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Chapter 52
The cardinal’s office was large.
The window was wide, and sunlight came in easily.
God’s scriptures were carved into the walls, and one side was filled with bookshelves.
A thick carpet covered the floor, soft enough for feet to sink into.
A faint fragrance lingered in the air.
It was completely different from the storage-like waiting room where I had been trapped yesterday.
So there really was a proper place to receive guests.
I scoffed inwardly.
A man was sitting inside the room.
Pure white hair, a gentle impression.
He looked to be in his sixties.
There were wrinkles around his eyes, but his face seemed kind.
He had the atmosphere of a true clergyman.
A rosary rested in his hand.
He looked devout.
When I entered, the cardinal’s eyes trembled slightly.
But he quickly regained composure.
He stood up and smiled warmly.
“It is an honor that Her Highness the Princess has visited this humble place.”
A polite voice.
A perfect smile.
It was the poker face of someone who had lived ten years as a priest.
“May I sit?”
At my casual speech, the corner of the cardinal’s eye twitched slightly.
But he did not show it.
“Of course.”
I sat down.
The cardinal sat across from me.
Silence passed for a moment.
The cardinal spoke first.
“Shall I offer you some tea?”
“No need. I’m busy.”
“I see.”
“Aren’t you busy too? You didn’t even show your face yesterday when I came.”
“Heh heh, such is the life of a servant of God. Still, I am fortunate to meet you like this.”
“Fortunate, my foot.”
When I scoffed, he closed his mouth.
His expression was still relaxed.
“You answered my request right away.
You must have understood what I meant immediately?”
“…How could that be?
This old man is lacking, so I could not grasp Your Highness’s intention and requested this meeting.”
So he was pretending not to know.
The cardinal smiled plainly and added,
“ You mentioned an oracle from twenty-three years ago.
Which oracle are you referring to?”
We had finally reached the main point.
But his voice was calm.
Even if I was a princess, he was certain I could not know the truth.
Of course, even if I knew, he must think I had no evidence.
Naturally.
Not many in the imperial family knew the Emperor collected those kinds of documents.
“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”
“Yes, I truly do not understand what you mean.”
The cardinal shrugged.
“If it was twenty-three years ago, that was the year I was chosen as cardinal.
But what about that oracle…?”
“Yes, that oracle.
The decisive one that placed you in your current seat.
Did God truly send it down Himself?”
I cut him off and asked.
The cardinal’s smile stiffened slightly.
But it quickly returned.
“Of course.
An oracle conveys God’s will.
How could there be falsehood?”
“Then the tribute that enters the imperial archives every quarter under your name…
should I see that as your tearful loyalty to the imperial family?”
In an instant, the ease vanished from his face.
“…What do you mean?”
“Oh my, you really didn’t know.”
I smiled brightly.
“You didn’t think your deal with His Majesty would remain only verbal, did you?”
The cardinal’s eyes widened.
“You know, I’m the princess most beloved by His Majesty.
He allows everything I do.
Even reading documents in the secret archives.”
“Your Highness, that is—”
“Oh, and the funds that entered the temple that year were interesting too.
The source looked strange.
Quite a lot of money came from the imperial family.”
“……”
The cardinal could not speak.
Only his lips trembled.
The hand holding the rosary had turned white.
He could no longer pretend.
“And the donation records.”
I continued.
“ The amount embezzled over decades was quite large.
Where did it go?
Personal wealth?
Or tribute to the imperial family again?”
Silence.
His face turned pale.
Sweat formed on his forehead.
The hand gripping the rosary trembled.
The calm from earlier was completely gone.
He looked like a different person.
“Your Highness…”
He barely spoke.
His voice was cracked.
“What… do you want?”
“You’re asking even though you know.”
I leaned back and crossed my legs.
“Guardian registration.”
The cardinal bit his lip.
His eyes moved as if calculating.
“B-but His Majesty the Emperor…”
“So if you obey the Emperor, what will he give you?”
“…Pardon?”
“What did the imperial family promise?
Money? Support? Refined stones?”
He could not answer.
Because there was nothing to give.
“Nothing, right?”
I shrugged leisurely.
“When a ruler catches your weakness, they squeeze you dry—
and throw you away when you’re no longer needed.”
My feet dangled above the floor.
“That secret will explode someday anyway.
The moment the imperial family no longer needs you, they’ll discard you.
Why do you think those records remain in the secret archives?
How do you think I learned about them?”
His face grew even paler.
“Your Highness, that is…!
You insult His Majesty!”
“You blasphemed God, yet you fear His Majesty more than God?”
He had no answer.
“You know you’ll be abandoned once useless.
Isn’t that why you struggled so hard to please the imperial family?”
I had seen it before regression.
That was exactly what happened.
But I did not say that aloud.
“At least I understand the virtue of give and take.
How about this?
I’ll give you an escape route.
Three years to wash your funds and step away before the imperial family discards you.
I’ll share all the information I know.”
The cardinal lowered his head.
Hands clasped, thinking for a long time.
He set down the rosary and folded both hands.
It looked like prayer—
but he was probably calculating.
After a long while, he raised his head.
“Will you truly… bury it?”
“No secret stays buried forever.
I can only buy you time.”
I couldn’t bury it in the first place.
“Or I could expose everything right now.
The choice is yours.”
I smiled slyly and tapped my toes.
In truth, that event would explode three years from now anyway.
Even if I did nothing, Cardinal Leonard would be dismissed around then.
Since I planned to do nothing,
it was no different from giving him three extra years.
This had turned from persuasion into blackmail mixed with a bit of deception.
Well, it didn’t matter.
Threats suited my nature more than persuasion anyway.
A long silence passed.
The cardinal let out a deep, heavy sigh.
His shoulders slumped.
“…Understood.”
At last, he nodded.
Good.
“We will proceed with the registration this afternoon.”
“Good.”
I stood up without hesitation.
Then I looked back at the still-bowed cardinal and added,
“Don’t trust His Majesty too much.”
“……”
“You’ll regret it.”
