MHHC Chapter 88

Betitha

"Just ten days remain. Is it proper for someone who will depart eternally to the sanctuary after that to influence another's life?"

Just ten days. Joachim's criticism was fair. Only ten days remained to her.

Counting the first day spent in the sanctuary as a day of rebirth, she would spend ten days equally in the mortal world.

During that time, settling remaining attachments, purifying the body, and completing the perpetual vow ceremony was standard practice.

So even if she took this child in now, without proper follow-through measures, it would indeed be ten days' worth of worthless compassion. However—

"I've heard that sanctuary priests may make one wish before taking their vows. I'll use that wish to save this child."

Joachim's eyes flooded with shock at Adelheid's unwavering gaze.

"Do you even… understand what value that wish holds? It shouldn't be wasted on saving a mere beggar…!"

"I have no grand national wishes. Nor do I see the need for them."

"Princess!"

"Step aside, Joachim. Many eyes are watching."

Though he'd been scolding with veins standing out on his neck, he finally subsided upon belatedly noticing the surrounding gazes.

His flushed complexion had darkened almost to blackish-red, but she paid it no further mind.

Adelheid shook off Joachim's grip and descended from the carriage. Without hesitation, she stepped through the mud and lifted the limp child.

Strangely, from the first moment their eyes met, all her attention had been drawn to this child.

She looked down with a faint smile at the child instinctively burrowing into her embrace.

"Just this once, I want to follow where my heart leads. I've never done so before."

"Are preparations for your vows proceeding well?"

"High Priest."

Adelheid lowered her hand parasol and rose hurriedly from her chair.

As she clasped her hands together respectfully, the High Priest waved his hand with a gentle expression, saying there was no need for such formality.

The High Priest who approached looked at Adelheid with mild surprise.

"Your expression has brightened remarkably."

"All thanks to your suggestion that I enter the sanctuary, High Priest."

"You've become skillful with courtesy as well."

Adelheid simply smiled quietly. The High Priest watched her fondly, then asked as if remembering:

"By the way, I hear you plan to entrust a child to the temple."

"Yes. I can only express gratitude for your gracious permission."

"How could I refuse a wish from a vow-taking priest? Let me see the child's face first."

"Betitha, come here."

When Adelheid gently called the name and extended her arms, the child who'd been looking at flowers in the garden ran over with a bright smile and nestled into her embrace.

The child's body—grinning wide enough to show all her teeth—now emanated the fragrant scent of milk and cookies.

"……!"

Adelheid had discovered shortly after bringing her that Betitha couldn't speak.

Joachim had raged about picking up something useless, but Adelheid somehow felt even greater affection for Betitha.

Because being discarded as useless reminded her of her own position in the royal household. The High Priest's expression softened to match Betitha's smiling face.

"The child seems quite gentle. She can't become a full priest without speech, but if she learns the work of acolytes, she'll have her uses. Will you leave her today, then?"

Adelheid shook her head.

"She absolutely refuses to be parted from me, so I intend to care for her myself until the final day I return to the sanctuary."

"Do as is comfortable for you, but… don't give the child too much affection. You mustn't leave attachments to the mortal world."

Attachments to the mortal world. The High Priest's words lodged deeply in her chest. They were correct.

When Adelheid tried to carefully set Betitha down, the child gripped tighter, unwilling to be put down.

She felt Betitha's small hands clutching at her nape and hair.

Habitually lowering her head, the child pressed their foreheads together. Her soft eyes curved as she burst into bright laughter.

Though soundless, Adelheid could feel that warm, willing breath.

"……."

Whenever she looked at Betitha's black hair and lovely pale green eyes, Adelheid was seized by strange emotions. If she and Valentin had a child together, would it look like this…

"Priest Adelheid."

The High Priest's worried voice suddenly intruded on the peaceful moment. Only then did Adelheid tear her gaze from the child.

"Perhaps you should begin practicing from today."

"……Practice?"

"If you suddenly vanish, it will shock the child greatly. Only five days remain until your departure. Why not entrust her to others starting now?"

