Chapter 295: The Temple of Boundaries (3)
“Crown princess Elise is inside the temple. We will arrange a meeting as quickly as possible.”
That was all Vicarius Generalis Ronald Rupert explained. I immediately understood what that meant. Elise was also a guest here so she had no reason to come greet us. She probably wanted to meet Prince Jesse as quickly as possible, but she had her dignity as a princess and protocol she needed to follow.
Maybe she was at a window right now looking at us.
‘I hope she can at least relax a little.’
“Please come inside and get some rest. You must be tired after traveling so far.”
“Thank you very much,” I answered.
The Imperial Crown Prince punk just flicked his chin. The Vicarius Generalis seemed unbothered as if he expected this. I was the only one embarrassed even though the punk was always like this. But I now knew that he was like this because he was shy.
‘I also know that he reacts differently to those he is close to…… Although it doesn’t show very much.’
“We greet the Honorable Cardinal Ronald Rupert.”
“Welcome. I’ve heard a lot of stories about the two of you. May your daughter and your granddaughter be blessed.”
Viscount Rambouillet and his family then greeted the old man. The Vicarius Generalis ended the short greeting by saying words of blessing toward Isabelle and Christelle. Judging from what I could pick up, he seemed to be consoling the mother and daughter duo for the ‘Duke Simon de Sarnez incident.’
Joanne and Sand bowed toward him as well. The artist was a bit stiff but managed to do what she needed while the priest showed some surprisingly elegant movements.
‘I guess the youngest young master of a major family under the Vatican really is different.’
“Welcome, Priest Roosegaarde. Your father is waiting for you.”
Sand’s face turned unsettled. ‘I guess he doesn’t like being called by his former last name.’
“Yes, yes your Eminence……”
“Welcome.”
The Vicarius Generalis then looked at a spot. An odd silence flowed for a moment. I became confused and turned to look.
‘Oops.’
“……”
“……”
It was Sir Johann. This was the first time I learned that he could make such a cold expression. He looked quite sad the day he attacked me, so it was very different from the look on his face right now. His mint-colored eyes felt as cold as ice. The corners of his eyes were curled up but he did not seem to be smiling. The Holy Knight slowly opened his mouth.
“It has been a long time, your Eminence, Cardinal Ronald.”
“……Yes. You look well.”
That was the end. Before the suffocatingly awkward atmosphere continued…
“Your Eminence.”
One of the Vicarius Generalis’ deacons called out to him. Just like that, the tension was broken. The Cardinal finally looked away from Sir Johann and looked at us. His deep eyes showed no emotions at all. He was as cold as if he was made of marble. He resembled the sculptures of the past Popes decorating the outside of the temple.
“Welcoem to the home of his Holiness, the Pope.”
The old man moved and led the way. I did my best not to be tense and looked behind me. Tithé, who Christelle was hugging, looked teary. The red pandas looked very scared as well. ‘Aigoo.’
*
‘I think anybody living in a place will end up becoming emotionless. Or go crazy.’
– Click, click, click.
“Mm……”
It was transparent on all sides. I was not exaggerating, it really was that way. Our faces were clearly visible on the walls and the floor. The deacon, who saw the look on my face, confirmed that what I was thinking was correct.
It was shocking. The inside of the temple, which was completely made of marble, was covered in Holy stones as clear as glass instead of anti-magic stones like the Riester Empress Palace. As people who knew how holy stones were made, we couldn’t help but get chills.
The ivory-color of the marble pierced through the holy stones to gently glow. The thick and black branches of the World Tree were wrapping around things as if they were tumors. It was an extremely bizarre image.
“I’m sure you are tired so I will escort you to your room right away.”
“Thank you very much.” My voice and my footsteps echoed.
The interior of the temple also gave off a feeling that suppressed people. It was extremely dazzling, decorated in amethyst and gold. It was so extremely tall and wide that it was hard to feel like this was a house. It felt inconsistent because there weren’t many people, but the chandeliers and candles were extremely elaborate.
To repeat myself again, even the grandest of them all, the Riester Imperial Palace, was not like this. They were both just as luxurious, but that place was always…… Full of vitality and warmth. I suddenly missed the place. It was kind of funny.
“Wow.”
There were large angels sculpted on the eight marble pillars cutting across the lobby. They were similar to the sculptures we saw in Hanan Rumayyan’s ancient Tomb. However, they looked so vividly alive that they looked ready to burst out of the pillars and fly up at any moment.
The four pillars on the left symbolized the Blessing of the Blue Sea, the Sword of Wisdom from the Flaming Star, the Ark of the Wind Deity, and the Sacred Bow of the Tree of Life. I brushed past it at the time because everything was so hectic, but the angels in the Zaum Ruins had been the same.
