The Crown Prince was seen kneeling down with a worried expression, but his voice didn’t reach her ears. 

 —Soon, the visible reviews will probably be the gods’ final reviews of your future. I hope you use them well. If you want to talk with me, come here. This will be the easiest way for you to meet me. 

 As the god’s voice gradually faded, the ringing in her head began to disappear as well.

Finally regaining her senses and looking to the side, she saw the Crown Prince looking at her with worried eyes. 

 “Are you alright, Miss Rowenloa? I’ll call for a physician right now, so just……” 

 She carefully grasped the Crown Prince’s clothes as he was about to move to call for a physician after confirming she had regained consciousness. 

 The god clearly said to come here if she wanted to meet them.

She thought she needed to look around the temple a bit more. 

 “Wait…… it’s just a leg cramp. Thank you for your concern, Your Highness.” 

 The Crown Prince looked at her feet with eyes that seemed to not believe her words. 

 “But earlier when you collapsed, you were clearly holding your head……”

“Ah. That…… because my leg hurt so much, I couldn’t dare touch it and unconsciously……” 

 Hearing those words, the Crown Prince still wore an unconvinced expression but then matched her eye level as she remained sitting on the floor. 

 “Are you sure you don’t need me to call a physician?” 

 She nodded at his words.

At his worried gaze, she jumped up from her spot to prove she was fine. 

 “Look! I can even jump like this! I’m really fine. Rather than that, I’d like to hear…… about this temple from Your Highness.” 

 The Crown Prince sighed and stood up, then extended his arm to her. 

 “You might suddenly feel pain again, so hold onto my arm for now.” 

 Finally, she carefully placed her hand on the Crown Prince’s arm, and they began walking toward the inner temple. 

 “The god we serve in this temple is Paplonitus, now known as the god of greed.” 

 “The god of greed…?”

“Ah, it’s not that greed is actually a god…… They say gods gain or lose power according to people’s beliefs. Paplonitus was the god of giving. She helped many people with Her power, pitying humans. But people who became accustomed to this began to want more from Her. Give me money because I’m so pitiful, give me honor because I’m so pitiful…… Such desires gathered and eventually tarnished the god’s reputation.” 

 She looked at the statue modeled after the goddess on display in the temple while listening to the Crown Prince’s explanation.

It looked very similar to the god she had met in her unconscious state. 

 “That’s how people tried to resolve their greed by selling their non-existent pitifulness, and Paplonitus became a symbol of greed rather than giving.” 

 …So there was such a sad and tragic story?

You must have suffered quite a bit too. 

 After that, she and the Crown Prince looked around the temple interior once and then returned toward the palace.

While taking a brief rest sitting on a bench in front of the palace, they seemed to hear the voices of ministers looking for the Crown Prince from inside.

Hearing this, the Crown Prince frowned as if disgusted, then smiled at her again. 

 “Please visit whenever you want to read the books. It would be even better if you leave me a simple letter the day before. Well, since many people are looking for me, I’ll take my leave here. Frill will guide you to the main gate.” 

 After finishing his greeting, the Crown Prince carefully lifted her hand and kissed the back of it, then quickly went inside the palace.

She remained frozen stiff for a while until she finally came to her senses at Frill’s careful call and was able to leave the imperial palace to return home. 

 ***

 When she arrived at the mansion, a somehow cold atmosphere greeted her.

It seemed like the usual atmosphere…… but perhaps it felt colder because she had just been with people who welcomed her.

Unlike the imperial palace people who greeted her with polite smiles, the Masipacius mansion people barely acknowledged her, just nodding slightly before hurrying on their way. 

 She let out a hollow laugh at such people and returned to her room.

More precisely, she tried to return.

Until Brother Bershua called her from the hall. 

 “Rowenloa.” 

 At his voice, she turned around while heading to her room and saw Leila and her brothers looking at her.

Thinking there was no need to talk with them gathered like that, she lightly nodded and turned again to return to her room. It was too obvious they were trying to pick another strange fight.

But, seemingly displeased with her behavior, they called her name again. 

 Ah, what kind of trouble are they trying to start this time.

I’m already dying of exhaustion. 

 Finally, she let out a sigh and approached them.

Then Brother Bershua looked down at her with his arms crossed, seeming very displeased. 

 “I heard you went to the imperial palace? Without Father.” 

 She just nodded.

Then he let out a scoff.

“This is ridiculous.”

Really, is me going to the imperial palace such an anger-worthy matter? 

 And, her mouth spoke her inner thoughts directly. 

 “Is there something wrong with me going to the imperial palace alone?” 

 At her words, the first and second brothers frowned.

But they just frowned and stared at her without explaining why they were upset, until finally Brother Rubert, unable to watch anymore, spoke up. 

 “They say when a noble lady makes her first palace entry alone, it typically means one of two things. Either she was summoned for committing a serious crime…… or she was invited for being recognized as exceptional.” 

 As soon as Brother Rubert finished speaking, Brother Rembro immediately opened his mouth. 

 “And you went alone to the imperial palace that even brother hasn’t been to yet…!” 

 Brother Bershua stepped in to stop Brother Rembro who was shouting at her. 

 “Why are you saying unnecessary things?” 

 At Brother Bershua’s cold tone, Brother Rembro seemed to shrink his shoulders, then avoided his gaze and stepped back.

In the awkward atmosphere, Leila was the first to speak. 

 “Brothers, why are you acting like this……” 

 At Leila’s words, the first and second brothers’ anger seemed to subside a little. 

 Well……

This isn’t even funny anymore. 

 “Sister Rowenloa probably wanted to go with our brothers too. But sister, what were you invited to the imperial palace for?” 

 Leila was skilled at making her look like the bad person while pretending to soothe the brothers.

In the past, she thought those words were meant for her sake, but now it was different. 

 Probably wanted to go with our brothers?

How ridiculous. 

 How would you know that. 

 Leila’s question was absurd, but the brothers also seemed to want to know why she was invited to the imperial palace as they just stared at her without saying anything at Leila’s question. 

 I can’t tell the truth……

And I don’t want to just take this quietly…… 

 If I just say ‘just because,’ these people in front of me won’t accept it…… 

 Having no proper answer, she sighed and thought of an excuse that could prove she hadn’t entered the palace for committing a crime while also bragging that she was more impressive than them, though it was a bit childish, without revealing the main purpose of her palace visit.

“Somehow His Highness the Crown Prince learned of my linguistic talent…… He sent an invitation saying he had many things he wanted to discuss with me regarding that.” 

 Hearing those words, the brothers exchanged confused glances with blank expressions before fixing their gazes on her again.

They seemed to want her to explain more. 

 “I can understand the language the ancient demon race used.” 

 The brothers’ eyes widened at those words.

Only Leila blinked between them as if not understanding what her words meant. 

 “Ha, even people who studied it professionally find the ancient demon race’s language difficult. Though you’re somewhat smart, how could you, at that age without a teacher……”

“Then…… are you saying His Highness the Crown Prince’s judgment was wrong?” 

 Unable to say that, the brother shut his mouth tight. 

 They weren’t powerful enough to deny her abilities that the imperial palace had recognized.

So she showed a relaxed smile.

The brothers except Brother Rubert looked at her with frustrated expressions. 

 “I must be tired from being nervous while talking with His Highness at the palace. I’ll return to my room first.” 

 She nodded once to them and returned to her room.

She asked the butler to tell Father that she would visit him personally later. 

 After finally returning to her room through all the trouble and changing into comfortable clothes to rest a bit, there was a knock. 

 “Um…… Miss. Miss Leila is here to see you……”