Ratius raised his head and sighed.

“Hah……”

After rubbing his face, he slumped into the chair at the table and turned his gaze.

“What troubles you this time?”

“I miss her.”

“……I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

“No, isn’t she too busy?”

Ratius tapped the desk with a dissatisfied expression, thump, tap tap.

‘Here we go again.’

Belrocan shook his head at Ratius’s habit of doing this whenever he was deep in thought.

“If you miss her, why don’t you go see her?”

“Selvia won’t meet me.”

“……That’s because of her lessons. More importantly, when do you plan to visit the temple?”

“Ah, right. That too. Since you reminded me, I should go now.”

Belrocan had plenty he wanted to ask his lord but kept his mouth shut.

He might catch the fallout if he unnecessarily provoked his mood.

“I’ll quietly continue working here.”

“You’re good with words.”

“Just with words? I’m good at work too.”

Watching Belrocan puff up his chest proudly, Ratius shook his head and patted his loyal subject’s shoulder.

“Yes, my capable advisor. I’m counting on you.”

Belrocan straightened his posture and grinned at Ratius’s words.

* * *

Standing before the temple after so long, Ratius couldn’t help but sigh.

Where should he start? Though he had calmed his anger, he felt rage would surge again upon seeing him.

Wearing priest’s robes, Ratius quickly scanned the surroundings.

“You really made me come.”

Actually, he had been too busy with state affairs to come. But if he had known he would end up coming like this, he would have followed right after Amon when he slipped away days ago.

Ratius headed straight for the High Priest’s office where Amon would be.

It would be troublesome if people noticed him. He moved his feet quickly.

He flung open the door to Amon’s office.

As if he had expected Ratius to come, Amon showed no sign of surprise.

“What brings you here?”

“You seem to know why.”

“How would I know when you haven’t said anything?”

“You must have met someone here without my knowledge.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Amon also maintained his feigned ignorance. Though he had expected he wouldn’t talk easily, he hadn’t expected someone with the title of High Priest to be this brazen.

“Pretending not to know when you know everything.”

Ratius pulled out a chair at Amon’s office desk and sat down.

“It seems both she and you are unaware of some facts.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Amon’s attention was drawn to the priest’s robes Ratius was wearing.

There must be a reason why the Emperor specifically came wearing priest’s robes.

Only then did Amon understand Ratius’s expression that suggested he already knew everything.

‘He must have marked it.’

There was no way Selvia, who came from another country, could have obtained priest’s robes. Then it was highly likely that Belrocan, who came with her, had given her the robes.

It felt like all the puzzle pieces were finally fitting together. Amon only now realized that their owner was probably Ratius.

“I’ll ask again. Haven’t you met someone?”

Ratius asked in a languid voice as he leaned back in his chair.

The young Emperor then put his feet up on the table, crossed them, and tilted his head as he stared at Amon.

Creak, creak.

While Amon remained silent, Ratius rocked the chair back and forth.

The chair swayed like a rocking chair with only two legs touching the floor.

It was a somewhat delinquent and even arrogant posture.

Though he was smiling with his eyes curved, Amon still felt a chill down his spine from the murderous intent.

It was clear what would happen if he told lies.

“Amon, think carefully before answering. As you know, I’m not generous to everyone.”

The overflowing murderous intent alone was enough to know that wasn’t a lie.

Amon put down his pen and looked straight at Ratius.

He also knew that if the Emperor wanted, he could easily destroy a temple or two.

Though Amon was the High Priest, Ratius was someone who possessed even more powerful strength than him.

That’s what ‘the one who wields the power of god’ is.

But one thing he found curious was why he didn’t know about Selvia’s condition.

Amon found it strange that there was something Ratius didn’t know.

“……I see I can’t deceive Your Majesty after all.”

Amon decided he had no choice but to confess.

Of course, leaving out what he really needed to know.

“Were you curious about the prophecy? Anything else?”

