The Mad Princess's Tale of Doom and Survival

  I couldn’t help but think that the handsome man’s cool laughter in the back alley didn’t appear villainous, but rather cool.

 

  “Oh! You’re aware that I have the core, right?”

 

  “I should get the check ready.”

 

  He truly grasps the meaning of my words. I said with a contented smile.

 

  “Well then, until we meet again.”

 

  I casually greeted Kael and made my way towards Genia.

 

  “Lady Astel!”

 

  Genia, who was being treated by Johann, looked at me and exclaimed passionately, as if two long-lost family members were reuniting.

 

  Her gaze upon seeing me emitted a radiant light, distinct from before.

 

  Just as her affectionate smile caused a slight unease to flicker across my expression, Johann, having completed the treatment, beamed brightly.

 

  “Congratulations, Lady Astel. It was an incredibly brilliant plan, befitting someone with extraordinary abilities!”

 

  “Thank you.”

 

  “It seems that all misunderstandings about Lady Astel have been cleared up now. Congratulations.”

 

  “……What?”

 

  “Now everyone truly understands how kind-hearted Lady Astel is, don’t they? It’s not my place to say, but I’m genuinely, genuinely happy!”

 

  ‘You’re probably the only one who thinks that.’

 

  Johann’s persistent flattery left me at a loss for words.

 

  It appears this man can’t even hear my swearing. He didn’t even respond to my remark about the spiderlings refraining from stepping forward due to their lack of cores.

 

  They are merely following me because they benefit from it, not because I am righteous.

 

  ‘In their minds, they probably still perceive me as the mad Lady.’

 

  Nevertheless, I felt a tingling sensation on my lips, but I chose not to rectify the Holy Knight’s misconception.

 

  ‘Because he’s cute.’

 

  A bright smile adorned my face.

 

  “I appreciate your assistance in treating Genia.”

 

  Johann awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

 

  His solemn and noble countenance transformed into that of an innocent youth.

 

  “You praise me excessively. I merely fulfilled my duty.”

 

  It’s peculiar. Why is it so challenging for me to avert my gaze whenever he makes such an expression?

 

  ‘Not that I have any romantic feelings…’

 

  I briskly shook my head to dispel such thoughts.

 

  “There’s something I’m curious about. Earlier, I noticed that you were awake before the gate opened. What was the reason for that?”

 

  Johann tilted his head in curiosity.

 

  “Did you observe that?”

 

  “Yes, did you sense the opening of the gate even before it happened?”

 

  “Not exactly… I wasn’t aware that the gate would open. To put it simply… it felt more like a premonition that something would occur, as if the Divine Power was fluctuating.”

 

  “What do you mean by ‘fluctuating’?”

 

  “Well, should I say there was warmth in my body? It’s difficult to express since I’m not very articulate.”

 

  “Do all priests possess Divine Power?”

 

  “Official priests, not novices, possess it. It’s because they have dedicated themselves to the gods.”

 

  “I see…”

 

  I trailed off, lost in contemplation.

 

  Divine Power was an unfamiliar force I had never encountered before.

 

  In my previous life, there were healers who awakened in the field of medicine. However, they did not manifest Divine Power.

 

  The power of healing and Divine Power were distinct from each other.

 

  ‘It seems that to utilize Divine Power, I’ll need to meet a high priest. But how can I meet one? Should I go to the central temple?’

 

  Johann, who had been silently observing me, spoke in a soft voice.

 

  “Astel-nim, please don’t do that.”

 

  “…What do you mean?”

 

  “You’re not alone, Astel-nim. There are many people who are waiting for you to ask for help. So please, sometimes look around you. Don’t try to shoulder everything by yourself.”

 

  “…Does that apply to you as well, Johann? Have you ever waited for me to ask for help?”

 

  “It has always been like that. Since the day I went to the mansion to find you.”

 

  Indeed. I was vulnerable to Johann.

 

  When I hear those words, my heart aches without any reason, and I feel an urge to embrace him.

 

  I calmly suppressed the swirling emotions within me.

 

  “Well then, please assist me.”

 

  “Yes, Astel-nim. How can I be of help?”

 

  “I want to meet the high priest.”

 

  “…Pardon me?”

 

  “Please create an opportunity for me to meet the high priest.”

 

* * *

 

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Read from the original site [ https://moonlightnovel.com/ ]

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

 

[Johann’s POV]

 

  “Please create an opportunity for me to meet the high priest.”

 

  Johann blinked in surprise, his eyes flickering.

 

  Though I had mentioned helping her, I didn’t expect her to request a meeting with the high priest.

