KFBRV Pt 2 Ch 21

Her timing is impeccable. I was waiting for her anyway.

That long procession would halt before the main gates of the Grand Cathedral.

The parade procession must have ended. If they followed to escort her, they must be lower-ranking holy knights.

High-ranking holy knights never participated in mundane events like parades. Furthermore, since the parade concluded, the participants only needed to disband.

Escorting Charlotte proved they were lower-ranking holy knights who rarely crossed paths with the Saintess.

This meant they lacked the authority to set foot in the Grand Cathedral's garden without the Pope's explicit permission.

Among that massive crowd, only Charlotte possessed the clearance to pass through the cathedral gates.

As expected, the procession halted before the Grand Cathedral's main gate. She descended from the carriage, accepting a holy knight's assistance.

[Holy Knights] "Please enter, Saintess!"

The lower-ranking holy knights bowed to her in unison.

However, she offered zero response and turned away with absolute coldness. She displayed a blatant disregard for their respectful greetings.

She passed through the gates and entered the Grand Cathedral without sparing them a single glance.

Right. That is the Han Songyi I know. Treating those she considers beneath her as entirely invisible.

Odette let out a hollow laugh.

Among the lower ranks, knights possessing the skill or noble lineage to rise to higher positions never received parade duty.

Those assigned to such tasks were lowborn men destined to remain low-ranking knights forever, or trainees facing imminent dismissal.

They existed as powerless individuals who would never dare voice complaints about the Grand Cathedral or the Saintess.

Regardless of the goodwill they showed by escorting her, Charlotte viewed them as worthless entities. Exactly how she had treated Han Suwan in the past.

She hasn't changed one bit.

Only Odette had changed. She completely discarded the pathetic Han Suwan, who surrendered everything to appease Han Songyi's moods.

Odette strode toward the center of the cathedral garden. Charlotte also walked directly toward Odette's position.

Within the sprawling garden of the Grand Cathedral, only they both stood facing each other.

---

Charlotte offered Odette a greeting with a honey-sweet voice.

[Charlotte] "Oh my. Hello?"

Her demeanor presented a stark contrast to the absolute dismissal she had shown the holy knights moments ago.

[Odette] "......."

[Charlotte] "You must be one of the believers granted access to the Grand Cathedral today. Congratulations! I heard the competition was incredibly fierce since they only selected the ten most devout individuals."

She spoke the truth. To secure a meeting with Rolf, Odette had also poured a massive sum of blind gold into the Grand Cathedral's coffers. She secured entry using her childhood name, 'Lina.'

Thanks to Ferdinand relentlessly dumping the Count's gold into her casino, she possessed overflowing wealth.

Remembering her past life and knowing the plot of <The Only Savior> granted her countless methods to multiply her fortune. Therefore, money posed zero problems.

[Charlotte] "His Holiness the Pope praised the ten selected believers endlessly, you know? Meeting someone with such extraordinary faith brings me immense joy."

[Odette] "......."

[Charlotte] "I am so insignificant....... Thank you for coming to see me in person."

She took a deliberate step toward Odette.

Odette wore the same disguise from their encounter on the bridge, but Charlotte clearly failed to recognize her.

[Odette] "......Yes."

She intentionally delayed her response, delivering a dry, monotone answer.

Charlotte's brow furrowed. An anxiety flickered in her light blue eyes.

She approached me with pure calculation from the very first word.

As one of the ten individuals who offered an astronomical donation, Odette represented a massive source of wealth.

Charlotte undoubtedly schemed to exploit that fabricated faith, planning to siphon gold using her title as the Saintess.

Provoked by Odette's apathetic reaction, she sweetened her tone even further.

[Charlotte] "Ah, dear believer! I have so many white roses. Would you accept one?"

[Odette] "......."

[Charlotte] "Carrying all these roses is so heavy. If you take just one, it'll lighten my load."

She flashed a bright smile, her lips forming a perfect heart shape. She projected an absolutely adorable, endearing image.

A bitter taste filled Odette's mouth.

