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Chapter 51
Carlos and I walked side by side out through the main doors of the temple hall.
All the while, the subtle gazes of the priests followed us.
It feels like we’ve become a spectacle.
I expected this.
They had no intention of helping us in a normal way.
Then—
I’ll just use a method that isn’t normal.
If they say something can’t be done,
then I’ll make it possible.
There is always a way. There always has been.
The greatest realization I gained while living as a princess was this:
The status of “royalty” is extremely powerful at turning the impossible into possible.
Not long after leaving the hall, I slowed my steps and looked up at Carlos.
“Archduke, please go ahead.
I’ll take a short walk and think for a moment.”
Leaving only those words, I slowly walked forward.
My mind began moving quickly.
temple was under pressure from the Emperor.
Officially, the temple and the Imperial family held independent authority,
but no fool failed to notice the Emperor’s influence reaching inside.
Ever since demonic energy spread across the continent more than ten years ago,
that superiority had become even clearer.
Especially…
Who was the cardinal of the eastern temple again?
Searching my memories from before the regression,
the name soon surfaced.
Cardinal Leonard.
He had a gentle impression and a soft voice.
Outwardly, he looked like a saint.
Believers loved him.
He devoted himself to charity and supported orphanages.
In the East, he was treated almost like a living holy man.
But—
Not long after, he was excommunicated.
I think I was sixteen when the revelation exploded:
the eastern cardinal had manipulated a divine oracle.
The oracle from twenty-three years ago, when he was chosen as cardinal,
had been fake.
An oracle was considered the sacred word of a god—
direct divine will.
To manipulate it was the greatest form of blasphemy.
On top of that, he was accused of embezzlement,
stealing temple donations for decades.
The amount was enormous.
In the end, he was excommunicated and met a miserable end.
I heard he died sick in prison.
And I knew the truth.
It was all the Emperor’s doing.
The Imperial secret archives contained many such documents—
nobles’ weaknesses, priests’ secrets, filthy records of hidden deals.
The Emperor liked collecting them,
so he could use them anytime.
He said holding the sword’s handle made him feel safe.
I had secretly looked through them when I was bored.
As a princess, I could enter freely—
and no one imagined I would read such things.
The Emperor overlooked the temple’s corruption
in exchange for enormous sums of money
and absolute obedience.
The eastern cardinal was no different.
That’s a useful card.
The corner of my lips lifted.
Cold night air brushed past as I slowly walked the alley before the lodging,
organizing my thoughts.
The fake oracle twenty-three years ago.
Embezzlement.
Bribes to the Imperial family.
How should I reveal this?
If I threatened him openly,
it might backfire.
He was powerful too.
Cornered animals bite.
Start gently… then tighten the pressure.
Test him first.
Watch his reaction.
Then reveal the card.
And I should keep this secret from Carlos.
The filthy deals between the temple and the Imperial family—
nothing good would come from him knowing.
It would only complicate things.
It’s better if I handle this alone.
I walked for a long time, lost in thought.
Eventually, everything became clear.
Tomorrow morning, I move.
Meet the cardinal.
Show the card.
Secure the guardianship registration.
I can do this.
I lifted my head.
At some point, I had walked so far that the small lodging looked tiny in the distance.
“I should head back.”
If I stayed out any later, it might be dangerous.
Only then did I sense a presence behind me.
I turned around.
“…Huh?”
It was Carlos.
He stood a few steps behind me,
arms crossed,
frowning.
“…You haven’t gone inside yet?”
“You think for quite a long time.”
His tone was blunt.
Carlos turned sharply and began walking toward the lodging first.
…What?
Did he follow me?
Because he was worried about me wandering alone at night?
No way.
He wasn’t the type to care about that.
But—
Why was he standing there quietly behind me?
He didn’t speak.
Just stood there… like he had been waiting.
…I really don’t understand him.
I watched him blankly for a moment,
then followed, looking at his pale back glowing faintly in the moonlight.
* * *
The next morning.
This time, I went to the temple hall alone.
When I said I would go by myself,
Carlos’s reaction was simple:
“Alright.”
Nothing more.
In short, it felt like:
Do what you can. If it fails, come back.
I can handle it myself anyway.
Morning sunlight shone over the temple building.
Yesterday it had looked sacred.
Today it just looked big.
No matter how large—
it was only a rotten tree inside.
When I approached the reception desk,
the same priest from yesterday appeared.
Her expression turned strange the moment she saw me—
as if thinking, She really came back.
“Ah, Your Highness the Princess. The priest in charge is still—”
“Not the priest in charge.”
I cut her off firmly.
“Let me meet the cardinal.”
Her eyes widened.
“Th-the cardinal?”
“Yes.”
“But… the procedure…”
“What problem is there if a princess wants to meet a cardinal?”
She opened and closed her mouth, not knowing what to say.
“We-well, you must schedule in advance—”
“Since when did royalty schedule appointments to meet a cardinal?”
My sarcastic reply made her eyes dart around.
“Why? Did His Majesty order that I must not enter?”
“N-no, that’s not—!”
“If not, then tell him.
The princess has come.”
She could no longer answer.
Seeing she still hesitated,
I sighed and finally revealed the prepared words.
“Then say this:
‘There is an urgent matter to discuss regarding the oracle from twenty-three years ago.’”
“…Pardon?”
The priest, who had been bowing the whole time,
lifted her head in confusion.
Of course she didn’t understand.
This was something only the cardinal would recognize.
“Just repeat it exactly.
He’ll understand.”
“…Um…”
“Quickly.”
After hesitating, she finally went inside.
This time, she returned very quickly.
But her attitude was completely different.
“The cardinal says he will see you.”
She looked far more respectful—
and even more nervous.
As expected.
He reacted quickly because he felt guilty.
At just one phrase—
“the oracle from twenty-three years ago.”
“Lead the way.”
The priest bowed and walked ahead.
We moved down a corridor—
a different direction from yesterday.
Deeper inside.
More luxurious decorations.
Paintings on the walls.
Carpets on the floor.
Yesterday they sent me to a storage room.
Today I’m an honored guest.
The world was simple after all.
Finally, we stopped before a large door.
The Cardinal’s Office.
Gold decorations covered the door.
Holy knights stood on both sides.
I took a deep breath.
I can do this.
The door opened.
