<Episode 21>
Theodore lifted one corner of his mouth and let out a disbelieving laugh.
"Your Majesty, the Saintess has received a revelation... Please hear her out, just once?"
The Marchioness pleaded earnestly.
Everyone gauged Theodore's mood. Their eyes brimmed with anticipation.
"...This is really pissing me off."
He muttered irritably and abruptly stood from his seat.
"Fine, let's go. Saintess."
Theodore smoothed his clothes with a large hand and shot me a cold glance.
"Your Majesty! Thank you. This old woman is so overjoyed tears are coming."
"Is that so, Marchioness."
Theodore gave a perfunctory reply to the Marchioness and took a step forward.
His actions made it clear.
He hadn't agreed because of the atmosphere or the Marchioness. He was furious with me and agreed out of anger.
Daring to deceive the Emperor and now cowering—obviously. A private audience? How bold.
How could he not be curious about what such a woman had to say?
"Marchioness, may we use the garden? It's stuffy indoors."
"Of course!"
With permission granted to my question, I stood from my seat.
Good. The open garden was better than indoors. Fewer hiding spots, and easier to catch any eavesdroppers.
Things went as planned, but.
'I'm scared...!'
It was utterly terrifying.
Theodore's invisible emotions—rage, irritation—stabbed at me like needles.
* * *
Theodore said nothing the entire way to the garden. I stared at his much larger back. Looking at his broad shoulders, I even thought, 'How can it be that wide?'
Examining his physique, I occasionally grew scared. One punch, and I'd be done for.
We remained silent even as a small tea table was set in the garden gazebo upon arrival.
Only after tea was poured did Theodore speak.
"So. Why did the Saintess want to see me?"
His low, resonant voice felt gentlemanly yet beastly.
I fiddled with my teacup and glanced around. The Marchioness's servants were still there.
"Clear out every rat within a 10-meter radius."
Theodore astutely grasped the meaning and dismissed the people.
"Now speak. Maria?"
He laughed, calling my alias.
To explain, I needed to share my feelings and goals, then persuade him.
I pondered how to start to make this hot-tempered man sit and listen, then opened my mouth.
"In truth, I want to dismantle the Maelta Church."
Straight to the point was best, after all.
Theodore's face hardened instantly at my words.
"And for my goal, I want to join hands with Your Majesty."
I continued without hesitation.
Theodore didn't respond. He simply stared at me with those icy blue eyes.
His cold gaze met mine, as if peering into my heart.
I didn't avert my eyes, wanting to convey my sincerity. It was grueling.
His sharp eyes, kind yet chilling, were overwhelmingly intense.
In short. Terrifying and burdensome.
But I endured the staring contest with Theodore persistently.
"Are you serious?"
Only after a long while did Theodore finally speak.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"You thought I'd believe you?"
"Absolutely not."
"Yet—"
"You're curious."
"What?"
"That's why you granted the private audience I requested, right? Besides, a Saintess wanting to dismantle the Maelta Church. How intriguing is that? Isn't it too entertaining?"
I modulated my voice like a famed storyteller. Theodore showed no reaction.
So damn rigid. Really.
"...Intriguing."
The corner of Theodore's mouth twisted up. His icy eyes now blazed like fire.
Angry...? It looked different from before, but still terrifying, so probably furious.
"Fine, let's hear it."
Permission...!
Before he could lose his temper and storm off, I spoke again.
I briefly explained my connection to the gods and learning of the world's corruption through it.
"I learned Your Majesty wants to dismantle the Temples too."
His eyebrow twitched ever so slightly at my words.
Theodore's lack of faith was famous among nobles, but his intent to dismantle the Temples was a 'personal' resolve.
'He must be shocked. Haha.'
I knew his heart.
Proof I wielded mysterious powers!
Of course, useless before him since I couldn't demonstrate on the spot. But getting him to listen was key, so it worked.
"Our goals align."
"So?"
"I want to cooperate. The gods wish it too. Me becoming Saintess was all to meet Your Majesty. I was a commoner, after all."
"You could meet the Emperor as Saintess... So you used the Temple?"
"Yes."
Quick on the uptake—easy to talk to.
"Hard to understand."
"Pardon?"
"If the gods want to excise the Temple's corruption, why you? They could do it themselves. Those almighty gods."
Hostility seeped into Theodore's voice. As expected, negative emotions surged at mention of gods.
"The Temple's corruption shattered believers' faith. Without sincerity, the gods lost power too."
"Then send down revelations or whatever. They did recently."
Theodore leaned forward. A bitter woody scent wafted from his sudden closeness.
"That damned, unfakable Blue Flame."
Theodore spat irritably.
"...That."
I swallowed hard.
His proximity exuded immense pressure.
A massive man dressed head to toe in black.
His aura was refined and elegant, yet a beast lurked within, yawning.
"...They knew the Temple would tamper with it."
"Tamper?"
The conversation had reached this point.
Now, I had to broach the hardest topic. Mentioning the incident that scarred Theodore.
What would the beast do upon hearing?
Bare his teeth in rage...? Trembling in fear, I mustered courage.
"The Temple tampered even with oracles. Sixteen years ago... yes."
Theodore's expression didn't change.
But I knew. His heart must have clenched tight.
His reply came very late.
His eyes still sharp, lips firm, but opening his mouth seemed agonizing.
"The Temple."
He barely uttered one word, then took a deep breath.
"Tampered."
His low, resonant voice sounded sorrowful.
"Yes. It started from the Temple's human trafficking, abusing people, neglecting the sick—creating the plague there."
"...The Temple. Created. The plague."
"Yes. God knew, so They sent an oracle to halt its spread. But the Temple arbitrarily tampered and announced it, extorting donations and tributes."
"Ridiculous."
His voice shook for the first time. But he had to confront it.
Theodore distrusted easily and demanded reasons for everything. So, I had to say it.
"That's why no oracles since. Shocked by the Temple's atrocities... and knowing they wouldn't convey properly anyway."
Agatha had truly been powerless for 16 years from the shock. The oracle void proved it.
Of course, if Theodore didn't believe, it ended there.
I finished and awaited his response.
He had his eyes closed. Jaw clenched, veins bulging.
"Can you take responsibility?"
He asked in that state.
"Pardon?"
"For the words you spoke to me."
Veins bulged on the back of his hand gripping the teacup armrest.
"You seem unaware of what you've touched."
Killing intent emanated from him. Far beyond our Temple encounter.
Pressure like he'd snap my neck any moment.
Dangerous, I thought.
'Stay calm, calm.'
Eyes closed, asking questions first despite rage meant willingness to hear me out.
"Not asking you to believe. Just answering your question."
"......"
"To request cooperation, I thought truth was needed."
I met his gaze squarely.
'Dorothy, you can do it. You can.'
Self-hypnosis.
Theodore finally opened his eyes, listening.
'It worked.'
Clasping hands to suppress excitement, I calmly delivered the close.
"If Your Majesty questions what I know, I'll answer. That's the duty of one requesting alliance."
His blue gaze pierced me. Intensely deep.
