14.

A black carriage fiercely crossed the imperial palace.

The Hunt Knights followed, escorting it.

However, Hector’s figure was not visible on his black horse.

As soon as they left the imperial palace, a red magic circle spread out.

Hector’s warp instantly dropped the Hunt expedition at the Grand Duke’s residence.

Tanner, who had rushed out, greeted Hector and his party.

“Your Grace.”

Eventually, Hector stepped out of the black carriage.

Though he didn’t know the full story, it was clear that there would be no war.

A smile of relief spread across Tanner’s face, which had been full of concern.

“Welcome back.”

The joy was short-lived, as the carriage door closed despite there being someone else to disembark.

Hector, with a hardened expression, brushed past Tanner.

“……?”

Confused by the situation, Tanner looked at Leon questioningly.

Instead of answering, Leon lowered his head with a grave expression.

It couldn’t be, Tanner, turning pale, asked.

“Your Grace, Miss Charlie……”

Hector’s steps towards the main building came to an abrupt halt.

He looked down at his right arm, now empty.

[It’s okay.]

Charlie was Hector’s contracted guide.

Even if she received the title of saintess, Kaisis couldn’t take her away.

And the same applied to the temple.

No, regardless of everything else, Hector was determined to protect Charlie no matter the cost.

But Charlie didn’t take Hector’s hand.

[I’ll go to the Grand Temple.]

Hector couldn’t stop Charlie as she gently pulled away from him.

Her soft smile was so resolute.

He couldn’t bring himself to grab her as she turned her back to him and followed the Pope, looking as if she had grown wings of freedom.

* * *

Right… was it the right choice?

This thought consumed Charlie’s mind.

In truth, she was scared and anxious.

Not knowing what consequences her decision would bring.

It was unlikely that going to the temple alone would be fine.

But there was no other choice.

Staying at the imperial palace as Kaisis suggested was out of the question, and following Hector to the grand ducal residence would face opposition from both the temple and the imperial family.

Kaisis would surely use any excuse to go after Hector.

She didn’t want to be a burden to Hector.

She couldn’t put the people of the Hunt family in a difficult position because of her.

[The sister’s residence is for the sister to decide. I won’t interfere with the imperial family bestowing a title, but you have no right to determine her whereabouts.]

Since she was Diamond-level, she wouldn’t become a saintess.

Even if she were to become a saintess, she could simply say, ‘I’ll return to the Grand Duke’s residence.’ and that would be it.

Then neither the temple nor the imperial family could do anything to Hector and the Hunt family.

‘He doesn’t seem to be a bad person……’

Charlie glanced at Michael, who was walking half a step ahead of her.

Though he hadn’t exactly taken Hector’s side, thanks to Michael, they were able to avoid a crisis.

Moreover, he even healed her with his divine power.

Of course, she wasn’t unaware that trusting someone she had just met, or rather met only twice, for such reasons alone would be foolish.

‘Still, it’s not a bad situation.’

It wasn’t just not bad.

It was something to welcome with open arms, considering he wasn’t that crazy Pope.

In the original story, the Pope was Kaisis’s helper and a despicable character.

He not only pressured Hector using God’s will but also threatened and mentally abused Liliana.

How infuriating it had been to see Liliana succumb to the Pope’s words: ‘It’s all your fault.’, ‘God is angry because of you.’, ‘Everyone is in trouble because of you.’

But now, a different Pope appeared and fought against Kaisis, wasn’t this truly a fortunate turn of events?

If the Pope became Hector’s helper instead of Kaisis’s, there couldn’t be a path more opposite to the original story.

Moreover, he was no ordinary person, showing no signs of intimidation even in front of Hector and Kaisis.

She didn’t know why he had helped her.

So for now……

“Whew–”

At that moment, Michael, who had just left the Sun Palace, turned to look at Charlie while letting out a big sigh.

Thanks to this, Charlie’s distracting thoughts flew away.

“Was I just……”

“……?”

Worried that someone might hear, Michael looked around and whispered softly.

“Did I look dignified enough?”

“What?!”

What kind of nonsense was this?

Charlie’s eyes widened in surprise.

“To be honest, I was scared out of my wits.”

His pale eyelashes folded, creating a gentle curve.

The imposing aura he had when confronting Kaisis had completely disappeared, and Michael now looked infinitely docile.

“I’m not cut out for physical confrontations……”

Ahem–

Michael cleared his throat, seemingly embarrassed.

Then, as if releasing tension from his body, he shook out his arms.

Divine power can nullify abilities.

But it couldn’t block a flying sword.