 

  “Our high priest doesn’t grant audiences easily, not even to His Majesty the Emperor… This could be troublesome.”

 

  It was a challenging situation, but I couldn’t just say it couldn’t be done after coming this far. I didn’t want to disappoint her.

 

  Johann hesitated and replied, “I… I will convey your request.”

 

  “When?”

 

  “W-Well, not immediately… but as soon as possible…”

 

  “Thank you.”

 

  Perhaps due to her confident tone, it felt more like receiving praise than gratitude.

 

Johann shrugged off the pounding of his heart.

 

  ‘It feels good. I want more praise.’

 

  “Um… Should I fetch the carriage? It might be difficult for you to walk all the way to the Luteous Estate.”

 

  Even if it wasn’t the temple, there were several ways for Astel to return home. They could go to the mausoleum and contact the Luteous family.

 

  Moreover, the mausoleum was closer from here than the temple.

 

  However, Johann didn’t mention any other options. He didn’t want to send Astel to the mausoleum.

 

  After a brief moment of contemplation, Astel readily agreed.

 

  “Should I?”

 

  “Thank you for agreeing. I will accompany you to the temple.”

 

  “Well, my leg is a bit sore.”

 

  “Oh? Where does it hurt? I will treat it right away.”

 

  “It’s not that bad. Can you just hold my hand for a moment?”

 

  “Your hand…?”

 

  “Did I make an inappropriate request to a knight?”

 

  “No! Not at all. It’s… It’s fine. It’s not inappropriate at all.”

 

  Johann, who had been frozen in place for a while, hesitantly reached out his trembling hand.

 

  Astel’s small hand gently rested on his large palm.

 

  “Hmm!”

 

  Johann let out an unnecessary cough.

 

  Apart from greetings, this was the first time he had such prolonged contact with a woman.

 

  Holding Astel’s hand as delicately as possible, he started walking slowly.

 

  His heart was pounding like crazy.

 

  His palms grew sweaty, and a strong sense of nervousness overwhelmed him.

 

  “Oh, Heavenly Mother, may your name be sanctified…”

 

  Unbeknownst to Johann, he found himself silently reciting scripture, and his face suddenly flushed.

 

  It was because Astel’s slender finger had gently intertwined with his own.

 

  “What, what is this? Is she trying to tempt me?”

 

  However, Astel’s expression remained cool and unchanged. She didn’t even meet his gaze.

 

  Perhaps she wasn’t even aware that her finger had slipped into his.

 

  Johann contemplated whether to inform her or not, but eventually decided to feign ignorance.

 

  He believed that mentioning it would only embarrass Astel further.

 

  “By the way, Astel-nim, your hand is incredibly soft… Oh, Heavenly Father, may your name be sanctified! Please guide your servant to resist temptation!”

 

  Johann and Astel departed from the square.

 

  Kael and Julia, who had silently observed their interaction, also made their way towards the mausoleum.

 

  “They’ve left…”

 

  “Now we just have to wait for the guild to be established, right?”

 

  “I hope it happens soon.”

 

  “Let’s go. Let’s go and wait!”

 

  The hunters dispersed, each carrying their own hopes.

 

  The sole person remaining in the deserted plaza was Alex.

 

* * *

[FML POV]

 

  They embarked on the white carriage adorned with the temple emblem and returned to the mansion.

 

  As soon as they alighted from the carriage, the awaiting servants in front of the main entrance bowed in unison to welcome them.

 

Over fifty individuals moved in perfect unison, showcasing their disciplined nature.

 

  “Lady Astel, welcome back!”

 

  “…Frank.”

 

  Frank, the butler who had diligently overseen the servants, respectfully lowered his head.

 

  “You summoned me, my lady.”

 

  “If you try something like this again, I’ll leave.”

 

  “…I will fix it.”

 

  “What about the Duke?”

 

  “He is waiting in his study.”

 

  I stepped into Duke Lutheos’s study.

 

  As I announced my presence, Duke Luteous, who had been gazing out of the window, turned around.

 

  He held a document in his hand, and from the faintly visible backside, it seemed to be some kind of list.

 

  “Ah, a ranking.”

 

  I assumed that Duke Luteous had also received the results of the level assessment.

 

 So, Frank must have attempted that strange act of organizing the employees.

 

  “But I didn’t expect him to have acquired the ranking list…”

 

  It must have been obtained from a hunter. Who could have informed us so quickly?

 

  Duke Luteous pointed to a chair but hesitated.

 

  “…I smell blood.”

 

  I had gained one realization from my past life.

 

  Being injured is a weakness. I must ensure that no one knows I am in a weakened state.