The world began to distort.
The figure standing right before me smiled and turned away from me.
“This little…”
The sky cracked and began to collapse, and the whole world shook. I gritted my teeth at the sensation of something grabbing onto my ankles.
“Stop right there.”
I relentlessly chased after the figure who looked exactly like Alois. However, the figure didn’t even glance back, obviously not threatened by me asking it to stop.
“Why won’t you stay still when I’m trying to make you happy? Why do you keep insisting on going outside.”
The figure spoke in Alois’s voice.
I tried to remind myself that this was a dream world created by dark magic.
“You’re saying you’re trying happy? That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever hear.”
“But look at this place. It started to fall apart because you reject me but…”
The sky, with shards like broken glass, filled my entire vision. I took in the sight of skyscrapers wavering as if they were about to pierce through the sky.
“Isn’t this a place where you’re happy?”
Even though my hair and eye color had changed, my physical abilities were still the same so keeping up wasn’t difficult.
My body felt heavy, like soaked cotton, but no matter how far I ran, I didn’t get tired.
“You know it too deep down, that’s why you’re not denying it, right?”
I wished it wouldn’t prod at my weak spot while smiling with Alois’ face.
I frowned, and the figure glanced back and grinned.
“You like peace and hate noise. You avoid crowded places and keep meals simple because eating is bothersome.”
It spoke without hesitation.
Subconsciously, I flinched, and my brows furrowed at its words.
“You try to plan everything in advance to prevent trouble from happening and you can’t forgive people who make thing bothersome for you.”
It didn’t say any names, but I knew very well it was talking about me.
“And you can’t even protect yourself, yet you’re busy worrying about others and getting hurt?”
“…What are you doing?”
Finally, I couldn’t hold back anymore and asked.
The figure burst into laughter.
Frustratingly, seeing it laugh with Alois’s face made my anger fade away.
“This place will be peaceful and quiet. You don’t have to force yourself into crowds.”
It stopped.
When I reached out to grab its hand, it swiftly moved backward. I grimaced at its nimbleness.
“Just stay here and live.”
“…I don’t want to.”
“Why? I’ve said it so many times but this place has everything have ever accomplished.”
Everything I’ve accomplished, huh.
I hadn’t lived that long, but I couldn’t deny that my whole life was accomplished here.
Compared to the time I spent on the other world, which was maybe two or three years. It was a short time compared to the time I’ve lived here.
“Do I have to live here just because everything I built is here? Do you really think this place is happy?”
At my words, the figure tilted its head.
This twisted world was truly strange.
But I knew better than anyone that I could never be happy in a place like this.
“I liked it here, but I never felt happy.”
There were many things I wanted to do once I got out of this dream.
“In this place, I’m really just alone.”
“Alone? There are so many people here who love you.”
“Their love isn’t that different from how people adore me because I’m the Saintess.”
That’s why I’m going to leave this dream behind.
Thanks to King Eseah attacking me, Alois had all the justification he needed to take the throne.
Once I saw Alois ascend, I had to go back to the Empire.
Not that much time had passed, but…I thought of Jessie, and the two little ones I had left behind.
I promised to ‘come back’. I had to go.
“What gives you the authority to decide someone else’s happiness?”
It had Alois’s face and voice, but the more we talked, the clearer my mind became.
I wondered why I even hesitated because they were clearly completely different beings.
I furrowed my brows and took a slow, steady breath.
“I liked living here. And yes, I was annoyed when God threw me into the Wesleyan Empire without my permission…”
As I stood there without wavering, the figure’s expression stiffened and began to grow blank. It looked at me, like it wanted me to continue, and I curled my lips and opened my mouth.
“There’s nothing more miserable than being stuck in the past and doing something stupid. And I’ll tell you again, I wasn’t even happy when I was here.”
***
His first impression was…honestly, he was surprised.
“That person sitting on the throne…is the Saintess, you say?”
Due to the influence of divine power, most priests were born with white hair. But that wasn’t the case for Saints.
Past Saints had beautiful black hair, or hair as blue as the clear sky.
“Indeed.”
Lord Tereven responded with a soft smile.
“She looks like she can head straight into battlefield right now…”
“She’s quite kind to small creatures, despite how she looks.”
Tereven, his confidant stationed in the Empire, was a half-beast with the ability to transform into an animal.
He was such an outstanding talent that even the imperial crown prince confided in him.
“She’s kind to animals?”
“She welcomed me when I approached in beast form.”
“With that cold face?”
