Chapter 28.2

“There’s powder on your hair…”

“Is that so?”

He came running without stopping with a refreshing smile, bending his waist deeply enough so that I could shake off his hair easily.

A person who is better suited to standing in the background of the night rather than the day, as he glows colorfully as if he could blind you. A person who stands out more the darker it is.

That’s why I gave him that kind of hardship.

I pulled out my handkerchief and secured the drooping sleeve of my garment with one hand. Then, I gently brushed the green powder from his hair.

“Will you raise your head a little?”

“Yes.”

He followed my request without a word of complaint. I gently grabbed Mikael’s chin and carefully wiped his cheeks with the clean side of the handkerchief. However, I couldn’t clean the chalk neatly, as if it was being rubbed with my hands.

What was this? On such a pretty face? Hearing my small murmur, he smiled.

“It’s always hard to get rid of it completely. I can clean it later.”

“Then you should have told me earlier.”

“I’m sorry.  But it felt good to see you concerned about me.”

He grabbed my wrist and rubbed his cheek lightly against the handkerchief. My face burned instantly at his cute action. Didn’t I tell him to be conscious of his appearance?

“Mikael?”

As I was standing there, unable to shake him off, Elijah checked the time and called out to him.

“Yes, Master.”

Mikael straightened his waist.

“You have to move people from the beginning to the end. When the practice is over, take the two of them safely to the imperial palace and wrap it up.”

“Yes. Leave it to me.”

Mikael pulled the black cloth on his priestly robe deep over his head. At the same time, a strange green light emanated from the pattern he had drawn on the floor.

I mourned in advance for myself who would suffer from the ceremony practice all day today. Cheer up, myself.

***

The priest showed me his politeness.

“You worked hard.”

“… You did well too.”

I answered weakly. I had lost all my energy. I came here when the sun came out in the morning, and now, it was late afternoon.

In one way or another, it was over. The order itself was simple, but it was very difficult because I had to pay attention to all the hand gestures and foot movements according to the regulation. I seemed to be exhausted several times more because of Celina’s weak body.

Ingrit was still practicing inside, so she had it even tougher. The person involved in the coming-of-age ceremony needed a longer time because they had a lot to do separately.

She had been talking to me cheerfully until lunch, but she had barely opened her mouth during the afternoon. Her clear eyes had become sunken. It seemed that practicing a second time was difficult.

I asked the man who was following me a little further away.

“If it’s alright, can I take a look around? I haven’t been here since my coming-of-age ceremony.”

“Of course. Feel free to walk around. When the time comes, a white pigeon will sit on the Priestess’ shoulder. Please come back inside then.”

The believer pointed to the arch-shaped entrance supported by a statue.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Then, I’ll go back now.”

The believer stepped back with a slight bow, then turned around and disappeared inside. I slowly began to descend the white stairs.

A vine plant with a long, thin stem curled around the edge of the stairs. The sunset in the sky flowed through the clear waterway along the outskirts of the temple and the road.

I felt better hearing the sound of the blowing wind and the continuously flowing water. I felt sacred just by being here.

As I took a look around, I found a bench placed against a wall and naturally headed for it.

I hardly had a chance to come here, so I wanted to observe it as much as possible, but I was too tired from the practice. I wanted to rest a little.

I sat down on the bench and blinked my eyes slowly, staring at the traces of the purple-colored sacred herb on my fingertips. The ceremony will be performed in the temple on the day of the princess’ coming-of-age.

All invited guests will be in one room. The protagonist of that day, Ingrit, will kneel in front of the image of the deity on the podium. And, for just one day, it will be Celina the one who blesses her in the future on behalf of God.

I was hoping I could meet the high priest for a moment today, but, as expected, I couldn’t see him. He was the head of the religious community, so he didn’t come out randomly. Maybe I can meet him on that day.

I rubbed my fingertips dyed with the juice of the medicinal herbs a few times meaninglessly, then slowly closed my eyes.

It wasn’t long before I felt like my body was being sucked into the depths of a swamp.

… At the same time, there was a rustling sound of a soft cloth somewhere. Something warm touched my fingertips.

“Ah. Did you wake up? I tried to take you quietly, but I woke you up. I’m sorry.”

Mikael was in front of me. Wh-what?! Surprised, I sprang up from my seat. However, I stepped on the long piece of clothing that dragged through the floor and stumbled greatly.

The fact that he caught me was overshadowed by the fact that the protuberant part of my eyelid bumped against his chin. There was a thud, and I could see stars twinkling in front of me.

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