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Chapter 92………………………………………
: Lea’s Clones
The area in front of the Grand Cathedral was in chaos, with unruly guests insisting on receiving treatment out of order, specifically those who only chose to treat wealthy patients.
I immediately ordered the guest who offered to pay triple the treatment fee to be admitted. The voice was unmistakably that of Shine, princess of the Malau Kingdom.
Moments later, a striking woman with flowing golden hair confidently walked up to the altar of the Grand Cathedral. Surprisingly, Freddy quietly followed her.
Though he held his waist as if playing the role of a patient, his walk seemed somewhat unnatural.
Millie, recognizing Freddy, quickly averted her gaze in surprise.
“Hey! My partner hurt his back and can’t perform at all. I’ll pay whatever you want, so fix him quickly.”
Suppressing the laughter threatening to burst out, Millie and I bit the insides of our cheeks to keep our composure.
Shine threw a heavy sack onto the altar. As it hit the floor with its opening wide, countless gold coins spilled out.
The waiting servants scrambled to gather the coins rolling in all directions. Shine, seemingly amused, threw two more sacks filled with coins even harder.
Even the knights watching me were too busy chasing the scattered coins to pay attention.
I approached Freddy and Shine, looking as if I was brimming with anger.
“What’s going on here? Sir Freddy is… Shine Princess’s partner?”
“If you say husband, Zulmon will get mad.”
Freddy glared at her with eyes full of resentment, but Shine’s eyes sparkled playfully.
“And Sir Zulmon?”
“He’s too obviously a demon, so I bribed a gatekeeper to hide somewhere at the cathedral entrance.”
I nodded and shouted to Freddy.
“I will heal you, so lie down on the altar.”
Freddy obediently lay on the altar, and Shine shouted.
“If anyone dares mess with my partner, I won’t forgive them!”
I barely contained a laugh, forcing a scowl at her instead.
“If you truly doubt me, come closer and observe the healing process.”
She immediately came, grabbed Freddy’s hand, and exaggeratedly embraced him.
Before anyone could notice, I drew out my healing energy and placed it over his body as usual.
Millie turned around to block others from seeing us. Thankfully, the servants and knights were busy picking up the gold coins and didn’t pay any attention to us.
Freddy, who had been scanning the surroundings, whispered quietly.
“His Highness Mikrok is leading his troops toward this place.”
“Really?”
I brightened briefly but quickly hid my expression.
“He should reach the Grand Cathedral tomorrow. Let’s retreat to a safe location for today. I’ve prepared a hiding place.”
“If I disappear, it will be obvious immediately.”
Shine smiled and answered.
“I’ll be here. If I change my appearance, no one will notice.”
Honestly, I was deeply conflicted. Part of me wanted to escape this horrible place where the emperor hunted me and wait safely for Mik.
But if I acted rashly, Shine and others could be in danger. I didn’t want to ruin everything due to impatience.
Mik had clearly told us to wait until he arrived. Just one more day.
“The last time Shine Princess was endangered because of me was enough. I’ll wait here.”
Seeing my firm decision, Freddy exhaled lightly.
“I expected you would say that.”
He respected my choice and didn’t insist further.
“Then I will hide inside the inner part of the Grand Cathedral with Sir Zulmon and open the main gate when the Pritan army arrives.”
“Please, be careful. Sir Freddy, Shine Princess.”
As I slowly withdrew the healing energy, Freddy sprang up from the altar.
“Kyaa~ Darling! Your back is completely healed!!”
Shine clung to Freddy, showering him with noisy kisses. Freddy, looking utterly embarrassed, lifted her up and strode out of the cathedral.
I found Freddy’s steadfast actions amusing, but I forced myself to maintain a blank expression.
Suddenly, the cathedral entrance became chaotic as Emperor Harun entered with a large contingent of guards.
Freddy, trying to carry Shine outside, quickly dodged and bowed his head.
My heart thumped unnecessarily at the emperor’s sudden appearance.
Glancing at them, the emperor asked the knights guarding the cathedral.
“Who are they?”
“They are patients treated by Lady Lea. They are on their way back after paying a huge fee.”
A knight, running with the gold coins, hurriedly reported to the emperor.
“Welcome, Your Majesty.”
I quickly descended from the altar to greet the emperor, who glared at me with extreme displeasure.
“I hear the Pritan king is leading his troops here. They crossed the border four days ago, so they should reach here within ten days at the latest.”
Feigning indifference, I spoke calmly.
“They are northern barbarians. Even after taking two beauties of the empire, they fail to show appreciation for Your Majesty’s kindness. But doesn’t the High Priest have a prophecy? There’s no need to worry.”
