Ascendance of a Bookworm

After sending Ordnance away, I was trying to come up with an excuse so the high priest wouldn’t be angry, when Ordnance suddenly flew in with a message: “We’re heading to the temple immediately. Stay in your room and wait.”

Fran and Zaam, upon hearing this, started bustling about to prepare for the high priest’s arrival. They went to notify the high priest’s attendants and headed to the kitchen to prepare tea. Watching them, I calculated the high priest’s level of anger based on the tone of Ordnance’s voice.

“Hmm… I think surprise and anxiety are just slightly outweighing the anger? Although it still seems like anger is the dominant feeling—it's a subtle balance. What do you think, Darmel?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to stop struggling and just accept being scolded by Lord Ferdinand?”

…That’s not better at all!

“I haven’t done anything wrong this time. There’s no reason for me to be scolded.”

“In that case, I don’t see any reason to avoid Lord Ferdinand either.”

Darmel shrugged with a ‘what can I do’ look, and I pouted.

“I’m trying to avoid being scolded even though I’ve done nothing wrong.”

“Good luck, Lady Rosemine. I’m rooting for you.”

Angelica clenched her fist with determination. I couldn’t help but say, “Is that all you’re offering?” Angelica’s brows twitched sadly.

“Unfortunately, I’m no match for Lord Ferdinand’s intelligent reprimands. If I were fighting alongside Steinluk, I’d do my best even if I couldn’t win, and if I were just sitting beside you during the scolding, I could manage that. Lady Rosemine, which do you want?”

…I don’t want either!

While we were having this trivial conversation, the sound of a jingle bell announced their arrival. Through the opened door, the high priest entered, accompanied by Eckhardt Brother and Justox, leading the temple attendants.

“I’m not at fault, you know!”

“To open with that, what are you talking about? You should greet us first.”

“I apologize.”

…Instead of avoiding the scolding, I was immediately reprimanded for something completely unrelated. This is strange. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

The high priest sighed, pressing his temple, and exchanged lengthy greetings with the nobles. I then invited the high priest to take a seat.

“I’ll say it again…”

“Enough. It was foolish of me to trust you and ask you to watch over things. You’re simple and easily deceived. If a book is dangled before your eyes, you completely forget everything else and jump at it.”

…Ah, it seems I’ve completely lost his trust.

“Um, it’s okay if you’re angry, right?”

Feeling like the high priest was about to abandon me with his exasperated expression, I offered this, and he made a face that said how troublesome it all was.

“A waste of time. More importantly, what is this outrageous new discovery? You’re so unpredictable, it’s troubling.”

“What do you mean by that?”

I felt like the high priest could read everything about me, yet he said I was unpredictable, making me tilt my head.

“There are times when what is outrageous news to you is nothing to others, and times when you dive headfirst into matters no one else even imagines. It’s completely unforeseeable. Which is it this time?”

“I can’t possibly judge either. Everything is new knowledge to me.”

While being scolded by the high priest, I opened the Sacred Scripture. Not only the high priest but also Justox leaned in with interest.

“It’s blank.”

“Can you see the contents, high priest?”

“There’s no way you can see it without permission since you’re the temple head.”

“Princess, please grant me permission as well.”

Confirming that even the high priest can’t see the Sacred Scripture without permission, I quietly watched the high priest and granted it.

“I grant viewing permission to the high priest and Justox.”

In the next moment, I noticed the high priest’s eyebrows twitch ever so slightly. His expression barely changed, so I couldn’t tell if he saw the magic circle or not.