Episode 76

“When Jacob's soldiers came and asked to release you. I sent you right away.”

“Why should I be resentful? Is there any chance that everyone will be killed together to protect me? Archbishop Rosaria at least gave me the opportunity to study. It is enough that you protected me well as a child.”

To Rosaria's question, Elisha calmly answered.

“Yes, you remember well what you taught me.”

“You said that blaming someone is also an emotional waste of time. And because the only thing that can protect me is myself. All Miss Rosaria can do is make you stronger. Saying that too.”

“Okay, he's also my favorite student.”

Rosalia looked at Elisha and smiled. It was a smile that made me imagine that she would have smiled on her horse when she was on her battlefield.

“Lady Lucerne. Be nice to this kid. He was a really outstanding kid among my pupils. Foreign languages, ancient languages, etiquette, tactics, and even management. I had a string of things to teach. It's a pity that I only taught fourteen.”

“Study, I can do it for you. Of course, there is no teacher like Miss Rosaria.”

Elisha thought she was surprised when Lucerne respected Rosalia and spoke her words. At the same time, she wondered for a second whether Lucerne was serious about letting her study.

“Besides, Lucerne was also my favorite student. I am really looking forward to the second year.”

“The 2-year-old is already waiting for his grandfather. The momentum is so frightening that sometimes his throat gets cold.”

When Lucerne spoke casually, Elisha's heart warmed. They talked in a surprisingly friendly atmosphere.

“Nora, let's go outside and take a little walk.”

She didn't finish her story, and in the middle, Elisha used the excuse that she was going for a walk and she came out.

It was because Lucerne seemed to have something to say to Rosaria alone. Elisha saw the cold winter landscape of the monastery.

'Does the monastery building where I lived still exist?'

She started walking slowly through the monastery garden.

Rosaria's nagging was a predestined procedure. Rosalia changed her expression as soon as Elisha left.

“I hear rumors that Lady Lucerne has started interfering with temple affairs. Please tell me what this is about.”

“You still have good hearing for your age.”

“Don't talk back.”

Rosaria said sternly.

“I have taught you to humble yourself if you are ambitious. Why are you provoking Merha? He'll probably be the next pope, so he won't let Lucerne in contact with Gunner.”

“These days, the rumors are detailed.”

“Even though I know it's not a rumor. They say that the priest, who was touched by Gunner, was called to the house once every two days. That kind of news can be heard by people like me who are not familiar with news about the capital city.”

If Rosaria had been interested in more mundane affairs, she would have heard rumors that Lucerne was crazy about Elisha.

So, she must have heard the story that she called in three high-ranking priests and tossed them every day to cure Elisha. But Rosaria was extremely dark about such rumors.

“Did you hear that from Merha? I have hearing ears too, and Merha says she visits here often.”

“They want the tickets of me and the priests who follow me. Election campaigns and all, he persistently came to see me. It's bothering me.”

Under Rosaria, there were quite a few senior priests who maintained neutrality. So Rosaria would suffer whenever this happened.

Moreover, she held the office of Archbishop, an honorary post above the High Priestess. So

It was only natural that Rosaria's approval would win her popularity.

“I know.”

Lucerne smiled.

“And I remember what you said. After he told me to humble myself if I had ambition, there is something he taught me.”

“But on a sure hunt, pull out his claws and show, that's what I meant. But if the temple turns to Lucerne's side, the head will suspect Lucerne. Gunner is one of the typical Cartier wolves who are obsessed with money and power. Do you believe that the family head will just watch the collusion between him and Lucerne-sama?”

Saying that, Roshiraa's face showed extreme disgust toward Gunner.

“Now, do you think I will do things clumsily? Don't worry too much.”

“…….”

At those words, Rosalia shut her mouth for once. Even as her, Lucerne was a difficult opponent, and also an opponent who could not know her insides.

At least Rosaria was relieved that Lucerne had not come to plead for Gunner to be voted out for her papacy, and she was disillusioned with the situation.

“I'm tired of how much she will do if Merha becomes the Grand Pope this time.”

Merha was strangely resourceful in temple-related businesses. At least, if Merha was better than Gunner, it was that Merha was naturally rich.

They will not misappropriate funds to help the poor like Gunner. However, since both of them are corrupt enough to be corrupt, it was obvious without even looking at the picture to be drawn.

“It's really strange. The leaders of those who follow the gods are elected, but only people from the Cartier family can come up as candidates. It's like this is the 2nd Gaju War. No. There is nothing different. When Merha becomes the Great Pope, all temple-related business will be given to Marco, and when Gunner becomes the Great Pope, you……. I will take care of that business.”

