KFBRV Pt 2 Ch 23

Charlotte burst into a hollow laugh as Odette walked away. The entire encounter felt utterly absurd.

Platinum-blonde hair practically glowing under the orange hue of the setting sun, sparkling teal eyes.

She presented a stark contrast to the pathetic, wretched figure trembling behind bars in her past life.

How dare she act like this?

However, Odette's behavior was the most infuriating aspect of all.

Unbelievable. How dare you pat my cheek?

Is Odette treating her like a joke?

Charlotte hadn't imagined such insolence even in her nightmares.

Her older sister, Han Suwan, was a perpetually gloomy, depressing human being. A girl who lived her entire life shrunken inward, constantly wearing a dark, anxious expression.

Yet, if Songyi's mother showed her even a sliver of kindness, Suwan would beam as if a fluorescent light had switched on in her face.

A face that looked particularly detestable when smiling, as if she possessed the whole world.

And yet, you dare to treat me like a subordinate?

Arrogant Odette.

Despite her seething irritation, she made zero attempt to stop Odette from leaving.

She certainly desired to torment Odette a little, but their current location was the Grand Cathedral. A place where High Priests or the Pope could appear at any absolute moment.

Furthermore, with the memorial service rapidly approaching, a High Priest could step out into the garden to fetch her at any second.

If Odette caught their attention, it would spark a massive disaster. The instant the world realized she was alive, tonight's memorial service would be canceled.

I absolutely can't allow the memorial service to be canceled.

Following her disastrously lackluster debutante ball, Charlotte had endured two solid years of mediocre treatment.

Her only viable path to elevating her status within high society was securing adoption into a prominent noble family.

To achieve that, she absolutely needed tonight's memorial service to skyrocket her prestige as a Purifier.

Therefore, the event had to proceed flawlessly. She couldn't risk losing the Transcendents in this life as well.

Don't let your emotions dictate your actions. Focus solely on how to handle the fact that Odette is alive.

Her memories of two distinct lifetimes provided Charlotte with one absolute certainty. The irrefutable truth that the role of the sole protagonist rightfully belonged to her.

Whether in her past life or this current world.

Regardless of Odette's actions, her existence was forever destined to remain nothing more than Charlotte's shadow.

A mere prop designed to make Charlotte shine even brighter. That fundamental truth would remain unchanged, even in this new life.

She took a slow, steadying breath. Just then, a voice called out from behind her.

[High Priest] "Saintess, were you out here?"

See? I told you a High Priest could appear at any moment.

Had she delayed Odette even slightly, the cathedral staff would have undoubtedly discovered her.

She turned to face the High Priest, flashing a radiant smile.

[High Priest] "What were you doing out here? From a distance, it appeared you were conversing with someone."

[Charlotte] "Ah, it was just an assistant priest. He mentioned he was heading out to purchase supplies for the grand banquet, so we exchanged a few words."

She delivered the lie flawlessly, seamlessly steering the conversation.

[Charlotte] "I should have headed inside sooner. I apologize for making you come out to find me, High Priest. I felt a bit dizzy after the parade, perhaps from exhaustion."

[High Priest] "Oh my. Is that so? I apologize for rushing you when you are tired, Saintess. However, you must change into your memorial service attire immediately."

[Charlotte] "Of course, it is my absolute joy to do so. Where should I go to change?"

[High Priest] "Please follow me; I will escort you."

She followed the High Priest down the corridor, her mind racing constantly.

She would change into the tunic and descend into the Grand Cathedral's subterranean vault. It housed the sacred flame—a fire that had burned continuously since Rosaline first ignited it.

She would transfer the flame to a torch and carry it to the grand chapel where the memorial service would be held.

The service officially commenced with the candlelight ceremony.

Following the lengthy memorial service, she would transport the sacred flame out to the garden. The flame would ignite the fireworks, kicking off the spectacular display.

Executing all those ceremonies will take roughly four hours at the absolute minimum.

Does she possess a trump card powerful enough to strike me during that window?

Charlotte systematically reviewed a Purifier's capabilities and the various functions of the status window.

However, no matter how intensely she analyzed the situation, she concluded it was practically impossible for Odette to launch a successful attack within a mere few hours.

In that case......

Lost in calculation, she abruptly halted her steps as she followed the High Priest.

[High Priest] "Saintess?"

Surprised by the sudden cessation of her footsteps, the High Priest turned around.

He was exceptionally young for a High Priest. Typically, the position required decades of experience, meaning priests only attained the rank in their twilight years. Yet, this man had secured the title at a remarkably young age.

He also wielded an immense influence within the Grand Cathedral—an influence so potent it warranted the Pope's active wariness. In her previous life, within a few short years of this exact point, he amassed enough political power to rival the Pope himself.

A priest utterly devoid of faith, yet ravenously hungry for the Pope's power.

He was also the very man the Pope had deliberately excluded from today's memorial service, assigning him the menial task of attending to her wardrobe.

In my past life, he ascended to the papacy immediately following the former Pope's sudden death.

The Pope had warned her repeatedly.

He is highly competent, but utterly untrustworthy. Keep your guard up.

His name was definitely......

[Charlotte] "Priest Raphael......."

She called out to him, her voice trembling deliberately.

[Charlotte] "Actually, before participating in the memorial service...... there is a secret I wish to confess only to you."

[Raphael] "Pardon?"

[Charlotte] "Will you accept this as a formal confession and swear to protect my secret?"

Her voice wavered, perfectly projecting the image of a terrified, hesitant girl.

[Raphael] "......."

His eyes widened in genuine shock at the completely unexpected request, but the surprise lasted only a fraction of a second. He instantly rearranged his features into a mask of solemn piety.

[Raphael] "Of course."

Hearing his gravely serious tone, she couldn't suppress an internal smirk.

I chose the perfect target.

Moments before the Grand Cathedral's most sacred event. Amidst the frantic preparations, the Saintess abruptly asks to deliver a secret confession.

Yet, he manufactured that flawlessly serious expression instantly. He was a man perpetually prepared to hoard secrets.

Because his ultimate objective was the Pope's absolute authority, manipulating him was incredibly simple.

Humans driven by raw ambition present far fewer variables than those motivated by abstract concepts like conviction, morality, or faith.

[Raphael] "As you are well aware, Saintess, no priest would ever dare divulge the contents of a confession. I am a priest who adheres strictly to the Temple's laws."

[Charlotte] "Priest Raphael."

[Raphael] "Furthermore, Saintess, are you not the very Saintess I am sworn to protect with my life? I would not breathe a word of this even if a blade were held to my throat."

[Charlotte] "That is a tremendous relief. It is an incredibly heavy burden to bear, and I desperately needed to confide in the priest I trust most."

She bit her lip, feigning intense hesitation.

He controls his own formidable faction within the Grand Cathedral.

Therefore, the moment she delivered her confession, the information would instantly circulate among Raphael's loyalists. She needed to craft her words with absolute precision.

[Charlotte] "Haa...... Now that the moment has come, I find myself terrified."

She buried her face in her hands, stammering with manufactured anxiety.

He offered a benevolent, encouraging smile, silently urging her to speak.

Finally, she blurted out the words, acting as if overwhelmed by emotion.

[Charlotte] "I am...... actually not an A-class Purifier. I am an S-class Purifier. The purification water I witnessed in my Awakening Dream was not a mere lake; it was the ocean."

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