ã€ŠThe Saintess and False Loveã€‹


 Chapter 1 - Prologue

    "I am a true saint!" Evelina exclaimed in a voice tinged with bloodshed, facing the cold gazes.

    "I am indeed! You are all deceived by that impostor!"

    Her proclamation continued, but no one paid any heed to her words. They merely stared back with icy disdain.

    It was to be expected. Who was Evelina, after all? Upon ascending to the position of the 49th saint, she had indulged in every form of luxury and pleasure, corrupting the sanctuary. And it didn''t end there. She distributed the sanctuary''s wealth as if it were her own, lavishing it upon those who pleased her whims. Most of the recipients were either sycophants who flattered her side or individuals she clandestinely summoned to her bed.

    There was no longer anyone on the continent who revered the saints. After mentioning Evelina''s name, they spat as if expelling something vile. They yearned for her to meet her deserved punishment and ascend to the embrace of the divine as soon as possible.

    And today was the day when their prayers would be answered. Beneath Evelina''s feet lay a pile of firewood, stacked like a mountain. It was meant for today''s execution ritual. Soon, once the fire ignited here, Evelina, the notorious witch and false saint, would meet her end.

    ***

    For a year now, rumors had been circulating throughout the continent, reaching every nook and cranny.

    "Word has it that a true saint has appeared."

    This rumor quickly spread throughout the entire continent. A woman with an extraordinary power, far surpassing any other residing in the remote corners of the continent, had emerged. She drove out demons and healed the wounded before vanishing without a trace.

    Initially, the temple dismissed these rumors. They believed it to be mere gossip fabricated by those disillusioned with the current saint. However, the rumors continued to spread, growing more detailed and concrete.

    "They say the true saint''s name is Iris."

    "Rumor has it that when the malevolent creatures catch sight of her, they flee in fear. She is said to heal dozens of wounded individuals at once!"

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    Excitement coursed through the voices of those who shared the tales they had heard. However, as the whispers grew louder, they became cautious in their utterances. Those who hushed their voices spoke with trepidation.

    "But they say there is only one true saint."

    "In that case... what about Evelina, the saint at the temple?"

    A false saint.

    People exchanged unspoken words through their glances.

    And so, the rumor expanded, eventually reaching the ears of Evelina herself.

    "Fetch that woman immediately!"

    Having received Evelina''s command, the reluctant knights of the temple set out to apprehend Iris. At that moment, as Iris tended to the injured, she quietly addressed the knights.

    "There is no need to apprehend me. I won''t flee. However, would you kindly wait until I have healed all the people here... Latvan?"

    Latvan, the knight commander who was already acquainted with Iris, understood her intentions and ordered the knights to withdraw. Once the treatment was complete, as Iris approached the location of the knight''s temple, the people blocked her path.

    "Run, Saint! The false saint will try to kill you!"

    "Yes! We will stop them. Please, run!"

    Iris smiled at the people who obstructed her, shaking her head gently.

    "I promised the knights that I would go with them. Therefore, I must be protected."

    Having spoken those words, Iris held the edge of her white robe and gently kissed the forehead of a sobbing child.

    "Do not weep. We shall meet again."

    Even though she herself was the most anxious, Iris'' comforting presence subdued the tears of those around her. Those who had obstructed her path, now realizing that she intended to accompany the knights to the temple, pleaded with the knights, grabbing their sleeves.

    "Iris is the true saint!"

    "You all witnessed it a while ago. Iris healed us with her power!"

    "If you knights are truly protectors of the saint, then you must safeguard Iris! The saint at the temple is the impostor!"

    The fervent appeals from the people left the knights of the temple bewildered. Before coming to this place, they had never doubted the woman known as Iris. It was only natural, for throughout the thousands of years, there had never been more than one saint at a time. Occasionally, there were individuals who claimed to be saints, but they were all impostors. Thus, they had assumed Iris to be one of those charlatans.

    With utmost courtesy, the knights guided Iris. The power she had displayed when healing the people just moments ago was undoubtedly saintly. As members of the knight''s temple, they could sense it more keenly. Moreover, their commander, Latvan, showed Iris the utmost respect, more polite than ever.

    When Iris arrived at the temple, Evelina was the first to greet her.

    Evelina approached Iris, who lowered her head in silence, and after observing her carefully, commanded, "Raise your gaze."

    At those words, Iris lifted her head, and a faint smile passed over Evelina''s face. In the next moment, with a sharp crack, Iris'' face turned roughly to the side, leaving a red mark on her fair skin.

    "Don¡¯t you dare impersonate the saint and pay the price for deceiving the people?" Evelina said with a voice filled with contempt.

 Chapter 2 - Punishment

    "Saint!"

    The head of the Knights, Latvan, who had brought Iris, exclaimed in surprise. But Evelina did not stop there. She continued to slap Iris'' cheek relentlessly until she¡¯s unable to endure any longer, and collapsed. Then Evelina, consumed by even greater anger, began to kick her relentlessly.

    "You wretch! You think you can listen to the words of a true saint? Did you think I wouldn''t know that your powers were crafted by the dark sorcery of evil heretics?"

    Unable to contain her fury, Evelina kicked Iris'' abdomen as she lay on the ground. Seeing Evelina''s actions, the priests were shocked and tried to stop her. But it only fueled her rage even more.

    "Cut her throat immediately! The punishment for impersonating a saint must be repaid with death!"

    However, on that day, Iris did not die. It was because the Knight Commander, who had brought Iris, risked his life to prevent that command. Even the priests hesitated to oppose the Knight Commander.

    "Please calm down, Saint Evelina. It would be wise to investigate further what has transpired."

    "Am I supposed to know about such things? How dare they claim that I am a fake to the people!"

    "If it is indeed the sorcery of the heretics, such incidents might occur again. Therefore, I believe it is right to conduct a thorough investigation."

    Reluctantly, Evelina gave the order, her face contorted, her suspicions growing.

    "Very well. Spare her life. But confine her to the deepest underground prison in the temple."

    The underground prison of the temple was a place where the holy knights of the temple imprisoned the captured demons. It was a place devoid of sunlight, filled with damp humidity that suffocated and deprived one of breath, along with all sorts of insects. When news spread that Iris was locked up there, people were in an uproar.

    "I saw it clearly. Saint Iris truly used her powers."

    "Yes, but compared to that...has anyone seen Saint Evelina use her powers recently?"

    Everyone felt something was amiss at those words. They had witnessed Iris'' powers, but no one had seen Evelina use her powers in recent times. Doubts turned into certainties. It wasn''t just the commoners; even the priests began to voice their suspicions.

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    The powers of Saint Evelina are questionable.

    Hearing those words, Evelina''s face turned a bluish hue, and she descended to the underground prison. Then she took out a hidden dagger from her bosom and tried to kill Iris, who was bound by chains. If it hadn''t been for the Knight Commander, Latvan, who had followed her suspiciously, Iris might have died there.

    Frustrated by her failed attempt, Evelina shouted, "You wrench! You stole my powers! Otherwise, my powers wouldn''t vanish completely!"

    The sudden cry from Evelina caught the attention of the priests who were following behind. The priests, with stern faces, questioned Evelina.

    "Is that true? Do you no longer possess your powers? Since when?"

    Now the priests referred to Evelina not as a saint but as an impostor. In the face of such priests, Evelina, trembling with rage, pushed them away and hastily fled. Escaping from the temple, Evelina sought help from those she had once been infatuated with. However, no one came to her aid.

    Meanwhile, in the temple, the inauguration ceremony for the new saint commenced.

    Now, the 49th Saint Evelina was no more.

    Her name was erased, and the name of the 49th Saint Iris spread throughout the continent.

    And today, after all those days of fleeing while still harboring thoughts of taking Iris'' life, it was the day of Evelina''s execution.

    "Kill the impostor!"

    The crowd gathered at Evelina, who was bound to a pillar, still insisted that she was the real saint. Then they whispered among themselves.

    "Whatever happened, it''s truly fortunate that the real Saint is unharmed. It seems Knight Commander Latvan protected Saint Iris."

    "Yes, I heard it too. It is said that the Prince Leon of the Empire has been assisting Saint Iris of Elysium for a long time. Rumor has it that he continues to stay in the kingdom, showing respect for Saint Iris¡¯ benevolence and providing aid."

    "That''s not all. The King of the magicians, who despises the temples so much, also attended the succession ceremony to congratulate Saint Iris."

    Soon, the executioner and the officials appeared. As the leading official began reciting the heinous acts committed by Evelina, the shouts of those demanding the fake saint''s death grew louder. The voice of the official, who had been reading the charges for a while, ceased, and finally, the executioner approached Evelina and set fire to the logs beneath her feet.

    The oil-soaked logs quickly ignited. Evelina''s voice, which had been proclaiming her authenticity, vanished into the fierce flames beneath her.

    That was the fake saint''s final moment.

    ***

    The impostor saint, who had indulged in misdeeds, was punished. One might think that I should rejoice and applaud the tale, but I could not bring myself to do so.

    Revealed as a fraud, Evelina, burdened with the weight of her past transgressions, faced her just punishment.

    For it was a future that awaited me, two years hence, wherein I would inhabit Evelina''s body.

 Chapter 3 - The Book

    "How did I come to be possessed by the spirit of Evelina, the 49th Saint? I cannot fathom it myself.

    I recalled my former self before inhabiting her body.

    The ward I resided in was a gathering place for long-term patients. Day after day, they lay in their beds, receiving examinations, injections, and meals at prescribed times. Given that many of them found it difficult to move freely, the patients sought ways to pass the time while confined to their beds.

    The most suitable diversion was playing games or watching videos on their smartphones. And when they grew weary of that, they turned to books.

    I, too, spent my days in such a manner. Having been hospitalized for a long time, my parents visited only once a week, and my friends, who hadn''t come to see me in ages, no longer attended school either. In the early days of my hospitalization, I busied myself with various activities born out of boredom. While installing social media apps on my phone, a person in the neighboring bed spoke to me.

    "There''s no point in doing that. Once you''re done, you''ll only feel worse."

    Why would someone utter such words to someone about to start something? I furrowed my brow and disregarded their remark. However, it didn''t take long for me to understand the reason. Being confined within the hospital all day long, the only posts I could share were always the same. Instead, I found myself witnessing the daily lives of those outside.

    A person posting a photo of themselves boarding the subway, claiming they were running late for a meeting with friends. Another person excitedly shared pictures of finally attending the concert they had eagerly anticipated. And someone else posted pictures of their newly adopted cat, exclaiming how beautiful it was.

    At every available opportunity, I became transfixed, observing the ordinary lives of others. Then, one day, I suddenly experienced an inexplicable seizure and was rushed into the intensive care unit, only to emerge later. Regaining consciousness and returning to my hospital room, the first thing I did was turn on my phone.

    Naturally, I received no messages. Gazing at my phone, devoid of any notifications, I launched the social media app I had grown accustomed to using. Soon, I felt a sense of emptiness wash over me. While I had been on the brink of death, the world outside had remained remarkably peaceful. People continued to share their daily routines and post photos portraying happiness and joy.

    In response, I promptly deleted that social media app. It was then that I finally comprehended the words uttered by the patient in the neighboring bed. They were right¡ªI would only feel worse. Their words had been accurate.

    From that point on, I immersed myself in books. Within their pages lay extraordinary tales, diverging from the mundane. These stories always reach a conclusion.

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    In retrospect, I realized I had found comfort in the notion of endings. Characters meeting their demise before me. A world that experienced its end. It was shameful, but I found solace in those lives that I, confined to the ward, could regard with a tinge of self-deprecation. Although I recognized it as a wicked thought, I yearned to read the stories of those more unfortunate and pitiable than myself. In comparison, I wished to perceive my own existence as relatively fortunate.

    In the meantime, my body grew increasingly frail. My parents, who used to visit once a week, became harder to see. I harbored no resentment. At some point, their faces displayed a weariness more profound than mine, evident whenever they visited.

    Therefore, I felt a sense of relief when my parents didn''t come. After all, I was the one burdening them.

