Fortunately, Calix snorted at the man’s words as if they were ridiculous.

As expected of a human skeptic! He’s not swayed at all!

That was a relief.

Regardless, the Elf Elder led us inside with a benevolent expression.

“Before we delve into deeper conversation, let me guide you to a more comfortable place. Please follow me.”

Calix chuckled and slightly loosened his hold on me.

Then he whispered softly to me.

“Today is the first time I learned that one can convey meaning through eyes alone.”

“Your Highness, please don’t whisper. What if they suspect we have other intentions?”

“Rather than intentions, they’re probably thinking about how you seduced me.”

Calix said with a snicker. For a moment, I was completely dumbfounded by his outrageous statement.

“What other reason could there be for a mere maid to make the Empire’s Crown Prince travel to enemy territory?”

Calix clung to me mischievously, his red eyes twinkling.

“Your Highness! Your words are improper.”

“Don’t be so uptight. I’m just stating facts.”

I calmly touched my forehead.

I felt conflicted, unable to refute Calix’s words.

He was right.

How else could I, just a maid, have brought Calix here?

‘Besides, it’s not entirely wrong!’

I felt like crying. No matter how much he denied it, it was clear that Calix had taken the risk of coming alone to the Elves’ dwelling for my sake.

If he had brought others, the moment they found out I was a soul chosen by Morisias, my life would be in danger!

As thoughts about this continued to chain together, I felt my ears burning with embarrassment.

Did I really seduce him as Calix said?

‘…Did I seduce him?’

When did I? But I clearly told Calix it wasn’t possible. I told him several times that this was madness, but he ignored it!

“Rose.”

At that moment, Calix’s finger lightly touched my arm.

Then he tightened his grip on my hand.

To the point of pain.

“Never take off the necklace I gave you.”

“What?”

Why is he suddenly going on about the necklace? Calix’s expression, which had seemed quite cheerful until now, had suddenly hardened.

“This is the temple of Morisias.”

At the Elder Elf’s words, the crowd of Elves blocking our way parted like the Red Sea.

Then, a passage appeared before us.

It looked just like the entrance to an underground dungeon often seen in games.

Beyond the door made of ornate stonework, there was a staircase so deep it disappeared from sight.

“Your Highness, what could that be……”

Even as I spoke, I clung slightly to Calix out of fear.

Honestly, it wasn’t a particularly pleasant sight.

Anyone would think it looked like a place where ghosts might appear.

“…I don’t know either.”

That’s when it happened.

Why is it that ominous premonitions never seem to be wrong?

Suddenly, we began to hear the sound of something trudging out from that dungeon-like entrance.

‘W-What is this!’

And one by one, the Elves began to kneel towards that entrance. With their hands raised high as if in worship, they simultaneously started muttering in a language I had never heard before.

“Five moons.”

“Two hearts.”

I pressed even closer to Calix.

It was more terrifying than I had expected.

Whether it was because of the necklace Calix gave me or because of the artifacts they were wearing, I could understand everything the Elves were chanting.

The problem was that I didn’t know what it meant.

It was exactly like the scenes of cult followers I had seen in horror movies.

No, why does everything in this damned world, be it state religion or heresy, seem like a cult!

“Black mother.”

“Eternity.”

“Rest.”

The chanting in eerie tones continued, and the sound of someone coming up from that strange tunnel kept on.

“Oracle! Reveal yourself!”

For a moment, I almost screamed.

Hot steam burst out from the black passage, and a skinny female Elf with her eyes covered by a black cloth emerged, limping with her body severely twisted.

Before I could suppress my surprise, the emaciated woman rushed zombie-like towards Calix and grabbed him.

“…!”

“Crown Prince of Posnia……”

There was no time to react. The bone-thin, white hand caressed Calix’s cheek.

Then, very slowly, it turned towards me.

It sent chills down my spine.

“Chosen human…”

The woman, twisting her neck grotesquely, reached out to me with the hand that had been touching Calix’s cheek.

But at that moment.

Snap-! The woman’s bony wrist was caught by Calix.

Calix spoke in a low voice.

“Where do you think you’re touching so carelessly.”

Calix grabbed the wrist he was holding and shoved it away forcefully.

The skinny woman with covered eyes fell to the ground.

“You there, Elder. It would be best to explain what’s going on.”

Suddenly, a sharp energy emanated from Calix’s body.

Now I know what this energy is.

Calix’s mana fiercely enveloped him and me.

“Why is there a forbidden life form, a chimera, here?”

Calix drew his sword.

It meant the situation was turning bad.

“Crown Prince, you seem to be misunderstanding something.”

The Elf Elder looked at Calix with a slight smile.

“That is a priest of Isis.”

A priest? There was another one besides the one in the Temple of Fate?

For a moment, I felt a chill, but I decided to pretend I didn’t know anything for now.

It would be disastrous if I said something wrong here and things went awry.

“Do I look like a fool to you?”

The Elves dragged the woman who had fallen to the floor, handling her like a doll, and set her back in place.

“No ordinary being can dare to peek at Isis’s fate, Crown Prince.”

“So, the place you brought us to for a proper talk is your den reeking of unstable magi?”

His voice had risen, likely quite angry, and I could only watch nervously from the side.

I couldn’t understand anything Calix was saying.

What on earth is a chimera? And what’s unstable magi?

I couldn’t feel anything except Calix’s fierce mana.

“Cut the chatter and tell me your plan. Tell me how I can become Emperor.”

At Calix’s words, suddenly with a cracking sound, the priest’s mouth opened.

The priest began to speak rapidly, clicking her teeth like a nutcracker.

“The Crown Prince’s fate is death, longing, hatred, deprivation, destruction.”

The woman’s finger pointed at Calix. In an instant, the focus disappeared from Calix’s eyes.

He staggered in his place, covering his eyes.

“Ugh!”

“Your Highness!”

I hurriedly grabbed Calix.

“What is this…”

I was bewildered by the sudden turn of events.

First, I tried to keep my wits about me and checked Calix’s complexion.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

Something was wrong. He showed no reaction or emotion to my question as if his soul had been emptied.

My hands trembled. Could this be a trap?

No. If it were a trap, they wouldn’t be standing there so calmly. They would have attacked me or Calix.

“What are you doing right now!”

I shouted, embracing the still-dazed Calix.

“Do not worry, Saint. We’ve just shown the Crown Prince a glimpse of his future.”

“What?”

What is she saying now?

“His attitude towards the Saint was quite rude. He should know his place.”

The Elf Elder’s words left me speechless.

And I started to get angry.

What place should he know? By what right?

“Who do you think you are?”

I looked straight at him and sneered.

“I am a humble servant of Morisias, faithful to serve the Saint.”

“Who decided you’d serve me? Did Morisias order it?”

Calix still hadn’t regained his senses.

“That is… the prophecy of fate…”

“Fate? Haven’t you heard that I’m the one who can change fate?”

“We have, but…”

“Then what use is a prophecy?”

My heart pounded anxiously.

I needed to bring Calix back to his normal state.

“I came here, bringing His Highness with me, intending to cooperate, but if you treat us like this, I’m disappointed.”

I gritted my teeth, imitating Calix’s characteristic haughty tone.

These guys need me anyway.

To resurrect that damned Morisias, they need to twist that fate or whatever, and I’m the only one who can do that.

In other words, I have the upper hand.

“Are you dense? Return him to normal right now!”