Chapter 3
I was faced with the benevolent smile of Hestia, the heroine of the original story. Beside her stood her brother, Crown Prince Clovis, glaring at me with murderous intent. I couldn’t understand why the heroine, now inexplicably transformed into a lady, was looking at me so warmly, and even less why the Crown Prince seemed ready to devour me whole. Amidst this confusion, one thing was clear: I was in deep trouble.
* * *
Run. There was no other option. Just run. As the High Priest frantically tried to regain control of the situation, my mind was consumed by a single thought: Run!
“Ahem, ahem. The fervor of youth is truly a sight to behold. Ahem, ahem. However, personal matters are best discussed in private after the official ceremony has concluded. Sir Seikan Perdian, Reynard Mason, Helion Ziek. The three heroes who vanquished the Monster King, please step forward. Ahem, ahem.”
At the High Priest’s words, delivered with the monotonous cadence of a clockwork automaton, the three men exchanged glances before stepping forward with resigned expressions. The High Priest, representing the temple, began to read the sacred verses. His voice, gradually regaining its composure, calmed the chaotic atmosphere. As the High Priest sprinkled holy water on the three heroes and retreated, Crown Prince Clovis, his eyes blazing, stepped forward to deliver the Emperor’s commendation.
“The Imperial Family, parents of all citizens of the Empire, hereby commends the three paladins for their outstanding contributions to this subjugation…”
His recitation was flawless, yet the way Clovis stared at the bowed heads of the three paladins suggested he was facing his parents’ murderers. The gazes that had been directed at me during the commotion now shifted back to the altar. Seizing the opportunity presented by the diverted attention, I began to discreetly back away.
‘Had I packed everything?’
I’d given the others mermaid scales, a necessary precaution against accidentally consuming the Monster King’s blood, but I couldn’t rule out unforeseen circumstances. I’d packed my belongings, ready to leave the temple the moment they returned. Mentally reviewing my preparations, I slipped out through the back door of the hall and sprinted to my room.
Bursting inside, my trembling hands fumbled to overturn the bedsheets. Beneath the thick layers, a small, clinking pouch lay hidden. It wasn’t large, but it was filled with gold coins. Most of my earnings, accumulated by leveraging my knowledge of this world, were safely tucked away in bank accounts under assumed names. This much would suffice for now.
Today was a day of celebration, marking the Empire’s liberation from the Monster King’s clutches. It was also a day when countless people flocked to the Grand Temple to witness the three heroes. With my hood pulled low, a lowly temple worker like me could easily slip away unnoticed…
“And where do you think you’re going?”
My heart plummeted as the words echoed above me. Frozen mid-reach for my hood, I turned to face the speaker. He was a vision of sun-kissed golden hair and dazzling beauty, yet his expression was marred by a cynical twist. I forced a smile, my lips twitching.
“Ah, hahaha. Your Highness, the Crown Prince. What brings you to such a humble corner of the temple…?”
‘Get your royal carcass out of my humble corner, you pompous twit!’
My forced smile threatened to become a grimace as I looked up at Clovis, his towering figure casting a shadow over me. His face was creased with a deep frown.
“You didn’t answer my question. I asked where you were going.”
‘And what business is it of yours, you arrogant…’ I swallowed the words. This was a world ruled by social hierarchy.
“Where would I possibly be going? As Your Highness has so often reminded me, I am but a rootless, nameless orphan.” I deliberately laced my voice with a pathetic tremor. His perfectly sculpted brow twitched.
“This temple, which took pity on my lowliness, is my home. The kind souls within its walls are my family. I am but a humble commoner with nowhere else to go.” His handsome face crumpled further.
“That’s what I…!”
‘What? Going to deny you ever said those things?’ His past pronouncements of my lowly orphan status were far too numerous and vivid for such a denial. Clovis was likely oblivious to the sarcastic curl of my lips, hidden beneath my bowed head. Years spent in this wretched class-conscious society had honed my ability to deliver silent, rapid-fire streams of internal invective.
“Ahem… It seems you cling to careless words uttered in my youth with remarkable tenacity. You have quite the petty spirit.”
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