Suddenly, the chair Ratius had been rocking came to an abrupt stop.

Ratius leaned back in the chair and quietly stared at Amon.

“There was nothing. Simply, while hiding to avoid being seen by other priests, her robes tore so I gave her a spare.”

Amon smoothly told lies without changing his expression.

Secretly, he hoped the Emperor would develop at least one weakness.

A weakness, how amusing. Due to the sudden appearance of the child of prophecy, Ratius, who seemed like he would never bleed a drop, was being swayed.

“I’ve been curious about something. Why are you so sensitive about matters concerning her?”

“Amon, you see.”

Ratius spoke to Amon while maintaining the same posture.

“I didn’t come here to receive questions from you. I don’t even want to hear opinions about my affairs.”

His voice became even lower than before.

“So just answer what I ask. This is your last chance, so think carefully.”

This went beyond just a warning. However, Amon still maintained a calm expression.

He didn’t waver even while enduring murderous intent strong enough to make one numb.

Ratius asked again.

“What happened with her?”

“I don’t know what she did. I only helped because she seemed to need assistance.”

The young priest’s voice contained no emotion.

The tense battle of nerves continued as neither side backed down. But it was Ratius who first withdrew his gaze.

“Amon, you seem to think I’m asking because I don’t know. Do you really think I know nothing?”

Only then did Amon grasp the situation.

“So you came knowing everything.”

“Why else would I come all the way to the temple?”

Realizing he had fallen into a trap, Amon laughed awkwardly.

“Then you must also know about Lady Selvia’s condition.”

“I also know well about the holy water you gave to Selvia.”

“Hah…… why didn’t you say you knew everything from the start.”

Amon adjusted his posture. His spine felt not just chilled but cold sweat started flowing.

“Well then, it seems our conversation will be quite long, don’t you think?”

After a while, Ratius took his feet off the table and stood up.

Approaching Amon, Ratius grabbed his shoulder firmly and spoke in a gentle voice near his ear.

“You know my personality, so you must know how much I’m holding back. Are you ready to talk properly now, Amon?”

Amon slowly nodded his head.

After hearing the full story from Amon, Ratius’s expression wasn’t good.

“So the fact that she’s not coughing up blood is barely being suppressed by holy water. Is there enough holy water until the day of prophecy?”

“Two bottles remain.”

Even the holy water was running low.

Ratius rubbed his brow with his thumb and sighed.

“According to Selvia, she heard a prophecy saying she could live if she found the one who wields the power of god.”

“I haven’t figured out the principle.”

“Report to me immediately when you find out.”

“Understood. Is Lady Selvia alright?”

Amon asked with worried eyes and a careful tone.

Ratius’s eyebrow twitched at the same time. Amon realized that Ratius’s mood had become uncomfortable.

Though he wracked his brain for the reason, he couldn’t find an answer.

Amon had no choice but to quietly wait for Ratius’s words.

“Nothing unusual so far.”

“I think I should meet Lady Selvia.”

“Well, I suppose so.”

Seeing Ratius’s considerably softened expression, Amon inwardly sighed.

‘I’m so nervous I can barely speak.’

Nevertheless, he remained tense and watched Ratius’s reactions.

“I’ll ask about her schedule and send a letter, so come to the palace. And from now on, it would be better to use proper titles when calling her.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Amon swallowed hard. He felt like his throat would be cut by the murderous intent if he misspoke twice.

“Then, respond immediately when you receive the letter. And make sure I don’t have to come here again.”

“Don’t you dislike the temple too much?”

“I don’t have many good memories here. If I did, I wouldn’t have put you in that position.”

“……”

Amon shut his mouth. He seemed to have inadvertently reminded Ratius of a past he didn’t want to remember.

Ratius frowned.

“I must have become too comfortable.”

“I apologize.”

“I’ll take my leave now. I suddenly find it uncomfortable being in your presence.”

He left the High Priest’s office, leaving behind Amon who wore a bewildered expression.