The Monster Duke Mistook Me for His Wife – Chapter 148 – Side Story Chapter 5

Author: Asternkm

Fortunately, Giselle came to her senses quickly.

“Did… did His Holiness really give Dante his blessing…?”

She was still half out of it.

“The Saint and the Holy Knight Captain too… Ria, I just…”

“Saying you could die happy now is not allowed.”

When Aina and Harris, who had come with the delegation, also appeared, Giselle couldn’t pull herself together.

‘If I knew she’d be this shocked, I would’ve told her beforehand. Didn’t expect her to faint, though.’

With a small sigh, I lifted my head and met Aina’s eyes. She smiled softly, crinkling the corners of her eyes in greeting. Harris, standing next to her, gave a small nod.

‘Even I have to admit—it’s a ridiculous lineup.’

The High Priest, the Saint, and the Knight Captain.

Three people you’d be lucky to meet even one of in your lifetime were all gathered in one place. And all for Dante.

A moment later, the blessing began in a solemn atmosphere.

When Dante knelt and closed his eyes, Aaron placed his hand gently on Dante’s head and began reciting a long, long prayer.

“–May the grace of the gods be with you.”

As if signaling the end of the blessing, a white light burst from Aaron’s hand and softly wrapped around Dante’s body.

“Ah…”

Giselle, standing nearby, couldn’t hold back her awe.

I didn’t stop her. No, I couldn’t.

‘Incredible…’

Aaron’s divine power was like a star.

It felt like the stars embroidered across the night sky were pouring down before my eyes.

Holiness. Nobility. And a sense of overwhelming power.

People unfamiliar with divine power would probably just think it was beautiful and sacred.

But those who served in the temple knew. Just how overwhelming that power truly was.

Even Aina and Harris, who had come with the delegation, couldn’t hide their reverence.

‘So this is the power of the High Priest.’

We weren’t the only ones in awe of Aaron’s divine power.

“Sparkly sparkly…”

“Wait, if you go out now…!”

Whity, who had been hiding in my arms, suddenly leapt onto the stage.

“Yay! Yay!”

Drunk on Aaron’s divine power and in a great mood, Whity bounced around, unable to hide his joy.

And just like that, Whity’s existence was exposed to the three pillars of the Grand Temple.

I can’t take this! I didn’t plan to hide him forever, but this is not the right time!

“A fragment of darkness?”

Harris, recognizing him at a glance, quickly stepped in front of Aaron.

“Sparkly! Just like Ria! A star!”

“…Or so I thought, but maybe not.”

Stunned by Whity’s impressive vocabulary, Harris denied what he’d just said.

“Do I look like Ria?”

“Yes, yes! You’re warm, just like Ria!”

I didn’t know what exactly he liked so much, but a touched Aaron gave Whity a gentle smile and even offered him a blessing.

“Kyahoo!”

Overjoyed, Whity wiggled his body and ran to Aina.

“Aina! Aina! I’m Whity now! I’m not a bad guy anymore!”

Aina, flustered, stepped back in hesitation.

“…Is something like this even possible, Aaron?”

“This is my first time seeing it too, Aina.”

Whity didn’t seem tired at all and kept hopping in front of the two as they talked.

“You—what are you? How are you even alive? If you’re trying anything—!”

“Whity is Dante’s friend! We’ve always been together!”

“That’s right, we’re friends!”

Dante and Whity hugged each other tightly. At the sight of their close bond, Aina was left speechless.

“…Ria. Is this really okay?”

Her eyes, full of confusion, turned to me. I chuckled awkwardly and nodded.

“Yeah, it just happened.”

“What do you mean it ‘just happened’…”

“He’s a good kid. He’s even learning manners lately—want to see?”

“Hello! I’m Whity! Nice to meet you!”

Before I could finish speaking, Whity bowed deeply.

Seeing that, Aina gave a strained smile… then tightly closed her eyes.

****

Thankfully, the misunderstanding about Whity was cleared up, and the warm atmosphere returned—but there was a problem.

There were too many people. Way too many.

First, Giselle, who bowed her head while holding my hand.

