Episode 131: Spread the Word (VIII)
The two had the same dream a few nights ago, after they mustered up all their divine power to pray.
It was a dream in which the interior of the temple in the Tersia territory was reflected.
They saw a tremendous light surrounded by people and regarded it as a revelation from the goddess.
Thus, they came to Tersia without Rabienne’s knowledge to check.
“I heard rumors about the well and came by just in case. It’s surprising.”
“Yes. A well imbued with divine power. Isn’t this a sacred object that the temple should take care of? I can’t believe it’s just on a random street? Really…”
They were admiring the existence of the well when they saw Esther and her brothers.
“Those children… Oh, I recognize their faces. I think they are the grand duke’s children.”
“Then the girl must have been taken from our temple.”
The children of the grand duke.
Among them, Kyle and Joffrey’s eyes narrowed in on Esther.
It was because it was not considered a mere coincidence to meet a child who was a candidate for sainthood in a place they went to based on a dream which might have been a revelation.
The eyes of the two people observing Esther were full of tension.
“Come to think of it, that child…”
Joffrey was startled. He suddenly realized something.
“Doesn’t her appearance match the revelation we heard?”
His voice trembled thinly, probably because he realized an overwhelming truth. That trembling was passed on to Kyle.
“Yes. It was definitely a child with grayish brown hair and pink eyes.”
As Kyle and Joffrey’s suspicions grew…
Esther and the twins returned to the carriage with Jerome.
Kyle’s mind raced, and he hurriedly asked Joffrey.
“Uh, what should we do? Should we follow?”
“Let’s go for now. There must be something about that child.”
With a resolute nod, the two hurriedly followed Esther’s carriage.
(TL/N: let’s not think too hard about how they followed lmao #my_midnightamusement you guys know I don’t often comment in the middle unnecessarily, right?)
After a while, the carriage stopped at the temple of Tersia.
Now, since anyone could go in and out of the shelter, they were able to look inside the shelter without being stopped.
“It’s much better managed than I thought.”
“I know right. To think this was the space created by the cold-blooded grand duke. I can’t believe it even after seeing it.”
They thought there would be confusion due to the closing of the temple, but the faces of the people in the shelter looked well-to-do and happy.
“Is this a place like this that the goddess showed us?”
“…Let’s take a closer look.”
Kyle and Joffrey observed the shelter while looking for Esther.
But the girl was out of sight for a long time.
It was when they headed back to the center of the shelter, trying hard to calm their growing nervousness.
The girl they were looking for appeared. She, along with one of the boys of the grand ducal family, headed to the place where the patients were.
Without hesitation, they approached the severely ill patients, and the girl began to devote herself to treatment.
There was a distance from the patients and an escort in case something happened, but it was quite a shocking sight for Kyle and Joffrey.
“Goodness, that child…”
Kyle couldn’t hide his surprise when he realized Esther was healing with divine power.
It was particularly astounding because the divine power used in succession seemed considerable.
“There’s too many people, she’ll be in trouble if she uses her divine power like that.”
Joffrey clicked his tongue as he watched Esther pour out her divine power on the next patient without a break.
“Maybe there is no limit to her divine power. Aren’t there very rare cases? Of course, they were all saints…”
The end of Kyle’s words blurred; he was taken aback. Esther’s eyes were unusual.
“Did you see? Those eyes.”
“Yes, yes. I saw it too. It’s far away, so I’m not sure, but the color has definitely changed.”
Divine power that seemed to have no limits. Eyes shining golden.
Surprised by the undeniable evidence of a saint, Kyle’s and Joffrey’s mouths dropped wide open at the same time.
In that state, they stood there blankly for a while without saying anything.
“I don’t know what to say, really…”
The two men, whose hearts were complicated, looked at each other and sighed.
The real saint that they had been looking for so long.
Now that they found her, they should be happy, but for some reason, they couldn’t let go of their surprise and unsettlement.
“It’s frustrating. Isn’t it like we drove out the real saint with our own hands?”
“If she hadn’t been sold from the beginning, none of this would have happened. Ugh.”
Although it was done by a low-ranking priest, it happened because the temple was so rotten.
Kyle and Joffrey gazed at the statue of the goddess with a sense of responsibility and shame.
It was certainly the revelation of the goddess that showed them this place in their dreams and allowed them to find Esther, the real saint.
“Now what? Can we take away that happiness?”
Kyle was distressed when he saw Esther’s joyful grin in the crowd.
But Joffrey, already impressed with Esther, shook his head.
“If she really is a saint, she shouldn’t be in a place like this. We should take her to our temple.”
“But we already have Lady Rabienne. There can’t be two saints under the same sky.”
Unable to take his eyes off Esther, Kyle was conflicted.
The temple could not change the saint after the accession. Otherwise, the dignity of the temple would fall to the ground.
