Despite Enoch’s offer to help her escape, Amelia’s expression didn’t change. It was certainly unexpected, but she wasn’t shaken or surprised. Thinking back, Enoch’s kindness had a purpose from the start. She didn’t know exactly what it was.

“Really?”

Anyone could notice that her outings were restricted. So what made him think he could help her escape? And he wanted her to leave everyone behind and run away alone.

“Why should I do that?”

“Your Highness?”

She had indeed asked Raphael for a divorce, but there was no reason to abandon Leonel. Her condition for the divorce was that she would raise Leonel.

“Of course, Your Highness wouldn’t be free in Siegfried…”

“I’m free enough.”

“You will lose your life!”

There it was again. Trying to scare her, without explaining exactly what it was, only worked a few times. Repeatedly hearing it made her suspicious. She wasn’t sure if she would really die. Even if she did, it wasn’t Enoch’s concern.

“Weren’t you the one who wanted to leave Siegfried?”

“No? Who said that?”

No one knew she wanted to leave Siegfried. Only she, Raphael, and Leonel knew. She had never told anyone else. Even the servants in Siegfried Castle didn’t know.

But Enoch spoke so confidently, as if he knew a hidden truth.

“I’ve never said that to you, high priest.”

“……”

“Who did you hear it from?”

Did a maid secretly eavesdrop on their conversation? If not, it was impossible. It was also a problem whether someone could hide their presence from Raphael and Leonel.

“I didn’t hear it from anyone. The goddess informed me.”

Again with the goddess. Amelia’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. The goddess wasn’t a universal solution, and every excuse was attributed to the goddess Elaina.

“Oh, does the goddess give such detailed oracles to ordinary people?”

“Because it’s about Your Highness.”

“What if that’s a lie?”

She couldn’t understand why the goddess was so obsessed with her.

“Goddess Elaina does not lie.”

“Let’s assume that’s true. So, is helping me also the goddess’s command?”

Such meddling. Did She want to help because they were related by blood? She didn’t understand the goddess’s intention to help now by sending a high priest.

“That is purely my goodwill.”

Goodwill. Should she believe it or not? Enoch wasn’t wrong. Currently, the only person who could help her was Enoch. No, Enoch was the most suitable. She couldn’t ask the Master for help since she couldn’t leave.

And no matter how powerful the Master was, he couldn’t come and go freely from Siegfried Castle. But Enoch could. He could visit every day without arousing any suspicion. He was the only outsider allowed. While nothing Enoch said was incorrect, there was also no reason to trust him.

“What would the high priest gain?”

“Pardon?”

“There must be something you gain from helping me.”

There had to be a benefit significant enough for him to risk making an enemy of Siegfried. Would anyone dare to make an enemy of Raphael? Even though the temple itself had a strained relationship with Siegfried, even ordinary temples were wary of Siegfried. Such was the presence of Raphael Lloyd Siegfried.

“Are you saying you’d make an enemy of Raphael without any gain?”

“I am solely acting for Your Highness.”

Was all this truly out of your devout faith in the goddess?

“No.”

“Pardon? Why are you refusing?”

“Because I can’t abandon Siegfried.”

Despite Enoch’s flustered reaction, Amelia remained steadfast. She couldn’t trust Enoch either. If only he hadn’t asked her to abandon Leonel, she might have accepted. That’s how desperate she was.

“Priests cannot marry, right?”

“That’s correct… We belong to the goddess Elaina.”

“And you want me to abandon Leonel and run away? That’s impossible from the start.”

It was already disheartening that Leonel avoided her because of Enoch. Leonel was probably watching her from nearby. He would likely appear as soon as Enoch left.

“You haven’t even explained why I would die if I stayed in Siegfried.”

In truth, she could roughly guess even without Enoch saying it. It was probably due to her origins. The imperial family was said to be descendants of the goddess. That same goddess Elaina did not tolerate Siegfried, even barring them from entering the temple.

Siegfried’s power had a negative effect on the goddess. When she collapsed, Raphael and Leonel had a similar conversation. Their power was dangerous to her.

“What kind of mother would abandon her child?”

“…Isn’t it true that parents can abandon their children whenever there’s profit?”

Enoch, as a high priest, was objectively a good person. Everyone was taken in by his kind face, devoid of any malice. Even though she didn’t like Enoch, she acknowledged that point. For the first time, Enoch’s face darkened.

“If that is Your Highness’s will, then so be it.”

Enoch’s face quickly returned to a full smile, making it seem as if he had never frowned.

“If the young duke wishes, I will help you both leave.”

***

She had no other choices. In the end, it was an offer she couldn’t refuse.

“Mother?”

Regardless of trust, she had to rely on Enoch’s power. Enoch was the perfect person for this plan, to the point where calling him perfect wasn’t enough. The power of the goddess neutralized Siegfried’s power. She was swayed by the assurance that they couldn’t be tracked.

The plan was to create fakes of her and Leonel using holy power and escape secretly. Then, they would flee to a temple where Raphael couldn’t track them. Just hearing it sounded perfect. The temple’s immense holy power prevented other forces from working.

“If you’re with me… you might get hurt.”

“It’s okay.”

The biggest problem was Leonel avoiding her. If she could persuade Leonel, they could leave as soon as tomorrow. It might be better than relying on the Master’s power. Enoch, as a high priest, had power completely opposite to Raphael’s. Even Raphael couldn’t do anything this time.

“When the high priest arrives, come to my room.”

“Pardon?”

“You must come.”

She could explain everything to Leonel, but she didn’t. He might be reluctant to rely on the opposing temple’s power.

“……”

Even though she told him to come, Leonel still hadn’t arrived. Was it because Enoch hadn’t come yet?

“Mother.”

“Leonel! I thought you weren’t coming.”

“I met the high priest on the way here.”

Normally, he wouldn’t come near, but today they were together. Amelia quickly brought them inside and closed the door. Fortunately, when Enoch arrived, all surveillance relaxed. Raphael’s attention diverted under the pretext of treatment.

“Mother… Surely…”

“It seems you’ve finished your preparations.”

As soon as the door closed, Enoch dropped a bead on the floor. The surroundings shimmered, and they felt themselves being pulled in. There was no time to stop it.

“Everything will return to normal.”

His last statement made her uneasy, but they were already being swept away. If she had known the escape would be this dramatic, she wouldn’t have agreed.

“Ah!”

It felt different from a magical teleportation. It felt like her body was forcibly moved, making her feel unwell. It felt like a forced relocation.

“Enoch, what is this…”

“Mother…”

She was about to demand an explanation, but something felt off. Leonel’s tense voice was proof.

“Rest assured. Everything that threatened Your Highness is gone.”

A black, enclosed space surrounded them. Iron bars descended from the ceiling, as if to imprison someone. It was a sight that she couldn’t believe to be a temple.