For Sale: Male Lead, Obsession Included - Chapter 54
“I’ve never committed any crimes. I just want to visit a certain country.”
“Where?”
“Dongguk.”
“Never heard of it.”
“It’s on the eastern continent. It’s a small country beyond the Holy Nation.”
“Why do you want to go all the way to such a distant place?”
Feyden frowned as he looked at the three sets of travel bags stacked in the corner, seemingly confused.
“I want to immigrate there.”
“Immigrate? Do you have a lot of money or something? You think immigration is as easy as just having cash?”
“I know. I know it’s hard.”
“Hey, just stay until you come of age and then return. Why go through all the trouble of immigrating? You still have a few years left before you turn twenty.”
I nodded bitterly at his incredulous face. From what I learned today, immigration requires a very complex process.
You have to go through a coming-of-age ceremony at the temple, pay an enormous amount of money, and get the Emperor’s permission, which is known to be notoriously difficult to obtain.
“When I come of age, I’ll be forced to live in the Lubrun Empire. I want to live my whole life in Dongguk.”
Of course, I’d have to see it with my own eyes first, but Dongguk seemed like the only place where I could finally settle my restless heart.
***
Even though Feyden helped me move to a safer inn, my mind was still far from at ease.
It had only been a day since I arrived in the capital, and I had almost been robbed. Every time I tried to close my eyes, I was afraid the door would swing open again, so I ended up staying awake all night.
But if I’m going to travel, I’ll need to get some sleep.
After several failed attempts to fall asleep, I sighed and got out of bed.
“I might as well go to the temple.”
I still needed to submit Truu’s application and pick up Ariel.
I slung the large travel bag I had packed the night before over my shoulder and headed down to the lobby.
It was so early that the clerk at the counter had fallen asleep with his face against the wall. I stepped outside and slowly walked towards the temple, feeling the chilly, crisp air of the early morning.
Unlike the streets at night, the alleys were already bustling with merchants starting their day. I took in their sleepy faces one by one, storing the image in my memory.
After all, it could be years before I’d see the capital again.
The temple in the early morning was busier than I had expected, likely because of the morning training and prayers. The fewer number of worshippers at this hour gave the temple a different atmosphere compared to the daytime.
The quiet, white temple building, the deep blue sky gradually brightening overhead, and the scattered clouds made for a serene scene. The priests, dressed in crisp white or gray robes, hurried around with quick steps, and the solemnity of the place finally struck me as truly holy.
Perhaps it was the sight of the priests moving silently, but I found myself walking calmly through the temple’s interior, feeling unexpectedly tranquil.
Where could the priests’ quarters be?
I wandered leisurely, taking my time, until I came across a narrow passage that led to the back of the building. The grass underfoot was hardly worn, suggesting that few people ventured here.
The back of the building was steeped in shadow, giving the area a distinctly cold atmosphere. It was nestled against a cliff at the edge of the temple grounds, and both the air and the mood were heavy with darkness.
As I lightly traced the cliff wall with my fingertips, I came upon a wide, circular clearing. At the center stood an angel statue, bathed in sunlight as if a spotlight were shining down on it, a breathtaking and almost mystical sight.
The scene was so beautiful that I momentarily lost my words, and only then did I notice that I wasn’t alone.
In front of the angel statue, kneeling in the same position with his eyes closed, was a priest. His long, silver hair, reflecting the light, was tied neatly to one side, and his pale skin and serene lips reciting a prayer made it hard to tell which was the real angel.
For someone like me, who had never felt a drop of piety, seeing him stirred something reverent within me. This man’s name was—
“Ariel…”
His golden eyes, shining like they had been dusted with gold powder, turned towards me.
“Lady Estira.”
His voice was just the right balance of low and gentle. Ariel rose gracefully and gave me the traditional priestly greeting. He touched his forehead, lips, and chest in turn, then placed his fingers over his lips as he bowed. Even such a simple greeting looked magical coming from him.
As I returned the greeting, I felt confused—was the one talking to me now a person or an angel? With someone so unrealistically beautiful, I couldn’t tell.
“I’ve been waiting for you.”
“For me?”
“Yes. I knew you’d come here.”
Behind Ariel, I noticed a small travel bag.
“Did you receive a divine revelation that I’d be coming?”
But to my question, he only smiled mysteriously, offering no answer.
