Chapter 80
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I'll purchase divine power with money. Chapter 80 Airic Dert, High Priest of the Sun God Grand Temple. Seth Noel, Holy Knight Commander. Jeremy, candidate for Holy Knight Commander of the Grand Temple of Sea God. These three were exactly half of the four male leads I'd encountered so far in "Holy Idella."
So who was the last one? The Crown Prince of Karnus, the continent's sole empire. Like so many romance novels, this Crown Prince—bearing the most illustrious title—was the true male lead of "Holy Idella."
He appeared last yet radiated an overwhelming presence, swiftly outshining the other male candidates and standing alone at the pinnacle. The Empire's greatest mage, who stood at the vanguard in the war against "evil" for the sake of his beloved Female Protagonist, and ultimately struck down the enemy's head alongside her. And in the novel's ending, the man who married the Female Protagonist with whom his heart had become one. That was none other than the Crown Prince of the Empire: Felix Roan Carnus. 'But why on earth was he here?' Felix was a man who had solidified his position as Crown Prince with no significant faction threatening his claim—the certain heir to the throne of the next generation. So why was such an important figure in the distant Southern Region?
"This isn't a mistake, is it? The Crown Prince is really here?"
"Yes. I just confirmed the presence of the Crown Prince's Personal Knight Order."
If the knight order—practically an extension of the Crown Prince himself—was here, then it was certain.
"Did you know about this, madam?"
I asked Rosetta, seated across from me, and she shook her head in alarm.
"How could I? When I left the Southern Region, I heard absolutely nothing of this!"
Her ashen complexion suggested she wasn't lying. There was no reason for her to deceive me anyway.
"Hmm. But we haven't done anything wrong, and there's no reason to avoid him, is there?"
The Crown Prince's appearance was unexpected, but it posed no real problem. While the Temple of the Sun God exists within the Empire, the entire Sun God faith isn't under imperial authority. There's no reason to bow our heads simply because we've encountered royalty. The authority of the divine stands above that of the imperial court. Besides, regardless of the Crown Prince or anything else, the most pressing matter right now was escaping this heat.
"Holy Knight Commander, please ignore this and proceed directly to the costume chamber."
"Understood."
With Seth's acknowledgment, the carriage that had stopped resumed its motion. I glanced outside, where crowds had gathered unusually thick—perhaps due to rumors of the Crown Prince's arrival—then looked down. Jeremy was crouched on the carriage floor, munching on a cookie. I hadn't made him sit there. He'd stubbornly insisted that spot was to his liking and squeezed himself in.
"Jeremy."
"Hmm?"
"Have you ever met the Crown Prince?"
"I have, but he hasn't."
Was he referring to secret surveillance under orders from the Sea God Faction, or perhaps seeing the Crown Prince from a distance when he visited the Sea God Temple? I was curious which it was, but it wasn't something I could ask in front of Rosetta, so I shelved the question for later.
"Why? Should I go find out what's happening?"
I calmed Jeremy, who looked ready to bolt at any moment.
"No. Stay right here beside me."
It was a signal not to reveal his face.
"Understood."
Jeremy nodded without protest, his head bobbing obediently as he finished his cookie. I gently patted his head. The soft texture of his hair, which had grown silky during his time at the Sun God Grand Temple, felt quite pleasant. Even if the Crown Prince possessed exceptional skill, he wouldn't be able to sense Jeremy's presence, but there was one reason I didn't send him away. Evil had seeped into the Imperial Court. The Crown Prince was innocent, but I couldn't be certain about those around him, so caution was warranted. I gazed quietly outside before drawing the curtain shut. Even if it was somewhat warm, it was better to remain inconspicuous for now. * * * "Ah, I can finally breathe now."
The moment I changed clothes, a smile bloomed across my face. After wearing the High Priestess robes that covered everything from fingertips to toes, changing into clothes that exposed my arms and calves felt incredibly refreshing. Most of all, the sensation of the fabric caressing my skin was wonderfully pleasant. Now I understood why Rosetta and Monica had praised these clothes so effusively.
