Chapter 16
Rayhas’s expression looked different from usual.
Normally, he possessed a restrained, mature masculinity, but today his eyes were unfocused and unstable, like those of an anxious adolescent boy.
Am I imagining it? He almost looks drunk.
But I don’t smell any alcohol.
“…I can’t do that.”
After hesitating, I answered him.
“How could I possibly speak casually to you, High Priest?”
Casual speech? There was no way I could talk to this man like that.
Rayhas parted his lips.
“Then at least call me by my name.”
His expression somehow looked pained, so after a brief pause I nodded.
“…All right, Lord Rayhas.”
“Without the ‘Lord.'”
“…What?”
His words left me completely bewildered.
He wants me to call him just by his name, like we’re friends?
More than anyone else, he knew Ariel was a fake saintess. So why was he making such a request?
In the original story, Ariel had always addressed him as “High Priest” and naturally spoke to him with formal honorifics.
So what exactly was this situation?
“I really don’t think I can.”
For a brief instant, I saw his brows knit together.
His expression shifted through several emotions before hardening once again.
“…No. Forget it.”
Suddenly, he pressed a hand against his forehead.
“…Damn.”
I thought I heard him mutter under his breath.
“I spoke out of turn. Ha…”
His cheeks were still flushed, and through his slightly parted lips came the sound of rough breathing.
Looking at him with concern, I asked,
“Are you feeling unwell?”
Removing his hand from his forehead, he frowned strangely.
His disheveled blond bangs cast shadows over his pained eyes, giving him an unexpectedly decadent appearance.
“It’s nothing like that.”
“…It’s just that today…”
“…When I see you, I simply can’t…”
His golden eyes trembled as they met mine.
After staring into my eyes for a long moment, he abruptly looked away.
“…”
He looked so tormented that I couldn’t help growing tense.
Could he possibly have some kind of madness that forces him to kill someone every few days?
His shining eyes wavered uncontrollably as he spoke in obvious agony.
“I wanted to see you…”
“…No.”
“I only came to greet you.”
“But the moment I saw you today…”
“…No.”
“It feels as though… my mind is becoming unsettled.”
His voice was huskier than usual, brushing against my ears.
His clenched fist tightened even further.
Once again he covered his forehead, his face twisting with pain.
“In any case… it doesn’t seem to be the right time.”
“I’ll be leaving now.”
“Damn it.”
Turning away from me with abrupt, rough movements, he strode quickly toward the door.
I stared blankly at his broad back as it disappeared before tilting my head in confusion.
Today’s Rayhas was nothing like his usual self.
He normally spoke gently and politely, yet carried himself with such icy composure that he seemed like the type who wouldn’t bleed even if stabbed.
Today, however…
It felt as though the reason that always kept him tightly restrained had nearly unraveled.
There’s no way the High Priest would drink himself into that state…
“He must not be feeling well.”
After he left, I stared at the closed door and murmured,
“I wonder if he’ll be okay.”
Maybe he had a high fever.
Still, there were plenty of priests around.
If he was sick, someone would treat him quickly.
Just then, the message window flashed.
[Odysseus, the God of Love, is impressed by Rayhas’s mental strength for overcoming the Blessing.]
I raised an eyebrow.
What does that mean?
Rayhas overcame a blessing?
The messages continued appearing one after another.
[Hesed, the God of Knowledge, believes Rayhas’s old-fashioned and rigid soul is unworthy of you.]
[Mond, the God of Art, judges that Rayhas possesses enough aesthetic value to make a respectable husband for you.]
[Hesed, the God of Knowledge, proposes a vote to forbid Odysseus’s Blessings.]
[Odysseus, the God of Love, argues that every god has the right to bestow blessings and rejects Hesed’s proposal.]
“…”
Watching the gods’ conversation carefully, I frowned.
…What are they doing?
It was hard to describe exactly, but…
It sounded like three fathers choosing a son-in-law.
Or maybe three aunts.
Or three uncles.
