In this Chaotic World, I Am Doing Fine

The day to visit the temple arrived. Acelia trembled with inexplicable anxiety, nervously biting her nails.

‘Should I have agreed to go? What if they exorcise me? When a transmigrator goes to a shaman’s house, they get kicked out with “How dare an evil spirit enter here!” Could that happen to me?’

All kinds of imaginations ran wild. She couldn’t help it—the thought of leaving familiar surroundings for a strange place caused Acelia considerable stress.

It might be fine once she got there, but the anticipation was the problem.

Gale stood by the doorway with his arms crossed, looking at her strangely.

“Why are you so scared? Did you commit a crime?”

“No one lives without committing sins. Even when eating meals we take lives, and there are countless sins we commit without realizing……”

“Hey, hey. Get a grip. It’s not your first time visiting a temple, so why all the fuss?”

Actually, it is my first time.

Acelia swallowed the words she couldn’t say and glanced at her status window.

[▶Poison(???)

— Makes the body weak and sometimes causes coughing up blood, nausea, chills, fever, etc.]

[▶The Last Leaf(D-77)

— If you don’t resolve ‘Poison(???)’ within 77 days, you’ll contract an incurable disease and die!]

77 days. Regardless of how she felt, she needed to visit the temple. Acelia stopped biting her nails and brushed her hair back.

“Anyway…… Thanks for coming with me, Gale.”

“You’re not a child. Can’t you go to such places alone? Well, I happened to be free, so it doesn’t matter.”

Despite saying this, Gale looked excited.

Although Acelia had grown distant from Gale after the tea party, she didn’t show it outwardly.

She hesitated to suspect him based solely on what others said, remembering how Gale had insisted on his innocence during the previous treasure theft incident. There might be some misunderstanding.

Glancing sideways at Gale’s face, she saw no trace of darkness. Could someone who committed such wrongdoing remain so composed?

‘I’ll ask him directly when I get the chance.’

Acelia prepared for the outing at a snail’s pace, like someone advertising how much she hated going.

She had a reason for asking Gale to accompany her.

She had no choice after declining Joachim’s offer to escort her personally.

Why? Do I look like someone who would say I’m going to the temple and then sneak off somewhere else?

Yes, actually. If I had my way, I’d lock the castle gates and hide.

Anyway, she told him she would go with Gale, so he didn’t need to come personally.

Joachim stared at Acelia with a look that said he had things to say but wouldn’t, then agreed and left.

Throughout the carriage ride to the temple, surrounded by escort knights, Gale chattered incessantly.

However, Acelia’s mind was elsewhere, and she didn’t hear him.

Noticing her distraction, Gale’s eyes narrowed.

“Are you acting like this because of that High Priest guy?”

“……What?”

“I’m asking if you’re acting like an idiot because of him. What did he say to you?”

Acelia realized her mistake.

She had been so lost in thought that even the usually oblivious Gale had noticed.

She was about to apologize for being inconsiderate to her companion when she suddenly wondered how Gale would react if he learned she wasn’t really his sister.

“Gale, what if I……”

“Whatever he said, don’t worry about it.”

“Huh?”

I haven’t even said anything yet.

Gale clicked his tongue.

“That guy has been groomed to be the next Pope from an early age, so he’s incredibly arrogant. He’s so unpleasant that he sometimes looks at me like I’m a beggar. Pitifully.”

Isn’t that because of your un-princely shabby appearance? I sometimes see you that way too.

“Anyway, if that bastard tries to harm you, I’ll raise hell to stop him, so don’t worry.”

“That’s reassuring. It feels like just yesterday when you got a nosebleed after being accidentally hit by Liam’s arm……”

“Hey, that was—! I was caught off guard!”

Gale’s face turned bright red as he huffed. His pathetic appearance made Acelia unable to contain her laughter.

‘Right, nothing has happened yet.’

Despite her worries, their arrival at the temple proceeded without incident.

“Welcome, Your Highness the Third Prince, Your Highness the Princess.”

Joachim and two other high priests were waiting at the entrance.

Acelia, who exited the carriage with Gale’s escort, was secretly relieved when no one shouted “Evil spirit, begone!” She slowly examined the temple’s exterior.

The building, made of pure white stone, was large and magnificent.