“Indeed.”
The emperor’s previously grim expression softened slightly.
A few days ago, the High Priest had feigned a hallucination in front of the emperor and delivered a fake prophecy.
“The star that drifted north has found its place; Harun has entered the orbit of blessings. The north, having lost its star, will run amok and perish… Only prosperity remains for the Great Harun!”
As promised, the High Priest had delivered a prophecy that pleased Emperor Harun.
“Even if Pritan rages, Harun is already in the orbit of the star’s blessings.”
As satisfaction appeared on the emperor’s lips, he suddenly swayed as if dizzy. The startled guards quickly supported him.
The emperor, regaining balance, stared at me with a dangerously gleaming gaze.
‘What…? Poison?’
My healing energy reacted strongly, as it did when a patient approached.
The emperor was clearly poisoned by something that disrupted the flow of his qi, and it was strong in a very short time.
“Everyone, leave the Grand Cathedral except for the High Priestess!”
Suddenly, the emperor ordered everyone in the cathedral to withdraw.
“But, Your Majesty!”
The captain of the guards stepped forward hastily, but the emperor made no exceptions.
I saw Millie quietly stepping back, pretending to retreat, then quickly hiding under the altar. She seemed ready to help me if needed.
I tried not to provoke the emperor.
“Your Majesty, you must be exhausted. Come onto the altar, and I will ease your fatigue.”
“Really?”
The emperor approached me with strangely feverish eyes. They were heavy, dazed, and dangerous.
I slowly backed up, feeling the altar against my back. The emperor, eyes feverish, forcibly grabbed my hand.
“You intend to relieve my fatigue with these small, delicate hands?”
His sticky, hot lips touched my palm. Goosebumps ran over my body. I pulled my hand back and spoke coldly.
“Have you forgotten? I am trained by the High Priest in secret techniques.”
“…….”
“Remember the oracle delivered to the Harun Empire through the High Priest!”
The emperor tried to maintain his hazy focus but stumbled backward, unable to keep balance.
As he clutched his head in pain, I was pulled under the altar by a strong force.
Regaining consciousness, I saw Millie removing the long platinum wig from my head and putting it on hers.
“I’ll distract the emperor. Your Majesty, you hide in the meantime.”
“No! It’s dangerous!!”
Then, we heard the heavy footsteps of the emperor approaching the altar.
Millie, panicked, tried to stand quickly, but a cheerful voice broke the tension.
“Your Majesty, why are you standing there?”
Startled, I peeked over the altar. The emperor was also looking toward the voice.
There stood Shine, identical to me, smiling like a painting.
“Y-you’re… why are you over there?”
The emperor, clearly flustered, shook his head as if trying to steady his mind.
“Come over here quickly.”
Shine’s call made the emperor stare at her, then approach the altar again.
“Just now, you were definitely here…”
Millie whispered softly to me.
“Your Majesty, do not move under any circumstances.”
Then Millie, wearing my wig, leapt onto the altar.
“Your Majesty, is there a problem?”
The startled emperor grabbed Millie’s arm tightly.
“How did you do it? You weren’t over there just moments ago?”
“Me? I’ve been here all along!”
Millie feigned innocence and stared at the emperor.
The confused emperor staggered and looked at Shine, who had already approached the altar.
Seeing Shine, almost identical to me, the emperor released Millie’s arm and approached Shine in a daze. I seized the moment to grab Millie’s wig and pull it off.
Then the emperor’s angry voice rang out.
“What trickery is this? Why are there duplicates appearing everywhere?”
“I don’t understand what you mean.”
“You were definitely by the altar just now…!!”
The emperor looked again and saw Millie, standing quietly in her natural appearance. His eyes widened.
“That girl is my servant Millie, isn’t she? You’re not confusing her with me?”
“That’s impossible…”
“You must be tired. Rest well today.”
Finishing her words, Shine shouted toward the outside.
“Is anyone there? Escort His Majesty to the palace!”
The guards and servants waiting outside quickly entered the cathedral. The emperor still alternated his confused gaze between Shine in my form and Millie.
None of the emperor’s guards or servants suspected Shine.
At that moment, an imperial attendant rushed in.
“Your Majesty, the Pritan army is approaching the capital. Duke Jake has requested an urgent strategy meeting.”
“They crossed the border only four days ago. How could they have reached the capital already?”
“For now, please proceed to the palace. Everyone is waiting for Your Majesty to arrive.”
With a displeased expression, the emperor left the Grand Cathedral, supported by his guards.
