Chapter 18
The fast-moving carriage stopped.
The Grand Duke woke Ariel from her sleep, got off the carriage, and entered the temple.
No, it’s more like he tried to get in.
“Stop, Your Highness.”
[T/N: Clarification, usually, Dukes are addressed as ‘Your Grace’ or ‘Your Excellency’, which is also used in the previous chapters. But I will use ‘Your Highness’ from now on. Please do not confuse it with how the princes are addressed. Princes are referred to as ‘Your Royal Highness’ since they’re the direct descendants. ‘Your Highness’ is also suitable for the Grand Duke since he’s the Emperor’s younger brother, basically, a part of the imperial family as well.]
Because he heard a voice out of nowhere.
Knights in golden robes quickly surrounded the Grand Duke’s carriage.
It was the Imperial Knights.
“What is this?”
The Grand Duke’s eyes grew cold.
“Who do you dare to stand in front of?”
Then the knight in the lead spoke.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. We are only following the orders given by His Majesty.”
It was Hael, the Commander of the Imperial Knights.
“What did His Majesty ordered? Did he told you to block my way and mobilize the knights to pressure me?”
“……”
“Ha, this feels as if I committed treason.”
“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”
The Knight Commander respectfully bowed his head, but did not seem to have any intention of getting out of the way.
His action made the Grand Duke’s eyes grew colder.
“Tell me, what did His Majesty commanded?”
“His Majesty told me not to let you set foot in the temple.”
“How did His Majesty knows that I was going to the temple? Could it be that His Majesty was spying on me?”
However, no answered was heard.
But the atmosphere makes him feels like he hit the spot.
“For what reason did His Majesty did that?”
“He said it was to protect Your Highness’ honor.”
“My honor?”
“That’s right.”
The Knight Commander dismounted from his horse and took out an envelope from his chest and handed it to Bardel.
When the wax with the emperor’s seal was removed, he immediately opened the letter.
Dear brother,
Don’t do stupid things that will damage your own honor. In a word, it means that you should not think of registering Ariel without my permission.
“Sigh.”
The Grand Duke was no fool.
The Emperor’s actions is too excessive to say that it’s for his honor.
There must be another meaning to it.
“Go and tell His Majesty that I will take care of the repercussions, so he didn’t have to worry.”
The Grand Duke, in a hurry, passed by the knight and tried to enter the temple.
But…
Shiing—
The Knight Commander drew out his sword.
“Hael.”
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. You cannot go inside.”
“Get out of the way.”
“Your Highness will become a traitor the moment you set foot in the temple.”
“Hah, a traitor?”
“What’s the difference between a traitor and a person who refuses to obey His Majesty’s orders?”
“How dare you…”
The Grand Duke twisted his mouth menacingly, but Hael did not budge.
Just when the two sides were in a tense confrontation.
Ariel, who had been dozing off, suddenly opened her eyes.
‘What is this energy…?’
She felt a strange aura.
A familiar and unpleasant aura.
Ariel moved her body involuntarily.
She slipped away and entered the temple.
Fortunately, the people of the Grand Duke were preoccupied with confronting the Imperial Knights and did not notice Ariel’s actions.
Following the familiar energy, she arrived at the back of the temple, and the back door, which had been firmly closed, opened by itself.
As Ariel strode inside, a beautiful voice rang out.
“Oh my, who is this? Do we have stupid little kids here?”
At the same time, a woman appeared.
Red hair that curves like flames, contrasting white skin and blue eyes.
“Ah!”
Arande, the Goddess of beauty, love and family.
She was a perfect embodiment of a Goddess, unlike Ariel.
“I heard you’re nowhere to be found lately, so you’re down here on the ground? Did you come here for an outing because you were bored?”
“It’s not like that, you idiot! I fell to the ground without me knowing!”
“You little rat, say that again!”
Thud—
Arande knocked Ariel’s head.
“Evil! Why did you hit me, why!”
Ariel cupped her head with her hands and jumped at her.
“It’s not even full fist.”
Arande asked again as she smiled and patted her hand.
“So you fell to the ground for no reason? Without you even knowing?”
“Yeah! I just slept and when I opened my eyes I found myself on the ground!”
“Hmm, what could be the reason?”
“How would I know that? Anyway, it’s nice to meet you here. Now, take me back!”
“Huh? To where?”
“Where is it, of course in the Divine Realm!”
Ariel looked at her as if she’s ridiculously asking for something obvious, but Arande asked back with a puzzled expression.
“Why?”
“What?”
“Why should I help you?”
“…You really!”
Ariel growled and Arande shook her head.
“Look at this, you’re getting angry again over something insignificant. Not cute at all.”
Shrugging her shoulders, Arande suddenly clapped her hands as if she thought of something.
Then she whispered softly.
“Then ask me.”
“…Ask?”
