emperor chapter 24

“I’m so happy to meet someone like me. Truly!”

“…Yes. I’m glad to meet you too. It’s a pleasure.”

I forced myself to look away from her intense gaze. If I wanted to stay in Caro, I had a lot of misconceptions to clear up.

***

The work of an apprentice cleric wasn’t difficult. Not difficult, just tedious. Apprentices shadowed low-ranking clerics, familiarizing themselves with temple life. Low-ranking clerics handled cleaning and chores. Occasionally, they performed simple healing, but that was rare.

Real fieldwork began at the mid-rank. Until then, apprentices were stuck dreaming of adventures unless a free high or mid-rank cleric took them along. In terms of duties, they were practically maids. The temple employed maids, but high-ranking clerics’ quarters were off-limits to them, leaving the cleaning to low-ranking clerics.

High-ranking cleric Elliot’s private room. Parfait and I were cleaning. Opening the curtains, the incoming sunlight revealed dust motes dancing in the air. The unoccupied room felt strangely peaceful despite our presence. Parfait, near the table, spoke softly.

“Minette.”

“Yes?”

“Do you have… someone you like?”

I felt like I was on a school trip.

“I’ve finished the bedding. Just the table left.”

“I do. Someone I’ve… admired for a long time.”

“It’s light, I can manage. I’ll take care of the table.”

With a grunt, I lifted the table. Parfait pushed it back down.

“What are you doing?”

“I can’t tell you who it is, but……”

“No, what are you doing?”

“Anyway, I really like him!”

“This is maddening. I’ll cheer you on, just get your hands off the table, please?”

Parfait removed her hands as instructed. Then, with her now-free hands, she grabbed mine.

“When I first arrived at the Caro Temple, I was struggling to adjust… that’s when I met him…”

“Fine. If I have to listen for you to finish, go ahead.”

“Ahh! No, I can’t. I’m too embarrassed!”

What was with this girl? Seriously…?

“Tell me first, Minette! Then I’ll tell you.”

“Why should I? And I don’t have anyone I like.”

“Liar! That’s impossible. It’s been almost a week since you arrived. You’re telling me there’s no one you’re interested in?”

“No. There is someone I’d rather avoid.”

“Someone you’d rather avoid? Who?”

“He’s not from Caro.”

I wondered what Lowell was doing back at the Imperial Palace. I’d been in Caro for a while now. I’d even had absurd nightmares about Lowell coming to find me, but even those had stopped. With ‘Soo’ right there in the palace, there was no reason for the busy ‘Duke’ to bother looking for me.

“He’s someone I don’t need to worry about.”

“Who is he? Did you two have a bad breakup or…? Oh. I’m sorry. I won’t ask anymore.”

A bad breakup. I had told Lowell I was leaving, but we weren’t legally separated. I planned to formally request a divorce in a year, when neither Lowell nor Hillion needed me. Until then, I needed to maintain a good relationship with Parfait if I wanted to stay at the Caro Temple.

“It’s not like that. It’s more like… well, we did break up, but it never really started. Or rather, the most accurate way to put it is, it had already started when I showed up!”

“What are you talking about?”

“Sorry. I can’t explain any further.”

I avoided Parfait’s inquisitive stare. Would things have been different if I’d possessed Miniel before she married Lowell? If it had never started, I wouldn’t have to hide my identity so far away just to get a divorce. If I had chosen a different method to bring Hillion here. No. If I hadn’t read that novel in the first place.

Regret was like that. Once it took hold, it burrowed deep unless someone intervened. I was on the verge of wallowing in self-pity, but thankfully, Parfait was there.

“So, it’s a complicated relationship!”

“Complicated… Yes, that’s right.”

Summarizing it like that made it sound ridiculous. A relationship that would end with a divorce. A relationship that would be over if we just stayed apart. Maybe it was a simple relationship after all.

“Well, it’s better than mine. I haven’t even spoken to him properly.”

“Who is he? Tell me, and I’ll put in a good word for you.”

Just the suggestion of revealing his name made Parfait blush. Not just blush, but turn crimson, as if her face might explode at any moment. I could almost hear a poof sound. She lowered her head.

“No, I can’t. Minette… How’s your exam preparation going?”

“You’re so obvious. Making me talk and then refusing to share.”

“You didn’t tell me who it was!”

“You’d be shocked if I did.”

In many ways. Was it the dust I’d inhaled, or talking about Lowell? I suddenly felt a little queasy.