"Hey, Migao, your crown was taken by humans. How are you feeling now?" Rebecca found Migao, who’d stayed holed up in his guest room all day. She told him how Laura and the others had presented his crown to the Empress of the Kasmo Empire. Then she saw the utterly astonished look on his face.
"Your Highness..."
"Wait—stop calling me that. We’re in the Kasmo Empire now. Just use my name from here on."
"T-this... I can’t! How could someone as lowly as me address you so casually?" Migao stammered nervously.
"This is an order! We’re hiding our identities, understand? I won’t risk chaos in the Kasmo Empire—it’d ruin my plans." Rebecca said, steering him out of the church.
"Y-yes, my lady..." Since it was an order and for her plan, Migao had no choice but to commit this disrespect.
"Try saying it. I’m worried you’ll slip up later. You pretended to be mute with Laura on the road to stay hidden. It was pitiful..."
"Uh... Li... Li..."
"Come on! It’s just my name!"
"Li... Li... Rebecca!!" Migao finally blurted it out in one breath, then let out a sigh of relief.
Sigh. In the dark world, power ruled absolutely. Its rigid hierarchy was unimaginable to outsiders. Even strong Migao felt terrified just calling Rebecca—the Dark Lord’s daughter—by name. This power structure was bone-deep.
"Hmm, good. Oh, and you’re famous in the human world. Many nations know you as Migao. You need a temporary name~" Rebecca suddenly remembered.
"Your Highness—"
"Hmm?" She shot him a glare when he slipped up again.
"Li... Miss Rebecca, everything’s up to you..."
"'You'! Say 'you,' not 'you' with respect! No honorifics!"
"Everything’s up to you..."
"Hmm, perfect~ What name suits you?" Rebecca stroked her chin. "Got it—you’ll be Golago~"
"Golago?" Migao found it strange; he had no idea what it meant.
"Hmm~ It’s something delicious to drink~"
"Delicious?"
"Uh... No, it’s good. Great meaning. You’re Golago now~"
"Thank you, Your Highness—ah, Miss Rebecca, for granting me a name."
"Oh~ Golago, your crown’s gone~"
"It... it’s no longer mine..." Migao said helplessly.
"Good you’ve accepted it~ Let’s go out. We need to find the Kasmo Empire’s library." Rebecca said.
The church bustled with believers. Kami had left in a hurry, never explaining Rebecca’s presence. So no one stopped the seemingly helpless girl in nun’s robes as she walked straight out. To Kami, she was just a pitiful orphan.
Rebecca stood at the church gates. She watched the busy street and passersby pausing to pray devoutly. Her gaze settled on the motionless Norna Temple Guard at the entrance.
"Excuse me... book... where?" Her Hobi speech was still clumsy, failing to convey "library."
The Temple Guard almost ignored the voice—until he glimpsed a church nun from the corner of his eye. He turned to Rebecca and froze.
Rebecca frowned slightly. Her looks were such a nuisance.
"Excuse me... book... where?" she repeated.
He snapped out of it, thinking: "Such a beautiful nun? Why have I never seen her?"
"Book?" He realized her speech was off. She must be from out of town, struggling with a heavy accent in proper Hobi. That explained why he didn’t recognize her. "Ah, a visiting nun~ No wonder," he mused.
"A place... with books... where?" Rebecca was frustrated, vowing to practice harder.
He found her speech endearing—not at all like a bumpkin failing the Kasmo Empire’s "common tongue."
"You mean the library?" he guessed.
"Mhm!" She nodded. "Library..."
"See that tall tower? The Prophet’s Tower. Opposite it is the Hobi Library. I’m off duty tomorrow—I’ll take you then~" he offered eagerly.
Rebecca shook her head. The Temple Guard instantly drew his sword in anger!
Rebecca jumped. Was he this hot-tempered? Drawing steel over a refusal?
"Uh—"
"Don’t fear. A goblin behind you’s been leering. I’ll cut him down!" He stepped forward.
Ah—it was aimed at Migao... no, Golago. Of course no one had that short a fuse.
"Him... my friend..."
"Eh..." He froze mid-step.
Rebecca seized the moment, pulling Golago away.
"Hey! Tomorrow—I’ll take you! What’s your name?" the Temple Guard shouted.
Rebecca ignored him completely.
She frowned, annoyed. Her face attracted trouble like flies. She pulled up her hood and raised the high collar of her robes, covering her mouth and nose.
The Norna Faith’s current nun robes were modified from ancient designs. Long ago, nuns rarely showed themselves—hooded and veiled when outside. Now, times had changed. The robes kept traces of the past: the hood remained, and the collar became stretchable for easy face-covering. This was a compromise. Elderly nuns, conservative and influential in the church, still shunned exposure. Younger nuns—often from noble or wealthy families—cherished their youth and beauty. Power and tradition clashed, then yielded.
The robe was white, embroidered with gold-thread patterns and Norna knots. Wide sleeves tapered to a narrow waist, cinched by a golden belt that accentuated slender curves. The long, narrow skirt elongated the legs without vulgarity. Golden sandals revealed dainty feet, hidden by the hem. Sandals for summer heat; leather shoes for cold days.
Hmm. Truly a great robe.
