16.

Charlie left Molech’s punishment to Michael.

And instead of the collapsed Espenon Temple, she stayed at the Pareon Temple.

Michael and the cardinals took turns standing guard.

She thought she wouldn’t be able to sleep easily after nearly dying, but Charlie fell asleep as soon as she lay down.

It was partly because she had been tormented by Kaisis since morning, and partly because her heart felt lighter after seeing Hector.

The fact that she was reassured that Kaisis wouldn’t harm her also played a part.

If he intended to kill her, he would have let her die long ago.

And that’s how she ended up in the current situation after sleeping in late.

“It’s too late to call it morning.”

Inside the Pareon Temple’s dining room.

Kaisis, sitting there, didn’t seem to be in a good mood.

He had been waiting for Charlie to wake up for hours now.

“Should we call it lunch?”

Who asked you to wait, Charlie pouted her lips.

“Was the bed uncomfortable?”

Hector, who was on the right, calmly asked as he filled Charlie’s glass with water.

“You’re up early.”

Hector’s well-tailored black uniform seemed to make his movements even more dignified.

Charlie naturally took the water glass Hector filled and answered.

“It wasn’t uncomfortable.”

“You might have had trouble sleeping after seeing such a terrible sight yesterday.”

And who’s to blame for that.

Hector didn’t specifically point it out, but Kaisis immediately knew he was referring to him.

Huh–

Kaisis let out a small laugh.

The conversation between the two was secondary. He was amazed by Hector’s appearance, which he was seeing for the first time.

“The ship has arrived at the mansion.”

Whether Kaisis was shocked or not, all of Hector’s attention was focused on Charlie.

“Ship?”

Charlie tilted her head at Hector’s abrupt statement.

Then an old memory flashed by.

[I’ll prepare a ship for a boat trip.]

Following that, she remembered Tanner staggering in shock.

[It’ll be perfect for a boat trip when we return from the expedition. The scenery of the river is amazing around that time. Of course, Lord Tanner will suffer.]

She also remembered Leon grinning as if it served him right.

“The hydrangeas in the greenhouse are in full bloom too.”

As Hector said this, he placed a piece of bread with jam on Charlie’s plate.

Charlie looked down at him blankly.

‘Why doesn’t he just tell me to come home quickly.’

He never speaks affectionately.

Even while thinking this, the corners of Charlie’s mouth kept twitching upwards.

“Hah……”

Kaisis turned his face away as if he couldn’t bear to watch anymore.

Affiliated guide.

That power was an area Kaisis couldn’t interfere with.

Perhaps that was why he had been repelled earlier.

Of course, there was also the option of killing Charlie. Though he wasn’t sure if he could actually kill her.

Anyway, for now, the only ways to get Charlie were to kidnap her or to be chosen by her.

“The dresses from the dressmaker have arrived too.”

Hector said.

“Dresses?”

“Yes.”

Isabelle, actively reflecting Hector’s wishes, had changed Charlie’s off-shoulder dress to a high-neck style.

Although he wasn’t entirely pleased that skin could be seen through the lace, he didn’t send it back because the center of the neck was decorated with a red jewel.

All the other clothes from the catalog had arrived as well.

When he saw the nightgown that looked like it would be completely see-through, he felt like his heart was going to drop.

But Hector didn’t mention that fact.

“Casual clothes too.”

He wanted to hold her hand, kiss her, and look at her. Suppressing the urge to whisper these things, he turned his gaze away.

Watching the two, Kaisis scraped the inside of his cheek.

He didn’t have a hobby of peeking at other people’s love affairs. It wasn’t a particularly pleasant scene to watch either.

But Kaisis didn’t get up and leave. It was because Charlie’s pheromones were unprecedentedly clear and sweet.

To the point where he wanted to close his eyes and lean back to rest.

It was on a different level from the purification where he had ej*culated countless times, entangled in the pheromones emitted by dozens of Masters.

A drowsy level of comfort. And very warm.

‘Is that why he didn’t force it?’

Kaisis stared at Hector.

Being chosen by Charlie. Kaisis was becoming interested in that option.

* * *

On the way out of the dining room after finishing the meal.

“Your Majesty.”

Cedric, who was guarding the door, bowed his head towards Kaisis.

The superficial reason was to escort the Emperor and prepare for the reconstruction of the Grand Temple, but in reality, it was because they had found Bael’s body.

Kaisis waved his hand like he had expected it.

“It’s prayer time, is the Duke also going to offer your prayers?”

Kaisis turned to look at Hector.

Hector praying? He couldn’t help but be very curious.

Hector frowned as though he hadn’t thought of it.

“Let’s go. Let’s pray together.”

