CH 81

Unbeknownst to the two friends, the people next to them had their ears stretched out. As the two of them shook their heads and left, one by one, those people also went away, with frowns apparent on their faces.

However, those who could see the saint and those who heard the conversation were limited, so there were still crowds around the saint.

And the saint who was looking at them smiled softly and said,

“God bless you all.”

She didn’t name any god, but the god that came to everyone’s mind was the same.

Of course, no one doubted the saint’s god.

After capturing attention, she then brought up a very theoretical story.

“God says, if we understand and love each other…”

The voice, hand gestures, and gaze that recited the story were akin to a seasoned actress’ in a play, and people were taken aback.

Perhaps because of that, no one left until the boring story was over.

The saint, who had narrated a rather long story in one breath, let out a weak exhale as if her breathing was a bit short.

A person who couldn’t hold back his curiosity any longer shouted.

“Saint! What special abilities do you have! Can you use those abilities to save our crops that have been eaten by locusts!”

His question was something that everyone was curious about or wanted.

From God, the divine power that came down only in legends or fairy tales.

Wasn’t it said that the power was miraculous enough to wake the dead?

Receiving gazes that were full of expectations, the saint furrowed her brows and shook as if she was embarrassed. 

“No. I’m just a lowly servant of God.”

“Then have you ever heard the voice of God?”

The disappointment was momentary. People’s ears twitched again at the ensuing question.

When asked that question, the saint looked at the man with the long scar on his forehead for a second, and then nodded.

“Yes. I’ve heard it.”

Her affirmative answer caused a commotion among the people.

The voice of God!

How sacred and marvelous!

Among them, a small child raised his hand.

“What did God say!”

At the cry of a curious child, the saint smiled softly.

The smile that slightly wrinkled the corners of her eyes was strangely vulgar, so people instantly doubted their eyes, but it was only for a second because she lowered her gaze.

The saint put her hands together and parted her plump, red lips.

“God said I have a mission.”

When she paused, everyone held their breaths and perked up their ears.

Eventually, as if fulfilling their expectations, the saint turned her head little by little, then stretched her neck like a deer and looked up at the sky.

“Wow.”

“Oh.”

Bathed in the brilliance of the sun, she was beautiful.

To the extent that people subconsciously admired her.

For a while, the saint blinked slowly as she listened to the murmur of those people. Then she revealed. 

“There’s a place I must go to spread God’s blessings.”

“Where is it?”

It was a very natural question, but the saint, who had answered well until now, shut her mouth.

The crowd unconsciously leaned towards her, eager for her reply.

After lingering for a long time, the saint sighed lightly and looked up at the sky.

“It’s the Imperial Palace.”

Her voice resonated calmly across the area, which had become so quiet that it was hard to believe that so many people had gathered.

And the complete silence that followed.

Everyone heard it, but no one could even gasp.

All of the people who had been simply blinking, one by one, muttered,

“Not the temple, but the palace?”

“If it’s the Imperial Palace, isn’t it where His Majesty the Emperor is?”

“Why does the saintess visit the imperial palace?”

“It isn’t the temple?”

“What happened to the Imperial Palace?”

While taking in the people’s questions, the saint neither nodded nor shook her head, just like her initial expression.

And before anyone knew it, the man with the long scar on his forehead, who had moved forward little by little, spoke up again.

“I heard that the saint could ease pain.”

Then, the ears of the people who were puzzled by the unfamiliar word combination of the ‘saint’ and the ‘imperial palace’ began to focus again.

The medicine that the saint gave out.

It was said to be a miracle that stopped pain and took away the worries of the day.

The saint immediately took out a pouch slightly larger than her palm and shook it gently.

“I think of it as blessed water rather than medicine.”

She spoke as if she knew what was going on amongst the people.

At that, some tilted their heads.

‘She says she’s a saint, but she knows about those rumors on the street?’

‘Besides, does it even comfort the damage caused by locust swarms? Sort of, but nothing exact.’

‘It’s kind of…’

The questions of those who had left earlier swelled.

However, the doubt soon evaporated as if washed off.

Because the saint opened the pouch wide and started tossing vials with a wide smile.

It was completely different from what people expected.

“Oh? What is this?”

“Huh? The sick should receive it first… Ugh!”

