I’m Not the One Who Seduced the Grand Duke Chapter 44

‘He was never particularly interested in becoming a priest?’

Leon answered with an incredibly calm smile.

Meanwhile, the newspaper I had no idea when he’d snatched away was being torn to shreds in his hands.

“Then why did you become a priest? You rejected everyone’s opposition and entered the Temple anyway.”

“Hmm. Are you curious?”

Of course I was.

I eagerly nodded.

Leon stared at my face for a moment, as if debating whether or not to tell me, before finally opening his mouth.

“The reason I became a priest was……”

“Yes.”

“It’s because I became unable to marry the person I had a crush on.”

“……What?”

Wait. What did he just say?

Watching my stunned reaction, Leon continued speaking matter-of-factly.

“When I reached a certain age, people around me started pressuring me to get engaged or married. But I didn’t want to marry anyone else. I couldn’t possibly marry anyone but that person.”

“……”

“So I decided to become a priest. It was a sort of escape.”

If he became a priest, no one could tell him to get married anymore, Leon explained with a bright smile.

I swallowed my surprise.

So the man who had supposedly been the most desirable marriage prospect in all of Orden had voluntarily walked down the path of becoming a “false prospect” in order to sabotage his own chances of getting married.

“Wait a second. You said you became a priest because you didn’t want to get married.”

“Yes. And?”

“Then what about now? You quit being a priest and got engaged to me. Are you really okay with that?”

When I asked worriedly, he chuckled and gently stroked my hair.

“Ah, if that’s what you’re worried about, don’t be.”

“I already have what I wanted.”

“What? What is th—”

That was when it happened.

“Marquess!”

Jean, the intruder who barged into the middle of our conversation, came rushing inside.

“Look at this!”

In his hand was a white envelope stamped with a gleaming gold seal.

 

***

 

Meanwhile, at Asterion Temple.

Inside the High Priest’s office.

BANG!

The thick oak desk shook violently.

Servando’s fist, which had slammed down onto the desk, trembled.

“Who the hell…… No, how did this information leak out?!”

“W-Well, we don’t really know……”

“You don’t really know? You useless fools!”

Servando exploded in anger.

His gaze turned toward the newspapers and gossip sheets scattered messily across the desk.

[SHOCKING! Was It All True? Paintings Hanging in the Corridors of Asterion Temple Revealed to Be Works by Famous Artists!]

[FIRST REVEAL] List of Nobles Who Donated Expensive Paintings to the Temple Obtained! A Portion Revealed as a Preview!

[SPECIAL REPORT] The Temple’s Strange Method of Receiving Donations. Can We Really Allow This to Continue?

The articles that had initially focused on attacking the Marquess had somehow spread to other media outlets, which were now joining in and criticizing the Temple’s donation practices.

‘If, by some chance, the Imperial Family gets involved and confiscates the donation ledgers……!’

Of course, the ledgers were double-entry books.

The hidden ledger was not the problem. The decoy ledger had been prepared so meticulously that there was nothing suspicious about it at a glance.

But—

‘If the Imperial Family seriously starts digging, they might follow the trail!’

And wasn’t the former priest, Grand Duke Bernstein, now back on the Emperor’s side as well?

If, by some chance, he colluded with the Emperor and gave false testimony…… that would be disastrous.

“Why did this have to happen at such an important time!”

Servando frantically raked his fingers through his hair before collapsing into his chair.

“How hard have I worked to maintain this position? There’s no way I can let some wet-behind-the-ears brat take it away from me!”

But then—

“High Priest. Someone from Count Sezanne’s family has arrived. They said they have something to discuss regarding the donation they made last month……”

“Countess Orga has also sent a letter. And Viscount Rolband and the Young Lady of House Arinea have sent people as well……”

As he heard that inquiries from nobles were flooding in, Servando’s already grim face turned pale.

They were all people who had either donated to the Temple or were planning to.

And they had done so specifically to have private meetings with Leon Obsidian.

They were worried that this incident might somehow affect them as well.

The urgent letters they sent all said essentially the same thing.

Resolve this immediately!

Among the customers who had used the VIP service were many important figures and big spenders.

They could not afford to lose these people’s trust if they wanted to maintain the business in the future.

At that thought, Servando’s head began to cool.

‘Hoo…… It’s fine. The names of the major customers haven’t been revealed yet. Of course, I don’t know how long that will remain the case……’

“Prepare to leave for the capital immediately.”