Kaisis, with his lips curled up, took the lead.

Just as Charlie was about to turn around, her eyes met Cedric’s.

* * *

Inside the Pareon Temple’s prayer room.

Charlie was lost in contemplation under the guise of prayer.

It was because of Cedric, whom she had seen before entering the prayer room.

‘It’s strange.’

Cedric had given Charlie a brief bow with a disciplined movement before turning away.

The refined gestures without a trace of disorder, the valor and piety. A figure who valued honor and had a strong sense of chivalry and was gentlemanly.

It was exactly the image she had imagined when reading about Cedric in the original work.

But Charlie found this very aspect strange.

There wasn’t a hint of emotion in Cedric’s gaze as he looked at Charlie.

It felt like greeting a statue.

He seemed like a completely different person from the Cedric who had shown a complex expression mixed with joy and sorrow when he saw her the other day.

From the gaze that didn’t linger for even a second to the footsteps that turned away without hesitation.

Then, a sudden thought made Charlie shake her head.

‘Oh, have I caught the narcissism bug?’

Hector and Kaisis. And even Noel had approached her and so she had fallen into a serious misunderstanding.

With Kaisis showering attention on her, calling her Saintess, and Hector watching with reddened eyes.

‘It’s even stranger to suddenly smile.’

They had only met a few times, and never had a proper conversation.

‘I must be crazy, thinking I’m some kind of female protagonist.’

Charlie was about to dismiss the thought with a self-deprecating smirk when–

“Sister.”

At Michael’s voice, Charlie reflexively straightened her posture.

Only Charlie and Michael were in the prayer room. Kaisis and Hector had been prevented from entering by Michael.

“……”

He hadn’t meant to say anything.

Michael smiled gently.

“Today is your last day staying at the Grand Temple, Sister.”

“Already?”

Charlie, surprised by the date she had forgotten, turned to look at Michael.

“Once you finish the Saintess ceremony at noon tomorrow, you’ll be leaving.”

Michael smiled warmly.

“Have you decided where you’ll stay?”

“Well……”

Of course, she was planning to go with Hector, but when she tried to say it out loud, the words wouldn’t come easily.

Kaisis was one thing, and Noel was another.

In the original work, Liliana was the Saintess, but she had become the Saintess first.

Even though all the attention would shift to Liliana once she awakened, something still felt unsettling.

“If you wish, you can stay at the temple longer.”

Michael said, as if he had read Charlie’s mind.

“I’d be uncomfortable if I stayed.”

Charlie shrugged, implying refusal.

“Uncomfortable?”

Charlie’s gaze turned towards the door, seemingly indicating Kaisis and Hector who would be waiting outside.

“Isn’t it a good thing that those who used to avoid the temple are now coming of their own accord?”

Michael answered with a detached expression.

In fact, Michael was quite surprised by the two’s desire to enter even the prayer room.

Especially Hector.

“But you’ll fight with the people here.”

Charlie continued, looking for reasons why she shouldn’t come.

Not to be outdone, Michael replied.

“Thanks to that, the chaotic order of the temple is being restored, so that’s a good thing too.”

The pro-Emperor faction within the temple hadn’t completely disappeared yet.

It would probably be impossible.

However, the neutral faction, which had maintained silence, began to support and move with Michael, creating a balance of power.

Even if it wasn’t Charlie’s intention, it was possible thanks to her.

Michael adjusted his posture and looked directly at Charlie.

“That’s not all. Rapha has started learning swordsmanship.”

“Swordsmanship?”

“It seems he gained some insight after meeting the Hunt Knights.”

More precisely, it was after Charlie had nearly been killed by Molech.

[I think even priests should be able to protect themselves.]

Rapha’s opinion was not wrong.

Although they have holy power, it can only neutralize abilities, and it’s difficult to block someone attacking with a weapon.

Until now, there had been no forces threatening or using violence against the temple.

But because they had no strength, they had to be cautious and feared the strong.

[A sword isn’t just for harming others, is it?]

Weapons are made to harm others. But ironically, they also protect others.

[I want to create a knight order. I want to create a strong knight order like the Hunt Knights to protect the temple.]

Daniel agreed with Rapha’s opinion.

Michael did too.

So they were planning to formally discuss creating a knight order.

Michael didn’t mention Molech and Bael’s incident to Charlie.

What punishment they would receive, and what had happened to them. Knowing would only burden Charlie’s heart.

Charlie also didn’t ask about them.

“So I hope you don’t think of yourself as someone who has to rely on others.”

The difference between having a place to return to and not having one is significant.

Leaving with a home to return to becomes a journey, but leaving without a place to return becomes wandering.

Michael was now discussing this with Charlie.