Chapter 26
Isaac caught the wind circling around him and listened to the sound it carried.
[Sir Isaac, by His Holiness’s command, I deliver this message. A Sanctuary of Healing has been discovered at an imperial survey site.]
Hearing the news, Isaac was overjoyed and offered a prayer to the god Magnus.
Thank you.
With the sanctuary found, Sonia’s power of healing might awaken like the other attributes and become a great force.
If she gained the power to heal many people—far beyond merely producing holy water—she might even be elevated to sainthood.
If that happened, even the nobles of the Holy Kingdom would accept her.
Though His Holiness would push it through even without going that far…
If Cassius truly set his mind to it, he would take Sonia as his consort regardless of the Holy Kingdom nobles’ opposition. Still, all the better if things went smoothly.
If she became the Holy Empress peacefully and without controversy, she would receive much love within the Holy Kingdom as well.
Isaac wished that both Cassius, whom he served, and Sonia would become people blessed by all.
A sanctuary had been discovered on imperial land. The priest in charge of managing the Empire’s temples immediately sent a windborne message to Cassius.
Next, he entered the imperial palace to inform the Emperor.
After hearing the explanation, Emperor Jade of the Empire was so shocked that he cried out loudly.
“What did you say? A Sanctuary of Healing has been found on imperial land?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. His Holiness is planning to visit soon.”
Sanctuaries were only ever discovered within the Holy Kingdom’s territory.
Which meant that the land where the Sanctuary of Healing was found must once have belonged to the Holy Kingdom.
A sanctuary was an essential place for awakening divine power. No matter how much of a priest one was, if one belonged to the Holy Kingdom, it was difficult to visit the Empire freely.
If the sanctuary had to be opened anyway, wouldn’t it be best to use it to political advantage?
And I happen to have something to ask of the new Holy Emperor.
It was also a good opportunity to assess the abilities of the crown prince and princess.
“Summon the crown prince and crown princess.”
Before long, Shane and Sertina arrived at the emperor’s audience chamber. It was rare for the emperor to summon both of them at once.
Unsure of the reason, the two greeted the emperor politely while keeping a wary eye on each other. The emperor had a seat prepared for Sertina.
“It’s been a while.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Shane answered quickly. He was straining his ears, eager to earn points however he could.
“I summoned you because of the sanctuary discovered in the Empire.”
“A sanctuary on imperial land?”
This time Sertina reacted first.
Unlike Shane, who had little interest in the Church of Magnus, Sertina had once been devout enough to frequently visit the Holy Kingdom to pray.
That was in the past, though.
“Yes.”
Each attribute had one sanctuary.
The sanctuaries of the four great attributes already existed, so what remained was—
“The Sanctuary of Healing, then, Your Majesty.”
“That’s right. How did you know?”
“It’s embarrassing, but I made a prediction based on what knowledge I have. I’m glad I was correct.”
At Sertina’s answer, the emperor smiled in satisfaction. Shane, on the other hand, shot her a sharp glare. She ignored him neatly and without fuss.
That only seemed to twist Shane’s insides further.
That crippled bitch!
Shane and Sertina were sworn enemies. Partly because of political rivalry, but also because their personalities simply clashed.
Shane especially hated Sertina. Ever since childhood, her attitude—as if she were smarter than him—had rubbed him the wrong way.
Does she really think she can become emperor in that state?
Did she truly believe the people of the Empire would support a woman who couldn’t even walk properly on her own?
Sertina looked pathetic and foolish to him.
He wanted to drive her out immediately, but this was the emperor’s domain.
Unfortunately, unless Emperor Jade gave the order, he couldn’t expel Sertina.
I’ll make sure to answer faster next time.
Though his insides were boiling, Shane focused on the emperor’s words.
The emperor, who had been looking down at Sertina with a pleased expression, spoke.
“Though it is imperial land, it is a sanctuary, so we have no choice but to allow the priests to visit. Since it’s come to this, I think it would be good to hold a banquet to build a favorable relationship with the current Holy Emperor. What do you think?”
Like a wild beast crouched in the bushes leaping at its prey, Shane jumped in swiftly.
“That’s an excellent idea, Your Majesty!”
At the crisp reply, the emperor laughed heartily.
“It’s good that you think so as well, Crown Prince. In that case, you shall be in charge of the banquet.”
“What?”
Only then did Shane realize his mistake.
Hosting the banquet himself meant he’d have to use his own private funds.
He didn’t like the idea of spending his own money on something like a sanctuary, but he’d already answered.
“Understood, Your Majesty. I will prepare it without any shortcomings.”
Shane accepted it reluctantly.
While Shane was irritated, feeling as though he’d lost money for nothing, Sertina was focused on a different thought.
A Sanctuary of Healing?
Then the power of healing could reach its final awakening like the other attributes and perform great miracles, couldn’t it?
It might even be able to heal her hopeless legs.
But the Sertina who held such expectations would soon learn the truth and fall into despair.
