The interior of the temple was meticulously restored to its old state. Even after about a decade, everything from the walls, pillars, doors, to even the small decorations looked brand new.

‘Looking at this, it feels like the two are friends.’

Considering that the Ariel Temple had poured an enormous budget into repairs, I realized that the unexpectedly close relationship between Jeff and the chancellor might have contributed to better relations between the temple and the empire.

That didn’t mean I regretted invading Randel in the past; it just made me uneasy to see the future built by someone who took a different path.

Step, step.

“Your Majesty, since it’s your first time here, would you like to take a tour of the temple?”

The chancellor, who had been talking to Jeff, suddenly walked toward me.

“Sure, whatever.”

I nodded nonchalantly. The priests in blue robes behind me must have been following for this reason, so I decided to leave.

‘The invitation from the Ariel Temple must have been a convenient excuse to bring Jeff in.’

I’ll have to ask Jeff later, but the chancellor seemed to be chatting only with Jeff, which I found amusing.

That’s because it was obvious that the chancellor had used me as a scapegoat to safely call on Jeff.

Grin.

Caught in a brief eye contact with Jeff, I almost retched at his disgusting wink.

‘Creepy.’

Goosebumps ran down my arms as I took a few steps back. As soon as the chancellor and Jeff disappeared into the conference room, I took a deep breath.

“Your Majesty, the Ariel Temple is famous for its beautiful scenery. Shall we start by visiting the annex?”

“Let’s also go to the garden while we’re at it.”

Thereafter, I strolled slowly down the expansive corridors, exchanging various questions with the priest in the blue robe.

Whether Jeff had informed him that I couldn’t run due to my frailty, the priest in the blue robe walked at an unusually slow pace, adjusting everything to my standards.

“This place is much bigger than our house and everything’s white!”

“It feels like we’ve entered a world made of clouds!”
The children, who had been quieter than usual, eventually couldn’t contain themselves and cheered loudly. To this, the priest in the blue robe looked at them as if they were adorable nephews, smiling gently instead of scolding them.

I considered scolding them myself but decided to ignore it, not wanting to create unnecessary trouble.

“Ah, right! Mom said we shouldn’t make noise in the temple.”

“Let’s be careful from now on, Sis.”

As the children whispered amongst themselves to exercise restraint, we found ourselves arriving at an unfamiliar location.

The architecture of the building seemed newly constructed yet also featured restored elements. What set it apart were the additional potted plants and angel statues placed throughout.

“Watch out there!”

As the children and I showed interest, the priest in the blue robe explained things to us in simpler terms. Suddenly, the area became noisy as multiple priests in brown robes moved a large cart containing a peculiar statue across the room.

“Hold on.”

I almost walked past without concern, but the statue’s face looked familiar—like someone I had encountered during the primordial age of mankind. I urgently inquired.

“Why is that statue being moved? It looks pretty new.”

“Well, you see,”

I knew the angel with long hair, wielding a spear skillfully down to his waist, was an agent of God. It was incomprehensible to see such a statue being removed in a place that held the divine in such contempt.

“This building was completed just a few days ago. During construction, an error occurred, and one of the statues was mistakenly made.”

“Why?”

The priest in the blue robe sighed as he looked at the statue, then turned his head to address me.

“The sculptor mistakenly thought there were 12 divine agents instead of 11. Including one that shouldn’t have been there created the problem.”

The priest in the blue robe cleared his throat and expressed his regret.

“The sculptor must have been trained in an isolated region, reading outdated documents. Until about 100 years ago, it was commonly misconstrued that there were 12.”

When I knew of them, there were 12 divine agents. Now there were 11? Had the spear-wielding angel left God’s realm like Lilith after my banishment from Eden? I nodded with a solemn face.

“I guess when you’re in a rural area sharing only a few old books, such misunderstandings can happen.”

Unable to reveal my true thoughts to the priest, I speculated outwardly about the sculptor’s mistake.

“Building a new temple comes with its own set of mistakes these days. Many records were lost in the last war.”

Ah, so this is all actually my fault?

I lost my words, awkwardly silent after having been serious just moments ago.

The “last war” the priest in the blue robe mentioned was the war of conquest I waged in my past life as an emperor.

“Beris, are you crying?”

“No, no! When did I cry?”

What now? I became irritable as the unsettling feeling I’d been trying to forget resurfaced. I swiftly turned around.

“I just remembered something I’d been trying to forget.”

“What was it?”

Why are you about to cry now!

“It’s a secret!”

“Come on, tell me!”

If they had actually started whining there, I would’ve definitely had a word or two for them. I pouted my lips while watching the siblings running ahead and Carlisle chasing after them.

“Your Majesty, the Emperor is looking for you.”

Then it happened.

“He says the sun is setting soon and you should quickly return.”

“I was planning to visit the courtyard, but it can’t be helped. I understand, let’s go.”

A priest in a dark beige robe appeared and informed me that Jeph was looking for me.

“Please tell the Viceroy to send another invitation next time.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Great! Eager to leave, I had the blue-robed priest relay my formal, yet ample compliments to Ronowae, Beris, and Carlisle. We quickly exited and exchanged farewells with the regent before boarding the carriage.

Clatter, clatter[Dash].

Perhaps because the afternoon had long passed, time had already approached evening, dyeing the sky a shade of crimson.

‘That Beris, he hasn’t looked well since visiting the temple.’

Has his state of mind changed since the angel statue?

I didn’t think he was the type to make such a serious and solemn face, but fearing he might catch my gaze and turn his head, I quickly looked out the window.