Leon grabbed his stomach and started laughing hard.
His laughter sounded sincere, which made me feel a little hurt.
'He thinks I'm no different from him, doesn't he?'
As I looked at him laughing, I closed my mouth tightly.
Fortunately, he stopped laughing, realizing that the atmosphere was not normal.
“I'm thinking of going back to Esther today.”
"What do you mean?
Didn't I say we can't today?"
“So, you stay here, and I will go back alone.
You are just making fun of me.
It seems that I am not necessary to you.”
"Oh, Belle Belle, I'm sorry!
No, don't go.
It's me who made the mistake."
As Leon, who is much larger than me, tried to jump into my lap with a whimper, I moved gently to the side.
He stopped brilliantly quickly.
I was about to continue the tantrum, but then I remembered my earlier oath: 'Leon is in control.'
I shook my head, fighting the humiliating feeling, and decided to postpone these feelings for the moment.
“Okay, I'll accept your apology.
But promise, don't make fun of me again.”
“Yes, I promise.”
Leon extended his little finger.
He had fondly remembered the promise gesture I had taught him before.
I took his finger with my own and nodded approvingly.
The success of silencing Lucas's subject was an unexpected result.
Shaking his finger vigorously, I hoped that Lucas' name would never come out of Leon's mouth again.
We had lunch together, and Leon looked on the verge of tears as he was dragged into the Imperial Palace.
We agreed to explore the capital together when he returned.
In Leon's absence, instead of staying in the room doing nothing, I decided to visit Ruler Tia's temple.
There was no information about sacred objects in the capital temple, but maybe I would get lucky and find something.
Since finding the Holy Sword Issar, my faith in Ruler Tia has become very deep.
“Even here… your faith is really deep.”
Amy said emotionally, folding her hands over her chest.
“I told you, I'm praying hard for the Duke, right, Amy?”
'Don't mention Lucas, tell Leon these points instead.'
"But in the capital, the Lianus Temple is the largest.
It is said that the saint who appeared recently belongs to the Lianus Temple."
'Was Cassia a member of the Lianus Temple?'
I tilted my head and firmly decided not to go to the Lianus Temple.
Meeting the heroine Cassia now will not bring anything good.
I feel like Governor Tia is the closest to me.
“I love Ruler Tia.
I don’t know if you two know, but Lianus was born from Ruler Tia.”
"Ha!
This is the first time I've heard of that.
But saying something like that might cause trouble."
Amy lowered her voice.
From Amy and Mary's expressions, it seemed like it was no joke.
'I didn't read this in reality, but in the novel.'
I spoke about the details of the novel unconsciously.
But this is the truth, girls.
I felt frustrated, but I didn't want to cause controversy, so I nodded calmly.
“If you're lucky, you might meet the saint at the Lianus Temple!”
Mary spoke with shining eyes.
I shook my head firmly.
Amy and Mary showed disappointment on their faces.
Why are they trying to bother me today when I refuse?
They seem as if they are determined to meet the heroine.
Is this a sign?
Is it a message to me, who is taking a different route from the original story, to meet her early and get out early?
But I wasn't going to leave early.
The temple of the ruler Tia in the capital was smaller than the one at Esther.
I did not report my visit, and there were no priests welcoming the faithful at the entrance.
A priest passed by me as I was getting off the carriage in front of the temple without paying attention to me.
'Nobles are definitely a common sight here, so it's okay.'
I toured the temple with Amy and Mary.
There was nothing special, and the visit did not trigger any memories of the novel's scenes.
“Shall we go?”
“Didn't you come to pray?”
Amy was surprised and asked me with round eyes when I suggested leaving.
'Is this worth all this astonishment?
Plans could change.'
But since I loved Leon's safety and wished for world peace, I began to look around reluctantly.
“Where is the prayer room?
I can’t find it.”
“The prayer room is over there.”
Mary pointed excitedly in the direction.
I entered the prayer room feeling trapped by them, with a grim expression.
“We'll wait here.”
“Won’t you pray with me?”
“Didn't you always hate us watching you pray?”
Amy tilted her head and asked.
“Ah...was I?”
I remembered the attack of hysteria I had had in the temple of Ruler Thea in Esther.
I looked around the spacious prayer room.
There was only one person praying in front, me.
I sat on the prayer chair and stared at the statue, intending to spend some time and then leave.
How long has it been since I checked in?
When I was about to get up, I thought I had enough time, the person who was praying in front got up.
I suddenly felt guilty, so I quickly gathered my hands and pretended to pray.
The sound of his footsteps approached.
The sound of footsteps beside me stopped strangely.
'What is this?
Why doesn't he go?
'Should I call Amy or the guards?'
If he was a bad person, I should scream and run away, taking advantage of his surprise.
I took a deep breath and tightened my stomach muscles, hoping he would continue on his way, but he didn't move.
“Amy!”
I screamed loudly, jumped up and fell backwards.
At that moment, I felt a force grabbing my arm, making me stagger and almost fall.
I grabbed the chair with my other arm to maintain my balance, and looked alternately at the person holding my arm and at Amy, who quickly entered the room.
'Lucas?'
“Lucas, why are you here?”
Before I could hear his response, my eyes met Amy's wary gaze.
I looked where she was looking, then shook Lucas's hand violently.
“Amy, let me explain…”
"Ma'am!
What happened?"
Mary and the guards entered after Amy, and stopped when they saw me with Lucas.
“No, it's not like that...”
'Why do I justify myf?'
You are the ones who brought me into the prayer room.
I clearly said I wanted to go back to the hotel.
But they seemed to have completely forgotten about that.
Amy's face hardened, she took Mary's arm and left with the guards, and the sound of the door closing violently struck my heart.
I felt like sitting down and crying.
“What were you doing here?”
“I came to the temple to pray, what was I going to do?”
Lucas replied with a surprised expression as he shrugged at my anger.
“You are a Count, so why do you follow me around without work?
Are you planning to follow me throughout my time in the capital?”
"What do you mean?
I didn't know you were here.
You were the one who knew that I came here every Wednesday.
Until you came here and you said in front of the governor... what was it?
If the world does not confess, then the governor's confession is enough?
Don't you remember?
And..."
“Stop!”
'Please stop.'
I couldn't bear the feeling of embarrassment that increased with every word.
This was not a good time to listen to Lucas' stories.
I had to justify myf to Amy anyway.
I looked at him angrily and left the prayer room.
As I was about to excuse myf in front of Amy and Mary, who seemed unusually cold, Amy spoke first: “Ma’am, what are you up to?”
She was sure there was a misunderstanding.
"Amy, listen to me.
I clearly said I wanted to go back to the hotel.
You were the one who brought me into the prayer room, right?"
“But, despite our insistence, it was you who chose the Tia Temple instead of the Lianus Temple.”