There really is no such thing as a god.
Though she had resigned herself countless times and yet still hoped for divine mercy, Sertina came to hate the Sanctuary of Healing itself.
Time passed quickly.
I wanted to visit the Empire as soon as possible, but I couldn’t because I had so many consultations piled up.
Besides awakening my power at the Sanctuary of Healing, there was another reason I needed to go to the Empire.
It was to properly straighten out Lancelot’s indecisiveness as he wavered between Prince Shane and Princess Sertina.
I was busy going back and forth between the Holy Emperor’s office and the Grand Temple when I noticed a poster I hadn’t seen before, posted along the long corridor connecting the two buildings.
Recruiting attendees for the Imperial Palace Banquet Ball?
I read the explanation written beneath the notice.
“To commemorate the discovery of the Sanctuary of Healing, a ball will be held at the Imperial Palace.
Priests who wish to attend should apply in person at the Grand Temple administration office.”
And the deadline was today!
I’d been so busy these past few days that I hadn’t had the leisure to look around. In a hurry, I went to the Grand Temple administration office and filled out the application.
That evening, Cassius summoned me.
The review of the survey report was already finished—was he going to give me another task? Surely it wasn’t about the imperial ball.
Thinking that, I soon arrived in front of Cassius’s office.
I knocked twice, and Isaac, who was inside, opened the door in place of the room’s owner.
“Priest Sonia. His Holiness is waiting for you inside.”
After guiding me in, Isaac excused himself, saying he had other work to do. As a result, only Cassius and I remained in the office.
I greeted him first.
“I greet His Holiness, master of the Holy Kingdom. What is it that you summoned me for?”
He lifted a single sheet of paper from his desk. On it was my signature—clearly visible. It was the application form I had filled out earlier.
“Are you planning to attend the imperial palace ball?”
“Yes.”
I needed to go to the Sanctuary of Healing to awaken my power, and it would also be a good opportunity to meet Lancelot.
He placed my application neatly back down.
“Is it because of the sanctuary?”
“That’s right.”
“I will personally escort you to the Sanctuary of Healing. It would be better not to participate in this ball.”
Why was he opposing it?
After some thought, I spoke.
“Are you worried that I, an imperial noble, might attend the ball and awaken to worldly pleasures?”
A ball would surely be far more enjoyable than priestly work. Still, I was satisfied with my position and duties as a priest in my own way.
I would never abandon my work as a priest for a day’s pleasure and return to being a noble lady.
“That won’t happen. My homeland is the Holy Kingdom, not the Empire.”
Strictly speaking, I was born in the Empire, in the household of Count Theodore, but the home of my heart was this Holy Kingdom.
How much I loved this place!
Watching me grow heated, Cassius chuckled softly.
“I know well how much Sonia loves the Holy Kingdom. However, there are alphas in the Empire.”
Alphas were extremely rare, only a few in number. And most of them were in the imperial palace.
Most notably, Schwartz and Crown Prince Shane.
Most of the events would take place in the palace where they frequented.
I’ll try to avoid them, but…
It seemed he was worried that I might run into them by chance.
“You still haven’t found your final piece, have you?”
“I don’t have anyone I like yet, but I’m good at suppressing my pheromones now. They won’t leak out just from being a little startled.”
“Shall we check? If you pass safely, I’ll allow it.”
This was my chance.
I nodded.
“Yes.”
But how was he going to check?
After studying me intently, he stepped closer.
Then he placed one hand on the back of the chair I was sitting on and bent down.
A faint scent of incense clung to his clothes.
He must have been in the audience chamber today.
It was the incense used in the reception hall for meeting outsiders.
The incense, made from a blend of well-dried flowers and herbs, put one at ease.
Then, amid that, I felt something like droplets falling—drip, drip.
Shhh—.
Along with the sensation of a cool stream pouring down, I felt Cassius’s alpha pheromones.
If his pheromones were real rain, there was enough to soak me completely.
I had encountered Cassius’s pheromones several times during suppression training.
He mixed into them emotions of respect, trust, and sometimes even fond approval or concern.
That was why I could trust him.
But this time was different. My body trembled finely as it was exposed to the alpha pheromones.
What is this?
I couldn’t read the meaning contained in Cassius’s pheromones.
Even without understanding it, my heart started pounding faster, and my blood felt hot.
I clutched the back of my neck.
With one hand resting on the chair back, he simply stared down at me.
But I couldn’t stop the sharp sensation, as if his teeth were sinking into my nape.
I feel like I’m going to be devoured…!
Cassius felt like a ferocious beast.
As if he would consume me completely, leaving not even bones behind.
Reacting to his alpha pheromones, I unconsciously loosened my suppression.
Stop…
Though I struggled to hold it back, the omega pheromones that had been released once began to spill out.
He took a deep breath in.
“See?”
The alpha presence vanished completely.
In a low voice, he whispered,
“This won’t do, will it?”
