<Episode 14>
"I am a lowly, foolish commoner. Because a noble person like you showed interest in me, I, I got greedy! W-With a 'what if' in my mind...! It's ridiculous coming from me, but I've heard I'm pretty many times...!"
I trembled all over and bowed my head deeply. I deliberately mentioned my appearance to emphasize my foolish desire.
"I apologize...! My situation is so poor... I couldn't help it... I, I dreamed... I'm sorry!"
Theodore had a cruel disposition, but he was an emperor who cared for his people and was even called a sage king.
I had deliberately worn shabby robes, and underneath was coarse fabric clothing that commoners would wear.
I was just a foolish, pitiful commoner who tried to catch the Emperor's eye because she hated her poor status. Theodore would never punish a poor, starving person for something like this.
"...Enough. Get up."
Theodore commanded me in a suddenly weary voice.
"A-Are you forgiving me?"
"Yes. So get up quickly."
"Thank you, thank you!"
Theodore personally helped me up.
For a moment, a firm arm and warmth pressed in. A man much larger than me.
A refreshing scent I hadn't noticed amid the tension also wafted over. It was a scent that made my mood strange.
I leaned on his strength to stand. It was almost as if I didn't use any of my own power. Even a woman smaller than me was still a person, yet he lifted me effortlessly with one arm—how strong was he?
As I stood, his hand moved away.
"Phew. I'm tired. Isaac. Where is the High Priestess?"
"You must go to the first floor, Your Majesty."
"Farewell!"
I gave a final servile bow. Theodore left me like that.
I stood there for a long while, and only after Theodore left the worship hall and was out of sight did I finally exhale deeply.
I thought I'd die from the tension. I collapsed into the chair. My body felt completely drained of strength.
"...Wow. I did it."
I stared blankly into space, and soon a mutter escaped.
"I did it!"
I had just fooled that pitiless man!
Without even Agatha's help, when I had to handle it alone...! And I succeeded...!
"Ehehe. Hehe."
Laughter bubbled out unwittingly. I must have a talent for acting.
"Heeheehee."
Having succeeded, a thrilling pleasure surged through me.
I wanted to tell someone right away, but there was no one to tell.
Theodore was truly a blade-like person. He seemed like he'd slice through anyone who touched him. Honestly, he was scary.
To what extent? About as scary as facing a ghost walking on its hands in my previous life...
...No, actually, the ghost was scarier.
Anyway, fooling such a terrifying person! It was a tale worth boasting about for three days and nights.
[...Doro. Dorothy!]
And an urgent voice came. It was the first time the gods' voices felt so welcome.
[Lady Agatha!]
I responded gladly. Agatha asked me in a worried voice.
[I can hear you at last! Are you okay?]
[Yes! I'm oka—]
[In this short time, our dear's face is completely worn out! That bastard Theodore.]
[Damn imperial blessings... To render our power this useless.]
[How can that young punk be so murderous? If we'd met him on the battlefield, it would've been trouble. You did well, Dorothy.]
[Dorothy. It was tough, right? I'll go flip the imperial palace!]
And the eight Guardian Gods rushed in uproariously, soothing me in my head.
My head throbbed from the clamor, but it still felt a bit grateful and warm.
[You know, just now, I...]
[You were amazing. How can you be so quick-witted?]
[Y-You all saw?]
[Yes. We were so frustrated because we couldn't communicate. But as expected of Dorothy. You handled it alone so well.]
[Hehe...]
In my previous life, as I grew older, conversations with Mom became increasingly disconnected, and others didn't approach me easily.
Daughter of a shaman, ghosts will possess you if you're close, etc. Due to such prejudices, I practically had no friends.
The gods and stray ghosts that could communicate were capricious too.
Of course, I wasn't without comfort. Mom's customers who came and went, the shamans at the rituals, occasional friends too. I grew up with no issues in social skills.
But it was a fairly lonely life.
[Our dear overflowed with wits, really!]
[Well done, Agatha. Huh? When it's like that, you throw away pride and save your life first. Ahh. I'm so proud.]
[You were something! Good job. So I'll go flip the imperial palace!]
The comfort and praise from those on my side felt a bit unfamiliar. And I thought, this is pretty nice.
* * *
"I heard you threatened the worshippers in the worship hall."
A holy and gentle voice settled in Theodore's ear. To him, it felt more creepy than gentle.