“Pardon? The capital? But you don’t have any plans to go there for the time being.”

“Then I’ll have to go secretly! Why can’t you people move faster? Do you all want to die together?!”

His frightened aides hurriedly began making preparations.

Useless fools.

Servando nervously bounced his leg.

For whatever reason, the informant had yet to leak the entire list, which meant there was still time.

Time to turn this situation around.

 

***

 

As expected.

Several days later, an unexpected guest arrived at House Zaherette.

“Ahem. I apologize for coming so suddenly at such a late hour, Marquess Zaherette. I came because I had business with His Grace the Grand Duke, and I was told he was here.”

Night had already fallen.

The High Priest stepped out of what appeared to be a shabby carriage meant to disguise his identity and bowed obsequiously.

I never imagined the High Priest himself would come all the way here of his own accord.

Perhaps he had rushed through the night, because he looked like a fugitive fleeing from the authorities, trying desperately to avoid being recognized.

‘Then again. With his position on the verge of collapse, would he really have the luxury of worrying about anything else?’

When we brought out chilled tea, he was apparently so thirsty that he gulped it down without even bothering to maintain his dignity.

“You’ve come this late at night, without even sending word beforehand. What brings you here?”

Let’s get to the point already.

I deliberately spoke quickly, not even giving him time to catch his breath.

After hesitating for a moment, the High Priest finally opened his mouth.

“Ahem. I came because I have a proposal I would like to make to His Grace the Grand Duke.”

“A proposal for me?”

“Yes.”

The High Priest glanced at Leon beside me and nodded. After hesitating again, he spoke.

“I’m not sure how things came to this, but there seems to have been some kind of misunderstanding along the way…… The Imperial Family may even send people to investigate. So, I was hoping you might give some testimony.”

“Testimony?”

“I would like you to testify that all the work you did as a guide priest was entirely voluntary.”

“Ah. So you’re asking me to give false testimony?”

“Heh-heh, false testimony? Of course not. I merely mean that we should settle this amicably. There’s no need to create unnecessary controversy.”

“Hmm. Can this really be called a controversy? I merely followed the High Priest’s orders.”

“Ahem. I’ll take care of that matter, so don’t worry. And surely there’s something you want from me as well, Your Grace?”

The High Priest smiled awkwardly as he wiped the cold sweat trickling down his forehead with a handkerchief.

Leon silently stared at him before smiling and nodding.

“All right. That shouldn’t be difficult. I don’t want this matter to become any bigger than it already is, either.”

“T-Thank you!”

At Leon’s response, the High Priest smiled in relief.

Perhaps because the burden he had been carrying all this time had finally been lifted, his composure returned along with his tendency to talk at length.

“However, surely your approval of our engagement means you will also accept my resignation, correct?”

“Ah, well, about that.”

The relieved High Priest awkwardly faltered.

“Actually, there is one proposal I would like to make regarding that matter.”

As though this was where the real purpose of his visit began, he pursed his lips before speaking.

“As I’ve told you repeatedly, I would like Your Grace to continue serving as a priest.”

Of course.

Even with things having reached this point, he still couldn’t let go of his greed.

‘He still hasn’t come to his senses.’

“I was under the impression that priests cannot marry. What you’re saying seems rather contradictory. Surely you’re not trying to play word games with me.”

“Of course not! No. Absolutely not.”

The High Priest was startled and quickly shook his head.

But that lasted only a moment.

“However, there is such a thing as an exception to every rule. Don’t worry. Since this is for the sake of the Temple, even the Lord God will understand.”

“……”

“The Temple is a place that serves God. And I, as the one who oversees it, am the one who conveys the will of the Lord God. In other words, broadly speaking, how could my voice be anything other than the voice of God? There is nothing for you to worry about.”

“Everything will go exactly as you wish,” the High Priest said with a hearty laugh.

“If Your Grace helps me, I will also help you obtain whatever it is you desire. So please, think carefully.”

The High Priest spoke confidently, telling Leon to consider how wonderful it would be to have the Temple as an ally.

Leon silently stared at him before smiling.

But only for a moment.

His eyes soon sank into an icy coldness, and he glared at the High Priest as though he could see straight through him.

Lowering his upper body close to the table, Leon slowly leaned toward him and spoke in a low voice.

“Why…… should I?”