My Sweet Deceiver

Chapter 27

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In the office above the temple, the Bishop and the priest were talking. On the occasion of the holy day, they could see the believers entering the temple one by one.

“It’s the order of the Holy Father. We have to make sure the followers support the First Prince.”

“Even so, isn’t First Prince more popular among the believers than Second Prince?”

“Of course, but… ha, I don’t know.”

The Bishop sighed.

“The Holy Father didn’t say the exact words. He just asked me to help the First Prince. And there’s some kind of pressure coming from the First Princess, too. We can’t just sit back and watch the situation.”

The priest listened silently to the Bishop.

“What’s the point of helping the First Prince in a political battle? There’s nothing to gain. Don’t we just have to deliver the doctrine well to the congregation?”

The Bishop said so and held his head in a troubled manner.

But even as he said it, the Bishop was well aware. Nate religion had been maintained as a state religion in Valloise because it was politically well-connected.

So, this was only a way to maintain the religious power. The temple would also mean that the First Prince was chosen against the will of the present King.

It was nothing short of an open fact that the present King’s intentions were on the Second Prince.

But the temple proclaims its support for the First Prince?

If so, it would be a signal that the secret relationship between the royal palace and the temple, which had been maintained until now, was broken. Perhaps the battle for strength between the temple and the royal palace may begin again.

The priest could not understand what the Holy Father meant by supporting the First Prince.

The Bishop was silent, sipping hot tea. The priest looked at the Bishop. As a mere priest, it was impossible for him to disobey the Bishop’s words.

Whatever his intentions, he must obey the will of his superiors. 

Whatever the will of God, it was the will of the Pope that mattered to him.

“All right, yeah… I’ll do my best.”

***

“It’s been a while since you came.”

“Yes, I was a little busy…”

As the priest greeted him in a friendly manner, the man entered the temple, scratching his head, perhaps embarrassed.

The temple began to be packed with believers. Each dressed in the best clothes they had taken out of the closet and sat solemnly.

After the hymn, it was time for the priest to deliver the doctrine. He opened the scriptures and recited verses.

“Well, look at this scripture. What does it say?”

The priest, who drew attention with his resonant voice, began to read the scriptures.

“The fallen will not find eternal rest in Nate’s arms, so be on the lookout for sin to overtake you.”

The priest asked in a loud voice to the left.

“Everyone. What is a sin?”

“Sin is unbelief.”

The believers answered here and there.

“That’s right. Everyone. So who’s clean in front of Nate?”

“He is the one who keeps the doctrine.”

“That’s right.”

The priest nodded. Then he raised his finger and pointed to the sky. 

“Look. What did Nate say to those who do not obey the doctrine?”

When the priest asked, the believers answered.

“He said they would fall into the brimstone fire.”

“Right. Look at this country now.”

The priest lifted his finger even higher.

“Should we not allow a distrustful and disobedient person to rule this country? Shall we let the people of this country fall into a brimstone fire?”

When the priest spoke of ‘the one who disbelieves and does not keep the doctrine’, he emphasized it as if to emphasize his point. The further back he went, the louder his voice became. When the priest finished speaking, his face became red with fever.

The faithful also responded with a loud voice to the priest’s passionate delivery of doctrine.

“No! No!”

The priest said as if waiting for the answer.

“Then who should rule this country? It is the faithful and pure who should lead this nation! A person who has no sin in front of Nate should be the King. Who is that person?”

People were buzzing, and there was no answer. The priest shouted loudly.

“Who is he? Son of a saint!”

Only then did people reply loudly to see what the priest wanted to answer.

“He’s the First Prince!”

“That’s right. Dear believers. Let’s make a country that Nate will be satisfied with. Let’s make it.”

“That’s right!”

“Son of a saint!”

“Son of a saint!”

The believers chanted ‘the son of a saint’.

***

Delphine was passing by and watching the place. Next to her stood the Bishop, highest after the Pope.

“That’s a good thing to say.”

Her speech was imbued with happiness.

“Yes.” 

Delphine looked at the new temple being built next to the old one. The new temple was to be built splendidly and magnificently with the latest construction methods.

Not long after the construction began, the excavation work was still in progress. Even they had to take a break from work on Holy Days, so the ground was dug up and left unattended.

“I can’t wait to see the new temple built.” 

Delphine looked around the ground and said, “You’ll see it soon.”

“If that happens, I want to be the first to pray.”

“It will be so.”

The Bishop smiled calmly. It was a seemingly benevolent smile.

Everyone becomes benevolent under capital.

Delphine laughed inwardly.

“If you need anything else, feel free to contact the department store. Not too long ago, I grabbed some money from the cobalt stone trade.”

Delphine said, winking at the Bishop.

“I see, Lady Delphine.” 

“What a believer. If you have a thin faith like me, just call me the boss. Or just call me by my name.”

The Bishop replied with a smile.

“The size of your faith will show the size of this temple. You have the greatest faith in Lubern.”

