Side Story 1 Chapter 1

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“What do you mean close the door?!”

“Are you hard of hearing?”

It was not that the high priest really didn’t hear Dietrich, but Dietrich laughed at his precipitous face and even let out a mocking chuckle. 

At his response, the high priest’s face completely twisted. 

He immediately turned to me as if he had decided that he would not be able to communicate with Dietrich.

“Does my lady understand the Grand Duke’s request right now?”

“Oh…uhm…….”

‘............Read the room.’

Behind the high priest who questioned me, as if he wanted me to stop Dietrich, there were a bunch of priests who were sending desperate eyes.

I shrugged my shoulders, turning away from their ashen faces.

If I could stop Dietrich, I wouldn’t even be here.

‘That’s why you should allow the marriage while he’s still saying it nicely.’ 

The marriage of nobility, especially of great aristocrats such as Lagrange, was not a simple procedure that could only be accomplished by the agreement of both parties. 

It was first necessary to obtain the emperor's permission, and then to receive the blessing of the high priest.

Fortunately, the emperor sent a message that allowed us to marry sooner than expected, perhaps because first Prince Notte had been beaten by Dietrich.

‘The problem is the high priest.’ 

He, who had no contact with Lagrange, opposed our marriage.

The reason was that I did not have the permission of my biological parents, the former Duke Euclid, and his wife.

When I didn’t open my mouth, the high priest pulled on his long white beard as if it was stuffy and raised his voice.

“Our temple dedicated to serving the goddess Hella is a historic place with a deep connection with the Duke of Euclid!”

Whether the High Priest raised his voice or not, Dietrich did not even turn his head towards him but approached the statue of Hella in the center of the temple.

When he pulled out a sword, the frightened priests rushed up to him. 

“Your Grace! Are you trying to break the statue down right now?”

“It’s a sculpture with the power of the sun god. It will result in great harm!” 

Dietrich, of course, did not listen to the priests’ pleas. 

As he raised his black sword without hesitation, the High Priest spread his arms wide in front of the statue.

“Move.”

Fearing that he would cut the high priest along with the statue, I moved my feet but fortunately, the high priest’s neck was still attached to his old body. 

Not even realizing that he was testing Dietrich’s patience, he raised his voice with a squeak. 

“Even if you are a Grand Duke, you have no right to argue against the temple!”

“Then what about you?”

Dietrich tilted his head at the high priest’s words. 

Instead of withdrawing his sharp sword, he moved his wrist and aimed it under the high priest's chin.

“Who are you to talk about my marriage?”

“It’s not only the G-Grand Duke’s marriage, isn’t it? The other party is the Princess of Euclid!”

The high priest who had opened his mouth stutteringly as if startled by Dietrich's sword flashing in front of him belatedly began to click his tongue as if he was stunned.

“Ho! So, you're saying that the only reason you came to Vallandia and turned the temple upside down was because of the Grand Duke’s marriage?

The high priest touched his wrinkled forehead as if it was painful and sighed deeply. 

Behind him, the remains of the column that Dietrich broke when he entered the temple were scattered.

“If you needed my blessing so much, you could have sent me a persuasive letter……..”

‘Is he saying it’s something that could be solved just by sending a letter?’

My eyes widened at the high priest’s murmur. 

He glanced at my surprised face and soon began to walk somewhere, clicking his tongue. The marble powder that has settled on his shoulder continued like a trace.

It wasn't until he reached the huge door that touched the ceiling that he beckoned us to follow him.

“Before you get married, I have something to show you.”

Following the high priest who had a serious face, Dietrich and I entered the arched door.

A space with a high ceiling like a greenhouse was filled with strong winds as if the artifacts were operating to mimic being outdoors.

“Do not raise your voice as it is a place to pray to God.”

I nodded briefly at the high priest’s warning.

“........Do you two have to hold hands so tightly like that?”

Dietrich, who had come close to me before I knew it, held my hand as if he would never let go.

Still ignoring the high priest’s reluctant question, he strode forward. 

“It seems that being rude runs in the family.”

The high priest who looked much older than Josef clicked his tongue and pointed to a small fountain in the center. 