    "I should be grateful for covering my hospital expenses, at the very least."

    Despite my deteriorating condition, I maintained a desperate facade. I could sense, even within myself, that I wouldn''t live past this year. Amidst the passage of each day, I discovered a book in the lounge on the same floor as my ward.

    Initially, I thought it belonged to the lounge, but the book was in pristine condition, devoid of any markings or indications that it belonged to the hospital. So, I pondered whether to leave it on the table and return, but instead, I carried the book back to my room. I planned to read it once and then ask the nurse to find its rightful owner.

    Lying in bed, I examined the book cover. Its title was "Iris," followed by the number 2.

    "Is this the second volume?"

    I felt a lingering sense of regret. If only it had been the first volume, how delightful it would have been. Contemplating whether to search for the preceding book on my cell phone, I soon grew weary and picked up the book once more.

    "Let''s just start reading from here."

    It wasn''t a book I was particularly eager to read anyway. Thus, I began delving into the second volume of "Iris." Even without reading the previous installment, I could surmise the content of the opening chapters. "Iris" was indeed the tale of a girl named Iris. The second volume commenced with Iris realizing that her supernatural power was the ability of vitality. Simultaneously, it depicted the disappearance of a saintly figure named Evelina, who possessed extraordinary powers.

    The subsequent chapters chronicled Evelina''s malicious deeds. Anxious about the loss of her own powers, Evelina behaved even more recklessly. Instead of attending the prayer gathering where her powers were to be showcased, she enticed men who spoke honeyed words into her sanctuary, spending the night with them.

    Lured by flattery and swayed by sycophants who dismissed righteous priests, Evelina lavished treasures and assets from the temple under her name.

    In truth, one might think the title of the book should be "Evelina" since the earlier portions were filled with more of Evelina''s story.

    Contrary to Evelina''s misdeeds, Iris opposed her actions with her own power, aiding those in need. In doing so, Iris met many individuals and formed friendships.

    "Let''s see... the commander of the knights, the prince, the king of the wizards. As expected, the protagonist is the heroine."

    Before being entangled with Evelina, Iris had already established a rapport with the male protagonists. Hence, when Iris found herself in danger, they swiftly took action. After engrossing myself in the book for quite some time, I realized that I had progressed to the part where Evelina was to be put on trial.

    That was the fake saint''s final moments.

 Chapter 4 - In Consciousness

    Thus, concluded the second volume. Having dealt with a significant threat, the subsequent book would likely unveil Iris'' blissful tale. It seemed that the thrilling romance with the three male protagonists would take center stage.

    "There''s no need to read the rest."

    Regardless, it would only breed envy towards the characters within the book. I drew the curtains, extinguished the light, and retired to bed.

    "When people come for the morning check-up, I should ask them to find the owner of the book."

    However, that was not to be.

    Suddenly, I found it difficult to breathe, and I pressed the emergency bell. A nurse rushed in, and she called for the medical staff once again. Amidst the loud command to regain consciousness, my body was subjected to numerous jolts. However, instead of regaining my senses, my consciousness gradually faded. As the voices of people grew distant, I turned my head. I caught sight of the book I had read before falling asleep.

    That was the last thing I saw.

    On that night, I died.

    Yes, undoubtedly, that was how I perished.

    [Sigh]

    I cast a long sigh and gazed around the room.

    It was an exceedingly spacious chamber, requiring several dozen strides to traverse from end to end.

    But it was not merely a room of vast proportions. The walls and ceiling were adorned with intricate and exquisitely drawn paintings, as if they could come to life at any moment. Golden and crimson decorations adorned every nook and cranny, lending a resplendent touch to the chamber.

    An opulent chandelier hung from the lofty ceiling, while ornate curtains with intricate patterns graced the grand windows. Moreover, the bed on one side was colossal and resplendent, reminiscent of those found in foreign castles. It was not just the bed; there were also ornate cabinets, tables, chairs, and pottery placed around the room.

    In short, it was an extraordinarily lavish chamber.

    Lost in contemplation of the room for quite some time, I rose from my seat and opened the door. As soon as it swung open, my jaw dropped involuntarily. There, in that instant, lay objects that rendered the previous splendor of the room mundane.

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    Clearly crafted from solid gold, there stood sculptures. Goblets encrusted with various gemstones. Piles of silks stacked like mountains. Unwittingly, I found myself murmuring.

    "To live in such a manner is to die in the same way...."

    Uttering these words, I approached the sculpture that sat atop the cabinet. Then, I gazed into the mirror nearby. The golden sculpture before me bore an uncanny resemblance to the fair-haired, blue-eyed woman reflected in the looking glass. I glanced at the inscription on the pedestal of the sculpture.

    Evelina.

    "Evelina...."

    I murmured the name repeatedly, clutching my head in my hands.

    "Why did it have to be her of all people?¡±

    ***

    A week ago, I was awake. Recalling the haze that clouded my consciousness in the hospital, I deemed this place to be the afterlife. Until I heard the voice calling for me, that is.

    "Oh, fair lady! Are you alright?"

    Fair lady? Whom are they addressing? Startled, I opened my eyes, and the people beside me fell to their knees, seeking divine solace.

    "Oh, Divine Being! We thank thee. What is happening here? Quickly, inform the other clergy!"

    "Yes!"

    These unfamiliar individuals, who had been shouting around me, suddenly erupted into prayer amongst themselves. I gazed blankly at their spectacle, unable to fathom the reality. Understandably so, for instead of the doctors and nurses I had always known, there stood strangers dressed in attire I had never seen before.

    "Dear Evelina, do you have any idea how worried everyone has been during your week-long collapse?" the person said, addressing me as Lady Evelina.

    Evelina? Lady?

    Now, a week has passed since I regained consciousness. I have come to comprehend the nature of my predicament with utmost certainty.

    I have entered the world within the pages of a book, assuming the role of a fated antagonist, no less.

    "Why must it be Evelina?"

    Having died and found myself within the realm of literature, it is disheartening to realize that I am destined to perish once again, and soon. In the span of a week, I pieced together the memories of what I had read, ascertaining the present moment. It is two years prior to my demise. In one year, news of Evelina¡¯s exploits will spread throughout the world, and after another year, I shall meet my end.

    How can I navigate this situation?

    Such thoughts occupied my mind throughout the week. The foremost notion that arose was, "I absolutely cannot meet such a demise."

    Consequently, I had to contemplate the course of action that lay ahead.

    "What should I do from now on?"

 Chapter 5 - Past Pitiful Life

    I have no desire to die. While it may be a natural thought for any living being, I possess a slightly more urgent sense of desperation than others, and I can be confident in that.

    "I''ve already died once."

    The memory of the moment of death was etched vividly in my mind to the point where denying it was impossible. The sounds of approaching footsteps of doctors and the noises of machines, even the murmurs of concern from those around me¡ªeverything echoed in my head. Then, my vision grew dim. With a beep, accompanied by the lowering sound of a machine, the doctors fell silent. And what followed was a world of perfect silence.

    Even recalling it now suffocated me, as if my breath was being held and tears were about to fall. It was a moment of fear and suffocation.

    "Moreover..."

    I lightly jumped in place, moving my arms and legs in various directions. My body moved as I desired, an unfamiliar sensation to me. Until now, I had to move cautiously with each step, and running was beyond my imagination. However, the body of Evelina that I had entered was vibrant and healthy.

    It brought me immense joy and a sense of preciousness. This was what I had always longed for in the hospital¡ªto be able to go wherever I wanted, without exerting any effort. How envious I was of everyone who took such movements for granted.

    I looked at the mirror again and saw Evelina with her bright blonde hair, blue eyes, and beautiful face.

    I was aware that I was an uninvited guest in this body. Therefore, it was clear to me that I would likely be driven away someday.

    "But that doesn''t mean I can use it as I please."

    Even the simple act of breathing comfortably in each moment was a body deserving of gratitude. Even though I knew I would die in two years, I couldn''t use it as I pleased. Whenever Evelina regained consciousness, I wanted to return her body safely to her when she came back. Ideally, I wanted to do so while I was still alive.

    "Fortunately, I remember the contents of the book to some extent, and Evelina''s memories are still intact."

    As a stroke of misfortune turned into good fortune, Evelina''s memories remained with me.

    So, I didn''t have to ask questions like "Where am I? Who are you?" because I knew who the people next to me were and how the temple operated.

    "But there is another problem."

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    While the memories remained, they lingered far too vividly. Thanks to that, I knew exactly what Evelina had been up to before I possessed her body.

    "What were you thinking?"

    Muttering those words, I let out a long sigh and approached the mirror. The attire I was currently wearing was the ordinary dress of a saint, which exuded a serene and pristine aura. The pure white robe was adorned with intricate golden patterns throughout. I grasped the collar of the attire and lowered it.

    The parts of the body visible above the attire were flawless, smooth white skin without blemish. However, the skin beneath the attire was not the same.

    It wasn''t just a slight discoloration. There were distinct blue bruises scattered all over my body. And that wasn''t all. Above my chest, there were unmistakable marks that indicated someone had left their trace.

    I have never engaged in activities that would leave such marks on my body. But Evelina wasn''t like that.

    "What were you thinking?"

    As I looked into the mirror, I muttered. After waking up, I had pushed everyone away and confirmed what had happened to me. At that moment, a severe headache struck me, and Evelina''s memories resurfaced. Before I possessed her body, Evelina had been in bed. Not alone, but with several others. To be precise, she was with two men.

    "This is madness."

    Those three engaged in acts that I could not fathom with my own moral compass. As I recalled the memory, I pressed my head. Even when I read novels, I thought to myself, "What an extraordinary person," but I never expected to come face to face with such vivid evidence.

    Of course, regardless of how she led her life, she was free to do as she pleased. But Evelina was a saint. Living under the frustrating rule that dictated she shouldn''t even meet the gaze of a man. And naturally, Evelina was living a life that was far removed from such existence.

    "No wonder I won''t have any allies in the future."

    As time passed, when the true saint, Iris, appeared, there was no one around Evelina. Not even the men who had spent several nights together. When reading the book, I thought of it as a miserable line for the villain, but now that I had become Evelina, it left me feeling disheartened. When I looked back at the memory, Evelina hadn''t just spent nights with them and ended it there.

    "Jewels, mansions, social status."

    The memory of her embracing all sorts of things with the men she hadn''t loved came to mind. And there were quite a few of them.

    "But not a single one comforted her and they all ran away."

    That wasn''t all. From what I read, even the men who had been Evelina''s lovers later clung to Iris, who appeared later, saying, "Now I have finally found true love." Of course, those men were dealt with promptly by the three male protagonists.

    I murmured again as I looked at myself in the mirror.

    "Your life is truly pitiful."

    After straightening my appearance, I opened the door leading to what seemed to be a spacious room resembling a living room. Then I saw the library, filled with books. It was indeed a study. The shelves extending endlessly behind it were of a scale that could be called a library. These are the things a saint enjoys, I thought, as I sat down at the desk.

    "Let''s tidy up first."

 Chapter 6 - Recall

    I quickly found paper and a pen. It seemed like a good idea to summarize the events that had happened so far and the current situation before considering what I should do from now on.

    In fact, once I grasped the situation to some extent, I immediately thought of running away. I wondered if that would allow me to escape from the future I had seen in the book. But upon careful consideration, it was not a good idea.

    What would happen if I fled like this? No matter how much of a troublemaker I may be, the current saint is Evelina. It was certain that the temple would be turned upside down.

    "Even if I have memories, it doesn''t mean I know this world well."

    Evelina''s memories are limited to her life inside the temple. Because she entered the temple at such a young age, she didn''t know much about the outside world.

    In such a situation, how well could I really escape even if I tried? The temple knights would probably find me within a few days.

    "If that happens, I could imagine people pointing fingers at me and gossiping. They would think that the saint who used to act recklessly had finally gone so far as to cause trouble outside the temple. Even then, my reputation would only plummet even further.¡±

    "Besides, even if I run away, it doesn''t erase what Evelina has done so far."

