Irene Decided to Die - Chapter 9
“This must be a mistake,”
King Shah-Naz raged vehemently.
“How can such a lowly woman be the saint, not Ramiel?”
Ramiel was devastated by the revelation that Ramiel was not the saint, who was secluded within her room.
Shah-Naz, seeking to offer solace, took time to visit her but did not catch even a glimpse of her hair.
Upon hastening the maid for answers, he learned she had been bedridden since collapsing. Ramiel was kinder and more loving than anyone else.
She knew how to extend her generosity to those beneath her status, and how to comfort those wounded in spirit. Thus, even Shah-Naz, who acted without thinking, was drawn to her.
“Do not raise your voice.”
King Sage exhaled deeply, pressing a hand to his forehead. The current circumstances were proving to be quite troublesome.
“Someone might hear.”
“Let them hear.”
“Shah-Naz!”
King Sage reprimanded him once more for his bold proclamation.
Ramiel had always maintained good relations with the clergy, but all that became pointless the moment the saint was chosen.
The clergy are those who serve the gods.
Their top priority was the saint, upon whom the gods’ words are bestowed, valued by them more than their own lives.
Moreover, the existence of the saint is essential for the maintenance of the world. It was only natural to cherish her. But now, with the saint deeply wounded and fallen, they had no choice but to protect and care for her…
Thus, others could not even see her face.
Even them, the kings.
Exceptionally, Burt, the King of the North, had been visiting the saint’s residence, but that only added to the anxiety.
He was always a step behind, seemingly aloof, and now his attitude seemed foolish.
Sage wore a bitter expression.
“It would be better to discuss what comes next.”
To that, Shah-Naz responded.
“What comes next? It’s clear the gods have made a mistake. We must receive a new revelation.”
Sometimes, he envied that simplicity.
“Do you lack a brain? Life must be easier for you.”
Garan spoke in a frosty voice upon witnessing Shah-Naz’s behavior. The two had never gotten along, their personalities clashing. When Ramiel was present, she bridged the gap between them, but now she was absent from this gathering.
“What did you say?”
“Stop it! Shah-Naz. Such words are blasphemous!”
The goddess is a perfect being, incapable of mistakes.
At Sage’s words, Shah-Naz closed his mouth, recognizing his own overstep.
Garan’s lips curled up slightly at the sight of Shah-Naz.
“This is not the time for us to fight among ourselves!”
Sage spoke with a weary face.
“I agree with that sentiment.”
While Garan shrugged his shoulders, he did not provoke Shah-Naz any further. Shah-Naz, though looking dissatisfied, settled back down quietly.
Simple though he may be, he was still a king who ruled a nation and had some awareness of reality.
“So, what should we do moving forward?”
Shah-Naz remained silent at Sage’s question. He could not think of a solution to the current situation.
Irene had never been treated with the respect she deserved. Her black hair and red eyes were deemed ominous, and her humble origins were mocked. As if that wasn’t enough, sending her to the Tower of Death to be tortured made it natural for Irene to harbor hatred.
“Firstly, her becoming the saint means that her attempted murder of Ramiel is false, correct?”
“Yes. The gods would not bestow the role of the saint upon someone guilty of sin.”
“We are cursed then.”
Garan stated decisively. Sage wore a troubled expression but did not object. He couldn’t; the statement was not wrong.
“The King of the North has entered the saint’s residence to prevent another suicide attempt, but what will we do afterwards?”
“This meeting is to consider just that. It would be good if the King of the North played his part, but I am not sure about him.”
At Sage’s words, Shah-Naz responded dismissively.
“I do not trust that guy.”
Tap, tap.
Garan drummed his fingers on the table.
Shah-Naz’s stance was simply because Irene was not his favored Ramiel, but his point wasn’t entirely wrong. The King of the North was always a hard person to read. If such a person were to gain the saint’s trust alone, it would be problematic.
They needed to hold something of value as well. Garan suggested,
“Since the only power the saint has is the clergy, why don’t we use that to our advantage?”
“Are you suggesting we directly persuade the saint?”
“Would you be persuaded?”
“No, I would probably harbor resentment.”
“What resentment?”
“Don’t you understand, Shah-Naz? If all this is the goddess’s will, we would be sinning against her.”
“The goddess’s will? I do not know. I have blindly believed in the goddess all this time. But the saint she chose is not Ramiel, but Irene. That gentle and angel-like Ramiel is not the saint?”
“That is…”
