Chapter 16: 1.15

Three months had passed since the assassination attempt, Yunyu hadn't returned back to the slum because he was afraid of his life. Instead, he sent his servants daily to help the poor in the slum. So, the slum would not be abandoned even if he was unable to come.

Yunyu spent the days walking around the garden, drinking chicken and cow blood in his room, and completing all the documents to prepare before he left this world. Finally, after three months of uninteresting life, the man who had made his name well known throughout the kingdom finally showed up in the courtyard.

Michael lowered his head and bowed in front of the duke, "Long time no see, Duke."

When Yunyu saw Michael for the first time after three months, what he noticed first was a scar on his neck. It was an obvious scar that could not be hidden. Michael's eyes had also changed, he had lost his previous expressive eyes. Previously, Yunyu could read all Michael's emotions from his eyes, because Michael was very expressive.

But now, Yunyu couldn't even read a trace of emotion in Michael's eyes. He was like a calm hunter with a hidden dagger, his eyes were unreadable and his smile always gave a mysterious feeling.

Michael smiled when he saw the Duke was speechless with his change in only three months, "I got the scar because I fought against the Head Priest's men before, if that is what you want to ask."

Yunyu got even more speechless. Michael and the Head Priest's relationship had fallen at this point, where the Head Priest actually intended to eliminate Michael. The obvious scar proved that Michael was barely clinging on to his life when he fought against the Head Priest's men.

"Duke, I'm here to give you this," Michael took out two badges. The first badge was a shattered badge from the church, signifying that he had been separated from the Head Priest. And the second one was the holy knight badge, "I am now the captain of the holy knight, specifically tasked to protect the Saintess. I will not be affiliated with the head priest anymore. Duke, with this, I will not have any power to massacre the faithless anymore."

Yunyu's body was frozen still when Michael held his hands. Michael kneeled and kissed his hand gently, "I've stripped almost all Head Priest's power, although the way I did it is not the elegant one, I hope you understand. Because I don't want him to hurt you or threaten your life."

"You… are you doing this for me?" Yunyu couldn't fathom how someone risked his life for him. He imagined how fierce the battle that Michael had fought against the Head Priest in these past three months. It should be a hell on earth for Michael.

"I'm doing this for us," Michael said sincerely. It had been three months, it was indeed a hell on earth for him. Because he had to use all means necessary to strip all the Head Priest's backing. He was the second prince, so he also had a few backings himself. But it was not easy at all.

Michael had to protect his life every night, he also needed to protect the Saintess from the Head Priest. He slept only two to three hours a day and all his dreams were filled with the sight of the Duke getting assassinated by the Head Priest.

He missed the Duke dearly, thinking of him like an oasis in the desert. As long as he could return back and protect the Duke and the Saintess, then his life goal had been fulfilled.

"Duke, are you happy now? Do you forgive me now?" Michael asked, though it sounded more like a begging.

Yunyu gazed at the powerful man who kneeled in front of him. Beneath his zealousness, Michael was devoted to those he treasured. Although he was only acting as Duke Damien now, he could feel that his heart wavered.

Slowly, Yunyu put his hand on top of Michael's head and rubbed his head gently, "You are amazing, Michael."

It was true from Yunyu's heart, not as Duke Damien, but as Bai Yunyu. He felt that Michael was truly

[Pupa: Ding! Breakmeter increases to 90%! Fatemeter increases to 97%!]

Michael felt like his heart was showered with warm water, it soothed the scars that he carried for three months. His body shook, unable to contain his happiness. He kissed the Duke's hand once more, this time, it was more passionate. Because Yunyu could feel the passion from Michael spread through his veins.

"Duke, I will return back after I cleared everything. The Saintess will give us her blessing," Michael said. He got up and rushed out with his horse. Yunyu stood still, watching the gallant prince rode the horse away from his sight.

[System, I hope that I won't find a man like Michael anymore in the next world.]

[Pupa: I can't guarantee.]

Yunyu said no nothing anymore, he only stared at Michael's back until it disappeared from his sight.

***

Michael returned back to the church and headed to the Saintess' room as always. There were two guards in front of the room, they were Michael's men. Michael was afraid that the Head Priest would attack Saintess when he was not in the church, so he guarded Saintess tightly with his subordinates.

Michael was excited with the thought of him and the Duke getting the blessing from the Saintess. When he entered the room, the Saintess was sleeping on the sofa. She had a smile on her, it seemed that she had a good dream. She was holding her holy book on her bosom.

Michael was reluctant to wake the Saintess, but it was already winter. The Saintess could get sick if she didn't sleep on her bed. Michael called the Saintess, "Saintess, please wake up. You shouldn't sleep on the sofa."

No response.

"Saintess, wake up," Michael called her again and again, still no response.

Michael paused for a moment, he had a bad feeling, "Saintess?"

Michael put his finger under the Saintess' nose to check her breath, and there was no breath at all.

"No… S—Saintess! Wake up!" Michael shook Saintess' body a few times, there was no response, but a scrap of paper fell from the Saintess' holy book. The scrap of paper shone bright, which attracted Michael. He stared at the glowing paper and Saintess' warm smile consecutively.

He took the paper and opened it, the words inside the paper flashed with bright light, blinding Michael for a moment. When he reopened his eyes, he read the glowing words inside the paper.

{I've passed the next holy mission to you, Saint Michael. Promise me that you will be a good Saint. Listen to your heart, you've got my blessing.}

Under the sentence, there was a symbol similar to the one in his white rosary. When Michael saw the symbol, the symbol glowed in warm light and the white rosary on his chest pocket reacted with the same warm glow. Gradually, Michael's body was covered in a warm glow.

Michael stared at the Saintess who had died in beautiful sleep, and he closed his eyes.

The bright light pillar from the sky hypnotized everyone in Holy Kingdom Rianel. The bright light was the sign of the ascension of the new Saint. Everyone stared at the light pillar, waiting for the new Saint to emerge from the sky with his holy staff.

When the light pillar finally subsided, a man was hovering on the sky. He had a warm aura around his body and the white rosary turned into a holy staff. The new saint had been ascended.

Holy Saint Michael had successfully ascended to be the new light.