A Stranger Wearing the Name of Your Wife - Chapter 8

The day after I returned to the Richter Empire’s palace, I took action right away. My brothers told me to rest for a day and wait until tomorrow, but the sooner, the better. It was a protective charm for my precious child. If I received it under the name of the Lichtenstein family, it would officially register her as a citizen of the Richter Empire.

A messenger was sent out immediately, and we departed before getting a reply from the temple. The carriage carrying royalty circled the large garden before arriving. If we arrived too early, they wouldn’t have time to prepare. Consideration like this is important in noble society.

The welcome was ready, and we were greeted warmly at the temple. I bowed to the Nine Gods as always and offered a bouquet of flowers to the statue of the goddess, just like I usually did. The goddess of love and fertility was also my guardian deity.

In the Richter Empire, every child receives judgment from the gods. When they turn three, they are brought before the statues of the gods and placed at their feet. Then the guardian deity is chosen. It is said that the gods themselves select and draw the child toward them, not humans.

Until the ritual called the “Holy Judgment” takes place, the child is protected by a charm pouch prepared by the temple. These pouches are given to everyone, regardless of wealth. When receiving one, a parent signs a document, and the temple uses that to manage people.

Because it’s such an important ritual, the temple never refuses sudden visits. In this unclear situation with the Kingdom of Addison, we couldn’t let them act first. Since there’s a possibility that the information that led to the marriage had been manipulated, I needed to complete Ingrid’s registration as soon as possible.

“This is the charm pouch. Please sign here.”

“Thank you. I’d like to make a donation as well.”

This situation wasn’t just a problem between two countries. The temple was involved too. The temple manages not only birth and death, but also marriage and divorce. And yet, they tried to deceive the temple.

If you turn the temple—which exists across nations—into an enemy… the foundation of the Kingdom of Addison will start to shake. If they underestimated the people’s faith, then they should deal with the consequences themselves.

“Lady Ingrid Christiane von Lichtenstein… will be registered as the Emperor’s niece and adopted daughter.”

The temple priests are wise. They receive proper education and learn manners. Even though I clearly ignored my husband’s presence when I signed, they said nothing.

“It’s been a while, Princess Victoria.”

At the Richter Empire’s temple, the only one who calls me “Princess” is High Priest Ulrich. I turned gracefully, lifting my dress slightly, and smiled with a nod.

“It has been a while, High Priest Ulrich. I’d like to speak with you. Do you have a moment?”

“If that is your wish, Princess, then Ulrich cannot refuse.”

His hand, aged gently over time, was wrinkled and marked with veins. I took it and walked with him to the inner garden of the temple. The gazebo where we used to spend time together still looked just as beautiful as before. The garden, filled with blooming blue roses that only grow on temple grounds, had been cleared of other people.

“This place hasn’t changed.”

“Has Your Highness changed a little, perhaps?”

“Yes. A lot has happened.”

The tea always served here was flower tea. Not because I liked it, but because the priests drank it regularly. Since I often came to see Ulrich, I grew to like it too. I took a sip of the familiar taste and began to speak about the real reason I came.