novelraw Chapter 369: Lena - Pronunciation Marks
Chapter 369: Lena - Pronunciation Marks
367. Lena - Pronunciation Marks
“Hero, you’re awake? Good morning.”
Once again, I smiled today.
Imitating the radiant smile of a saintess, though the thought of having to keep this up indefinitely made me sigh. It was proof of my lack of discipline, no doubt. Rera approached, shaking her head, and said,
“Good morning. But, Priestess, I forgot to mention this yesterday—please stop calling me ‘Hero.’ It’s unsettling...”
“Sure, I’ll stop.”
Ah, thank goodness.
I didn’t enjoy it either, so I accepted the suggestion eagerly. But this seemed to fluster the “Hero” herself—wait, even I’m doing it now. Rera stumbled over her words,
“Then, um... hmm. Just call me Rera. Re-ra.”
“Reera?”“No, ‘Re-ra.’ The ‘e’ sound is longer.”
“How’s it spelled?”
“R, e, r, a. But, you know, all the Bellita Kingdom folks I met kept mispronouncing it as Reera.”
“Hmm. Based on the spelling, Rera is correct... but pronunciation varies by region. Ah, that reminds me. In the north, vowels tend to be elongated, like with Queen Reti.”
“What about Queen Reti?”
Rera’s expression sharpened.
She didn’t seem pleased with a foreigner bringing up her country’s revered queen. She pulled out a chair on the opposite side with more force than necessary.
Of course, I had no intention of disrespecting her.
“There’s a story about how Queen Reti’s name is written. Originally, following the Arcaea Empire’s phonetic system, it should’ve been written and pronounced as ‘Reti.’ But the Queen herself refused, saying she preferred being called Reti.”
“Oh... and then?”
“There was a lot of debate about how to represent her name. They couldn’t just use the Arcaea system since she was the one who led the north to independence from the Empire. But rewriting the entire phonetic system wasn’t an option either, so they compromised by adding a diacritical mark. This is how we write her name.”
/ Reti' /
The napkins on our table—probably a result of yesterday’s generous tip—came in handy.
Thinking once again how money makes the world go round, I wrote the name on one of them.
Rera stared at it curiously.
“What’s this mark (‘)?”
“It’s an ancient phonetic symbol. It was borrowed from a system created by Reisia, the sister of Lionel, who founded the Arcaea Kingdom. When attached to a vowel, it indicates the sound should be lengthened. Naturally, it shouldn’t be used with consonants.”
“...”
I was surprised.
I didn’t expect Rera to be interested in something so academic. It was a reminder not to judge people by appearances.
She stared at the napkin for a while before tucking it into her pocket. Around then, Rev and Ray came downstairs, and we greeted them warmly.
I whispered to Rev,
“What were you two talking about up there?”
He whispered back,
“Later. When Rera’s not around.”
I didn’t pay much attention to his words, instead envying the unreserved hug between Rera and Ray.
I was still a priestess, after all.
Grabbing Rev’s hand, I hooked my ring finger around his and pulled him to sit beside me, just in time to avoid Ophelia’s gaze as she descended a beat later.
We ate together.
Being a priest didn’t mean eating differently. There were no strict rules against meat or encouragement for vegetarianism, so I stole bites from Rev’s plate.
After we finished the main course—the innkeeper, smelling money, had brought out a full course—we sipped drinks. That’s when Rera asked,
“So, Priestess. About that evil god. You said it’s in the royal palace? Is it strong?”
Rera was full of questions. Unlike me, she didn’t know the full scope of the situation.
No dreams, apparently.
It was a trait that felt both enviable and not, but at the moment, I envied it. Because...
‘I don’t know either!’
Which left me holding the bag.
I felt disgusted by the expectant smiles on Rev’s and Ray’s faces as I replied,
“Very.”
It must be strong. After all, Rev, that bastard, and even the prince hadn’t dealt with it yet.
Still, I kept smiling as I added,
“But the Hero will surely triumph. I’ll do everything in my power to help, too! Oh, right, Priestess Ophelia, how did your visit to the church go yesterday?”
Ophelia pushed aside her empty glass and answered,
“I met with the Cardinal. He said he’ll contact the Saintess for now.”
Ophelia had visited the Orville Church while I was busy “convincing” Rera yesterday.
Her purpose was to secure support from priests and holy knights. As a high-ranking cleric, meeting a cardinal was an easy task for her.
The Saintess would undoubtedly send help, which seemed to mark the end of Ophelia’s role in this matter.