Starting now? Adelheid barely gathered her stunned emotions. She opened her mouth to offer an excuse.

"But……."

"High Priest. I'll open a 'door.'"

However, before Adelheid's words could finish, a voice calling for the High Priest arrived first.

Adelheid lifted Betitha while glancing aside. The empty air split cleanly in half, and an elegant noblewoman emerged from within.

The woman was Nadia, Joachim's sister. The sole daughter of House Bathildis, an archmage, and another of Adelheid's cousins.

"Forgive opening a 'door' without prior permission. Father urgently requests your presence."

"……Right now?"

"Yes. The messenger dropped the official seal. Will you go now?"

"Good heavens…… Then, please hurry. Priest Adelheid. We'll discuss this matter again shortly."

The High Priest flustered about, then disappeared through the door Nadia had opened.

Adelheid watched with curious eyes as the door vanished.

Throughout all Nürnberg, only Nadia could use spatial magic of this caliber with such skill.

Finally, having withdrawn all magic, Nadia turned toward Adelheid.

"Princess. I request a walk together."

"With me?"

Adelheid asked, slightly bewildered, having assumed Nadia would simply pass her by.

In twenty years of life, this was the first time Nadia had made such a request.

Nadia bit her lip and urged impatiently:

"We don't have much time."

"……All right."

Adelheid nodded, somewhat flustered. Immediately, Nadia gestured toward the maid standing behind her.

"Holding the child will make walking difficult. My maid cares for children well, so entrust her temporarily."

"……But Betitha—"

"Cousin. Please."

Adelheid bit her lip with reluctance.

For Nadia to say both 'cousin' and 'please,' this must be seriously urgent.

Adelheid soothed Betitha and set her on the ground.

"I'll be right back. Stay here just a moment."

Betitha looked anxious, but when Nadia's maid captured her attention with colorful beads, she soon forgot about Adelheid. Only then did Adelheid follow Nadia with relief.

"Come this way. It's better for walking over here."

Nadia spoke hurriedly and strode inward with long steps.

Adelheid followed carefully, staying several paces behind. Nadia stopped abruptly before an annex building with sparse foot traffic.

"Princess. You've developed magical power."

Not probing—her tone carried certainty. Adelheid's eyes widened in shock.

"How…… can you even sense such things?"

"I can tell it awakened unnaturally. A blessing from the dragon dwelling in the sanctuary?"

"That's…… something I cannot discuss."

"I didn't want to hear the answer. I was already half-certain of it."

"……."

"There are two choices."

"So suddenly?"

Adelheid narrowed her eyes as she asked. At her reaction, Nadia paused with an expression of realization. Then quickly added:

"This evening, the Crown Prince will be released from confinement and return."

"This evening? But……."

"His Majesty's health has deteriorated rapidly. He's returning to assume succession in case of emergency."

"His Majesty?"

Adelheid could scarcely believe Nadia's words. Counting the years Valentin had 'turned back,' barely fifteen days had passed since her father banished her to the sanctuary.

Until then, he'd shown no signs of illness whatsoever.

"The messenger dropped the official seal. You'll remember what I told the High Priest earlier. He's been suffering from a cold recently, but it seems to have developed into something worse."

"Ah, so that's why."

"The Crown Prince is fixated on you to a strange degree. But he……."

Nadia trailed off, but Adelheid's eyes widened with shock.

Until Mikhail treated her 'that way,' she'd never once imagined him in such terms.

"I didn't know. I never knew…… the Crown Prince harbored such feelings."

"You rarely pay attention to your surroundings, Princess. Though I suppose if I'd been driven to your extremity, I'd do the same."

"……."

"In any case, when you're sensitive to magic, you sometimes see things you'd rather not. That's why I'm warning you."

Nadia raised one finger as she spoke.

"This proposal is only possible because you've awakened magical power. Leave for the Tower of Solaris—the sanctuary of mages. There, the mages will protect their members at any cost. However, once you enter the Tower of Solaris, you cannot leave."

"……And the other option?"

Nadia's eyes—so like Joachim's—looked straight at her.

"Flee as far as you can. Forget the sanctuary, that child—everything."