A Misunderstanding's Swamp
“I don’t know who else would climb to the very top of this mountain besides us. We’re not charging you exorbitantly for this repair, of course.”
“Naturally. You know exactly who’s fixing it. How could you possibly have foolish thoughts? I may be young and foolish, but I know there’s not a soul in this world that doesn’t value its own life. Don’t worry.”
I gestured as if to say, “Pay up.” Anselm pulled out his coin purse with a face that screamed, *This can’t be happening*. The priests watching from the sides did the same, their eyes wide with disbelief.
*What? Why are they all looking at me like I’m a money-grubbing wretch?*
Anselm was paying the money, but I was supposed to settle the repair bill later. That money was leaving *my* pocket. Everyone around knew it and was staring at me with the same stunned expression.
A burly craftsman emerged from the snowstorm, hood pulled low, only his eyes visible. He scanned everyone, then asked cautiously,
“Is this repair fee… not supposed to be covered by the Demia Temple?”
I widened my eyes in exaggerated shock. “What? No, no. I’m sorry, I spoke without thinking. You know I’m just a disciple of Her Holiness, after all. Who would I be to fix a door? I’ve never even been good at hiding my low status.”
I turned to leave when the master craftsman called out anxiously. “Miss, please forgive this ignorant fool for his poor manners. Is there anything we can do for you at the temple? Doors creak, roofs need fixing…”
“I appreciate the offer, but Her Holiness is very modest. She long ago left the mortal world to pray to the gods. I’ll accept your kindness.”
“Of course we know Her Holiness is like that. We accept offerings from our patrons, but we only strive to serve Her with our meager skills. Please, Her Holiness, bless us lowly and ignorant souls.”
The master craftsman pressed his palms together as if begging me to explain why I should protect my life. “Her Holiness, our temple head will be so pleased. May I introduce you to him?”
“What? Me?”
The priest was stunned, stammering. I smiled gently. Of course he should. There was no better mark than Princess Peitia herself.
“The temple head has no regard for rank. That’s why I’m speaking with you now. Come with me.”
“Ah, yes, yes.”
He dropped his hammer and wiped his hands on his trousers, following behind me. I glanced back at him. “Don’t be surprised. Prince Damien is with me too. He comes to the temple often because he loves Her Holiness so much. He even cares about the mountain.”
He choked. *Cough, cough.* Only then did he realize the woman he’d almost robbed was the Holy Princess. In Hamilcar, Damien Hamilcar was more terrifying than any monster. A monster he could fight. Damien, he would drop to his knees and beg for mercy. At least within Hamilcar.
“Oh, thank you, Miss. You’ve saved me.”
The priest bowed deeply, still in shock, following me. I stopped in front of the temple, turned back once, and met his gaze. He turned too. “Hurry up, you idiots! Start working!”
The tense negotiation suddenly softened. Anselm and the others stared at me wide-eyed. *What exactly did I do?*
Their eyes trembled. Even if I denied everything, they wouldn’t believe me. I left the Demia Temple and headed back to our temple, feeling as though I’d been struck by lightning.
“David?”
*Why is my second brother drinking tea with Peitia… wait, there’s no water at all.*
*Why didn’t you even offer a glass of water?*
Peitia was the very definition of the Holy Princess. Even if an enemy approached, she would smile brightly and offer tea. Though it wasn’t actual tea but herbal or fruit tea, the courtesy of offering warm drinks to guests remained. And yet my brother couldn’t even get a single cup…
“Arian!”
David greeted me with a face on the verge of tears. “You didn’t bring any money?”
“What?”
“You said you didn’t bring any offering money when you came to the temple.”
David blinked, looking bewildered. “I’m not a believer of Gerka’s. I came to see you. Why would an offering be required?”
That explained why I hadn’t received even a glass of water. Peitia, who had ordered Damien to bow to Gerka even while bleeding, had still offered him tea. And Paul had done the same without a second thought. Even the serfs came to the temple and followed basic manners. But if I said, “I came to see my brother, not your god,” would the Holy Princess still look kindly on me?
*How am I supposed to manage this emotionally clueless woman?*
I shook my head when Damien suddenly grabbed my arm, pulling me behind him and blocking my view. David’s eyes widened in fury. *What are you doing, Damien?*
I was just as confused. Why was Damien acting this way? I knew he liked me. We lived a rough life together. But to do this in front of my own brother was… well beyond the line. He was even doing what a fiancé wouldn’t dare.
“You said you are the son of the Danier family?”
Peitia rose and stepped in front of Damien. *Huh? Something weird is happening here.*
The priest who had come to the temple with me, excited to receive her blessing, stepped back in alarm. “I, I’ll be going…”
To be honest, only I paid him any attention. I nodded. “I’ll make another chance for you next time.” I gave him a regretful smile. He bowed and left. Even in his panic, he closed the door behind him. He didn’t seem like a bad person. Anyone would feel the urge to scam someone on a snowy mountain like this. Especially when the snow was already falling in autumn. I decided to forgive him.
“Thank you for bringing the letter. However, it seems it will take me some time to read it. Normally, the letter should arrive before this… unfortunate meeting. I’m sure the Danier family, with its long and prestigious history, will understand.”
Peitia’s voice was as gentle as spring wind, but today it carried a cold shadow, like spring wind over a dark graveyard. *What happened to our Peitia in such a short time? What’s going on?*
“How could I defy Her Holiness’s will?”
David said that, but his shoulders trembled with the urge to argue with Damien, who was gripping my arm.
I thought about how nice it would be to separate Damien and David and comfort my brother, but it seemed impossible. Damien’s hand was shaking. He was holding my hand so tightly he wasn’t letting go. I didn’t know why he was acting like this, but I couldn’t shake him off. Damien had saved me countless times— from monsters, from darkness. No one else had saved me so many times, even after we’d only just met.
Instead of pulling away, I intertwined our fingers. *It’s okay. I don’t know why you’re doing this, but it’s definitely okay. I’ll make it all right.*
I patted his fingers when our eyes met David’s. He looked like he’d seen his naked sister in bed with a man. The moment his eyes widened,
“We don’t have a room here for you to stay. For now, please go down to the village and come back in a few days. If you’d contacted us earlier, we could have prepared a room… Would that be all right?”
Peitia sent him away with a blessing. This time, David didn’t back down easily.
“Is this Damien of Hamilcar staying here at the temple?”
David’s pressure was terrifying. *Where did that threat come from?* I was about to push David when
“You send an immature child as a representative, yet now the Danier family wants to interfere with temple matters?”
Peitia asked coldly. She wasn’t intimidated by David’s pressure at all. She was actually overpowering him.
“If my rudeness was… pardon me.”
“It was rude.”
“I apologize, Her Holiness.”
“It seems today isn’t a good time for either of us. Please leave, Prince Danier.”
David left without a word. I felt a pang of pity for him trudging back down the mountain through the snowstorm, but I wasn’t worried. Even in a fierce storm, pure power would overcome a mage like David.
The moment the door closed behind David, Peitia turned to us. She showed no reaction to me and Damien holding hands. She actually looked at it as perfectly natural.
She stepped closer and cupped my cheek with one hand. “Arian, I don’t want to ask this urgently, but it seems you’re being taken away by the Danier family. There’s no other way. ……Are they treating you harshly?”