“Steel your heart. It’s not too late; you can live your own life now.”

“This is absurd. How could anyone commit such a vile act unless they were a demon? How could this happen. How!”

Beni’s knees buckled weakly, having lost the strength to stand on the ground.

She sat down in the snow and wailed.

Her desperate cries sliced through the empty air.

* * *

With witnesses secured, the Baron had no escape route. Moreover, the Emperor himself had ordered the case resolved, ensuring it would be handled more firmly and severely.

It was a succession of gloomy days.

Then one day, the Emperor’s intention to strip Anbred of his title and sentence him to hanging reached Hameres in advance.

It was a fitting punishment for someone who deserved death. The problem was Beni.

Collic had arranged new lodgings for Beni. He had found maids to work for her and sorted out the sponsorship money and inheritance in her name.

But perhaps due to the great shock, she had been bedridden for days, unable to get up.

He couldn’t leave her alone. His heart stirred and filled with anxiety, causing him to abandon even his priestly mission.

Prayers wouldn’t come, and he couldn’t find the heart to worship Lord Drahim.

His mind filled only with thoughts of how to leave the temple and go to Beni.

He already worried day by day about her weak heart, but now with this major incident, how would she endure?

Hameres irritably closed the scripture that he couldn’t focus on and walked somewhere, his priestly robes fluttering.

The place he sought was the High Priest’s office.

The High Priest, his wrinkled eyes furrowing further, raised his head.

“What brings you here?”

“I came because I think it’s time for an open conversation.”

At these pointed words, the High Priest stroked his beard and pushed back his chair to stand.

The High Priest, seated across the table, gestured to the opposite side.

“Sit down. Would you like some tea?”

“No thank you.”

“You seem impatient.”

A moment of silence passed.

The High Priest maintained a completely composed attitude, seeming to have anticipated this.

“I haven’t privately visited you until now. And you haven’t acknowledged me separately either.”

“What do you want to say?”

“This is not where I belong.”

“Are you saying you’ll step down from your position as priest?”

“Yes. I intend to leave the temple. If you decide to excommunicate me, I will accept it.”

The High Priest merely laughed. He looked at him like an ignorant youngster.

Wondering why, Hameres soon realized his actions were childish tantrums.

The High Priest continued explaining gently, like soothing a child.

“The temple’s duty is to annihilate monsters and ensure the imperial family’s safety. That’s also our reason for existence. For that, the temple must remain strong. When you came to the temple with your father as a child, I designated you as the next high priest. Even at first glance, your soul was pure and your mind brilliant. You’re qualified for it.”

Qualified to be a high priest? How ridiculous.

He probably had no idea that l*st boiled inside him whenever he saw Beni, that he was desperate to touch her.

“I secretly sent troops to aid your father during his territorial war. Do you know why?”

“Because of me?”

“Yes, I saved your father’s life and held your life in my hands. I protected your family to have you. That’s our alliance.”

Though the High Priest’s face, bearing his noble position, clearly showed a benevolent smile, it seemed to reek of something foul.

A greed different from material desire. The desire for the temple’s solid standing.

And he had used Hameres as a tool for that.

The High Priest’s smile deepened like crushed flower petals.

“The holy power Lord Drahim bestowed already moves dynamically within you. Yet you want to abandon being a priest? A commoner possessing holy power is impossible.”

“You could take it back from me.”

“For whose benefit?”

The lips bearing a generous smile suddenly twisted cunningly.

“The impious deserve death. You’ll understand someday. When holy power is detected in someone who isn’t a priest, it instinctively creates revulsion.”

“……”

“If you die, the alliance with your father breaks. Then what? If I have nothing left in my hands, wouldn’t I bitterly regret saving your family? I swear to Lord Drahim, I will surely wipe out your family.”

“Our power isn’t weak enough to be helplessly defeated.”

After winning the territorial war, the Duke’s position grew even stronger. Even now, they expanded their influence by entering commerce.

In terms of both power and financial strength, they were by no means an easy opponent.