As a junior priestess, I expressed my gratitude.
“Thank you. I was worried about how to approach the Cardinal, but you’ve lifted a great burden from me. I truly appreciate it.”
Ophelia met my joined hands with a kind smile and said,
“It’s something I should do. Even without me, I’m sure you would’ve managed just fine. Have confidence in yourself.”
“Priestess...!”
She was like a mentor to me. But some others just had to ruin the moment.
“Oh~ Rera. So, you’ve accepted that you’re the Hero now? You were calling yourself a fraud just yesterday...”
“Shut up. I’m being serious here.”
It was Ray and Rev.
Ray seemed determined to tease Rera, while Rev looked at me with an annoyingly amused expression.
I could feel my cursing skills improving. As I pondered the origins and necessity of swearing, Rera asked a pointed question.
“So how are we getting into the palace? We’ll need to bring weapons, too.”
“Ah, the prince—”
“We’re still figuring it out.”
Rev interrupted before I could speak. I closed my mouth, thinking we’d blend in with Prince Lean’s entourage.
Rev continued,
“There is a method we’ve secured, but it carries some risks, so we’re looking for alternatives. We’ll let you know soon.”
“Hmm... okay. But my sword is pretty unique, you know. Smuggling it in won’t be easy. And honestly, I’m not even sure weapons are allowed in the palace, regardless of appearance.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll come up with something.”
“Oh~ Rera’s pretty sharp.”
“Oh, shut up! I’m serious! Come here for a second.”
Rera grabbed Ray by the collar and dragged him off. She waved her sword and napkin around, saying something I couldn’t hear before returning shortly after.
She looked much more serious than yesterday.
For now, there wasn’t much else to discuss. We’d have to wait for Rev to finalize the plan.
As I wondered, What should I do today? Ray conveniently spoke up.
“Rera, remember how I said you’d get to spar with knights in Orville?”
“Of course. But how? This doesn’t seem like that kind of place.”
“I found one. Katrina, a former knight from the Second Order, retired due to childcare. She’s currently working as a private guard.”
“Oh! Really? Will she spar with me?”
“For a price.”
“How much?”
“Ten silver coins per bout.”
Rera’s face fell.
“That’s expensive!”
“It’s reasonable. She’s not just some petty noble’s knight. Being from the Second Order means she’s top-notch.”
“Well, it depends on the knight. Not all knights are strong, even from the Order. And honestly, we could easily take on most knights. We’re not exactly amateurs...”
Rera’s eyes met Rev’s—“the winner’s.” She changed her tone.
“...But what I mean is, does Katrina really have the skills to back that price? She’s a woman, right? If she retired after having kids, her skills must’ve dulled. Ten silver is too much.”
“Then just beat her. I doubt she’d demand payment if you win. Besides, I have plenty of money.”
Ray tapped his pocket with a grin.
The sound of coins clinking in Ray's pocket was so obvious it felt like even the innkeeper could hear it. I noticed his gaze from the kitchen counter growing sharper, and I predicted we’d soon receive dessert. I wasn’t wrong.
“This is on the house!”
Sure, they said it was complimentary, but the kind of dessert that demanded a guilty conscience if you didn’t pay for it soon arrived: sherbet.
It was ice cream.
While winter made ice easier to procure, it didn’t change the fact that this was a luxurious treat. We mixed the honey drizzled over the white ice and savored it. As we ate, Ray announced,
“We’ll head out for the sparring match now. Rev, you should join us.”
“Hmm. Should I?”
“?”
That look in Rev’s eyes again—wistful and full of stories untold.
I quickly caught on. This Katrina person must be connected to these two somehow. I clapped my hands enthusiastically and interjected,
“I want to come too! I’d love to see the Hero sparring! Priestess Ophelia, would you like to join us? You’re free today, aren’t you?”
The more distractions, the better! Priestess Ophelia nodded in agreement.
When Rera and Ophelia went upstairs to prepare, I took the opportunity to ask something I’d been wondering. Not about Katrina—no, I wasn’t that transparent.
“About getting into the palace. Wasn’t the plan to slip in with Prince Lean’s entourage? Is there another way?”
“Well, Ray and I were just talking about that,” Rev said. “It’s hard to admit, but I used to work as a palace guard.”
“You mean Prince Lean did, right?”
“Yeah. Anyway, the palace security is insanely tight. They compare the entourage members against the list of names recorded at the border. Weapons are confiscated as a matter of course. So that method won’t work.”
“Then what’s the plan?”
