Chapter 23
“Adelina… you…”
“Oh, no! I would never say such a thing! Your Highness! Why would you even suggest…?”
“Is that so? Then you’ll go to the Imperial Palace for Hestia’s sake?”
“That…”
‘That’s not it…’
“Adelina…”
Hestia’s face fell as I hesitated, unable to answer immediately. Helion’s hand rested on my shoulder as I stood there, flustered and sweating.
“Your Highness, Adelina has never spoken ill of the Princess.”
“Unless leaving means taking Hestia by the hand on some sort of holiday, isn’t it true that she would have to turn her back on her? And by the way, why don’t you remove your hand?”
“If that sort of manipulative wordplay is the kind of political maneuvering you engage in, then I’d rather not learn it.”
Helion’s pointed remark made Clovis’s perfectly arched eyebrows twitch.
“Is that so? Such integrity. Admirable, my lord. However, if I were you, I think I’d want to learn my political maneuvering.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“A family like the Duke of Ziek, staunchly pro-Imperial, can’t continue to align themselves with the perfectly neutral Count Perdian or the unaligned, newly risen Baron Mason. Now, are you really not going to remove your hand?”
“If you’re trying to drive a wedge between me and my friends…”
“No, this isn’t driving a wedge. This is conversation and persuasion.”
“.…”
“If it were me, I’d choose one of the two, rather than remaining one of the three.”
I felt Helion’s hand tighten on my shoulder at Clovis’s cryptic words. He seemed unaware of his own strength, the pressure making my shoulder ache. I glanced up at him and flinched. For a fleeting moment, I saw hesitation flicker in his violet eyes.
“Stop it, Brother. I don’t think that kind of rhetoric is appropriate outside of council meetings or diplomatic negotiations.”
Hestia’s sharp words cut through Helion’s silence, and Clovis shrugged.
“If you say so, then I’ll just shut my mouth and leave. My lord, remove your hand and let’s be done with this.”
Helion seemed reluctant to leave, but with both the Crown Prince and Princess dismissing him, he had no choice.
Just before the door closed, two pairs of eyes met mine, each filled with distinct emotions: Clovis’s golden eyes, clear with expectation and desire. Helion’s violet eyes, clouded with regret and hesitation. Both were heavy burdens, too much for me to bear.
In the quiet that followed the chaotic confrontation, I let out a long sigh. Then, Hestia called my name.
“Adelina.”
“Yes?”
Her voice was heavy, her expression grave.
“Were you… truly planning to leave me behind if you could?”
I couldn’t easily answer. Hestia’s question felt like a massive ship, anchored by a heavy weight.
“…I suppose so?”
As I hesitated, trying to formulate a proper response, Hestia let out a short, bitter laugh and drew her own conclusion. The shadow on her beautiful face deepened.
“Hestia, I…”
“Let’s go to the Imperial Palace tomorrow at first light.”
Hestia ignored my outstretched hand and abruptly stood up.
“Hestia.”
Bang!
The slam of the door was as cold as her abrupt departure. The silence that followed chilled me to the bone. I felt like I had tried to cut the ivy wrapped around my ankles, only to discover the tool I held was not a knife, but a tightly secured snare.
***
To defy a direct order from the Empress, one needed the intervention of someone of equal or greater standing. The only person I knew who might take my side against the Empress was the High Priest. But I couldn’t be sure he would risk offending the Empress for me. I had no divine power, I hadn’t even received formal ordination, and as an orphan taken in by the temple at a young age, I had already received more than my share of divine blessings.
Lost in thought after Hestia’s departure, I slapped myself a few times and headed out the door. As expected, an Imperial Knight blocked my path. I argued, however, that it should be alright if I wasn’t going alone. The poor knight, flustered, had no choice but to follow me to the sanctuary.
“It seems you’ve had a difficult journey, Adelina.”
At the Blessing Fountain in the center of the Grand Temple’s sanctuary, the High Priest greeted me without surprise. Seeing his kind, wrinkled face, a portrait of benevolence, brought unexpected tears to my eyes.
“High Priest, please, I beg you.”
Tears streaming down my face, I clutched his robes and pleaded.
“I know this request puts you in a difficult position, but… I…”
The High Priest patiently waited as I choked back a sob, unable to finish my sentence.
“Please, let me escape.”
“Very well. I understand.”
“I, hic, what?”
Stunned, I cried out at his immediate agreement.
As I stood there speechless, the High Priest reached into the Blessing Fountain. With his large, time-worn hands, he scooped up the clear, bubbling water and poured it over my forehead.
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