    I recalled Evelina''s misdeeds that I had read in the novel.

    "Haah..."

    A sigh escaped involuntarily. Evelina had done more than just a few bad things. As a saint who sought her own desires, she banished priests who dared to criticize her to distant temples in dangerous areas and used the temple''s assets as she pleased. And she didn''t hesitate to use insulting language if the ordinary priests made even the slightest mistake. Still, her opponents couldn''t say a word. After all, Evelina was the saint.

    "At least she hasn''t killed anyone yet, thankfully."

    It is now two years before Iris appears.

    Evelina started ordering all kinds of punishments and death sentences as soon as rumors about Iris spread.

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    "If that''s the case... Can I somehow make up for what Evelina has done from now on?"

    If running away doesn''t make what she has done so far disappear, then perhaps it would be better to stay here and try to rectify past events as much as possible, I thought.

    In the novel, when Evelina met her tragic end, no one stood up for her. But I felt that if I started making efforts now, I could change things in two years by soothing people''s hearts and turning them around.

    "Moreover, with Iris and the three male protagonists."

    I wrote down the names of the four people on the paper.

    Iris. Latvan. Leon. Aslan.

    "I might be able to improve the relationship with these four."

    In the novel, Evelina would have seizures every time Iris'' name was mentioned. So when Iris came to the temple, she immediately issued an order to kill her. What if Iris appears and I warmly welcome her?

    "Could it go smoothly without any problems?"

    In the pages of the book, Iris was the one who made the utmost effort to understand Evelina until the end. Nay, one could argue that she was the sole advocate of Evelina. Given her nature, it was certain that if she exerted herself in this endeavor, they would undoubtedly establish a harmonious relationship.

    "The three male protagonists are no different."

    The three individuals were the ones responsible for Evelina''s demise in the book. It was because Evelina had attempted to kill Iris. However, what would happen if, from now on, Iris formed a bond with these three individuals, and once she appeared, she pledged to relinquish all notions of sainthood or whatever else, vowing never to reappear?

    "Then there would be no problem, I reckon."

    They were the three men who moved for the sake of Iris. Thus, if I were to demonstrate that I would not cause them any harm and maintain a cordial relationship with her, they would have no need to try and kill me.

    "But the issue lies in."

    I gazed at the three male protagonists with concern etched on my face.

    "Although the relationship between me and these three is far from ideal."

    Currently, that was the most pressing matter at hand.

    First and foremost was the leader of the Temple Knights, Latvan. Among the three, he harbored the strongest dislike for Evelina. It was understandable, for Latvan was bound by the rules to serve the saint unconditionally. However, how could one expect a saint, who should sacrifice and devote herself for the sake of all, utilizing the power of the divine, to appear favorable when she herself is tainted by all forms of corruption?

    "And then, there was the recent incident that completely soured their relationship."

    I delved into my memory, recalling the event that caused the rift between Evelina and Latvan as described in the novel.

 Chapter 7 - Attitude

    Recently, the Order of the Divine Temple set out on a mission to subdue the monsters that appeared on the outskirts of the continent. Leaving only the minimum number of personnel to guard the temple, it was a large-scale expedition that even the Grand Commander, Latvan, participated in.

    The Order of the Divine Temple traveled across the continent, exalting the name of the gods. After successfully defeating the monsters for several months, while returning to the temple, a problem arose. The sudden emergence of a large-scale monster caused significant damage to the entire Order. Thankfully, with the valorous efforts of Commander Latvan, the monster was eventually defeated, but the Vice Commander sustained severe injuries.

    The senior priests who were accompanying the Order rushed to treat him, but their efforts fell short. Carrying him on his back, Latvan, as if possessed, rushed to the temple and arrived at Evelina''s chamber in a single stride.

    "Please inform the Lady! Quickly!"

    Startled by the sight of Latvan, who was covered in blood and running, the priests knocked on the Lady''s door. However, Evelina did not appear.

    "Why is there no response from her?"

    There was no way she could have missed the cries for help coming from outside the door. However, Evelina did not show herself. Latvan grew increasingly agitated. Then, one of the priests emerged from the Lady''s chamber. It was one of the attendants who served Evelina. She hurriedly approached Latvan and asked.

    "Did anything happen between you and the Lady before you set out on the expedition?"

    Upon hearing those words, Latvan''s face contorted.

    Before departing on the expedition, Evelina had demanded that he leave the temple. Unless there was a compelling reason, her justification for making such a request was that she could not send inferior knights as an escort when she herself had to leave the temple. Naturally, Latvan found it problematic.

    At that moment, Evelina erupted in anger.

    "How dare you! Are you suggesting that one who is bound by the duty to serve the Lady would not obey my command!"

    Raging like a mad person, Evelina suddenly fell silent. Then, she smiled so gracefully that one could doubt she was the same person who had been angry just moments ago. However, those who knew Evelina took a step back at her laughter. They knew that when Evelina laughed like that, she was most dangerous.

    "Very well, proceed with your expedition, Commander Latvan."

    "Thank you, Lady."

    The abrupt change in attitude from the Lady, who had just caused a commotion and vehemently opposed granting permission for the expedition, was disconcerting. Nevertheless, Latvan quickly expressed his gratitude and left the Lady''s quarters. Observing Latvan''s departure, Evelina spoke.

    "Someday, you will regret this day to the point of death."

    Upon hearing those words, the expressions of the attending priests, who had been listening nearby, grew dark. It was evident that Evelina would commit some unfavorable act against Commander Latvan today.

    And now, everyone realized as they anxiously stood outside the Lady''s chamber, hoping for her appearance. The Lady was exacting her revenge for that day''s incident.

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    "Could it be... that the Lady is exacting revenge for what happened that day?"

    Latvan''s expression was incredulous. A saint is one who serves God and uses their abilities for the benefit of humanity. Yet, here he was, refusing treatment for the deputy commander of the Temple Knights, who was on the brink of death after battling demons, simply because they had fought that day?

    He did not like Evelina. Despite her outward glamour and beauty, she was ruthless, venomous, and cold to the point of negating her title as a saint. Nevertheless, as a member of the Temple Knights, he served her. No matter what kind of person she was, she was the chosen saint, the one to whom he must unquestionably submit. So he continued to bow his head,

    But to risk a human life just because it resembled a child throwing a tantrum?

    Seeing Latvan''s contorted face, the priest quickly intervened.

    "Please, please, you must not confront the saint now. You must merely apologize for your misbehavior. Otherwise, she will never come out!"

    "...."

    In the meantime, the deputy commander''s breathing grew fainter. It was clear that he would not last much longer like this. Latvan gritted his teeth and asked the priest beside him.

    "Please tell me what you desire."

    "Pardon me?"

    "To... the saint... Please ask her how I should apologize for my previous rudeness so that she will heal the deputy commander."

    In response to his words, the priest hurriedly went into the saint''s chamber. When she returned, she approached Latvan hesitantly.

    "What did you say?"

    "Well... that..."

    Unable to open his mouth, Latvan anxiously asked the priest again.

    "What must I do to gain her forgiveness?"

    With closed eyes, the priest spoke.

    "Kneel down on both knees and crawl under the bed, she said. She won''t believe the sincerity of the deputy commander unless you do that..."

    At those words, the people standing nearby gasped and held their breath. Crawling under the bed was already absurd, but asking someone to kneel down on both knees astonished them even more. Kneeling on both knees was an act reserved solely for God. Yet now, they were being asked to do it for the saint, and not just that, but to crawl under the bed.

    It was an impossible task for Latvan, the deputy commander.

    Even the deputy commander, who was barely conscious, raised his head at those words.

    "No... It can''t be... Only for God..."

    Struggling to utter the words, the deputy commander spat out blood and breathed heavily, but Latvan did not hesitate any longer.

    "Open the door, please."

    Uttering those words to the priests, he knelt down on both knees. Then, he crawled like a dog towards the saint''s bed, visible through the open door. Evelina was sitting on that bed, smiling at Latvan''s appearance.

    In addition to Evelina, there were handsome young men sitting beside her in disheveled attire and posture. Evelina''s own attire was no different. Until just a moment ago, it was all too clear what they had been doing in this place.

    Evelina spoke kindly to Latvan, who had crawled all the way to the foot of the bed.

    "Indeed, you truly embody the leader of the Temple Knights. To kneel on both knees for the sake of a subordinate. It brings tears to my eyes."

    "Please save the deputy commander."

    "Yes, indeed. How could I dare ignore the care and affection with which the leader crawled towards me like a dog?"

    In the midst of the tranquil surroundings, Evelina''s laughter echoed, as if unable to contain her delight. Thankfully, on that day, the vice-commander was saved. However, even Evelina''s formidable abilities could not provide a complete cure. He had merely preserved his life, but could no longer wield a sword, leading him to resign from the order of knights and return to his hometown.

    Since that day, Latvan never visited Evelina again. And Evelina, in turn, did not call for him. The officials in the palace, who held the highest positions, expressed their concerns over the complete separation between the two individuals. Yet, no one could bridge the chasm that had formed between them.

 Chapter 8 - Prayer Assembly

    ¡°Why on earth did you do that...?" I sighed, my mind filled with images from the novel. Sir Latvan, the commander of the knights, was like a living embodiment of a chivalrous textbook. A knight who pursued noble honor with no room for personal desires. Yet, he had been insulted, ordered to crawl in front of everyone, defying the rules of the temple.

    "Can efforts truly mend the rift between us?" I pondered. My initial plan of getting closer to the male protagonists seemed utterly futile.

    Even the relationship with Latvan, who was within the same temple, appeared to be in disarray. How much more complicated would the dynamics be with Leon in the palace and Aslan in the tower of the wizards?

    Lost in such thoughts, I absentmindedly kept circling the names of the male protagonists I had written on the paper.

    Knock, knock.

    The sound of someone knocking on the study door reached my ears, followed by the voices of the attendants outside a moment later.

    "Lady Saint, Priest Karus wishes for a visit. What shall we do?"

    I hadn''t fully adapted to my life in Evelina yet. Therefore, I had instructed the attendants guarding the door to reject any trivial requests for audiences in order to minimize my interactions with people. Considering Evelina''s general aversion to meeting others, they all complied with the directive without hesitation.

    Since then, I hadn''t been informed of anyone''s visit.

    "Karus, the priest," I thought to myself.

    I had come across that name a few times in the books. If he had come here despite the order to refuse audiences, he must be a rather important figure. Debating whether I should meet Karus or send him away, I decided to admit him for now.

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    "If I am to meet those who are bound to meet me eventually, it would be wise to assess them one by one and understand their intentions," I thought.

    With that in mind, I cleared the paper on which I had been writing the names of Iris and the male protagonists, and prepared to welcome Priest Karus.

    Soon, the door opened, revealing a middle-aged man of imposing stature.

    "A high-ranking priest," I noted.

    Judging by his attire, he was one of the few high-ranking priests in the temple. The temple hierarchy consisted of the Saint at the top, followed by the High Priests, Mid-level Priests, Low-level Priests, and Common Priests. The Knights of the Temple, led by Commander Latvan, held a different position from the priests.

    In any case, the man who had just entered, named Karus, held a rather prestigious position. He walked into the study and respectfully bowed his head according to the temple''s protocols.

    "Karus, the servant of the gods, standing on the third step, greets the Lady Saint," he said.

    "Please raise your head," I replied.

    Thanks to my memories as Evelina, I knew how to respond in such situations. However, meeting people still made me nervous. I couldn''t help but worry that someone would sense something amiss and shout, "She''s a fake Saint!"

    Fortunately, instead of uttering such words, Priest Karus stood tall and looked at me.

    "Why did you request a visit?¡± I asked.

    ¡°I understand that you have been unwell due to your long collapse, but I wanted to hear your confirmation regarding the issue with the prayer assembly," he said in a condescending tone, exuding an air of annoyance.

    "The prayer assembly?" I desperately tried to recall what it was.

    "Oh..." After a moment, I touched my forehead.

