Surely There's One to the Princess' Taste (9 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 12

After checking Papier’s status window, Prodia felt as if her breath had been completely knocked out of her.

‘Capturing hearts…?’

Only now could she finally understand.

Why her heartbeat had risen the moment she saw his face, unlike ever before.

‘Of course! He’s got such a ridiculous skill equipped!’

If even her own dried-up heart started pounding, this was clearly no ordinary stat.

But there was a usage restriction?

‘Then just how strong will it be once the restriction is lifted…?’

Instantly, a blueprint began forming in Prodia’s mind.

Irtis on stage hitting a three-octave high note, becoming the audience’s ear-boyfriend.

Then Papier unleashing his skill to capture their hearts…

Just imagining it sent shivers down her spine.

She could already picture the two men reigning over their fans’ affections.

But there was still one more crucial thing left.

Check the karma status window.

‘It’s probably a jackpot even without looking.’

Just as Prodia was about to flip to the next page of the status window—

Papier suddenly widened his eyes and asked her, staring straight at her.

“Um… but how did you, Miss Devotee, even know I was here and come find me?”

‘Huh?’

What was he talking about?

Prodia asked him in return.

“What do you mean? I’m meeting you for the first time today, Reverend.”

Papier flinched in surprise and asked,

“Then… why did you ask me that question just now…? Ah, no, never mind.”

Watching Papier flustered like that, everything suddenly clicked into place.

She’d briefly lost her mind, bewitched by that innocent-looking face.

But now she remembered clearly.

This priest had definitely said something like this earlier:

‘…I didn’t mean to spy on you!’

Prodia’s head went ice-cold.

She stared straight at Papier and asked,

“Reverend, don’t tell me you’ve been secretly watching me here?”

“Ah…!”

She’d only asked just in case.

Yet Papier began trembling violently, as if he couldn’t catch his breath.

That was way too obvious.

She glared at him fiercely.

“Why?”

“H-huh! It’s just that…!”

He looked as if he might collapse right then and there.

Prodia was utterly dumbfounded.

Wait, he was the one who’d been spying—why was he acting like this?

She almost felt like a predator threatening a herbivore.

‘Someone this timid wouldn’t voluntarily spy on me.’

So had someone ordered him to? But why?

Yet the truth turned out to be completely different from what she’d expected.

Suddenly, Papier dropped flat onto the floor and began begging Prodia for forgiveness.

“I-I’m so sorry! I never meant any harm by watching you! It’s just… ever since you arrived at the Grand Temple earlier, I felt an unusual holy power, and I couldn’t help myself….”

Wait, hold on.

Since she arrived at the Grand Temple? So he’d been watching her this whole time?

‘Why on earth?’

And what was this about holy power?

At that moment, Papier, still sniffling, lifted his head and added,

“To be honest… holy power is still radiating from you right now….”

“What?”

That was even more absurd.

What reason could there possibly be for holy power to emanate from her?

‘I’m not even a priest—I’m a sinner destined for hell….’

Then it hit her.

The status window.

This priest could sense the aura of the status window.

‘Since the status window is practically a message from the gods to me!’

Prodia quickly dismissed Papier’s status window from view.

Poof!

Papier immediately turned his head this way and that, scanning the empty air.

“Huh? The holy power just vanished….”

‘Damn it!’

Her suspicion had been right.

But the moment she dismissed Papier’s status window, regret washed over her too late.

‘Mistake. I should’ve checked the karma status window first…!’

If she summoned the status window again now, he’d surely get suspicious.

What should she do?

But soon, her mind changed.

Did she really need to recruit this priest?

‘He seems way too timid—might not even handle being on stage—and besides….’

Something felt off.

Clearly, other priests couldn’t detect status windows. Yet somehow, this one could.

And of all places, the second suitable candidate just happened to appear in the Grand Temple?

Didn’t it feel like the deity had deliberately sent him down?

‘Hmm… having this priest around would probably feel like being watched by my boss’s direct secretary.’

Though he certainly didn’t seem capable of being a spy.

Anyway, forget it. She’d just give up on this priest.

It was a shame to lose that [Charm] stat, but there was nothing for it—especially since it had a usage restriction anyway.

Prodia put her fake smile back on and extended her hand to Papier.

“Reverend, it’s alright—please get up quickly. Seeing you like this makes me feel awful.”

Papier looked up at Prodia with glistening, teary eyes.

“Miss Devotee….”

“And hearing that you sensed holiness from me actually makes me happy. Truthfully…”

After helping Papier to his feet, Prodia launched into an impassioned performance toward the altar.

“I had a desperate wish—one only achievable through a divine miracle. And now, hearing that you sensed holy power from me… could it mean my wish is about to come true?”

Papier, overwhelmed with emotion, replied,

“Ah… now I understand! When one truly possesses a devout heart, the gods sometimes answer.”

Prodia did her best to echo his sentiment.

“So then… it really is…?”

Papier nodded excitedly.

“The deity must be granting your wish, Miss Devotee. To witness such a wondrous moment fills me with awe.”

He made the sign of the cross and knelt before the altar.

Then he began praying for Prodia.

“O Deity ‘Aido,’ bestow your blessings upon this devotee’s future….”

Prodia knelt beside him and pretended to pray half-heartedly.

“I believe.”

For a while, the two offered devout prayers to the deity.

Mid-prayer, Prodia secretly opened her eyes to peek at Papier.

Sure enough, he seemed to have dropped all suspicion.

Good. He’d let it go.

That was it. Goodbye, handsome priest.

