Chapter 11: Teach Me! (1)
"THE TEMPLE of Light, My Lady?"
Avril's voice rang quite loudly in the room as I sat on the chair near the window, the sun hitting my skin in a ticklish manner while my head is turned to the side as I thought of my decision.
'It was on impulse! I didn't mean to say no!'
...Okay, I'm lying. I really don't regret saying no but I was just curious, okay?!
"It appears that the doctor may have known a lot more but prevented himself to say anything further." I remarked, my eyes becoming slits.
The mana inside my body has become stable, or so he says. I panicked earlier because of how my eyes were and they are much different than Eris's eyes when I met her.
At this moment, my eyes have now calmed down and reverted to their original color but there is still that faint glow in them.
It is as if my eyes are glowing a lighter green.
'I mean, I suddenly woke up and my eyes are glowing! I thought I caught a worm or something!'
"Why would you…" Avril was silent for a moment before she realizes why I ask for such a thing.
I nodded at her, confirming her thoughts.
"I decided to learn more when Mother and Father gave me the choice."
Avril paused for a moment, turning her head towards me as I calmly drink my tea.
The aftertaste of this black tea wasn't so bad, unlike what I had thought in my previous life, and it compliments the sweet pastries.
"If that is the case, why did you said no when you were asked to go?"
I drank the tea immediately and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.
"Just because. Can't I say no?"
Besides, I somehow feel that this is a canon event and I still don't want to go. What if I meet the characters there? That might ruin my plans of a comfortable life!
Also, I know from the beginning that the Temple of Light isn't that welcoming to nobles especially to those who are close with the royal family.
It has something to do with the kingdom's history and founder, as well as the royal lineage that the first god placed since the beginning.
Unfortunately, of rather fortunately for me, the Holstead's are the royal family's aid. Whether it was in academic or swordsmanship.
"But My Lady, the Temple of Light is not really," Avril faked a cough as if to cut off her words intentionally.
"Welcoming." I spoke as I finished her sentence.
She nodded at this as I sighed mentally.
I badly want to close my eyes and frown at the sudden headache that the unknown god gave to me. I thought I have escaped from the harsh life I had lived but what he gave me was harsher than before.
At least, before, all I had to worry about was hunger and poverty.
I will give that god an earful once we meet again in the future.
"Haaa…" Things like this don't happen in my past life.
Now that I have calmed down, I somehow feel regretful about my decision to not go to the Temple.
But there is a reason behind this.
The Temple of Light will be a big benefactor of the royal family soon. If it was according to the novel's plot, the Temple will receive grace from this world's god that it has blessed the heroine before her 10nth birthday.
Of course, the Temple will try to find their 'maiden' and bring her in but the heroine was well hidden because of the Baron, who was giving her noble lessons and wasn't allowed to go out until she is 13.
"My Lady, if I may."
I broke out of my thoughts the moment I heard Avril's voice as I looked at her and nodded, my attention on her and urging her to go on.
She gently placed the teapot that she was holding earlier then she spoke in a suggestive tone.
"I would suggest that you read books about the Temple of Light and their history."
I nodded, "Yeah, I was thinking of learning little by little."
That was my initial plan before this whole 'eye' thing happened. I was about to create a plan on how to improve my relationship with Elishia and Ekris, as well as their relationship with Father.
'I guess I should learn a little bit more…'
A little bit of knowledge doesn't hurt, right?
"You are right, I guess we should head to the library to learn."
I pulled the chair back and was about to stand up when Avril quickly went over to my side and stopped me from doing so.
I looked at her, confused about why she stopped me.
"You don't need to go to the library, My Lady. I am versed in the history of the Temple so I will just give you a lesson here."
I frowned, "You are well-versed? With the Temple's history?"
"Quite…versed."
Avril, a maid who I haven't even known for a month, is saying she is well-versed with the Temple's history?
'If that doesn't scream suspicious, I don't know what is.'
"How are you well-versed with the Temple's history?" I asked, ignoring the 'quite' word.
"I studied History and Politics from my old job."
'History and Politics? The heck is her old job? A newspaper company?'
"Don't worry, My Lady. My old job has nothing to do with the Temple."
'I'm not worried about that…'
But, it is best to learn from those who knew more than those who read from books.
I settled back into my chair and nodded at her, getting comfortable and ready to listen.
"Okay, tell me more about the Temple."
Avril sighed but didn't comment on anything.
"First, they don't allow people to go in and out as they please, mainly because the place where the Temple stands is the holy ground of the first god."
'Ah, so it means that the place is sacred---Wait, first god?'
"What do you mean by 'first god'?"
"The first god was said to be the giver of mana to its people when it was first established, and the same god gives mana to those who have strong faith."
'This… The novel didn't mention this!'
"Since the first god was the giver of mana, they appointed those who received it first to be the apostles and disciples of the god. That is when the Temple of Light started."
Avril looked at me for a good full minute as my mind processes what I just heard.
It seems that the Temple has a history with the founder of the kingdom, but it was a different matter in the novel.
The Temple didn't have that much appearance nor does it intervenes with the heroine's decision.
They seem more free-willing and open in the novel than here, but maybe that is just how the author presented it.
"Then, why is the Temple not welcoming people if they are meant to be the church for the first god?"
Avril was silent as if she was not expecting to hear my question. For a moment, I thought she would not answer it but she slowly spoke.
"It is because of the royal family's reputation."
That made me confused.
"What about it?"
She sighed, "You may not know this since the Holstead's manor is far from the capital but the rumor known there about the royal family is that…"
She moves closer to me and beckons me to move too. I did so and looked at her closely, my eyes fixated on her.
"The royal family now is greedy. They want the Temple to submit their influence on them and turn over the land."
I looked at Avril with wide eyes as my mouth agape at the sudden revelation. I couldn't believe my ears as I heard that and I don't know if I should say something or just keep being a shock.
'Holy shit…! I mean, not that kind of Holy but what the heck!'
In my previous life, neither this issue was mentioned in the novel but there were indications that the royal family has a bad reputation was because of the territory disagreement with one of its people.
'Who would've thought it was the Temple! '
My eyes wandered to the drawer next to my closet, the stack of papers from when I wrote what will happen in the novel still there.
'Why are there so many things that need to be discovered?!'
I thought that I knew everything in the novel and that I should easily survive my days here, but it seems that wasn't the case.
'I can see that the world beyond the novel is different, very different from when I read it before.'
I can't help but think that this is strange, considering that I was a reader and learned of this world through the eyes of the author in my world.
Who would've thought that there are more settings here than in the novel?
"Avril." I called for her.
She turned to me and slightly bowed her head, her right hand on her chest as she looked at me with an inquiring expression.
"Yes, My Lady?"
"Teach me more about the kingdom and its history."
Avril looks surprised at my words but she slowly nodded, her eyes displaying a satisfied emotion as the corner of her lip moved upward.
"As you wish, My Lady."
...Why do I get a sudden bad feeling about this?
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