Columns soaring high as if reaching for the sky, sculptures that seemed to depict mythological figures carved throughout, and crystal lamps embedded in the ceiling caught her eye.

It seemed the rumors about religious figures being frugal were indeed false.

When Acelia couldn’t take her eyes off the sight, one of the high priests chuckled.

“The Princess seems amazed, visiting after such a long time.”

“Haha. It’s impressive every time I see it.”

‘Are you mocking me for just looking around?’

The two high priests left, and Joachim personally guided them. He wore his usual bored-to-death expression.

He didn’t even try to hide it—his peculiarity grew the more she saw him.

“You must be tired from the long journey. Was everything comfortable?”

“The road was well-paved, so we had a pleasant trip. ……Gale, why are you looking at me like that?”

“Women’s pretense is remarkable.”

Gale remembered Acelia in the carriage, pale as a cow being led to slaughter.

Yet when faced with the actual situation, her skillful handling impressed him.

Acelia punished Gale for dismissing her hard-earned social skills as pretense.

“What are you talking about?”

“Ow!”

Acelia mercilessly pinched the inside of Gale’s arm and then looked away as if nothing had happened.

Joachim observed the two with a contemplative gaze.

“You two seem close.”

“Of course. We’re family.”

“Do you really think of me as family?”

“Be quiet, Gale. Don’t you know you shouldn’t be noisy in a temple?”

Acelia scolded the grumbling Gale.

They looked like affectionate siblings to anyone watching, and Joachim’s gaze became curious.

“From what I know, the two of you weren’t this close before. Was there a particular reason?”

“What reason…… It just happened naturally.”

“Hey, High Priest Joachim. Why are you so curious about imperial family matters? Is this religious interference?”

While there was definitely a reason she became close with Gale, Acelia didn’t want to tell others.

Gale, seemingly keeping his word from the carriage, blocked questions directed at them.

Joachim bowed his head.

“I apologize if I offended you. But I was curious.”

“Do we have to answer just because you’re curious?”

“You’re under no obligation. The prayer room is this way.”

No matter what Gale said, Joachim remained unfazed.

With his naturally tired-looking face, it was impossible to tell if he was offended or not.

It felt like facing an impenetrable shield.

Acelia pursed her lips, wondering if he had some ulterior motive.

‘What is he trying to say by setting up this conversation?’

Since his visit to the Princess’s Palace, Joachim seemed to have something he wanted to say.

While Acelia carefully observed his demeanor, Gale dragged Joachim around, exploring various places as if he had been planning to do so all along.

This was perfect for Acelia, who came to find a solution for her poison, so she quietly followed them.

She touched the goddess statue, prayed, and even made substantial donations. Hoping something might work.

But the roulette remained quiet, and by the time they reached the great hall, Joachim asked with an increasingly tired face,

“Are you satisfied now?”

“Acelia, are you satisfied?”

“What? Me?”

“Yes. This was our first outing together.”

Acelia was momentarily speechless.

For her, visiting the temple was like a quest to be cleared.

But Gale apparently thought differently.

‘I should have tried to enjoy it more.’

She regretted wasting this time, consumed by her goal-oriented mindset.

Acelia smiled at him with gratitude and apology.

“Yes, it’s enough.”

“Then I’ll escort you to the reception room.”

Joachim guided them to the reception room as if he had been waiting for this moment.

While Gale briefly stepped away, Joachim began,

“Princess, I have a question for you.”

“High Priest, about that divine touch you mentioned……”

Acelia interrupted him, trying to prevent him from speaking.

‘I won’t be caught off guard!’

But the moment her eyes accidentally met those of a small goddess statue the size of a forearm decorating the reception room, a tremendous shock overwhelmed her mind.

—Princess, you must keep this secret.

—Mother, why did you do this? This is an insult to His Majesty!

—Not even an ant will remain by the Princess’s side.

—If all the truth comes to light……

—If you want to live, live like you’re dead.

Ding, ding, ding, ding!

[!!Error!! <Acelia Hedwig>’s memories have been transferred.]

[Abnormal access. <Acelia Hedwig>’s damage level increases by 20. Current damage level 41.]

[Restoring connection with @#$%$……]

……

A blue window displaying “Error” blurred her vision, and before she could grasp the situation, Acelia collapsed.

“Ugh!”