[This is the timeline separator]

Prodia exited the prayer room together with Papier.

“Thank you so much today, Reverend.”

“May the deity’s grace always be with you, Miss Devotee….”

They exchanged farewells and parted ways.

The moment Prodia turned away, her expression instantly turned icy cold.

Just as she was about to head toward the waiting room, she spotted someone approaching from ahead.

It was the young priest who’d guided them earlier.

“Oh, miss? What are you doing here…? Huh?”

The young priest’s gaze landed on Papier in the distance.

He rushed toward Prodia with a startled look.

“Miss, don’t tell me you’ve been with him this whole time?”

His eyes sparkled brightly as he asked.

It was obvious at a glance.

That priest named Papier must be quite popular here at the Grand Temple.

‘Maybe I should dig a little deeper into who he really is.’

Prodia asked calmly,

“Yes, that’s right. Do you know him?”

“Oh! You didn’t know? He’s none other than the famous Senior Priest ‘Dopher’!”

‘Huh? His name isn’t Papier?’

Right—priests addressed each other by baptismal names.

But a priest with the baptismal name Dopher…

‘I’m sure I’ve heard that name somewhere before…?’

But her curiosity was soon satisfied.

The young priest explained with such enthusiasm he practically snorted.

“I myself became a priest inspired by Dopher. If I were to tell you his stories, he’s practically a walking miracle…!”

Wait—walking miracle…?

‘In this empire, there’s only one person called a walking miracle!’

She finally remembered who he was.

At the same time, Prodia’s face went pale.

The unprecedented miracle-working priest of the empire.

The one born with the strongest holy power in recorded history.

The Senior Priest Dopher, rumored to be the next High Priest!

‘Damn status window! You should’ve shown his baptismal name too—how am I supposed to know with just his given name!’

That meant Papier currently possessed the strongest holy power in this world.

Of course he could sense the aura of status windows.

Prodia’s heart pounded.

She’d nearly tried to recruit such a famous figure—thank goodness she’d given up quickly.

Just then, she caught the young priest’s eye and realized her mistake.

She quickly composed herself and said smoothly,

“Oh dear—I didn’t realize. He never mentioned his baptismal name, so I had no idea.”

“Huh…?”

The young priest asked in surprise,

“Don’t tell me… you actually spoke with him?”

“Yes. Why…?”

Had she made a mistake?

But the young priest’s face grew even more flushed with excitement.

“R-really? If it’s not too rude… may I ask what you talked about? You might be the first devotee ever to have spoken with him!”

Prodia was surprised too.

“The first?”

“Yes! He’s very shy and usually keeps to himself. Among us, only a handful have ever spoken with him.”

“Oh.”

Now she got it.

Zero social skills, maxed-out stats—promoted purely on ability, huh?

‘Then I probably don’t need to worry.’

He wouldn’t go around blabbing about her. Perfect.

Prodia gave the young priest a vague answer.

“We only exchanged greetings. He seemed very busy.”

“Oh… I see.”

The young priest looked slightly disappointed.

Just then—

Suddenly, a voice echoed inside Prodia’s head.

[…Prodia.]

It was Irtis’s telepathy.

She quickly bid farewell to the young priest and moved away.

Walking down the empty corridor, she sent a telepathic reply.

‘Yes, I hear you.’

[Everything alright? I just finished confession and am on my way.]

‘Did it go well?’

[Of course.]

Prodia couldn’t help but smile.

She could practically see his confident grin.

Irtis gave a brief explanation—thankfully, no issues had arisen.

‘Good work. Where are you now?’

[Everyone’s moving to the Grand Temple’s main hall. They’ll conduct the oath ceremony all at once for today’s arrivals.]

‘Understood. Contact me again later.’

[Yeah, you too—let me know immediately if anything comes up.]

The telepathy cut off.

No worries on his end.

The oath ceremony would probably go smoothly too.

Right now, Irtis was under the buff: ‘Life is fleeting—why cause harm?’

The effects of his mental discipline still lingered.

After all, “three-day resolve” wasn’t just an empty saying.

Anyway, now that Irtis’s condition was confirmed—

‘Better hurry back to the waiting room. Ugh, I’m too scared to even open my status window inside the Grand Temple.’

She quickened her pace.

It was in the exact opposite direction from where Papier had disappeared.

She’d been walking for a while when—

Whoosh.

Suddenly, a suspicious presence appeared behind her.

Startled, Prodia turned around—and bumped straight into someone’s chest.

Thud!

“Ugh!”

Rubbing her forehead, she looked up—and saw familiar golden hair.

It wasn’t a mistake.

It was Papier, whom she’d just parted with moments ago.

Prodia’s eyes widened.

‘When did he get here…? Could he have followed me?’

No, no need to panic.

As long as she didn’t summon the status window again, she’d be fine.

But somehow, something felt off about him.

He radiated a completely different aura than before.

And the strangest thing was the color of his eyes.

‘Red…?’

Weren’t Papier’s eyes golden?

‘Did I misremember earlier?’

Impossible.

How could she mistake such beautiful golden eyes?

Moreover, he hadn’t said a word despite their hard collision.

Quietly, she called out to him.

“Um… Senior Priest?”

But he just stared at her silently, without answering.

Hmm, this time it probably wasn’t about sensing holy power from her.

Just as she was about to call his name again—

He suddenly thrust his face right in front of hers.

Startled, Prodia stumbled backward.

Papier swiftly reached out, wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her, and said,

“Hey, you’re totally my type. Wanna go on a date with me?”