This is the first time she has directed that smile at me.

Charlotte acted with absolute charm around everyone else. Odette finally understood why the entire world adored this girl and despised her.

The Han Songyi, who played malicious pranks by hiding their late mother's keepsakes.

The Han Songyi who stuck chewed gum into Han Suwan's meticulously grown hair.

The Han Songyi, who dumped dirty mop water over her head in the school hallway and locked her in the science lab.

That vicious girl was nowhere to be found.

The Han Songyi, who suffocated her and constantly made her feel incredibly insignificant.

[Charlotte] "Yes? Please take it. Today is Victory Day, after all."

If she possessed the capacity for such kindness and warmth, why did she unleash such brutal cruelty upon Han Suwan?

[Songyi] “Unnie. Why are you ruining the family trip over some stupid necklace?”

Her mocking voice overlapped perfectly with Charlotte's honeyed, persuasive tone.

The vivid memory forced a cynical sneer onto Odette's lips.

[Odette] "I apologize, but I have zero desire to accept the rose. I don't intend to celebrate Victory Day."

Clearly unaccustomed to rejection, Charlotte's expression stiffened.

Predictably, she quickly morphed her features into a mask of deep sorrow.

She isn't the type to let a rejection slide.

She would undoubtedly fabricate endless excuses to force Odette into accepting the flower.

What lie will you spin this time?

[Charlotte] "If you refuse this rose, the late Lady Odette will be devastated......"

She spoke with a tearful, trembling voice.

Odette gaped internally.

Are you selling my name over a single rejected flower?

She furrowed her brow and shot back a question.

[Odette] "What exactly does that mean?"

[Charlotte] "It's a secret, but...... Purifiers can read each other's hearts. Even if one of them has passed away. Therefore, I can feel Lady Odette's will."

Odette nearly burst into laughter.

Since when do Purifiers share a telepathic bond?

This absurd concept never existed in the lore of <The Only Savior>, nor had Karin—who memorized the scriptures flawlessly—ever mentioned it.

If such a telepathic ability existed, Charlotte would have instantly recognized Odette standing right in front of her.

I knew she excelled at lying, but......

Witnessing Charlotte peddle her name so brazenly was absolutely appalling.

[Charlotte] "Even if you dislike me, surely you love Lady Odette? You mustn't bring further sorrow to someone who met such a tragic, pitiful end."

Following the guilt trip, thick, heavy tears began to spill from her eyes.

Without witnesses nearby, Odette avoided immediate condemnation, but any passerby would have instantly branded her as a vicious bully.

Over a single rejected rose. Charlotte seamlessly transformed her opponent into an abuser and herself into a helpless victim. Her exceptional talent for turning anyone into a villain remained entirely intact.

[Odette] "Haha."

Faced with her ludicrous performance, a light chuckle escaped Odette's lips.

[Charlotte] "Huh? Why...... are you laughing?"

Her eyes widened in genuine shock at the sound.

She had fully intended to weaponize Odette's guilt to force the rose into her hands. Encountering such a blatant, dismissive reaction clearly threw her off balance.

[Odette] "Because this situation is highly entertaining."

Interpreting the laughter as a direct insult, Charlotte's expression turned instantly glacial.

[Charlotte] "Entertaining?"

Odette twisted one corner of her mouth, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

[Odette] "Yes."

[Charlotte] "This isn't a laughing matter. You're making a massive mistake right now."

Instead of answering her threat, Odette lightly grasped the edge of her hood.

Simultaneously, she summoned the status window in her mind.

Remove the hair color and eye color modification items.

Remove the glasses as well.

Return my appearance to its original state.

[Change Hairstyle (Random Change)]

[Change Eye Color (Random Change)]

[Glasses that alter impression]

[All equipped items have been successfully removed!]

With deliberate slowness, Odette pulled back the hood.

Charlotte's expression froze, the color rapidly draining from her face.

[Charlotte] "L-Liar."

The pretty, artificial smile vanished, replaced by a slack-jawed gape of absolute horror.

[Charlotte] "H-How are you......"

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