So I Was the Persecuted Grand Duchess Destined to Die? Chapter 97

Chapter 97

This feels like a cult.

The priest’s absolute conviction made him seem even more grotesque, and chills crept down my spine.

But there was nothing I could do except sit across from him and clasp his hands as instructed.

“Now, let us pray…”

Holding both my hands tightly, the priest bowed his head and began muttering something.

The problem was—the language spilling from his mouth was completely incomprehensible.

Th-this is terrifying…

I was desperately wishing for this moment to pass when—

“…Strange.”

He stopped.

Our eyes locked instantly.

“Why are you unaffected?”

“!”

Whoosh—!

In an instant, his face lunged right up to mine through the veil!

“Eek!”

I instinctively jerked backward, but the only thing behind me was the hard wall.

“Our prayer does not work on you. You harbor impure thoughts!”

The priest pressed me back without breaking eye contact, muttering like a madman.

“Is it this, then?”

With a grotesque grin splitting his face, he grabbed my veil roughly.

“Ahh!”

I clutched at it reflexively, but he was faster.

“Let go!”

Somehow he had restrained me, and no matter how hard I struggled, I couldn’t budge him.

“Pray! Do not defy His will. The moment you do, you become our enemy! Submit. Follow Him—”

Riiip!

With a dreadful tearing sound, the veil was shredded.

I desperately lowered my head to hide my face. It was only a matter of time before my true identity was exposed.

Then—

Bang!

The wooden door shattered with a violent crack, and the prayer room was instantly filled with dust.

“Cough! Cough!”

While I was hacking for breath, the priest’s grip on my hands suddenly vanished.

“Mmgh!”

A muffled cry followed—as if someone’s mouth had been covered.

“Renée.”

Not long after, a familiar low voice reached me.

I nearly burst into tears.

I quickly lifted my head.

As the dust settled from the force of the broken door, my vision cleared.

Before me stood a figure still wearing a priest’s hood.

But I knew at once.

Another priest lay collapsed at his feet.

His identity was obvious.

“Xavier! Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

Xavier lifted his hood slightly, revealing his face, a faint smile curving his lips.

It seemed something had happened on his end too—his monocle was cracked, no longer functioning.

It definitely wasn’t good that his face was exposed.

And yet, just seeing him made my heart lurch with relief.

“Here. Put this on.”

He handed me the robe stripped from the fallen priest.

Then, in a serious whisper—

“We’re getting out of this temple as fast as possible. That’s our new objective.”

“Leaving Nox and Betty behind?”

“We’ll have to trust the dragon. Wasn’t our original goal simply to get through today safely? Right now, we prioritize ourselves.”

That was true.

No matter how capable humans were, Nox was still a dragon.

His lifespan, experience, and magic were on an entirely different level.

Worrying about him would be absurd.

“Now that the monocle and veil are useless, it’s only a matter of time before our identities are exposed. We need to escape while this disguise still works.”

He turned the cracked monocle in his hand, his expression dark.

As I pulled on the robe, I froze.

Yes. That made sense.

But!

I had planned to shove Xavier ahead of me to deal with any danger first.

But I don’t even know the way out anymore! How did this turn into such a mess?!

This ridiculous life of mine—nothing ever goes according to plan!

The winding, labyrinth-like corridors from earlier flashed through my mind.

We had come deep inside the temple.

How were we supposed to escape?

As I swallowed nervously—

Xavier chuckled softly and pulled the hood over my head.

“Don’t worry about anything. I’ll handle it all. Just…”

“Yes?”

Thud.

His large, rough hand patted the top of my hood.

“Don’t leave my side. No matter what.”

His voice had lost all trace of amusement.

…

This was not the time.

And yet my heart kept pounding like crazy.

Cough! It’s just because this is dangerous. Of course I’d react like this in a crisis…

Was this the so-called suspension bridge effect—developing feelings for someone in a life-threatening situation?

Right now, Xavier was my only lifeline.

So the reason my heart’s racing is… b-because this situation is terrifying! That’s all!

I shook my head wildly and slapped my cheeks.

“?”

I ignored Xavier’s bewildered look.

“What are you doing? Are you feeling unwell?”

“N-no, no, no! Let’s go. We don’t have time. Now then…”

Trying to act composed, I dramatically pulled out my secret weapon.

“It’s finally time to use this.”

Behold—

“Ta-da! Ternox’s Silver Chalice!”

I lifted it high by its twin handles.

Xavier snorted.

I lowered my arms sheepishly.

Still, seeing it again stirred mixed feelings.

Who knew I’d see this cursed silver goblet again…

It wasn’t exactly a fond memory.

But thanks to it, I had met Ternox.

“…Hmph.”

That’s a good thing, right?!

I shoved aside the image of Nox scratching his belly lazily like an unemployed uncle.

Last night, he had casually tossed me the chalice and explained—

“In simple terms… you set coordinates, and it guides you there.”

In other words, a navigation device.

Apparently, when he was young, his mother had made it for him so he wouldn’t get lost returning to his lair.

Until now, the coordinates had been set to his lair.

However, anticipating trouble, he had changed them to the Grand Ducal townhouse.

Unlucky personality aside, he’s ridiculously competent…

Thank goodness the dragon was on our side!

I quickly poured water into the chalice.

On the transparent surface appeared a familiar-looking corridor.

But there was a huge problem.

“…They all look the same?!”

The corridor reflected in the chalice was nearly identical to the one we were standing in.

How were we supposed to find the exit like this?!

As I darted my eyes back and forth between the chalice and the hallway—

Xavier gently patted my shoulder.

“Let’s retrace our steps as best we can. The guidance may shift depending on our position.”

“Yes…”

Even now, he remained calm.

I couldn’t help feeling a surge of respect.

Clutching the chalice, I hurried forward.

But no matter how fast we moved, the scenery barely changed.

In the chalice, the corridors branched endlessly like an anthill.

A few priests we passed bowed politely.

One of them seemed particularly suspicious of what I was carrying.

“Brother, what is that item you are holding?”

The question came softly—

But with unmistakable sharpness.