Then the four to the right were probably the divine items of the Holy Kingdom……
“We have prepared some baths for everyone. Breakfast will be delivered to your room at your desired time. Please inform any of the deacons if you need anything else.”
“Yes. Thank you for taking such good care of us.”
“Furthermore, I must inform you that it would be difficult to casually chat with her Royal Highness. We ask for your understanding, as it is to prevent any unforeseeable friction between the two nations. Of course, we have informed her Royal Highness about the arrival of the VIPs from the Empire.”
“We understand.” I was the only one answering. We then walked in silence.
Silence until we walked through the cold lobby and past the eerie hallway to the guest rooms.
*
I didn’t even remember how I fell asleep. I clearly remembered telling the Viscount, his wife, and Isabelle good night, but then everything was a blur. I felt like my big brother appeared in my dream. He was laughing out loud. ‘No, was he crying?’
– Chh!
“Your highness, please wake up. Prince Jesse!”
“Oo……”
I hugged the red pandas and turned around. I would have usually gotten up quickly, but I must have been tired from not sleeping well on top of the carriage as my eyes did not want to open.
“Kiii.” Rhea, who woke up early, stepped on my back and climbed up.
‘Ugh, well, as long as you are healthy and happy……’
“Ganael, thirty more minutes please.”
“I’m Christelle, not Ganael. There’s a pilgrimage procession passing by outside! Let’s go watch it together!”
Flash! I quickly sat up and pulled the blanket up to my neck. The red pandas fell off and curled up. I could see the main character right in front of me with her hair down. She was wearing white pajamas with Tithé on her back. I was so flustered that I checked my own clothes. I was also in pajamas.
‘I must have somehow changed before I fell asleep.’ I quickly brought my sleeve up to my nose. My body, which had smelled like sand yesterday, was giving off a faint scent of an unfamiliar soap.
‘The Jung Yeseo of last night was a good boy in many ways. Wait, that’s not the issue right now!’
“How did you get in my bedroom-”
“Oh, come on, your highness. Why does that matter when we slept together in the carriage the entire ride here? But more importantly, please hurry! The Holy Land pilgrimage procession is a great spectacle!”
“The pilgrimage? Ah.”
‘The pilgrimage to the Temple of Boundaries.’ That was the religious event that Sand was originally supposed to attend. I must have looked like an idiot as Christelle chuckled and pulled at my wrist. I put some slippers on and hugged Demy as I followed behind her. I was satisfied to smell the scent of soap on the red panda as well.
Once we got to the next room that we all shared……
“Did you sleep well, your highness?”
“Good morning, Sir Johann. Hello, your Royal Highness. Joanne.”
Gerrit’s dad, wearing a thin shirt, and crown prince Cédric, looked at us. Joanne’s hair was a mess and she was wearing pajamas like us, so I felt a sense of camaraderie. I couldn’t help but laugh because this was something we couldn’t even dream about in the Imperial Palace.
‘Well, the two of them always wake up super early. They look like they already ate breakfast too.’
“What about Sand?”
“He left to see his dad and didn’t even get to eat. Apparently his dad called for him from the moment he got here. A dad who is considerate of his son should at least let him rest for a day, no?” Joanne grumbled.
Sand’s father was Count Palatine Edzard Roosegaarde of the Venetiaan Holy Kingdom. Based on the things I learned on this journey with my friends, he was a meticulous and cold-hearted Cardinal from the royal family faction. He was also a bad dad who would line up his three sons to evaluate them.
I gently frowned. “I don’t know if Sand will manage to eat some food before he comes back. He doesn’t digest very well when he is uncomfortable……”
“That’s exactly what I mean, your highness. But please look over there! We can’t miss this.” Christelle pointed outside the window. The divine beasts and I followed her to stick by the window.
Joanne’s jaw dropped. “Wow…… How many people is that?”
“I know, right? I think it is easily more than a couple thousand.”
“I think it might be more than ten thousand.” I blankly answered.
The red pandas wagged their tails at the surprising sight. The endless procession was walking in the desert under the fierce morning sun in three lines. Only about one in a hundred was on a camel. I couldn’t be sure because they were far away, but half of them seemed to be wearing priest robes while the other half were normal people.
I could see a person holding a large wooden symbol through the steaming heat shimmers. Since he was in the front of the procession, he seemed to be holding the symbol of the Church of the Almighty God, the downward arrow.
“It must be very hot and heavy. Why are they walking like that without a sunbrella or anything……”
“They believe that experiencing pain will allow them to receive the gaze of the Almighty God.”
“Excuse me?”
We all turned our heads. Sir Johann warmly smiled at us.
“Most of the believers seek the attention of the Almighty God. They believe that a greater stimulus in their lives or a dramatic life would get her eyes on them.”