    Following the unfortunate incident with Latvan, there was an episode that clearly demonstrated how irresponsible Evelina had been as a Saint. That episode was the prayer assembly. It was a grand event held once a year in the temple, where ordinary people were allowed to enter the central square of the temple. On that day, together with everyone else, the Saint, Evelina, had to offer prayers to the gods.

    That was what had to be done.

 Chapter 9 - Request

    "But Evelina had not done so."

    On that day, Evelina suddenly complained of feeling unwell from the morning and locked herself in her room. As a result, instead of a ceremony led by a saint, the church welcomed a prayer gathering led by a deputy, for the first time. Naturally, people were greatly disappointed by Evelina''s behavior, and stories of the saint who had abandoned her duties and indulged in pleasure spread throughout the continent.

    "Iris heard that story."

    As Iris overheard people gossiping about the saint, she found herself pondering on how the church of the deputy must look.

    "But that''s not important right now."

    Karus needed to find out what this was all about. No matter how much he searched his memories, there was hardly anything about Karus. Even if Evelina''s memories remained, they were not complete. Fortunately, it was not too difficult to maintain the facade of a saint as she did now, but she did not remember the small conversations she had with people.

    "Important things still remain."

    However, the fact that there were no memories of Karus seemed to be due to two reasons. Either there was no value in remembering, or she did not want to remember. Looking at Karus, it was uncertain which of the two it could be.

    "How can such a person be a senior cleric?"

    Impressions are something that people have. Even if someone is beautiful, there can be an instinctive sense of unease, and even if someone is not beautiful, there can be an attraction. Unfortunately, Karus was someone who exuded an unsettling air while not being beautiful.

    After gaining strength, I spent most of my life in the hospital. Being in the cheapest twelve-person ward covered by insurance meant encountering various people. Since I had nothing to do all day, observing those people became a significant part of my day, and thanks to that, I could now guess with a high probability what kind of person someone was based on their first impression alone.

    If I trust my intuition, this Karus, the cleric, is someone I wouldn''t want to get close to. He''s just that kind of person.

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    "Your Grace?"

    As I stared at him for a long time, Karus approached me even closer. Then, he lowered his voice and asked,

    "Are you still considering my request?"

    What on earth did Karus ask for? First, I needed to find out what it was. I deliberately responded with an air of annoyance.

    "Well, I can''t seem to recall what you asked me."

    I didn''t really not know, but I pretended not to know. Karus continued to lick his lips as if hesitating, as if he were suppressing something. After hesitating several times, he looked around and spoke again.

    "I urgently requested it before. I suggested replacing the fallen Deputy Daelan with me in the prayer gathering. How do you feel about that?"

    So, that''s what he requested. When I tried to recall Evelina''s memories, I realized that Daelan, who currently held the position of deputy, was already too old to properly fulfill his duties. Therefore, within the temple, there seemed to be an underground power struggle for the position of deputy.

    "In any case, the appointment of a deputy is within the authority of the saint."

    So, despite not being pleased with Evelina''s actions, the senior clerics continued to accommodate her whims. Thanks to that, Evelina had been living without much difficulty, it seemed.

    But I had absolutely no intention of placing this person in the position of deputy. Therefore, I spoke firmly to Karus.

    "Well, I''m not convinced that you would be able to handle that position. So, I suggest you go back."

    "Wouldn''t that break the promise, Your Grace?"

    Before I could finish my sentence, Karus approached even closer. His face had turned a sickly color due to anger and excitement. Before I could say anything, he spoke first.

    "Perhaps you didn''t like the men I offered?"

    "The men you offered?"

    For a moment, I doubted my ears. The men he offered?

    "Yes, they were carefully selected individuals. They were flawless in both appearance and physique, and among them, I deliberately chose those who I thought would not behave arrogantly towards you, Your Grace. If they were not enough, then I would increase their number next time. If you have any special preferences..."

    "Enough."

    I raised my hand to stop Karus from speaking further. I knew what she had received from him. The men who were sitting beside her bed, looking disheveled, during the incident with Commander Latvan. And the men who left marks of red beneath her clothes. Those men were what she received through Karus.

 Chapter 10 - Flaw of Virility

    [Sigh]

    After Karus left and issued a stern command for no one to disturb me today, I buried myself deeply into the sofa.

    "Now is not the time to worry about Iris and the male protagonists."

    The situation was dire, with the fire blazing beneath my feet. It was a massive inferno concerning the prayer meeting and Evelina''s reputation.

    I lifted my attire slightly, stealing a glance at Evelina''s body. The reddish marks still lingered on her skin. Such blemishes would disappear instantly if one used their powers of virility. However, I couldn''t do that.

    "Virility cannot heal oneself."

    That was the flaw of virility. While those blessed with power could heal others, they were unable to heal themselves, perhaps as a result of the divine will that urged them to exert their strength.

    "First and foremost, men must never be allowed to enter."

    I told Karus not to let any men in, as we didn''t need them. However, he seemed to misunderstand my intentions and insisted on seeking more suitable individuals, raising his voice. It seemed that he couldn''t be satisfied with the previous men and resorted to mischief.

    In response, he quickly withdrew, requesting that I reconsider his appointment as Vice Governor. Of course, there was no way I would let the men he chose this time enter the temple.

    "We must also clean up the surroundings quickly... But for now, the issue of the prayer meeting takes precedence."

    In the novel, starting with the prayer meeting, Evelina''s reputation hit rock bottom. First and foremost, I had to successfully carry out this prayer meeting.

    ***

    The preparation was not difficult. Everyone in the temple was desperately helping, which made it easier. I scoured all of Evelina''s memories and recalled the people associated with the prayer meeting. Then, I went outside immediately and expressed my desire to check the progress of the prayer meeting. The priests had an incredulous look on their faces, but without delay, they rushed off somewhere.

    When they returned, they were accompanied by a large group of people.

    First and foremost, what astonished me was that there were only two weeks left until the prayer meeting. Secondly, it surprised me that Evelina hadn''t participated in the preparations even once throughout the year, considering that this event occurred only once annually.

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    The priests seemed to be determined to finish all the tasks before they could indulge in their capriciousness.

    First, there were piles of papers on the desk containing the schedule of the prayer meeting. After listening to a lengthy explanation, I found myself facing the priests in charge of the ceremonial attire.

    "Do I have to wear more?"

    When I wearily questioned them, who had worn ceremonial attire ten times already, their expressions turned into faces that wondered why I would ask such an obvious question. After counting them, I realized I had to change into fifteen different sets of attire within two days. Not only were they different attires, but they also had distinct requirements for each stage, what to write, what to wear over them, and what shoes to wear.

    After a long inspection of those attires, other priests approached and spoke.

    "Your Holiness, if you don''t mind, could you please inspect the route of the prayer meeting? Although there haven''t been major changes compared to last year, it would be helpful for the priests attending for the first time..."

    The voices of those priests grew fainter and fainter. It was natural. In the past, when priests made such requests, Evelina would immediately respond with, "It''s bothersome, so I''ll pass," and retreat to her room. The priests'' faces showed concern about what would happen this time if she did the same.

    "I understand. Lead the way."

    In truth, I had been eagerly anticipating this task. After opening my eyes in Evelina''s body, I had spent all my time within her room. I was afraid that if I made any mistakes and people noticed something odd while being outside, what would I do?

    But if I went out surrounded by the priests for the preparation of the prayer meeting, they would guide me, and there would be no one easily approachable.

    Soon, I ventured out with the priests.

    Although it was just going outside the main temple, there were over dozens of people attending to me. When the leading priests signaled the people in the temple to step aside, they hurriedly moved to the side, bowing deeply.

    Even in the room, it was burdensome, but once I stepped outside, I truly realized the power held by the position of a saint.

    "First, let us inspect the central square."

    The leading priest said so and guided me.

    The central square.

    At those words, I flinched and stopped speaking. The central square within the temple. It was the place where Evelina was executed in the novel. As I approached the terrace at the end of the white marble corridor, the vastness of the square spread before my eyes.

    "Wow..."

    I tried to hold it in, but inadvertently, an exclamation escaped my lips. The square that unfolded beneath the terrace could easily accommodate a small town. At that moment, I truly realized how massive this temple was, judging by the size of the central square.

    "A place this immense, solely created for the saint..."

    In the midst of realizing the overwhelming power possessed by the saint, I locked eyes with someone in the square.

 Chapter 11 - Rudeness

    Even though we were far apart, I could discern that the eyes of the person I encountered were black. After a few seconds had passed, I could finally behold his face. He had short, black hair, and beneath it, his slightly tanned skin gleamed beautifully in the sunlight. Straight, thick eyebrows framed sharp eyes, and below them, his lips were firmly sealed beneath a straight, proud nose.

    He resembled a statue made of iron. Just as I stared intently at him, he too gazed back at me. Time passed with our gazes intertwined. It was he who turned his head first.

    "Ah..."

    His actions filled me with an indescribable disappointment. At the same time, I noticed the bewildered expressions of the attendants by my side.

    "P-Pardon, Your Grace. It could not have been intentional."

    "That''s right. It seems he did not realize Lady Evelina was present, given the distance."

    "Evelina?"

    As the attendants uttered the name, I realized that the man I had vaguely glimpsed in Evelina''s memories was none other than Sir Latvan, the commander of the knights.

    "Goodness gracious."

    No wonder he left a stronger impression than anyone I had seen so far. He was one of the protagonists of this world. My heart raced uncontrollably, caught off guard by the sight. I remained silent, causing the attendants to grow increasingly restless, unsure of what to do.

    I understood why they were reacting this way.

    Commander Latvan was undoubtedly a person who strictly adhered to the rules of the temple. In the novel, there were scenes where he mercilessly teased Evelina, the female protagonist, for her unwavering adherence to the rules, to the point of questioning if she was a human or a machine. He was the type of person who would rather take his own life than break the rules of the temple. That was who Commander Latvan was.

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    "He violated the rules so blatantly in front of everyone."

    In the grand temple, the only person with absolute authority was the Saint. Therefore, according to protocol, Latvan should have approached Evelina, bowed, and greeted her upon seeing her. However, he ignored her, even with everyone watching.

    "Such audacity!"

    One of the attendants raised their voice in disbelief upon witnessing Latvan''s departure. The voices of the other attendants also grew louder. Among them, the attendant who had been guiding me spoke with a contemplative expression.

    "How could Commander Latvan dare to disrespect the Lady? Please do not be angry, as this was surely an unintended mistake."

    Judging by the attendant''s expression, it seemed they were worried that the enraged Evelina, whom they had just managed to coax out of the room, might turn back due to Latvan''s actions.

    "Or perhaps they fear that I will demand Latvan''s presence and scold him."

    Evelina would have done so immediately. Of course, I had no intention of doing that at the moment. It was fortunate that I didn''t rush over and behead him for the sake of my subordinate, who had thrown himself to the ground and prostrated.

    "It''s better this way, just letting him go."

    If Latvan had come and greeted me, it would have made me uncomfortable. As I thought this, someone approached and spoke.

    "How can we simply overlook such rudeness? Would it not be fitting to hold him accountable and appoint a new commander?"

    Then, another attendant chimed in as if they had been waiting.

    "That''s right. As everyone knows, the knights of the temple have become no different from Latvan''s private army. Before they become even more confused about whom they should serve, it would be appropriate to appoint a new commander as soon as possible."

    At first listen, it might sound like they were reproaching the commander''s rudeness and respectfully requesting appropriate measures. However, I had to make an effort not to burst into laughter upon hearing their subsequent words.

    "Besides Commander Latvan, there are many capable individuals in the temple knights. If you so desire, Lady, I will promptly compile a list."

    "I also have a recommendation. If you wish to see for yourself, I will send a messenger immediately."

    They all wanted to make knights whom they had connections with the new commander. I memorized their faces and names. It seemed that the ones who needed to be dealt with in the temple were not Commander Latvan, but these people.

    ***

 Chapter 12 - Desires Back Then

    It was well past time when I finished inspecting the route of the prayer meeting and returned to my room. Although my body was weary, I felt quite exhilarated. I could sense the magnitude of the temple and truly realize that this place was a different world, as I gazed at the ever-changing scenery before my eyes.

