Chapter 236
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 236
“Welcome, Your Imperial Highness.”
“Your Highness! We are honored by your presence!”
“Grand Princess Frezier, you are also most welcome. Please, feel free to look around at your leisure.”
Good heavens.
I actually made it inside.
This was none other than the heart of the Grand Temple—the deepest sanctum within the Temple of Light.
If I recalled correctly, its official name was the Corridor of Starlight.
Even Emperor Alexander is famously known for being unable to enter this place easily, yet Ferdinand gets in with just a single word.
Even the haughty high priests were practically tripping over themselves to stay close to Ferdinand, fussing over his health.
“Your Highness, to think you would visit us again… How are you feeling? We have been deeply concerned.”
“How long will you be staying? Please, stay as long as you like and get some proper rest.”
“Then again, Your Highness is a very busy man… Still, we are truly overjoyed that you have come, Your Highness.”
“Right.”
Ferdinand, however, merely gave a curt, indifferent response and kept walking with steady strides.
Wait, is that it?
To my ears, Ferdinand’s reply sounded incredibly dismissive, yet the high priests looked positively radiant.
In other words…
He probably doesn’t even give them that much of a response normally.
There was only one reason I could think of for why Ferdinand was being uncharacteristically responsive to the high priests.
Because I told him it was my wish to see this place.
As a coming-of-age gift, I had asked to see the ‘Sacred Relic.’
Its official name in this world was…
Han Ina.
The very same Fake Star that had ‘verified’ Corico as a true Saintess.
The Corridor of Starlight, where the Fake Star was enshrined, was immense. Moreover, it was breathtakingly beautiful.
The walls, the floors, and even the ceiling were made entirely of pure white marble.
It felt as though the stars of the heavens had been gathered in a net and preserved there; with every step I took, a profound shimmer made my heart flutter.
Angels carved in relief on every pillar blew crystal trumpets, each feather on their wings rendered with meticulous, lifelike detail.
It was so beautiful that I fell into a dazed suspicion that real angels had descended and nested within the marble.
The vast space itself felt like a divine realm cradling infinite stars—so holy that no evil could ever dare to intrude.
And in the center of it all…
There was Han Ina.
Resting delicately inside a precious box atop a shimmering altar that was undoubtedly made of pure silver… Han Ina.
This feels gross.
I’ll just keep calling it the Fake Star.
Like a noblewoman marveling at a legendary relic, I stopped at an appropriate distance and stared quietly at the Fake Star.
I’m certain.
It was shockingly identical to the early version of Kim Ddong-byul. Right down to the tiniest details.
Staring at that bizarre foreign object named Han Ina—which was terrifyingly similar to Kim Ddong-byul—I checked off my thoughts one by one.
First: Corico is wearing the mask of Han Ina.
Second: Her reason is to kill me and become me.
Third: That Fake Star, which looks like an early version of Kim Ddong-byul, exists for Corico’s sake.
Therefore, the conclusion I could draw was…
I just have to get rid of it!
But how? Was I supposed to smash it right here?
This was the heart of the Grand Temple. Since it housed an incredibly precious sacred relic, even Ferdinand had to undergo a light inspection of his belongings.
So, what about me? A female priest had come and even performed a light pat-down.
It was only thanks to Ferdinand’s cold gaze that it stopped there; if I had been just any noble who got lucky enough to visit, they probably would have stripped me naked to check before letting me in.
This meant there was absolutely no way I could have snuck in something like a hammer.
“Grand Princess. You seem very interested in the sacred relic.”
Just then, a high priest spoke to me. It was only for a split second, but I saw it—a clear flash of wariness in his eyes.
I replied with a smile.
“My cousin became the Saintess, didn’t she? In a way, I can’t help but stare in awe, wondering if the Saintess and that relic are connected.”
When I mentioned Corico, the high priest gave a thin smile.
“Many nobles wish to see this relic in person. It seems the Grand Princess has been blessed with good fortune.”
“His Highness is only ever kind to me, after all.”
“…!”