“There’s a secret passage I know about. It’s not an official royal passage but one beneath the Rauno family estate. The problem is...”
“What?”
“It might be a passage Astroth knows about—or worse, one only Astroth knows about. We’ve never used it, so it’s risky. I’d rather avoid it and find another way since we still have time.”
“Hmm.”
I considered myself a novice.
“So... Is this Katrina person connected to Prince Lean? Or you?”
“She’s connected to Lean and me,” Ray replied. “Rev’s never actually met her, I think.”
I scratched my head awkwardly.
‘So she’s not someone tied to Rev. My bad.’
I wondered if it had been a mistake to insist on tagging along. Worse, I’d dragged Priestess Ophelia into this. Neither of us knew a thing about swordsmanship, so watching a sparring match was unlikely to be fun.
Perhaps Rev noticed my thoughts because he chuckled and said,
“Ray, we’re heading to Katrina’s new place, right? She moved after breaking free of her ‘chains.’”
“Chains?”
“Yeah, she lives next door to Jenia now.”
“Oh, that’s great. Lena, there’s a theater near Katrina’s place called Theater. Why don’t you and Priestess Ophelia watch the sparring match for a bit, then head to the theater? I’ve seen a few plays there—it’s worth it.”
“A theater? Wow! A play? I’ve never seen one before! Oh my gosh, how exciting! A play! A play!”
Noticing my outburst, I dashed to my room.
Wearing priestly robes to the theater seemed inappropriate, so I changed into casual clothes and informed Priestess Ophelia. She hesitated briefly before deciding to change as well, winking conspiratorially.
“I’ve never been to the capital of my homeland before—not even before I became a priestess. I’d like to enjoy the moment.”
And oh my goodness.
I knew she was beautiful for her age, but she looked stunning.
Dressed in simple civilian clothes, Priestess Ophelia exuded a different aura entirely. Her reverence transformed into the elegance of a noblewoman, and her pious gaze softened into the warmth of a caring mother. Anyone would see her as a woman who had lived a good life.
I showered her with praise.
“You look amazing!”
“You do as well, Lena.”
“I mean it, really!”
“So do I.”
Ah, truly.
Even her words carried sincerity and clarity, as if her god spoke through her.
Of course, I still intended to marry Rev. My apologies, Priestess Ophelia.
We descended, and the others were ready to leave. The innkeeper bowed deeply until we were out of sight.
Rev, Ophelia, and I took a carriage provided by the church, while Ray and Rera followed on horseback.
We soon arrived at a modest estate with a blue roof.
The identical house next door belonged to Jenia, the woman Prince Lean was fond of. Entering the estate with the blue roof, we were greeted by a woman with fiery red hair: Katrina.
“So many spectators. I’ll have to charge extra,” she declared confidently before disappearing into the house as the sound of a child crying echoed. She returned moments later, carrying the child on her back.
I overheard Rera and Ray whispering.
“...Ray. I don’t trust that lady’s skills.”
“Well, we’ve come this far. Try sparring with her—you never know.”
“Fine.”
Why was it so important for Rera to spar with this woman?
Despite my curiosity, the match didn’t begin until we witnessed Katrina changing a diaper(!).
Clang! Clang!
As the first few strikes exchanged, Rera’s eyes sparkled. Mine, however, grew heavy with sleep. Before I could doze off, I suggested to Priestess Ophelia that we step outside.
“I think I made a mistake by insisting on watching the sparring. We should’ve gone straight to the theater. Sorry for dragging you along, Priestess.”
“Not at all. Thanks to you, I’ve seen something rare. I’m looking forward to the play.”
But when we arrived at the theater, a sign announced that no plays would be performed for some time.
Just as guilt began to overwhelm me, another sign caught my eye. An exhibition was being held instead.
Grateful for the alternative, we purchased tickets (why are they so expensive?!) and entered.
The exhibition featured paintings by an artist named Ellen. There, I realized something profound: I had unknowingly been a guide.
Bringing Priestess Ophelia from the capital church to this very spot was a predestined event.
“...Hamlet.”
“Ophelia.”
A middle-aged man at the exhibition, who had arrived earlier, called out to Priestess Ophelia.
Though they were still some distance apart, the air between them seemed to vanish.
I later learned he was her childhood friend—and first love.
To him, she had been the same. On the eve of her departure to join the capital church, they had spent the night together in an abandoned warehouse where no one would find them.
More quickly, however, I learned another truth:
Hamlet Oldenburg was the Captain of the Royal Guard for the Kingdom of Tatalia.