CH 91

The High Priest looked at me, his expression solemn, and said, “As you said, if you can truly perform the power of purification without holy objects or holy water…”

He trailed off and didn’t continue.

“We’ll see the results and tell you.”

“Yes, I understand.”

I obediently followed his will, and when Enoch saw me like that, he urgently called the Emperor, “Your Majesty, me too.”

“It was promised in advance, so go together.”

And so we followed the High Priest. Fortunately, Enoch and I rode one carriage while the High Priest rode on the temple carriage he rode.

As we got on, I asked, “Your Highness, what will happen to me now? Do you know?”

“Count, let me tell you. Priestesses belong to the temple. They wouldn’t miss the opportunity to bring them into the temple if it’s a priestess who can purify.”

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“Yes, you said that last time. But I heard there’s a way out.”

I didn’t hear about the method because we were called out after our conversation in my room earlier.

“…There is, but.”

Enoch suddenly hesitated. He was supposed to tell me everything before we reached the temple, so why was he like this now?

For some reason, Enoch’s face looked a little flushed.

“Your Highness?”

“That…”

Enoch rubbed his hand over his suddenly flushed face and nape. When I urged him once more, he slowly spoke. “You can escape it with marriage.”

“Are priestesses not allowed to marry? That being said, I’m married now. Although I’m in the middle of a divorce.”

“Not with a normal marriage.”

“Then what’s an unusual marriage? But I don’t want to get married again…”

I was about to get divorced, but now I had to get married again? To be honest, I didn’t like the idea. Not at all.

I blinked and looked at Enoch. Enoch tapped his fingers on the carriage window and avoided my gaze.

“If the High Priest recognizes the Count as a priestess in the situation where the Demon King is now in Rupert’s body… Divorce will go through without a lawsuit. No, the previous marriage would be null and void,” Enoch muttered a little gloomily, resting his chin on the palm of his hand. 

Even though his head was turned to the window, his eyes were on me.

“… Isn’t that a good thing? Oh, it isn’t.”

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That’s how the divorce would be established, but I would also be forced to live as a priestess.

“What does the priestess do? How will she live?”

“As far as I know, you cannot take a single step outside the temple unless there is a special reason. She spends more than ten hours a day in prayer…Wake up at 5 in the morning…”

Hell, no. Before Enoch could finish speaking, I grabbed his hand and said, “Your Highness, please help. I can’t live like that.”

I was an atheist before I came here, and even now, I don’t have the slightest bit of faith. I probably wouldn’t survive living a life like that.

“But didn’t you just say you had no intention of getting married again?” Oddly, Enoch replied in a gruff voice. Hearing his words, I thought for a moment.

“Is it really just that unusual ‘marriage’ that I can get out? What happens if I don’t follow, and I dunno, run away…”

“It is said that if you are ordained as a priestess in the temple of a goddess, you will not have the heart to run away because of your full faith. Nevertheless, if you do…”

I gulped and waited for the next words.

“They said the priestess would die shortly after disobeying the goddess’s order. But, of course, the temple would catch the priestess before that.”

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“That’s completely criminal treatment. What kind of priestess is that?”

“Well, there’s no priestess who ran away in the first place. The life of a priestess in the temple is said to be rich and comfortable. Praying for ten hours a day is something they do from the heart anyway…Of course, that might not be the truth.”

Enoch spoke calmly and then laughed. After hearing it, I was confused about whether this person was persuading me to become a priestess or encouraging me not to.

Anyway, did he mean that the priestesses were happy to accept such a life because of their strong faith? Then… I wasn’t sure it would be fine.

“Aah, no way. Then the splendid single life I planned…”

Hearing my mumbling, Enoch’s eyebrow twitched. “The splendid single life? Like?”

I cut him off, “I want to date handsome men…!”

I unknowingly spit out my true feelings. In this world, married people were freer to date than unmarried people. However, some people were more free than married people, and that was the formerly married.

