Chapter 9
On the last day before returning to Aster’s castle, I was anxious and on edge because I still hadn’t found the Holy Sword. I started openly searching every corner of the temple. The priests would avoid me whenever I appeared. Even the high priest, who used to greet me every day, had completely disappeared.
“Where the heck is it!!”
I shouted and paced the room nervously. Shouldn’t there be some secret mechanism hidden in a statue or something? At least under the bed? Annoyed and frustrated, I started stomping around. Thoughts of my debts, the allowance Leon promised me, and the money I could make all mixed together, making me even more miserable.
Wasting a whole week in this boring place felt like such a loss.
“What blessings for health? He’s ridiculously healthy already! And world peace? Who cares!!”
Crack.
Just then, the wooden floor cracked, and a plank lifted slightly.
“Huh? I’m not that heavy, am I?”
I crouched down and pushed the raised part with my hand.
Should I pay for the damage with my allowance?
Feeling like nothing was going right, I nearly cried. I was about to call Amy and ask her to bring the priests when I saw something shiny in the crack of the floor.
My heart pounded wildly. With shaking hands, I pulled up the broken wood. Since it was already damaged, it came off easily.
I found it.
In a small space, just big enough to fit a sword, was a long object wrapped in dirty, worn cloth. I was sure it was Aisar.
Holding back my emotions, I carefully pulled it out with trembling hands. It felt like all my struggles were finally rewarded.
I hugged the sword tightly to my chest. I wanted to scream with joy, but I had to keep my dignity.
Knock knock.
“My lady, it’s Amy.”
“W-Wait a second!”
Panicking, I shoved Aisar under the bed.
“Come in.”
“Ma’am, what the—?”
Amy and Mary came in, saw the broken floor, and let out strange sounds. They stared at me and the damage with wide eyes.
“I’ve been in a really bad mood lately. I got mad and stomped a few times, and… well, this happened.”
I gave them an awkward smile. Amy looked stunned, unable to reply.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“I’ll get the priests.”
Amy nudged Mary, who left right away. Amy came to my side and helped me sit on the bed.
“Amy, are you going to report my tantrum to Kalsen?”
I asked quietly, staring at the broken floor.
“What? No, never!!”
Amy was shocked.
“You know I’ve been really emotional here. Can’t you keep this a secret? I already made a bad impression… Everyone has moments like that, right? Maybe I just missed the Duke too much. He would be sad if he knew I was struggling.”
“My lady, that’s a misunderstanding. I would never—”
Even if she denied it, I knew she was reporting everything to Kalsen.
“It’s fine. I get it. You work for the Duke, not me. You’re just doing your job. I was a bit wild at first, so it makes sense he’d want to keep an eye on me. But… just for now, could you try to be on my side? Things between the Duke and me were just starting to get better.”
Amy bit her lip and avoided eye contact. I gently held her hand and smiled warmly. She looked at me in surprise, and I returned her gaze with trust.
“My lady…”
As she hesitated, the priests Amy had called came rushing in. They were shocked by the mess and quietly looked at me, bowing every time our eyes met.
“I’ll recommend the Duke restart his donations to the temple.”
At those words, the priests immediately looked up. One of them ran out—probably to tell the high priest.
Soon, the high priest, who had been hiding until now, arrived out of breath.
“Your Grace, are you injured? I heard there was an accident and rushed over.”
“Wasn’t it because I mentioned the donations?”
I said with a teasing smile. The high priest pretended not to hear and started ordering repairs to the floor, scolding the priests as if it were their fault. He was clearly trying to comfort me.
“The temple is quite old. Many places are in bad shape.”
The high priest said with a sad face.
“I’ll also suggest repair funds for the temple.”
Now that I had the Holy Sword, it was easy to say all this. Just suggesting it doesn’t cost me anything. And Leon would pretend to be clueless and handle everything. He’s the best idiot shield ever.
I watched the high priest bow deeply until he looked like a tiny bean, and I proudly returned to the main castle where Leon was waiting.
Your lovely wife has returned with the perfect Holy Sword for you, Leon. Get your money ready!
“Where’s Leon?”
He wasn’t among those welcoming me. When I looked around for him, Kalsen answered.
“He’s taking a nap right now…”
Did he have to nap now? I knew it was a lie, and yet I still felt hurt.
I suffered all week—even if my reason wasn’t pure.
It felt like I was the only one who had missed him. I didn’t want anyone thinking I had been waiting for him.
“Oh, Leon? Did it look like I was looking for him? Not at all. I’m just tired after all that praying.”
People gave me weird looks, and my face excited. Embarrassed, I ran off to my room. My lips stayed in a pout for a long time.
“My lady, what should I do with this?”
While I sat thinking how to punish the rude Leon, Amy asked with a disgusted face, holding the Holy Sword. She didn’t know what it was and only focused on how dirty the cloth wrapping it was.
Luckily, she didn’t ask where it came from. She had treated it like trash since packing it at the temple and even tried to hide it under the bed. I had to stop her and bring it myself.
“Put it on the desk. And tell everyone not to touch it without my permission.”
I waited in my room for Leon to call me, but even as it got dark, there was no sign of him.
“Amy, the Duke’s nap seems a bit long. Could you check if he’s awake? And ask when he’ll be having dinner.”
Amy soon returned, but her face didn’t look good.
Worried, I looked at her.
“The Duke woke up a while ago. He’s in the study with Sir Brook… and he said to eat dinner alone.”