    With the setting sun painting the sky, a mixture of orange and purple, and enormous birds soaring through the air wearing clothes unlike any I had seen before, I felt a thrill like never before. I couldn''t help but think that this place felt like a stage in a theatrical production, knowing that it was a world within the pages of a book.

    "Everyone is alive."

    While lying in the hospital bed, there were often times when I had to watch the TV that other patients next to me were watching. Even though it was tuned in, no one bothered to watch the TV in the afternoon, as monotonous news and documentaries from distant lands played.

    But I found it most fascinating. Even when I secretly watched videos on my phone under the blanket at night, I always watched travel videos to far-off places. Imagining myself traveling to those places someday.

    Could it be that I am now fulfilling the desires I had back then?

    It was a completely different sensation, the exhaustion of walking throughout the hospital even though my body was in pain, and the fatigue of exploring every nook and cranny of the temple today using my own feet.

    Overwhelmed by the pleasant tiredness I felt for the first time, I ate and immediately fell into a deep sleep after washing up.

    How much time had passed? I woke up again, got out of bed, and approached the window. The cool night air greeted me pleasantly through the open window.

    "I want to walk more."

    Despite having walked all day, I still wanted to walk more. Just in case Evelina''s consciousness returned at this very moment. And if I were to disappear. The thought of not being able to experience the sensation of walking with a healthy body again made me anxious.

    I wanted to walk alone on the path I saw outside the window a little while ago. In that serene place under the moonlight. I stopped in my tracks as I tried to open the door while wearing a suitable outer garment.

    "What should I do?"

    If I were to open the door and go out like this, the attendants who had been waiting for my command outside all day would immediately swarm around me.

    "Surely, just like in the novel..."

    A scene came to mind where Evelina would escape from the eyes of the people and engage in relationships with men within the temple. If that was the case, it meant there was a way for me to go out alone. I quickly examined Evelina''s memories.

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    "Hmm..."

    Fortunately, I soon discovered the method. Although I saw things I didn''t want to see along with it. The contents of the novel were not false. The fleeting memories that came to mind were all embarrassing things that made me immediately avert my gaze. The scenes in my memories were all set in different locations, and the faces of the men were different as well. It seemed that Evelina had lived a much more licentious life than what was written in the book.

    Even with just a cursory examination, several faces came to mind, and it was fearful to imagine how many more men would appear if I carefully sifted through the memories.

    "And, somehow, I feel sorry."

    The life Evelina had lived was her own private matter. Even though I had entered Evelina''s body, I felt sorry for glimpsing such explicit memories. It felt as if I were reading someone else''s diary without permission.

    "But then again, I can''t just pretend I didn''t see it."

    Evelina''s memories were the only thing I could rely on in this situation. When the day comes that the original owner of this body returns, even though it sounds absurd, I must apologize for having looked at her past memories without permission.

    With that thought in mind, I moved towards the inner room.

    The room known as the sanctuary was more like a palace than just a room. It was connected by countless rooms and corridors. I continued walking deeper inside under the radiance created by sacred light. And I opened the door of the room at the end of the corridor.

    [Creak] The sound accompanied as I entered into the room, revealing the appearance of a neatly arranged small room. At first glance, it seemed like a place to rest for a moment. The walls were adorned with several paintings and a large mirror, and a large wardrobe stood in one corner.

    Behind the paintings, behind the mirror, and behind the wardrobe, there were passageways connecting them all. I didn''t know who and for what purpose these passageways were made, but Evelina used these passages to move around the temple, avoiding people''s gaze.

    "I wonder if there''s a passage leading outside the temple."

    Inquisitively, I delved into my memories, but it seemed there was nothing of that sort to be found. Nonetheless, I approached the mirror first and foremost. Upon beholding my reflection in the mirror, a peculiar sensation overcame me. Although the one moving and thinking was me, the body I saw belonged not to myself, but to Evelina. My actions would appear as Evelina''s actions in the eyes of others.

    The fact did not evoke sadness or sorrow, but rather an uncanny feeling.

    Why have I found myself within the world of a book? And why in Evelina''s body, of all forms? As I gazed at my reflection in the mirror for a considerable length of time, a shiver crept up my spine.

    "First... the passage connected to the mirror leads to the sponsor."

    With a slight push, I examined the mirror, revealing a small door that could only be entered by stooping down. Well, to call it a door was somewhat debatable. It resembled a mere drawing of a golden line on the wall, with no visible handle. No one else would ever be able to open this door. And rightly so...

    I raised my hand to touch the door. Suddenly, a complex pattern of unknown blue light swiftly appeared on the entire surface of the door, only to vanish in an instant along with the light itself.

    "Wow..."

    It was like magic one would witness in cartoons or movies. Experiencing it firsthand with my own eyes was a first, and the fact that I had wielded such power was astonishing.

    "In the book, it seemed to respond only to the powers of a saint... but..."

    A peculiar thought crossed my mind in an instant.

    "Was Evelina not a false saint after all?"

 Chapter 13 - Telekinesis

    Chapter 13 - Telekinesis

    In the final pages of the two books I read, Evelina''s true identity as a fake saint is exposed, leading to her being subjected to trial. Yet, why does this door, which only responds to the power of a saint, open in response to Evelina''s power?

    "Come to think of it... When did her power completely vanish?"

    Upon reflecting on the contents of the book, I realized that Evelina had never been deprived of her power to the point of being called a fake saint. Could it be that she is now a true saint?

    Standing in front of the passage, I gazed at the hand that had touched the door moments ago. The radiant blue glow that had lingered for a while had completely vanished.

    Behind the mirror, there was no light illuminating the passage. If I hadn''t seen it several times in Evelina''s memories, I wouldn''t have even considered walking through it.

    "The path behind the mirror leads to the courtyard, the path behind the painting leads to the central square, and the path behind the wardrobe connects to the entrance of the temple."

    In case I had to use different paths like today, I made sure to keep the information from Evelina''s memories stored in my mind. It didn''t take long for me to come face to face with a wall. Just as I had touched the door that could be called a wall within the room, I placed my palm on this wall. In an instant, the dark wall that had blocked my way disappeared, revealing the lush scenery of the courtyard.

    After walking out of the passage and turning back, I noticed that the entrance had been formed in a corner of the courtyard''s wall. Shortly after I emerged, it transformed back into the appearance of a wall. Curious to see if my power would work properly this time, I raised my hand, and as the blue glow returned, the wall vanished, revealing the passage. Stepping back, the wall returned to its original state.

    Having confirmed that there were no issues with the way back to the room, I walked through the courtyard at a leisurely pace.

    The sounds of crying birds echoed from various places, and the buzzing of grasshoppers filled the air. It felt more comforting than frightening. Even though I was alone in the room, I always felt as though people were waiting for me outside, making me feel watched.

    "Now I feel somewhat alive."

    Throughout the day, there were too many eyes observing me. At first, it was intriguing and pleasant, but soon it became tiring.

    When I was in the hospital, I was no different from the furniture there. Always present, taken for granted, with no one paying much attention to my existence. But if I were absent, someone would ask where I had gone, at the very least.

    Having grown accustomed to such a position, whenever my pace slowed even slightly or I showed interest in something, people around me would react, creating a subtle feeling within me.

    As I breathed in the night air, filled with the scent of trees, my mind became slightly at ease. Walking along the deserted path in the courtyard for quite some time, my previously dizzy head began to calm down.

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    Embracing the tranquillity of the night, I strolled through the courtyard, relishing the serenity. However, after a while, my soles started to ache again. After surveying my surroundings, I found a nearby bench and reclined upon it. A refreshing breeze brushed against my face as it passed by. The sky above was brimming with stars, as though they were about to pour down. In response, a soft laughter escaped my lips.

    "There are two moons tonight."

    I found myself here, witnessing with my own eyes the realization that many novels I had read on the hospital bed served as devices to depict a world different from reality. After gazing at the two moons and the star-filled sky for quite some time, I decided to lie down and lift my legs, causing my long, slender white legs to be revealed beneath the moonlight as my clothes, which happened to be nightwear, slid down gracefully.

    Having walked all day long and still walking now, I could feel a slight ache in my legs.

    "I tried to walk more because I found the pain intriguing, but perhaps I should only indulge in it until tonight. I can''t possibly walk like this every day, no matter how enjoyable and exciting it may be. Besides, it is not my body subject to arbitrary torment."

    Raising myself slightly and gently pressing the slightly swollen leg, I was taken aback when my gaze fell upon the inner side of my thigh.

    "What is this?"

    There was a strange mark on the inside of my thigh¡ªa bluish mark the size of just a thumbnail. It was too large and distinct to be a bug bite. I briefly wondered if it was a mark left behind from Evelina''s encounters with men, but it had a completely different shape compared to the other marks on my body.

    "The others are not as round as this."

    It looked as if someone deliberately pressed a round object to create the mark. Even one mark would be strange, but there were three in a row. It was evident that someone intentionally made these marks.

    Curious, I delved into Evelina''s memories, but nothing came to mind. A disconcerting feeling brushed against the back of my throat. Was the lack of memory about this a sign that there was no need to remember or that I didn''t want to remember?

    "I want to erase it."

    With that thought in mind, I pressed the mark with my hand. Naturally, it did not disappear. Feeling increasingly uneasy about its persistent presence, I applied more force, rubbing it vigorously. At that moment, a blue light flickered at my fingertips.

    Startled by the sudden light, I raised my hand, and the light disappeared instantly.

    "Telekinesis."

    Telekinesis, it seemed, was easier to use than I had thought.

    "Come to think of it, I have never properly used telekinesis before."

    Since entering this body, I had never used telekinesis. It was only a moment ago, when I opened and closed the passage to come here, that I witnessed telekinesis functioning properly.

    "Why didn''t I think of using it before?"

    According to the book, Iris'' telekinesis would diminish after a year of awakening and she would no longer be able to use it after coming to the Great Temple. Of course, it was only natural at present since there was neither a major battle nor an ongoing ceremony. But the fact that I had never attempted to use telekinesis until now was peculiar.

    "I should have used it right away."

    With that thought in mind, as I delved into Evelina''s memories, I bit my lip. Just like when I tried to recall the mark on my thigh, I couldn''t see anything. No, it was not just a lack of recollection; it felt like an even deeper darkness. It was as if telekinesis had firmly decided not to reside within me.

    "Why is this happening?"

 Chapter 14 - Escort

    Evelina was the one who declared herself a Saint until the moment of her death. Why, then, did she never attempt to think about telekinesis?

    "There are many strange aspects."

    Both this mark and telekinesis. The contents of the book were mostly filled with Iris'' story, the protagonist. Detailed accounts of Evelina were mostly about her misdeeds. Therefore, there was no mention of these things anywhere.

    Perhaps if I continued to make an effort to recall, something would come to mind. That was what I was thinking at that moment.

    "Saint, there you are!"

    Suddenly, the voice of a strange man echoed through the air. Startled, I turned towards the source of the sound and found a man dressed in the attire of a clergyman standing there.

    "You are..."

    "Apologies for the belated introduction. I am here under the command of High Priest Karus, to escort the Lady."

    The man spoke these words and then knelt before me, placing one knee on the ground. With the mention of the name Karus, I could discern his true identity. It seemed that he had misunderstood my request to Karus not to send any more men and had gone ahead to insert another one. The man continued speaking.

    "I noticed that the lights were off in the room, and I contemplated whether to turn back. However, I recalled what I had heard from those who had previously escorted the Lady. They mentioned that you enjoy activities in the sanctuary. Taking a slight risk, I ventured here secretly... only to find that you were also present. This must undoubtedly be a sign from the divine, guiding me to you, Lady."

    I observed the chattering man. It was evident that his appearance was far from that of a clergyman, as his hair was excessively long. Additionally, I could catch glimpses of civilian clothing underneath his clerical robe. In fact, even without those details, he appeared far too refined to be a clergyman. Pressing my aching temples, I extended my hand towards him.

