Episode 10| The Playful Crown Prince
The Annual Blessing Ceremony was one of the most important events held by the temple each year. Nobles from across the capital gathered in the grand cathedral hall, their elegant clothing filling the marble chamber with color and prestige.
Sunlight streamed through towering stained-glass windows, casting warm patterns of gold and crimson across the polished floors. Priests lined the central aisle while the High Priest stood near the altar, preparing to lead the sacred blessing.
Among the rows of clergy stood Ryan.
Or rather—
Riley.
Her golden hair, now shorter in her male form, framed a calm and composed face as she stood quietly with the other priests. To everyone else, she looked like a promising young holy man.
Inside, however, Riley's mind was already calculating.
Nobles meant donations.
Donations meant opportunities.
And opportunities meant money.
A sudden stir rippled through the cathedral.
"The Crown Prince has arrived!"
All eyes turned toward the massive cathedral doors as they opened.
Prince Raymond Lucille entered the hall with the relaxed confidence of someone who had ruled rooms his entire life. He was tall, handsome, with sharp royal features and dark hair that contrasted against the gold-lined cloak draped across his shoulders.
The air shifted the moment he stepped inside.
Even the High Priest straightened slightly.
Raymond's gaze casually scanned the cathedral—
Until it landed on Ryan.
And stopped.
A slow, amused smile curved onto his lips.
Riley immediately felt a strange chill.
Why is he staring at me like that?
The ceremony continued normally, but Riley couldn't ignore the feeling of being watched. Every time she looked up, the Crown Prince's eyes were still on her.
When the ceremony ended, nobles began mingling with the clergy.
And sure enough—
The Crown Prince walked directly toward her.
"Priest Ryan," Raymond greeted smoothly.
Riley bowed politely.
"Your Highness."
Raymond looked her over openly, clearly amused.
"I must say... the rumors were not exaggerated."
Riley raised an eyebrow.
"Rumors, Your Highness?"
"The capital has been buzzing about a handsome new priest with golden hair."
His gaze lingered on her face.
"I see now they were correct."
Riley crossed her arms lightly.
"Well, I certainly didn't expect the almighty Crown Prince to be the type who flirts with men inside a temple."
Several nearby priests nearly choked.
Raymond blinked once—
Then laughed.
A genuine laugh.
"How bold," he said softly.
His eyes gleamed with playful interest.
"Tell me, Priest Ryan... does that mean you believe I am gay?"
Riley shrugged.
"You're the one staring."
Before she could react—
Raymond suddenly stepped closer.
Too close.
Then—
He stole a quick kiss.
It was brief, mischievous, and completely unexpected.
Riley froze.
Her brain completely shut down.
Around them, the priests gasped in shock.
Raymond stepped back casually as if nothing had happened.
But his voice lowered slightly as he spoke again.
"You haven't changed at all."
Riley blinked.
"...What?"
Raymond leaned slightly closer again.
His voice dropped to a quiet whisper meant only for her.
"That favor..."
His smile deepened.
"I believe I'm ready to cash it in, Riley Scott."
Riley's heart stopped.
Only one person knew that name.
Her green eyes widened as realization crashed over her.
"...You."
Raymond chuckled softly.
Or rather—
The mysterious masked broker she had been working with all this time.
That cursed side character was actually the hidden main lead!
The man she had assumed was just some underground fixer.
"You... were the Crown Prince?" Riley whispered in disbelief.
Frankie—no, Raymond—grinned shamelessly.
"Surprised?"
"You—"
Riley struggled to process it.
"You tricked me!"
"I prefer the word tested," he replied lightly.
Riley crossed her arms tightly.
"Fine. What's the favor?"
Raymond's playful expression softened slightly.
"In one year," he said calmly, "my father will begin forcing marriage candidates onto me from every noble house in the empire."
He sighed dramatically.
"And frankly, I would rather avoid the political circus."
Riley immediately had a bad feeling.
"So...?"
Raymond smiled again.
"So the favor is simple."
He leaned slightly closer, voice smooth and confident.
"You will become my bride."