“Then how about this? If I kill the root cause that made you spout such absurd talk about quitting priesthood…… Beni Numora?”

How much did he know?

Hameres shot a resentful look at the High Priest, who seemed to know his every move.

Regardless, the High Priest remained composed, unconcerned. His attitude suggested he held the decision-making power, so resistance was futile.

“I heard you went all the way to Nuhol Mountain for that sister? Not content with enjoying secret meetings, are you now thinking of marriage?”

“You’ve been monitoring me?”

“Someone who doesn’t know how to bend must be well controlled so they don’t break. Think of it as management rather than surveillance.”

“Will you harm the young lady if I quit being a priest?”

“That’s right. The answer was in your words just now. If you don’t quit being a priest, the young lady will be safe.”

His smiling face couldn’t be more evil.

The holy priest fulfilling sacred duties was nowhere to be seen. Hameres thought if Satan took human form, he would look like this.

“Become the high priest. The prosperity of the imperial family and temple rests in your hands. I’ll give you wings, so try soaring high.”

Speechless and suppressing his anger, the High Priest raised his voice, made hoarse by old age, and emphasized:

“Being young and capable, you can quickly enhance your holy power. I guarantee you’ll become the greatest high priest since the foundation of Trycas. So you mustn’t get privately entangled with that sister. No, I won’t allow it.”

Hameres, meeting a miserable end, left the temple and ran to the waterfall.

Could he protect Beni?

He lacked the power to oppose the High Priest. Having already severed ties, he couldn’t receive support from his family.

Still a novice, his influence within the temple remained minimal.

Everything fell short.

Even if he opposed him, with the High Priest’s holy power, he could apply invisible force to burst Beni’s heart.

The wall of reality, physically insurmountable, blocked the hope that had approached.

Forced to accept this, helplessness washed over him.

Trudging along, he didn’t feel the ground beneath his feet.

He only felt consumed by the dirty feeling of sinking with each step.

“I wanted to protect you by your side, but it seems that was selfish. I can only protect you by staying far away……”

This will be how I love you.

Why did he feel so empty? Why so wronged?

His chest, once filled with hope, now filled with hollow wind. The empty sensation soon brought a dull pain, engraving it in the void.

“Hoo…… this feeling really sucks.”

Tears, of all things.

Dew formed in his jade eyes, then dropped.

He absently wiped the moisture flowing down his cheek and laughed bitterly at the absurdity of the situation.

Making a commitment to stay by Beni’s side without even asking her feelings.

Taking the situation lightly despite knowing the entanglement between the High Priest and his family.

Having vowed to dedicate his life to Lord Drahim, yet failing to overcome human emotions.

“Still, I should see her face once.”

Because it would be the last time.

* * *

Beni didn’t know how to react to Hameres’ sudden visit.

Thanks to Hameres, she now lived in a decent two-story house. She lived with maids hired to serve her, just like when she was young.

Beni touched her flushed cheeks and said,

“I heard from the butler. He said everything was handled according to your orders. I’m truly grateful to both of you.”

Collic had apparently introduced himself as the butler from the main house. To Hameres, who had disconnected from the world, his old subordinate’s title didn’t matter.

Either way, it was just an excuse to reach Beni.

His only concern was Beni.

“I heard you were sick. How are you now?”

“I’m much better. Oh my, look at me. Please come in.”

She had forgotten she’d left him standing outside the entrance, too surprised.

She quickly stepped aside. Then, after asking the maid to bring refreshments, she guided Hameres to the reception room.

Sitting in the reception room, they silently gazed at each other.

Beni examined his seemingly serious expression, grew tense herself, and finally spoke.

“My face…… looks too rough, right? I haven’t completely recovered yet.”

“Yes, you look unwell.”

At his direct words, Beni immediately covered her cheeks. She quickly blushed from embarrassment, and with the rising heat, she looked somewhat healthier.

Shortly after, the maid set down tea and cookies and left the reception room.