Chapter 97: CH 97

At that time, the temple’s main building.

“Among the Paladins, bad rumors are spreading. That Saintess Camilla is a fake…”

“There are many who oppose the wanted. It seems that it’s better to collect it back.”

Heinz, who heard the priests scrambling to report, frowned and put his hand between his forehead.

Meanwhile, Camilla, who was sitting quietly in the distant chair, stared into space with a dark face.

Ariel in the prophecy  she knew, couldn’t get anyone on her side. She craved the love and attention of others, yet it was all for Camilla.

However, Ariel now…

“Heinz.”

Camilla called out to Heinz in a low voice.

He then quickly sent the priests out and approached Camilla.

“Yes, yes. Saintess.”

The corners of Camilla’s lips twisted slightly. And a lightly resonating sound, ck.

In an instant, one side of Heinz’s wrinkled cheeks swelled red.

“…S-Saintess?”

Camilla opened her mouth, looking down in contempt at Heinz’s face in vain

“How incompetent are you that you can’t control the public opinion of the temple properly?”

Ariel now was definitely more popular than Camilla. Despite her overwhelming holy power, which Camilla displayed in saving the Golden Crowns, they were all looking for Ariel and concerned.

In this way, there’s no benefit in revealing her existence in haste.

“I’m sorry. We will do our best to recruit priests and Paladins.”

Heinz bowed and continued to make excuses.

If only things went well in the mine…

Camilla pursed her lips.

If only Ariel died after failing to restore the gate in the mine, and she appeared like a comet, she would’ve been the hero of the country.

If so, she wouldn’t have had such a hard time.

How disgusting it was for her to come all the way here to Elium and pretend to be an innocent priestess.

Especially in front of Ariel.

[We’re the same age, so shall we get along?]

Ariel’s carefree smile, without malice, suddenly came to her mind.

“Ha, cheekily.”

Camilla furrowed her eyebrows.

How dare she.

“Saintess, is there anything else that bothers you?”

Heinz asked with an anxious look.

“It bothers me a lot that it’s driving me crazy. I need to find Father’s statue.”

Camilla gritted her teeth and said.

“Excuse me… It’s an idea that just came to my mind, why don’t you ask the Imperial Palace for help?”

He asked cautiously.

“The Imperial Palace?”

Camilla thought for a moment, then she opened her mouth. Come to think of it, she even had to meet Prince Kyle once.

“His Imperial Majesty was still in bed, right?”

“That’s right.”

“I need to write a letter to the Crown Prince.”

Haynes bowed his head deeply and went back to get the stationery and quill pen.

***

Late night. Kyle’s room.

[The God of Destruction, Ciel, distracts Hessed.]

[The God of Knowledge, Hessed, draws Ciel’s attention with homemade snacks.]

[The God of Destruction, Ciel, is eating a snack.]

The chat window in front of my eyes flashed insanely.

A chessboard was spread out in front of me, and Kyle across from me was staring at the chessboard with a grim face.

Even though I was playing in Ghost Chess King mode, the match against Kyle was a bloody long way off.

‘No, why is he so good at chess?’

“What did you bet on? Was it your life, I wonder.”

“…Your Highness. Please don’t joke like that.”

I shook my head eerily at his joke, which was different from Cass’ and Reihausd’s.

As I moved the knight, Hessed told me the next move through the chat window.

It was a whopping 100 franc bet. In modern terms, it was about a million won.

‘In modern times, I would have been arrested for betting.’

“Hmm…”

Kyle doubtfully questioned and frowned, as if my move was a bit complicated.

“You’re not using your holy power, are you?”

“Phew, Your Highness. How does one play chess with holy power?”

I shook my head as if it was nonsense.

[The God of Justice, Hetuse, shakes his head at your shamelessness.]

Fufu. Kyle, you… are lagging behind.

I made my move again confidently ahead of my first income of 100 franc.

But after a while, I heard his low voice.

“Checkmate.”

…My goodness. Kyle, are you really a human?

How can you win a game of chess against a God?

[The God of Knowledge, Hessed, denies reality, saying that this is a dream.]

[The God of Benevolence, Oman, recommends Hessed to change his name.]

[The God of Love, Odyssey, proposes a new title, ‘the God of Defeat’.]

I let out a small sigh as I looked at the chat window where the fun of teasing began again. And I looked at his eyes while touching the All-Purpose Pocket.

“If you don’t want to pay money, labor is fine.”

In response to his merciless words, where the merits and demerits were clear, I pouted and handed over 100 franc.

[Your Money: 20,800 franc]

I have to go back to the temple and collect my salary.

At that time, the voice of a servant was suddenly heard from outside the door.

“Your Highness. Marquis Cass Lloyd has arrived.”

“Tell him to come in.”

After a while, the door opened and Cass came in.

Cass’ face looked tougher and colder, perhaps because of the shadow cast by the dim light.

“I’m greeting Your Highness the Crown Prince and the Saintess.”

“Sit down.”

Cass walked in slowly and sat down in a chair around the chess table.

His eyes scanned the chessboard I had lost.

“Looks like you were playing chess.”

[The God of Knowledge, Hessed, sheds tears, saying that he never dreamed that he would lose.]

Does Cass have any idea? The fact that the God who bought his stock was whimpering because he had lost chess against Kyle.

“Yes. Because I was too bored waiting for the Marquis.”

At my words, Cass lifted the tip of his lips and smiled lightly.

“It seems you have been waiting for me for a long time.”

He put the items he had brought on the table.

“This is…”

“Yes.”

Great. Now, the final preparations are ready.

“A letter came from the temple today.”

Then Kyle spoke to Cass in a stiff tone.

“Camilla sent a personal letter saying that she would treat His Imperial Majesty herself.”

“She’s pretty eager to build a foundation.”

“So I said I’d come and talk to her tomorrow.”

Cass’ eyes turned to me.

“Are you two going together?”

I nodded at his words.

After a moment of silence, Cass spoke to me.

“Remember what I said last time.”

Kyle’s eyebrows twitched.

“What are you talking about?”

[The God of Destruction, Ciel, wonders what Cass said.]

[The God of Love, Odyssey, blushes as he remembers what Cass said.]

Cass responded by raising the corners of his lips.

“I just asked her to be careful.”

What he had said came to my mind.

[Don’t get even a single hair of yours hurt.]

Well, it’s true that the advice told me to be careful.

When I remembered the voice that had been whispering in my ears, my face seemed to heat up for no reason.

When Kyle’s eyes glanced at me, I awkwardly smiled alternately at Kyle and Cass.

“Then, shall we all go back now for tomorrow’s work?”

After looking at me for a moment, Kyle nodded and got up.

I was using his room, which was kept under tight security, and Kyle was sleeping in another room.

I saw the two men off and shut the door. Then I muttered quietly.

“I don’t think I can sleep well today.”