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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: The Saint's Arrival
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“It is a great honor to meet you like this, Your Holiness. I just felt a bit dizzy for a moment, so please don't mind me.”
“So she says. Let us go, Your Holiness. I am concerned you will be late.”
The priest beside him urged Zion on. Zion looked down at me, his face filled with worry.
The way he personally bent down to meet my gaze was truly befitting of a Saint.
“You're breaking out in a cold sweat... Are you truly all right?”
“Yes, of course. I'll be fine after a little rest, so please don't worry.”
His eyes, like clear lakes, wavered with concern. As a creature closest to God, he possessed an unreal beauty.
When he blinked, his white eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings. Even that gesture was enchanting.
*If only I weren't a warlock.*
His holy presence couldn't have been more chilling to me.
“Then please, may the Lord's blessing be with you.”
Zion whispered, offering a parting glance.
“May the... Lord's blessing be with you.”
I, too, squeezed out my last bit of strength. I watched Zion and the priest following him walk toward the central hall I had just left.
Only after their backs disappeared could I finally breathe.
“Ugh…”
At the same time, my stomach twisted in pain. I was overcome with nausea and couldn't hold it back.
“Ah.”
I only came to my senses after finding a private room, away from prying eyes, and throwing up everything I had eaten.
My stomach was still churning, but there was nothing left to bring up.
*Everyone but me... is in the banquet hall.*
Edmond, Isaac, and Yulia.
The memory of when Hazel visited our home flashed through my mind. I couldn't repeat that disgraceful scene in the middle of the imperial palace.
***
“…About that young noble lady from before. Do you happen to know who she is?”
At Zion's question, Paolo tried to hide his surprise. It was only natural, as it was exceedingly rare for Zion to show this much interest in a worldly figure.
He quickly searched his memory.
“I believe... she is a daughter of House Walker. The third and fourth daughters are twins, and I think that was the fourth, Emily Walker.”
“I see. Emily Walker...”
“Is something the matter?”
Paolo worried that Zion might have harbored impure feelings for her.
A clergyman devoted to God should never entertain such thoughts, but he knew well how difficult that was for a young man in his prime.
*Lady Emily Walker's beauty may not match her twin's, but she's certainly not lacking.*
It was plausible that Zion, who had no resistance to romantic affections, could be swayed.
“Ahem. If you have some personal business with her, I could arrange a private meeting...”
He subtly tested the waters. He knew from experience it was better to give a little leeway in these situations rather than forcibly suppressing it.
Though, he would only permit something as simple as sharing a cup of tea, just the two of them.
“No. It's not like that...”
Zion fell silent for a moment before shaking his head.
“...I must have been mistaken.”
*It couldn't be.* Zion's last words were almost a mumble to himself.
“More importantly, as I mentioned, please arrange a private audience with His Highness the Crown Prince for tomorrow. That is why I have come.”
“Of course.”
Paolo bowed deeply, showing his devotion.
***
Yulia barely suppressed the feeling that kept surging up from within her.
A terrible thirst grated on her nerves. Her fingertips felt stiff, and her eyes kept being drawn to the healthy, rosy napes of the young ladies with their hair pinned up.
Yulia fought to steady her spinning vision. She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head once, which seemed to clear her mind a little.
*What's wrong with me? Am I drunk?*
But can zombies even get drunk on alcohol? That fundamental question was the first to pop into her head.
“Yulia.”
“Ah, Edmond.”
Edmond, who had approached without her noticing, called her name. She looked at his face and realized his condition was no different from her own.
“What's happening? So suddenly?”
“I'm not sure. I've been looking for Emily, but I can't find her. Weren't you with her earlier?”
“We split up early on to go our separate ways.”
Even as she spoke, her head throbbed. An inexplicable anxiety made her feel short of breath.
“For now, I think it would be best to say we're feeling unwell and leave first.”
“That sounds best. Where the hell did that bastard Isaac go...”
Edmond furrowed his brow.
“How about we each look for them and meet back here in ten minutes?”
“See you then.”
The two faced each other and nodded. They had decided to search for Isaac and Emily.
Before long, Yulia spotted the back of a head towering above the others, slightly away from the bustling crowd.