“Is that so? Well, if you say so, I won’t say no.”

Arriving in front of Delphine’s carriage, the Bishop and she exchanged greetings.

“I’ll see you next time. I wish you peace.”

“Yes, you too, Bishop.”

As Delphine got into the carriage, the woman who was riding inside spoke to her.

Delphine was not surprised and locked the carriage door. The carriage slowly started to depart.

“What about the Bishop?”

“It’s over already. So stop worrying.”

Delphine reproached her. The carriage slowly began to circle the city centre.

***

“Thank you.”

“What? How are you at night these days?”

“It’s the same.”

“No, why can’t a sleeping pill with a great effect be developed quickly? Our Princess’ beautiful skin will be damaged.”

“It’s already damaged, so don’t worry.”

Delphine gently placed the back of her hand on Tehez’s face and wiped it away. Tehez, too, was accustomed to receiving her hand.

“What are you talking about? Consistent maintenance is the only way to survive. Stop by the department store for a while. There’s a new cosmetic solution.”

“Well, I’m here because I have work to do today.”

“No! Stop doing what you have to do. There are a lot of them every day! Go to the department store today and have a look.”

Delphine folded her hands and continued to stare.

Tehez nodded her head as if she had lost.

“Okay. Let’s go to the department store!” The carriage stopped in front of the department store, and Delphine pulled Tehez’s hand.

Tehez was surprised to see a full line of customers from the entrance of the department store.

“Miss Delphine, aren’t there too many people?”

“Then you can do it like this.”

Delphine wrapped the scarf around her neck so that her face was covered.

Tehez was dragged into a department store in a bewildered way. The colourful dresses and parasols, shoes and jewellery, and the smell of mixed perfumes made her feel dizzy.

She was not accustomed to wandering around like this during the day.

“Come this way. Here is the new lotion. Let’s try it.”

Delphine turned and opened the slender glass jar of the shimmering liquid. She spread it a little over Tehez’s hands.

“What do you think?”

There was the scent of the forest and wild roses. 

Tehez felt refreshed.

“Does it smell good? It’s made with only wild roses and oil, so it’s soft and good. This is a gift.”

“Put it in. I’ll buy it.” Tehez waved.

“That’s not enough. Look at there!”

Delphine led Tehez near the perfume stand.

“I’ll recommend something that suits you. Well, let’s see.”

Delphine looked at her face and supported her chin as if pondering.

“You’d like this is better.”

What Delphine took out was a perfume with a flower tree branch and a sculpture of an angel on top of a dome-shaped perfume bottle.

“I think a gentle floral scent like this would suit you a lot better than a strong scent. Give it a try.”

When Delphine sprayed the scent, the scent spread out as if a flower field had spread out in front of her.

“It is a fragrance made from tuberose and jasmine. Doesn’t it look like a field of pink roses spreading out in front of you?”

“It really is.”

“This is also my gift.”

“Miss Delphine, that’s too much. I can buy this much only.” 

“What are you talking about? I’m the owner of this department store. Do you have more money than me?”

At Delphine’s words, Tehez couldn’t refute.

“Of course not.”

“Ah! Then there’s a good way! King…”

Delphine, who was going to refer to him as Prince, hurriedly changed the title.

“Choose a present for your husband. You can buy it yourself.”

“For my husband?”

“What do you think? It’s a good idea, right?”

Tehez was worried. 

The Prince’s birthday party was celebrated every year, but she had never given any present to him on a day other than their anniversary.

This gift was too personal. It was a gift for lovers.

“What else are you thinking about? How about perfume? Your husband must have a favourite scent, right?”

Delphine grabbed Tehez’s hand.

It was a shelf where men’s perfumes were displayed past women’s perfumes. 

“Ms President, welcome.”

The clerk recognized Delphine and greeted her politely. Tehez, who covered her face with a scarf, luckily didn’t seem to get noticed.

“Yes. She is going to gift it to her man. What are some popular scents these days?”

“If it’s a popular product these days…”

The clerk spoke and took out several perfumes from the display case.

“First of all, it is a fragrance that can be used regardless of the season. White musk and jasmine were used as the main fragrances.”

As the clerk sprayed perfume, a sweet and relaxing scent spread. Tehez saw a vision of him sitting alone in the autumn sun for a moment. But it didn’t suit him.

She would have liked a cooler scent for him.

Forgetting that she was turning down Delphine’s offer earlier, she focused on choosing a perfume for Denis.

Knowing that the first perfume was not to her taste, the clerk quickly showed her the next perfume.

“How do you like this scent? Inspired by the scent of leather, the main fragrances are labdanum, marjoram and cedarwood.”

When Tehez smelled the scent, she remembered the feeling she felt him touching her heart. She remembered the glow and sweat of the man who was wavering on top of her.

She thought the cool, woody scent would suit him, but when the unexpected scent reminded her of him, Tehez felt her face flush red.

(To be continued in the next episode)

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