Chapter 32

It made me think, *So this is what a handsome man looks like. Even when he smiles coolly like a back-alley boss, he looks dashing, not despicable.*

“Ah! You know I have the mother’s core, right?”

“I suppose I’ll have to prepare a check.”

He really was quick on the uptake. I spoke with a satisfied smile.

“I’ll see you next time, then.”

I gave Kaiel a light nod and approached Zenia.

“Princess Astell!”

Zenia, who was being treated by Johan, cried out as if we were long-lost family members finally reunited.

The way she looked at me was different now, her eyes sparkling with a newfound brilliance.

The moment her beaming smile made my own expression falter, Johan, having finished his treatment, smiled brightly.

“Congratulations, Lady Astell. It was a truly magnificent plan, befitting the master of such an amazing ability!”

“Thank you.”

“From the looks of it, everyone’s misunderstandings about you seem to have been cleared up as well. Congratulations.”

“…Pardon?”

“By now, everyone must know what a good person you are, Lady Astell. It’s not my accomplishment, but I’m truly, truly happy!”

*You’re probably the only one who thinks that.*

Johan’s persistent rose-tinted view of me left me speechless.

He must not have heard me cursing, or when I said I didn’t intervene with the smaller spiders because they didn’t have cores.

These people were only following me because it was profitable. Not because I was good.

*In their heads, they’re probably still thinking of me as the Mad Princess.*

My lips twitched with the urge to correct him, but I decided against it.

*He’s cute.*

I smiled sweetly.

“Thank you for healing Zenia.”

Johan shyly rubbed the back of his neck.

His ascetic and noble face transformed into that of an innocent young man.

“It was nothing. I only did what I had to do.”

It was strange. Why did I find it so hard to look away whenever this man made that expression?

*But it’s not like I see him as a potential partner…*

I quickly shook my head to clear away the stray thoughts.

“I have a question. I noticed earlier that you were awake before the gate opened. Why was that?”

Johan tilted his head.

“You saw that?”

“Yes. Did you sense the gate? Before it even opened?”

“It wasn’t… sensing. I didn’t know a gate was going to open. To be more precise… it was more of a premonition that something was about to happen because my divine power was fluctuating.”

“What do you mean by fluctuating?”

“Hmm, how should I put it? It feels like my body is heating up? I’m not very good with words, so it’s hard to explain.”

“Do all priests possess divine power?”

“Formal priests do, not acolytes. We have dedicated our bodies to God, after all.”

“I see…”

My voice trailed off as I fell into thought.

Divine power was a new kind of energy I had never experienced.

In my past life, there were clerics who had awakened to healing-type abilities. But they didn’t wield divine power.

The power of healing and Divine Power were fundamentally different.

*To use divine power, I think I need to meet the High Priest first. But how do I meet him? Should I just go to the Central Temple?*

Johan, who had been watching me quietly, spoke softly.

“Lady Astell, please don’t do that.”

“…Don’t do what?”

“You are not alone. That means there are many people just waiting for you to ask for help. So please, look around you sometimes. Don’t try to carry everything by yourself.”

“…Are you one of them, Sir Johan? Have you ever waited for me to ask for help?”

“I have, constantly. Ever since the day I visited you at the manor.”

Just as I thought. I was weak when it came to Johan.

Hearing him say that made my heart ache for no reason, making me want to hug him.

I calmly suppressed the churning in my gut.

“Then help me.”

“Yes, Lady Astell. How may I help you?”

“I wish to see the High Priest.”

“…Pardon?”

“Please arrange a meeting for me with the High Priest.”

* * *

“Please arrange a meeting for me with the High Priest.”

Johan blinked in bewilderment.

He had offered his help, but he never imagined she would request a meeting with the High Priest himself.

*Our High Priest is someone even His Majesty the Emperor can’t meet easily… I’m in deep trouble.*

Though he was in a difficult position, he couldn’t say no now. He didn’t want to disappoint her.

Johan stammered in response.

“…I-I will ask him.”

“When?”

“N-Not right away, but… as soon as possible…”

“Thank you.”

Her tone was so commanding that it felt less like receiving thanks and more like being praised.

Johan pressed a hand to his excessively pounding heart.

*This feels good. I want to be praised more.*

“Uh… shall I have a carriage brought for you? It will be difficult to walk to the Ruthius estate.”

Even without the Temple, there were plenty of ways for Astell to get home. She could simply go to the Magic Tower and contact the Ruthius family.

Besides, the Magic Tower was closer than the Temple from here.

But Johan deliberately chose not to mention the other options. He didn’t want to send Astell to the Magic Tower.

Astell seemed to ponder for a moment before readily accepting.

“Shall we?”

“Thank you for accepting. I will escort you to the Temple.”

“Hmm, but my legs are a bit sore.”

“What? Where does it hurt? I’ll heal you right away.”

“It’s not that bad. Could you just hold my hand?”

“Your… hand?”

“Was that an improper request for a Paladin?”

“No! Not at all. I’d be hap— I mean, it’s f-fine. It’s not improper in the least.”

After freezing for a long moment, Johan hesitantly extended his hand.

A small hand gently rested on his large palm.

“Hmph!”

Johan let out a deliberate cough.

Other than formal greetings, this was the first time he had been in such prolonged contact with a woman.

Holding Astell’s hand as gently as possible, he began to walk slowly.

His heart pounded like crazy.

He was terribly conscious of the sweat that seemed to be forming on his palm.

*Our Mother in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name…*

Johan, who had unconsciously started reciting scripture in his mind, suddenly felt his face flush crimson.

Her slender fingers had gently interlaced with his.

*Wh-What is this? Is she… trying to seduce me?*

But Astell’s expression remained as cool as ever. She wasn’t even looking at him.

She probably didn’t even realize their fingers were intertwined.

Johan debated whether to point it out but decided to remain silent.

He felt that if he said something, Astell might be embarrassed.

*Anyway, Lady Astell’s hand is so soft… O-Our Father in Heaven! Hallowed be Thy name! Look upon Your servant and keep him from falling into temptation!*

Johan and Astell left the grand plaza.

Kaiel and Yulia, who had been watching them quietly, also headed for the Magic Tower.

“They’re gone…”

“So, we just have to wait for the guild to be established, right?”

“I hope it happens soon.”

“Let’s go. Let’s go and wait!”

The hunters scattered onto the streets, each filled with their own hopes.

The only person left in the empty grand plaza was Alex.

* * *

I returned to the estate in a white carriage bearing the Temple’s insignia.

As I stepped out of the carriage, the servants lined up in front of the main building bowed in unison.

They moved with such sharp discipline that the more than fifty people moved as one.

“Welcome back, Princess Astell!”

“…Frank.”

The butler, Frank, who had been sternly observing the servants, bowed his head respectfully.

“You called for me, Princess.”

“If you pull a stunt like this again, I’m moving out.”

“…I will correct my actions.”

“Where is the Duke?”

“He is waiting for you in his office.”

I entered Duke Ruthius’s office.

At the sound of my entrance, Duke Ruthius, who had been looking out the window, turned around.

He held a document in his hand. Through the faintly translucent back, I could see it was some kind of list.

*The rankings.*

I had anticipated that Duke Ruthius would have heard about my level assessment results.

That must be why Frank had attempted the bizarre stunt of lining up all the servants.

*But I didn’t expect him to have already secured the ranking list…*

He must have gotten it from a hunter. Who could have informed him so quickly?

Duke Ruthius gestured toward a chair, then paused.

“…You smell of blood.”

There was one thing I learned in my past life.

Being injured is a weakness. Never let anyone know that you are in a vulnerable state.