Riley's soul nearly left her body.
"You're joking."
"Not at all."
"You expect me to marry you because of some stupid favor?!"
Raymond tilted his head.
"You did agree to owe me anything."
Riley groaned internally.
She had assumed the favor would be something minor.
Information.
Money.
A political favor.
Not marriage to the Crown Prince.
Raymond watched her reaction with clear amusement.
"Relax," he said casually.
"It's only a political arrangement."
His eyes softened slightly as he looked at her.
"Besides... you're far more interesting than the noble ladies my father keeps sending."
Riley buried her face in her hands briefly.
I made a deal with the devil.
When she looked up again, Raymond was still smiling.
Completely pleased with himself.
"Think of it this way," he said playfully.
"You get access to the royal palace."
Riley narrowed her eyes.
"...And you get a fake wife."
Raymond winked.
"Exactly."
Riley sighed deeply.
Her peaceful temple infiltration had somehow escalated into a royal marriage proposal.
And worst of all—
It was technically her fault.
The Crown Prince chuckled as he turned to leave.
"Oh, and Riley?"
She glared at him.
"What."
Raymond smirked.
"That kiss earlier?"
He tapped his lips thoughtfully.
"Still counts as my interest in you."
Then he walked away, leaving Riley standing there in stunned silence.
Her peaceful scam-filled life had just become significantly more complicated.
Riley stood frozen in the cathedral hall long after the Crown Prince had walked away.
The nobles had already begun leaving, their chatter echoing faintly through the grand chamber. Priests resumed their duties, pretending not to notice what had just happened, though the whispers were already spreading like wildfire.
But Riley heard none of it.
She slowly lifted a hand to her lips.
"...That bastard."
Her shoulders slumped as she released a long, tired sigh.
Of all the people Frankie could have been...
Riley leaned against one of the tall cathedral pillars, staring blankly at the stained-glass windows glowing overhead.
Her brain began doing what it always did best.
Analyzing.
Calculating.
And realizing just how deep she had fallen into the very story she had tried to avoid.
"Let's see," she murmured quietly to herself.
She raised one finger.
"First... Michael."
The Archmage.
One of the male leads of the original novel.
A man who, for some reason, had become strangely attached to Ryan.
She raised a second finger.
"Second... Frankie."
Or rather—
Another male lead.
And apparently the mysterious broker she had been working with all this time.
Riley stared at her two raised fingers.
Then slowly raised a third one.
"...And the Villainess."
Lady Seraphina Valmont.
The woman who was supposed to obsess over the Crown Prince and become the story's antagonist.
Instead...
Seraphina had developed an interest in Ryan.
Riley lowered her hand and groaned quietly.
"I'm tangled with two out of the three male leads..."
She paused.
"...and the Villainess."
She looked up toward the cathedral ceiling.
"How did this happen?"
Her entire plan had been simple.
Avoid the plot.
Avoid the male leads.
Avoid becoming the saintess.
Expose the temple's corruption.
Get rich along the way.
Simple.
Clean.
Profitable.
And yet somehow—
She had managed to accidentally entangle herself with nearly every major character in the story.
Riley sighed again, rubbing her temples.
"Well..."
At least one thing had definitely changed.
The original story had been about a saintess arriving at the temple, capturing the hearts of the male leads, and becoming the center of a dramatic romance while exposing corruption.
But now—
There was no saintess.
There was only Ryan, the handsome priest.
And the plot had already begun shifting in ways the original novel never predicted.
Michael was drawn to her.
The Villainess admired her.
And the Crown Prince wanted to marry her.
Riley stared out through the cathedral doors toward the bright capital city beyond.
"...At least the plot changed," she muttered.
Then she frowned slightly.
"...Even if it might be changing for the worst."
Still...
A small, mischievous smile slowly appeared on her lips.
After all—
If the story was going off script...
Then she might as well take control of it completely.
And if the Crown Prince thought he was the only one capable of playing games—
He was about to learn exactly why Mikayla Edwin, the greatest scammer of her previous life...
Had never lost a deal.