CH 4

The young man in a white cloak and silver armor was truly the holy knight people often spoke of.

The young man with blonde hair and ice-cold blue eyes was staring at her with a sharp gaze as if stabbing her.

Ellin’s heart was pounding due to nervousness.

The Maynard she knew would find the one hiding and wouldn’t let them go.

She’d better go out and ask for forgiveness.

“I’m sorry. I took the wrong way.”

Ellin got up and turned her around.

Then, she saw Liliana’s face flush with astonishment.

Liliana straightened her expression again. Maynard said coldly.

“You took the wrong way? What do you mean? This is a restricted area. It wouldn’t be easy to sneak in.”

‘He’s still the same.’

Ellin looked at Maynard and tried not to smile.

It was actually nice to meet Maynard after almost three years.

He was unfamiliar with her, but he was breathing and alive as he looked at her.

‘Looking at him now, he was still young.’

He was twenty when Elin was fifteen. But Maynard looked like an adult back then.

He had blonde hair, blue eyes, and a huge body.

He was the epitome of a knight.

Although people used to say that he was stiff, he was always a warm man to Ellin.

“Answer me.”

At Maynard’s urging, Ellin suddenly regained consciousness.

“I’m sorry, sir. I’m really going the wrong way. Knowing that this is the saint’s residence, I was afraid and hid.”

Her neck felt cold. Maynard put a sword to her neck.

“Are you telling me to believe that?”

Ellin was perplexed.

Maynard was always strict but he never showed that side to her.

She didn’t know that he could aim his sword at her, who seemed harmless.

She thought he was a man with a shy smile who didn’t like killing people.

“Stop it.”

Maynard lowered his sword at Liliana’s voice.

His gaze, which could stab Ellin at any moment, had softened.

Ellin looked at it and widened her eyes.

Liliana said with a merciful expression on her face.

“She must have taken the wrong way.”

“But, this woman was watching you. She might be a dangerous person.”

“How could she be a threat? She’s just a powerless woman. Just send her back.”

“My lady is so merciful.”

That’s what Maynard used to say to Ellin before.

He looked at Liliana as if he was very frustrated but had no choice to show respect.

It was also the expression he often gave to Ellin.

“But this is an essential part of discipline. Otherwise, the holy knights will be accused of using swords recklessly.”

“However, since Sir Maynard says so, I can’t help it. Discipline is needed.”

Liliana sighed and looked at Ellin as if she was genuinely in pain. Tears welled up in her eyes.

“I beg you, please don’t show the blood in front of me.”

“Yes.”

She issued a punishment?

Ellin looked at Maynard’s cold blue eyes and was bewildered. It seemed as if she was about to die soon by looking at him.

As a saint she never ordered such a thing before. But the holy knight, no, Maynard was cruel enough to kill a woman who got lost?

“Sir, I’m…”

“Stop it. I must do it as a warning.”

Maynard looked at Ellin.

It seemed like he was gazing at a stranger.

For Ellin, an ordinary girl who was not a saint, Maynard was a different person.

She realized it all over again.

Then the cut in her neck suddenly started to hurt.

“Take her away.”

The knights captured Ellin. She looked at Liliana.

She was looking at Ellin with a very sad expression. However, in an instant, the corners of her lips rose slightly.

Is she happy to see me about to die? Was that expression in her face a lie?

“I-!”

“Follow me quietly. Otherwise, I will kill you here.”

“……”

Maynard whispered quietly in a low voice.

Confused, she looked at Maynard.

She doesn’t think he’ll let her go.

Is he trying to interrogate her?

“Wait a minute.”

At that time, everyone, including Ellin, looked at the sudden interruption.

It was a familiar voice. Ellin’s eyes lit up. She couldn’t help but smile.

His long hair fluttered in the wind.

After a while, she could see his face clearly.

His red eyes that resemble the sunset were bent.

The priests made a way for him and finally, he arrived in front of her.

It was the High Priest, Erich.

“I greet the saint who received the word of God.”

Ellin almost greeted them back. But Erich greeted Liliana very politely.

Liliana and Maynard then greeted each other that way too.

“Greetings to High Priest Erich.”

He was the one who stayed with Elena until the very end.

He was one of the priests who came to greet her as a saint, he took care of her with Maynard and supported her.

He later became the Pope*, although somewhat heartless, he was still Elena’s best friend.

*TL/N: Ignore my last note, it seems like he will become the pope later.

“Why are you stopping us?”

Erich responded softly to Maynard’s blunt words.

“I was telling you to stop hurting that girl.”

“She has invaded the sanctuary of the saint. She should be dealt with by law.”

“Lord Maynard is very knowledgeable as always. Isn’t that right?”

Erich looked at Liliana, and Liliana nodded as if possessed.

Then Erich looked at Ellin and smiled.

“As the saint said, what would a powerless woman like her do?”

“She might be a spy sent by the imperial family…….”

“Don’t talk like that. Can’t you see that both the saint and the young lady here are bewildered?”

Erich smiled and laughed.

Unlike Maynard, Erich remained the same. Erich is always kind and compassionate.

“Unfortunately, this person is not a spy.”

“She isn’t?”

“She’s just a candidate for the Angelia exam. Do you know that I managed the exam?”

Ellin widened her eyes. Did he manage the last exam himself?

“The Angelia exam? But Angelia…….”

Liliana spoke as if uncomfortable. Erich smiled brightly.

“Yes, they’re usually a ‘noble’ lady. But before God, everyone is equal. We gave exams to give opportunities to commoners with high knowledge. This person is also a successful candidate. Now only the last test remains.”

Liliana struggled to smile.

Erich saw it and asked Ellin.

“Lady, did you pray to the Dazak statue earlier?”

Ellin looked at Erich, startled. He seemed to be watching her when she came in.

Why did he ask? Ellin answered Erich’s words honestly.

“Yes…”

“Why?”

“I heard a story that says that if Dazak watches over us, we will get lucky. They said Dazak had the ability to grant us small fortunes…….”

“Yes. Dazak was actually a poor thief, and he used to bless the poor and hungry. You’re quite knowledgeable.”

Erich smiled warmly.

Ellin’s cheeks turned red. That was just the knowledge she learned when she came here.

“Unlike the saint who still cannot memorize the statues of the saints in the temple,”

And when Erich looked at Liliana with a playful expression, she was startled.

“The lady is already working hard.”

Maynard frowned, protecting Liliana.

“Oh, no. As High Priest Erich said, I am still lacking. As a saint, I’m ashamed.”

“It would be nice if you could show your divine power. So please do your best, saint. Even in the temple, I am always concerned about the saint.”

“I’m sorry.”

Liliana nodded with a blushing face, and Erich raised one corner of his mouth. It looked like it was sneering.

Was it an illusion? What did she just see?

As Ellin was thinking about what she had seen, Erich looked at her this time.

A gentle smile lingered on Erich’s lips again.

“Ah, do you know anything else about the statue in the temple?”

When Erich asked with a gentle expression and encouragement, Ellin answered with a smile.

“Where the Pope lives, there is a statue of Sefhit. And where the priests study, there is a statue of Angela. In addition…….”

Ellin began explaining the statues in each area and their meaning.

This time, Erich had a slightly surprised expression on his face. He probably didn’t think she knew it so well either.

“Oh my God. It makes no sense to kill a person like this for taking the wrong way.”

“…….”

“Rather, we should give her a chance to serve the saint.”

Wait a minute. Erich!

When Ellin was about to say something, Erich said with a smile.

“I think I’m going to make you Angelia.”