Chapter 114: Saintess Marianne (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 114: Saintess Marianne (2)
“Mari.”
Startled, Veronica murmured the name as she looked at Marianne. The weight of Marianne’s words slowly began to sink in.
“No, there’s no need for that. Mari, you…”
“Your Majesty, please. Let me do what I must.”
“…”
Marianne spoke in a reverent tone, her hands clasped as if in prayer. Veronica stared down at her, dazed.
Marianne had no intention of backing down. She, too, was someone who had only been able to step out into the world because of sorcery.
Just as Veronica blamed herself for Claudia’s disappearance, Marianne felt the same. She felt pathetic and weak for failing to protect her younger sister.
That small, fragile child was out there somewhere, suffering. Marianne couldn’t bring herself to shamelessly remain in the Imperial Palace.
“Her Majesty the Empress Dowager won’t be able to do anything to me, for I am the Saintess. I will go to her and demand to know the Princess’s whereabouts.”
“…The Empress Dowager won’t speak so easily.”
“I know. That’s why I intend to make a deal.”
“A deal?”
Veronica’s eyes widened. Again, it took a moment for the meaning to register.
“No!”
“It’s the only way.”
“Mari, absolutely not.”
Veronica shook her head.
Marianne was planning to return to the Temple of her own accord. She intended to offer herself up—to return quietly and become their puppet Saintess, doing whatever they commanded—in exchange for Claudia’s return.
Veronica did not want to recover Claudia at the cost of Marianne’s sacrifice. However, the determination on Marianne’s face was as firm as her own.
“I apologize, but I didn’t come here to ask for Your Majesty’s permission.”
“Mari…”
“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”
Marianne bowed deeply and then straightened her back. Veronica reached out to stop her, but her hand trembled and stopped mid-air.
The desire to let Marianne go and the rational mind telling her to stop her clashed violently. Veronica bit her lip hard, tormented.
“It isn’t your fault, Your Majesty. I’m simply returning to where I belong.”
“Mari, I…”
“Dia will surely return safely.”
Because I will make sure of it.
Swallowing the rest of her words, Marianne turned away. Once again, Veronica found herself unable to stop her.
*
“Whew.”
Exhaling a long breath, Marianne glared at the palace where the Empress Dowager resided.
No one had stopped her on her way here, dressed as she was in her formal Saintess robes. Though she hadn't made an appointment or even sent word, her arrival felt like a natural progression of events.
Steeling her heart, Marianne began to walk again. She had acted composed in front of Veronica, but her inner state was anything but.
I have to speak well. I must find Dia.
No matter how much she thought about it, this was the only thing she could do. Marianne slowly stepped inside the Empress Dowager’s palace.
“What brings you here, Saintess?”
“I have come to see Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.”
A maid from the palace came rushing out to greet her. She seemed quite startled by the sudden visit.
“Forgive me, but Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is currently unwell…”
“I only need a moment of her time. Please, ensure the message reaches her.”
“Mmm.”
The maid’s eyes darted around shiftily. She eventually asked Marianne to wait for a moment.
Marianne waited in the drawing room for the maid to return. Her heart felt like it was going to burst from the tension.
Will I be able to speak calmly?
Though they hadn't met many times, Marianne knew well that the Empress Dowager was a formidable woman.
If she didn't stay composed, she might be overwhelmed and swept away in an instant. The more she thought, the bleaker her prospects seemed.
“Um, Saintess.”
“Yes?”
The maid returned just as Marianne was mentally rehearsing the meeting. She called out to Marianne cautiously. Marianne turned her head and looked at the nervous-looking maid.
“I am terribly sorry, but Her Majesty the Empress Dowager lacks even the strength to sit up. It seems a meeting will be impossible today.”
“That’s…”
“I am truly sorry.”
“…”
The maid bowed her head, sounding genuinely apologetic. Faced with such an attitude, Marianne couldn't say anything more.
Marianne trudged back outside.
What do I do now?