"Me? No, I just greeted them warmly."
He replied in a leisurely voice. Anyway, since he'd barged into the Grand Temple on his own and rummaged around, he had no choice but to sit and talk with the High Priestess.
Theodore looked at the High Priestess but soon averted his eyes.
That woman was too flashy. Her clothes, made of rare fabric, were pure white from head to toe. And with the sunlight shining on her, she looked excessively holy.
Everything felt contrived, to the point he wanted to shove her out of sight.
"Your Majesty. What scheme are you plotting this time?"
The High Priestess asked softly. It was ridiculous that she asked while knowing everything. Theodore sneered inwardly but kept a blank expression outwardly.
"Well. You seem to know my intentions best, High Priestess. Doesn't God tell you such things?"
"God is a being who gives grand oracles. He doesn't reveal petty matters."
"To call the thoughts of the Empire's sun petty. You're truly bold, High Priestess. No matter when I see you, you're so fearless. Does the Temple ignore all of God's petty oracles, keeping silent like this for so long?"
Whether it was the High Priestess calling mind-reading petty to the Emperor, or Theodore mocking the Temple for not receiving oracles in quite some time.
Their conversation was a tightrope walk.
"Overpraise."
"A shame you take it as praise."
"You praised my boldness, so I must express thanks. I don't cling to unimportant words."
Implying that whatever you say doesn't affect me. The High Priestess treated Theodore like a small fry.
It was a conversation rife with barbs that could lead to conflict, but both knew the other wouldn't escalate.
They were the heads of the Empire and the state religion.
Petty squabbles over words would only stir unnecessary discord among subordinates without dealing real damage.
So the two freely jabbed at each other. With words.
"...High Priestess."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"God not giving petty oracles... is it because you can't hear them...? Are you... certain?"
Theodore, who had been smirking slyly, suddenly asked the High Priestess with a sunken face.
"Yes."
The High Priestess smirked while looking at Theodore's face.
Despite all the talk of hating the Temple, he ends up clinging to oracles after all. She must have thought he wanted a private oracle for personal reasons and smiled faintly.
'You should've done well from the start.'
People clung to transcendent, spiritual oracles. That was why respect for the High Priestess rarely wavered.
Because people waited, hoped, and desperately longed for oracles. Because she was the conduit who could receive them.
Of course, after 'that time' when the great plague occurred, no oracles had come, leading to rumors among the people.
In the end, Theodore was the same as them.
"But it's strange."
Theodore, still with a sunken face, suddenly spoke in a puzzled voice.
The High Priestess listened quietly, wondering what nonsense this time, maybe he'd make a request.
"The saintess who appeared recently hears even God's petty words and reads people's secrets?"
"......"
Theodore smirked.
"Well, a saintess might be greater, but for you, the High Priestess, to hear nothing at all... Does God have no interest in you?"
He was openly mocking her. Even in a somewhat childish way.
"If you need help with your duties, I can find the saintess for you. It might be good to learn from her."
It worked on the High Priestess, whose pride and arrogance pierced the heavens. A crack appeared on her face.
"Ah. But then calling you High Priestess would be awkward. Isn't it strange for an aged High Priestess to be a young saintess's disciple?"
"...It's fine. No need to worry."
The High Priestess replied through gritted teeth.
Theodore deliberately chuckled audibly and picked up his teacup. The High Priestess glared at him intensely.
He savored the feeling of stress melting away.
'Nothing went my way today.'
Thinking of the day made him sigh involuntarily.
Theodore had planned to kidnap the saintess and deal with her somehow. Her existence would only aid the Maelta Church's doctrines, so hiding her was best.
But to do that, he needed her exact appearance.
His subordinates sent to Demong, where the saintess first appeared, investigated the commoner woman said to have served her and her customers. But they all spouted nonsense about only remembering the 'Five Direction Flags' or 'Rattle Bell.'
The only option left was infiltrating spies into the Temple to gauge the atmosphere, but that wouldn't find her quickly.
The saintess had moved incredibly fast so far, without giving a chance to catch her. She might announce her existence to the world tomorrow from hiding.
If it were just dealing with the High Priestess, Theodore would have taken the safe path leisurely, but the unpredictable saintess's actions forced him to move urgently.
Thus, securing her person as quickly as possible, even if forcefully, was best.
So, he'd come directly to the Grand Temple on the day she arrived and turned it upside down.
