Chapter 132
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Chapter 132
At Miliod's words, Kieran feigned a look of surprise.
"Is that truly so?"
He lavished praise upon Miliod with a voice tinged with admiration and reverence.
"You are indeed remarkable. To be honest, I was quite at a loss. I had no idea how to find the Master...."
He went on to gush about how relieved he felt that the Cardinal would help, and how he didn't know how to repay such kindness.
Hata, who had been rolling about beside Chesa, let out a snorting laugh.
She even slapped her front paws against the sofa as if she would die from laughter.
Chesa also stifled a hollow chuckle.
'He's fallen right into it.'
Miliod had walked straight into the trap Kieran had laid.
Just as Kieran had fabricated a fake father, he would now produce a fake Master.
And to make his lies seem plausible, Miliod would run about in all directions, toiling desperately.
Kieran would watch this spectacle unfold at his leisure before finally revealing his true identity at the last moment.
I could already envision the despair on Miliod's face.
'What a truly sadistic pervert.'
Unaware that he was trapped within the coils of a serpent slowly tightening around his throat, Miliod grew increasingly pleased with himself.
"Of course, it won't be easy. But for the Count, I can manage that much."
Buoyed by the flattering words, Miliod belatedly dragged Kieran away.
"Let us continue our discussion somewhere quieter."
"Yes, of course."
Kieran chuckled softly as he disappeared with Miliod.
Ishuel, who had been watching the scene with his arms crossed, furrowed his brow deeply.
"Ugh, what now? Do I need to unpack the luggage again?"
He grumbled that Kieran always did whatever he pleased.
"You think the same way, don't you, little sister?"
Ishuel pressed himself against Chesa's side, seeking her agreement.
"But why is the puppy acting like this?"
He remarked upon seeing Hata too caught up in laughter, then scooped her up and began to tease her in earnest.
As his palms kneaded the small puppy, Hata squeaked and squirmed.
Chesa rescued Hata and instead offered Ishuel her hair to play with.
While Ishuel braided her hair, Chesa glanced around.
'Now that I think about it, where did Karha and Theo go?'
They should have been offering a word or two of help while Ishuel packed.
Theo had a nature inclined to take on difficult tasks, so it would have been natural for him to come and lend a hand.
Yet neither of them was anywhere to be seen.
I was puzzled.
Belzeon, who had stepped out briefly to handle some business, returned with a small guest.
"Chesa Basilian!"
Despite the Attendant's attempts to restrain her, the girl came running and, with both hands clenched into fists and her already large eyes opened even wider, asked Chesa a question.
"A-are you really leaving?" Aran asked, her speech pattern oddly formal.
The girl speaking in that strange manner was Aran Skaya, princess of the Skaya Kingdom.
***
The warm milk tea, generously laced with cream, wafted an inviting aroma.
Aran Skaya took a delicate sip of her milk tea, her golden eyes flickering toward Chesa.
Due to Aran's sudden visit, Chesa found herself enjoying an unexpectedly early tea time.
To avoid the chaos of packing, Belzeon had personally arranged a quiet space for the two girls to take their tea.
Once they were alone, Aran became terribly shy.
Chesa watched with amusement as the princess fidgeted and squirmed in her seat.
Judging by the timing of her arrival, it seemed she had rushed here the moment the prayer ceremony concluded.
"Um..."
Aran finally set down her teacup and opened her mouth.
"Thank you."
"...?"
I couldn't fathom why she'd been speaking so strangely since arriving.
She was mixing her usual casual speech with formal endings.
Chesa waved her hand dismissively.
"Just speak naturally!"
"Is that truly acceptable?"
When I encouraged her to relax, Aran murmured hesitantly.
"Because you are someone extraordinary. I felt I couldn't treat you as I did before."
Aran's face flushed crimson like ripened fruit.
"That day, I saw it too. The flower rain you created... it was so beautiful, and yet..."
Aran swallowed hard.
Her golden eyes fixed directly upon me.
"It was sad."
"..."
I was taken aback by Aran's words.
Most people had praised that day's flower rain as a miraculous spectacle.
They had lauded it as a display of divine sanctity.
Yet it had been wrought by fairy power.
Aran was the first to speak of sadness, mirroring the very emotion I had felt.
"I... I wanted to grow closer to you... but you're leaving..."
Aran twisted her fingers anxiously.
"Didn't we agree to discuss the crown?"
I had proposed asking for her crown in exchange for arranging her meeting with The Witch.
Having grown fond of the Skaya princess, I spoke with generous intent.
"I might not leave after all!"
"Truly?"
"Yes. But what did you do today?"
I was curious what had happened on the second prayer day.
Aran's face brightened with joy as she answered quickly.
"Today was ordinary. I offered prayers."
Since it was still young children gathering to pray, it didn't proceed for very long.
The second prayer ended in a chaotic atmosphere.
The true protagonist of the prayer ceremony was House of Basilian, who hadn't even attended.
Everyone had gathered to chatter about the remarkable feats of House of Basilian, the miracle shown by the adopted child, and the declaration of non-participation in the prayer ceremony.
Even the Holy Priests and Holy Knights seemed eager to join the conversation.
They didn't dare show it openly, but I could clearly sense them listening intently to what the prayer ceremony participants were saying.
"Yet all of it is still regarded as God's miracle."
Aran spoke with frustration as she chattered away.
"But you're a Fairy."
The maritime kingdom of Skaya was a nation founded by pirates.
Being a nation without roots, their faith was considerably lacking.
In fact, Aran had only attended this Pure Child Prayer Ceremony because of The Witch.
Perhaps because of that, Aran's thoughts about Fairies seemed somewhat different from those of ordinary continentals.
Chesa had always been branded as a heretic.
Hearing Aran's comforting and caring words, my heart kept growing wider.
'This kid is quite decent, isn't she.'
If Itar had resembled Aran even half as much, I wouldn't have been sent to the Heresy Interrogation Chamber.
Thinking of Itar, who was probably receiving rigorous spiritual education by now, Chesa nodded.
"It's fine. There's nothing I can do about it anyway."
As I answered with composure, Aran clenched her fist tightly.
Then she suddenly slammed the table.
Of course, since it was a small fist, it made a soft thud instead of a bang.
"...You!"
Aran trembled and spoke in a rush without even breathing.
"You're so cute and composed and beautiful and amazing!"
As Aran bounced around calling me a truly adorable Fairy, Itar's image overlapped with her.
'I hope she doesn't end up like Itar....'
Pushing aside a small measure of unease, I waited for Aran to calm down.
And I asked for the information I needed.
"Do you happen to know Remy?"
"Lemil? That prince of Hebaton who Cardinal Milliod supports?"
"Yes."
"I know him well."
Aran grinned and asked.
"Why, should I kill him for you?"
“....”
"I'm joking."
Chesa was well aware that the bellicose Princess of Skaya had just thrown a serious remark disguised as a jest.
Chesa pressed her forehead with her hand for a moment, then waved her fingers dismissively to dissuade her.
"That's not it."
She swiveled her head back and forth, surveying the surroundings.
After confirming once more that no one was present, she whispered to Aran.
"I can't take the crown right now."
The situation had become far too complicated.
No matter how much Hailon supported Chesa.
If a heretic—a Fairy—were to win the Prayer Competition, fierce backlash would erupt throughout the Holy Empire.
And so Chesa pondered.
'Must one win to claim the crown?'
The world offered many paths forward.
Since she had already drawn in the Fake Father, Chesa decided to choose a different method.
A way to send both the Cardinal and the Holy King away in one stroke.
"Help Remy win instead."
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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