A Painting of the Villainess as a Young Lady

Violet sighed inwardly and spoke.

“But what about me?”

“Hmm?”

“If Your Highness is safe, does that mean your companion is also safe?”

“…Who knows?”

Of course she would be safe. There was no way the crown prince of the empire would endanger a noble lady. Even if not, Roen would have made arrangements to ensure Violet’s safety.

However, given his response, it was natural for Violet to feel irritated.

She almost felt guilty for slightly trampling on his feelings. Violet wondered if accompanying him to the temple was also a calculated move.

Bringing someone he unrequitedly loved to a dangerous place, using them for political calculations—his character was truly peculiar.

At that moment, she briefly considered becoming the crown prince’s lover. If she were his lover, she might get away with hitting him once.

While Violet entertained dangerous thoughts, a bishop approached swiftly. It was almost as if he was running.

“Pardon me, but even as Your Highness is part of the Imperial Family, it is ever-pertinent to remain quiet under the protection of the Sun God.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

The bishop cleared his throat and began to guide them. It was impressive that he dared to engage in a power struggle with the future emperor. Meanwhile, he seemed very displeased when Violet didn’t respond, but she lightly ignored him nonetheless.

“Ahem, ahem. In the temple, secular status does not matter. What truly matters is a devout heart in serving the gods…”

It was amusing to hear such words from those who accepted donations so secularly. When Violet laughed, the bishop’s face turned red.

“My apologies. I would like to hear the rest of your explanation.”

“Ahem, ahem. The two of you have visited the temple to pray for the peace of the upcoming Founding Festival and the coming year. The first thing to do is…”

Since it wasn’t her duty, Violet let the bishop’s words go in one ear and out the other.

The bishop’s words weren’t entirely wrong. Underneath the gods, after all, everyone is just a mere human being.

However, if a devout heart was the most important thing in the temple, it implied that the bishop held a higher position than the crown prince in this place.

One who serves the gods and one who inherits divine blood—which of the two would be closer to God?

Comparing and pondering, the bishop’s attitude was clear.

‘He’s looking down on the Imperial Family.’

We serve our God with such devout hearts, so why should the imperial family, claiming to inherit divine blood, rule the empire?

It seemed like an age-old grievance.

“Hoho, the Sun God will always look upon the people of this land with a benevolent heart.”

“Indeed. The Almighty God, being the most noble, would never allow those who are not righteous to face the sun with open eyes and will lead them to the most miserable end.”

“Yes. For example, exploiting people in the name of the gods.”

“Fufufu.”

“Hahaha.”

The silent battle of wills between the two men continued. Violet sighed quietly as she listened to their conversation. She thought that if they came to pray, they should just pray.

After a long standoff, they finally exchanged formal greetings and prayers. Rajaden left briefly to meet with the archbishop. He told Violet to look around the temple, and she couldn’t help but laugh dryly at this.

It meant that a noblewoman who wasn’t even his fiancée didn’t belong in such a place.

Even if he doubted the temple’s movements, leaving her alone was too much.

Violet entertained the possibility of the temple colluding with enemy nations but dismissed it. Despite everything, it was a national religion, and connecting it with a kidnapping plot was too much.

Instead, she had another thought.

‘…Surely, he doesn’t plan to use me as bait.’

If that were the case, it would be the worst. It would be better to suspect collusion with an enemy nation.

Violet stopped her negative thoughts and slowly looked around the prayer room.

Thanks to the open ceiling, sunlight poured into the prayer room.

Except for the difficulty in cleaning when it rained, it was a space that boasted a sense of sacredness to the people.

And at the center of the altar inside the prayer room, a marble statue of the Sun God could be seen.

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