"I purchased several more outfits. We can have the rest tailored once we reach Flu Territory."
Monica, who had also changed into new clothes like me, approached. I tilted my head in confusion.
"Why buy more here? We can just rotate what we already have."
Ready-made clothes should be sufficient.
"Pardon? What do you mean, High Priestess? Ready-made garments are merely temporary wear until proper tailored clothing arrives!"
But Monica's eyes blazed with disagreement.
"I absolutely cannot allow the High Priestess to wear only a few ready-made pieces. You must have proper tailored garments!"
At this rate, she'd breathe fire from her mouth. Overwhelmed by Monica's intensity, I reluctantly nodded. Now that I thought about it, she was the eldest daughter of a count's family that owned the Granary Region. For someone from the modern era, wearing ready-made clothes was natural, but for the daughter of a wealthy noble house, it was apparently unthinkable.
"Fine, I understand. I'll do it that way."
"Excellent decision. I'll ask the Baroness to summon a skilled tailor!"
Unable to resist Monica's laser-focused determination, I acquiesced, and she immediately broke into a radiant smile. Fine, do as you please.
"We have completed purchasing summer clothes for everyone who needed them."
At that moment, Victoria approached and informed me. I nodded and spoke to Monica.
"Charge all the clothing expenses to the Temple of the Sun God's account. Since we came here on official business, they should reimburse our travel expenses."
At my words, Monica's eyes widened in astonishment.
"What? Even if it's ready-made, the clothing costs quite a bit. Are you sure about this?"
"Why worry? We've been free of poverty for a long time now."
The income from potion sales flows in steadily, and I even have the money I extracted from the Sea God Temple. Even after making donations, I have plenty left over—why would I need to scrimp? Of course, it's the temple that's wealthy, while I remain penniless... Because I donated every last coin that came my way, only the temple grew rich while I stayed perpetually broke. Once Idella appears, I might have to leave the temple, so I should be saving money in advance—but this wretched donation system won't let me. Just let me fill up my divine power to 40%. After that, I'm done donating and I'm saving every coin!
"Then let's depart. We've wasted enough time."
After payment was settled, we rushed out of the dressing room. The faces of those carrying boxes filled with new clothes were radiant with excitement. They were probably even happier since the clothes were free. I smiled warmly watching them. I hoped this would raise their favorability toward me even more.
"...Gasp."
But the moment our eyes met, those who had been laughing so freely among themselves caught their breath and turned away. The crowd dispersed in an instant, leaving me alone. Despite all this effort, I still have a long way to go. Sigh. * * * An unremarkable noble's carriage—neither particularly large nor ornate—was moving away from the Commercial District. A tall, handsome man standing in the middle of the street watched the carriage quietly.
"Is something the matter, sir?"
His subordinate, standing beside him, asked with puzzlement at his silent, intent gaze.
"That carriage... it looks like the Flu Family's crest."
A cactus with a single flower blooming from it. The subordinate nodded after confirming the crest engraved on the carriage.
"Indeed, sir."
"Then what about the uniforms of those knights surrounding the carriage?"
Knights dressed in white uniforms embroidered with gold thread, draped in red cloaks. By any measure, they were not the Flu Family's knights. The emblem on the vivid cloak was not a cactus, but golden thorns extending in all directions.
"I'm not entirely sure..."
As the subordinate answered with an uncomfortable expression, the handsome man murmured softly.
"If it's a family carriage, one of the direct bloodline should be inside. Yet knights other than the family's own are escorting it..."
That statement meant only one thing. Someone of higher rank than the family's direct line was riding in that carriage. This was becoming quite intriguing.
"Find out who they are."
"I shall obey your command, Your Highness."
Crown Prince Felix Roan Carnus laughed at his subordinate's loyal response. Those beautiful, luminous cyan eyes never left the carriage until it disappeared from view.
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