“It looks like something got into my ear.
Clean it out for me.”
“Nothing entered your ears, Leon.
You heard well.
I decided to go to the temple to pray for a week.”
"Ah!
I want to go with you!"
'Why is he acting like this when my absence from the palace would obviously be convenient for him?'
How Leon secretly struggled to train and get work done while I was wandering animatedly around the palace!
I intended to relieve him of this burden for just one week, so why would he want to accompany me?
I didn't understand that at all.
I was trying not to blame him even if he did not hide his joy.
I've seen him many times, after his training is over, he wipes off the sweat and quickly runs away when he sees me.
It was evidence of my tolerance, as deep as the sea.
'Is this just part of his act, his usual complaining?'
I felt a strange feeling.
'Shall I take him with me?'
The thought crossed my mind, but I shook my head vigorously.
It will become a hindrance.
“Leon, I will go to the temple to pray for your health.
They say that going alone will be more effective.”
"Ah, lie!
Belle Belle is lying to leave me!"
'That's true, but why is he so clingy today?'
“Leon, you’re cute, aren’t you?”
I gently held Leon's face with both hands and looked deeply into his red eyes, hoping that my true feelings would reach him.
'Boy, I know all your secrets.
'I'll bring something good, so get the money ready'
It seemed that my feelings reached him, as he softly rolled his eyes and lowered his gaze in a soft tone.
“Leave me!”
Leon hit my hands violently and quickly retreated.
He looked angry, and didn't even look at me.
“Go!
Go!”
“I'll be back fine”
I let Leon pretend to be angry, and quickly got into the carriage and headed to the temple.
The Temple of Ruler Tia was the largest temple in the north, but after the previous Grand Duke of Aster died without an heir, Leon, who was known to be a descendant of the previous Emperor's lineage, inherited the title of Duke of Aster, and from then on, patronage and interaction with the temple completely ceased.
I got out of the carriage, and stopped in front of a sacred fountain to cleanse my hands before entering the inner hall.
While I was looking in amazement at the grandeur of the temple, the old high priest, who had been guarding the temple for a long time, appeared with his frail body supported by other priests.
I did not report my visit to avoid a noisy reception, but the priests who recognized the Grand Duke's family crest on the carriage informed the Grand Priest.
The high priest spoke with difficulty in a hoarse voice: “I never imagined that Her Highness the Princess would visit our temple… I am very grateful.”
“Ah...yes”
I felt embarrassed because I didn't bring any donations or gifts.
I didn't think about it because of my haste.
I intended to stay a week, but my thinking was short.
“I will personally guide Her Highness the Princess to the temple.”
“No, really, there's no need for that.”
I was worried that he would collapse while he was guiding me.
It seemed like I should support him.
If he fell beside me, bad rumors about me in the empire would quickly spread, as if I had asked him for something unreasonable that caused his downfall.
“I heard that you asked about the possibility of staying at our temple for a week.
We will prepare accommodation as soon as possible.”
“It's okay.
I came suddenly, so I understand.
My maids have already gone to look for a place close to the temple.”
“But, since you are here, it would be better for you to stay in the temple and pray.”
Under the High Priest's insistent urging, I reluctantly nodded.
I decided to stay outside the temple until the room was prepared, and then move to the temple.
“If you tell us the purpose of your prayer, all the priests of the temple will unite during your stay to pray for the same purpose.”
'What?' Why are you praying with me?’ I felt a weight pressing on my shoulders.
“Ah… I have come to pray for the Duke’s health and world peace.”
The priests, including the high priest, were astonished by my traditional response.
I knew what the rumors were about me.
The High Priest quickly hid his expression and began to smile embarrassed, and the other priests followed suit.
“I am truly touched by the depth of Her Highness’s heart.
I will do my best to convey your feelings to the Governor.”
I smiled gently and nodded at the words of the high priest.
His eyes filled with confidence seeing my calm demeanor.
It was a satisfied look.
“Yes, thanks.
Now I want to start praying...”
“Temple Guidance...”
“For Leon’s sake, ah, Leon is the duke’s name.
We agreed to call each other by name.
Oh, I talked too much about unnecessary things.
I want to pray for Leon as soon as possible.”
‘I want to find the Holy Sword and make money quickly.
Please, go now.'
The high priest, who was quick-witted, understood my hint and assigned the priests to take good care of me and then returned.
I followed the priests' instructions, washed my hands in the holy spring, and entered the inner hall.
There were many people praying to the Governor in the main hall.
But since the real purpose of my coming to Tia Temple was not to pray, I did not pray, but began to look around the hall.
A priest approached and noticed my behavior and asked me calmly: “Your Highness, do you feel uncomfortable?”
“I heard there is a private prayer room.
Can I go there now?
Places full of stares make me feel uncomfortable.”
“Really?”
The priest raised his head, looked at the worshipers, then pointed with his eyes to another priest.
Whisper something to him.
While they were whispering next to me, the eyes of the people in the hall began to turn towards me.
I lowered my head and covered my face.
“There is a private prayer room downstairs.
Fortunately, there is an empty one, I will guide you to it.”
I followed a priest downstairs.
Prayer rooms lined either side of a long corridor.
I was shown to the last room at the end of the corridor.
In the small room surrounded by stone walls, there was a statue of the female ruler, a small prayer table, and a chair.
“There are trainee priests walking around the corridor, so if you need anything or help, ring this bell.”
“Okay, I get it”
After the priest left, I sat heavily on the chair and looked at the statue of the governor.
“How and where did Cassia find the sacred objects?”
In the novel, she tells Leon that she found it by chance in a secret location in the Temple of Teia in Esther.
But the problem is that the secret location was not mentioned in detail.
I tried hard to remember any part about the source of the Sacred Sword Issar other than Cassia's dialogue, but I couldn't find any further hint.
Leon was great with the Holy Sword Issar that she had secretly found.
It was said that monsters would disappear without a trace whenever he shook his sword.
If I find it, I will definitely be able to l it to Leon at a high price.
“If it's a secret place, doesn't the basement look appropriate?”
I felt a little uneasy because of the prayer rooms lining the corridor, but I was determined to find him.
I repeated the words like an incantation, and I suddenly got up and began to feel the statue of the governor.
Usually in movies, there is a secret device in such places, but there was none.
“Well, I didn't expect to find it the first time.
That's normal.”
I didn't have beginner's luck.
I sighed in disappointment.
If he is not here, I will search every prayer room until I find him.
“I don't like cracks in the wall.”
“I want to pray in another prayer room that I have not visited to change the mood.”
From that day on, I started using all kinds of excuses to change the private prayer rooms downstairs.
Three days later, the priests began to frown frankly at the sight of me.
I have become a nuisance in the temple.