Chapter 111
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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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Chapter 111
"Change your clothes this instant!"
"And who exactly are you to tell me what to wear?"
Kibon, his ears flushed crimson with embarrassment, hastily draped his jacket across my shoulders.
"It's far too revealing! What will people think when they see you like this...."
"That's precisely the point—I want them to see."
Kibon's overreaction was becoming absurd.
While the dress did show some skin, I was merely exposing my shoulders—hardly a scandalous choice by any measure.
At the last banquet, I'd seen far more daring gowns on display.
The truth was simply that I'd been dressing far too conservatively until now.
"Absolutely not."
"I don't care what you think."
"But surely you must be cold, aren't you?"
Of course I was cold. It was November, after all. And this wasn't even the Banquet Hall.
"That's why I brought a heat scroll."
I waved my hand dismissively and strode purposefully toward the Chapel.
In these vertiginous heels—which I'd scarcely ever worn before—my footsteps echoed sharply down the Corridor.
With the most ornate fan and dramatic makeup added to the ensemble, even I had to admit I cut quite an imposing figure.
"Besides, I'll keep the jacket on until we reach the Chapel to conserve the scroll's energy."
"Not even in the Chapel. Why would you go to such lengths with a heat scroll just to wear something like that?"
"There's a reason for everything. Are you interrogating me right now? Get your head on straight. If anyone saw us, they'd think you were my superior."
"...."
Kibon's expression remained thoroughly disapproving. I simply ignored him.
The High Priest had said he would remain in the Temple within the Imperial Palace after the banquet concluded.
Though it was called a Temple, it was merely a small space with a Chapel and sleeping quarters—quarters that could accommodate no more than five people.
Which meant that if I went to the Chapel now, I would encounter the High Priest and the few priests attending to him.
"But why are you suddenly going to the Chapel?"
"You don't need to know. Besides, I've already reported this to Crown Prince Kiaros."
Though admittedly, I'd only mentioned the initial approach in the vaguest of terms.
The fact that I hadn't disclosed my specific method of approach was entirely deliberate.
'The High Priest can't possibly harm me right now anyway. I'm not his priority.'
He would assume someone insignificant like me could be eliminated at any time. Therefore, I had to act at an unexpected moment.
Kibon, unable to grasp my deeper intentions, merely wore an expression of bewilderment.
"Then exactly...."
We had arrived at the Chapel.
I returned the jacket from my shoulders to Kibon.
As I removed it, a sharp, cold wind swept across my bare shoulders.
I activated the heat scroll I'd brought. Like all scrolls, its effect wouldn't be extraordinary, but it would provide warmth equivalent to a hand warmer.
Then I turned to Kibon and issued my command.
"You speak only two words."
"Two things?"
"First, I need you to tell me, 'That person is the High Priest.' And then you need to tell the High Priest, 'Crown Prince Kiaros won't stand idle.'"
* * *
Crown Prince Kiaros held his breath internally.
'Surely... this approach doesn't mean...'
Namia Loapi's outfit was far too revealing. I had never seen her dressed like this before. And what was with that heavy makeup and those impossibly tall heels?
'Could this "approach" possibly mean seduction?'
Moreover, having him deliver that line—"Crown Prince Kiaros won't stand idle"—felt unsettling somehow.
According to the Temple's doctrines, the High Priest was forbidden from romantic relationships.
So the meaning of that line, "That person is the High Priest"... was she trying to exploit that as a weakness?
'This can't happen.'
My body trembled at the mere sight of her exposed white shoulders. My head spun and heat rose within me.
If Namia Loapi were to give me a flirtatious smile in that state and say something like, "I want to get closer to you, High Priest"...
'Absolutely not. I cannot bear to witness that.'
No matter how much of a trap was being laid for the enemy, I couldn't stand to see Namia Loapi acting affectionately toward another man.
In the meantime, Namia Loapi opened the Chapel door. The High Priest, who had been praying inside, turned around.
Their eyes met.
"Well..."
Just as I was about to say this wouldn't work and grab Namia Loapi's arm—
"My goodness, where are your eyes looking... not even greeting me?"
Namia Loapi snapped open her fan and spoke arrogantly.
"How dare you be so insolent within the Imperial Palace to someone favored by the Imperial Servants?"
Instead of seduction, she simply began acting like a complete brat.
Both Crown Prince Kiaros and the High Priest blinked blankly with startled expressions.
'What? Why aren't you delivering your lines? I taught you everything, and you're this oblivious?'
Namia Loapi poked Kibon in the ribs. When he made a bewildered expression, she glared at him with her eyes.
Only then did sudden realization dawn on him.
Crown Prince Kiaros coughed once and barely managed to speak.
"That person is the High Priest."
It seemed to be the correct answer. A smile of approval briefly crossed Namia Loapi's face.
The moment he spoke, she let out an "Ohhhhh..." and opened her eyes wide.
"Oh, that person is... the High Priest? Ah yes, yes. We've even greeted each other before! Oh my, how could I forget like this, even though I saw so many people at the banquet?"
And she added with a bright smile.
"Well, surely Crown Prince Kiaros would say, 'Our silly Namia is cute even when she's foolish,' wouldn't he?"
Not even as a joke did the words "Yes, that's right" come out.
Because that stiff demeanor of Namia Loapi before him clashed far too much with those lines.
She was truly selling another scandal with the Crown Prince quite effectively.
'She never shows me this side of herself...'
Namia Loapi was always respectful in front of Crown Prince Kiaros. Perhaps because of that, seeing this innocent-seeming side of her now made laughter escape from me.
Certainly, at first it seemed utterly absurd...
In that moment, Namia Loapi clapped her hands together with a radiant smile.
"Well, I was actually looking for you anyway, High Priest."
"Ah... yes."
The High Priest regarded her with a bewildered expression.
The question 'Is she really like this?' was written plainly across his face.
And for good reason—at the Saint Kairo Banquet, Namia Loapi had left the Banquet Hall without even dancing the first dance.
The actual time she had spent there was remarkably brief, and people had scarcely any opportunity to form impressions of her personality.
"Well, my dragon brother kidnapped me and ended up confining me in the Imperial Palace... I must have looked too beautiful at the banquet. Come to think of it, I did act petulant during the first dance... but how can I help it if I don't understand my own heart... it seems good sometimes and not good other times... hmm? Surely the High Priest isn't finding my story boring, are you?"
Namia Loapi had drawn close beside the High Priest and was chattering away.
"Haha, not at all... but I wonder why the Minister was looking for me?"
"It's nothing major."
Namia Loapi snapped her fan shut with a flourish, her eyes gleaming.
"Please treat me."
"Hmm?"
"I'm clearly in terrible pain, but the Imperial Palace physician keeps insisting I'm fine—must be a quack."
"Where exactly... does it hurt?"
"Yes. My body feels rather chilled... "
The High Priest looked at Namia Loapi with an expression that said 'that's because of how you're dressed.'
It seemed Namia Loapi had deliberately chosen such an outfit precisely to create this absurdly exaggerated situation.
"My ankles hurt too... "
That was because of the high heels.
"And I haven't even washed my face, yet my skin keeps breaking out... "
The High Priest seemed barely able to restrain himself from saying 'what do you expect if you don't wash your face after applying makeup so heavily?'
"But the Imperial Palace physician just keeps saying I'm fine."
Namia Loapi clicked her tongue in displeasure and then smiled wickedly.
"Modern medicine seems incapable of treating me. How about you use your holy power to heal me, High Priest? You do have divine energy, don't you?"
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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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