CH 116

We walked the streets and looked at the scenery of the festival.

On the street, handsomely dressed men glanced at me, yet for some reason, they couldn’t approach me easily.

Does this dress Daisy put on have any defensive power?

I wondered if it was because the image I saw in the mirror of the store passing by was completely strong.

Fufu, just bother me, anyone.

I’ll hit you in the ass with a whip.

It was when our footsteps reached the plaza.

[The God of Destruction, Ciel, wags his tail.]

[The God of Knowledge, Hessed, is alert.]

The chat window flashed.

The large plaza was decorated with colorful flowers, and a magnificent platform was built.

Countless people gathered, and the road leading to the platform was full of people wearing noble clothes. And I found Kyle sitting on a chair on a podium in the plaza.

Behind him, more than twenty knights were lined up, then the royal magician and priests were also visible.

“His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived.”

“Oh my. How can helook so cool from a distance?”

I could hear people talking behind me.

“Daisy. Let’s go.”

I grabbed Daisy’s wrist and turned around.

“Wouldn’t it be better to greet His Highness before we leave?”

“If we go any closer, we will bother him.”

I shook my head reluctantly.

I felt like I could feel some gaze on the back of my head as I turned around, but I didn’t look back.

[The God of Destruction, Ciel, is whimpering.]

[The God of Destruction, Ciel, whines.]

[The God of Benevolence, Oman, lifts Ciel up and embraces him.]

[The God of Destruction, Ciel, can’t let go of his lingering feelings and struggles…]

***

Kyle, who was sitting on a seat on the podium at the Emperor’s command to show his face at the festival, jumped up from his seat.

The appearance of the back of the splendid red dress caught his eye. A blonde similar to Ariel, but with a different hairstyle.

The knight standing behind asked.

“Your Highness, is there anything wrong?”

“…No.”

He thought he could hear a dog crying anxiously somewhere, though.

It was time to sit down again, thinking about that.

“Greetings to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Kyle’s eyebrows twitched at the sight of a familiar face.

Black hair and dark blue eyes. It was Cass.

Nobles were swarming behind Cass. In a society where capital is also power, it must be in order to somehow catch Lloyd’s eye.

Kyle said to Cass, who approached him with a hint of discomfort.

“It’s been a while since you came to the plaza and now you’re finally coming to greet me. Marquis Lloyd.”

He said he struggled, but Kyle knows better than anyone that Cass Lloyd isn’t a struggling man.

“I apologize. I was so exhausted planning and organizing the festival on behalf of the officials of the Empire that I couldn’t afford to take care of His Highness.”

The Star Flower Festival was a festival that wasn’t officially recognized and originated from the people. However, even at such an event, the officials showed a critical intention towards the Imperial Family for not properly assigning them.

At that, Kyle twisted one corner of his lips. Because it wasn’t wrong.

“Sir is so disrespectful whenever I see you.”

As Kyle threw his words, Cass gave a cool smile in response.

Kyle continued his speech.

“You can’t be beheaded for saying brave words, such a headache. If Sir’s father, who leads the company, exiles to another country, the economy of Illide will be reeling.

The wealth of Lloyd Merchant was enormous, and could shake the Empire if they set their minds to the bad side.

“It can’t be. My father is old and doesn’t have the strength to go into exile.”

Kyle, who thought Cass’ voice was annoying, stared at him with his eyebrows twitching.

After a while, Cass’s low voice was heard.

“Instead, various secrets about the Imperial Family and noble society will be floating around in the mouths of the people.”

It was a sentence that seemed to have omitted the words, ‘If that’s the case, public sentiment will fluctuate.’

“Ha.”

Lloyd openly collected the weaknesses of nobles and royalty. And some secrets were big enough to bring about a huge backlash from the people.

This is also the reason why all the noble families of the Empire don’t want to offend the Lloyd family.

“You’re saying that you’re not afraid of death.”

“It’s to explain the value of my life, Your Highness.”

Cass’s cold eyes were on Kyle. His lips twisted into a smile, yet Kyle knew that he was a cold hearted monster with no feelings behind that.

Kyle opened his mouth again, seeing Cass respond in a way that was different from his polite tone.

“Really, I’m always unlucky whenever I see you. I don’t know how long that momentum will last.”

Then he raised his eyebrows and got up from his seat.

Cass’s voice came from behind Kyle.

“Are you going to go already?

Kyle said, stretching.

“I’m thinking of going to the temple. It’s better than killing time here watching annoying faces.”

At those words, Cass’ eyes lit up with a cool light, but he couldn’t see Kyle.

***

On the other hand, when a quiet road emerged after passing through a crowded plaza, Reihausd hurried his horse and ran.

He was dressed in everyday clothes with a robe pulled over and a cloth covering his nose and mouth. Probably, no one would guess that he was the High Priest.

After driving for a long time on the road leading to the south, he saw a temple with a secluded scenery.

