WDYEHM 12

Chapter 12

Orte looked at Yones calmly.

‘Yes… there should be at least one person in the temple who hates me.’

Orte didn’t know this well, but the previous Saint had made a great contribution to the empire. She was kind and gentle, so no one in the temple hated her.

Yones was originally an orphan.

He lost his parents in the war that the Duke of Weekend had ended.

The Saint took him in and raised him herself.

Then Orte was born—

at the cost of the Saint’s life.

Yones was like a mix of Clef and Ellen.

He was calmer than Ellen, but not as cold as Clef.

Because of that, he didn’t hide his hatred and hostility toward Orte.

Also, since he became an orphan because of a war caused by nobles, it was natural for him to hate Orte even more, since she had noble blood.

Yones was eighteen, the same as Ellen.

Even from a young age, he was an outstanding holy knight.

After the Saint died, he went outside the temple to carry out purification missions.

Because of his achievements, he became the vice-captain of the holy knights at just seventeen.

It had been a long time since Orte last saw him.

‘Now that I think about it… he’s the only one whose reaction I haven’t seen after the truth came out.’

She heard that Yones had tried to visit her many times, but the Duke of Weekend did not allow it.

But she already knew what his reaction would be.

“Yones, you have returned.”

At Yohan’s greeting, Yones only glanced at him and looked back at Orte.

His hand rested on the handle of his sword.

As if he might draw it at any moment—

to cut her down.

Orte stared at that movement.

“Would it be easier if I just died now?”

She slowly blinked.

For a moment, she even thought about provoking him.

Maybe because she kept staring, Yones frowned.

“You… something is strange.”

Orte tried to remember how she used to treat him.

It was long ago, but she remembered clinging to him, just like she did with her family.

Calling him brother.

But that Orte was gone.

She had already died three times.

Orte lowered her gaze slightly.

“It is an honor to see you, Vice-Captain.”

“What?”

Yones asked in disbelief.

The tension broke, and Yohan quickly stepped in.

“Yones, were you on your way somewhere? Lady Orte is heading to the dining hall to meet the Pope and His Holiness.”

Yohan knew their relationship well.

Since Yones couldn’t keep stopping Orte, who was going to meet the Pope, he stepped aside slightly.

Yohan smiled.

“Thank you, Yones.”

Orte lowered her eyes and followed Yohan again.

She could feel Yones’s gaze sticking to her, but she didn’t care at all.

Yohan looked at her carefully, worried she might be upset.

But after walking a bit, Orte raised her head and looked forward.

“Yohan, does the temple have a library?”

“Yes, of course. Are you looking for a specific book?”

“I recently became interested in something.”

“You are free to enter the library anytime. I will inform Manni.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. There is nothing you cannot do while staying at the temple.”

When they arrived at the dining hall, Yohan opened the door.

Orte gave him a small nod and entered.

At the table sat two people—the Pope and the Cardinal.

They stood up when they saw her.

“Lady Orte.”

The Pope greeted her warmly.

Orte held her dress slightly and bowed.

“I greet the Pope and His Holiness.”

“There is no need to be so formal. Please sit.”

The Cardinal also welcomed her.

Orte sat beside the Pope, facing the Cardinal.

“It has been a while. Have you been well?”

“Yes, I have. What about you?”

“I have been the same as always.”

The Pope looked middle-aged, but in reality, he was much older than the elderly Cardinal.

“Thank you for coming to the temple, Lady Orte.”

Orte could feel sincerity in his words.

She gave a faint smile.

The Pope and Cardinal did not overwhelm her with questions or attention.

They were careful not to burden her.

During the meal, light conversation continued.

Orte was worried they might mention her collapsing in the garden—

but they said nothing.

Thanks to that, she was able to finish her meal comfortably.

After bathing, Orte lay in her room.

Only one candle was left burning.

She thought about what happened earlier.

“It was definitely a dragon.”

Even though she had fainted, her memory was clear.

Thinking of the dragon, Orte fell asleep.

The next day, Orte immediately asked Manni and went to the library.

Alone, she searched for books about dragons.

Dragons were sacred creatures that symbolized the temple.

When the main god descended to the human world, it took the form of a dragon.

It was also said that the god’s messenger would appear as a dragon.

However, many people doubted whether dragons still existed.

They had existed in ancient times, but the last sighting was hundreds of years ago.

So most believed dragons were extinct.

Orte read several books, but found nothing useful.

“The Pope would know…”

But if she asked him suddenly, she would have to explain everything.

If she had only seen a dragon, she wouldn’t worry this much.

The problem was—

The dragon knew her name.

And said something strange.

“It said… it knew I would find it again.”

No matter how much she searched her memory, she had never met a dragon before.

In the end, she left the library without answers.

When Orte opened the door—

She noticed Manni’s uneasy expression.

Then she turned her head.

And as expected—

someone was there.

“Weekend.”

Yones stood leaning against the wall, staring at her.

He always called her by her family name.

Even before, she never corrected him.

Because hearing it reminded her she belonged to the Weekend family.

But now—

it was different.

“Orte.”

“….”

“That is my name, Vice-Captain.”

Yones made the same expression as yesterday.

Like he was looking at something broken.

Orte almost laughed inside.

To them—

she had never been a person.

She was just like an object.

“From now on, please call me by my name.”

She didn’t know why he came, but since they met, she said what she wanted.

She didn’t want to be called “Weekend” anymore.

Because she is Orte.

Orte looked at him for a moment, then turned away.

Manni, who had been watching nervously, quickly followed her.

“I’m sorry, Lady Orte. Yones told me not to say anything…”

“It’s okay, Manni.”

Orte cut her off with a faint smile.

“Go back to the room first. I’ll go to the garden.”

Manni hesitated because of what happened yesterday, but nodded.

“Yes… please be careful.”

Orte left her behind and walked toward the garden.

If books couldn’t give her answers—

then she would just meet it again.

She had time.

And nothing else to do.

So she kept it simple.

And without thinking about Yones anymore—

she walked forward with steady steps.