While some were confused because they did not understand the situation right away…

Many reached out for the medicine bottles randomly scattered from the saint’s hands, and some of them were lucky enough to grab several of them.

The saint declared, 

“God’s chosen ones must have received the medicine!”

Those who possessed the medicine held the pink glass bottle tightly, face full of anticipation and pride of having been chosen by God.

On the other hand, the faces of those who did not receive it showed regret, greed, and jealousy.

The saint who split the people in an instant smiled.

Just as it was the first time, without a speck of dust on her white clothes.

.

At the time the saint was surrounded by people and boasting her sacred beauty, the people of the temple had just arrived at the Imperial Palace by the order of Richard.

“Priest.”

“Good afternoon, Priest.”

Those moving around the Imperial Palace greeted the old priest with white hair and beard, and the young priest who seemed to be accompanying him without hesitation.

In response, the priests bowed their heads with spotless clear eyes.

The priests who reached the Crown Prince Palace were able to face Richard, the owner of the palace, without having to go through strict surveillance or complicated procedures like the others.

It was possible because they were the priests of the temple. This gave a sense of how much faith there was in the priests who were deeply rooted in the perception of the people of the empire.

“I see Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Ack… Your… I see Your Highness, the Crown Prince… I see you…!”

The young priest was so nervous that he bit his tongue and let out a short scream as he said hello.

Once he met Richard’s nonchalant eyes, his neck shrank like a turtle’s. Golden eyes immediately glanced at him.

The young priest tried to be polite, but his tongue twisted and he could only mumble.

Unable to do what he had to do, the innocent priest’s face quickly darkened, and Cooper, who had been gazing at him with pity, took a step back.

All this was because Richard was right in front of the young priest.

Not giving up, the young priest opened his mouth to try again, but upon locking eyes with Richard, his shoulders trembled vigorously like a harpooned tuna.

Tapping the priest’s chest, Richard said,

“Enough. That’s enough.”

His voice was still dry, his expression was still indifferent, but the face of the young priest, which had been darkening, bloomed.

An ordinary person would have found greater meaning in Richard’s expression and voice.

Since he was a priest, he just accepted what he heard.

“It’s… good, no, it’s my pleasure!”

Richard, who was staring at the priests, returned to his original seat and deeply buried his back into the chair.

With his elbows on the armrest and the crown of his head resting on the edge of his seat, he remained silent for a while, and none of the others present spoke first.

The young priest kept shifting his gaze at the incomprehensible heavy silence.

Some time passed.

Cooper opened his mouth, but Richard spoke first.

“Do you know why I called you here?”

The young priest still had a puzzled look on his face, but the old priest nodded while stroking the tip of his beard.

“Is it because of the saint?”

Cooper’s eyes widened at his answer.

‘Saint. He addressed her as ‘saint’.’

‘Not the saint, but a saint.’

‘Does the temple recognize the saint…’ Richard asked before Cooper could finish his thoughts.

“Doesn’t the temple recognize the saint?”

The old priest laughed dryly.

“Is there a need to? Just because we recognize her doesn’t mean she becomes a saint, and just because we don’t recognize her doesn’t mean she doesn’t become a saint.”

“I see. It was a wise answer to a stupid question.”

A faint smile spread across Richard’s mouth and disappeared.

The words of the old priest were that of those who thoroughly followed only the will of ‘God’.

The existence of a saint was always according to God’s will, and it was not a matter for them to discuss.

And that was in line with the statement that the saint would not be used in any way in the temple.

“Have you met her?”

“Yes. she came to the temple.”

“If you said she came, that means she’s not there now.”

The old priest stroked his beard, remembering the woman who was all white, and laughed.

It could be just his habit, but it sounded like he found it ridiculous or outrageous.

Ame: I’m getting a severe “Ophelia x Richard” and “the girlies” withdrawal TT_TT It’s been 3 episodes since I’ve seen either one of that! The saint is freaking sus, she reminds me of every white lotus b I’ve ever read/seen in novels/manhwa! I have a feeling she’s gunning for the crown princess seat. I mean, it seems to be every fake antagonist saint’s agenda…

Dea: The saint is good only if she’s the fl, otherwise she’s bad news, hopefully she won’t be around for long…