Princess Shu

Now, Schuden had little to no doubt toward Valia, and it was obvious even to Mercille. The reason, of course, was guessed to be because the Marchioness was a temple princess brought from the temple. The people of the temple basically pursued a pure character. So, Schuden must have guessed that it was the same for the temple princess.

However, Schuden needed to know; a temple princess was not a priest, nor had she even practiced in the temple. Valia was simply a knight’s daughter from a small kingdom and was just really lucky to be the lady of the House of Garth.

‘Of course, it’s difficult to get a divorce, but the fact that she used the image of a priest to get such benefits cannot be overlooked. After all, a temple princess is nothing more than a sacrifice.’

The High Priest’s words had a very plausible persuasive power, but even so, Mercille still tried to talk to Schuden in moderation. And even though, unlike other nobles, Schuden did not grovel before the High Priests, he still gave the respect that should be given to one. It was a reasonable reasoning for Mercille, who had never heard of how Schuden treated Philemon.

‘So even if it’s a little uncomfortable…’

“High Priest, I think you’re mistaken.”

“…Pardon?”

Schuden gave out a cold voice, one that Mercille had never heard before. While Mercille questioned out of bewilderment, Schuden’s eyes looked at him coldly. The red eyes that had lost even the slightest warmth were like a beast on the verge of biting its prey’s neck.

“Mistaken? What do you…”

There was no time to be offended by rude expressions that would never be used to a High Priest. Putting aside the noble politeness and courtesy, Schuden was just breathtakingly threatening.

“The temple princess that you’re talking about is now the lady of the House of Garth. She’s not someone whom you can just say anything about.”

“Your Grace, I’m just…”

“Did you treat my wife like this too?”

“…”

Mercille was at a loss at the sudden drop of words.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

From generation to generation, except when absolutely necessary, the High Priests stayed only in temples for the sake of the empowerment of the temples. But Mercille was different from other High Priests, he knew his position well and had no hesitation in wielding it. He moved differently than the previous High Priests.

A priest’s divine power was clear evidence that God exists. There were many believers even though they did not force their beliefs. Many nobles also believed in God. The Emperor of the Empire also respected them and they were able to have a private conversation with a King of a Country. Mercille took advantage of his position appropriately.

Thanks to that, the harvest was plentiful. New temples were built in each country he visited and the nobles contributed more to meet Mercille. The number of nobles that Mercille met in one year was more than the number of nobles that High Priest Philemon and Bainana had met in their lifetime.

It was also thanks to Mercille that the temple enjoyed an unprecedented boom. And because he was raising the honor of God, he was confident. There was nothing blocking his way. Mercille had never been speechless.

Except for the current situation.

“…”

A frigid air seemed to tighten his neck just by looking at the red eyes. He suffocated as if he had encountered a beast without a leash. Mercille’s intense anxiety barred him from talking easily. He was asked whether he treated the temple princess with the same attitude he had shown to Schuden, but, in reality, he treated her worse than what he led Schuden to believe. No one, not even himself, would be able to speak of the truth in this situation. 

Schuden’s chin was tense.

‘So something did happen.’

Just looking at Mercille’s slightly moving mouth was enough to make a guess. Schuden wanted to snatch this arrogant High Priest by the collar right away. He was brimming with the desire to smash Mercille’s bones until he confessed what he had said to Valia. Feeling the anger that he could not even understand, Schuden slowly closed his eyes and then opened them.

“High Priest Mercille.”

His emotions were refined in an instant. Schuden had lived a very noble life from the moment he was dragged, turning his back on the dead villagers. However, his darkened eyes still looked like blood.

“I spend more time on the battlefield than in the banquet hall.”

Schuden’s reddish-blonde hair fluttered little by little. His beautiful appearance attracted the hearts of many women, his noble attitude was ingrained in his firm body, but the politeness that embraced it all was gone. Mercille reflexively recalled a nickname. The modifier that always followed Schuden on the battlefield; devilish murderer.

“What I’m trying to say is, I’m different from the other nobles who can still smile at their opponents and move on even when they are insulted. Perhaps my hands have developed some bad habits, my sword always comes out first. Perhaps because it was common to have blood all over me on the battlefield.”

“…”

“I would react the same when my wife was insulted.”

Mercille held his breath. His lips were already dry.

“…The soul who kills a priest is abandoned by God. No matter how displeased you are, such remarks are blasphemous…”

“Abandoned by God?”

Schuden smirked slightly. A cynical smile bloomed. God had already abandoned him long ago.

“High Priest Mercille, I’m not afraid of hell.”

“…”

Schuden was forcing him to choose between two—apology or life. It was not a threat of a noble. Mercille was sure that his words were not false. Just like a wild beast that would roar when its territory was invaded, this Marquess was warning that he would bite his neck. His red eyes did not leave Mercille even for a second. The confrontation did not last long. Mercille lowered his head slowly.