“She had a bright smile on that cold face.”
Alois tilted his head with a sly smile and sipped from his wine glass, casting a glance at the woman with pink hair.
She didn’t look easy to handle.
Recalling the portraits of Saints of the past, he looked down into his red wine.
She was quite different from the gentle-looking ones that came before.
Seeing her sitting on the throne and casually commanding subordinates, she didn’t look like she would be easy to manipulate for his ‘purpose’.
“What do you think, my King?”
“Don’t call me that. Someone will get the wrong idea if they hear.”
“But you will be king soon, won’t you, Lord Alois?”
Lord Tereven laughed behind the curtain.
If anyone saw the imperial crown prince’s trusted aide chatting with a foreign prince, things would become troublesome.
“That might be true but first…”
“First?”
“I have to bring the Lady Saintess over there to my side.”
Alois set down his wine glass and pulled out a small vial he had tucked away.
Tereven narrowed his eyes and stared sharply at the bottle.
“What’s that?”
“A scent used to lure animals during a hunt.”
“…What?”
Lord Tereven looked puzzled, and the man shook the vial while asking again.
“You’re really sure she’s the Saintess?”
“There’s no denying it. She’s already dealt with countless demons in the Empire, received a few oracles and most of all…she cares for the weak.”
“Caring the weak…Well, that is a common characteristic of the Saints.”
A being who protects the weak and devotes herself to the country. One who listens to the will of God and serves the people.
Always standing in the lowest place, yet more exalted than anyone else.
“But she’s strong toward the strong.”
“Hm?”
“As you can see, she looks very sharp. Even the nobles are constantly on edge around her. Thanks to that, the Emperor gave up his throne.”
Alois shifted his gaze back to the Saint, then looked toward the Emperor.
The Emperor who had his throne taken away, appeared more pitiful than expected.
“But she’s captivated more than a few people.”
“Why?”
Even though Alois asked, he felt like he already knew why.
She had eyes that were mesmerizing enough to enchant you in one look.
Those red eyes that seemed bored in this party held just for her…they were very captivating.
She was different from the Saints of the past who were famous for being gentle, so his plans to lure her with sweet words would have to be reconsidered.
“Because she’s beautiful.”
“…Just because of her looks?”
“Of course not. She’s infinitely kind to small creatures, gentle to children, and merciful to those who know their place.”
Alois looked at Tereven. The way he watched the Saint wasn’t unpleasant.
“She gives off the feeling of someone bound by nothing,” Alois remarked.
“That kind of aura has always been popular with the nobles,” Tereven replied.
Alois sat back on the sofa behind and asked,
“You seem to be mesmerized by the Saintess too?”
Tereven chuckled softly. Seeing as he didn’t deny it, Alois crossed his legs.
He remembered when he sent Tereven to scout and report back on what kind of person the Saint was. Tereven has said:
“My King, don’t worry too much. That person will belong to you anyway, my lord so I won’t be too hard on them. Still—.”
Still?
In order to become king, he would bring the Saintess who had only just appeared in the world to his side.
Alois thought it was a really good idea.
“If anyone saw that bored expression of hers turn into a smile, who wouldn’t be mesmerized?”
She had the appearance of a dictator. Beautiful, yet covered in thorns like a rose.
“Oh my.”
Alois ducked behind the curtain.
Because Saint had just turned her gaze in their direction, making it dangerous.
He nodded to Tereven, signaling him to lower the curtain.
“At this rate, our bored Saintess will get up and leave first.”
“Well, that won’t do. Our king has been waiting for this day for a long time.”
Tereven stood in front of him with a confident face, showing he was ready to take any orders.
Alois decided it was time to change tactics.
There was no way someone like her could be lured with sweet words. In that case…
“First, bait some shady character. Get him drunk and bring him to me.”
“Your wish is my command. That doesn’t seem too hard.”
Alois unfastened a couple of buttons at his collar.
His greatest strength, aside from a brilliant mind and connections, was his exceptional appearance.
He had gained a lot through his beauty.
So he was sure he could capture the Saintess’ attention with his looks as well.
“Well then, my King. It was good to see you again after such a long time. I’ll report back at the next meeting.”
With an incredibly free-spirited attitude, Tereven bowed and exited.
A Saintess who is infinitely gentle to the weak…in that case, this method would definitely catch her attention.
However, the moment Alois was saved by the Saintess, he realized he had gravely underestimated Saintess Emilone.
Early Access available on Patreon.
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Ooh, Alois pov