D-2.

Two days before the mission’s end, a bag containing a hundred magic stones was delivered.

I called Carl to carry the bag. He slung it over his shoulder without any complaint.

Watching him, Mandy whispered.

“That’s impressive. I couldn’t even drag it earlier.”

“Same here, Mandy.”

I had tried to lift it to see how heavy it was and failed miserably.

Even the servants who delivered it were struggling and sweating, but Carl seemed unfazed.

Wow, he’s truly my bondservant.

“When visiting the temple, it’s customary to wear white clothing or accessories.”

Mandy said, placing a wide-brimmed white hat on my head.

It matched quite well with the pastel pink dress I was wearing.

“Be careful on your way.”

“Okay, see you later.”

I bid Mandy farewell and set off for the temple with Carl.

We passed through the vibrant cityscape and headed in the opposite direction of the imperial palace.

As I gazed at the imposing Central Temple from afar, I was suddenly lost in a nostalgic memory.

‘Now that I think about it, the temple reminds me of something…’

It’s not exactly my memory, but rather one of Shailyn’s.

Anyway, when Shailyn was young, she visited a temple near the Sharofe estate and met a boy there.

‘Waaaah!’

‘What are you doing there? Did you fall?’

‘Hic, sob, waaah.’

‘Here, take my hand and get up.’

The boy comforted Shailyn, who was crying after falling, and helped her up.

His face was completely covered by the temple priest’s robe, so she never saw what he looked like, but his kindness was deeply etched in Shailyn’s heart.

As her first love.

But after that day, she never saw the boy again.

For quite some time, Shailyn couldn’t let go of her feelings and often visited the temple hoping to see him.

She would also pray and make donations during those visits.

‘Now it’s all just a memory.’

Both I and Shailyn stopped looking for him two years ago.

While reminiscing about the past, the carriage arrived at the temple.

I took Carl’s hand and got out, looking up at the temple.

Wow, this could even inspire faith in me.

The Gothic-style building, with its pointed spires like a European cathedral, was breathtakingly beautiful and immense.

The geometric patterns on the outer walls resembled blooming petals.

The majestic and sacred atmosphere rivaled that of the imperial palace, making me feel overwhelmed.

But I couldn’t let it get to me.

With Carl carrying the bag of magic stones behind me, I confidently entered the temple, where a young priest approached us.

“Hello. I don’t believe we’ve met before. What brings you here?”

“I’m here to make a donation.”

“May I have your name?”

“Shailyn Sharofe.”

The young priest put on a polite, service-oriented smile.

“Miss Sharofe, I’m sorry, but our Central Temple only accepts donations on the second and fourth weeks of each month.”

“…Is that so?”

I didn’t know that. I thought I could donate anytime I came.

As I stood there, taken aback, the priest politely requested.

“Could you come back another time?”

Oh no, that won’t do…

I need to do it now to meet the mission deadline!

“I really want to do it today since I’m already here. Isn’t there any way?”

I clasped my hands together and pleaded.

The priest shook his head, looking troubled.

“I’m sorry. That goes against the temple’s rules.”

“I’m sorry too. But I can’t hold back my desire to contribute to the temple.”

“Could you contribute next week?”

“Can’t I do it right now?”

I acted persistently, like a troublesome customer sneaking into a closed café demanding coffee.

“Master, just a moment.”

Unable to watch any longer, Carl gestured for me to step aside.

As I hesitated and moved back, he placed the bag in front of the priest with a thud.

“The item my master wishes to donate to the temple is magic stones.”

“…Magic stones?”

“Yes, a hundred magic stones.”

“A-a hundred…?”

The priest’s eyes briefly lit up with interest. He was clearly tempted.

Of course, he quickly returned to the typical calm expression of a priest.

Both Carl and I clearly saw his moment of hesitation.

“For your information, if we can’t donate today, we’ll take them elsewhere. All one hundred of them.”

Carl issued a thinly veiled threat. The young priest was visibly shaken.

“W-where to?”

“Where do you think? Somewhere that wants magic stones.”

“Th-that…”

The priest in his white robe looked quite pitiful, unsure of what to do.

Especially under pressure from Carl, who was tall and dressed in all black.

After a moment of internal struggle, the priest finally made up his mind and spoke.

“In that case, could you wait a moment? I’ll speak to the head priest.”

“Sure. As long as we can donate, we’re happy.”

“Thank you. I’ll make sure to get the head priest’s permission.”

The priest promised solemnly, then hesitated before adding.

“We were once deceived by fake magic stones, so we’d like to verify their authenticity. Is that alright?”

“Of course. Feel free.”

“Thank you for understanding. Miss, please wait in the reception room, and sir, please follow me.”

I nodded, confirming the direction the priest indicated.

Carl, looking displeased, whispered as he gathered the bag of magic stones.

“Don’t cause any trouble and stay put.”

Goodness, anyone would think I’m a troublesome young lady.

I waved my hand as if to say not to worry.

Shoo, shoo.

Don’t doubt your master and go on, bondservant.

Carl left with the priest, looking uneasy, and I turned away.

He said to go this way, right?

Following the priest’s instructions, I turned the corner and found two doors.

The left was an ordinary brown wooden door, and the right was a white door adorned with gold.

‘Hmm, the ordinary one must be the reception room door, right?’

Just in case, I knocked and opened the door. The scene before me was unexpected.

Rows of pews lined the sides, with a red carpet in the middle, stained glass windows, and a giant statue.

Sunlight filtered through the windows, illuminating a man kneeling in prayer before the statue.

His platinum hair sparkled like ripples on water. His closed eyes were as beautiful as a painting.

‘Holy moly…’

Truly a spectacle. A masterpiece. A gift from the gods.

Even though it was my third time seeing him, I couldn’t look away.

He wasn’t just handsome; he was genuinely beautiful, making me want to kneel beside him and pray.

As I stared, the man suddenly moved his lips.

“Have you finished admiring?”

“No, more… Pardon?”

I answered unconsciously, then was startled. The man, having broken his prayer posture, turned to me with a smile.

“We’ve met before, haven’t we?”

“Well… yes?”

“Nice to see you again, Miss Sharofe. I’m Raviel, the head priest of the Central Temple.”

Surprisingly, he remembered my name accurately and approached, extending his hand.

Now that I noticed, despite his delicate features, he was nearly as tall as Carl. Though his build was much slimmer.

Regardless, I took his slender, pale hand.

His smiling face was like sunshine, yet his hand was as cold as ice.

“What brings you here?”

“Oh, that is—”

“Did you perhaps come to see me?”

He tilted his head playfully, placing a hand on his cheek.

Momentarily dazed by his charming face, I quickly regained my senses.

“Yes… No?!”

I snapped back to reality.

This man, of all the blondes I’ve met, uses his face the best.

“Ahem, why would I come to see you, head priest?”

The head priest smiled angelically and spoke in a sweet voice.

“There could be many reasons… Maybe you fell for me at first sight.”

“…At first sight? Me?”

The one who left me in danger without a second thought?

No matter how much I long for blondes, that’s a bit much.

“It hurts a bit to hear that. Was I not impressive at the party that day?”

“…Do you think we first met at the Duke of Celsior’s party?”

“Didn’t we?”

As I stood there speechless, he pondered deeply.

After a moment, he snapped his fingers as if he remembered something and smiled brightly.

“Ah, we met at the prayer meeting.”

“……”

“No? Then it must have been on the pilgrimage last year.”

“……”

“Or maybe it was the year before last.”

…No, it wasn’t, you jerk.