The Possessed Evil Woman Wreaks Havoc - Chapter 127

I boldly took a seat at the table and said to the Duke and Gabby, “I’m hungry.”

At my request, the Duke summoned a servant and ordered a fresh meal.

Soon, a steaming hot dinner was placed before me.

Nom.

I picked up my fork and began shoveling the food into my mouth.

While I ate, the Duke and Gabby continued their conversation.

“The princess’s recent movements are suspicious. Yesterday, she went to the temple, and today she went to the imperial palace to meet the Crown Prince. Gabriel, do you have any idea what the princess is planning?”

“Ah, damn. If you don’t know, how would I? And what kind of duke are you if you can’t gather any information? You should’ve had at least one spy in the palace by now.”

“Gabriel. For once, watch your mouth. One day, that filthy tongue of yours will get you in serious trouble.”

Huh?

Lilith went to the temple?

Hearing something new, I paused mid-bite and lifted my head.

Why did Lilith go to the temple? I pondered for a moment before deciding I’d just ask her later.

Still, the Demon King visiting the temple? And the temple folks had no idea?

I should’ve been there to witness that spectacle.

With that thought, I returned to my meal.

The Duke paused his conversation with Gabby to glance at me and asked, “By the way, Isabella. Have you received any contact from the temple?”

“Why would the temple contact me?”

Ever since Prince Kayden left the ducal house, I hadn’t heard a word from the temple.

Given that I’m supposedly the Saintess, it was odd.

They used to call for me constantly, but the sudden silence felt strange.

At my response, the Duke furrowed his brows as if he found it odd too.

“It seems you’ve greatly fallen out of favor with the High Priest.”

“And who does he think he is to hate me? How dare he.”

Gabby snickered at my words. “Hey, what’s there to like about you that’s saint-like? But yeah, it’s still pretty shameless. Our troublemaker here took down all those monsters at the imperial hunting competition by herself. A magnificent feat, and yet the temple doesn’t even try to honor her.”

Gabby had a talent for making compliments sound like insults.

I scowled and snapped back at him. “Don’t call me a hero. It sounds disgusting coming from your mouth.”

And being called a hero who saved humans was quite the insult to a demon.

Gabby chuckled at my response. “Hah? Too bad. I’m calling you a hero anyway.”

“You’re not even worth arguing with.”

“See? That attitude is exactly why the High Priest suspects you’re not the real Saintess!”

Gabby and I bickered for a bit.

The Duke shook his head at us and finally got to the point.

“The temple announced they’re moving up the Grand Prayer Gathering.”

“Grand Prayer Gathering? What’s that?”

“It’s a major annual prayer event held by the temple. Any noble with status attends. Since it’s usually held at the beginning of the year, it’s also called the New Year’s Prayer Gathering. …You should know this.”

“…I knew. I was just asking to see if you knew.”

I brushed it off casually.

Now that I thought about it, the event didn’t sound completely unfamiliar.

When I first arrived in this body, I asked Jessie about it.

“Jessie, is there a way for me to meet an angel?”

“An angel? Well, there’s a way, but…”

Back then, Jessie had mentioned the New Year’s Prayer Gathering as a way to meet one.

A prayer event where angels would descend in person.

I smirked.

Come to think of it, aren’t they kind of ridiculous?

Just because humans pray a bit, they come down from the Celestial Realm… I’ll never understand those angels.

Anyway.

“Hmm.”

I let out a groan.

This was troublesome.

Of course, I was now strong enough to stand against most angels.

But I highly doubted some random angel would descend at such an event.

“Father. Do you know which angel is coming to the gathering?”

“Hmm. Last year, it was the archangel Raphael.”

“Ah, yeah. The atmosphere was insane back then. Thanks to the healing power he bestowed, even the old man’s balding scalp got fixed.”

“…Gabriel, what nonsense are you spouting? I’ve never had hair loss. Ugh, forget it. Talking to you only gives me a headache.”

