CHAPTER 67………………….
. Huh? Me, a Saintess?
“Nerov, this girl is the one you’ve been looking for—‘that person.’”
Now he’s even calling the Emperor by name.
Instead of paying the Emperor his due respect, Ashins was acting recklessly enough to be arrested for insulting the imperial family on the spot. Jaina worried for him briefly, but soon she was caught up by a question in his words.
‘That person?’
From the context, it was clear Ashins was referring to Jaina. But then, what did “that person” mean?
If he had simply meant Jaina was a monster tamer, he could’ve just said, “Jaina is a monster tamer.” There was no need for such a lofty title as that person.
“Ashins, it’s not that I doubt your words, but since this concerns a matter of great importance to the empire, I cannot just let it pass without seeing it with my own eyes.”
“Then we’ll have to confirm it the proper way.”
“And what do you mean by the proper way?”
“Jaina Blake’s power is still unstable. To use her ability properly, she needs Teoris by her side.”
Huh? Nobody told me that.
While Jaina was still dumbfounded by this unheard-of claim, the Emperor and Ashins exchanged looks. The Emperor, who had been watching Ashins with suspicion, now softened his gaze and smiled kindly.
“Then, let us summon Teoris first.”
But Ashins stopped him from calling for a servant.
“Why bother making someone else do it? Jaina and I will fetch him ourselves. You just wait here.”
Without even waiting for the Emperor’s reply, Ashins grabbed Jaina’s hand and dragged her out. Jaina, still unable to grasp the situation, followed after him.
Once they had put some distance between themselves and the audience chamber, Ashins brushed back his hair in irritation.
“What exactly did you say to that Teoris brat that he won’t listen to a word I say?”
“Nothing much, I think…”
Jaina answered vaguely, but then Teoris’s last words echoed in her mind.
[I’ll be waiting for you.]
“…Maybe I told him to wait for me?”
“So that’s why he was being such a nuisance.”
“A nuisance? What do you mean?”
“Even when I told him you were in danger, he just ignored me and kept repeating, ‘I promised Jaina I’d wait.’ Like a damn parrot. I was so frustrated I nearly punched him, but I held back—for your sake.”
Ashins looked at her as if expecting praise.
“…Good job, Lord Ashins.”
When Jaina reluctantly offered the compliment, Ashins smirked in satisfaction and walked on.
The moment the drawing room door opened, Teoris’s eyes lit up like an eager puppy finally reunited with its master. Seeing his bright expression, Ashins scoffed and looked away.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Jaina.”
Teoris, too, looked at her with eyes silently begging for praise.
Ashins made that exact same face earlier…
Even though their expressions were identical, Jaina felt completely different looking at Teoris. Forcing herself to stay composed, she reached up and stroked his hair.
“Good job. My husband.”
At her words, Teoris smiled blissfully, pressing her hand against his cheek. Looking up at her with those silver eyes gleaming, Jaina’s heart pounded wildly.
Being this handsome is a problem in itself. My poor heart won’t survive this.
“Please praise me more.”
His low, deep voice tickled her ear.
His breath was hot against her fingertips. Seeing him—usually so stoic—acting adorably spoiled made her want to hug him right there. But Jaina held herself back, mindful of Ashins clicking his tongue behind her.
“I’ll give you all the praise you want at home, Teo.”
Jaina whispered softly against his flushed ear. Teoris nodded reluctantly, his eyes tinged with disappointment.
“If you two are done, move already. How long do you plan on standing around?”
“Yes, yes. Sorry to keep you waiting, Lord Ashins.”
Soothing the grumbling Ashins, Jaina and Teoris headed back to the audience chamber.
Thanks to the reassurance of having Teoris by her side, Jaina was able to tame a monster as usual.
The low-level monster, said to lack intelligence, clung to the iron bars of its cage the moment she subdued it, wriggling as though desperate to reach Jaina outside.
“See? What did I tell you?”
Ashins crossed his arms and looked smugly up at the Emperor, who nodded with a calmer expression.
“Um… Your Majesty, may I ask what exactly is going on here?”
Relieved after the successful taming, Jaina finally voiced her long-held question.
