CHAPTER 64…………………………………………………………
“…The probability that he’s dead is high.”
It wasn’t surprising news, so the priest wasn’t shocked by his colleagues’ reactions.
“His wounds were severe, and on top of that, he never received proper treatment and was caught up in magic.”
Healing him had always been difficult. Even as a courtesy, one could not claim he was still alive.
“And the villagers?”
The villagers were considered the main culprits in the incident, alongside the Hero’s companions.
“They were confined in the underground prison. Those who prepared the food and those who delivered it were interrogated. They claimed that they too had been threatened by someone.”
The woman did not prevent the Emperor from occasionally spreading bad rumors about the Hero, intending to fully integrate Lumiere under the temple’s authority.
It was meant to ensure that respect went to the temple itself, not to allow the Hero individual power—anything else would interfere with her plans.
However, that also attracted those who wanted to harm the Hero and his party.
Who would have guessed that Lumiere, not a demon but a human, would fall victim to other humans?
‘But you’re saying this wasn’t due to any personal grudge of the villagers?’
The woman turned her head to look at the priest.
“Who?”
“…Even they don’t know who it was.”
Even after physical and mental torture, no answer emerged. Annoyed by the unhelpful response, the woman turned her gaze forward again.
“Deal with them all.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Whether related or unrelated to the incident, the villagers would be quietly and efficiently dealt with.
Whether it was because they had interfered with her plans or because they had touched her son, only the woman knew.
The appearance of demons had brought some advantages, one of which was this: killing people had become far easier. Most things could be blamed on demons, no excuses or justifications required.
After a short pause, the woman, still gazing at the garden, spoke again.
“How do you think we should deal with them?”
The conversation shifted back to the Hero’s companions.
“What do we do with those who couldn’t even fulfill their one and only role?”
The task assigned to the Hero’s companions was not to help the Hero fight demons.
Their sole mission was to somehow ensure the Hero survived until reaching the temple.
A priest, wary of her gaze, cautiously offered an opinion.
“With rumors about the Hero already spreading, it would be troublesome if these people caused more problems.”
The Hero’s supposed death was already public knowledge. If his companions died too, public anxiety would skyrocket.
And that would seriously destabilize the temple’s position.
A bitter smile touched the woman’s lips.
“…Yes, fortunate, in a way.”
It would have been better if Lumiere hadn’t attempted to save them or rescue the villagers.
She had repeatedly ordered that the Hero not draw his sword unless commanded. She had told him to close his eyes and ears if it wasn’t an order.
She had emphasized over and over that the most important thing was his own life—yet he had still tried to save others and died.
“Perhaps he wanted to run away.”
He had been a child gradually drying up inside, so perhaps he saw an opportunity to escape her grasp through death itself.
At that moment, another priest entered the cold, silent garden.
“The Emperor requests a private audience.”
Having spread rumors of the Hero’s death on his own, he undoubtedly wanted to gauge the current atmosphere.
“Will you accept? After all, you’re the one who started the rumors, aren’t you?”
“The rumor would have spread soon anyway.”
The woman had already guessed the Emperor’s intention when he asked if Lumiere’s disappearance mattered to her.
At her signal, the priest carrying the Emperor’s message took the lead.
The woman brushed past the priest already waiting and issued an order:
“Verify all the children we’ve prepared thoroughly.”
It was time to act on the preparations made from the moment Lumiere disappeared.
Until the fragrant incense filled the room, the two spoke no words. Setting their teacups on the table, they moved to the main discussion.
The Saintess raised the corners of her mouth.
“You’ve caused quite an interesting situation.”
“An interesting situation?”
The Saintess clicked her tongue with a bored expression.
“Let’s stop poking around unnecessarily.”
The Emperor chuckled, seeing the Saintess’ unusually muted reaction. Her patience seemed thin, but he could not afford to miss a negotiating opportunity.
“I assume you agreed to this as well?”
The Saintess gave no response, as always. She must have known the rumor would spread, and her silence could be taken as tacit consent.
The Emperor’s pointed words drew a vague reply from the Saintess.
“I suppose.”
Her expression remained cold, her gaze sharp—clearly offended.
“Did I make a mistake?”
“You were rude.”
The Emperor considered her answer, delivered bluntly, and wondered: is her anger about acting without consulting him, or about treating her son as if he were dead?
He already knew the answer but decided to probe further.
“So it wasn’t a mistake. Compensation for the rudeness will be made separately.”
He then handed her the prepared document.
“Donations dropped, I hear. Is this sufficient?”
The Saintess merely lowered her eyes to inspect the donations. Blink, blink.