    "Please, leave."

    "What do you mean by that?"

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    "Exactly as I said. Please leave promptly. Deliver my message to Karus that I do not wish for any more people to be sent."

    Upon hearing my words, the man became flustered and quickly raised his head.

    "That is impossible."

    Abruptly, the man approached me and grasped my ankle firmly.

    "What are you...!"

    "I can satisfy the Lady far better than those who came before. Please, do not reject me so easily."

    As he spoke, he used his hand to stroke the inside of my thigh. The sensation sent shivers down my spine, and I instinctively tried to kick him away. However, his grip on my ankle remained steadfast.

    "I have heard stories. I have heard that the men you summoned before often left them dumbfounded. Many returned without achieving anything. But I am different from those hapless fools."

    After uttering these words, the man reached over and spread my legs apart. Before I could protest, he forcefully inserted himself between them. Looking at me, he spoke again.

    "I cannot let this opportunity, bestowed upon me through High Priest Karus, go to waste. I am determined to satisfy the Lady and, in return, receive her benevolence like others before me."

    As he spoke, the man licked his lips with a lascivious expression. Revulsion coursed through my body. At that moment, thoughts of being a lady or a saint ceased to matter. I grabbed a handful of the man''s hair and shouted.

    "Get out! There''s no one here! This... village!"

    Upon hearing my scream, the man quickly covered my mouth with a startled expression.

    "Why, why are you acting this way? If you truly detest it, you could have punished me with your divine power. The fact that you haven''t done anything until now means that even you desire me, Lady."

    I still didn''t know how to use that divine power!

    With my mouth forcibly covered by the man''s hand, I screamed once again. Simultaneously, I swung my hands and legs frantically, striking the man''s body. That was the moment.

    [Crack!]

    The man who had been on top of me suddenly let out a groan and released his grip on my mouth. Simultaneously, his body soared into the air and collided with a tree in the sanctuary, far away.

    [Thunk!]

    How forcefully he was thrown. The branch that collided with the man made a loud crack, and the man, too, fell to the ground and rolled. Who could have thrown this man? As I turned my head, my breath caught.

    The black eyes that I had seen during the day were now looking directly at me.

    "Latvan?"

    One of the male protagonists of this world. A paladin who serves Iris. Latvan stood there before me.

 Chapter 15 - Darkness

    In the daylight, from a distance, I had merely thought of him as a striking individual. That was the extent of my perception. But now, with Latvan standing before me, I found myself unable to catch my breath. It was as if a mighty steel sword had transformed into a man. I beheld towering height, necessitating a tilt of my head, and broad shoulders resembling colossal walls. Donned in the white vestments of the Temple Knights, his physique was unmistakably honed beneath the garment. Simultaneously, I noticed his thick forearms and large hands. Hands so immense that they could easily crush my head with a single grasp.

    For a prolonged moment, I gazed at him, my thoughts seemingly frozen. My gaze gradually shifted back to his face. Only then did I truly discern it. The intense disdain embedded within Latvan''s gaze directed towards me.

    "Ah..."

    His raw, unguarded emotions were impossible to conceal. In response to that gaze, I instinctively recoiled. Yet, it was futile, for the backrest of the bench hindered any further retreat.

    As I stared at him, he, too, scrutinized me. Then, with a firm expression, he averted his gaze. It was as though he had witnessed something he ought not to have seen. I hastened to observe my own appearance.

    "Good heavens."

    Without needing to ask about his expression, I clearly understood. The hem of my nightgown, which had ridden up as I anxiously climbed up the stairs before the man''s arrival, was even more crumpled, clinging to me tightly. Consequently, my legs were fully exposed under the moonlight, revealing the obvious marks that adorned them.

    Quickly adjusting the hem of my gown, Latvan finally spoke, turning his head.

    "I would prefer it if you were not visible."

    Those were the first words he uttered to me. His low voice, piercing through the night air, laid bare the disdain that his gaze had conveyed.

    Not visible, I pondered. Did he mean for me to remain unseen by his eyes or to conceal this aspect of myself from others? In truth, it mattered little which interpretation was correct.

    In that moment, upon hearing his voice, I realized how naively presumptuous my notion of forming amicable relationships with the male protagonists had been.

    The Latvan I had encountered in books was an honorable knight, faithfully serving the gods and cherishing his honor. Yet, Evelina had reduced him to a laughingstock in front of everyone. Perhaps, to Latvan, his entire life had been nothing but a subject of ridicule. And now, would my endeavors to change that make any difference?

    Latvan would never forgive Evelina.

    Just then, the man who had collided with a tree and fell emitted a groan. Regaining my composure, I rose from my seat. Then, I inclined my head towards Latvan.

    "Thank you for your assistance."

    "..."

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    Whatever the circumstance, certain words needed to be spoken. Naturally, I did not expect a response from him, nor did I anticipate one. He would not be inclined to engage in any further conversation with me.

    "If it weren''t for Commander Latvan, something unpleasant might have happened..."

    ¡°It was not an inconvenience, I assure you."

    He interrupted me, his tone remaining chilly.

    "Next time, please rely solely on your magical abilities. It would not be a stretch to wonder if you have even forgotten how to utilize them, given your current display."

    His words left me breathless.

    The contents of the book resurfaced in my mind. The moment Evelina realized her magic had vanished, without a moment''s hesitation, Latvan aimed his sword at her back. The longsword on her back had been crafted by Latvan himself.

    With those arms, with those hands, this man will kill me.

    In that instant, a future before me plunged into darkness.

    ***

    "Captain!"

    The knights of the Holy Temple order were startled when they saw Latvan entering the order''s building unexpectedly, as if he had taken over the evening guard duty. To their surprise, he had brought along an unknown man with him.

    At first sight of the man wearing priestly robes, everyone gasped in astonishment. However, it didn''t take long for Latvan to realize that the man thrown at him was not a priest. In that instant, the knights'' bodies stiffened with tension. The building of the order was filled with an intense atmosphere, as if someone would draw their sword at any moment. A non-priest pretending to be a priest and entering the Holy Temple was a grave offense. They needed to apprehend him immediately, verify his identity, and thoroughly investigate his purpose and how he managed to enter the temple. But Latvan''s command to simply release him by morning was perplexing.

    Just then, one of the knights examined the fallen man and muttered, as if understanding something.

    "He has a peculiarly half-and-half face."

    The expression on the knights'' faces froze. It was no secret within the order that the maiden would lure men of dubious character every night for her own amusement. Most likely, this man was one of those men. When they realized this, the knights understood why Latvan ordered them to let him go without further questioning.

    After all, if the man was someone a high-ranking priest offered to the maiden, there would be no point in exposing him. No, it was more likely that he had come to the order to exert unnecessary pressure, hoping to keep his own actions hidden.

    One of the knights spoke to Latvan.

    "Wouldn''t it be better to interrogate him?"

    In response, Latvan asked with a retort.

    "Why should we?"

    Everyone present here already knew the man''s true identity. Latvan wanted an explanation as to why they had to go through such trouble.

    Scratching his head, the knight answered.

    "Surely this man won''t be able to keep his mouth shut for even ten minutes. We will find out who I am, how I managed to enter with the help of a high-ranking priest, and what my purpose was. So, after finishing the interrogation, if we tie him up in front of the temple along with the record, everyone passing by during the night will be well aware of what happened in the temple."

    The knight''s face was filled with a mocking smile. It was a derisive laugh directed at the maiden who had brought this man inside.

    ¡°So, what do we gain from all this?"

    "What?"

    "What do we gain from it? And if we check him thoroughly, he will most likely have a temporary pass to the Great Temple. He probably wore the priestly robes for some absurd reason. Then the priests involved will frantically protect him. Nothing has gone missing, and no one is injured..."

 Chapter 16 - Insulting

    When Latvan paused for a moment, the knights stared at him as if questioning why he was asking such a thing.

    "Anyway, we might be able to charge him with a minor offense. Is the only thing left to laugh at the temple?"

    The knight who had suggested tying up the man outside and leaving him replied with a determined face.

    "At the very least, we can mock him, can''t we?"

    "People will know that this woman is doing such things..."

    "Sidel."

    At Latvan''s cold voice, the knight named Sidel fell silent.

    "Be careful with your words. When you entered the Holy Temple order, you took an oath."

    "...."

    Sidel''s face contorted. Latvan called him again.

    "Sidel."

    It was a prompt for him to answer quickly.

    "Understood. I will be more cautious in my words and actions regarding the maiden."

    Sidel bowed his head before Latvan, uttering those words and promptly left. The other knights standing nearby shook their heads upon witnessing Sidel''s departure.

    "Please understand, Sir. Sidel is particularly..."

    Sidel was a knight of the sacred temple who revered Latvan more than anyone else. The knights often joked that Sidel had joined this place solely to serve Latvan. That''s why, upon hearing the news that Latvan had humiliated himself in front of the saint like a dog, Sidel seemed ready to kill the saint at that very moment.

    However, it was unthinkable for Latvan, who had just suffered a disgraceful insult, to admonish Sidel about showing respect towards the saint.

    "I entrust the handling of that man to you."

    "Fear not. I will wake him up and send him away as soon as dawn breaks."

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    Upon hearing the response, Latvan turned his body.

    He walked along the corridor for quite some time, heading towards his office located at the far end. Upon opening the door to his opulent office, he was met with an equally resplendent ceiling and walls adorned with intricate carvings. However, the dazzling sight ended there. Inside the office, there was nothing but a desk, a chair, and a single bookshelf and drawer. The small room adjacent to it housed only a low table and a few chairs for occasional visitors.

    It was desolate to the point that anyone would mistake it for an empty room.

    Even when the knights or the temple officials who visited this place suggested that Latvan should decorate his office more, he refused them all. Anything that was not absolutely necessary was considered a luxury that the knights of the temple should distance themselves from.

    Latvan took off his outer robe and hung it on the coat hanger before settling down in the chair in front of the table. Unusually, he sank deep into the chair. Then, he wiped his face with his hands.

    "What was it?"

    The face of the saint he had seen in the sanctuary kept swirling in his mind.

    Ever since their eyes met in the central square during the day, his mind had not been at ease.

    While he thought he needed to maintain composure, the events of that day kept replaying in his mind¡ªthe day the saint deliberately insulted him.

    As a result, he volunteered to take over the night guard duty from the knights who went out for patrol. He hoped that walking alone would bring him some peace of mind.

    As he walked alone inside the temple, he found himself heading towards the sanctuary, a place he would usually avoid. He wanted to walk in a quieter place away from the bustling crowds. It was then that he heard the voices of the saint and the man, and he instantly regretted his choice.

    He would have immediately left the sanctuary if he hadn''t heard the voice of the saint calling out to the people. If it weren''t for that, he would have quickly left the sanctuary.

    After throwing the man who had been on top of the saint, the saint stared at him for a long time. Latvan felt something strange in her gaze. It was as if she was looking at him as if they were meeting for the first time. In that gaze, the scorn that had always been directed towards him was nowhere to be seen. Because of that, Latvan met her gaze without avoiding it.

    Is the person in front of me really Saint Evelina?

    [Sigh]

    Latvan let out a sigh, lowering his head. His mind seemed to be in turmoil lately. How foolish of him to indulge in such futile thoughts.

    Latvan stood up and went to his desk. A few documents awaiting his attention caught his eye. His narrowed gaze fell upon the topmost document.

    "Protection of the Prayer Assembly..."

    Naturally, it was the duty of the Knight Commander to ensure the saint''s protection right by her side. However, this year, it was almost certain that he would be assigned a different task for the prayer assembly. As expected, the document was not about the saint''s protection, but rather a request for Latvan to oversee the entire management of the prayer assembly.

    What should I do?

    Latvan stared at the document for a long time. He didn''t leave his desk until the morning sun rose.

 Chapter 18 - Command

    Preparing for the prayer ceremony was not the only thing I did. I also replaced the people that Evelina had chosen. Just to be sure, before making the final change, I met them personally. They were all unsuitable, even without delving into Evelina''s memories. When I went to meet them, they were all heavily intoxicated in their rooms within the temple.

