Please Provide Compensation Through Divorce-Chapter 12

Leto asked, surprised. He immediately sensed something was wrong.

“Where is the Empress? Why are you alone?”

Lady Marais caught her breath, gasping.

“Your Majesty, the Empress went to the Grand Temple.”

“I know that. What I mean is why aren’t you with her?”

“Only the Empress was permitted entry.”

“…She went in alone?”

Lady Marais couldn’t respond. Leto frowned.

“What were you doing?”

Lady Marais closed her eyes tightly.

“I apologize. I tried to dissuade the Empress…”

Leto was at a loss for words. Even though he had permitted a private audience with the High Priestess, it was not meant for her to go alone into the tiger’s den.

“You fool…”

Leto immediately intended to head to the Grand Temple but then abruptly changed direction, as if struck by a thought.

Ewarton, following him, asked, “Your Majesty, where are you going? You’re supposed to have tea with the ministers.”

“Cancel it. Postpone the meeting.”

“But Your Majesty, all the ministers are already gathered.”

Ewarton pleaded, but Leto didn’t hear him. He even waved him off.

Ewarton reluctantly returned. The ministers stood there, bewildered. Ewarton forced an awkward smile and addressed them.

“Ha-ha… Isn’t the weather nice? How about a walk instead of tea?”

It was up to Ewarton to handle the situation.

“How about it, Your Majesty? Will you grant our request?”

The High Priestess asked. Baron Orang was grinning servilely beside her.

I wanted to stop this fraud. That way, Baron Orang wouldn’t become wealthy, and the High Priestess wouldn’t get military funds.

The problem was after revealing the scam. The High Priestess would start attacking me, just as Leto had said.

Still, this was a wall I had to overcome at least once. I couldn’t just let them use me out of fear. After all, I am the Empress.

Even if the High Priestess attacked me, I only needed to endure for a year. After that, Meril would defeat her.

Also, I believe Leto would support me in this matter.

First, I should make the authenticity of the “Goddess’s Snowflake” public. Reveal it openly as alum.

I took a deep breath and started speaking.

“But High Priestess, to me, this ‘Goddess’s Snowflake’ is—”

Just as I was about to say it didn’t feel sacred at all, the door burst open.

“What delightful conversation are you having?”

An unexpected person walked in.

“Your Majesty...?”

“Y-Your Majesty!”

The High Priestess and Baron Orang stood up in shock. I just widened my eyes and stared at him.

Leto sat down next to me, crossing his legs. The High Priestess asked calmly.

“Your Majesty, what brings you here…?”

“I heard my wife was here.”

He turned to me. Close.

His usual indifferent expression. But his icy eyes… seemed different today. Like they held worry and relief.

“The Empress doesn’t even greet me. Aren’t you happy to see me?”

“…I’m just too surprised.”

“...”

“I'm very glad to see you, truly.”

He took my hand that was on my knee. As if to reassure me. Despite his smooth face, his hands were covered in calluses. The hands of a seasoned swordsman.

And… they were warm. Only then did I realize how cold my hands had become due to tension.

“So, what were you all discussing?”

The High Priestess answered.

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“We were discussing the ‘Goddess’s Snowflake’ with the Empress.”

“The ‘Goddess’s Snowflake,’ huh. Is this it?”

Leto pointed at the velvet pouch.

“Yes, it is.”

He touched the powder and then carelessly brushed it off. The powder scattered and sparkled.

“I wanted to talk about this anyway, perfect timing.”

Leto pulled something out from his coat. A pouch twice the size of the High Priestess’s.

“I think I might have made a ‘Goddess’s Snowflake’ myself.”

He tossed the pouch onto the table, causing its contents to spill out.

“This, this is!”

Baron Orang exclaimed. It was indeed the ‘Goddess’s Snowflake.’ The contents of both pouches were identical.

I sighed in relief.

Leto understood my hint. It was impressive how he managed to find alum stone and make alum powder in such a short time.

Their faces turned ghostly pale. Leto said.

“They say it’s an unknown rock found in coastal canyons. It’s strikingly transparent and glittery, just as I suspected.”

“This is…”

“If you want, we can have the powders analyzed to see if there’s any difference.”

The High Priestess didn’t respond, just licking her lips nervously. Leto stared coldly at her.

“But High Priestess. This rock isn’t found anywhere near the capital. Isn’t it strange that it was found at Baron Orang’s estate?”