I half-listened to Gabby and the Duke’s conversation as I sank into thought.

Archangel Raphael. He had the power of healing, and he and I weren’t exactly on bad terms.

Then again—

There probably wasn’t anyone who considered that pushover an enemy. He was astonishingly ‘angel-like.’

How should I put it? Raphael was the type who’d gladly offer his right cheek if someone struck his left.

I know because I’ve tried it a few times.

Anyway, if an archangel descended at last year’s Grand Prayer Gathering, there’s no way this year will be uneventful.

If it’s an archangel, they’ll immediately sense my identity.

A demon posing as the Saintess… what a serious blasphemy that must be to them. They could react quite violently.

Unlike us, who only call the Demon God our father in name, angels genuinely believe the Celestial God is their father.

I wasn’t ready to face an archangel.

Even if I regained all my demonic power, I might still not be enough.

I hate to admit it, but compared to the other wielders of power, I’m weaker.

…Probably because I’m still young. I rationalized it to myself.

In this troublesome situation, I bit my lip lightly.

Why would the temple suddenly move the prayer gathering forward?

To my question, the Duke replied, “Because of Princess Karolea. As you know, her kingdom is full of heretics. The temple seems to think that if they show her the Grand Prayer Gathering, they might be able to convert her.”

“What an incredibly stupid thought,” I said bluntly.

To begin with, the real Princess Karolea is a demon’s contractor. There’s no way someone like her would change just because she saw some lowly angel.

She’s already sold her soul to a demon.

And right now, the one occupying the princess’s body is the Demon King, Lilith.

If they show an angel’s descent in front of Lilith… hmm?

This might actually be interesting.

With Lilith’s mischievous nature, who knows what chaos she might cause?

And if the archangel recognizes my identity and tries to attack me, she’ll probably protect me.

That thought brought a small sense of relief.

Gabby looked at me and said, “Come to think of it, this must feel kind of emotional for you.”

“What do you mean?”

I didn’t understand what Gabby meant and asked him.

“Don’t you remember? Last year, you were stripped of your qualification to attend the Grand Prayer Gathering.”

Ah.

Now that he mentioned it, I had heard something like that before.

Normally, high-ranking nobles of the empire are invited to the Grand Prayer Gathering.

But because Isabella claimed to be the Saintess, the temple was so furious that they revoked her invitation.

Even now, I couldn’t understand why Isabella made such a foolish claim.

The temple priests aren’t complete idiots—well, maybe they are?

They were fooled by me, after all. So perhaps they are idiots?

No, that’s not it. Only a demon of my caliber could have fooled the temple.

Still, the temple should have figured out the truth quickly. So why did Isabella make such a claim?

Well, if she was emotionally cornered at the time and just wanted her family’s attention, that lie might make a bit of sense.

Besides, Isabella is the descendant of Daphne, the real Saintess.

Even as I tried to justify Isabella’s actions to myself, I couldn’t shake the feeling of discomfort.

“Well, it’s not like I’m feeling sentimental or anything.”

I vaguely brushed off Gabby’s question.

I wasn’t actually Isabella. And I certainly wasn’t the real Saintess.

So why would I feel anything?

Gabby scoffed and said, “Come on, it’s just us. You can be honest in front of your family. You’re feeling good about this, right? The temple bastards who looked down on you last year now need you to offer the prayer on their behalf.”

“Me? Offer the prayer?” I asked, making a sour face.

“Of course. Normally, the High Priest would lead it, but since you’re the Saintess now, it has to be you. You’re the one who must deliver the representative prayer.”

I really don’t like that.

Sure, I enjoy blasphemy and all, but—

Committing blasphemy right in front of an actual archangel? That’s pushing it, especially in this human body.

Human bodies are weak. I might not make it out with all my limbs intact if I face an archangel’s wrath.

I told myself I’d take good care of this body and return it to Isabella in one piece.

“No. I’m not going to the Grand Prayer Gathering,” I said firmly.