I Thought You Were A Time-Limited Husband (Novel)

Chapter 16

Alice turned to the statue of Helios.

“Why did you give me that ability…?”

She didn’t think she was that very special, but this seems to be a much bigger ability than she initially thought. If you have a lot of ability, then you will have more responsibility. I don’t want to be responsible for anything. Alice’s goal was to live for a long time.

“I liked it… but it’s not something I’d just like.”

Alice pondered for a moment: about her divine power – and the result of her worries was, ‘Let’s hide this and live in moderation’. She wants to become a priest then run away from the Duke’s family, but she doesn’t want to become a high priest. She won’t be able to live freely if she becomes a high priest.

Yeah…. If I hide it, who would know?

“… Don’t tell me that you will suddenly do such a cheap thing as giving an oracle, right?”

Alice asked the statute with anxious eyes. Even though she knew there would be no answer, she just threw that question.

“Duchess Diorat.”

But she suddenly heard a voice.

“Heok, that surprised me…. I thought it was your voice.” 

Surprised, Alice knew it wasn’t the god when she heard a series of knocks after that. She calmed down her surprised heart and cleared her voice, before answering, “Yes. Come on in.”

The door was opened cautiously and a young looking female priest entered. She asked the priest who was bowing her head.

The priest said with her head bowed, “The high priest sent a cup of tea for the Duchess. It’s a herb grown behind the temple. It smells great.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Alice smiled faintly as she looked at the priest putting the tea cup down on the table. Unlike the male priest she met the first time, she seemed like a low ranked priest and looked young but with her brown eyes full of innocence. Something about an ideal priest she could think of.

Alice took a sip of the fragrant tea as a courtesy. She then remembered something. She knows that this is the right time to know if she can become a priest or not. If she asked that high priest earlier, he would be suspicious that she must be unlucky asking a useless question. That priest was accustomed to dealing with nobles. He might even write a letter to Madam Quillian, saying that the Duchess said something strange. So it would be good if she asked a new priest so she wouldn’t look suspicious – like the cute low-ranking priest in front of her.

Putting down the teacup, she turned her head towards the priest.

“Excuse me, Priest.”

“Yes?”

“I have something to ask.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“It was nothing… I just want to know if there are qualifications that you have to be pure in order to become a priest.” 

“Yes, it is.”

“That… there is a person I know who is married but is still a virgin due to some unavoidable circumstances. Can such a person become a priest?” 

The priest narrowed her brow slightly as if contemplating.

“Uhm, that kind of precedent… ah!”

As if suddenly came to her mind, she clasped her hands.

“A married woman once became a priest because of her divine power. Marriage wasn’t originally a condition, but even though they did not perform the divine blessing ceremony, those who have divine powers can become priests regardless of their qualifications.”