She held back plenty of what she wanted to ask as Oliver prompted her to rise from her seat.


    The priest led them to the cathedral on the east side of the shrine.


    The massive door that she was led to looked vaguely familiar.


    Oliver stopped and smiled as he stood next to the door.


    “This is as far as I can apany you. See youter, Rishe-sama.”


    “Thank you, Oliver-sama. See youter.”


    Afterward, Rishe must enter the cathedral and convey her broken engagement in front of the statue of the goddess.


    Afterwhich, a bishop would read out the sacred poem.


    By listening to it silently and epting the meaning of the sacred poem into the body and soul, it was believed that it could purify the soul from the stain of broken engagement.


    It was something she would do all day.


    “…Poor girl. How many hours of sacred poetry does she have to go through toplete the Engagement Cancetion Rite? Even the most devout of believers would suffer great pain.”


    “Through it all, she’ll only be allowed one rest at most…”


    She could hear the priests whispering to each other in low voices as they passed by.


    She could barely hear them talking, but she guessed what they were saying by the movement of their lips. And their sympathy was also directly rted to Rishe’s concern.


    <i>I know, right? I never came to worship in my fifth and sixth lives. I don’t know if I can endure another night of prayer…</i>


    Rishe gulped with determination as she entered the temple.


    –And then, a few hourster.


    <i>I-I-It’s so much fun!!!</i>


    In a private space, Rishe was ovee with emotion.


    The beautiful cathedral was filled with the voice of the bishop. The poem they read was said to be a trantion of the words written in the Holy Scriptures.


    When she was a Young Miss, she had heard these verses many times. But now, they soundedpletely different to Rishe.


    <i>I had no idea that the 12th verse of the holy poem was connected to the folklore of the Quarq Inds…!</i>


    As she listened to the bishop’s voice, Rishe felt excited and thrilled.


    <i>I used to think that this sacred poetry was a work of artposed of beautiful words. It’s a huge misunderstanding. It’s an epic adventure story with the gods as the protagonists!</i>


    She realized this as soon as the first section began.


    It was a truth that Rishe, a mere Young Miss, could never have realized.


    But having seen and heard so much about the world, she understood exactly what the poem was trying to say.


    <i>The “Breath of ice” that they just read must be referring to the winter coast of Quarq, which would mean that “The Great Stream,” on the ninth verse, the sea, would be mentioned again! — I knew it! The poem “Even the Flowers Freeze” refers to the phenomenon where the surface of the sea freezes and looks like a field of white flowers. It’s magnificent.</i>


    In her life as an alchemist, she had studied the phenomenon with her teacher, Michel.


    Rishe felt nostalgic, and her eyes sparkled as well as she remembered the frozen ocean scenery.


    [Soon a thunderp will pierce thend of bubbles. With the dawn…]


    <i>I wonder if the story of King Solnero will ovep with this one. And now that they’ve mentioned Princess Eusoness, I’m sure we’ll touch on it. I’m looking forward to it…!</i>


    “…”


    The bishop, who had been focusing down on the scriptures, nced at Rishe in bafflement.


    When he finished reading the 12th verse, he broke out into a whisper.


    “..W-Well then, that’s long enough. Let’s take a break here.


    “Indeed, I didn’t realize that so much time had already passed.”


    She wanted to hear more, but it looked like she’d have to wait.


    <i>I would have liked to hear more, but the bishop must be tired.</i>


    Because she was honestly disappointed, her disappointment surfaced on her face.