Chapter 22

Someone was stroking her head as she slept.

With careful hands, they brushed her hair aside and gently tickled her forehead.

Even in her sleep, the sensation made her laugh unconsciously.

Perhaps the other person laughed as well, as their low chuckle was incredibly pleasant to hear.

The hand that stroked her head also cooled her feverish face.

That touch felt so warm and comforting that she wished it would never leave.

* * *

Her sister must have left, and she had dozed off for a while.

By the time she opened her eyes again, the sun had already set.

‘Did someone come by?’

She still felt a tickling sensation on her forehead, as if lingering from a dream she didn’t want to wake from.

Feeling restless, she turned her head and saw Orgon slumped over on a makeshift chair beside the bed, fast asleep.

‘Was it Orgon?’

“Hey, Orgon. Why are you sleeping there like that?”

When she shook him awake, Orgon groaned and opened his eyes. He straightened up, rubbing his back after sleeping in such an uncomfortable position, and spoke.

“I heard you woke up, but you were sleeping again, so I must’ve dozed off too. More importantly, are you feeling alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

Aside from the stiffness in her back from lying down too long and the hunger gnawing at her stomach.

“You must be hungry. I’ll have them bring food.”

“No, let’s go to the dining hall. I feel stiff from lying down too long.”

She stretched as she got out of bed.

“Alright, then. Oh, by the way, His Majesty came by earlier while you were asleep.”

“Really?”

For some reason, she rubbed her forehead.

“And if we’re going to the dining hall, you should change your clothes.”

“Why?”

She was wearing a chemise dress, typically used as sleepwear. It wasn’t see-through, so it could also serve as casual attire.

“Your legs are showing. Change and meet me outside your room. I’ll wait there.”

‘What’s the big deal about my legs showing?’

Though it was annoying, she figured if she didn’t change, he’d insist on eating in the room. So, she swapped into a plain, long dress.

“I’ve changed.”

When she stepped into the hallway, Orgon scrutinized her outfit meticulously.

Was the neckline too low? Was the length appropriate?

After a thorough inspection, Orgon finally nodded in satisfaction.

“You know, this meddling of yours is getting out of hand.”

“Do you think it’s just the two of us in this Crown Prince’s palace? I don’t mind because we’re family, but that doesn’t mean you should behave carelessly in front of me. Besides, there’s Bruf and Duke Astrea to consider. You need to be cautious.”

“Oh, stop nagging.”

‘Yeah, yeah.’

Oops! Her thoughts slipped out as words.

Avoiding Orgon’s glare, she quickly headed for the dining hall.

***

“Miss! I heard you’ve woken up. Are you alright?”

“Oh, Bruf! I’m fine, I’m fine. By the way, it feels like it’s been ages since I saw you, even though we live in the same house. How’s your leg?”

“I’m relieved to see you’re alright. My leg’s healed now, so I’ll be able to return to work starting tomorrow.”

“Work…”

Thinking about the two days of her holiday that had flown by brought tears to her eyes.

“Have you been bored, cooped up in the mansion?”

“Well…”

His cheeks flushed faintly.

Ah, it seemed he’d had a pleasant recovery.

She gestured for him to lean closer.

When Bruf bent down, she whispered conspiratorially into his ear.

“How do you plan to repay the favor?”

“I’ll do my utmost to repay it.”

“Good. I like that answer.”

Satisfied, she smiled and went to her seat.

After a hearty dinner, she planned to sleep soundly again.

Bruf greeted Orgon, who entered the dining hall just then. Orgon raised a hand in acknowledgment before taking the head seat.

“You’re here.”

“The nagger has arrived.”

His face was sulky.

“Ugh, such a sulker.”

“What?”

“Oh, did you hear that? I meant to keep that thought to myself.”

She stuck out her tongue and grinned mischievously.

As she spread a napkin over her lap in preparation for the meal, she noticed someone was missing.

Looking around, she asked, 

“Where’s the knight Commander?”

“He went to the temple with Anella.”

“Ah, you sent him along as her escort?”

“Yeah.”

“Is the Saintess alright? I heard she fell from the terrace.”

“Oh, I caught her when she fell, so she wasn’t hurt.”

“Weren’t you with her at the time?”

“I was.”

She refrained from asking how he managed to catch a falling Anella while being with her at the same time.

‘It’d just be a waste of breath…’

Eched and Anella returned just as their meal was nearing its end.

Looking visibly tired, Anella’s face lit up when she spotted them.

“I brought it!”

She held out a box triumphantly and opened it to reveal its contents.

“A holy power measuring crystal!”

Inside was a crystal orb used to measure holy power. Its color would change based on the amount of holy power detected.

“Let’s use this to measure Lady Shaterian’s holy power!”

Was that something to be said with such an excited expression?

Feeling a bit awkward, Shaterian wiped her mouth with a napkin and stood up.

“What’s the point of measuring holy power?”

“Pardon?”

“What’s it for?”

“Well… um…”

Anella’s pupils visibly wavered.

She hadn’t meant to fluster her, but…

Shaterian added an explanation to ease the tension.

“Usually, people measure their holy power when they’re considering becoming a priest. That’s why I asked.”

“Oh, I see.”

Anella nodded brightly in understanding and smiled again.

“Still, these days, there are various professions for those with holy power. For example, passing the national exam grants you the right to open a holy power clinic.”

“A holy power clinic? The kind that heals people using holy power?”

“Yes. Previously, you had to visit a temple for holy power treatment, but now there are many people with holy power, and the variety of professions has expanded. I hear it’s quite lucrative. I’ve even thought about quitting being a Saintess to open one myself.”