“Yes, don’t order me in such an overbearing manner, but rather, ask me for a favor.”
Ask her for a favor?
She was born with the destiny of becoming the King of all Gods, yet Arande wants her to ask for a favor?
Arande is so mean!
‘…This ugly…!’
Ariel gritted her teeth.
But what can she do?
She can’t return to the Divine Realm on her own.
She’s upset, but she needs Arande’s help right now.
Ariel, who clenched her fists tightly and took a deep breath, finally opened her mouth.
“…Take me back, please.”
It was a word that she was forced to spit out.
However, Arande still had a dissatisfied expression on her face.
“Is that a request?”
“What?”
“Just because you said ‘please’ doesn’t mean that it is already a request. Didn’t you see what humans do when they ask the Gods?”
As if she belatedly remembered something, Arande tilted her head and exclaimed.
“Oh sorry. You don’t have followers yet, so you don’t know Ariel.”
“Hey!”
“Sorry, I forgot about it.”
Arande, who smiled and furrowed her eyebrows as if she really didn’t know, spoke again.
“Now, this is how you do it. Kneel down on your knees and hold your hands together. Then say, please help me Arande.”
“Hah, get down on my knees? For you?”
“Why, you don’t like it?”
“Of course I don’t!”
Even at this situation, how can she get down on her knees?
To Arande at that.
It was something that could never happen.
“Are you really crazy!”
As Ariel screamed, Arande pursed her lips.
“Well, if you don’t like it, there’s nothing I can do about it. Then I’ll just go back…”
“Wait for a moment!”
Ariel exclaimed urgently.
Arande shrugged while pretending to be sorry and smiled coyly.
“Why, do you have anything more to say?”
‘This ugly thing is really…!’
Ariel, who was gritting her teeth, sighed as if she couldn’t help it.
‘Let’s be patient, we have to be patient.’
Ariel clenched her fists, which were shaking with rage.
Then she slowly knelt down and brought her hands together.
“Please, help me.”
She had difficulty voicing out that request. Still, she endured the overwhelming shame she felt.
But…
“Be more polite.”
Arande was resolute.
‘This ugly thing!’
It feels as if a thousand fire erupted inside her.
Anger rose to the tip of her head, to the point where her eyes went white.
However, having already bent once, it would be a loss to step back now.
‘Once I become the King, I will definitely return this shame.’
Ariel firmly said to herself.
“Please, I need your help Arande.”
Just as Arande wants, she gently knelt down on her knees and clasped her hands together.
“Yes, that’s it.”
Arande smiled contentedly.
It seems she liked this very much.
Ariel pulled the corners of her trembling lips and smiled.
“Then are you taking me now?”
Thinking that once she’s back in the Divine Realm, she will definitely tear off Arande’s hair right away.
However…
“Umm, by the way, Ariel, do you really need to go back to the Divine Realm?”
“…What?”
“You don’t know how to use your divine power properly. You are no different from humans, so wouldn’t it be better to just live on the ground?”
“Are you kidding me right now?”
“Oh, what a joke. I’m saying this because I think of you. Even if you go back to the Divine Realm, you’ll only be able to get stuck in your place, so it might be better for you to stay here and live with humans.”
Arande’s body, which had been chattering in a mocking voice, suddenly became transparent.
It shows her intention to disappear.
Ariel’s face contorted.
She did everything she was told, but it’s going to be like this?
She just lied to her.
“You ugly thing!”
Ariel, who was trembling, could not stand it any longer and rushed at Arande.
The moment her hand tried to snatch Arande,
Ssshhh—
Arande faded away like a smoke.
“Still, I’ll give you a piece of advice. Don’t let humans find out that you’re a God. After all, I don’t know what they’ll do if they were able to caught a powerless one.”
…Leaving only those words.
“One I go back to the Divine Realm! I won’t let you go! I won’t let you go!”
Only Ariel’s voice, running wild, resonated throughout the temple.
***
The Grand Duke’s family returned to the Grand Duchy with a vexed temper.
Of course, the Grand Duke and Ahin’s mood were because of the emperor, and Ariel was because of her anger at Arande, who made fun of her.
“His Majesty’s behavior is excessive!”
“He must have other ulterior motives.”
Leaving the Grand Duke and Ahin behind, Ariel headed to the garden.
Slump—
Ariel sat down and slammed the ground with her dainty fists.
“I, who will be the King of all Gods, to Arande, to that fool!”
She was so upset that she couldn’t stand it.
“Aaaarrggghh!”
Ariel calmed her heart only after she had put her fists on the floor for a long time.
“Calm down, Ariel. calm down.”
She can take revenge on Arande later. Now, figuring out a way to return to the Divine Realm is the urgent priority.
“Let it go. I will definitely return to the Divine Realm on my own.”
Ariel was determined.
Before leaving the palace, she took a handful of nuts given to her by the Emperor and chewed them hard.
