Chapter 55
“Bbi-ya bbi bbi-ya.” (Asil would accept and love her husband no matter what form he takes.)
Like a story from a fairy tale she once read, Asil was confident she would still love Edenber even if he turned into a goose or a frog overnight.
Imagining her quiet husband transforming into a goose and quacking loudly, she couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
Asil, “bbi-hya-hya-hya” , covered her mouth and laughed.
Edenberg, who had been staring at her with a thoughtful expression, gave an awkward smile
“Yeah, good night then.”
“Bbi-ya.” (You too, husband.)
Asil raised one front paw in a cute gesture of farewell and closed her eyes.
And then, she zoomed off to the dreamland where the baby rabbit had already gone.
Unaware that the “love” they each spoke of carried different meanings.
☆☆☆☆
Chapter 6
The High Priest in charge of the divine beast of the Monlepe Ducal Family had been extremely anxious lately.
Rumors were actively circulating that his position as High Priest should be revoked.
Perhaps these weren’t entirely baseless rumors, as his fellow high priests began avoiding him at some point.
Even priests of lower rank no longer showed him respect.
The High Priest ground his teeth in frustration.
“It’s all because of that damned Monlepe!”
He had barely climbed to this position by bribing the Pope with all sorts of gifts.
It was as if ashes had been sprinkled on a perfectly prepared dish.
Then, a rumor reached his ears that there was an unusual atmosphere brewing between the Monlepe Ducal Family and the Erzébet Count Family.
“If they’ve grown that close, perhaps Sir Arcian has uncovered some dirt on the ducal family.”
As it was, the High Priest of Starafit had been relentlessly pestering him about when the investigation would be completed.
He immediately sought out Arcian and urgently asked,
“How is it, Sir? Any progress?”
“It seems impossible.”
“What? Impossible, you say?”
The High Priest’s voice rose, expecting it to be difficult to fabricate a crime but not anticipating the word “impossible.”
“Are you saying it’s impossible to bring them to a divine trial?”
“Yes. There was nothing to seize upon. It was clean.”
“How could that be? Is there a single family that doesn’t have a speck of dust when shaken?”
“That may be true, but I couldn’t find anything.”
Arcian put on an expression of feigned regret.
“The Duke of Monlepe is more thorough than I expected.”
“But… there must be something!”
“I’m sorry. This seems beyond my capabilities.”
As he lightly bowed his head, it was well-known that Arcian was a man who could do anything.
As a possessor of exceptional magical abilities, he had resolved all sorts of troubles within the temple.
Thus, the High Priest couldn’t bring himself to believe Arcian’s words.
He even wondered if Arcian was deliberately trying to undermine him.
But those negative thoughts melted away like snow with the next sentence.
“It’s not quite a substitute, but I’ve discovered someone presumed to be a saintess.”
“What? What did you say?!”
A saintess!?
The High Priest’s eyes widened as if they might pop out.
If he could bring a saintess, all the mistreatment he was enduring would mean nothing!
“Where did you find her?!”
“She seems to be residing with the Monlepe Ducal Family.”
The essence of divine power and magical power was the same.
It was called divine power when it belonged to a human with a strong inclination toward healing, and magical power when it belonged to a human with a strong inclination toward attack.
And he was a beastman particularly specialized in magic.
Thanks to this, he could instantly recognize the abundant divine power latent in Selena’s body when he passed by her.
The Monlepe Ducal Family. The High Priest’s eyes grew even wider.
“Could it be that Duke Monlepe is hiding her—!”
“No way. It must have been with the intention to protect her.”
Though he was a distasteful human, it was the family where his daughter resided.
If he didn’t divert attention like this, they would continue to lead the charge in harassing the ducal family.
“Then my daughter would get tired too.”
With enemies all around, it was better to have at least one person in the Great Temple siding with the Moonlepe Ducal Family.
Thus, Arcian reluctantly defended Edenberg.
“I found out that she was an apprentice priestess before the duke took her in. These are the documents about how she was treated at the temple during her time as an apprentice.”
He placed a prepared stack of documents on the desk.
The High Priest, quickly skimming through them, was left with his mouth agape.
“Tch, isn’t this abuse?! Theodor? Where is this priest now?!”
“They say Duke Starafit personally buried him in the ground. Anyway, given these circumstances, it seems Monlepe found it difficult to send her back to the temple.”
“Ahem… The Great Temple is different. The Great Temple will serve and protect the saintess with utmost sincerity.”
“Yes, I’m sure you will.”
Arcian’s half-hearted response didn’t even register.
The High Priest’s mind was already filled with visions of himself returning triumphantly to the Great Temple with the saintess.
The fake divine beast of Monlepe no longer mattered.
In his thoughts now, the Monlepe Ducal Family was the house that harbored the saintess, the shining golden rope that would lift him to the heavens.
Straightening his shoulders, he said with a face full of anticipation,
“I must prepare to welcome the saintess.”
* * *
“Lulululu—lululu—”
Selena was in a great mood. To exaggerate a bit, she felt like she could flap her wings and soar into the sky.
The reason was simple.
Elcai’s treatment was completely finished.
“It was tough.”
Just when she thought it was over, he would suddenly vomit blood.
And when she thought it was done again, his blood vessels would suddenly get blocked.
It wasn’t called the Tears of an Angel for nothing.
They said a single drop could send you to see an angel, and if he had drunk just a bit more, he might have ascended outright.
But now, that was all over.
“I’m—going to—fly away now—far away to find freedom—ohohoho!”
Lyricist unknown, composer unknown.
Singing a random tune as it came to her, Selena headed to her room as if dancing.
Having earned a hefty sum for treating Elcai, all she had to do now was pack her bags, inform the head of the household, Edenberg, and leave.
She had even booked a ship ticket to another continent for this day.
The servants, with whom she had grown quite fond during her stay, saw her packing and asked,
“Where are you going?”
“Yep! To a really great place!”
“That’s great. We’ll cheer for you wherever you go.”
The servants only thought of Selena as an apprentice maid and didn’t know she could use divine power.
So, assuming she must have found a good job, they helped her organize her belongings.
While the kind servants carried her luggage to the entrance, Selena went to Edenberg’s study to bid him farewell.
“Since Lord Elcai’s treatment is complete, I’ll be leaving now.”
“You worked hard.”
As expected, Edenber, who didn’t show the slightest bit of interest in her, readily agreed.
He kept looking far off and sighing deeply, as if his mind was elsewhere.
“Something must have happened at the Third Princess’s banquet.”
It was probably because of Lady Erzébet.
Rumors must have spread that he went to the infirmary to get treated by her, right?
“Well, it’s not my business.”
Yes, it really wasn’t her business.
Because today, she would completely leave the empire.
By tonight, she’d be in the middle of the vast ocean, looking up at the night sky, drinking… not beer, but orange juice.
She felt a bit sad that she couldn’t drink beer because of her age.
But the thought of finally leaving Asil and Edenber behind made her happy again.
Ah, this radiant sunlight.
It feels like it symbolizes my future path.
Feeling sentimental, Selena flung open the ducal family’s gate.
Goodbye, original story.
Goodbye, empire!
“We greet the Saintess.”
Eek! What’s that!
At least a hundred holy knights, four high priests, and the Pope were waiting for her in front of the ducal residence!
A bewildered servant, staring at the procession, muttered,
“You’re really going to a great place…”
No, I’m not!
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By Anna 💓