    "How did Evelina manage to choose only such people for appointments?"

    It was as if she intentionally and deliberately tried to ruin the prayer ceremony.

    "Are you listening to me!"

    No, I wasn''t listening.

    But I couldn''t bring myself to say that, so I simply nodded my head. In response to my attitude, Karus raised his voice even louder.

    "You cannot treat me like this! Do you know how hard I''ve worked for the tasks you secretly entrusted to me, more than anyone else!"

    By shouting so loudly, it seemed that those tasks would no longer remain secret.

    "Priest Karus, I distinctly told you not to bring those people into the temple."

    "But..."

    "Yet, you ignored my words and recklessly brought an outsider into the temple. And that person has...committed a grave impudence toward me."

    I didn''t want to utter the words that he had tried to force himself onto Evelina, even though it disgusted me. Perhaps Karus noticed that my voice was growing stiffer. He closed his mouth.

    "You...remember well how much I''ve worked for you."

    Inviting men into Evelina''s bed was considered an effort. In my heart, I wanted to immediately imprison Karus in the underground dungeon, but I couldn''t do that. After all, it was a fact that Evelina had joined hands with Karus and spent lustful nights with unfamiliar men. It was not something that would disappear just because I put in the effort to erase it.

    "Then I must handle it quietly."

    Of course, I had to deal with Karus. But not loudly, not without paying a heavy price. At least until Iris appeared, I planned to keep his mouth shut.

    I commanded Karus, who was still resisting, with suppressed anger.

    "Priest Karus, pick up any paper on that table."

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    "What useless..."

    "Do not make me say it twice. I no longer have the patience for you."

    Karus effortlessly mustered a cold voice. Whether he recognized the change or not, he obediently followed my instructions as I watched him pick up the paper.

    "Read the first line."

    "What useless nonsense... as the gods gaze upon this land, human suffering overflows in every corner..."

    When he reached that point, I stood up and snatched the paper from his hand, tossing it aside.

    "Now, continue from here."

    "What are you saying? How can I continue without looking..."

    "Karus, acolyte. Every prayer written on that paper is intended for use in the prayer ceremony. As the saint, it is expected of me to memorize them, and the chief acolyte assisting me should do the same. However..."

    I gazed at the desk where dozens of prayers lay.

    "Is there even a single prayer among those here that you can recite from beginning to end?"

    "..."

    Karus remained speechless. There was no way he could have memorized any of them. He hung his head, his shoulders trembling, as if not even attempting to hide his frustration.

    "I won''t pretend that I am unaware of the effort you have put in thus far. Therefore, it is imperative that you acquire a level of proficiency that doesn''t disappoint..."

    "It''s unnecessary."

    Suddenly, the papers scattered in front of us. Karus had thrown them to the floor in a fit of rage. His eyes, bloodshot and sinister, stared me down. While grinding his teeth, he spoke.

    "You will deeply regret not choosing me as the chief acolyte, Your Holiness."

    After uttering those words, Karus promptly left without even glancing back. The priests standing at the door were startled as the door swung open, but he paid them no mind, simply marching away with heavy steps.

    I quietly observed his retreating figure and then lowered my head. It seemed best to tidy up the papers that had fallen to the ground before the other priests entered and made a fuss.

    "I made a mistake by attempting to clear this up quietly."

    I had tried to offer Karus an appropriate reward and send him away, but it appeared that his ambition exceeded my expectations.

    While tidying up the papers, one caught my eye, not containing prayers.

    "This is..."

    It was a document regarding the security concerns of the prayer gathering. It stated that Latvan would be temporarily absent from his duty as the saint''s personal guard for the day.

    "I expected this much."

    Naturally, I knew that Latvan would not serve as personal guard. In fact, it would be odd if he stood by Evelina''s side as if he had no other responsibilities. He had experienced humiliation, and there had been incidents during the sponsorship. I had taken the man who collided with the tree and brought him along, so I knew who he was and why he had come.

    Still, a feeling of disappointment washed over me.

    No matter how hard you try from now on, the future will not change.

    It felt as if someone was whispering those words.

 Chapter 19 - Rumors

    The hours swiftly passed, and the morning of the prayer gathering approached.

    "Quite a commotion since dawn. Did you sleep well, my lady?" The attendant who came to wake me asked, and I responded with a wry smile, nodding my head. The expression on the attendants'' faces indicated that they all knew well enough.

    While others may have slept soundly, I had spent the entire night with restless eyes. The clamor of the people gathered in front of the temple had reached my ears even in the early hours of the morning. When I inquired with the attendants, they informed me that many people had come from the far reaches of the continent, eagerly awaiting the prayer gathering.

    "It is an event that everyone wishes to attend at least once in a lifetime."

    "I heard that many people have come, carrying young children or elderly parents nearing the end of their lives."

    "There is fierce competition to receive your blessing personally at the final central square."

    Every day, as the attendants relayed the news, my heart grew heavier. I could increasingly sense the magnitude of this prayer gathering.

    "Please come this way."

    Guided by the attendants, I made my way to the bathroom, where dozens of people were already waiting for me. An hour later, I emerged, completely cleansed and dressed in ceremonial attire. As I saw my reflection in the mirror, transforming into an increasingly perfect image of the holy maiden, an involuntary sigh escaped my lips.

    Until yesterday, I had convinced myself that I would do well.

    "Up until now, I have met only a limited number of people in restricted places..."

    Lying in the hospital bed in the real world, I had never experienced anything like this before. Even with the strength drawn from Evelina''s memories, the thought of standing before thousands, or even tens of thousands of people and successfully completing this performance filled me with an overwhelming tension.

    Unpleasant images kept flooding my mind. Suddenly, the gathering crowd would cry out, "She''s a fraud!" Such were the imaginations that plagued me.

    While I struggled to avoid the looming death two years from now, if my efforts were to change Evelina''s future, could it not also worsen unexpectedly? In that case, would it be better to quietly await death?

    I found myself sinking deeper into these thoughts, only to snap out of it and lift my head.

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    "I must succeed."

    It seemed that the impending magnitude of the task had caused my heart to become tense. Ever since I possessed this body, I had managed to carry out everything flawlessly, without any major mistakes. No one had yet discovered that I was not Evelina. With that in mind, I pressed my fingertips firmly together. Then, my gaze met the eyes of one of the attendants. She looked at my actions, nodded reassuringly, and said,

    "Do not worry too much. Last year''s gathering ended safely, so there should be no major issues this year either."

    It was apparent that my nervousness was showing. Sensing that my secret had been exposed, I averted my gaze in silence. The attendant left the room momentarily and returned with a cup of tea in hand.

    "Although it would be preferable for you to refrain from consuming anything, taking a warm sip may help ease your tension."

    "Thank you."

    In truth, I had been observing a light fast for the prayer gathering since last night. I accepted the tea brought by the attendant and took a careful sip, ensuring not to smudge my makeup. A warm sensation spread through my body, and my trembling hands finally steadied.

    "This is only the beginning."

    Until Elysia arrived at the temple and became the holy maiden, many events would transpire for Evelina. Although this prayer gathering might be the largest in scale, it was accompanied by numerous troublesome and stifling matters. Yet, there was no retreating from this position.

    "I can do this."

    Repeatedly making that determination in my heart, I was about to ask, driven by curiosity when one of the attendants approached me cautiously and spoke.

    "My lady, if you are willing, perhaps we could make some adjustments to the schedule of the prayer gathering."

    "Adjustments? What do you mean by changing anything?"

    This couldn''t be happening. I had memorized and practiced the schedule of the prayer gathering for the past few days, only to be told on the morning of the event that there would be sudden changes?

    "For starters, we could omit the prayer of blessings to the crowd at the central square..."

    I swallowed my breath at those words. The conclusion of the prayer gathering involved the Saint proceeding to the central square and offering a prayer of blessing to the ordinary people who gathered at the temple. In fact, it was one of the most important events of this ceremony. Yet they were skipping this schedule? However, the attending priests seemed to react as if relieved by those words. I hardened my face and asked,

    "What has happened?"

    His expression upon entering, his hushed voice while conversing with other priests, it was clear that something had indeed occurred.

    As I inquired, he wore a troubled expression.

    "Do not conceal it, speak up."

    "That...," he hesitated, then closed his eyes tightly before continuing, "Rumors have spread among the people who were waiting in front of the Great Temple."

    "Rumors?"

    "The Saint... daily... with certain men... within the temple..."

 Chapter 17 - The Prayers

    The preparations for the prayer meeting proceeded smoothly, as expected. It was only natural. The main obstacle to the preparation of the prayer meeting was the Holy Maiden.

    The person who should have taken the lead in overseeing and taking care of the event had abandoned all responsibilities and had not emerged from her room. It seemed that the priests had been greatly disappointed by her absence.

    "And when the Lord said, ''When you are at your most weary... Are you all right, Holy Maiden?"

    The priest who had been reciting the prayers before me cautiously inquired, examining my face. I knew why she was asking.

    "Evelina must have grown tired of it by now and left."

    In Evelina''s memories, there was the image of last year''s prayer meeting. The prayers she had to recite during the two-day event were extensive. Last year, Evelina grew tired during the review of the prayers and returned to her room. She declared that she would not continue. It was only natural that the priests were in a frenzy.

    "We managed to get through last year somehow, as we were near the end... but..."

    This year, Evelina didn''t even begin the task of reviewing the prayers. That''s why the priests seemed worried that she might object or refuse to participate, as she did last year.

    "If you are tired, would you like to rest for a while before continuing?"

    The priest who examined my face asked again, now with a face that seemed on the verge of tears. I nodded slightly in response to the priest''s inquiry. Then the priest quickly rang a bell and summoned the attending priests. After that, he ordered them to prepare refreshments.

    "Please rest comfortably until the refreshments are ready. I will return shortly."

    Perhaps they were afraid of staying here and facing any kind of reaction from the Holy Maiden. The priest who had been reviewing the prayers bid farewell and hurriedly left the room.

    Considering whether I should say I''m okay, I leaned against the sofa behind me and closed my eyes.

    "I am indeed tired."

    The preparations are proceeding smoothly. It is akin to saying that they are progressing at an insane pace. My daily schedule is tightly organized in chronological order. None of them are unimportant. Among them, reviewing the prayers was the most important task.

    "I was astonished when I was first told that I had to memorize all of this."

    When I saw the thickness of the papers piled on the desk, I genuinely became flabbergasted, shifting my gaze alternately between the priests and the papers. It was by no means an amount that a person could memorize within two weeks. No, what is two weeks? In reality, there were less than ten days left for preparation.

    The priests seemed to know that it was an impossible task, as they bowed their heads and asked if it was possible for me to do what I could. However, while reviewing the prayers, I discovered something new.

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    "Evelina had memorized more than I thought."

    When I was first told that I had to memorize all of those, I seriously contemplated whether I should endure it without resistance, like Evelina. But when the priest started reading the prayers that he had brought, I felt puzzled. The prayers that should have been unfamiliar flowed smoothly off my tongue.

    But it didn''t end with just reading the words. Evelina''s body clearly remembered most of those prayers. Thus, the preparation was quickly completed.

    "When did she memorize all of this?"

    An old memory of Evelina came to mind. In that memory, Evelina''s body was very small. And the priests around her seemed unusually large. It seemed that it was a memory from a time when she was very young. In that memory, Evelina spent the entire day sitting at a desk, writing prayers.

    "Did she remember it from when she was young?"

    According to the book, Evelina had entered the temple at a fairly young age and had undergone the ceremony of becoming the Holy Maiden. She must have diligently fulfilled her duties as a Holy Maiden and received teachings at that time. In any case, I thought it was fortunate. However, just as I was thinking that, I heard a loud noise from beyond the door.

    "I must meet the Holy Maiden!"

    It was a voice that was not unfamiliar. And it was also an extremely unpleasant voice. Soon after, there was a hurried knocking on the door, and the priests called out to me.