After the election of the great pope, many new temples are built. And new temple-related products come out and there are numerous events where donations can be drawn and eaten. The present temple has decayed as it would rot.

When Rosalia thought about the situation at the temple, his head ached. She, too, thought Gunner to be the Grand Pope would be the worst thing.

“By the way. Mr. Lucerne.”

“…….”

“Did you do that on purpose for sending Nora as Lady Elisha's escort?”

“Her wife wanted it.”

“Ah. Okay.”

Rosalia had a pensive look on her face for a moment. Soon she shook her head.

“Rather than that, is it really because of Elisha that you came to see me?”

Rosalia turned her words around. Lucerne was unsure, but she couldn't help it because what she had to say right now was important.

“I have something to say about Merha,” She said.

*​ *​ *​

Elisha and Nora walked slowly around the temple.

“Nora, do you know why the pope is being elected?”

“I do not know. Lady.”

“It's because it's easier to have the Cartier family pope in the end if we proceed with the election. So, until now, Cartier had a tight grip on the temple as well.”

“This time, either Gunner or High Priest Merha is going to be the Grand Pope, so there won't be any surprises unless the two get hit by lightning. So many things are wrong.”

Elisha smiled slightly at Nora's bumpy face.

“Nora, are you mad at me? Do you believe that I am encouraging Lucerne to lead him astray, as the world says?”

Nora's movements stopped for a moment.

“No……. Madam……. Not that kind of person. However……. I don't like other Cartiers. So the general……. I hope the means are different.”

“Why? Why don't you like other Cartiers?”

Nora hesitated. Elisha rolled her eyes and looked at her. Nora averted her eyes.

“I cannot tell you that.”

“Is it a secret?”

“It's not a secret, but it's none of my business.”

“It must have something to do with Lucerne.”

Nora's face was about to turn red. Elisha decided to stop harassing Nora.

“That's Okay. I have no intention of digging. We go for a walk. Around here……. It's where I grew up. This front yard and small buildings, and the restaurant and library. That was my whole world.”

“I lived in a monastery next door. Miss Rosaria only visited very occasionally. But it is very similar to where I grew up.”

Elisha and Nora walked through the monastery buildings and exchanged memories one by one. Indeed, the two had a lot in common. At that time, Elisha stopped somewhere.

“Looks like they're kids living here like us.”

Two girls were playing in the shade of a tree. The little one was holding an old doll in her arms, while the one who looked like her older sister was playing with a small ball bouncing in her hand. They seemed peaceful, and they seemed to get along well. A smile formed on Nora's lips.

'Why do I suddenly feel like this?'

At that moment, Elisha felt a sharp pain in her chest. The corner of her eyes throbbed strangely the moment she saw her girls.

She said, 'I've never felt like this before…….. There is That feeling of forgetting something important. Maybe the future I saw is not perfect? Unless that's it. Is there a past I forgot?'

Like everyone else, Elisha couldn't remember much of her childhood. At the same time, the future seen through dreams. Her memories of that future varied widely.

Some passed like a flash and I only knew it in my head, while others I remembered in great detail. She didn't pay close attention to Elisha because she remembered so much.

“Lady?”

“Ah. No.”

Elisha shook her head. Then she felt someone stride toward Elisha. Elisha looked up in surprise. She was a familiar middle-aged man.

*​ *​ *​

Whenever she came to Merha Monastery, she took issue with her hospitality and played the truth. So most of the priests didn't like Merha.

“What is this car? Huh? If I meet the Archbishop of Rosaria, I will meet him. Make me wait?”

“Right now, Lady Rosaria is hosting a distinguished guest…….”

The priest repeated the same words.

'Anyway, this is a problem with women. He's slow in everything.'

Rosaria was famous in her own way, and there was no one in the temple who did not respect her. Even knowing that, the reason why she behaved so rudely every time Merha came was simple.

Rosaria's monastery is a place where female orphans are raised, so most of the priests who work there are women. If the priests in front of her were rambunctious men, she would have been polite in her own way.

The family lord was weak to such a strong person and did not favor her Merha because of her cruel disposition to the weak, but thanks to her lack of affection and her inferiority complex, Merha became even more twisted.

“Who the hell is the VIP! Uh?”

“That is…….”

In the end, Merha's face burned red when she heard the name of her guest by stir-frying her priest.

“You say Lucerne is here? Is she making me wait now that she will entertain her illegitimate child?”

At that, the priests shut their mouths. In fact, most of the priestesses under Rosaria were her favorite disciples, and they often had excellent swordsmanship skills. They just pinched their thighs and endured and endured.