“Look over there. There are so many people who are swayed by rumors of unknown origin. So much so that at least one touch of the saintess’ dress would erase their sins, would heal their sick family, and would make their wishes come true.”
Eunice was being sarcastic. She was even angrier at the fact that they were using those poor people’s hopes for their personal desires rather than the immoral past of the saintess candidate. Ximena agreed with Eunice.
“If this is how it’s going to be, I’d rather they reveal the real saintess quickly. What is the Temple of Glory doing right now?”
“They must be thinking hard about this matter.”
Lara thought that the priests in the Temple of Glory were now in a state of disarray. They needed to find out who the saintess was as soon as possible and declare that God’s vicegerent has descended to this land so that they can establish the authority of the falling temple. But the priests have long lost the power of God so they have no way of finding out who the saintess is.
“Here she comes.”
The main character of the march today was the farmer’s wife. When the front door of the temple opened wide, an ordinary woman dressed in white cotton cloth with an apron and hair towel walked out.
People cheered loudly as the saintess candidate walked out into the street escorted by the temple’s knights. The farmer’s wife went about the cheering crowd, hugging them one by one and kissed them on the cheek. Some were crying with emotion and others were praying on the floor. Eunice who was looking at the scene murmured with a sour face.
“Even someone who is not a saintess would believe that they are one if they do that ten times.”
The power of the crowd was great. There was no way the temple would not know about it.
“So what happens to our cute Princess? In my opinion, Princess Sonnet is the real saintess.”
Sonnet was still hiding deep inside the royal family. Even the black sorcerers who carried out massive attacks had not shown up for days. Now that all of the candidates for the saintess were protected by either the royal family or the temple, there was no way for them to easily approach the candidates.
After finishing the last dessert, the three got up to go home.
“Lara, do you want a ride?”
“I have my own carriage.”
“This heartless bish… I’m just too anxious to let you go alone!”
Eunice shouted. Perhaps because of the memory of Lara being kidnapped when they were together, Eunice used to insist that the three of them must move together in a carriage when they go home.
“Lara, Eunice just wants to go home with you. She cannot be honest so I hope you under…”
Ximena spoke on behalf of Eunice’s sincerity.
“Shut up. It’s not like that.”
“I’m sure I’m right.”
“No, you aren’t!”
Looking at the two people who, as usual, started to quarrel, Lara shrugged and said as if she could not help it.
“If you like me so much, well, we can go meet my mother together.”
“Huh?”
“What?”
“I have a dinner plan with my mother.”
Thousand gold Isadora was really awesome, but it’s a little scary when she’s your friend’s mother. Isadora was Hautean’s top wealthy merchant whom even the King could not touch recklessly.
“Bye!”
“Say hello to her!”
Lara waved lightly at her friends, who were quickly moving away.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
Lara heard similar words everywhere on her way to the hotel to meet her mother.
“What in the world is the temple doing?”
All eyes were on the Temple of Glory. That was the main topic when more than one person got together. It was natural for questions to turn into doubts and soon into distrust,
“Actually, does the Temple of Glory even know who the real saintess is?”
“No way.”
“Why else would they keep silent until even now?”
The longer the silence of the temple lasts, the louder the voices of doubt. Even more so when the people’s expectation for the saintess grew.
“It’s frustrating. I’d rather the demon or whatever that the black sorcerers worship to show up and tell us which one is the real saintess!”
“You rascal! What if you get caught for saying that?”
“Those people who worship the demon know about it, but why not those who serve God? It is weird.”
The Temple of Glory could not admit that God had abandoned them. They have hidden and denied that fact for more than 100 years. The appearance of the saintess was actually a great opportunity for them to build back up the collapsing religious body.
However, paradoxically, the appearance of the saintess had become the deterrent for undermining the values and reputation they had kept.
‘Is even this what God had intended to do?’
Lara could not tell.
“Milady, welcome.”
Her mother’s hotel remained the same. When Lara got off the carriage, the manager who came out to meet her showed her the way to the restaurant. A special room was set up for the two. Lara sat up facing her mother, Isadora.
It was noisy outside the window. It was an ironic thing to happen. Even outside the window of the special room where the two were sitting, a fake saintess was seen marching on the street.
“Mother, what’s your opinion?”
“Opinion for what?”
“The saintess candidates. Who’s the real deal?”
“You’re talking about that. Of course, I think both are fake.”
“Pardon?”
Lara blinked her big eyes twice. Isadora’s tone was very firm, and she did not seem to doubt that all of the saintess candidates were fake.
“How do you know?”
“Because God is silent.”
“If a saintess appears, does that mean that God will tell us directly?”
“Rather than that… Shouldn’t there be at least a huge miracle that anyone can notice? Either save the dead, foretelling the future, or use the power of the now-defunct God.”
While Isadora said so, she gracefully cut the appetizing lamb steak. Lara gulped down her dry mouth as she looked at her mother.
What should I do? I didn’t save the dead, but I did go back to my past and stayed alive. I can’t predict everything in the future, but I do remember a few big events. I don’t know what the power of the now-defunct God is. However, no matter how much I hurt myself, I got better automatically.
No way.
‘I don’t think so.’
Lara shook her head without making it obvious. The idea that it could not be her and the idea that it might be her fought in her head. A finely chopped lamb steak appeared in front of Lara, who was thinking hard.
“Here you go.”
Isadora put two pieces of meat on Lara’s plate.
“Do you want to order another one?”
When Lara stared blankly at the meat and gulped down, Isadora seemed to misunderstand that it was because she wanted to eat it. Lara shook her head lightly as a sign that she did not want to. Then, she quickly put the lamb that Isadora had given to her in her mouth.
“Mother.”
“Yeah?”
“What happens if Princess Sonnet is the saintess?”
Isadora answered Lara’s question with a relaxed look.
“At first, the power of the king will go beyond the influence of the temple. Then, when the temple thinks it can’t stand it anymore, they will ask the royal family to look after the saintess.”
“What if the royal family refuses?”
“Then, the temple will declare war on the royal family and Prince Sidhar will see that as an opportunity. It’s very likely that the Prince—who is willing to betray the King to take the throne—will sell Princess Sonnet to the temple.”
It was a perfect prediction. Lara dwelled on what Isadora said and soon nodded.
“Prince Sidhar will not manipulate the Princess as a puppet saintess, will he?”
“Lara, Princess Sonnet is lovely and cute… But she’s not such a pushover. There are wise teachers beside the Princess. Otherwise, why would the King want that young Princess as the next King over his fully grown son?”
I see.
Lara berated her past who fell into the trap that could be defeated by the young 14-year-old Princess. Then, Lara asked her last question.
“Mother.”
“What’s wrong?”
“What would you do if I were a saintess?”
The knife, which was dancing fiercely in Isadora’s hand, stopped moving. She lifted her gaze that was fixed on the steak and looked Lara in the face. Then, with a frown on her face, she asked Lara.
“Lara, do you want to be a saintess?”