“……”

For a moment, Charlie’s narrowed eyes scanned Michael from top to bottom.

His frail body that seemed to have no muscle at all and his transparent skin that looked like it had never seen sunlight.

Upon closer inspection, Michael looked just like a delicate herbivore.

Like something she should protect……

“……”

Cancel the part about showing no signs of intimidation.

Of course, cancel the part about being no ordinary person.

‘I think I might have been screwed here.’

They couldn’t have gone too far, right?

Her creaking neck turned back, looking for Hector.

But only an empty corridor greeted Charlie. Hector was nowhere to be seen.

* * *

“Your Holiness!”

As soon as they arrived at the Grand Temple, a priest came running.

The reason was that Michael, who had been walking just fine, suddenly disappeared.

“Where on earth have you……”

The priest, who was about to ask ‘been’, froze as soon as he spotted Charlie.

Charlie hesitated behind Michael’s back.

“Rapha, that room connected to my bedroom.”

Michael said, lightly ignoring the gaze of the priest named Rapha.

“Please clean it up.”

“What?!”

“It will be our sister’s room for the time being.”

Michael nodded slightly as if introducing Charlie.

Charlie, watching for cues, opened her mouth.

“Ah….. Hello. I’m Charlize Frazer.”

Rapha was shocked.

Michael’s sudden disappearance and reappearance with a woman at the temple was secondary.

That room was a bedroom for the Pope’s consort.

“Th-that……”

So surprised was he that Rapha staggered back a couple of steps.

In this world, the Pope could marry.

More precisely, he had to devote himself to fertility and prosperity.

After all, being faithful to the doctrine and setting an example was a crucial duty as the Pope.

However, unlike the emperor, the Pope’s position was not inherited.

Also, there was no concept of salary, and private ownership of assets was impossible.

Furthermore, the family from which a Pope was produced was prohibited from producing another Pope or even a cardinal for three generations.

Perhaps this was why the previous Popes were consumed by greed.

Because everything ends the moment they step down from their position.

“Sister. Shall we go pray while the room is being prepared?”

“……”

Charlie alternately looked at Rapha, who had frozen like a statue, and Michael, who was smiling.

No matter how she looked at it, it was clear they hadn’t known she was coming.

“The use of magic is prohibited in the temple, but I think it would be better if you stay with me.”

It would be troublesome if we met the cardinals.

Michael smiled brightly, swallowing the last part of his sentence.

Charlie immediately followed Michael.

He wasn’t exactly reassuring, but Michael was the only person she could trust right now.

* * *

“……”

“……”

Inside the prayer room of the Grand Temple.

The afternoon sunlight, carrying holiness, shattered through the glass and sparkled.

Michael, kneeling devoutly in prayer, was the very embodiment of solemnity.

In contrast, Charlie, who was sitting blankly beside him, had a very unfocused gaze.

‘This situation feels very familiar somehow…..’

On the Pope’s pure white vestments, the sash flowing over both shoulders was engraved with the World Tree, the origin of the world, along with the sun and moon motifs.

His long lavender hair created a mystical atmosphere.

From his slightly upturned lips even when closed, to his sharp nose bridge and matching jawline.

Michael was beautiful in a different way from Kaisis.

However, appreciating him had reached its limit.

Perhaps because she had seen Hector so much that she had become immune to ordinary good looks, Charlie felt no particular excitement about Kaisis or Michael.

Moreover, there was no concept of going home from work here.

She should have just followed Hector.

For those without faith, prayer time is merely asceticism, and Charlie’s lips twitched with dissatisfaction.

‘What is this.’

Of course, at first, all her nerves were on edge trying to figure out Michael’s intentions.

But all that could be seen from someone sitting quietly with eyes tightly closed in prayer was ‘Your faith is truly deep.’

And it wasn’t like she could start a conversation either.

Not only that, the holy power examination had been utterly ridiculous.

[Diamond, you say? Sister’s holy power is certainly Master-class.]

There was no series of procedures to examine holy power.

That was all he had said on the way to the prayer room.

After that, he had sat without moving and remained silent, leading to the current situation.

Charlie’s initially spirited mood had long since disappeared along with her casually stretched-out legs.

‘Sigh….. Life is f*cking sh*tty.’

It’s true that she had said she would go to the temple.

But when had she ever said she would become a devout believer?

Oh well, whatever.

Charlie’s heavy eyelids squeezed shut.

How much time had passed?

Charlie’s head, which had been nodding off, drooped down.

Eventually, the sound of soft breathing echoed in the prayer room.

Along with it, the goddess’s energy disappeared.

Only then did Michael turn to look at Charlie.