I turned around suddenly.
“Okay, Your Highness.”
I couldn't hide my joy and turned around again.
Aaron sighed deeply.
My steps, as I followed Aaron into the forbidden area, were lighter than anyone else's.
I was focusing my eyes hard so as not to miss any detail, even the smallest.
My eyes sparkled with such excitement that Aaron, when he turned to explain the warnings, jumped up in shock when he saw me, which hurt me a little.
We passed by the trainee priests' corridor, visited their prayer hall, and then returned.
But, unlike the beginning of the tour, my face was scowling.
I believed in my luck, and I jumped like crazy, and I banged on the walls, and I tried everything, but I found nothing.
“Your Highness, the Duchess, do you feel uncomfortable?”
Aaron noticed my clear expression and asked cautiously.
"no."
I answered briefly and turned my head.
I felt his anxiety and tension.
Perhaps to calm me down, he took me to another forbidden area without my desire.
“Here is the statue of the governor, but it is not open to the public for fear of damage.
Even priests rarely come here.”
We walked a little further down the corridor, and a bright space appeared.
There was a small courtyard between the corridors, and in the middle of it was an ancient statue.
“A very old statue.”
I approached the statue of the governor and put my hand on it, caressing it.
I remembered how many times I had touched the statue of the ruler in the Temple of Esther, and I laughed sarcastically.
'I would have thought there was a secret service in places like this.'
I smiled sadly and touched behind the statue.
Tack-!
Is this possible?
“Um…?”
I looked in amazement at the statue of the governor as it split into two halves, the upper and lower parts, and rotated strangely.
The statue slowly stopped, and a door the size of my palm opened in the base on which it rested.
'Is it possible...?'
I carefully extended my trembling hand inside.
'If Mishal Al-Hakim is here, how will I explain my luck?'
I moved my hand in the dark, and I felt something.
I took a deep breath, grabbed him, and pulled him out.
But I couldn't hide my disappointment.
In my hand, there was a small bracelet that fit a child's wrist, faded in color due to the severity of his age.
'How could I be so lucky?
I used up my great luck when I found Essar by chance.'
“Your Highness, the Duchess, will you stay here?”
Hearing Aaron's voice, I quickly closed the small door and held the bracelet tightly.
I hid my hands behind my back and turned around.
Aaron approached with a calm face.
“He moved suddenly...”
Aaron stopped talking with a surprised expression.
I remembered that he showed no surprise when the statue moved.
He looked now as if he had not seen the movement of the statue, the little door, or the thing I had taken out.
“Didn't you just see?”
"What do you mean?"
I pointed to the statue of the governor.
Clear question marks appeared on Aaron's face.
If he saw everything, there was no need to feign ignorance.
“Just here…no, nothing.”
I gripped the bracelet tighter.
“Let's go back to the place of the pastoral event.”
“Don't you want to explore more?”
Aaron looked happy.
I suddenly felt angry and wanted to roam the forbidden areas with him all night, but I controlled myf.
I lost all my enthusiasm because of this bracelet, and I felt strangely empty.
‘Why should I bother Cassia and look for the ruler’s torch that she will take?
I have to rely on Leon quietly.'
Suddenly, I missed Leon so much.
At this moment, I felt ready to do anything to please him.
I had another goal besides the sacred symbol, which was to get away from Lucas, but that worry disappeared the moment I reached Esta.
When I returned to the event hall, I heard the high priest repeat his talk about donations.
Once the event was over, I made an excuse that I wasn't feeling well and went back to my room.
“Tomorrow, we will return to Aster.”
"What?"
Amy and Mary stopped and asked me.
We were supposed to stay a week, so my sudden decision seemed incomprehensible to them.
But I didn't have to explain in detail.
“I'm tired of staying here.”
“Ah...”
I understood the meaning of their short sigh.
Bella often acted on her mood, so this little fluctuation wasn't a problem.
You'll think it's just another whim.
“Then, we will prepare to travel tomorrow.”
They got busy.
I sat on the couch looking at the bracelet.
No matter how I looked at it, it was just a uess decoration.
But, since it was found in a secret place, I couldn't get rid of it.
I ordered Amy to wrap it up and put it in the luggage.
Perhaps Cassia heard that I was returning to Esther tomorrow, so she asked to see me at night.
“I heard from the high priest that you will stay for a week, so why are you coming back so early?”
“I'm bored here.”
Cassia frowned as if my words bothered her.
“No, not because of the governor, of course.”
I quickly added.
“Yes, I know.”
'It seems you didn't know anything.
You still don't know me?
How will you know me when I don't know myf?'
“Ah, will you stay, saint?”
“No, I will be back tomorrow as well.
After the event ended, the High Priest gave me a surprise gift.”
Cassia raised her chin proudly.
'She came to show off, didn't she?'
By the way, he didn't give me anything despite my promise to donate, but he gave Cassia a gift.
High Priest, I didn't expect it to be this bad.
When I was lost for words, Cassia smiled and continued, “He gave me a plaque bearing the sacred power of Ruler Tia.
I search for sacred symbols under divine inspiration, but I did not expect to find them so easily.”
I tilted my head in wonder.
plate?
Isn't Mishal Al-Hakim?
I must have been influenced by a strong bias.
Did I know what Mishal al-Hakim looked like?
In the novel, the torch does not appear directly, but is only mentioned in dialogues with Cassia and others.
If a painting depicts the ruler holding a torch?
I understand why Cassia doesn't carry it with her.
A plate cannot be used as a shield, hanging it on the back with a rope would be funny.
I imagined Cassia struggling with a painting on her back, and I suddenly laughed.
“Why are you laughing?”
Cassia narrowed her eyes and asked.
“Oh, no, I'm sorry.
I was thinking about something silly.”
I waved my hand.
If I had to carry her on my back, I would have refused too.
I felt very comfortable.
It's time to focus on Leon again.
“Saint, next time we meet, I will prepare a lot of delicious desserts.”
"…As you wish."
Cassia spoke in a condescending tone as she looked at me.
When will we meet again?
I imagined Cassia walking alongside Leon in the future, and I smiled sadly.
When I returned to Esther, I received unexpected good news.
Lucas and the Imperial Knights left for the capital.
They found no trace of the monsters after searching, so they returned early.
This was great news for me.
“I didn't know Belle Belle would be so happy.
But that man left a message for you.”
Leon handed me the letter.
It was visibly wrinkled, as if it had been forcefully read and reopened.
“Not worth reading.
Burn it.”
I handed the letter to Amy, and did not forget to tear it into pieces to prevent her from secretly giving it to Leon.
Leon laughed and clapped happily.
His joy seemed more sincere than an act.
“Belle Belle was going to pray for Leon’s health for a week, so why did you come back so early?”
“Hmm… so that Leon would die quickly?”