OMLOW 93

Chapter 93

“The owner of this oracle… is my adopted daughter, Bishop Nicole.”

“What… what did you say?”

“The bishop is the owner of the oracle?”

Murmurs of shock rippled through the crowd. I was just as stunned.

‘Bishop Nicole received such an oracle?’

It was literally a twist of fate. I couldn’t help but think that even God was playing some cruel joke. Then a thought struck me:

‘But didn’t they say destiny is unavoidable?’

Surely, in the novel, Nicole must have received that oracle.

Which meant… in the story, Lionel must have married Nicole. And I—left hidden away as a mistress?

…Have I stumbled into the most absurd, over-the-top novel ever?

“What… what exactly is happening? Father, do you know something?”

“I don’t understand what’s going on either. But still…”

Father’s bewildered gaze met mine, and my mother’s hand, holding mine, loosened slightly.

Meanwhile, Archbishop Sage stepped back, and the Empress stepped forward again.

“From here, I shall explain. In truth, for the past three years, Bishop Nicole has been tending to the First Prince’s health. During that time, their hearts became entwined…”

In short, Nicole and the First Prince had grown close while caring for his health and had promised a future to one another.

‘Does this make any sense? The First Prince is the child of my parents’ enemy. And now… they’re in love?’

I couldn’t make sense of any of it. Amid my confusion, the Empress continued.

“The First Prince’s love for Bishop Nicole was so deep that even I had no choice but to permit it. And when I went to the temple to discuss Nicole’s return to lay life, I heard of the oracle…”

“I… hid the destiny arranged by God to keep my adopted daughter close, but… I realized it could not be avoided…”

Archbishop Sage could not finish her sentence, her guilt weighing heavily upon her. The Pope gently patted her shoulder, as if to understand her struggle.

Then the Empress spoke again.

“As you all have seen, the oracle declares that Bishop Nicole, who has bonded with the First Prince, shall bear the next Emperor. In other words, her husband will ascend the throne.”

“Indeed…”

The Empress waited until the nobles were convinced and silent before continuing.

“His Majesty the Emperor promised that if the Second Prince succeeded, he would be named Crown Prince. Yet even the Emperor’s promise cannot surpass the destiny ordained by God.”

No one dared to challenge that statement.

Even my father stayed silent, his gaze fixed on the tablet inscribed with the oracle.

“Father…”

I wanted to ask if they would really let the First Prince become Emperor like this, but…

“Cecile, stay calm.”

“Pardon?”

“For now… later, I will explain when we return home.”

Mother shook her head, signaling that it was not the time to intervene, and my older brother nodded in agreement.

“No, but…”

“Please, my dear, understand.”

“…Yes. I understand.”

So I remained silent, powerless to do anything.

With my parents holding their peace, none of the nobles dared speak up. Satisfied, the Empress raised her voice with authority.

“Thus, according to God’s will, the next Emperor shall be First Prince Kaien von Alteheid!”

She continued, declaring that the coronation would take place this very evening.

No one objected. Some whispered that it was too soon, the funeral barely over, but no one dared contradict the Empress invoking divine will.

And so, the First Prince’s ascension was confirmed.

In short:

‘Everything is proceeding according to the original story.’

So this is it… the inevitability of the original plot?

If the story continues as written, Lionel will be expelled from the palace and sent to the temple.

‘Could that be why Lionel didn’t attend the funeral…?’

Everything was moving so fast, I couldn’t even tell where things had gone wrong.

“I don’t understand any of this. Alright, Cecile, we need to speak with the Archbishop, so go home first and prepare for the coronation.”

“Yes, Father, Mother. Let’s go, Cecile.”

“…Uh…”

I wanted to ask what would happen to my engagement with the Second Prince, but their expressions were too serious; I didn’t want to interrupt.

“I’ll go ahead and get ready at home.”

“Don’t wander off anywhere until we return. Understood?”

After my parents reminded me, my brother escorted me to the carriage and we headed home.

“Brother, I have something I want to ask.”

“What is it?”

His face looked so serious, I hesitated, but family is family… so I spoke.

“What about my engagement to the Second Prince? Will it be canceled?”

“Huh?”

“Please tell me it won’t be… right?”

Nicole is set to become Empress, and I destroyed her notes, so Lionel shouldn’t be brainwashed—but you never know.

‘She could still go to the central temple and secretly copy the potion recipe.’

It was unjust that Lionel lost his claim to the throne, but there was nothing I could do about that.

However, I could—and had to—prevent the cancellation of our engagement.

Perhaps sensing my determination, my brother smiled and ruffled my hair.

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

“Right? I don’t need to worry? The First Prince becoming Emperor doesn’t affect my engagement to the Second Prince, right?”

“Right, it’s separate…”

He sighed heavily and rubbed his face, looking so serious that I stayed quiet all the way home.

“Welcome, young master. Miss Cecile.”

“Yes. Mother and Father will come later. But tonight, the coronation will be held at the palace, so we must prepare.”

“Tonight? Really?”

“Yes, this evening. Everyone will be rushing anyway, so no one will judge us if we’re not perfect.”

“No, we must be perfectly prepared nonetheless.”

Our butlers and maids nodded resolutely.

“There is no excuse for such a sudden event. Our honor is at stake.”

“Alright, everyone! Hurry!”

The staff bustled about, while my brother’s attendants and Eunice guided us.

“First, let’s undress and bathe.”

“Don’t relax even because of your veil, Miss. Head to the bathroom at once! We’ll make your face shine!”

“Uh… we just finished the funeral, so I don’t want my skin to look too radiant…”

“No! We don’t have time to prepare new dresses or accessories. Every noble house will make their faces shine!”

Eunice’s eyes blazed as she declared that the Rohaim family’s ladies would already have such elegance.

Terrified, I quietly followed her, sending her ahead to prepare the bathwater.

“Don’t run away, Miss!”

“Why would I? I just need to check something.”

I ran to my room, opened the window, and called out:

“Nyx, are you there?”

Thankfully, my guess was correct.

“Yes, Miss. I’m here.”

“Good! I have something to ask you.”

“I anticipated this, so I’ve been waiting here.”

“Thanks. Well….”

At that moment, the corridor outside grew noisy—other maids were apparently coming to help prepare us for the coronation.

“I only have time to ask one thing—where’s Lionel right now?”