“What benefit is there to receiving her gaze?” I asked back. It took me a few seconds to realize that it was an extremely stupid question. Even if it was just for show, I was a Royal priest. How could I not know something like this?
‘What will your friends think of you, Jung Yeseo!’
“I’m curious about that as well. It is not something that is explained in the Holy Text or analysis.”
“……”
“But if you think about it as just greed for the god’s love, it is nothing special. No one would reject that.”
“That is true.” Christelle nodded and answered. I quietly thought about his words.
“Huh? Your highness, they seem to be playing instruments as well. Let’s open the window!” An excited Joanne started messing with the lock. Click, creeeeeak! My friends and I carefully opened the window and perked our ears. It wasn’t clear because of the wind, but……
– ♩♪♬……
– Buuuuuuuuuuuu……
It was as she said. We could faintly hear the sound of wind instruments. It was a deep and rich sound like that of a bagpipe. We looked at each other and laughed.
‘It looks like a scene in < Backpack Travels >.’
– Whimper, kiiii!
“Perry, that’s dangerous. Don’t stick your body out like that.” I calmed the curious and excited red pandas and then started to think. The hot air messed with my hair and my pajamas.
Tomorrow would be exactly one year since I came to this world. Based on all of my efforts to study until now, the ‘Temple of Boundaries’ did not only symbolize the boundary between the Empire and the Holy Kingdom. This place was called the same during ancient times, when the two nations were one. It was also the spot where the head of the Church of the Almighty God resided. Nobody seemed to know who initially called this temple by that name and why. That was why I naturally started to have a thought.
“……”
‘Maybe the ‘boundary’ is the line between < Quit my job and ended up as a noble young lady in another world > and reality.’
It seemed plausible considering that the divine item that transmigrated me here, the Paten of Wishes, was located here. In addition……
“A god’s love……” I quietly mumbled.
I did have some thoughts on the identity of the Almighty God as well. I’d been on so many travels causing issues or being the victim of them, so it would be weird if I didn’t have a conclusion yet. Someone who had omnipotent power in the QNW world and allowed for the birth of priests and Holy Knights. The existence that gave provisos and then took them back, who put me in dangerous situations before saving me… The woman who was watching everything… The foundation of a novel…
The author.
“The gaze of the Almighty God……”
I accepted that I, both consciously and unconsciously, put the Almighty God and the author as the same individual. I always sought out the author whenever the flow of the story did not seem good. I knew that the Almighty God was the one who oversaw everything in this world, but I lamented the author out of reflex. Furthermore, Percy even specified that the Almighty God was the one who was predicting my dangers. That was why I thought that there may be a flaw in my theory of the Almighty God being the author. Someone like me, who wasn’t even a reader of the novel, could not claim such an important setting to be true without proof.
‘Admah and Zeboim are places the influence of the Almighty God does not reach. As a result, there are very few people who choose the Almighty God as their figure of worship. How could you believe when you can’t feel the miracles yourself?’
But the Corleone vassal state stabilized my staggering thoughts. A land with shady settings that was difficult to show up in a novel like QNW that was rated E for everyone… Also a place where ‘ether does not exist.’
‘May the Almighty God be happy with everything you do.’
And the greeting I heard during the Grand Celebration of the Advent of the Almighty God last month. I thought that the phrasing was weird. I initially thought it was a pretty metaphorical greeting. But putting it together with the identity of the Almighty God, it seemed very straightforward.
I got chills at having such theories, but that was the case. If you think about it not as a new year greeting wishing someone else good fortunes but as something else……
‘May the author look at your life and be happy.’ That was how I heard it. And this temple pilgrimage to seek the gaze of the Almighty God could be explained in the same way.
‘Living a dramatic life could earn her attention.’ A character with a great narrative would receive the author’s love and end up with even more important roles. Maybe the people of the continent, instinctively, were seeking out the love of their creator. If I was right about the Almighty God being the author, that is.
……I wasn’t even a character in this world, but I thought it was terrible.
“Your highness?”
‘Wait a minute. I’m not a character? Is that really the case?’
“Prince Jesse!”
I quickly snapped out of my thoughts. At that moment…
– Plop!
“Eek!”
Everything turned black. I was wondering what it was before realizing he had thrown a gown at me. I scowled and pulled the cloth down-
“Did you sleep well, your highness? I come bearing good news.” A young Deacon was standing by the door.
I saw that Christelle and Joanne were covered by Sir Johann’s gown or a blanket as well.
‘Ah, they covered me up because I was still in pajamas. I didn’t need it, but thanks.’
“Hello. What good news……”
“The Vicarius Generalis has arranged a meeting with crown princess Elise tomorrow at dinner. How do our VIPs feel about that meeting time?” The child smiled brightly and asked. We welcomed meeting her tomorrow with open arms!
—
Translator’s Comments
Finally meet Elise!