Chapter 28

Without giving Adelina a chance to refuse, Lexion’s hot breath came between their interlocked lips. Only when both were red-faced from rough breathing did their lips part. 

“Ah!”

Before Adelina could catch her breath, Lexion bared his teeth and bit her neck.

“Very well made.”

Lexion left a tingling pain on Adelina’s neck and looked at the mark with satisfaction.

“You rascal! Take this!”

“Hahaha.”

“I said be quiet!”

Angry, Adelina left a large bite mark on Lexion’s hand, and he chuckled as if it tickled.

+++

The next day at 11 AM, Adelina, Marquis Stephan, and Duke Lexion entered the temple of the imperial palace. Priestesses dispatched from the central temple greeted them at the entrance and guided them to the room where the High Priestess was.

“Nice to meet you, High Priestess. I am Adelina Florin.”

“Nice to meet you, Lady Marquis. Are you prepared mentally?”

A benevolent voice came from beyond the veil covering her face.

As Lexion and Stephan took seats a little distance away, the priestesses handed the High Priestess a vial of holy water and a vial of red liquid.

“If this pigeon blood flows naturally from the wrist, it means purity has been maintained.”

“Yes, High Priestess.”

Adelina slightly clenched her fist. Adjusting the angle of her wrist, she made the groove between the two tendons and blue veins as deep as possible.

“Please open your hand.”

“Ah.”

One of the priestesses spread her hand wide and bent it downwards. The groove she had painstakingly made now awkwardly protruded.

“I will now let the blood flow.”

The High Priestess, having observed everything, slowly poured the red liquid from the vial onto Adelina’s wrist. The pigeon blood flowed down her wrist and dripped into a glass bowl placed below.

“You see? I have indeed spent the night with the Duke, haven’t I?”

Adelina pointed with her finger at the red liquid that remained on her wrist.

In the carriage, Lexion had obtained fresh, colorless, odorless, and tasteless pine resin and birch sap, which she had applied thinly to both arms. Because the resin changed color so quickly, Lexion had to procure it at dawn that day.

“There is still the second test, Lady.”

Though the High Priestess’s voice showed signs of confusion, she soon instructed the priestesses to bring a finger bowl filled with holy water.

“Wait. Since I’m dropping my blood into sacred holy water, I’ll wash my fingers first. I also want to wipe off the dove’s blood.”

Adelina raised her wrist, still stained with blood, towards the High Priestess’s face, as if it was bothersome.

“Please do, Lady.”

Perhaps finding it unsightly, the other priestesses turned their heads and went to fetch water for washing.

“Adelina, use this. It’s holy water specially requested from the imperial palace’s temple.”

Stephan poured the liquid from a transparent glass bottle over her hand. He then hurriedly disposed of the water collected in the glass bowl.

As the priestesses handed her a towel and tidied up, Adelina lightly patted her hand with the towel, leaving as much moisture as possible.

“I’ll prick it myself. I’m a bit scared.”

When the High Priestess reached to hold her hand, Adelina took the needle from her and pricked her fingertip.

‘Please. Please. Please.’

She prayed as she dropped her blood into the transparent cup filled with holy water. She prayed to get through this damned test safely.

‘Did I add too little sap?’

What Stephan had prepared was holy water mixed with birch sap. How much it would help keep the blood coagulated was uncertain.

Adelina’s blood, which had fallen into the holy water, seemed to clump a bit but soon spread in all directions.

“The second test is ambiguous. This isn’t enough to determine anything.”

“Then?”

Adelina looked at the High Priestess with a worried expression.

“We will conduct the third test.”

Third test? Lexion had only mentioned up to the second test! Could they have just invented this on the spot?

“And how is that done?”

The faces of Adelina, Stephan, and Lexion hardened.

“You cut the wrist and fill the holy water cup with blood.”

“Stop. That’s enough.”

Lexion drew his sword and pointed it at the High Priestess’s neck.

“Duke!”

The High Priestess screamed, turning pale. At that, Lexion’s blade touched her neck’s skin as if telling her to be quiet.

“I’ve heard enough. This is excessive, High Priestess. Not only did you dare prick my lady’s body with a needle, but now you want to put a sword to it?”

The priestesses, who had been sneering at Adelina, were terrified by Lexion’s fierce aura and covered their mouths with both hands. An unlucky priestess who had been preparing a dagger beside the High Priestess even dropped it.

“Duke… But… His Majesty the Emperor…”

The High Priestess closed her eyes tightly and opened them. If she couldn’t bring back a result proving Adelina’s purity, the Emperor’s wrath would fall upon her.

“Go ahead. Before that, I’ll fill the holy water cup with the blood flowing from your neck.”

Lexion’s sword blade remained steady against the High Priestess’s delicate skin. With just a little pressure, the well-honed blade would cut the flesh.

“Duke. It is His Majesty the Emperor’s command.”

An older-looking priestess bowed deeply in front of Lexion. With both Lexion and Stephan having drawn their swords, the surrounding Holy Knight Order was too startled to think of subduing them hastily.

“Do it, quickly.”

Lexion nodded at the priestess trembling and dropping the dagger. 

