In the end, Leon didn't come with me.
Instead, he accompanied me with a big smile.
His face looked very relaxed.
Was my disappearance from his sight so pleasurable to him?
'What do I care if Leon is dancing or having fun?
All I have to do is protect my life.'
I tried to shake off the empty feeling with these thoughts, but my heart sank into a strange sadness.
“Ma’am, is there something worrying you?”
Amy asked me worriedly, looking at me carefully.
I tried to keep an expressionless face, but my emotions seemed to show on my face.
How will I deal with this face that reveals everything?
“I feel a little nauseous being in the cart and moving around the streets after a long time.”
“Then I'll ask you to stop for a moment.
The fresh air will make you feel better.”
“No, it looks like we're almost there, so leave it as it is.”
I heard that Esta is a quiet and secluded town.
I thought I would enjoy the peace and comfort here before long.
This time, even if I don't find the sacred symbol, I won't worry at all.
“Ma’am, we have arrived at Esta!”
Mary spoke in an excited voice.
"Good."
I turned my head to look at the quiet scene outside the window...
"What is this?
What's going on?
Didn't it say it's a quiet city?"
The Esta I saw from the carriage window was crowded with people.
The roads were full of crowds, so much so that the carriage could not move forward and became trapped in the crowd.
“I'm sure I heard it's quiet...
I'll go check.”
Amy got out of the carriage, then came back a little later.
“Ma’am, it looks like we can’t move any further.
You’ll have to get down and walk.”
“Are we in the right place?
Is this really Esta?”
I took Amy's hand and got out of the carriage and asked her.
“Yes, that's true.
But it seems like everyone came out to greet someone attending an event sponsored by Esta Temple.”
"Me?
Am I that popular?
I haven't done anything yet!"
I felt confused, but it wasn't a bad feeling.
Did Belle do something good without my knowledge?
I looked at Amy with a satisfied smile, but her face was full of confusion.
I realized something was wrong, and I wished I could cover my mouth.
“Not me...right?”
“No… It is said that the saint will visit Esta.
If word of your arrival spreads, perhaps we will find one or two people to welcome you.”
Is she kidding me?
Amy was pressing her lips hard, the corner of her mouth twitching.
I looked at her sharply and walked angrily through the crowd.
By the way, will I ever meet Cassia again?
I never want to meet her, but I always seem to get involved with her.
We shouldn't meet now.
Did Cassia come here too in search of the sacred symbol?
“Ma’am, walk slowly.”
But I had gotten way ahead of the crowd.
When I finally reached the entrance of the temple, my clean dress was in tatters.
The Holy Knights who were guarding the entrance to the temple prevented us from entering.
“Entry is forbidden now.
The temple will be opened for the pastoral event tomorrow afternoon...”
“This lady is Grand Duchess Esther.”
The priests looked at my appearance again, then bowed to me.
“We apologize, we apologize.
In this crowd, we were unable to recognize you.”
“I looked like this because I was walking through crowds.”
I continued to explain at length, but I closed my mouth when I noticed that they were not paying attention to what I said.
“Come this way.
The high priest is waiting for you.”
The Holy Knights led us to the priests.
After exchanging greetings with the priests, we finally entered the temple.
“I heard that the saint is coming.”
“Yes, you have just arrived and are meeting the High Priest now.”
“Am I not going to meet the high priest?
Won’t I meet the saint if I go now?”
“Yes, it is a rare opportunity.
You are lucky.”
No, I don't want that.
I would rather be unlucky.
I imagined the looks Cassia would give me this time, and felt dizzy at the thought.
“Oh my God!
Ma’am, it looks like you’re really out of luck.”
“You seem very excited.”
Amy held out her hands, her eyes shining and nodding her head.
I took a deep breath and decided that if I had to, I would just attend the parish event and not even try to look for the holy symbol.
It was best to avoid any action that might increase hostility with Cassia here.
“Come in.”
In a reception room exuding holiness, I finally met the High Priest and Cassia.
The high priest welcomed me with great enthusiasm, while Cassia stood next to him, looking at me with calm eyes.
“This is Grand Duchess Esther.”
The High Priest introduced me to Cassia.
"I know her.
We've met before."
Cassia said in a calm voice.
In this embarrassing situation, I didn't know what to respond.
Well, don't they say a smiley face doesn't spit on?
How many times have I pretended to be crazy for the sake of my life?
Is there anything I can't do?
I made up my mind and laughed out loud.
“Hello after a long time, Saint.”
But despite my laughter, the High Priest only laughed loudly, while Cassia did not smile.
“What were you talking about?
Estha seems to be a mess.”
I sat on the couch chattering, and when I sat down, the High Priest and Cassia sat down too.
“As they say, you are truly a shining person, Duchess.”
“I know very well what is said about me, but your words are not praise, High Priest.”
The high priest was confused and waved his hands in a strong denial.
Isn't a strong negation a strong affirmation?
“How could that be?”
“I was just kidding.
You seem very confused.
By the way, why did you come here, Saint?
I didn’t hear that you were going to attend the event before I came to Esta.”
I tried to avoid looking at Cassia and spoke to the high priest.
“Actually, the high priest of Lianus Temple was supposed to attend the pastoral event, but due to other circumstances, I came instead.
All the other priests were busy as well.”
“I apologize for saying this about High Priest Jason who couldn't attend, but wasn't it the Saint's presence that caused this crowd?
We should be thanking you instead, haha.”
Cassia smiled shyly and nodded slightly.
Her look was completely different from the one she directed at me.
It seems I have definitely become hated.
“I came at the invitation of the High Priest to attend the pastoral event in good faith.”
I brought my hands together in a pious gesture and pointed to the high priest, assuring Cassia that I had come for no other purpose.
Of course, I had another goal, but against Casilla, it must seem like it doesn't exist.
For a moment, my gaze met Cassia's, and her face was cold.
'When you find out that Essar is later with Leon, you will be the one who thanks me the most!
Aren't you supposed to treat me like this?'
I felt my chest tighten as I faced Cassia's cold gaze.
“High Priest Jason didn't tell us that you would be staying for one night, so we haven't prepared a room.
We're preparing it now, so wait a moment.”
"Good."
“The Grand Duchess’s room is ready.
Since you are tired from the trip, you can rest, and if you come a little early before the noon prayer, we will hold a blessed prayer for the Duke and you.”
"No, no need...this is too touching.
Blessings to us!"
When I spoke with sparkling eyes and an affected face, the High Priest's cheeks reddened.
His face looked familiar, like the face of someone who was greedy for money.
I was actually worried about the definition of the Esther Temple priest, but to what extent are they trying to steal money?
I remembered Leon getting angry and yelling at Calsen for no reason.
'Even that appearance was cute.'
“Are you crazy?”
Why am I thinking about this now?
“…we didn’t go crazy.”
“Ah… it was an exaggeration to say that I was very happy.”
Cassia laughed sarcastically, then when our gazes met, she frowned and turned around before looking directly at me and opening her mouth.
“I have a request, Duchess.”