Irene Decided to Die - Chapter 48
The saintess’s pilgrimage day was approaching.
The saintess’s pilgrimage day. The newly blessed saintess would travel through four nations, bestowing blessings.
Since it was the job of serving the most important person in the world, various preparations were made before the pilgrimage day. Among these, the most important were the means of transportation and companions.
“We need to prepare the finest carriage.”
“Yes, the saintess is not in good health, so we need to make it especially comfortable.”
“How shall we decide on the companions?”
“For now, the king of the north has expressed his willingness to accompany.”
“The king of the north, huh.”
Grein wore a troubled expression. Originally, the saintess was supposed to feel affection for the temple and be close to the clergy, but the situation was not favorable.
She was closer to the king’s people than the clergy and distrusted the temple.
“We haven’t done anything wrong.”
As if reading Grein’s thoughts, another high priest, Roxon, spoke up.
“Roxon.”
“Is what I said wrong? Wasn’t it the king who wrongly accused innocent people and tortured them? And yet, it seems excessively harsh that she shows such an attitude towards our temple.”
It seems correct at first, but there were errors in that statement.
Initially, if the temple had actively intervened, even the king would not have been able to push Irene into the torture chamber.
Roxon might not think so, but in reality, they were accomplices too.
“It can’t be helped.”
Knowing this, she avoided confrontation with Roxon by glossing over his words.
She knew it was the wrong action, but as a high priest, it was the only option.
“Let’s attach as many paladins as possible. We can make a request to Sir Allen in advance.”
“I’m not sure if Sir Allen will agree.”
Sir Allen was one of those who believed that Ramiel would become the saintess. He was righteous and straightforward, but in the end, he was also human.
“He will follow.”
Grein answered in a bitter voice. She hoped Roxon would restrain some of his hostility.
However, he did not. Even after all the meetings were over, Roxon still wore a stern expression.
“Do you still doubt the will of the goddess?”
Grein spoke to Roxon.
“Do you think this is truly the will of the goddess?”
“We have already witnessed a miracle. We must acknowledge what needs to be acknowledged.”
Only then did Roxon fall silent.
‘Stubborn.’
That was the word that came to mind when she thought of Roxon. Due to Roxon’s attitude, Grein decided to convey the results of today’s meeting herself.
“The pilgrimage date has been set.”
At Grein’s words, Irene simply looked up at her without saying anything.
At that moment, she unwittingly knelt on the spot.
Originally, the saintess is second only to the goddess. She shouldn’t have allowed her to look up at her.
‘I Realized this only now.’
It was too careless.
Grein looked up at Irene with cold sweat running down her face. Her emotionless, red eyes seemed frightening.
Only after she had knelt did she speak.
“When is it?”
“In one week from now. We will depart from the temple and start by visiting the country to the east.”
The king of the east, Garan. His kingdom was the first destination.
“I see.”
That was all the conversation they had.
Irene seemed not to want to talk much, giving only brief responses, while Grein did all the explaining before she left the room.
‘Phew.’
Grein wiped off the sweat that had quickly accumulated on her neck with her hand.
‘We have created a monster.’
Indeed, that was the case.
Originally, Irene was just an ordinary girl who craved love.
She had an ominous color, but she was not the evil being others made her out to be. Grein knew this, so she had only watched from a distance.
‘But now.’
The Irene she met again after a long time had changed a lot.
‘It’s too late to turn back now.’
She could only feel regret.
He was appointed the youngest ever paladin and rose to the position of commander.
He was deeply faithful to the goddess and righteous in action, earning respect from everyone. This was Sir Allen, the commander of the paladins.
Allen was kneeling in prayer before the statue of the goddess. It was a procedure he always went through before starting his day’s training.
After finishing his prayers, he found a priest waiting outside.
“Sir Allen.”
“Greetings, Priest. What brings you here?”
“The pilgrimage date has been set. It is scheduled for a week from now.”
“…I see.”
“Yes, the High Priests have entrusted you with organizing the escort personnel. We are counting on you.”
“It is my duty. Do not worry.”
“May the goddess’s blessing be with you.”
“And with you.”
The clergyman turned to leave after saying those words.
Allen watched him go, then turned away. He needed to plan how to perfectly protect the newly appointed saintess.
There was a time when he too had wandered, but the will of the goddess was always right. Thus, he planned to faithfully follow her will this time as well.
He remembered the girl who once smiled brightly, but he buried that deep within his heart.
The most important person now was the saintess.
