Chapter 31

#031 The Last and Only (3)

A wizard?

"Is someone inside?"

A voice from outside, belonging to a woman I didn't recognize, called out.

It was hard to tell exactly, but she seemed to be quite elderly.

I took a deep breath and calmly reactivated the sanctuary.

A massive golden circle instantly spread out, extending beyond the confessional.

Thanks to the intensified light, Sadie's young face was even more visible.

"Yes, I'm inside. I'm not currently hearing confessions, but what brings you here?"

I responded.

The royal palace is not accessible to those whose identity and purpose are not confirmed, and especially the royal chapel is guarded by elite knights at the main gate.

There's no need to be overly cautious about someone whose identity has been verified twice. But...

"I came to confess. Oh, there's a 'Do Not Disturb' sign here. I didn't notice. Please forgive me."

I couldn't tell if she really hadn't noticed or was making an excuse.

Her tone seemed sincere, but there was a hint of lightness to it.

She seemed to have let go of the door handle, confirming that someone was inside, but I turned to look at Sadie instead of moving my hand from the door.

The child's eyes were still sharp.

"It's fine. The sign is small and hard to see. But did you perhaps use magic in the chapel?"

"Ah."

When I slightly raised my voice, the woman on the other side of the door muttered, "What's wrong with me?"

According to Chapter 2 of "The Teachings and Beliefs of the Church of the Lord," it is considered respectful to the Lord not to use magic inside the chapel.

This is a rather old custom, and it seems that few wizards follow it these days, but it is still the principle.

"I apologize for that. It was not intentional. I rarely go anywhere without using magic. Please forgive me, Prince Yeseo."

So, she knows I'm inside. I sighed softly.

"I will forgive you. But please be more careful in the future."

"Yes, thank you. I'll wait here."

"Wait here?"

"Since you seem to be resting, I'll wait until you're ready to hear my confession."

It seems her visit is indeed for confession.

*Tap, tap*

I heard her footsteps for the first time.

She must have approached using magic, which is why there was no sound earlier.

The rustling of her clothes suggested she had taken a seat somewhere in the pew.

I let go of the door handle and moved to Sadie's side.

The boy's eyes were full of dissatisfaction.

"Sadie, let's go for today."

I whispered.

"We can't be seen by that person. If you need help again, come to my room."

"Let's proceed as planned."

"What?"

"There's no need to perform the sacrament in the confessional."

"But... that's not right..."

The child said something absurd.

He meant that we should let the woman sit outside while we hide inside the confessional and hear her confession.

"We shouldn't listen to someone else's confession casually. It's supposed to be a secret."

I whispered.

I remembered that during the spring ball, when I was hearing the Duchess Sarnes' confession, the prince was standing right next to me.

I suddenly understood why Sadie was acting this way.

"Sarah Beliar doesn't deserve such consideration."

The boy whispered sharply in response to my words. I was momentarily stunned. Who is this person?

"Actually, I don't need to confess. I just needed a place to vent."

At that moment, the woman's voice echoed through the chapel.

I swallowed and slightly opened the confessional door to look outside.

An unfamiliar elderly woman with white hair was sitting in the second row of the pew, gazing into space.

Her elegantly styled short hair and luxurious green dress indicated that she was not an ordinary person.

Like the priests of the Holy Kingdom, most wizards in the empire are nobles or royalty.

Moreover, if she is really "Sarah Beliar"...

"My grandson is sick. I wonder if it's my fault."

The woman continued. I wondered if I should respond.

It seemed like she had started a personal monologue, and it might be better to stay silent.

Sadie, who had realized it wasn't a confession, looked at me with a confident expression.

Yes, listen, listen.

"I named my grandson. Even though he's a boy, I gave him a middle name that is typically a girl's name."

I tilted my head. This was certainly not a common practice.

In the empire and the Holy Kingdom, there is a custom of giving middle names that are slightly special.

