Irene Decided to Die - Chapter 142
Grein wanted to excuse Roxon’s actions, but Irene wasn’t convinced. She remembered all too well the harsh words Roxon had directed at her over time.
“How someone with filthy blood became a Saintess candidate, I do not understand.”
“Being born with an ominous mark is a sign of grave sin. You should confess.”
“Every time I see you, I am disgusted. Please, do not come to the temple.”
His words were polite, but every statement was sharp. He looked down on her, dismissed her, and acted as though his only purpose was to wound Irene.
To her, Roxon was nothing short of a villain.
As the four of them continued talking, several messenger birds flew in from the north.
Some were sent by King Guy of the east, and others came from Queen Aura of the south.
Though the content was different, the message was the same.
「We believe in the Saintess.」
However, there was no word from the west.
‘Ramiel and Sage are there.’
Even if they offer help, caution is necessary.
“What is the reaction from the people in the capital?”
“A third of the nobles support High Priest Roxon, while the rest remain neutral. The commoners are confused about who to trust.”
“That’s understandable.”
They had witnessed the miracles of the Saintess firsthand. Even with a respected High Priest opposing her, they couldn’t easily dismiss what they had seen.
They spoke throughout the night, and finally came to a conclusion.
“We will remove Roxon.”
Even Grein, who had tried to defend Roxon, agreed with the decision. She knew that if they didn’t act, the Saintess could be in danger.
Their shared history as students was important, but not more important than protecting the world.
“Roxon, my old friend…”
Grein closed her eyes, trying to hide her sorrow.
* * *
Roxon quietly walked down the corridor of the temple. He was heading to the prayer room, hoping to hear the goddess’s voice one more time before carrying out an important task.
He felt a few eyes on him as he passed, but he didn’t pay them any mind. A few lower priests watching him would change nothing.
Roxon walked confidently.
‘Ah, Goddess…’
As soon as he entered the prayer room, he knelt before the statue of the goddess and began to pray.
“Goddess, can you hear my voice?”
[ I hear you. ]
“I have finally revealed the truth to the world.”
[ Well done, my child. ]
“I will now capture the false Saintess and bring forth a new one.”
That Saintess would be Ramiel, who had been the first to recognize the faults of the false goddess and had rushed to report them.
[ I am pleased. But do not let your guard down. There are still those beside the false one whose eyes remain blinded by deception. ]
“Why can’t they recognize the truth? It saddens me.”
[ Indeed, it is unfortunate. ]
The goddess Roxon served, Camille, dutifully responded to his words.
But even that had its challenges. The wretched goddess had struck her before falling into slumber, and her power was not what it once had been.
Still, this foolish man continued to want her to speak.
‘How tiresome.’
Camille decided it was time to end the conversation.
[ I am still weary, as my strength has not fully returned. ]
“I have been inconsiderate.”
Roxon replied obediently and stood up.
“I will return to see you again soon.”
As if to make up for all the times he had failed to hear the goddess’s voice, he now came to pray frequently. Camille clicked her tongue in annoyance.
At first, deceiving him had been amusing, but now, dealing with him had grown tiresome.
“How could Mother have such poor judgment?”
She had raised him with care, only for him to focus on the wrong person. And this man was supposed to be a High Priest.
Though she was using him for her own purposes, she planned to discard him once her goals were achieved.
The only one worth keeping until the end might be Ramiel. Unlike Roxon, Ramiel didn’t rely blindly on others but sought out what needed to be done herself.
Even now, she was bewitching the western king and slowly taking control of the kingdom.
‘Things need to fall apart even more, much more.’
Camille wanted the goddess to wake up one day, only to see the broken world and be filled with despair.
‘In my world, I can erase everything and rebuild it as I wish.’
Anticipating the days to come, Camille closed her eyes.