Chapter 4: The Trap of Original Sin (1)

It had been almost a fortnight since I sent a letter to Father. Along with the news of my baptism as a nun, I wrote a simple greeting.

Did he storm out in anger after reading the letter, leaving just one letter behind in the mailbox? Or was it because his only daughter suddenly declared she would walk the path of priesthood, leaving him dumbfounded? No matter how hard I peered into the cruel mailbox, there was no reply.

“Alicia, a letter has arrived for you.”

Sarahh’s words momentarily stirred a glimmer of hope in my bitter mouth. Finally, Father must have replied. I hope he doesn’t hate me. With an excited heart, I accepted the letter handed to me by Sarahh.

“This is…”

I looked down at the seal stamped on the letter. It was the seal of Viscount Neberton. Overwhelmed with disappointment, a short sigh escaped through my slightly parted lips.

“Surely it must be a letter from Father…”

As I hesitantly held the letter, Sarahh gently patted my shoulder with reassuring hands.

“Still, there might be good news inside. Let’s read it quickly.”

Yes, perhaps there’s news about Father inside. Maybe he’s been too busy to reply until now. With trembling hands, I carefully tore open the seal.

I scanned through Jaylon’s familiar handwriting leisurely. Beneath the formal greetings, there it was—the news I had been eagerly awaiting from Father.

At that moment, dizziness overwhelmed me. I gripped my temples as my vision whitened.

“…Licia, are you okay?”

Sarahh’s small hand reached out, embracing my trembling shoulders.

“Has something happened at home?”

“…I need to go home, I have to go back.”

I read the sentences in the letter over and over again, unable to believe them even as I saw them with my own eyes.

“While I was away, Father had a fall and was injured.”

As I read Jaylon’s elegant handwriting, reassuring me that Father’s injuries were not life-threatening, I couldn’t shake off the unease.

“Licia, as a fully ordained nun of Archelio Monastery, you’re allowed to visit your hometown once every six months. I’ll help you fill out the application for leave. So don’t be too sad.”

Sarahh’s usually lively voice seemed calmer today. A mature smile graced her playful face.

“God is watching over the tears in Alicia eyes. If He hears your sincere wishes, there will be nothing to worry about.”

I desperately hoped that everything would be as she said. But the growing anxiety gnawed at my lips.

***

Edwin has been visiting the central temple every day without fail recently. By now, I wondered if Edwin himself had become a priest of the central temple.

Edwin looked down at Father Revencio with a solemn expression. Whatever words he might utter from his wrinkled lips would likely not be pleasant.

“There are quite a few more than I expected. Just because a rumor spread once in the palace, everyone has come forward claiming to be a Saint.”

[Under the light of the sun, those bearing blue gems on their body will become the emperor’s beacon.]

Since the prophecies have always come down in ancient languages, the meaning has been distorted slightly by each interpreting theologian.

As a result, the central temple began to gather women with hair resembling the sun’s rays and walls akin to blue jewels.

Edwin found the interpretation of the prophecies to be rather tedious.

After selecting women with blonde hair and blue eyes from across the empire, they amassed nearly a hundred. Among them were those with deep orange-blonde hair and others with bright platinum blonde hair, resembling the sand of a white beach.

Choosing a Saint based on appearance from among so many women would be an excessively subjective decision.

Edwin opened his mouth towards Father Revencio.

“Elderly women, young girls who have not yet come of age, and nuns who honor the gods should be excluded.”

In the list held by Father Revencio, there were newborns and elderly people over seventy. Gathering indiscriminately had led to an absurd number.

“I’m well aware of that much. What’s the use of sending old geezers as Saints?”

Edwin’s brow furrowed involuntarily at Father Revencio’s blatant derogatory remarks.

“Well… It would be preferable if they were around the same age as the crown prince or younger. In terms of appearance, they should be exceptionally beautiful, fitting of the title ‘Saint.’ If they’re somewhat lacking, have fewer words, or simply obey orders well, they’d be the optimal candidates.”

Father Revencio articulated his ideal Saint, visualizing her in his imagination.

“What if there are women who refuse to undergo the test of chastity?”

“Do you think it’s acceptable to refuse the sacred pledge? That’s not refusal; it’s rebellion.”

His wrinkled finger approached, tapping Edwin’s narrowed brow nervously. Not good, not good. Edwin struggled to contain his rising anger, striving to maintain composure.

“You still have a long way to go. You don’t yet understand a woman’s life.”

Father Revencio’s slow pace around Edwin halted as he carried the burden of his words.

“A woman is destined to be someone’s wife, living in the humble confines of domesticity. However much she may try to escape, she’ll end up right back where she started… There couldn’t possibly be a foolish woman rejecting the chance to become a prince consort by becoming a Saint.”

His cunning voice struck Edwin like a blow to the back of the head, igniting a simmering anger.

“I understand your meaning well. Thanks to your gracious words, I’ve come to realize my folly.”

Edwin lifted the corners of his stiffened lips. As he elicited a benevolent smile from the kind clergyman, Father Revencio’s lips pressed firmly together.

‘He thought I would be swayed by his unpleasant remarks. Did he think I would yield to such a blatant and repugnant ploy?’

“However, isn’t it written in the scriptures that even the God who created the empire inhabits the body of a woman? No matter how noble a man may be, one must not forget that he was molded from the flesh of a woman.”

Before Father Revencio could respond, Edwin casually turned his back and left the temple. Father Daniel hurriedly followed Edwin.

It wasn’t until after sunset that Edwin and Daniel were able to return to the Archelio Monastery.

A rumbling sound echoed from Father Daniel’s empty stomach, breaking the silence.

“Seems like all the natural disasters have gathered inside Father Daniel’s belly.”

It was as sharp as thunder and lightning in a downpour. Edwin scolded Daniel, who responded with a face that seemed on the brink of death, tears welling up.

“…That’s too much. You haven’t eaten anything all day.”

Daniel grasped his stomach and, as if drawn by the smell of food, turned towards where it emanated.

“Finally, food… Food.”

Watching Daniel’s sluggish figure as he walked, Edwin simply turned and headed back to his room.

He just wanted to rest for the remainder of the day, away from meals and everything else. After spending the entire day listening to stories about the Saint, he felt a discomforting ache in his ears.

“I’m exhausted.”

Although he wished to put aside all the complicated matters and simply sleep, there were still piles of documents to deal with.

Edwin let out a deep sigh as he began unbuttoning his coat. Just as he was about to pull down his pants, a voice from behind his shoulder startled him.

“Oh…”

Edwin quickly turned around at the sound of the voice.

“I’m sorry. I was going to bring you dinner, but the door was open, so…”

Through the partially open door, a familiar face appeared. She was one of the people who had been disturbing Edwin’s thoughts all day. One was Father Revencio, and the other was a nun who had arrived from the Opherial Monastery not long ago.

“Dinner is ready.”