“Miss Ria. Thank you so much.”

Then Aina, clinging to my shoulder, saying she missed me.

“Ria, how long has it been since we saw each other? I missed you so much.”

Then Dillian, glaring at Aina with deadly eyes.

“You’d better back off, Saint.”

“Teacher! Teacher! This is amazing! Is this what a blessing feels like? I feel super strong!”

“Feels gooood!”

And then there were Dante and Whity, clinging to my waist and proudly boasting about their blessings.

The divine beasts didn’t even need mentioning.

“Out of the way, all of you! We don’t know when we’ll see Ria again after we return!”

“Yeah! You lot back off!”

“You young ones have no manners!”

And me, stuck in the middle of all that?

It felt like my eardrums were about to burst.

‘Why don’t you all hang out with each other for once?! Why does all the attention have to be on me?!’

With not just one or two, but a whole crowd surrounding me, I was getting completely drained.

“Miss Ria, are you alright?”

“I… I think I’m dying.”

As I stumbled with a tearful face, Dillian patted my shoulder reassuringly.

“If I marry Miss Ria, all of you are banned from the wedding.”

“Huh?”

Dillian cast a wide-area provocation. And it worked spectacularly.

“What did you just say, you punk?! Who gave you permission?!”

“You crazy thief! You absolute scumbag!”

“Getting married by yourself?! Ria’s still young! It’s way too soon to tie her down to a duke!”

“Banning us? That’s going too far, Your Grace.”

Even the divine beasts, Aina, and the High Priest all rushed in together.

‘Whatever that was… I’m free now.’

Thanks to Dillian, I slipped away safely and gave him a thumbs-up.

‘Thank you, Mr. Dillian!’

As I quietly grabbed the handle of the prayer room door, Dillian’s eyes twitched.

‘…Miss Ria?’

‘Sorry! I won’t forget your sacrifice!’

I made no sound as I quickly escaped out of the prayer room. Once I closed the door, the noise vanished.

“Phew, I can finally breathe.”

At last able to catch my breath, I put on a veil to cover my face.

I didn’t want to hear any more talk about divine purpose or devotion.

With my face hidden, I wandered through the temple, taking in every corner. Seeing the ideal temple I had only imagined left me feeling oddly unfamiliar.

“They said they inspected the Nathaniel Temple too… Maybe it’ll be as lively as this one someday.”

As old memories surfaced, so did the face of the priest who used to exploit me.

“That guy must be groveling somewhere by now, right?”

Because I accidentally awakened Nathan and caused the sacred relic to disappear, the priest who tormented me was apparently kicked out of the temple.

Dillian had offered to go find him and take revenge, but I firmly refused.

‘No point picking up trash that’s already been thrown out of the temple.’

I never looked for him again. My life was too good now to waste any more time on garbage.

“Right, Father?”

In the empty prayer room, I spotted a statue of Obellus and smiled up at it.

“Please listen to my prayer for the first time in a while.”

I knelt below the platform, joined my hands, and began to pray in a soft voice.

But my prayer never reached him—because of an unwelcome guest who suddenly interrupted.

“Are you, perhaps, the bearer of the divine prophecy?”

“…It’s considered rude to speak to someone in the middle of prayer.”

“I apologize. I was so overjoyed to see the hero that I forgot my manners.”

I sighed, clearly annoyed, but the guest had no sense and kept talking as he approached.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Ria. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but praise for you echoes throughout the Empire. You are the light of the Roheim Empire…”

The moment I heard those overly flattering words, I knew. He wasn’t going to leave until I dealt with him.

Reluctantly, I turned around—and couldn’t believe my eyes.

‘No way.’

That face, bowing politely with a hand to his chest.

‘I knew it!’

That greasy face, the cheeks full of spite, the shiny bald head!

It was the trash priest who had exploited me.

“My name is Theodore. If you ever need help…”

“You’re saying your name is Priest Theodore?”

Clearly pleased that I said his name, the trash laughed and rubbed his hands together.

“Yes, I’m Theodore!”

Theodore, my foot.