The high priest’s gaze shifted slightly at my meaningful addition. I had said it specifically so our relationship would sound suggestive.
“Ahem… Grand Princess. If there is anything uncomfortable, please do not hesitate to let us know.”
“Thank you.”
Just as I intended, the high priest’s behavior became much more cautious. I shifted my gaze while maintaining my smile.
Does this high priest know, too? That the Temple is kidnapping children.
Whether he knew or not, everything said today would surely be reported to the High Priests.
And if they are High Priests, they definitely know about using children as sacrifices.
There was no way the top leadership was unaware.
That means they’ve been connected to Corico from the start.
I laughed inwardly with malice.
Just you wait. I’m going to screw you all over.
I had worn a very extravagant dress today. Of course, I hadn’t forgotten to drape a layer of white lace over it to express a sense of holiness befitting the Grand Temple’s dignity.
My goal was only one.
The Fake Star.
I was going to steal it and leave.
Contrary to my wicked thoughts, I kept a faint smile on my face as I observed my surroundings.
Since the security at the entrance is so tight, the inside isn’t actually that strict.
Wasn’t it the same in my past life?
The world-famous Mona Lisa didn’t originally have such tight security, but after it was stolen once, a double, triple, quadruple security system was established.
It seemed to be the same everywhere.
Locking the stable door after the horse is bolted.
This wasn’t just a truth of all times and places; it was a truth that transcended dimensions.
The Mona Lisa was eventually recovered, right? But this Fake Star won’t be coming back.
Because once I stole it, I would find a way to destroy it—whether by scouring every ancient book in the world or by shoveling hellfire itself!
It would be great if a quest popped up.
Actually, I had been waiting to see if a related quest would appear…
But nothing is showing up.
Come to think of it, while quests made my life difficult, they also served as a sort of guide.
So, when a quest for something this important didn’t appear, it actually made me feel a bit uneasy.
But what can I do? I have to go through with it.
Near my right waist. That was where a replica of the Fake Star was hidden.
And near my left waist?
There was another replica of the Fake Star there, too. But if you looked closely, you could tell the details were different.
In short, the one I was going to swap it with was the ornament I had attached near my right waist.
If you’re a wealthy noble, there’s no limit to how much you can decorate yourself. This is the first time I’ve felt lucky about that.
I said it was ‘hidden,’ but these double-fake stars were swaying under the white lace, just like the other ornaments I wore today.
Their appearance was such that no one would ever suspect them.
I suppose I could say I got some help from Corico.
Since a new trend had spread across the continent thanks to her becoming the Saintess.
“Brother Lisian.”
“Yes, Tulia.”
“I heard it’s a trend these days for people to make decorative totems of Corico’s relic, ‘Han Ina,’ and carry them around.”
Lisian’s eyes, shining like a spring, turned toward me.
“I want to make a few, too.”
“Let’s do that.”
“But one of them has to be made in secret. Is that okay?”
The smile on Lisian’s face deepened as he gazed at me.
“Of course… it is. If that is what my sister wants.”
And so, the secret double-fake star was completed. I had worried that the shape might be different while bringing it here, but…
My memory doesn’t fail me.
They were so identical that if placed together, it would be impossible to tell them apart.
It was proof of just how much I had glared at Kim Ddong-byul since the very first day…
I couldn’t stall for time any longer. I immediately activated the Benefit, ‘Super Lotto’!
Maximum luck!
Perhaps even Ferdinand’s luck as well!
As soon as the Benefit was activated, as if on cue, everyone’s gaze turned elsewhere.
I quickly swapped the object in my hand with ‘Han Ina.’
Cold sweat ran down my back, but just as I was feeling the thrill of success—
[System] Let
[System] Me
[System] Let me go
“…!”
Like a computer screen hitting an error, text suddenly filled my vision.
[System] Let [System] Me [System] Let me go [System] Let [System] Me [System] Let me go [System] Let [System] Me [System] Let me go [System] Let [System] Me [System] Let me go [System] Let [System] Me [System] Let me go
.
.
.
[System] Put me back instead.
In an instant, my vision flickered and died.