“Jaina Blake, first let me apologize for not explaining earlier—it was a matter of urgency. The reason we asked you to demonstrate your ability was…”
“To see if you’re truly the Saintess.”
Ashins cut in bluntly.
Ah, so they wanted to see if I’m the Saintes—wait, WHAT?!
“Saintess? What kind of nonsense is that?!”
In her shock, Jaina forgot entirely that she was speaking directly before the Emperor. His brows furrowed deeply, but she didn’t even notice.
First, she’d been called a monster tamer—something unheard of. And now, a Saintess?
What kind of Saintess tames monsters!
The Saintesses Jaina knew of performed miracles, healed the sick, and wielded divine powers. History books described them as wielding abilities like controlling weather or foretelling the future. But never—never—had a Saintess tamed monsters.
In this world, monsters were considered evil beings. The idea of a holy Saintess commanding them was absurd.
“I knew you’d make that stupid face.”
Ashins chuckled at her slack-jawed, blinking expression.
“Explain properly. What do you mean Jaina is a Saintess?”
Teoris spoke up on Jaina’s behalf, his hand gripping hers tightly, faintly trembling. He was just as unsettled by Ashins’s words.
“You both know the story of Saintess Estina, right?”
Jaina and Teoris nodded at the same time.
“Then what about the timing of the monsters’ first appearance?”
Jaina recalled what she’d read in the history books.
“It was about ten years before Saintess Estina appeared, wasn’t it?”
“Exactly. You know your history well.”
Ashins gave her a look of approval before continuing.
In Imperial Year 635, a farmer was the first to discover a low-level monster. He found the strange black lump, like a ball of dust, hidden among his withering crops.
After that, similar monsters appeared all across the empire.
Soon they evolved into animal-like forms, and eventually, even dragons.
Dragons had once been regarded as sacred creatures that never harmed humans. But with the rise of monsters, dragons corrupted by dark magic began attacking human settlements, and thus they too were reclassified as monsters.
While monster extermination squads were being formed and chaos spread throughout the empire, Saintess Estina appeared.
“The rest of the story is as the books tell it.”
“So what do the monsters’ appearance and Saintess Estina have to do with each other?”
Jaina asked, and Ashins clicked his tongue.
“Tch. Isn’t it obvious if you think a little?”
Nope. Not obvious at all.
“You’re saying she had the power to tame monsters?” Teoris asked.
“Exactly.”
Ashins nodded lightly and continued.
Saintess Estina had the same power Jaina did—the ability to tame monsters. But because no Saintess before her had ever possessed such a power, no one recognized it at the time.
It wasn’t until much later, when a future Saintess with the gift of prophecy revealed that there had once been a Saintess who controlled monsters, that Estina’s true ability was understood.
“The later Emperor regretted how his predecessor had treated Estina, but by then it was far too late.”
The prophetess had also foretold that another Saintess with the same power as Estina would appear someday.
To cover up his ancestor’s mistake, the Emperor of that time silenced everyone who had heard the prophecy. Since then, the truth about the monster-taming Saintess was passed down only to successive Emperors.
The royal family waited desperately for such a Saintess to reappear, hoping she could save them from the devastation wrought by monsters. But none appeared. Not even a prophetess, after the last one.
“And then you showed up.”
Jaina roughly understood what Ashins was getting at.
Still… Me? A Saintess? This is the most ridiculous plot twist ever.
“Jaina Blake.”
At last, the Emperor himself spoke again. Rising from his jewel-encrusted throne, he stepped down before her.
“You are the only one who can save us from this crisis. Please, use your power to save Seronia.”
The Emperor knelt on one knee before her. His golden hair shone brilliantly under the light, his blue eyes shimmering as he looked up at her with a gaze so sorrowful it was impossible not to pity him. All traces of majesty and authority from earlier were gone.
But to Jaina, his expression—those eyes—felt unbearably uncomfortable.
Just like Perus.
A performance, meant to sway her. She disliked both father and son.
Come to think of it… why isn’t the choice window popping up?
Every time her answer had been important enough to change the future, a choice window appeared before her. But not this time.
Oh well. They’re useless choices anyway.
Looking down at the Emperor kneeling before her, Jaina curved her lips into a regal smile.
“No, Your Majesty. I refuse.”
