A place operated by the temple, offering cheap lodging to pilgrims who had embarked on their ascetic journeys.
Given that the temple was an independent power not under the control of the royal family, the Pilgrim’s House operated by the temple was also a place where the royal army dare not interfere.

“It would be safe there.”

Although it had the downside of only accepting men, there was a way around that.

Liz headed for a nearby store.
The store was closed, but when Liz knocked, the shopkeeper came out grumbling. He then quoted twice the usual price for the item Liz was seeking. There was no room for negotiation. Liz paid the asking price and acquired a white pilgrim’s cloak.

As she flipped it over her head, her gender was perfectly concealed.

There was no rule saying that being short meant one was a woman, so it seemed fine.
She felt a momentary tension passing through the entrance, but when she called out a male name in the deepest voice she could muster, the caretaker let her through without any further checks.

Relieved, Liz exhaled and headed towards her assigned lodging with a lighter heart.

‘What is this? All lies?’

That was her conclusion after spending a few days at the Pilgrim’s House.

The noble who had passionately warned her about the shabbiness and squalor of this place long ago was entirely fabricating.
Clean facilities, cozy bedding, warm water, and simple yet clean meals.

It was a perfect place, except for one thing: everything had to be done in groups.

But for Liz, this minor flaw was outweighed by a huge advantage.

Except for when bathing, one could not remove their robe here.

It was a rule born from the meaning to not enchant others and to focus solely on oneself.

While it might be uncomfortable for others, for Liz, it couldn’t have been a more ideal sanctuary.
It felt like a gift from a god, acknowledging the hardships endured so far.

“May peace be upon your heart.”

“May peace be upon your heart.”

Liz exchanged these ritualistic greetings with a pilgrim she encountered in the hallway.

Judging by the load they carried, it seemed they were leaving.

She recalled seeing a few men carrying burdens out just a moment ago.

Most people paused on their pilgrimage journey for short periods; it seemed rare for anyone to stay for days like she did.

‘I can’t stay here long either.’
Standing out was inevitable if one stayed unusually long-term.

Still, she could endure a few more days.

Hoping that the closing net around her would dissipate, Liz moved to the meditation room.

Here, one had to meditate after every meal.

A clergy member was stationed in the meditation room to confirm attendance, and if you skipped even once, they would come looking for you.

It was a bit of a hassle, but considering it as the price for a cheap hideout, it was bearable.
Liz entered the meditation room and greeted the caretaker just as she had that morning. After confirming that the caretaker marked the attendance list, she sat down on any available cushion.

The hall was empty except for one other person. It seemed that after the large group had left a little while ago, this was the result.

‘Well, it’s nice and quiet.’

Liz resolved to properly meditate this time.

She gently closed her eyes and decided to conclude the series of meditations she had been repeating over time.
When I first came here, I had no doubt that the Emperor was surely trying to take revenge on me.

But the more I thought about it, a strange inconsistency emerged.

Hadn’t there been plenty of opportunities?

In his own bedroom, at the vacant lot where I encountered thugs, on the Maronie Avenue in front of the imperial palace. At all those places where it was just the two of us, couldn’t he have killed me without anyone knowing?

Yet, in the bedroom, we had only engaged in trivial conversations. At the vacant lot, he had only saved me. In front of the imperial palace, he had given me nothing but a kiss, along with a painful history.
The kiss that had been sweet and melodious…

“Damn it.”

Liz muttered a curse under her breath.

‘To think such thoughts in a situation like this. I’m beyond redemption.’

Liz tried to steady her scattered thoughts with discipline to focus again on her meditation. But…

The lingering sensations from that day kept resurfacing; his soft words, entwined with her own, made it impossible for her to engage in any constructive thinking.

Her consciousness seemed to focus solely on peripheral pleasures.

‘It’s all because of that man.’
Suddenly, she was furious. She hated the man who had arbitrarily left her, after etching a vivid impression in her mind, and now had put her into this corner just as arbitrarily. She wanted to curse him out thoroughly.

“Jerk.”

It wasn’t enough.

“Scoundrel.”

Still not enough. She wanted to target her insults more specifically at him.

“That damned Hersis Castiron Roscarlang!”

Ah…

Even Liz was surprised by the name that had poured out spontaneously.

‘How odd. To think I’d remember such a long name.’
In the moment she was marveling at her own disbelief at the words she had uttered, there was a rustling movement from one side of the meditation room.

Only then did Liz remember that there was another pilgrim in this meditation room besides herself.

She could see him approaching.

Liz rose from her seat and bowed her head in a polite apology.

“I apologize. I must’ve been too loud, haven’t I?”

An unexpected response came back.

“Surprising, I thought you wouldn’t remember.”

The man lowered his robe.

Liz’s violet eyes trembled greatly.
A man with jet-black hair and beast-like golden eyes lazily folded into a smile.

It was Hersis, who had become the Emperor.