When a boy is born, the middle name is typically a girl's name, and when a girl is born, the middle name is typically a boy's name.

This tradition originated from the ancestors' attempt to confuse the mischievous and capricious Lord, so that He wouldn't take the child back to heaven.

In this world, where foreign names are used, there is a clear difference in titles based on gender, unlike in Korea.

"Why did I do that... It was just a whim. The name had a good meaning, and it suited my grandson. I had some doubts about the superstition that the Lord takes children, but I can't argue with someone who says it's childish at my age."

She laughed bitterly. I leaned back and sat down, keeping the door slightly open.

"My daughter and son-in-law were happy with the name. Everything was fine until my grandson fell ill and lost consciousness."

The woman's voice was dry like a desert.

"It's a common story. The child is sick, the parents try to cure him, but nothing works. Eventually, the blame falls on me."

The last sentence was mixed with a sigh and barely audible.

I had recently encountered a similar story.

The faces of Cristel, the protagonist of "The Retired Duke," and her mother, Isabelle de Sarnes, quietly surfaced and then faded.

"Why did you give him such a middle name? Because of your mother's pride, the Lord is taking the child. I know it's not entirely true, but hearing that story... I felt it was the curse of the Lord. The illness of my grandson and the collapse of the family because of it."

Sadie exhaled deeply from behind.

I checked the child's condition and listened to her story.

"That's all. That happened, and I needed to confide in someone. The rest is up to my daughter and son-in-law. Whether it's an incurable disease or a curse, it's their responsibility now."

The rustling of fabric and the sound of shoes indicated that she was getting up to leave.

"Then I'll take my leave. Thank you for listening to an old woman's ramblings, Prince."

"Lady Beliar."

She stopped at my call.

Her emerald eyes showed a hint of surprise.

"You know me."

"It would be harder not to."

I smiled wryly and cleared my throat.

Sarah Beliar, the editor of "Biweekly Lieste."

A well-known figure in the imperial media, called an "expert on the Holy Kingdom."

The person who wrote a special feature on me last month.

"First of all... I'm truly sorry about what happened to your grandson."

She nodded slightly in response to my words.

Even without seeing her face up close, I could tell that the old woman's face was paralyzed with sorrow and self-blame.

"Please don't think it's a curse, if that's not too presumptuous of me to say."

I spoke carefully.

Even though it's a fictional religion in a novel, I didn't want to take the beliefs and views of the people living their lives seriously every day lightly.

"I recently met someone who was struggling because of the idea of the 'curse of the Lord.' I told them the same thing: I don't believe it's a curse. It's not just a comforting word; I truly believe it."

"..."

Sadie and I made eye contact. I smiled at the child.

"I believe the word 'curse' has that much power. Once you start thinking it's a curse, and once you start listening to such stories, you might start to feel it's the Lord's will and gradually feel helpless, even if it's not true."

"..."

The boy's orange eyes stared at me intently.

"Of course, your grandson is actually sick. That's a fact that won't change in the future. But... if you accept it as a curse, it might make it easier to give up. You might feel that it's the Lord's will and that there's nothing you can do."

I slowly reached out to touch the child's forehead. The skin, which had been slightly feverish, was now cool.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

"I hope you and your family don't give up and continue to fight. Try everything you can."

I was careful not to let my words sound patronizing.

I knew what a tragedy it was to have a critically ill family member, how the people around them could become discouraged, and how they could gradually recover.

"And I know it might sound strange, but... I believe that if someone is to be blamed, it should be the Lord. People who act with good intentions and live their lives earnestly should not blame each other."

The confessional was quiet. It might sound presumptuous to anyone listening.

But her heart was heavy and dark enough to confide in a prince she didn't even know.

I couldn't easily ignore it.

"Thank you."

Lady Beliar said to me in a small but clear voice.

She then turned and started to walk away.

Through the slightly open door, I saw the long shadow of the old woman as she left the chapel.

I slowly looked away.

"..."

"Sadie