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Episode 37: Who Is Back? (II)
An hour later.
“Where is the temple’s last holy relic?”
“Well… In that remote place… I hid it, eup, eup… oh, I, eup, h-have to keep it a secret.”
“Is that so?”
“A-Anyway, why are you asking?”
“For the missing prince.”
Kiana responded with no expression and pulled out a new bottle of wine.
“N-N-N-Now, h-h-h-he is…”
“Now, a toast to the brain cells of the high priest, who is finally beginning to lose his sense! All the best to the liver cells who are overworked because they met the wrong owner!”
And after filling the glasses, she bumped her glass against Meyer’s.
Meyer sighed deeply.
“Ahhhhhhhhh…”
Another hour like that.
Kiana asked, holding her own slightly staggering body.
“Where is the h-holy r-relic…?”
“That’s right… Where, where is it…?”
With wide but dazed eyes, Meyer answered with a slur. Then, he spat out something unexpected as he blinked slowly.
“Ah… I… I’m not supposed to say it… eup…”
Meyer let out a deep sigh and glanced at the flushed Kiana.
For a while, Kiana slightly slapped her own face, as if she was not conscious.
Cesare, who had been quietly hiding, sighed inwardly.
He saw how much the two of them drank… he felt drunk just by standing still.
Meyer, too, was very drunk, and slowly closed his eyes.
Some time passed like that.
“To… my humble… abode…”
It was when Kiana slowly got up.
“You know what, Princess Prelai?”
Meyer didn’t even look at Kiana as he spoke in perfectly clear pronunciation.
Cesare’s eyebrows furrowed at the sudden change of atmosphere. Meyer was obviously a drunken old man, but his voice was strangely distant.
“There are some secrets to divine power.”
“…There’s a secret to every power. Suddenly…”
Kiana waved her hand in disinterest, but Meyer leisurely continued.
“It’s been a long time since I had a good drink, let me tell you my secret.”
“I, I really don’t want to hear it. Did e-everyone feel this w-way when I was talking about math…”
“First… Turning back time with divine power is not something a mere priestess can do.”
Kiana’s pupils, which had been trembling aimlessly, suddenly became clearer.
“Second is… Huh… I’m tired. Let’s talk about it later.”
“What sort of… absurd…?”
It was when Kiana’s eyes widened and her face became alert.
Meyer yawned and shook his hand.
“Everything, according to God’s will. Have a good trip.”
Kiana shrugged once and waved insincerely. Meyer’s murmur continued.
“Goodbye to the invisible guest.”
Cesare, who had been hiding his presence, flinched. Then Meyer completely blacked out.
─➽⊰
Kiana still hasn’t asked for the spy maid’s name, but it’s Alice.
Alice was nervously guarding the entrance of the tent.
After a long while, Kiana walked out of the shabby tent with steady steps. But as soon as she came out of the tent, she stumbled sharply, as if she has finally relaxed.
Alice hastily helped her up.
“It’s nothing.”
But Kiana didn’t look all right.
“I used to be involved in weekly drinking parties at the academy.”
Alice nodded involuntarily. The two of them did drink a lot.
At first, she wondered if she should have drank instead. However, having peered from the side, it was an amount that no one could replace.
“By the way, Princess…”
With a grimace, Alice softly said,
“In there, I felt like someone was watching.”
“Someone? I didn’t see anyone.”
“I didn’t exactly see someone either, but it just felt…”
“What, you’re speaking without basis…?”
Kiana responded halfheartedly, but Alice was serious.
Alice was proud of her innate physical abilities.
Even though she didn’t exercise much, her muscles were well-toned, her body was very nimble, and she was quick to notice another’s presence. From the start, this aspect of her had been praised by Kiana.
There was definitely a vague gaze inside the tent. It was just frustrating she couldn’t prove it.
Meyer’s shop was in a narrow alley, so carriages couldn’t enter.
“Lady Kiana, are you okay?”
Alice asked anxiously, having decided to use the title ‘Lady’ instead of ‘Princess’ just in case.
“Are you really okay? Can you ride the carriage alone? Would you like me to lift you up?”
“Ugh. I don’t need…”
Right when Alice was about to leave the alleyway, supporting Kiana, who was subtly staggering in her steps…
There was a sudden fuss at the entrance of the alleyway.
“Choose, choose, choose! For five minutes, a scarf for only ten shillings!”
“Five minutes! Just five minutes from now!”
Thanks to the event, the alley was crowded. Alice, who was helping Kiana, was swept away by the crowd at once.
“Lady!”
It was so quick.
Alice could have supported Kiana well if she had been as usual, but the situation was too bad. On one side, she was holding the large bag she had brought with her, and on the other side, Kiana’s body swayed like a sheet of paper.
“Hey, hold on! Get out of the way everyone!”
Alice shouted loudly, but people paid no attention to the two women dressed as maids.
“Eh?”
Unable to control her body, Kiana fell apart from Alice.
“Laaaaady!”
Alice flapped desperately as she searched for Kiana, who was quickly swept away by the crowd.
Just as she was about to drop the bag and jump back into the crowd.
“A moment.”
A very low voice came from the side.
“The princess is safe.”
Alice stopped for a moment because the overly serious voice and short tongue didn’t go well together.
“Don’t worry.”
Alice stared at the owner of the voice. It was a familiar face. He was the shady aide who guarded Cesare’s back last time.
“The marquis recognized the princess and quickly followed her, so if you go and wait in the carriage, the marquis will bring her soon.”
Of course, she didn’t know that his pronunciation was off like this.
Surprised, she asked with a slightly bewildered expression.
“What did you come here for?”
“I happened to stop by the Marquis for a while on business… … .”
“Ugh, all of a sudden… Why did the damn scarves discount start!”
Alice burst into exasperation.
In the meantime, there were many people buying scarves with happy expressions.
“Wow, this quality at this price… it’s absolutely free.”
“Selling this for ten shillings? Why should I leave it behind?”
“Hurry up and let the others know!”
Alice became teary-eyed after hearing the conversations of the people. It was already crowded, but it was obvious that it would become even more crowded.
She let out a deep sigh and stomped.
“I really hope something bad happens to that scarf vendor!”
As Alice watched, Ragnac cleared his throat.
“Keuheum, ahem!”
Actually, it was Cesare who had suddenly ordered the scarf sale event.