CH 83

A few days later, we came back to Elium.

“The Saintess has returned!”

“The Saintess blocked the gate!”

“The Saintess saved the Empire!”

When I returned, everyone was praising my achievements.

I occasionally waved my hand out of the carriage and smiled lightly.

“Saintess! Sainteeess!”

I could hear the voices of children looking for me anxiously.

‘It was really hard.’

I was lost in thought, recalling the hardships there.

After a while, the carriage drove into the temple. As always, the scenery of the peaceful temple came into my eyes.

When the carriage stopped in front of the temple’s main building, I got out of the carriage, escorted by Dwayne, as if I had returned to my hometown.

It felt like a soft carpet touching the soles of my feet. I saw a dazzling face looking at me with his back against the temple.

Reihausd.

His golden eyes were on me. Unlike when I left the temple, he seemed to have regained some of his complexion.

I suddenly turned my gaze to his side. There was a person I had never seen before in the temple.

Platinum hair swayed in the breeze, and emerald-clear green eyes looked at me.

My heart thumped.

‘…Camilla?’

***

“This is Camilla Ibelle. She came from the Luchen region.”

“It’s an honor to meet you, Saintess.”

At the dinner table, I was greeted by Camilla with a bewildered expression.

My mind was very complicated.

Gorgeous blonde hair with beautiful turquoise eyes.

The moment I saw her, I could tell it was Camilla, the female lead of the original story. She had the full name, Camilla Ibelle, and her appearance was exactly as I had imagined.

‘But…’

It was five years later that Camilla appeared as a saintess. Only in about four years.

When I signed the contract with Diego, I never thought that Camilla would appear so early.

“Nice to meet you, Camilla.”

I calmed down a bit and looked into her eyes and replied.

“Nice to meet you too, Saintess.”

Camilla smiled lightly. Her laughter alone made the surroundings sparkle as if they were in full bloom.

‘Is this the female lead’s halo?’

“When I was injured in the Ares Mine, my life was saved with Camilla’s help. I promised to sponsor her because she was studying theology. That’s why she came to me.”

Reihausd told me.

Then Camilla went on.

“At that time, I hadn’t even dreamed that he was the High Priest. I can only thank the Nine Gods for giving me this opportunity.”

Hmm, that’s how it happened.

In the original work, the mine gate incident didn’t happen.

So, this was an unexpected variable. Since the flow has turned like that, there is nothing strange with the fact that Camilla appears earlier.

“Think of this place as home and stay comfortably.”

I spoke to her with kindness

If it wasn’t for my contract with Diego Vester, I would’ve packed right now.

Doing such while saying, this damned saintess thing is over!

“Thank you.”

Camilla happily bowed her head in response.

After a while, Reihausd stared at me and spoke.

“However…”

His golden eyes were full of worry.

“I heard that you consumed a lot of holy power. They said that you even suffered from exhaustion. Are you really okay?”

I nodded my head with a nonchalant expression.

“Yes. Don’t worry. I recovered well while I was there.”

He let out a small sigh.

“Consider that your health is the most important thing. You should at least recover a little more, yet your face is showing fatigue as you continue the long journey.”

I laughed at the nagging words.

“That is what I’m going to say. Is Sir Reihausd okay?”

When I left the temple, Reihausd’s face was really incomprehensible. They say he’s fine now, but his skin still looks pale.

“I got better because the priests did their best to help.”

“That’s a relief.”

At my words, Reihausd looked at Dwayne and said.

“Dwayne.”

“Yes, High Priest.”

“For the time being, keep an eye on the Saintess so she doesn’t go outside.”

At his words, my eyes widened.

“Pardon me? What do you mean by that?”

“Evidently, your body hasn’t recovered, but it’s obvious that you will go outside. For seven days, stay at the temple under the care of the priests.”

I gave a disgruntled look at Reihausd’s firm words, yet he didn’t change his mind.

“You’re too overprotective. And Dwayne was dragged to the Demon Realm due to a work accident. Doesn’t he need a vacation?”

I glanced at him.

I heard Dwayne cheering from the side.

“God bless you!”

Camilla was looking at me with a warm smile.

I heard Reihausd’s voice again as I stared blankly at Camilla for a moment unconsciously.

“Ariel.”

I turned and looked at him again. His golden eyes, which normally looked cool, shook warmly.

“I am very glad that you returned safely.”

A low voice reached my ears.

“I’m also glad to see you in good health again, Sir Reihausd.”

I replied with a wide smile.

Afterwards, I had a short meal with Reihausd and Camilla.

Camilla was exactly what I imagined when I saw the original story. She was lively and warm-hearted, and had an energy that made being around fun. To the extent that I thought that there would be no one more suitable for the position of a saintess than her.

After thinking about it, my heart felt a little strange. I felt like I was wearing clothes that didn’t fit my body.

It was when Reihausd briefly left after hearing Dwayne’s remarks.

“It seems that the High Priest really cares for the Saintess deeply.”

Camilla said to me with a light smile.

“Is that so.”

I replied with a meaningless smile.

“I also want to get close to the High Priest, but there are times when he’s a little cold.”

Camilla said with an awkward smile.

“He looks cold on the outside, but he’s a warm person on the inside.”

Unknowingly, I wrapped Reihausd up.

“Really?”

Camilla asked in surprise, and she continued.

“Actually, the High Priest almost killed me in the mine… In fact, it still scares me a little.”

“…Sir Reihausd did?”

I asked, bewildered by the unexpected words.

“It was probably a mistake. He might have thought I was a demon… Because I was reek of the blood of a monster. Right after escaping from the monster’s attack.”

A little chaos was added to her story.

She smiled lightly and asked me something.

“However… I think the High Priest really likes the Saintess. This may be a rude question, but is there anything special between you two?”

Her eyes were full of curiosity.

“No. But I think he’s a wonderful person.”

I shook my head and answered without thinking.

Camilla had a little smile at my answer

According to Diego, the Demon King wants the prophecy to be fulfilled. Yet Camilla was attacked by demons because of the gate opened by the Demon King?

“Anyway, the High Priest who killed that monster was trying to kill me next… Then he collapsed. When I got closer, I saw that he was seriously injured.”

Camilla turned her eyes as she recalled the situation.

“How fortunate it was for me to be able to help the High Priest, even with weak divine power.”

Is she really unaware of the situation in which the Demon King is hoping for the fulfillment of the prophecy?

I looked at her, hiding my complicated thoughts.

and nodded her head.

“Ah. I must have misunderstood the two of you. You seem to get along really well.”

Then she moved the question to another topic.

“By the way, when did the Saintess manifest your holy power?”