Go ahead if you can.

Watching the situation, Adelina approached the priestess who had dropped the dagger with a pitiful expression.

‘Hey! You crazy guy! How could you draw a sword in a temple!’

To make matters worse, having already fallen out of favor with the Emperor, he now seemed intent on turning the temple against him as well. Adelina clutched her throbbing head and picked up the dagger that had fallen to the floor. Then, she alternated her gaze between the High Priestess and Lexion, tears welling up in her eyes.

“High Priestess, if it will prove my love with the Duke… I will gladly pierce my own neck!”

Adelina raised the dagger high, stretching her neck so the kiss mark Lexion had left was clearly visible to the High Priestess.

“Adelina! No!”

Stephan’s cry echoed off the dome of the temple. Lexion’s face, cold and stern, simultaneously twisted with a sense of tragedy.

“If my lady dies, everyone here will die as well.”

His voice was not loud. It was calm, as if stating an obvious fact, yet the High Priestess felt a chill and trembled.

“I will report… the situation up to the second test… to His Majesty.”

The High Priestess tried to speak elegantly, doing her best not to tremble.

“Make sure you get it right. I won’t stand by and watch my lady fall into another man’s arms.”

Lexion withdrew his sword from the High Priestess’s neck. He snatched the dagger from Adelina’s hand and threw it to the ground.

“Let’s go, my love.”

He lifted Adelina, who was glancing at him sideways, and carried her out of the temple.

+++

Adelina and her companions immediately boarded the Duke’s carriage and headed for Lake Laktea.

“Your acting has improved a lot, my daughter.”

Stephan sat beside Lexion, looking at Adelina, who leaned back in her seat with her eyes closed.

“Father, the acting was excellent.”

Adelina opened her eyes and gazed at Stephan’s face, which was filled with concern.

‘Every day feels so suffocating, difficult, like hell…’

Yet, it didn’t seem as hard as her past life. Somehow… it felt a bit better.

‘What’s better! My life is on the line! At least I didn’t have to worry about dying in my past life!’

Feeling embarrassed by Stephan’s gaze, Adelina turned her head to the side and glared coldly at Lexion, the cause of all this trouble.

“When are we having our wedding?”

Let’s do it quickly! We need to have the wedding soon so we can go find the mirror.

Lexion, lost in thought while looking out the window, turned his gaze to Adelina.

“Do you want to marry me that much?”

He smiled warmly, as if he had never been troubled, and brought his lips close to Adelina’s ear.

“We could perform the marriage ritual tonight if you want.”

He whispered, breathing into her ear.

‘When I do this, she usually shivers as if feeling a chill.’

“What are you saying!”

As expected, she shuddered and pushed Lexion away, rubbing her ear furiously.

“Hahaha.”

Adelina glared at Lexion with a look that said, ‘What a crazy man!’ but his hearty laughter continued.

“Ahem…”

Stephan cleared his throat loudly at their sickeningly sweet display, reminding them that he was also in the carriage. That he was a single father from birth.

+++

At that time, Emperor Grain was meeting with the High Priestess in the audience chamber. His face was filled with irritation. The High Priestess bowed her head, accepting the punishment she was about to receive. Isabelle, who was curious about the results and present in the room, sat in the chair the Emperor had provided, looking at the High Priestess with disdain.

A long, oppressive silence ensued, so still that even a cough could not be heard.

“Is that what you call a report to me?”

Although the words were directed at the High Priestess, cold sweat trickled down the backs of the aides and attendants waiting in the audience chamber.

“I apologize, Your Majesty. Adelina is already with Duke Lexion Ernst.”

As soon as the High Priestess mentioned the name Ernst, something flew past her face.

Clang… A golden cup that had been on the Emperor’s desk rolled across the floor.

Isabelle clicked her tongue inwardly and slowly rose from her chair to stand beside the High Priestess.

‘Foolish High Priestess! Whether Adelina was with Lexion or not isn’t what’s important!’

Standing next to the High Priestess, she lifted her head to look at Emperor Grain.

“Your Majesty, the testing method is too outdated and lacks credibility. I heard it hasn’t been used in the last 100 years. However, since the investigation has already been conducted through the High Priestess, it must be announced. Including the method.”

The High Priestess, still bowing her head, gripped her dress tightly.

“Indeed, announce the method and results, High Priestess. But also state that the method is no longer credible and will not be used again.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

The High Priestess forced a polite voice. She was trembling with anger at Emperor Grain’s arrogance, commanding her to make an announcement that would undermine the temple’s authority.

The High Priestess’s face, hidden behind the veil, twisted endlessly, but no one there cared.

After the High Priestess left, an attendant set cold rose tea on the table. Emperor Grain and Isabelle sat facing each other in silence for a while.

“Hahaha. Adelina Florin. How audacious she is!”

Emperor Grain laughed loudly, his face twisted as he chewed on ice, perhaps still irritated.

‘The pigeon blood pooled on her wrist? She must have applied something, like oil…’

I had thought she was just a pretty face from who knows where, but she was a girl who knew how to use her head? In that case, she definitely shouldn’t be kept near Lexion!