Episode 103
Foresight was highly limited, and moreover, it was an ability that focused more on seeing the past than the future.
That meant even if Victoria hadn’t been stripped of the moonlight’s authority, she couldn’t have known Lilian’s future perfectly.
“You’re aware that the daughters of the moonlight are born unfortunate. If their foresight were perfect, would such things happen?”
“…That makes sense.”
Listening to it, it was true. Lilian was so caught up in Agnes’s wisdom and intuition that she forgot about the events that ultimately ended her life as a knight.
“The duchess was in a carriage accident.”
And she even kidnapped a child. If she had known about the series of misfortunes that befell her, she might have found a way to avoid them. It would be reasonable to assume that Agnes didn’t know these things.
“Or… even if she knew, she didn’t know them properly.”
Knowing that misfortune would strike, but not knowing when or how, was as good as not knowing.
But at least she could have made some preparations. Lilian thought Agnes’s case would fit this. From the circumstances, it seemed more appropriate to say she didn’t know properly rather than not at all.
‘Then the duchess didn’t know much about me or Swan either.’
Of course, it couldn’t be certain, and Lilian couldn’t conclude everything based solely on Asher’s words. But if, as Asher said, the duchess, Agnes, didn’t accurately know the future…
‘What did the duchess plan?’
If she knew Agnes’s intentions, what Swan wished for.
And even what she had to do.
Lilian picked up the paper she had set aside earlier. It was a brief description of the artifact called the Chalice of Platinum.
“I saw an artifact called the Chalice of Platinum in your research material. It’s described as an artifact that reads the memories of objects.”
“Yes. Are you interested?”
“Yes. I need to know about the past. And perhaps this object might be helpful. Since I don’t have foresight ability now.”
And never will in the future, but Lilian decided to ignore that part for now.
However, Asher didn’t seem to notice that at all. Instead, he widened his eyes as if he had figured something out from Lilian’s words, then couldn’t hide his joy as he exclaimed,
“That’s right! You’re right, Lilian! This artifact has the most similar method of divine power operation to foresight abilities at the present moment. So it might help awaken your latent foresight abilities!”
In short, using an artifact with a similar operating method might awaken foresight abilities.
He first grabbed onto the table and took his first steps, then later, walked on his own,
“Perhaps you could draw out more than the power this chalice has. It’s really worth researching. It’s an unexpected perspective!”
Lilian debated whether to assure him that it would hardly happen, but seeing Asher’s excitement, she decided there was no need to dampen his spirits.
Anyway, what was important to her was not awakening foresight abilities, but truly seeing the past.
“If I can know a little more about the duchess, that alone would be enough.”
It was worth a try. Plus, since Asher was so happy about it, it would be easier to get his cooperation. With a considerably relieved heart, Lilian asked,
“So where is the Chalice of Platinum? Is it in your lab?”
“Oh, I didn’t mention that there’s a slight issue with that.”
As those words came out, Asher suddenly calmed down. As if waking from a dream and realizing reality. A slight issue? With that, Lilian’s face stiffened with sudden anxiety.
“Could it be you don’t know its location?”
“No, I know the location. It’s very close, and you know it too.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“That’s…”
Asher scratched the back of his head twice stylishly. Then, he added casually,
“The Chalice of Platinum is in the central temple, Miss Lilian.”
* * *
The Chalice of Platinum had a limited number of uses. Due to not knowing this fact and the uncertainty of the owner, the number of uses was reduced to less than 10, and the exact number of uses became unknown.
Because of this, the temple retrieved and stored the chalice to preserve the relic, and adjusted to allow limited usage only when national issues arose, with the temple’s approval and appropriate procedures.
So, currently, the chalice is stored in the Central Temple, which has the highest security among the temples.
‘I thought it wouldn’t be an ordinary item, but I didn’t expect it to be this difficult to approach.’
The heretics were more competent than expected, yet also less competent. While they provided a wide range of information in terms of information dissemination, when it came to practical application, none of it proved helpful, which was evident.
In the end, after extracting all the information and useful things about the Chalice of Platinum from Asher, Lilian came to a conclusion.
“I’m going to steal the Chalice of Platinum.”
“…I understand, but do you happen to know that I’m a knight and that my job is to protect the temple?”
“Yeah. So help me out, Theo. You wouldn’t want to see me caught by the temple, would you?”
With a nonchalant, almost shameless reply from Lilian, Theo groaned and rubbed his forehead. Of course, Theo didn’t want to see Lilian caught by the temple. But did that mean he should agree to her dragging him into it?
“Is you in your right mind? Are you worried about what might happen if you get caught? Even if nothing else, how would it look if Lady Mainard sneaked into the temple at midnight to steal a relic? If you want it that badly, hire someone!”
“We can’t hire someone. According to Viscount Fitzroy, there’s a powerful barrier made of divine power around the place where the relic is kept, making it impossible for ordinary people to even approach.”
Even with people with divine power or access, this was still impossible with most divine powers.
So, anxious as she was, Lilian had to go herself.
Upon Lilian’s calm explanation, Theo sensed that Lilian was definitely not speaking empty words. Even if she said she wouldn’t help, Lilian would go to the temple. And perhaps even deceive him and steal the relic.
Lilian was gradually heading down a dangerous path. Theo regretted following her to the reading club. He should have strongly advised against it, rather than going along with it. Since meeting the heretics, Lilian’s behavior had become noticeably strange.
If Lilian were to really get caught by the temple?
Anxious thoughts swirled in Theo’s mind.
“Then, instead of that… have you thought about what I mentioned last time?”
“I have. So I need the Chalice of Platinum. To truly understand what Swan wanted from me, I think I need to know the past.”
Lilian briefly explained to Theo that the Chalice of Platinum could see the memories of objects and that Agnes could use foresight.
“Then what memories are you going to see?”
“The items that belonged to both the duchess and Swan.”
Specifically, Agnes’s pendant.