‘It’s been a few years.’

It is the temple of Hetuse, the God of Justice.

Everyone faces various temptations in life and sometimes makes mistakes. It’s also possible for one to commit a sin that seriously hurts oneself or others.

At that time, people visit the temple and confess their sins to the priest. To go to God through the priest, confess their sins, and ask for forgiveness.

The priest listens to the story and puts people at ease. However, since the priest who accepts the sins is also human, he commits countless sins.

Thus, priests also sometimes need confession and counseling.

“How did you get here?”

As Reihauds, who was wearing a robe, entered the temple, an elderly priestess asked with a faint smile.

“…I’m in agony, so I’m here to confess.”

“Have you been here before?”

“It’s been a while, but yes.”

At Reihausd’s words, the priestess nodded her head.

“I’ll guide you. But where are you from?”

“El…No, I’m from Ares.”

“Everyone commits sins. I hope that the darkness that must have been cast on the believers’ faces can be brightly lifted by going to God.”

The priestess’ words comforted Reihausd.

Reihausd followed the priestess into the confessional in his robes.

“Hello. Sir Believer.”

The person sitting in front was hidden behind a veil, but Reihausd knew that it was Rodwood, a high-ranking priest with a high reputation.

In his deep voice, he could feel his age and life experiences.

“Hello. Priest.”

Hearing Reihausd’s voice, Rodwood hesitated for a moment. He thought it was an illusion, as that voice was clearly mixed with holy power.

‘Is it a priest?‘

In the temple of Hetuse, the God of Justice, not only ordinary saints but also priests came to confess.

Rodwood understood them, of course. There were times when he, too, needed confession.

“Then let’s pray first.”

“Would you mind skipping the prayer for today?”

“Ah…”

“It pains me to be reminded of my sins.”

At Reihausd’s words, Rodood opened his mouth.

“Alright. Sir Believer can’t pray because you’re suffering. Then, now is the time for Sir Believer to surrender the suffering part to the Gods.”

“…”

Reihausd was silent for a long time.

Rodwood waited patiently for his mouth to open, as he had always experienced silence like this.

Tick-tock-tick-tock, it was at a certain moment when the second hand moved with a sound for a long time.

“I have an impure heart toward a certain woman.”

At those words, Rodwood nodded his head accustomedly. There have always been young priests who unrequitedly love priestesses or saints.

Priests were also allowed to marry, but priests who came in with a resolution to dedicate their lives to the Gods often suffered internal turmoil from these unexpected feelings.

“Tell me more.”

Reihausd’s golden eyes shimmered with a dark light. A heavy voice escaped his lips.

“That’s why, when I think of her…”

The confession continued for a long time.

Reihausd let out all the words in his own heart. Even prayer wasn’t easy for him these days, thus it was difficult to go to the Gods.

“…I’m in pain too.”

Sparse words followed.

It was embarrassing to even spit it out, but thinking that the Gods were listening, he was able to become a little detached.

Rodwood listened to Reihausd without saying anything, and when he poured out the story of his heart’s desire to him, he felt relieved.

About two hours passed and the confession was over.

Today, the image of her in a red dress with a whip flashed in his eyes, which made him feel more upset. But it seemed that now he could shake off his anguish and look at Ariel’s face more comfortably.

“T-The God… Sir Believer’s ugliness… no, Sir Believer’s sins will surely be embraced by him. Repent well even now…”

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I feel better.”

Reihausd stood up from his seat after bowing politely.

The tip of Rodwood’s voice seemed to tremble, yet he didn’t mind that much. He must have caught a cold.

Reihausd, who had come out with her confession, put 500 francs in a donation box he could see.

Meanwhile, in the confessional room, Rodwood stumbled and barely got up from his seat.

Mariare, the priestess who entered, ran and barely supported Rodwood’s staggering body.

Rodwood’s face went pale.

“What’s wrong?”

The contents of the sacrament of confession were never to be disclosed outside. However, Rodwood was in for a huge shock today.

[I thought it would be nice if ■■ could ■■ me to ■■. The longing for the ■■ who did ■■ fills my head and it’s painful. ■■■’s mistaken ■■ wants me to ■■■ If I think that the Gods will regard me as a ■■, then I hate myself for being ■■ in that ■■.]

Recalling the contents of the shocking confession that lasted for two hours, Rodwood shook his head with a worried face and said.

“It’s nothing…”

This was one of the most stark and shocking confessions he had heard in years.

Have the times changed?

No.

No matter how much the times change, there are really few people who live with such thoughts in their heads.

Besides, a priest who serves the Gods thinks like that…

This was a big shock to Rodwood, who had been through all sorts of confessions.

However, the Gods are merciful and omnipotent, incomprehensible from the human point of view. As a mere human being, how can we judge the sins of the same human beings? There is no soul in the world that can’t be saved.

He closed his eyes for a moment and prayed earnestly.

‘Gods, please save that jerk.’