So I Was the Persecuted Grand Duchess Destined to Die? Chapter 98

Chapter 98

I nearly dropped the silver chalice in surprise.

“It is a sacred relic His Grace has offered to the temple.”

“Oh! You’re heading to the reliquary. May God’s grace be with you….”

Xavier answered smoothly—shamelessly, even—and we managed to avoid suspicion.

Haa… haa…

Pretending to be calm beside him was exhausting.

“It seems the priests always travel in pairs here.”

After passing through several more corridors, Xavier spoke quietly, just loud enough for me to hear.

Now that he mentioned it, every priest we had encountered was in a two-person unit.

Was that why we hadn’t stood out?

“You’re right. Why is that? Like mentor and mentee?”

“Officially, it’s for training and camaraderie. In reality… it’s likely surveillance. The High Priest trusts no one.”

The High Priest and the Empress weren’t the only ones who sent spies.

Xavier had done the same behind the scenes, dispatching countless informants to gather intelligence.

And from what he had learned, the High Priest was deception itself.

According to Xavier, he had probably sown quiet discord even among his own clergy.

“So they’re all watching each other.”

The words left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Religion should be pure and faithful above all else.

Yet here they were, using God’s name to manipulate people for sinister purposes.

First things first—we need to escape safely.

I pulled my hood lower.

But still—

No matter how long we wandered, it felt like we were trapped in a maze, circling endlessly.

We’ve passed quite a few priests already. What if we get caught?

Trying to suppress my rising panic, I stepped into yet another identical corridor.

Then—

“Ghk!”

With a sudden groan, Xavier dropped to one knee and collapsed!

“Xavier! Are you okay?!”

“Ugh…”

“Breathe—just breathe first! Should I get water?”

Xavier clutched at the left side of his chest, gasping harshly.

He could hear Renée’s frantic voice, but the words barely registered.

The moment he stepped into this corridor—

No.

Perhaps the moment he saw the angel statue at the far end—

Thud.

His steady heart swelled violently, then shrank as if crushed, throbbing painfully.

An overwhelming weakness overtook him, forcing him to his knees.

My… vision…

The pain deepened, and his sight dimmed into darkness.

Not now… of all times… Renée…!

She was still there—small hands gripping his shoulders, eyes wide with fear.

He couldn’t lose consciousness. Not here.

This was the Grand Temple.

He bit down hard inside his mouth, forcing himself to focus.

Then—

“What is—”

In that instant, his vision flickered black.

Flash—

Scenes overlapped before his eyes.

“You are still as wary as ever, Duke…”

Standing before him was none other than the High Priest.

Unlike his current youthful appearance, he looked his true age—middle-aged.

But the expression was the same.

Relaxed.

Leisurely.

Walking ahead—

Through this very corridor.

“Would you prefer idle chatter instead?”

“That won’t be necessary… heh.”

“We made a deal. I expect only results.”

“So cold…”

“Then keep quiet and do your part.”

“Yes, of course.”

More shocking events followed.

Yet Xavier could only watch helplessly.

That… was me?

He stared in confusion at himself and the High Priest.

That memory was not his.

No matter how severe his madness had been, his range of movement had never extended beyond the ducal estate.

So it wasn’t something forgotten due to his condition.

And he had never spoken privately with the High Priest.

He had never walked these halls before.

Were my memories altered? Is there some magic inside this temple…?

Before he could piece together a theory—

Flash!

Like a light snapping on in the dark—

His vision returned.

“Xavier!”

In front of him stood Renée, tears brimming in her large red eyes.

“…Renée.”

He swallowed and called her name.

He still couldn’t fully grasp the situation. His vision swam.

“Are you conscious? Xavier!”

Conscious?

Only then did he remember—he had collapsed in the corridor.

It was a miracle no priest had seen.

“I was so scared… You just suddenly fell over… I-I…”

Renée was truly shaken.

Tears rolled down her pale cheeks.

“I’m sorry. I’m fine.”

Xavier pulled her into his arms to soothe her.

Over her delicate shoulder, he saw it—

The angel statue.

Praying.

The same statue from the vision.

Damn it. That was far too vivid to be a dream.

Ignoring the persistent ache in his chest, he stood.

Renée tried to help, but she was no match for his weight.

Still, there was something he had to do.

Step by heavy step, he approached the statue.

He reached out—

Gripped its right wing.

And pressed down hard.

“X-Xavier! What are you—”

Her voice was drowned out by—

Rrrrrumble—!

The wing did not break.

It sank.

Like a hidden switch.

With a grinding roar, the statue rotated, dust scattering.

Beneath it—

Pitch black.

“…Stairs?”

A passage revealed itself, spiraling downward into darkness.

Their eyes met.

They thought the same thing.

There’s something down there. Something important.

But confusion flickered in Renée’s gaze.

“Xavier… how did you know?”

Her voice trembled.

Even he didn’t know how to answer.

“…The moment we entered this corridor, I saw something.”

“You saw something?”

“Memories that weren’t mine. The High Priest did this exact thing in that vision.”

“What? Was it a dream? A hallucination?”

“It was too vivid for that…”

As he spoke, he had to accept the impossible truth.

“…I’ve been here before.”

Meanwhile, at the same time—

Ternox knelt quietly before the altar.

Beside him, Betty knelt as well, her posture composed despite the nervous flicker in her eyes beneath the veil.

“Please, take one each.”

Emerging from the ritual chamber, High Priest Raphael Blanche handed them two silver goblets, smiling faintly.

Inside each goblet sloshed dark red wine.

“We will begin the rite.”

Clang—

The clear resonance of a metal bell filled the sanctuary.

“Bow your heads. Hold the chalice in one hand and each other’s hand in the other.”

What a ridiculous charade.

Though he grumbled inwardly, Ternox’s eyes were sharp, carefully observing Raphael Blanche’s every move.