chapter 28
Asilia frowned, staring at Lenoa.
She had been talking about Cretes’ condition and divine blessings, but more than half of what she said made no sense—even if Asilia could understand the words, she couldn’t comprehend their meaning.
“If you have something to say, why not speak plainly?”
At Asilia’s sharp words, Lenoa let out a deep sigh along with her breath.
There were many things she wanted to argue about, many things she wanted to say—but she couldn’t.
One wrong word, and who knew what Cretes might reveal?
Choosing her words carefully, Lenoa finally spoke with a face that still showed her displeasure toward Asilia.
“Even as His Majesty the Emperor’s personal physician, there are limits to what I can do.”
“……”
“You wouldn’t understand, because you don’t really know His Majesty.”
Lenoa turned her back with a formal gesture, as if signaling she had said all she intended to say.
Watching her retreating figure, Asilia blinked slowly.
She didn’t know much about Cretes.
She didn’t know that he was a god who governed death, or that his sacred relic—symbol of his power—was likely in Revila.
She didn’t know why he liked her so much without reason, or why he showed her such excessive kindness.
Everything was mere speculation on her part—Cretes himself had never confirmed anything.
“…The High Priestess is right.”
Asilia had never paid attention to Cretes.
She had been too busy trying to survive on her own.
At her response, Lenoa stopped in her tracks. Though she didn’t turn back, it was clear she was listening to what Asilia had to say.
“Thanks for the reminder.”
At those short words, Lenoa clenched her teeth. She bit the soft flesh inside her mouth and, suppressing her anger, spoke.
“If you don’t love His Majesty, you’d best make that clear.”
“……”
“I mean, don’t give him false hope.”
At the sincerity in her voice, Asilia frowned. She thought perhaps Lenoa was just acting out of loyalty to the empire—but her next words crossed the line.
“Are you saying that as High Priestess, or as a woman?”
“……”
“If it’s as High Priestess, it’s overstepping. And if it’s as a woman, then you should know better than to say such things.”
Lenoa simply clenched her fists. She said nothing—no apology, no explanation.
She only added one more line before walking away:
“Please take good care of His Majesty.”
Asilia crossed her arms as she watched her go.
“This is troublesome.”
She needed Lenoa’s knowledge if she was going to ask about Isaiah.
It seemed clear now—Lenoa was in love with Cretes.
Is that what it looks like to love someone? Asilia wondered, then shook her head.
That was none of her business.
And yet, the strange unease in her chest refused to go away.
Lenoa ground her teeth as she watched Asilia walk away.
“She knows nothing.”
In all of Moria, no one knew more about Cretes than she did.
She wasn’t his wife, or his scribe, or his chancellor—
“But I’m the one who knows him best…!”
Frustrated beyond measure, Lenoa fumed with anger.
Just a few more years—just a bit more time—and Cretes could’ve been hers.
Her body could have withstood the full power of the God of Life.
And if she had taken in that power, she could have claimed all of Cretes for herself.
“No… No, that’s not right…”
Taking a deep breath, Lenoa looked out the window.
The knights, following orders from the Emperor and his consort, were setting out from the capital.
“If she could just give him everything he wants, then he would surely leave.”
That woman was from Revila.
Even when told it was brainwashing, she hadn’t believed it.
Isaiah had collapsed and was investigating—but Revila was still Revila.
Under brainwashing, that woman would eventually try to kill Cretes. And in the end, she’d be the one to die.
“Yes… this is a trial given to me by the God of Judgment, so that I might obtain a god for myself.”
She would endure.
It didn’t matter if some lowborn girl took the empress’s seat.
In the end, the emperor’s final place would be by her side.
“O God of Judgment, look kindly upon your daughter who has pledged her life’s loyalty. Grant her your reward.”
Finishing her now-familiar prayer, Lenoa bit her lip and looked at Asilia.
The woman who had captured all of Cretes’ attention with her emotionless face.
“Enjoy your time while it lasts, Your Majesty.”
Asilia’s lips curved ever so slightly as she spoke with Cretes.
At that subtle shift, Cretes smiled like he had gained the world.
“…Because he’ll be mine soon enough.”
Her voice was cold as ice.
“Monsters see humans as playthings. And the smart ones know how to manipulate them.”
The knights swallowed hard.
Though they had trained for a long time, this was their first real mission to subjugate monsters.
But since monsters didn’t die when attacked, there had been no chance to actually “subjugate” them before.
That’s why they were so tense—they had no real knowledge of monsters.
“When you reach your designated positions, always move in pairs. If you get separated for any reason, stay where you are and wait for your partner to find you.”
There were all kinds of monsters.
Some looked exactly like humans. Others had wings sprouting from their backs.
Some mimicked the voice of someone familiar. Others replicated the appearance of the person in front of you.
“You can come up with a password to confirm your identity with your partner. Most monsters still look like monsters, so you shouldn’t need to worry too much. Any questions?”
When Asilia finished her explanation and asked, one knight in the corner raised his hand.
She nodded, and he spoke loudly.
“Your Majesty, this is Moria’s first true monster subjugation, and few here know much about them. I’m curious—how do you know so much?”
The knight’s eyes sparkled with admiration.
It wasn’t a question meant to challenge her background. In fact, he looked genuinely impressed.
Still, others around them looked uncomfortable.
Most people here didn’t know where Asilia came from. And it was precisely because they didn’t know that they followed her.
Which meant their loyalty was rooted in their allegiance to Moria.
“Uh…”
Adrian opened his mouth quickly, ready to make some excuse, when Asilia spoke instead.
“How could I be so knowledgeable? I merely learned from the greatest being of all.”
At her words, the knights turned to Cretes with awe in their eyes.
Cretes, who had been yawning in the back, casually waved at the attention.
Soon, the knights entered the forest for the mission, and Asilia followed with Cretes.
Some voiced concern over letting them go alone into dangerous monster territory, but Cretes dismissed them.
“If any of you could best me here, you’d be welcome to come.”
And with that, the knights all turned away and headed off.
“So, Asilia,” he said.
“…?”
“Who was that ‘greatest being’ you mentioned?”
Tilting her head, she recalled what she’d said right before departure.
“Are you curious?”
Cretes nodded.
After a moment of playful hesitation, she replied mischievously.
“A strange man I met.”
“I knew it.”
“If you knew, why ask?”
“Because when it comes to my wife, I want to know every tiny little thing.”
His words reminded her of something Lenoa had said earlier.
“Then tell me something about you, Your Majesty.”
Spotting a monster in the distance, Asilia raised her bow and took aim.
“I’m the only one who doesn’t know anything.”
With practiced ease, she loosed the arrow and took down the creature, then turned to Cretes.
“It’s not my style to only share about myself.”
Cretes blinked in surprise, eyes widening. For a moment, his lips moved as if he couldn’t believe what he’d heard.
Then, smiling brightly like the happiest man alive, he said:
“All right. Ask me anything. I’ll answer it all.”
