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Chapter: 15
In a single moment, all eyes were on her.
Lasita shut her eyes tightly.
Of course, she knew that it could just be the whim of an immature princess.
If she had a thought at all, it was this, naturally:
…She had no choice but to obey the Pope’s command, staring straight at her.
No matter how remarkable Princess Sieta was, the clergy ultimately answered to the Pope’s authority.
But.
“…Either way, I’ll get scolded.”
Whether she was scolded a little or a lot…
Was there really much difference?
If that’s the case, then…
“…Yes, I will.”
Even if it was just following the whim of a moment.
Even for that tiny sliver of possibility, Lasita wanted… to seize it.
At Lasita’s answer, the silver-haired princess smiled.
The brows of the observing clergy furrowed mercilessly.
“Then it’s decided, I…”
“That’s not allowed, Your Highness!”
It seemed almost impossible to extract the sacred power shuttle with just a few words.
“This is absurd!”
The shocked clergy continued their protests.
Yet, despite their objections, Sieta asked with the utmost boldness.
“Why is it absurd?”
Then, with a simple add-on:
“This one’s quarters are dirty. Then there’s no need, right?”
The princess’s audacious, insolent attitude left the clergy visibly flustered, unsure how to respond.
Sieta didn’t stop, using the mask of a pure child as her weapon to push forward relentlessly.
‘Of course.’
At this moment, the princess—daughter of Losiate, holder of immense imperial authority—was also the daughter of their superior, the Pope.
The temple clergy, rather than being enraged by Sieta’s innocent yet rude behavior, could only fluster themselves, helpless.
And she did not forget to carefully glance at Pope Vicente.
‘Come to think of it…’
Not just a silver spoon… more like a royal diamond spoon, right?
Even so, it was unbelievable how miserable life could be. Still, Sieta tilted her head with a confident expression, as if nothing was wrong.
They couldn’t openly reveal that without a “commoner” like Lasita, they couldn’t even properly harness sacred power.
And now, given the circumstances of ignoring the male lead…
She could not keep Lasita with her by defying the princess’s order.
The clergy, aware of this fact, all wore grim expressions.
But that was of no concern to Sieta.
“No matter if you’re the princess, you can’t behave this recklessly!”
If they continued to insist, Sieta’s reputation might suffer. But for now, she had to survive.
“So?”
“…Pardon?”
Even at the priest’s confused reply, Sieta didn’t back down and spoke calmly:
“People distinguish between loss and gain.”
“What are you trying to say?”
In this precarious situation, anyone who could be turned to their side had to be.
“I’m investing in this one. And isn’t the point of investing to buy low?”
The male lead—and the saint of this story—Lasita, would be her best asset… or rather, her greatest help.
Though the clergy’s faces reddened as they protested, Sieta honestly didn’t care.
“Anyway, I think this will be the best investment of my life.”
She deliberately didn’t listen to all their protests, speaking only what she needed to say, and then looked at the male lead.
‘Please don’t kill me,’ she thought, holding Lasita’s trembling hands tightly.
And whispered into his ear:
“Don’t worry.”
Startled by the sudden hand-holding, Lasita’s previously surprised expression became even more flustered.
“W-what…?”
He seemed like he wanted to add something to her words, but…
“I’m stronger.”
Sieta didn’t care and expressed herself boldly.
Then.
“…Puh, huh!”
…Lasita laughed. Why?
She was being serious.
Instantly ridiculed, Sieta pouted.
Ignoring the priests, she whispered again to Lasita:
“Hey, how old are you?”
“I’m eight now.”
At that prompt answer, Sieta’s expression turned even more wronged.
“You’re making a fuss over a two-year difference?”
She bickered childishly while keeping an eye on the male lead.
She hoped this choice would prove to be the right one.
When the ending came… even if exile became inevitable, she wished it would be to a luxurious place.
Bravely, she held Lasita’s hand and tried to march out.
“The Emperor of Losiate would not allow this to go unchecked.”
Fearlessly,
“Especially since the Emperor is a cold person… right… Your Highness?”
The clergy even brought up her former favorite and her current-life mother, Losiate.
“So? Keep talking.”
At the mention of Losiate, Sieta’s expression…
“Do I have to care about your incompetence?”
Turned icy.
Silver hair, just like Pope Vicente.
Eyes identical to him.
And yet… they saw, in that small child, traces of someone else.
“Losiate von Ariace…!”
Yes.
The expression on that face, resembling Pope Vicente, was identical to Losiate von Ariace, absolute ruler of the Shikan Empire.
Not merely a similar face.
But an aura that revealed she was the daughter of that woman… made the clergy remember the deeds of Losiate long past, and they closed their eyes tightly.
“Do I need to ask again? Do I have to care about your incompetence?”
…Overwhelming charisma.
A natural authority permitted only to those above.
On a face like Vicente’s, instead of his smile, was superimposed the smile of Losiate.
Truly, she was the only daughter of that woman.
The insolent giggling from before… almost seemed like a hallucination.
Her cold, firm expression now… was brutally similar to the Emperor.
“But…!”
She was just a child throwing a tantrum.
Even so, the clergy couldn’t argue against the charisma naturally exuded by Sieta.
After all.
This princess…
Had even captured the legendary “Blue Tiger.”
Born with the immense power of the Pope and the Emperor, and now even myth seemed to aid her.
They dared not make any louder complaints.
Amid this, one priest, unable to relinquish his self-interest, barely managed to speak.
“This… this could trouble His Holiness the Pope.”
The clergy, anxious, looked to the Pope, hoping he would intervene.
But he said nothing… simply stared at his daughter, Sieta.
Only Sieta.
Without blinking.
Persistently, almost obsessively.
As if… trying to discern some fragment within Sieta.
“So, Your Highness. Even for the Pope, you cannot do this.”
It was ridiculous that mere priests dared to object while the Pope said nothing.
But seeing that the Pope wasn’t paying attention, they desperately tried to restrain Sieta.
At their frantic efforts… Sieta’s normally round eyes widened even more.
“Is it a problem for Dad?”
The child considered for a moment, and the clergy, as if waiting, replied:
“Yes!”
In response, Sieta answered boldly:
“But Dad doesn’t seem to mind?”
“…Even Your Highness cannot move the temple’s personnel at will.”
Trying to deflect the unfavorable topic with natural words.
Currently, only Vicente and Lasita could properly harness sacred power.
For the Pope, Lasita’s absence wouldn’t matter much, but for the clergy, it was another issue.
“This is clearly overstepping!”
They needed a shuttle of sacred power they could manipulate through their status.
And Sieta saw through all of it perfectly.