“Handsome men…?” Enoch murmured. And the moment I heard his voice, I realized my mistake. 

Enoch had feelings for me, so wouldn’t it hurt to hear that? 

My prediction was right.

As soon as I said that, Enoch glanced at me then looked out the window.

“Hey, Your Highness. So…I mean.”

I tried to placate him, but he wouldn’t budge, and he wouldn’t even tell me how to escape a priestess’s fate.

And when we got off the carriage, he even said, “May you have peace in the blessings of the goddess, priestess-to-be.”

No way, not that.

After assisting me off the carriage, Enoch walked ahead alone. His strides were so swift that I felt like I could barely catch up to him if I ran.

“Your Highness…!”

As I ran to catch up to him, a stern voice came from behind me. “This is a place that requires silence. Keep your voice down and behave yourself.”

I was startled and turned around to see the priests who had come out to meet me staring at me. They bowed as the High Priest approached.

Enoch was already walking away by himself. As I stared at his back, I felt more and more uneasy.

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“Please follow me this way.” The High Priest looked at me once and then walked ahead, going in a different direction than Enoch.

I walked behind the High Priest and looked around inside the temple. I saw the incredibly high ceiling and the pure white pillars that supported it. There were round holes all over the ceiling, where white light poured out.

“Where are we…”

“First, we’ll go see Priestess Christina, and then she’ll begin the examination,” the High Priest answered my question faithfully. And the tone of his words that followed sank low. “Priestess Christina turns ninety-nine this year. She spent a very long time inside this temple.”

There was a certain wonder and pride in his tone. But on the contrary, the words sent chills down my spine. Maybe my future…No, no.

I couldn’t come to this world and live like that. as I calmed myself down and followed him, we went to a place that looked like the temple’s back gate. There was a garden behind the temple that led to a small path.

“Where are we going? Didn’t you say we’re going to see the priestess?”

“You’re right.”

“But I heard the priestess can’t leave the temple.”

The High Priest stopped in his tracks and looked behind me. I turned to see the towering white building. 

The High Priest shook his head and said, “A temple is not just a building. Any place where priests and priestesses stay can become one.”

“Oh…? Then, anywhere.”

“In this forest.”

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Oh, so even this forest behind the temple seemed part of their domain.

As I walked along the trail, a small house caught my eye.

One of the priests guarding the place bowed silently. Then, I saw a familiar priest, and I met his gaze.

“How is she?” 

In response to the High Priest’s question, Priest Antonio pointed to the back of the house with a bitter smile.

When I went there, I saw a small old woman watering the garden. She seemed to struggle to lift the watering can, but her expression looked comfortable. 

“Priestess Christina,” Priest Antonio called her first.

Then Christina, the priestess, answered curtly, “Didn’t I say I can take care of my illness? How long have you been bothering me…”

The priestess looked around, her eyes widening as if surprised by the unexpected figures. Then, she frowned at the High Priest. “What’s up with you again?”

Did I come here for no reason? Even I felt intimidated by that harsh voice. She was very different from the image of a priestess I had imagined at first glance. She’s like a grandmother who was supposed to live in the countryside.

“Priestess, please take a look at this person.” The High Priest merely smiled as if he was familiar with her attitude and pushed me forward.

I was taken aback, but I tried to say hello anyway. “Hello, Priestess Christina. I…”

“No need for greetings.”

Priestess Christina, picked some kind of fruit and came to me with great strides.

And before I could say anything else, she popped the red berries into my mouth, the sweet taste spreading. The tension in my shoulders eased.

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“How is it?”

“Sweet and delicious.”

“Right? It’s a waste of fruit to go into anyone’s mouth.”

Saying so, she took my hand and went inside. I held an old woman’s hand, so it was incredibly fine and soft. When the High Priest tried to follow her, she blocked his entry, narrowing her eyes. 

“Where do you think you’re going!”

As soon as I entered, I was amazed. When I turned around, Christina, who had entered earlier holding my hand, had changed into a beautiful young woman with black hair.