Chapter 66

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 66

Chapter Title: Palace Visit and Atopy

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"I'll come again."

"Please do."

After receiving Ceria's farewell, I tore the teleportation scroll on sale at the Magic Tower. When I opened my eyes again, I was back in my room.

The shredded scroll dangled loosely in my hand.

'What a waste.'

It couldn't handle distances over five kilometers or loads heavier than thirty kilograms, but each one still cost a whopping three hundred thousand francs.

Even Mina, who received an allowance fit for a great noble's daughter thanks to the temple's favor, had gasped upon hearing the price.

[Three hundred thousand francs... that's like three hundred million won?!]

I had no idea how much three hundred million won was, but I knew three hundred thousand francs equaled a typical noble lady's yearly bath money.

'And I used two of those today...'

My heart ached just thinking about how much I'd spent.

'But with the rift between the Empress Dowager and the temple now irreversible, this expense is a small price to pay.'

With that thought, I changed into my pajamas, wriggled under the covers, and hugged the doll I'd laid out tight.

Unable to prove his medicine was free of fault, Adolph was thrown in prison.

With the Empress Dowager and a temple priest entangled in the mess, it was only natural that the whole nation was turned upside down.

The Empress Dowager had awakened, but she was in no condition to move about freely.

Setting aside intent or accident, the fact that the temple had harmed imperial blood enraged the Emperor. Even the Pope stepped in to soothe him, but the Emperor's resolve was ironclad.

Adolph's public execution.

To the temple, it was no different from a bolt from the blue.

If Adolph—one of the twenty-one high priests, representing the lowest of Neriadism's three great powers: the Pope, the Cardinals, and the high priests—faced public execution, the temple's reputation would plummet.

But it wasn't just about reputation; this was tantamount to the Emperor declaring his intent to curb the temple's power.

Of course, the temple tried to pin it all on the Hof Merchant House to spring Adolph free.

With no evidence of side effects under strict oversight, they resorted to digging for dirt to blackmail anyone they could.

But from the ledgers onward, every preparation had been thorough—there wasn't a single opening for blackmail.

'Sweet.'

Observing it all, I chuckled inwardly.

I'd only aimed to drive a wedge between the Empress Dowager and the temple, but the Emperor had gotten dragged in too.

Adolph had snowballed the incident himself.

I scampered down the stairs and approached Daddy just as he was about to head out the door.

"Heading out again today?"

"Yes."

"Come back safe!"

My shoulders slumped as I spoke, and Daddy ground his teeth with a growl.

It was just yesterday he'd vowed to tear Adolph apart with his own hands, since our plans to play in the capital had gone awry.

With the Adolph affair, Daddy was busier than ever, his eyes barely closing. Great noble conferences dragged on daily, and the Emperor paraded Duke Duvered around pointedly—the temple's old nemesis.

I bid him farewell with a big hug.

Even after Daddy left, I lingered by the door when Lady Javelin approached.

She had business at the palace today too, to visit the Empress Dowager alongside the socialite leaders.

Seeing her, I let out a soft "Wow..."

Lady Javelin looked stunning in her chestnut trousers and formal coat with its plush fur, topped by a sculptured-brim ducal feather hat.

"Have a safe trip!"

Her gaze flicked to me briefly.

"Inside."

I replied obediently, "Yes."

'Yes! Eye contact for a full ten seconds today!'

Lately, I'd been diligently seeing Lady Javelin off whenever she headed out.

With her packed schedule, I rose at dawn each day, rubbing sleepy eyes to wave goodbye.

She'd ignored me at first, but now she even met my eyes!

Lea, waiting behind, spoke up.

"You'll be alone again today, Little One. Shall I fetch some books for you to read?"

Lady Javelin paused mid-step at the door.

"Alone?"

Lea answered.

"Yes. The young masters Henri and Ishak went to the prodigy academy gathering."

Ishak had grumbled but gone along with Henri. That was why parents fought tooth and nail to send their kids to the prodigy academy gatherings.

It was a chance to forge solid connections among great nobles' heirs and future power players.

With the family's various commitments, I'd spent most days alone lately.

Lady Javelin furrowed her brow, glanced at me, sighed deeply, and said,

"Prepare for an outing and come down."

"Little One?"

"Yes. I'll take her."

Lea and I both widened our eyes.

I never expected such words from Lady Javelin—I was stunned.

She handled the Duvered social duties and should introduce me, but she never seemed keen on having me tag along.

Daddy and my brothers figured social events would draw unwanted suitors, so they never pressed her.

Lea fumbled, "W-Wait a moment!" and whisked me away.

"Clothes...! Coat and outdoor shoes too!"

Lora and the maids, hearing from Lea, bustled about dressing me up.