She blinked a few times and then looked back at the Emperor. Unlike before, her eyes were utterly expressionless.
It was enough to accept. Her anger, it seemed, had been solely about acting without consultation.
‘Perhaps even the angry appearance was just an act.’
With enough cunning to have a hundred foxes inside her, that was entirely possible.
The Saintess gathered the document and efficiently organized the situation.
“Let’s officially announce the death in a week.”
The Emperor had summoned her to handle Lumiere’s situation swiftly, yet even he had not expected her to propose confirming his death so quickly.
“That soon?”
Acknowledging the Hero’s death would clearly impact the temple negatively. The Emperor’s eyes narrowed, but the Saintess calmly explained.
“The situation has already drawn maximum attention. Mourning for the Hero will also increase.”
Indeed, since the rumors began, interest in the Hero had skyrocketed compared to before.
‘Just like when the Hero first appeared.’
The Saintess continued plainly.
“Displaying the Hero’s past achievements will boost donations.”
Turning the deceased Hero into a hero was easy. The problem came afterward.
“You know it will only be temporary.”
At first, everyone would mourn the Hero and lament the temple. But over time, doubts about the temple’s abilities would arise.
The Saintess smiled elegantly at the Emperor’s comment.
“Before that, we must bring in a new Hero. Respect for the temple exceeds that for the individual Hero, so there’s no problem.”
Not incorrect, but there was another issue.
“It will take time to raise the new one.”
It would take years for the new child to fulfill the Hero’s role like Lumiere. Of course, this gave the Emperor, who might exploit the temple’s temporary pause, an advantage.
“We’ll bring in a young child. I intend to gradually reveal their growth. Those mourning the Hero will show care and attention to the young Hero.”
The Saintess added lightly.
“And they will wish for the young Hero to avoid suffering the same fate as the previous one.”
The Emperor, instantly grasping the plan, chuckled.
“So the Hero’s death must be made tragic.”
“Exactly.”
“As with the previous Hero, the new one’s appearance will matter too.”
The Saintess blinked once in reply. The Emperor, curious, asked:
“What about candidates?”
The Saintess raised her eyebrows.
“I’ve long shortlisted suitable candidates.”
Her confident tone showed this wasn’t an impromptu decision. Admiration naturally arose.
“You’ve been preparing, then.”
“They are of a unique constitution.”
Indeed, their nature was unpredictable, so preparation was prudent.
The Emperor looked out the window. Unlike the coming future, the scene outside seemed peaceful.
“Things will be chaotic outside for a while.”
“It isn’t important. By the way, I hear you’re looking for a new fiancé.”
“Busy as ever, you and I alike.”
“Indeed. I hope you find a suitable one.”
Though smiling, the Saintess radiated a chilling aura. Still, the advantage had returned to the Empire.
“I look forward to working with you.”
The haughty greeting of the superior was met with only a smile from the Saintess.
As the Emperor raised his teacup to conclude, a commotion arose outside.
‘Even within the temple, it seems people are gossiping,’ he thought.
But the sound was short-lived; the voice of his daughter rang out. Realizing Jeremiah was the cause, his face darkened.
His expression grew cold as Jeremiah pushed past those blocking her way and entered the room.
“Your Majesty.”
The Emperor, catching his breath, smiled kindly at her.
“What is it?”
If the Saintess weren’t present, he might have scolded her—but he could not.
Jeremiah glanced at the Saintess, stepped closer, and whispered into the Emperor’s ear.
“A message: there’s an intruder in the palace.”
“…An intruder?”
Conscious of the Saintess, the Emperor quickly composed his expression.
“There’s been a magical reaction in the underground section of the inner palace.”
Realizing what was there, the Emperor’s eyes widened. Just then, another figure burst through the slightly opened door.
“Saintess! There’s an urgent message from the palace…”
The priest, clearly excited, fell silent upon seeing Jeremiah and the Emperor.
The Saintess looked at both, and the priest bowed briefly after catching his breath.
The Emperor didn’t blink as he fixed his gaze on the Saintess.
‘Delight?’
Just as he caught a fleeting emotion on her normally dry face, she rose and said:
“Please wait. I need to verify something.”
Without waiting for a reply, she turned and hurried out. The Emperor frowned.
“Wait?”
He thought it best to either devise a plan or disperse and check the situation, but she insisted on waiting.
“It will also be beneficial for Your Majesty.”
With that lightly amused remark, the Saintess left the room in a hurry. Something felt off.
‘Could there be something we don’t know?’
The Emperor looked at Jeremiah. She bowed politely.
“I will investigate further.”
Watching Jeremiah’s retreating figure, the Emperor furrowed his brow and began thinking quickly.