His voice was a mix of mockery and coldness. It instilled subtle fear, more effective than open anger.

Baron Orang looked to the High Priestess, trembling.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

The High Priestess finally spoke.

“I swear I didn’t know this powder was stone dust. Your Majesty.”

“Didn’t know? The High Priestess uses unknown substances to claim a goddess’s miracle? How can I trust you with the Empire’s faith?”

“I apologize. I...”

The High Priestess almost choked but then deeply bowed her head.

“My body has weakened, and I made a mistake in discerning the sacredness. I almost brought great harm to the Empire.”

“Haha, old age, huh.”

Leto sneered.

“So, the High Priestess made a mistake due to old age, but what about Baron Orang?”

Baron Orang was petrified. He immediately knelt on the floor.

“Y-Your Majesty! I-I didn’t know! It was a scheme... No, the High Priestess told me!”

“Baron Orang.”

The High Priestess called him in a low voice.

“You’re in front of His Majesty. Watch your words.”

It was a threat. A warning to keep his mouth shut.

Baron Orang turned pale and fell silent. The High Priestess stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, for the sake of the Temple’s honor, please let this matter go. I will never forget your grace for the rest of my life.”

Leto turned to me instead of answering.

“The Empress was almost involved in this. What do you think should be done?”

He was giving me the decision-making power.

I looked at them. Baron Orang pleading and the High Priestess with her head bowed.

“Honor is important. The honor of the Temple must be preserved.”

Baron Orang’s face brightened. I continued.

“Therefore, this matter must be thoroughly investigated. Publicly, of course.”

The High Priestess looked at me, visibly shocked.

“If we don’t reveal the truth about this incident that almost tarnished the goddess’s face, wouldn’t that be the real disgrace to the Temple?”

“Your Majesty.”

“And the High Priestess should refrain from discerning miracles until your sacred power is fully recovered. Isn’t that right?”

The High Priestess’s forehead veined with anger. She probably didn’t like it. No, she must hate it. Miracle discerning was the Temple’s hidden goldmine.

She bowed her head deeply, suppressing her anger.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The situation seemed somewhat resolved. Leto said.

“Good. The High Priestess will focus on regaining her sacred power, and Baron Orang will report to the Imperial Gendarmerie. I will personally interrogate you soon.”

Baron Orang’s face turned from pale to blue. He tried to speak but fainted with his eyes rolling back.

Pathetic. Trying to deceive the royal family with such little nerve.

It seems he was also deceived by the High Priestess. Now, it’s hard for him to pull out.

Leto held my hand again and said.

“Let’s return to the palace, Empress.”

We walked slowly through the grand garden of the imperial palace. The sun was setting, and the tension eased at the sight of the twilight.

Leto was still holding my hand. Did he forget to let go?

“Um, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm?”

“You can let go of my hand now.”

I thought he’d let go if I mentioned it. Instead, he held on tighter.

“What did you think of the High Priestess?”

“She’s an impressive person.”

“Don’t lie.”

“She’s like a sly old snake. Testing people, subtly threatening and coaxing, and smoothly backing out at crucial moments. Baron Orang should quickly realize the situation and confess.”

“Thank you for speaking frankly.”

“Not at all.”

I thought I might have been too blunt, but Leto seemed to appreciate it.

“By the way, I’m glad you understood my note.”

“‘The sand by the sea sparkles. Perhaps some white stones do too?’”

“Yes.”

“I searched every rock in the canyon. Studied dozens of rocks secretly from the temple, and only got the results this morning.”

That was close. Thank goodness Leto arrived in time. It could have been complicated.

“Anyway, I’m glad it was resolved.”

He stopped walking and looked at me intently. His gaze was curious and intrigued.

“How did you come up with such an idea? I can understand the rocks, but how did you know it was by the sea?”

“I didn’t say it was by the sea. I just compared it to the sand.”

“Sounds like a wordplay.”

I smiled and shook my head.

“Just think of it as luck.”

“Thanks for bringing good luck.”

Was that a compliment? It didn’t feel bad.

But that feeling didn’t last long. He spoke seriously.

“There’s one thing I need to address.”

“What is it?”

“Why did you go into the temple alone? You could have refused the private audience or told me, and we could have gone together.”

Is this something to be so serious about? In the end, everything turned out fine.

Was he upset that he had to rush to the temple because of me?

“I was prepared for it. I didn’t want to back down.”

“What if I hadn’t shown up then?”

That was a sharp question. It felt like he was blaming me.