“If she’s a child of low status, the temple could simply take her in, but she’s part of the grand ducal family. It’s too twisted.”
Frowning, Joffrey scratched his head.
Among the people the temple could not do anything about, the most dangerous one was Deheen.
Both his wealth and combat power were threatening to the temple.
They couldn’t turn him into an enemy.
Deciding that they couldn’t come to a conclusion right away, the two watched Esther with a pained hear.
“Let’s go back immediately.”
“Are we going to report to the saint?”
“Let’s think about it a little more. Should we tell the other high priests, or should we confide in the saint?”
Kyle and Joffrey, whose eyes were still full of shock, forced their unmoving feet to return to the temple.
As soon as they entered the shelter, the three siblings dispersed to do their respective duties.
Esther would tend the holy flowers with Paras, Dennis would look over the children learning letters, and Judy would teach some children swordsmanship.
“Paras, how are the flowers?”
“I’ve cleaned them beforehand, but I think you should still see it for yourself.”
Esther followed Paras to the greenhouse. The holy flowers had grown to the point where they could be used.
“Please send half of it to the imperial family. They will probably be sent to the borders.”
“All right.”
Even though Paras purified the flowers, Esther’s divine power was still necessary.
After spending a good amount of time to ensure the flowers were fine, she left the greenhouse to take care of the seriously ill patients.
Dennis was also on his way out of the opposite classroom.
“Did you take care of all the flowers?”
“Yes. Now, I’ll see the patients.”
“Let’s go down together.”
Judy was playing with the children on the first floor with wooden swords.
He didn’t have to purposefully insert himself into the party. He naturally joined his siblings.
Seeing that, all the inhabitants of Tersia in the shelter were deeply impressed.
Unbeknownst to the three, praise for the grand ducal family, especially Esther, was increasing day by day within the territory.
The people of the territory were no longer sad that the temple was gone.
It had already been filled by the shelter.
Tersia no longer needed a temple.
Esther, who diligently treated the seriously ill patients, massaged her shoulders after receiving all the patients in line.
“Are you done now?”
And as she casually turned her head…
“……?”
…She noticed the high priests leaving the shelter.
Even though they were covered by a cloak, bits of faces were visible. There was no way that Esther would not be able to recognize the faces of the people she hated in her repeated lives.
“Do you know them?”
“Who are they?”
Seeing Esther’s expression change, Dennis and Judy followed her gaze and stared at the backs of the disappearing high priests.
“Sir Paras, did you just see their faces?”
“No. I didn’t. Why?”
Esther spoke cautiously, but she was unable to hide her distraught expression.
“I think they are high priests.”
“What? Why are high priests here…”
“Really? We have to go and catch them right away.”
“No. You can’t.”
Different reactions erupted at the same time: Paras panicked, Judy was ready to leave, and Dennis kept his composure.
“If they have come this far, it’s either to confirm that the temple is closed, or… it’s because of me.”
Esther, of course, thought the latter was more likely.
‘This is not the time to sit still. I need to do something.’
Seeing the high priests made Esther decide to move before Rabienne.
Her eyes, which had always been mild, were filled with great determination.
Esther took her brothers and Paras to a small room. She spoke calmly.
“Sir Paras.”
“Tell me.”
“I want to spread a rumor. I need your help.”
Esther thought about how she could deal a real blow to Rabienne.
“What rumor are you thinking of?”
A rumor that the saint in the central temple is a fake.”
Although they spoke quietly so that only each other could hear them, Paras glanced around in surprise and swallowed his saliva.
“That’s a good idea.”
With twinkling eyes, Dennis agreed.
Spreading rumors was an easy way to threaten Rabienne’s place without using their own hands.
Her position as a saint was based on the faith of the people. If things got bigger, she would face more trouble in the temple.
“Wait, and one more. That the epidemic spreading throughout the empire was caused by the saint being a fake.”
Esther wanted to discuss with Deheen how to spread rumors and utilize them more effectively, but…
First of all, if Paras, who was a high priest, started the rumors, it would increase the credibility and become a great force.
“How can my sister be so smart?”
With his chin propped on his palm, Dennis smiled proudly as he watched Esther expressing her opinion one by one.
“I know. Isn’t she just like me?”
“Don’t make me want to hit you.”
Judy laughed out loud at Dennis’ words, but he suddenly turned and stared coldly at Paras.
“Which side are you on? Are you on our side? Anyway, you were a high priest. I still don’t trust you.”
Paras was stunned by Judy’s aura, which was pressurizing despite his young age.
“…I serve the goddess. Her will is here, so how could I think otherwise?”
Exchanging glances with Esther, Judy, and Dennis one by one, Paras made up his mind and nodded slowly.
“I will be with you on the way to bring down the fake.”