“…If you were offended by my words or actions, I apologize.”

Schuden’s eyes softened a little. Taking his gaze away from Mercille, he leaned against the backrest.

“I will convey your apology to the lady.”

“…By all means.”

Mercille ended up bowing his head even to Valia, but he had no time to feel offended. 

“Now that my business regarding the sacred relic is over, I will go back.”

“Very well.”

Schuden rang the bell on the table. An attendant who was waiting outside the office entered.  

“The High Priest said he’s leaving. Show him the way.”

“Yes, Your Grace. Let’s go, High Priest.”

Mercille got up slowly. It was not until he got up that he realized that his back was damp. This was the first threat he had ever received since becoming a priest. The uniform of a noble High Priest was not even a shield to the young Marquess, and that fact was terribly shocking to Mercille.

When he went outside, a priest who was waiting for him approached. The priest looked at Mercille and asked slowly with a slightly startled look.

“High Priest, you don’t look good. Are you not feeling well?”

It was unusual, his face was normal when he entered but it had turned pale when he got back. Besides, he even staggered a little as his legs went wobbly. Mercille said in a sluggish voice.

“Let’s go back to the temple. I feel a sudden chill.”

“Pardon? Yes, of course.” 

Originally, Mercille planned to have an audience with the Emperor after delivering the sacred relic to Schuden. But if he had met the Emperor in his current state, he would have been unable to speak properly. Mercille moved slowly with the support of the priest. The outright threat was shocking but he also did not understand the current situation.

A mistress of Marquess Garth—that was the position of the temple princess that Merclle expected. She was just a sacrifice for God’s vicegerent. She was no different from an animal or a piece of grain. At least she was a human being who acted with consciousness. It was for this reason that Mercille insisted on giving her the blessing of ‘the seduction of body.’

The blessing that he explained and persuaded Philemon as ‘consideration’ was actually a leash for the temple princess. Of course, he kept it a secret from the other High Priests. They would not understand and would even oppose him. He should at least grasp this kind of weakness. Mercille’s plan was perfect. No, he thought it was perfect.

The appearance of the temple princess, who looked impeccably noble, was rather good. But the appearance of the young Marquess, Schuden Garth, was too shocking for Mercille to accept.

Sure enough, in his opinion, Schuden must be…

Mercille shook his head. The High Priest was always confident, but today, he shabbily took his leave.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

“Did you call for me, Your Grace?”

Shaun entered the office and bowed his head. While waiting outside at Schuden’s order, he saw Mercille’s pale face, having aged more in the meantime. The legs that were covered by the High Priest’s holy uniform seemed to be staggering for some reason.

“Shaun.”

It must have been his liege’s work. A violent atmosphere that had not yet been put away was gradually coming out of Schuden.

“Were you with the lady during tea time today?”

“Yes. I was escorting the Marchioness as per your order before.”

“Tell me in detail what happened at tea time.”

Schuden, asking about tea time, and Mercille, leaving the room visibly pale… Shaun got a hunch of what happened right away. There was only one piece of information that his liege would want.

“High Priest Mercille was rude to the Marchioness five times in total.”

Five times?

Schuden’s expression hardened at Shaun’s clear and prompt report.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Robin had his eyes burning the whole time he entered the annex. This was because the image of a High Priest in his head was digging into the ground that much.

‘He might have been rude to Madam.’

To Robin, High Priest Philemon was now like an axis of evil. After having his eyes on fire for the entire tea time, Robin became a little more puzzled. Philemon was so kind to Valia. Even Robin could tell that the benevolent smile, which could be said to be the epitome of a High Priest, was not a lie. Valia seemingly feeling comfortable also played a part in this. No matter how on guard he was, the relationship between the two seemed pretty good.

‘He’s very kind. Are all tea times like this?’

Robin did not know much about the social circle. Escorting the lady to a banquet? Throwing a gauntlet at someone who insulted my lady? He had only dreamed of such a thing, and there was only one reason for it; he did not have the time to do so. 

If Robin wanted to escort a lady, he needed to start with a meeting first. But even that time spent on a meeting was precious. He had to put in a lot of effort in order to join the Knights of Garth, and it was the same after joining the knights. All of his fellow knights were like monsters so he had to train himself more so as to not fall behind. Especially since he was the youngest of the knights.

The fact that the House of Garth had almost no indirect line was also a problem. It was only after he joined the knights that he realized that there was no suitable young lady or noblewoman to request the escort of the knights. Meeting a lady from another family was still a long way off for the youngest knight.

So, for Robin, the Madam was a very special existence. His dream of joining the Knights of Garth and his dream of escorting a lady… She was the only existence that satisfied his two dreams. Although his opponent was a High Priest, this was still tea time. It could still be seen as a social event anyway.