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How could I have attended when I had fainted? However, it seemed that the story had spread a bit differently outside. They claimed that the Lady, sensing an impending attack, had fainted and thus couldn’t attend. It felt unjust. I had memorized so many prayers. I diligently prepared for the prayer gathering, walking until my feet were sore. But in the end, all that effort went unnoticed.
Suddenly, the contents of the novel came to mind.
During the prayer gathering, Evelina had used the excuse of feeling unwell to avoid attending. Of course, no one believed her.
“Hmm?”
In the novel, it was not mentioned what Evelina did during the time she didn’t attend the prayer gathering. It would have been interesting to see if she had done something during that time that would make readers despise her even more.
Suddenly, that thought struck me. What if Evelina had truly been unwell? Just like me at this moment?
“Lady?”
“Ah, I apologize.”
Interrupted from my reverie by Latvan’s call, I slightly bowed my head to acknowledge him.
“Thank you for the detailed report. You may return now.”
Since opening my eyes and sitting up, I could easily spot Latvan wherever I looked. It seemed that after his collapse, he had hardly slept, wandering around to investigate the cause.
“But eventually, we still don’t know the reason.”
At this point, I began to suspect that the problem wasn’t really the tea but rather the fact that Evelina wanted to summon me, perhaps when she pushed me in that dark space. I thought about it as I prepared to bid farewell to Latvan.
“I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”
I expected him to greet me as usual and leave, but he didn’t.
“I heard you are scheduled to meet the imperial delegation tonight.”
“That is true, but
”
The prayer meeting, which had been suspended while she was unconscious, had ended, and most of the diplomatic delegations that were waiting for an audience had already left.
One could argue that they couldn’t even wait for three days. However, I was in a state where I didn’t know when I would wake up, and most of the delegations seemed to doubt the fact that Evelina had collapsed. They probably thought it was just an excuse for the saint to avoid meeting them.
“Moreover, it wouldn’t be wise to stay here when everyone else is avoiding us.”
Due to that, most of the delegations quickly gave up on the audience and left the temple. But not all of them had left. The Appelius Empire’s delegation, which I had expected to be the first to depart, was still waiting for the saint.
Initially, I had thought about asking them to leave, considering that meeting them would be difficult. However, I changed my mind about meeting them. More precisely, I decided to be faithful to what the saint should do.
There was only one reason to do something I didn’t have to do—it was my resentment toward Evelina.
I recalled her mocking me, using this body to taunt me like a starving beggar, shaking food in front of me as if playing a prank. That voice still echoed vividly in my ears. Even if I received such treatment, I couldn’t rebel. It was because it was true that I desired this body. If I wanted to live on in this body, I had to do as she commanded.
“But I don’t want to obediently follow Evelina’s commands.”
Anything would have sufficed. I wanted to defy Evelina. Then, something occurred to me. She was annoyed by my diligence.
“She said I was working diligently for no reason.”
The moment I remembered her words, I spoke to the officials. I wanted to meet the Appelius delegation. Right away.
Under the influence of her words, I didn’t tremble in fear and rush out to find a man. I certainly didn’t want that to be the image Evelina desired.
***
As the appointed hour approached, I made my way to the banquet hall accompanied by several attendants. Latvan, along with several other temple knights, stood closely by, poised and vigilant. The door swung open, and as I stepped into the hall, the envoy from Appelius, who had arrived earlier, rose to their feet and bowed before me.
The envoy consisted of three individuals. They had expressed a desire for a discreet audience, hence their minimal presence. Among the three, a man stood out as the representative, approaching me and gracefully sinking to one knee. In response to his gesture, I extended my hand, and he reverently brushed his lips against my palm.
His touch stirred a sense of familiarity within me. The soft, golden strands of his hair seemed vaguely familiar.
Of course, it couldn’t be. How long has it been since I last encountered someone in this world? Meanwhile, the man placed a gentle kiss upon my hand.
Typically, such greetings involved a brief exchange of lips followed by a respectful separation. However, this man lingered, his lips pressed against mine for an extended moment. His behavior left me slightly bewildered, and in that moment, a peculiar sensation coursed through my hand.
“
!”
Clearly, it was the sensation of a tongue grazing my palm—a sensation I had never anticipated. Startled by this unexpected occurrence, I saw the man lift his head.
Intense, azure eyes were fixed upon me. They were undoubtedly eyes etched into my memory. Where had I seen them before? Where
?
It was then that the man parted his lips and spoke.
“It is a pleasure to meet you again, Lady, in this auspicious encounter.”
“You.”
The elderly man who had blessed me during the prayer assembly stood before me, transformed entirely.