I hurried back down to find Lady Javelin waiting.

"Let's go."

"Yes!"

I trotted after her and climbed into the carriage.

The ride to the palace was silent. Gauging her mood, I murmured softly,

"Um..."

"Thank you."

"For what."

Her expression said it was her duty—why thank her?

"You're taking me because I've been alone so much!"

I beamed, but she crossed her legs and narrowed her eyes.

"You're such a strange child."

"Huh?"

"You know I avoid you, yet you hover around every time."

"But it's natural for you to dislike me, Lady Javelin."

I tilted my head, and she asked,

"Why?"

"I'm the kid the temple sent. An orphaned commoner adopted into Duvered, tarnishing the family honor—and I even entered your room..."

I ticked off my fingers one by one, twisting her face into a grimace.

"Who told you that?"

It wasn't something a child would say, so she assumed someone had fed me the lines.

"Everyone says so. Duvered folks are supposed to hate me. I think so too."

Even at the seeding festival banquet, noble ladies had whispered as much.

Introducing myself anywhere in the capital drew awkward "Ah, that..." looks.

Lady Javelin folded her arms and let out a deep sigh.

"The reason I avoid you isn't because of you."

"Huh?"

"It's my own pettiness."

"..."

"Whether the temple sent you or you're a commoner orphan, that's no reason for you to be hated. That's adult business—a child bears no fault."

I stared at Lady Javelin.

Hearing it straight like that for the first time made my heart thump. My nose stung, so I fidgeted with my hands.

"Thank you..."

"Fix your hat. Your ears will freeze."

She turned away as she spoke.

I chirped "Yes!" energetically, pressing my hat down firmly to cover my ears.

Upon arriving at the palace, Lady Javelin briefly introduced me to the noble ladies.

Seasoned socialites, they refrained from "Ah, that..." remarks in a guardian's presence.

We entered the Empress Dowager's palace after greetings.

Pearl curtains veiled the bed, hiding her face.

"You've come."

The Empress Dowager's voice was barely a whisper. The ladies offered awkward words of comfort.

"How could a priest create such a dire situation, Your Majesty."

"With the investigation underway, those responsible will face severe punishment."

It was Lady Javelin's turn.

"Get well."

That was it.

'Of course—everyone knows her personality.'

So popular, her mere presence drew all the attention; they'd be satisfied.

"You've brought the Child of Destiny, I hear."

"Yes."

"Oh, child, come closer. Born under oracle, hold my hand."

The Empress Dowager extended her hand slightly beyond the curtains.

Even the socialite leaders flashed momentarily stunned looks.

It signaled her continued faith in the gods despite the temple's betrayal—even now, amid the Emperor's clash with them over her.

'She doesn't truly believe in divine power anymore.'

This incident must have turned her fully against the temple. She had nothing else to lean on but "divine" might.

A glimpse of angry red rash on her outstretched hand.

'Rebound effect.'

Once proven the Luminous drug caused her collapse, she'd cut it off cold.

Abruptly stopping Luminous worsened the condition beyond pre-use levels.

'The foot rash stems from severe rebound skin disease.'

She'd hidden it to conceal the affliction.

But at this stage, rumors must be rampant.

Sure enough, the ladies ignored the rash entirely.

I spoke without hesitation.

"Your Majesty, there's red stuff on your hand."

The Empress Dowager flinched and tried to pull back, but I innocently grabbed it with both hands.

"It must itch terribly, right? I know all about this."

"...What?"

"It's called 'atopy'!"

"Atopy?"

It wasn't common now, but soon it'd be a major headache.

Noble kids suffered most; the cause emerged only after I turned eighteen.

'Holy healing.'

Children receiving holy healing from the womb oddly fared worse health-wise than others.

Holy healing purified the body completely, wiping out nearly all germs.

Germs weren't all bad—they bolstered immunity and included beneficial ones.

But total purification wrecked immunity. It even triggered skin conditions like this, or kids were born with them.

Now, holy healing was rare, reserved for the elite. But later, temple affinity policies made it standard for most nobles.

'Hence the atopy surge.'

This was precisely why Luminous was developed.

"Does greasy food make it itch more?"

"Y-Yes."

"Worse in winter?"

"Exactly!"

"I saw it at the orphanage."

Everyone gaped, focusing on me.

"Good heavens, if it was at the orphanage, you were no older than five— and you remember?"

"Her observation skills impress me more."

As the ladies whispered, I subtly eyed the shadow beyond the pearl curtains.

"I know how to make it less miserable."

Whoosh—!

The excited Empress Dowager swept the curtains aside, revealing herself.

"Tell me, how?!"

I'll serve you well at a fine price, honored guest.

I smiled inwardly as I gazed at the Empress Dowager.