🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 11
For a moment, silence filled the space between them.
No—Helicia thought Emperor Pero must have been lying.
Arpessian’s smiling face… it really looked like it could make even a child who never cried faint.
‘Why is he tilting his head forward like that?!’
The golden eyes shining on Arpessian’s shadowed face made the atmosphere even more frightening.
Did she really have to teach him how to smile too?
Helicia quickly stepped in front of him and faced Dellas.
“Ah, haha. Prince Arpessian is just… happy, happy!”
She clasped her hands and smiled brightly, hoping her smile would cover what just happened.
Leaning slightly back, she quickly whispered to Arpessian using ventriloquism.
“For now, let’s only smile when it’s really necessary. Like when someone we dislike falls down.”
“Why? You told me to. You said people like smiles.”
“Th-that’s because… it’s too cool. I want to keep it just for myself.”
Arpessian paused, then turned his head and muttered,
“…Okay.”
Did he get hurt?
Even if it was true, she couldn’t tell a 12-year-old that his smile looked scary.
She could just teach him. Maybe he had never used those face muscles before.
Even actors practiced expressions.
Back when she lived in the slums, she once saw a theater girl practicing her smile every day.
‘It’s possible. He couldn’t even learn basic swordsmanship.’
Meanwhile, Dellas, who had been watching them whisper with a pale face, clenched his fists tightly.
To him, this was an emergency.
Arpessian whispering behind Helicia looked suspicious.
His father always said—
People under Emperor Pero could never grow up normally.
Even the Crown Prince and those close to the Emperor didn’t think normally.
And Arpessian was a royal too.
Helicia was still young. She probably didn’t know this.
Dellas whispered to her cautiously,
“If you are being threatened, please shake your robe.”
“Threatened? I’m not.”
“If it’s dangerous, I’ll help you. Don’t worry.”
Ah… so shake it if I’m in danger?
Dellas looked at Arpessian with strong suspicion.
Watching the two of them made Helicia feel strangely calm.
‘Right. I never thought I could change everything at once.’
If it were that easy, she wouldn’t have died 18 times.
Just as she was thinking about how to fix the situation, Verdic found her and approached happily.
“Saintess, where have you been? I’ve been looking for you.”
“I was resting for a bit. What is it?”
Verdic’s gentle eyes softened.
In her past life, he always took care of her kindly, even though she didn’t know her parents.
After she lost her divine power, he tried in many ways to protect her.
The High Priest’s role was to assist the Saintess.
Even when the temple was falling apart, he stayed by her side.
‘Is this what it feels like to have a father?’
Verdic carefully spoke,
“There will be a banquet for Prince Arzen’s birthday. Would you like to attend?”
“Of course I’ll go!”
Helicia answered without hesitation.
The temple had too many eyes watching her.
Outside invitations like this were a good chance to move freely.
‘I’ll check Arpessian’s position and get closer to the young duke.’
A Saintess attending a birthday had symbolic meaning—it was like giving a blessing from the gods.
During the time when there was no Saintess, this event never happened.
‘While I still have divine power, I should move quickly.’
Verdic happily held her small hand.
“It will be a good experience. Your first blessing.”
After warming her hand slightly, he left to inform Arzen.
Helicia glanced at Arpessian.
For some reason, he was touching his slightly red ear.
When their eyes met, he lowered his hand.
She silently mouthed to him:
‘Make sure you come.’
He nodded, looking strangely determined.
◆◆◆
Temple, a wide room.
A priest named Dovan held a book and asked seriously,
“Lady Helicia, if a patient comes with a head injury, what should you do first?”
The man had short purple hair and big eyes, looking very serious.
He was Dovan, the head priest.
Helicia, sitting at a neat desk, raised her hand high and said,
“Ask them!”
“Oh, very smart. How?”
With her hands together politely, she tilted her head and answered innocently,
“How did your head get hurt?”
“No, that’s not right!”
“Did you do something dangerous at night?”
“That’s not right either! Even if you ask cutely, no! First, check the injury…”
Dovan began explaining with exaggerated movements.
People in the temple were divided into priests and clergy.
Priests had divine power and healed people.
The Saintess was similar but handled more serious cases.
Clergy were believers who worked in the temple.
Dovan was the one teaching Helicia.
Helicia rested her chin on her hands and watched him lazily.
‘…I already know all of this.’
This was her 18th time learning the same thing.
But officially, she was supposed to be new to temple life.
Dovan asked again,
“If someone offers money or toys for secret treatment, what do you do?”
Helicia answered seriously,
“If they bring cake and meat, I’ll think about it.”
“Food or any reward is not allowed!”
‘So strict.’
Outwardly, the temple was fair—but in reality, things were different.
‘That’s how adults work.’
She sighed inside and answered properly,
“Say no! Don’t do it! Stop! Then report it to the temple.”
“What happens then?”
“They will be judged by law and removed. They may also pay up to 10 times the fine.”
“The definition of heresy?”
“The Holy Nation must stay neutral and treat everyone equally. Breaking this makes you a heretic.”
“Article 3?”
“The temple seeks peace and has duty during war.”
“Article 67, section 4?”
“The Saintess cannot marry.”
Dovan stood there speechless.
Helicia knew the laws better than anyone.
She once memorized them all to escape legally.
Looking at the stunned Dovan, she asked,
“After this, can I go play with Lato?”
Dovan quickly flipped through the book.
Helicia pointed calmly.
“It’s on page 37.”
Dovan sighed in shock.
“You can read?”
“Yeah.”
He struggled to hide his excitement.
“Oh God! You are so smart!”
He even prayed and asked excitedly,
“When did you learn? We must hire your teacher!”
“Don’t know.”
“…What?”
“I don’t remember.”
She really didn’t remember.