Her mind went blank. She had come here determined to get Claudia back by any means necessary, yet she hadn't even managed to see the Empress Dowager.
Having never imagined such an outcome, Marianne was seized by panic. She walked aimlessly until she was quite a distance from the Empress Dowager’s palace.
Should she go back to the Empress’s chambers and face Veronica? Or…
Lost in thought, Marianne gasped and looked up when someone grabbed her.
“Why are you walking around alone?”
“A-Abel?”
Both Marianne and Abel looked at each other in surprise. It seemed Abel had been heading toward the Empress’s chambers. His eyes swept over her formal robes, which she hadn't worn since the ball.
“Are you returning to the Temple?”
“That’s…”
Marianne’s lips trembled, unable to give a straight answer.
That had been the plan, but only after successfully striking a deal with the Empress Dowager. She couldn't just go to the Temple blindly without a deal in place. Marianne’s expression darkened.
“This is actually perfect timing. Do you have a moment?”
“Pardon?”
Marianne was bewildered by Abel’s sudden request. However, she couldn't bring herself to pull away from the hand that was already leading her along.
“I’ve been keeping an eye on the Temple under my father’s orders.”
“The Temple? Why?”
“Well, for several reasons… but based on what I’ve discovered, it seems the Temple is forcibly detaining children and committing inhumane acts.”
“The Temple is…”
Marianne started to protest but quickly shut her mouth.
Thanks to what Claudia and Melissa had told her, Marianne now knew that the way she had been treated at the Temple was wrong.
So, Abel’s words likely weren't false. Marianne nodded without realizing it.
“I was originally tracking those children for a different purpose, but that place is definitely suspicious.”
“Suspicious how?”
“Call it a hunch. If there’s something the Empress Dowager wants to hide, I suspect it’s hidden in the Temple.”
“Ah!”
Only then did Marianne understand what Abel was getting at.
It was a classic case of it being darkest under the lamp. Most people would never dream of suspecting the Temple, the very symbol of purity. The fog in Marianne’s eyes gradually cleared, replaced by a sharp focus.
“I’ll go. I’ll go to the Temple too.”
“That’s a relief.”
Abel nodded and started walking. Marianne followed close behind him.
“I was planning on infiltrating the place anyway. I’ll need your help, Saintess.”
“How?”
“I haven't mapped out the entire layout of the Temple yet. First, you can show me the way.”
“I’ll help in any way I can.”
Marianne assisted Abel proactively.
For some reason, she felt like this was the path she was meant to take. Feeling a strange sense of certainty, Marianne headed toward the Temple with Abel.
*
“Mmm.”
I blinked my eyes as I woke up.
Since not a single ray of light entered this place, I couldn't tell the exact time. I only knew it was night when the demons told me so, and I woke up when morning came. The demons were essentially my alarm clock.
“Yawn.”
My body felt stiff after sleeping on the hard floor for the first time in a while. I had slept on the cold stone floor with only a thin cloth spread out, and my body—which had grown accustomed to luxurious beds—was not adjusting well at all.
Still, I managed to sleep because of the sheer exhaustion. If I hadn't, I surely would have collapsed by now.
“Dia, are you okay?”
“Yeah.”
“They’ll be here with food soon.”
“Mhm.”
Luciano had changed how he addressed me. Even if there were only children around, it was dangerous to call me 'Princess' carelessly.
Just as Luciano predicted, a wretched guard arrived carrying loaves of hard bread.
“Eat up, you brats!”
“Yay!”
The children scrambled to eat the bread as if it were a feast.
I took a piece of bread to keep my strength up. At that moment, my eyes met the guard’s again.
“You, come here.”
“Ugh.”
The guard stepped into the cage and reached out, grabbing me. He hoisted me up into the air.
“Dia!”
Startled, Luciano tried to grab onto me. However, the guard scowled as if Luciano were a nuisance and kicked him.
Thud!
“Ack!”
“Lucy!”
Luciano was sent flying into the wall. I screamed his name in horror.