“That fountain is like a mirror that reflects Hella’s will to me.” 

The high priest’s voice was full of pride even when I first heard it that I had no choice but to bite my lips. 

“Although I supervise the marriage of the great aristocracy, I don’t give blessings recklessly. I will only proceed with Hella’s permission.”

“And?”

“However, Hella is against your marriage.” 

I rolled my eyes at the high priest’s sincere words.

Because that was not possible.

“Are you certain?”

“Yes. The color of the water which used to be so transparent is now this red. I've never had a marriage so opposed by the benevolent sun god.

The High Priest looked at me and Dietrich in turn, as if regretful, and continued, “You may be doomed to a catastrophe if you marry.”

“Hm.”

I shrugged my shoulders at the high priest's serious warning and slipped my hand into my pocket.

‘I wonder what expression he would make if I told him that Hella, who is sealed, is rolling in my pocket right now?’

“As this body serves the sun god, I cannot give a blessing without her permission. In addition, since you asked for marriage, for some reason the divine power is slowly getting weaker.”

Well, that’s a given. 

After all, I had sealed off Hella, the source of the power which they call divine power. 

I let out a low sigh to cut off the subsequent explanation of the high priest.

“High priest, Is Charlotte staying in the temple right now?”

“Are you talking about the saintess?”

‘Is she still pretending to be a saintess?’

I bobbed my head at the high priest’s question and pointed to the fountain where the water was gushing out with light red color. 

“Please call her. Because it looks like she’s the one who’s against our marriage and not Hella.” 

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Charlotte, whom we met again, looked quite different from when she fainted and was taken away by Hermann.

“It seems you cut your hair?”

When I pointed at her short hair and asked, she frowned furiously.

“It couldn’t be helped. The slime sticks and doesn’t wash off.”

I snorted at Charlotte’s remark, which seemed to be strangely blaming me.

‘Well, who told you to give up your consciousness to Hella?’

Dietrich ruled over three demons and never lost control.

Contemplating whether to tell her the truth, I eventually shrugged my shoulders and pointed to the red fountain.

“You are manipulating that fountain right now, aren’t you? Charlotte.”

“No. Why would I?”

She answered primly and raised her chin as if she had finished her business.

“High Priest, how long do I, the saint, have to step forward in the face of unwelcomed guests?”

‘She used to pretend to be kind.’

I looked up at Dietrich, wondering what he was thinking as he swept his chin with his fingertips at the stinging voice of Charlotte.

‘His aura is…’

Crap.

I slightly pursed my lips and grabbed Dietrich’s wrist, which was wrapped in a red aura around the sword that had not yet been drawn.

‘I can’t let a saint be killed in front of a priest.’ 

Hella was still a fake god, and Charlotte, who was chosen by her, was only dealing with the demon’s powers and not the divine power was not well-known.  

‘If Dietrich kills Charlotte, Lagrange will be the only one in trouble.’

Even if I insisted on it with my own mouth, people wouldn’t believe me. 

As I pondered, I glanced at the High Priest who looked puzzled at Charlotte, who seemed to be in a bad mood.

“High Priest, please leave us for a moment.”

“I know that the relationship between the saintess and the Grand Duke of Lagrange is not good. I can’t possibly leave the saintess alone….”

“Together with Dietrich.”

At my words, Dietrich nodded and placed his hand on the High Priest's shoulder.

As if he would crush his bones, which have become soft with age, at any moment, the high priest begins to forcefully move.

I made sure that they were completely out of sight before, 

Smack!

I turned around and struck Charlotte’s mouth which only lies. 

Even though I didn’t put much force into it, her pale skin burned red.

“What are you doing right now?!”

She pointed at me in shock.

“You’re the one making the water in the fountain red. Isn’t that right, Charlotte?”

I shrugged, pushing away her fingers indifferently.

“I told you, I’m not!!”

Slap!

“W-why are you hitting me!”

“From now on, every time you lie, know that you will get hit.”

This time, my palms tingled as I put in a little bit of strength, but I decided to fix her aura which was so white that it was uncomfortable. 

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