Anella added a playful comment after explaining about holy power clinics.

If the Saintess were to open such a clinic, it would undoubtedly be immensely popular.

‘A literal goldmine!’

Just maybe, just maybe…

If my holy power turned out to be as abundant as Anella’s?

Wouldn’t that be the perfect opportunity to secure funds for a peaceful countryside life?

“Alright, let’s try it.”

Anella eagerly presented the crystal orb.

Taking a deep breath, Shaterian placed her hand on it.

But the crystal’s color remained a dull navy blue.

Was there a specific method to this?

She looked up at Anella.

“So, how do I channel holy power into this?”

Anella, who had been watching her with sparkling eyes, flinched.

Her gaze trembled slightly.

“Well… uh, holy power is more of a feeling. Like, ‘It’s surging forth!’”

“…”

What on earth was that supposed to mean?

It seemed even Anella wasn’t entirely sure.

“What about you, Saintess Anella? How do you usually use your holy power?”

“For me, it’s just… instinct?”

Right. Genius at work.

Shaterian turned to Orgon.

“I just use it.”

He wasn’t much help either.

As for Eched… being a Divine Beast from birth, he probably used it naturally, so she didn’t even bother looking at him.

In the end, she had to figure it out on her own.

‘Holy power surging forth? From where?’

She had no idea.

Whether she even had holy power was one thing, but not knowing how to use it made it utterly useless.

After struggling with the crystal orb for a while, she broke out in a cold sweat.

“Ugh, forget it!”

“Wait, Lady Shaterian! I think the color changed a little!”

“Huh?”

At Anella’s words, she peered into the crystal orb.

But its color was still the same dull navy blue.

“Does this thing even work?”

“Yes!”

“Then show me.”

The moment Anella took the orb from her hands, it emitted a bright white light before turning completely transparent.

As expected, the apprentice Saintess was on a different level…

The orb returned to its dull navy color as soon as Anella let go.

“That’s how you do it!”

‘She’s kind of annoying…’

With a reluctant expression, Shaterian took the crystal orb Anella handed back to her.

She struggled with it for a while longer, but the color never changed.

Eventually, she threw up her hands in frustration.

Seeing her exasperation, Anella seemed to contemplate something briefly before exclaiming, “Ah!” and saying, 

“There’s another way to measure holy power, though it’s only a temporary method.”

“What is it?”

“Pardon me for a moment, Lady Shaterian.”

Anella cupped Shaterian’s face with both hands and locked eyes with her.

Her eyes were a golden-brown hue, close to the color of sunlight. Her hair, cascading down to her waist, shimmered like water.

When Anella first appeared in the world, the priests of the sanctuary had whispered among themselves. ‘She looks just like the Goddess of Compassion.’

Lost in the sight of her long, lush lashes, Shaterian found herself staring for a while.

‘But isn’t this a bit too close?’

Feeling overwhelmed by Anella’s breath so close to her face, she was on the verge of panicking when—

“That’s enough.”

A hand clad in dark gloves inserted itself between their faces.

The hand’s owner, Eched, pulled Shaterian away from Anella.

Finally, she exhaled the breath she had been holding.

‘Wow! My heart nearly gave out!’

She had always known Anella was beautiful, but up close, she was even more stunning. 

Was this what a female protagonist’s appearance was supposed to be like?

Letting out a sigh, she turned her head and noticed Bruf covering his face, his ears inexplicably red.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Well… I just feel so embarrassed…”

Bruf slightly parted his fingers to glance at her, only to quickly cover his face again.

It seemed Bruf had spent too much time in the Crown Prince’s palace. He was starting to resemble Orgon.

‘Tsk tsk, poor guy. He traded his love for his personality.’

“Shaterian.”

Eched’s voice was lower than usual. On top of that, he was frowning, clearly displeased about something.

“What is it?”

“You should be more careful.”

“You’re the one who needs to be careful. Call me by my name one more time, and you’ll see.”

“Shaterian?”

That wasn’t an invitation to call me by name!

Had this guy hit his head when he collapsed under the moonlight?

She scrunched up her face and said, 

“I told you not to call me by my name. Address me as ‘Lady,’ like you used to.”

“Even though we kissed…”

“Ahhh!”

Startled, she lunged at Eched.

He seemed about to bring up that nonsense about them being “a couple who had kissed” again.

“Say that one more time, and see what happens.”

She whispered her warning so only Eched could hear. He looked momentarily confused but soon nodded.

“Then can I call you by your name?”

Both options were off the table, yet…

It seemed Eched interpreted her words as a choice between the two.

Since one must lose something to gain another, and she hated the mention of their kiss more than her name being called, she had no choice but to allow Eched to address her by her name.

“Ugh! Fine, do whatever you want.”

Already mentally and emotionally exhausted, all she wanted was to retreat to her room and rest.

“Anyway, Lady Shaterian, from what I just sensed, you do have holy power, but only a tiny amount.”

Not just a little, but a very tiny amount, he said.

‘If it’s going to appear, it might as well appear in abundance.’

She grumbled about the uselessness of her holy power.

“It’s a temporary measurement method… If you want to know more details, would you like to visit the temple together?”

“Hmm… No, that’s alright.”

If it was only a tiny amount, there was no point in wasting energy on it.

“Normally, just touching the orb should be enough to measure it. How strange.”

It was probably because her holy power was so minuscule that the crystal orb couldn’t detect it.

She casually ignored Anella’s comment that implied she was unusual.