Chapter 2, Episode 34: Sunlit Moon

"What's going on? ! "

　Loteccia muttered to herself in the punishment room where royalty was sent for committing crimes.

　This wasn't supposed to happen.

　Claire should have been condemned and executed for stealing the royal family's precious jewelry.
　And then she was supposed to comfort Alberto, who became depressed, and they were supposed to become a couple.
　But suddenly, the high priest Lars appeared, and it was not Claire who was condemned, but herself.

　And now here she was, having been judged by Lars in front of everyone, and sent to the punishment room.

　Ever since Alberto became her escort, she had been dreaming about this moment.
　A dream in which she confessed her feelings to Alberto at a dance party she hosted when she turned 18, and they got engaged.
　That dream was trampled on by a lower-class noble named Claire.
　So it was supposed to be a public humiliation, but……

　Why did this happen?

　Loteccia gritted her teeth, and suddenly her vision blurred.
　What is……? In fact, there was a similar incident in the past.
　From that moment on, for some reason, her hatred for Claire grew. What is this?
　When Loteccia narrowed her eyes

――Do you want the strength to escape from here? Young lady? ――

　She heard a familiar voice and lost consciousness.


　■□■


　Next day. It was the last day of the Sunlit Moon ceremony while Kardiana-sama was sleeping.
　That's good. Kardiana-sama will wake up tomorrow.
　When Kardiana-sama wakes up, I'll ask her to find the bad guy.

　While I was thinking about that, Farne-sama voice brought me back while we were eating breakfast.　

"A ceremony to welcome Kardiana-sama? "

"Right. This is a ceremony to welcome Kardiana-sama as she awakens from meditation.
　I have to help Lars-sama today. It will be over quickly.
　Please stay in this room with Cyril-sama and Libelle-sama, okay? "

　Farne-sama said as he neatly cut the meat with a knife and fork.

『Yes! Yes! Lots of sweets! Libelle is staying in this room! 』

　Said Libelle happily, raising her hand while eating pancakes in the morning.

『Don't worry, I won't let anyone lay a finger on Riese.』

　Cyril stopped eating meat and nodded in agreement.

"Yup, yup. It's okay. Libelle and Cyril will be here too!
　Even Riese has become stronger.
　I'll be a good girl and read a book while Farne-sama is away."

　When I said that with a smile, Farne-sama smiled happily, closing his eyes and patting my head.
　I'm all grown up now, so I can stay home alone.
　I hope Farne-sama finishes his work safely.


　■□■


"……Where's Claire? "

　Preparing for the ceremony.
　Lars frowned when he heard the report.
　In a solemn room, priests lined up and dressed Lars.

"Right. When I went to pick her up, I was told that she had gone out somewhere with Sir Alberto last night.
　The owner, Sasha, hasn't been seen since last night either."

　Upon hearing Ivan's report, Lars frowned as he put on his gloves.

　Alberto was Claire's boyfriend.
　Perhaps she was evacuated to another location for fear of harassment from the relatives of Loteccia, who had been arrested.

"I see. Once you find her, take her into protective custody.
　Anything else unusual? "

"Nothing in particular. Loteccia-sama and Claire's younger sister Viola seem to be behaving themselves in their cells.
　We are investigating their surroundings, but it seems unlikely that they are connected to the Wasteland Scorpion.
　We are currently working to identify the perpetrators based on the route through which they obtained the drugs."

"I understand. Continue investigating both cases."

　He donned the white robe that only the high priest was allowed to wear.
　Claire's situation was certainly concerning, but now was the time to focus on the ceremony.
　Grasil had been overthrown, and it was his first Sunlit Ceremony.
　This ceremony established that those who assisted the high priest were effectively the second-in-command at the temple.
　Until now, Grasil had been Lars' sole assistant, but this year, both Farne and Kyle will be taking on the role.
　Both of them had the protection of Kardiana and Eldia, and were well-qualified to be high priests. It was necessary to inform both inside and outside the organization that those two were the next candidates for high priest.
　Although they seemed dissatisfied, it was true that there were no more suitable candidates than them, given that they had the protection of Kardiana and Eldia and were well-liked by Riese.
　Normally, he would want Riese, who is a saint, to participate as well, but she was still not used to being around people, so he didn't want to push her too hard.
　
"I have to make sure everything goes smoothly."

　Lars said as he received the divine staff from a priest.


　□■□

"What are you fidgeting about?"

　Farne, dressed in ceremonial priestly robes of higher quality than his usual attire, was questioned by Kyle.
　Kyle stood nervously next to Farne in the waiting room.
　They had already changed into their ceremonial attire, and now all that remained was for the two of them to wait for the ceremony to begin.

"No, I'm just worried that Riese isn't brushing her teeth properly."

　Farne realized that he didn't check Riese's brushing after she finished breakfast and felt uneasy.
　Normally, Riese would stick to the schedule, but today she had Libelle and Cyril with her.
　When he told Kyle with a serious expression that she might have forgotten to brush her teeth because she was so absorbed in playing,

"Are you her mother?! "

　Then, he retorted energetically..

"We've been entrusted with such an important role as assistant to the high priest of the Sunlit Ceremony, and that's what you're worried about! ?
　I'm so nervous my hands are shaking! "

　When he looked at Kyle, his hands were indeed shaking.
　Until last year, priests from the Varnois sect had been conducting the ceremony, so although Kyle and Farne participated, they were merely members offering prayers.
　However, thanks to the elimination of the Varnois faction this year, Kyle and Farne were suddenly selected.

"All we have to do is listen to Lars-sama recite the scriptures and hand over the staff.
　It's not like we're doing anything special."

"Hey, you! ! Do you realize how honorable that is for a priest! ?
　You've got guts in the strangest places."

"Is that so? Kyle, you're just a little too nervous. Please relax."

"I don't want to hear that from you, who's fidgeting over brushing teeth! ! ! "

　Kyle's cry of protest echoed in the waiting room.


　□■□
　


"It's finally time for the Sunlit Ceremony.”

　In the square, a man smiled and spoke to a new priest.
　At the square where the priests of the Grand Temple were gathered to participate in the Sunlit Ceremony, someone spoke to a nervous new priest.
　When the new priest looked over, he saw Volte standing there.
　The new priest smiled happily when a veteran priest who had often guided him spoke to him.

"Right. I'm nervous because it's my first time."

　The new priest let out a deep sigh.
　The Sunlit Ceremony held an important place among the temple rituals, and it was a great honor to participate in it.
　Normally, this isn't a ceremony that someone like him, a newcomer, would be able to participate in…… However, due to the incident with the giant scorpion rampaging through the city, all the talented personnel were sent out, so even a newcomer like him was able to participate in the ceremony.

　Even so, he couldn't suppress the excitement of participating for the first time.

"Then you should drink this."

　Volte handed him a beautiful clear potion.

"What's this? "

"I made this potion myself. It calms your mood."

"Thank you very much. I'll dig right in! "

　The priest happily accepted it.
　Volte was an excellent medicine maker among the priests.
　If he was giving it out, it was probably fine.

　Of course, he had no way of knowing. Volte, who handed him the medicine, was smiling smugly.

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