OVHC Chapter 24

Episode 24

 

 

“Sigh. What a miserable life. This isn’t even a vacation.”

As Anette walked down the dark hallway toward her room, she grumbled to herself.

Her whole body ached as if it were breaking apart, and exhaustion weighed on her. 

But she felt uncomfortable, covered in sand and dust.

Still complaining about her life, Anette made her way to the shared bathroom used by the maids. 

She carefully washed herself with cold water before returning to her room.

“Brr, it’s cold.”

The water felt even colder than usual today. 

Normally, washing up with cold water after a hard day’s work felt refreshing, but after the day she had, she just felt chilled.

She even missed the thick winter blanket she had seen in her room.

Anette didn’t realize it, but she had a body that was very sensitive to the cold.

It had been an exhausting day.

As soon as she lay down, she passed out instantly.

Meanwhile, Edwin, who had followed her out of the mansion, confirmed that Anette had safely made it inside the temple before turning back.

He had easily caught up with her. If he wanted, he could have knocked her out and taken her back.

But he didn’t.

He simply watched to make sure she arrived safely.

He didn’t want to forcefully drag her back just because she had run away.

He still didn’t understand why he was acting like this, but somehow, the reason no longer felt important.

“I was hoping it was just a nightmare…”

The next morning, Anette opened her eyes and realized that she was still broke.

She squeezed her eyes shut.

She had hoped it was all a dream, but it wasn’t.

If she could turn back time, she would never have stepped outside the temple.

Saving money little by little was the only way.

No more reckless spending in her life. No more wasting money on desserts or clothes—

Wait.

“Oh, crap! My dress!”

She had completely forgotten.

The deep green, budget-friendly dress she had bought yesterday was gone.

She couldn’t even remember if she had lost it while running after the thief or afterward.

Damn it.

Anette collapsed on the floor in frustration. The thought of losing that carefully chosen, cost-effective dress made her even more upset.

She might as well have spent the money on a dessert instead—at least then it would have stayed in her stomach.

This vacation was truly a nightmare.

But no matter how terrible her break had been, she still had to go to work.

“If I want to survive, I have to go to work.”

Swallowing her tears, Anette changed into a fresh maid uniform.

Before leaving, she reached for the clothes she had worn yesterday to retrieve the small jewels she had secretly taken from Berndt.

She needed some comfort.

But—

“Where did they go?”

No matter how hard she searched, the jewels were nowhere to be found.

She tried to recall last night’s events.

She remembered hearing a rustling sound while running away from the mansion. 

She had assumed it was someone chasing her and had run even harder.

She must have dropped them then.

Anette stared blankly at her worn-out pocket.

It had torn at some point without her realizing it.

“Stupid, useless pocket…”

She was furious. Those jewels were supposed to be her consolation.

She should have fought Edwin for her money no matter what.

Now, she was convinced that Edwin was the thief.

She had pitied him for a moment, but now she felt even more pitiful herself.

That day, Anette started her morning in the worst mood of her life.

“Anette, how was your vacation?”

“…No.”

Lucy asked over breakfast.

“Did something happen?”

“…No.”

Sensing something was off, Lucy looked concerned, but Anette only repeated the same robotic answer.

Her mood was at rock bottom.

Lucy, too scared to pry further, quietly backed away.

It felt like a storm cloud was hanging over Anette alone.

Today, she wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone. She hadn’t even felt this helpless when she died.

As she thought about all the effort she had put into her work, rage boiled inside her.

“One day, I’ll find that damn thief and kill him.”

Kill him. I swear.

Muttering curses under her breath, she started her cleaning duties.

That day, she was assigned to clean the servants’ hallways.

Her body, unlike her mood, was diligent as always.

She swept the floor with determination, refusing to leave even a speck of dust behind.

Slowly making her way toward the staircase in the center of the hallway, she suddenly bumped into something.

“Huh? But there’s no wall here?”

Surprised, she turned around.

The person standing before her wore a pristine white and gold priest’s robe—the very same robe she had once admired for its perfection.

“Oh?”

“Greetings, Anette Etheled.”

It was the man she had seen in what she thought was the prayer room of the priests’ quarters.

“Oh, hello.”

“I didn’t get to properly introduce myself last time. I am Noah Castus, the High Priest of the Hella Temple.”

“Ah, I see. I’m Anette Etheled.”

High Priest?

From what she knew, the High Priest was the highest-ranking priest in the temple.

She had always imagined him as an old man, but he looked much younger than expected.

Then again, the priests and knights of this temple had to be young and pure.

“I heard you were on vacation yesterday. 

Did you have a good time?”

“…I wouldn’t exactly say that. But do you need something?”

“If you’re not too busy, could we talk for a moment?”

“Right now?”

“Yes. Would that be alright?”

“……”

Thinking about yesterday soured her mood again.

She had planned to bet with this priest on whether it would rain or not.

In hindsight, not making the bet was the right choice.

She would’ve lost everything to that thief anyway. Damn it.

Her expression darkened, and the High Priest looked surprised.

She must have looked like she was about to cry.

And he wasn’t alone.

Another priest stepped out from behind him.

As he approached and asked gently, “Are you alright?”

Huh?

Something about his voice made her ears perk up.

Anette looked up.

In all the movies she had watched in her past life, there were those moments when a ridiculously handsome actor appeared in slow motion.

This was one of those moments.

A breathtakingly handsome man was standing before her, asking if she was okay.

His voice was warm and pure, like fresh air.

His soft ash-brown hair and fair skin reminded her of a warm latte.

The white and gold priest’s robe suited him so well it could give her a nosebleed.

His neat, symmetrical features. His bright, shimmering brown eyes.

“Wow…”

Without thinking, Anette stared at him, mouth slightly open.

If her life had background music, this would be the moment for it.

And the song would be…

Sanctus.

The brown-haired priest smiled gently, his neatly combed bangs swaying slightly.

Bangs…!

Technically, her type was more of a rugged, wild-looking man.

But this wasn’t about preference.

He was the kind of man who could rewrite her first love.

“Oh, right… I remember now.”

“You were my first love… but what was your name again?”

It didn’t matter.

She had already decided.

She was joining this religion.