“Isaac!”
She called out loudly, but there was no response. *Ugh, that jerk. What in the world is he doing?* Yulia grumbled inwardly as she pushed her way through the people.
*Grab!*
Yulia grabbed Isaac's wrist and exclaimed.
“Isaac! Can't you hear me?! Something's wrong, we need to get out of here—”
It was at that moment.
A loud fanfare erupted, and a doorman shouted at the top of his lungs.
“Ahem! In a moment, His Holiness, Saint Zion! Will make a special entrance! To celebrate the birthday of His Highness, the Crown Prince!”
Yulia felt a chill run down her spine.
Everyone was looking behind her, but she was too scared to turn around.
“We ask for your understanding that the Saint's visit was kept top secret to prevent any potential threats!”
She felt as if every hair on her head was standing on end. Yulia gripped Isaac's wrist tightly.
“Isaac. Say something.”
“……”
“Isaac?”
The lack of a response was a very bad sign.
*Grrrr...*
“You've got to be kidding me.”
Yulia slapped her free hand to her forehead. The sound coming from deep within his throat was all too familiar.
Isaac's eyes snapped open as he whipped his head around.
Just as she'd feared. The whites of his eyes had turned black, and he was seeing nothing.
*Smash!*
Yulia immediately grabbed a wine glass from a passing servant's tray and smashed it over Isaac's head. It was a swift response, without a hint of hesitation.
*CRASH!*
“Oh my! What happened! Isaac, are you okay?”
“Grrr...”
“Oh dear, look at you, in too much pain to even speak!”
Then, she quickly jabbed her index and middle fingers toward Isaac's eyes.
“Gah?!”
“Did the wine get in your eyes? Oh, that must hurt. Keep them closed.”
*Thud!*
Finally, pretending to support him, she drove her knee squarely into his solar plexus.
A whimper, like a puppy tucking its tail between its legs, echoed from somewhere.
“...You back with us?”
Yulia whispered chillingly in Isaac's ear, her hand still gripping his collar tightly.
“If not, you're getting another one.”
“I'm back. I'm back, so please, just stop...”
Isaac mumbled, his eyes still squeezed shut.
“Your eyes don't look right yet, so keep them closed. You even think about opening them, and I'll really pour wine on you.”
“I'm grateful my dear sister's quick thinking prevented a disaster, but the way you're treating your older brother is bringing tears to my eyes.”
“That's enough with the thanks. This is an emergency. That Saint or whatever is coming, so let's just get out of here first.”
No matter how much stronger they'd become, they weren't yet at a level where they could take on the Saint.
Besides, if they were noticed and their current condition was exposed, it would be all over.
“What about Edmond and Emily?”
“I saw Edmond earlier, and he was in his right mind. I feel a bit sick too, but it's manageable, so he's probably the same. As for Emily... I've been looking for her, but I don't know.”
Yulia took a cloth from a servant, roughly wiped Isaac's clothes, and muttered in a terribly awkward tone.
“Oh no! We're both soaked in wine, what a mess! We should go get cleaned up~.”
Then she decisively linked her arm with Isaac's.
“Let's go, quickly.”
“Right, little sis!”
For the first time in a while, they were perfectly in sync. Just as they were about to take a brisk step forward.
“His Holiness, the Saint, is entering!”
A fanfare sounded.
They were a step too late.
Isaac and Yulia didn't need to turn around to know where Zion was standing. His presence was that absolute.
The thirst that had been tormenting their mouths until now felt like child's play compared to the intense desire that now stirred within them.
It was a murderous impulse, a craving to tear that cunning clergyman limb from limb while he was still alive!
Yulia felt her vision turning red and squeezed her eyes shut. She swallowed hard. The urge to surrender everything to her instincts was overwhelming.
*Get a grip! If I lose my mind too, then it'll be a real... disaster... ...Why a disaster again? Oh, right, if we're caught, we'll all be killed...*
Her mind grew hazy.
*Why would we be killed if we're caught...? I'm already dead... Ah. No! Get a grip! If I really kill someone, a person... I'm not supposed to kill...*
Her head was spinning.
*I'm not supposed to kill...*
...
...
*...But why not?*
