And they firmly believed that woman should be Saint Seira.
Blake glanced at the priests silently exchanging looks before frowning slightly.
“Surely you don’t intend to keep us standing out here. I don’t mind, but I’d like my wife to be able to rest.”
“…Our apologies. Please, this way.”
Why use me as an excuse only at times like this?
Who exactly was trying to let whom rest?
He was the one who hadn’t slept.
I grumbled inwardly, but obediently followed after him.
True to its nature as a temple, despite the large number of priests, the place was remarkably quiet.
But as Blake walked past, that silence broke, and whispers spread among the priests.
“He really was resurrected…!”
“The prophecy was true. As expected, the gods had arranged everything.”
“Is this even possible? What if the resurrection itself was staged?”
Despite the many different reactions, Blake paid them no mind, and we eventually entered one of the temple’s reception rooms.
It was likely meant for visiting nobles, because the room was elegant yet refined, with expensive-looking wooden furniture and polished marble surfaces gleaming softly.
The man who sat across from us was probably someone of considerable rank.
“I hope this tea suits Your Highnesses’ tastes.”
Smiling warmly, he poured tea for each of us.
One cup for me.
One for Blake.
But instead of drinking mine, I quietly picked it up and exchanged it with Blake’s.
Blake watched my actions without expression before briefly glancing into my eyes.
Naturally, he said nothing.
He simply took the switched cup and sampled the tea the priest had prepared.
Even with only that brief physical contact, it seemed he could sense its temperature, flavor, and aroma through me.
I gave a faint nod.
Whether I liked it or not…
He was my husband.
And I had promised I’d take responsibility for him.
Feeling secretly pleased with myself, I lifted my own cup, only to notice Blake watching me with an odd expression.
“…Contrary to the rumors, the two of you seem to get along rather well.”
“High Priest, I thought you had questions you wanted to ask.”
High Priest?
No wonder he seemed so important.
I instinctively closed my mouth.
The High Priest looked at us with the fond expression of an elderly man watching a young married couple.
Blake, however, clearly had no interest in hearing such remarks and cut him off.
The High Priest merely chuckled as though he were accustomed to Blake’s cold, blunt attitude.
Setting down his teacup, he cautiously asked,
“Your Highness… if you witnessed the moment of your resurrection, may I ask what happened?”
“Hmm…”
Blake trailed off before looking at me.
Hey, my dear husband.
This isn’t the time for jokes.
Take this seriously.
Keeping a pleasant smile on my face, I discreetly poked his side where the High Priest couldn’t see.
Ow.
His muscles were ridiculously firm.
Blake flinched before clearing his throat.
“All I remember is opening the coffin myself and standing up. There was no one around.”
“I see… Then I suppose you also don’t know where Saint Seira has gone.”
Blake shook his head.
His relaxed smile made him look exactly like his usual self.
“I know nothing. Do you have any leads?”
“…No. Saint Seira disappeared without saying a word. She may have been kidnapped… or perhaps someone used some sinister trick.”
Just where had the story’s heroine, Seira, disappeared to?
I narrowed my eyes as I looked at the High Priest.
The way he’d hesitated…
It felt like he knew something.
Blake, on the other hand, didn’t seem to care in the slightest.
Judging by how calm he was…
Well, perhaps that meant he already knew anything the High Priest knew.
In any case, Blake set down his half-finished tea as though his business here was done.
Then he said something completely unexpected.
“I believe I’ve finished what I came for. I’ve proven what needed proving.
Since we’re already at the temple, I’d like to show my wife around.”
“…Pardon?”
“Ah, of course, Your Highness. Perhaps you should start with the gardens.”
Never mind the High Priest’s beaming smile.
Why was he suddenly talking about giving me a tour of the temple?
Even though I looked thoroughly confused, Blake simply tilted his head, silently telling me to stand.
“I’ll show her myself. There’s no need for the High Priest to accompany us.”
“Oh dear, this old man truly has no sense. Please, the two of you enjoy yourselves.”
Blake acted as though this temple belonged to him just as much as the imperial palace.
His confidence was absurd.
Even more absurd was the High Priest nodding in agreement.
Why is Grandpa High Priest looking at me like I’m his beloved granddaughter-in-law?
In the original story, he had definitely been rooting for Saint Seira and Blake to end up together…
And just like that, Blake and I found ourselves walking alone through the temple gardens.
“Your Highness… I really don’t understand what you’re thinking.”
One moment he was kind.
The next, cold.
Then distant.
Yet somehow gentle again.
Far off in the distance, I could see several priests secretly watching us, though they were too far away to overhear our conversation.
The temple garden was filled with delicate white flowers, making it the perfect place for quiet reflection and prayer.
At its center stood a towering statue of the deity.
Blake looked up at the statue before replying casually,
“Neither do I.”
“Huh?”
“I don’t understand what you’re thinking either, Master.”
“…”
Wasn’t I a pretty simple person?
It wasn’t like I was plotting schemes or weaving conspiracies.
Granted, there were things I couldn’t tell him, so I probably did seem suspicious.
Especially since Ariel’s face—the one I’d transmigrated into—was terrible at hiding emotions.
I’d always thought I was completely transparent, the kind of person whose thoughts showed plainly on her face.
Yet Blake claimed he couldn’t understand me at all.
I stared at him with wide eyes.
“What you see is all there is.”
“…”
“I mean it.”
Can’t you trust me just a little?
I only wanted to return you to your original, healthy body, prevent the world’s destruction just like in the original story, and cheer for your future happiness.
Yet despite my sparkling, earnest gaze, Blake slowly shook his head.
“I can tell you’re thinking hard.”
“…”
“If we go this way, there’s a library used only by the priests. You might find the information you’re looking for there.”
He changed the subject as naturally as flowing water.
At the end of his gaze stood a small white building.
Covered here and there with creeping ivy, it looked quiet and peaceful.
So that must be the library.
As he said that, Blake extended his hand toward me.
Is he trying to escort me again?
I quietly studied his face.
Strangely enough, although he’d offered me his hand, he refused to meet my eyes.
His gaze darted away as though trying to escape.
That only made me more determined, but he stubbornly kept looking elsewhere.
Seriously.
Just what was he thinking about me?
I let out a long sigh.
Then I took his large, cold hand, its long fingers surprisingly beautiful.
The instant our hands touched, he instinctively flinched.
He was the one who had offered his hand first.
So what was with this shy reaction?
It was almost as if he’d expected me to reject him.
I narrowed my eyes at him in disbelief.
But he merely muttered something strange under his breath.
“…Another test…”
“Hm?”
“…It’s nothing. Let’s go.”