“Excuse me? What exactly are you talking about?”
I stared dumbfounded at the three gods, who were discussing Rayhas as though selecting him to become my husband.
New messages immediately appeared.
[Hesed, the God of Knowledge, insists that if you must choose someone, the Crown Prince from before would be a better option than Rayhas.]
[Mond, the God of Art, highly praises Rayhas’s physique… and the fact that he’s still a virgin.]
W-Wait.
What did I just read?
[Odysseus, the God of Love, agrees with Mond that the more ā ā ā a human is, the more ā ā ā they become at night.]
[Hesed, the God of Knowledge, expresses displeasure at such irreverent conversation.]
They weren’t listening to me at all anymore.
I let out a long, exasperated sigh.
Knock, knock.
Another knock sounded at the door.
The door opened, and Daisy entered carrying a tray.
Brushing her short hair behind one ear, she smiled brightly.
“Saintess, I’ve brought your tea. The cookies were just bakedāthey’re wonderfully sweet.”
On the tray sat a cute tea set filled with apple tea and fresh cookies.
“Phew…”
I sighed in relief that it wasn’t Rayhas.
After placing everything on the table, Daisy suddenly paused and looked at me.
“Saintess…”
“Yes?”
“I feel like… you’re even more beautiful than when I saw you earlier.”
“Ah… that sounded silly. That can’t possibly be true.”
Apparently realizing how strange her own words sounded, Daisy shook her head.
“I’m sorry. I said something unnecessary.”
“You’ve always been this beautiful.”
She was right.
No one became noticeably prettier in the span of ten minutes.
“But today…”
“It feels like anyone who sees you would have no choice but to fall in love with you.”
Could Odysseus’s Blessing have something to do with beauty?
Even if that were true…
Rayhas’s reaction had been far too abnormal.
Ignoring her odd comment, I gestured toward the tea.
“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”
“Thank you, Saintess.”
I wasn’t sure what she was thanking me for, but Daisy bowed deeply.
She looked genuinely delighted simply to have done this for me.
“I’m going to have some tea while reading.”
“You may go now.”
“Yes, understood.”
“If you need anything at all, please call for me anytime.”
Leaving those energetic words behind, Daisy departed.
I took a sip of the fragrant tea and once more opened the encyclopedia.
Fortunately, the lingering effects of Hesed’s Blessing still remained, keeping my mind unusually clear.
The cookies Daisy had brought were deliciously sweet, and before long I was completely absorbed in my reading.
Meanwhile…
At that same moment, Rayhas strode into his office with burning, labored eyes and sank heavily into an empty chair.
The image of Ariel staring at him with obvious nervousness lingered vividly before his eyes.
So too did the realization that his own soul had, in a single instant, reached its breaking point like water brought to a furious boil.
The confidence he had clung toāthat his own virtue remained pure despite everythingāhad shattered into countless pieces.
“…”
The searing heat within him had subsided slightly.
But the revelation he experienced after crossing that final threshold remained engraved upon his mind.
When…
Exactly when did it begin?
Even he couldn’t answer.
She had merely been a lazy, innocent girl pretending to be a fake saintess.
So from what moment…
Had he begun harboring such impure desire for her?
“…”
Reflected within his clouded golden eyes stood the statue of Mond.
His restrained gaze remained fixed upon it.
Then his eyelids slowly lowered.
His long lashes cast deep shadows beneath his eyes.
“Is this the trial You have sent me?”
“Or…”
“…the punishment for my own vile sins?”
His rough voice echoed through the silent office like a confession offered before the gods.
“Guide this impure soul with Your divine spirit…”
“…and lead it onto the righteous path.”
Silence filled the empty office.
After a long pause, he spoke again.
“Purify this sinful flesh…”
“…with Your holy blessing.”
His eyes opened once more.
The brilliant golden light returned to them.
They were deep…
Empty…
And burned with desperate longing.
His lips twisted into a smile that was at once sinful and heartbreakingly sorrowful.
“If not…”
“…then I…”