    "Holy Maiden, Priest Karus wishes to meet you."

    Should I send them away like this? That thought crossed my mind. However, I quickly shook my head. I had a feeling that not meeting this Priest Karus would cause even bigger problems.

    "Please come in."

    "Understood. Then... Oops!"

    The moment the voice of the Chief Priest, Pyeongsin-gwan, from outside ceased, the door swung open with a harsh creak. Soon after, Priest Karus entered the room with a heavy thud. Other priests tried to follow behind him.

    "Everyone, please leave."

    "But, Your Holiness..."

    "Now, please."

    In the face of a resolute command, the other priests hesitated, not knowing what to do, before leaving and leaving a message, "If you have any orders, please summon us." Once the priests disappeared, Karus immediately raised his voice.

    "How can you treat me like this!"

    His outcry wrinkled his face.

    "How impudent."

    Unbeknownst to me, that thought crossed my mind. Karus was a senior priest. While he might not hold a high position within the temple, he certainly did not have the authority to raise his voice at the Saint. Moreover, knowing that his voice would be heard outside, it was quite reckless. It seemed that this man needed to be dismissed as soon as possible.

    "What are you saying?"

    As I pondered how I could possibly remove Priest Karus, his face contorted.

    "Are you really asking me because you don''t know? Didn''t you seat someone else in the vacant position of Chief Priest for this prayer ceremony?"

    He was right. In the absence of a Chief Priest who could hardly perform temple duties due to illness, I appointed another senior priest instead of Karus. It was not a random decision. I searched through Evelina''s memories and found a senior priest who had constantly advised her, even when she openly disregarded and expelled him to the corner of the temple. Despite everything, he continued to send her letters every day, without giving up.

    When I appointed her as the Acting Chief Priest, the other priests around were astonished. I could see from their expressions that they thought, "This can''t be right." If it were the usual Evelina, she would never have made such an appointment, and everyone would have had that expression. If Evelina''s soul were truly within me, she would have certainly appointed Karus as the Acting Chief Priest.

    "In the book, it clearly states that the prayer ceremony ended as the worst in history due to the appointment of inadequate priests."

 Chapter 20 - Taking Step Forward

    After uttering those words, the priest lowered his head deeply. Goodness gracious. I touched my forehead, understanding perfectly well what kind of rumors were circulating outside.

    "Not mere rumors."

    Evelina had indeed engaged in such actions. But why, of all times, did it have to be today when these rumors reached the lips of the people? Why, precisely now!

    "And so, the atmosphere is rather unpleasant," he said.

    "Rather?"

    Could it be otherwise? The priests, who would make a big fuss over the slightest omission during the ceremony, were suggesting that the most vital procedure be skipped. It meant that the external atmosphere was truly unfavorable.

    "This ''rather'' implies that the most important ritual of the prayer gathering cannot be performed."

    "......"

    "What exactly is happening outside?"

    "That..," he faltered, and I gestured to the surrounding priests to leave us alone. Once we were alone in the room, I spoke to him again.

    "Tell me what you''ve heard. I have no intention of blaming you."

    "A malicious rumor has spread among the crowd. Some individuals are attributing their own illnesses and misfortunes to the Saint''s actions, claiming that she has displeased the gods... so they intend to..."

    ¡°Cause harm to her."

    "Indeed. It seems certain that the sectarians at the far end of the continent are intentionally spreading the rumor. Or perhaps it could be the sorcerers. Even if we scrutinize the individuals entering the central square, it would be difficult to prevent those who are determined to hide something. If someone were to emerge wielding a weapon and intending harm to the Saint... moreover, with the absence of the Lord Latvan this year, it is even more dangerous..."

    As the priest spoke, he hurriedly closed his mouth. It seemed he was surprised by the name that slipped out unintentionally. It was not surprising for him to be startled since Evelina had reacted so sensitive to the mention of Latvan.

    "But what should we do?"

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    If they were resorting to such extreme measures to dissuade attendance, then the atmosphere must be extremely hostile.

    "At this rate, Evelina is already solidifying her notorious reputation."

    The incident of insulting Latvan had already spread beyond the boundaries of the temple. This prayer gathering had become the catalyst for her infamous reputation to swiftly spread throughout the entire continent.

    Everything before me was shrouded in darkness. Whether I attended this prayer gathering or not, would it ultimately unfold according to the contents of the book?

    At that moment, someone whispered inside me.

    "Why do you strive so fervently to alter the future?"

    Once, I died. The life that I have awakened to in Evelina''s body is like an unexpected gift that I never anticipated.

    Then, wouldn''t it be enough to just stay still until the end comes?

    If nothing will change no matter what I do, perhaps it''s alright to leave things as they are. After all, there are still two years until Evelina''s death. Compared to the time spent in the hospital, unable to do anything, these two years with a healthy body would be nothing short of paradise.

    "Your Grace..."

    I lifted my head at the voice of the priest. He was waiting for my decision.

    If I skip the final step of stepping forward in front of the people, there wouldn''t be much for me to participate in during the prayer ceremony. No, in fact, I wouldn''t need to attend the prayer ceremony at all.

    "In the book, Evelina refused to attend the prayer ceremony, citing poor health."

    Because of that, I became known as the saint who abandoned her duty throughout the entire continent. However, that didn''t mean Evelina was immediately facing a threat to her life. Until Iris appears, Evelina lives as a saint within the temple. Therefore, even if I choose not to do any of this and live exactly as the novel describes, there wouldn''t be any issues.

    So, if I simply do nothing and wait comfortably for the end. If I quietly live according to the conclusion of the book.

    "No, I refuse."

    I didn''t want to live like that.

    If I were to live like that, I wouldn''t have needed to enter this body in the first place.

    As someone who has died once before, I am grateful for this opportunity given to me. And I had no intention of enjoying this fortune just as much as it was given. As long as this luck, which I might lose again at any time, is in my hands, I wanted to hold onto it for as long as possible.

    I walked forward and opened the door. All the gazes of the people outside were fixed on me. Through their midst, I saw a long and dark corridor, with no end in sight, where I had to walk. It seemed like the future I had to move towards.

    Now, I have to walk that path alone. That''s what I thought as I prepared to take a step forward.

    "I bid you farewell."

    Suddenly, along with a familiar voice, a large hand reached out.

 Chapter 21 - Remarkable

    I gazed slowly at his outstretched hand, then lifted my gaze. Standing before me, adorned  and impeccably dressed in resplendent white and golden attire, was Latvan. Momentarily struck by the presence of someone who had no place being here, I remained silent, simply observing him.

    "Why are you here?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

    Certainly, Latvan had declared that he would not be safeguarding the maiden at this prayer gathering. So why was he extending his hand to me?

    With a face devoid of expression, he inclined his head slightly and spoke.

    "It is my duty to protect the maiden."

    At that moment, I came to understand who Latvan truly was. Despite his disdain for the maiden and the ordeals he had endured, he had returned, determined to fulfill his duty to the very end.

    I looked up, meeting his gaze. He was still standing there, waiting for me to take his hand. His black eyes, unwavering, betrayed no hint of hesitation. Once again, the endless corridor came into view. After gazing at it for a while, I finally placed my hand upon his outstretched palm.

    Perhaps, someday, this hand would be the one to end my life and that of Evelina.

    I slowly grasped his fingertips, feeling a warmth beneath the cold fa?ade. Smiling gently towards him, I spoke.

    "I entrust myself to you, Sir Latvan."

    Even if the day came when he would kill me, it would be when we reached the end of this corridor.

    ***

    With a resounding blast of trumpets, the prayer ceremony commenced.

    The people rushed into the grand entrance of the Daesinjeon like a torrent in the morning. The usually tranquil central square had suddenly become packed with individuals, leaving no room to move one''s feet. It was no exaggeration to say that people from every nation on the continent had gathered here.

    There were those dressed in attire closest to the imperial fashion, as well as those clad in heavy fur garments that seemed unfit for the still cool season. On the other hand, there were individuals who appeared dressed in light clothing as if they were completely stripped.

    Amidst the clamor of people searching for their companions, cries filled the air. Some were already raising their voices, unable to contain their excitement.

    The commotion subsided only when the tolling bells announced the beginning of the first ceremony.

    "Remarkable."

    That was the only thought that crossed my mind as I observed the throngs gathered outside the closed windows.

    Even when I first laid eyes upon the grandeur of the Daesinjeon, I was astonished by its size, and learning the number of people who resided within it further exceeded my imagination. But now, I was astounded once again by the crowd that had filled it to the brim.

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    Those who attended this prayer gathering did not expect to receive money or material goods from the Daesinjeon. They were individuals who had come here willingly, investing their own money with overflowing faith in the divine.

    "To think that all these people came here of their own accord."

    I had never counted such a multitude before, and I couldn''t even begin to estimate their numbers. Recalling the vast crowds I had seen in the news and roughly calculating, the figure exceeded at least 100,000.

    "Moreover, there were even more people who couldn''t enter the Daesinjeon."

    That meant there were tens of thousands of people who attended this prayer gathering. Soon, the choir began to sing, and their voices spread among the people like waves. The sight of everyone united in song, singing a hymn known throughout the continent, was awe-inspiring.

    Observing everyone with solemn faces, eyes closed, singing in unison along with the hymn, made me reconsider the position of the gods, the saints, and the Daesinjeon in this world.

    "The absolute faith and reverence of those living on the continent."

    That was the prevailing sentiment among the people of the continent towards the saint. They might question why anyone would believe in gods that provided no practical help in their own lives, but at least in this world, the power of the gods was undoubtedly manifested.

    "It is said that demons appear in the lands of heretics."

    In the lands of those who do not serve the gods, demons constantly emerge. Although they also appear in the lands of the faithful, the difference in numbers is staggering, and each time, the Divine Knights venture there to vanquish the demons.

    "It is said that the swords of the knights are blessed by the divine clergy, as the demons despise divine power."

    I recalled the manifestation of divine power I witnessed when the secret passage was opened. Such a tangible display of unquestionable divine power made faith in the gods an absolute necessity in this world. Moreover, since that power was directly related to their lives, it became even more imperative.

    Evelina, in particular, struck me as truly remarkable.

    People tend to conform to the expectations of those around them. I, too, had lived my life in such a manner.

    "When I see how well-behaved you are, unlike other children, enduring such a long hospitalization without throwing tantrums, it''s the first time I''ve seen that."

    When the doctor who attended to me praised me in this way, my parents smiled faintly, as if filled with pride. From that moment on, until the moment of my death, I never once threw a tantrum. It was to ensure that I did not deviate from their expectations.

    It wasn''t something I disliked or found difficult. If behaving in such a manner would make those around me cherish and love me more, and make them feel proud of me, I willingly chose to do so. After all, there was nothing wrong with wanting to appear better to those who loved me.

    "But why Evelina?"

    I was also afraid of straying from the expectations of the few individuals who held them for me. However, Evelina disregarded the expectations of so many people, or rather, she turned her back on the expectations of an entire continent. Even when she witnessed the disappointment and anger that arose from conflicting expectations, she did not change her attitude. No, she became even more twisted.

    In a way, it seemed remarkably brave. If I were to imagine that the people gathered over there were all cursing and blaming me, it would send shivers down my spine.

    While I was lost in my thoughts, I heard the sound of two knocks on the door from outside. In response to the sound, Lathba, who was in the room with me, opened the door. The divine clergy waiting outside bowed their heads and spoke.

    "The final ceremony of the day is about to commence."

    "I understand."

    At last, the moment had arrived. The faces of the officials betrayed a palpable tension.

    "Until now, everything has been fine," one of them remarked.

 Chapter 22 - Holy Maiden

    As I stepped forward on the terrace, I couldn''t help but worry that an arrow-like projectile might come hurtling towards us from a distance.

    "But there is no reason for such concerns," another official assured.

    The power of the saint could be wielded in various ways. Among them, the protective barrier, which shielded oneself from external attacks, was the most fundamental manifestation of this power. If there were to be an assault, the saint, armed with her own power, would render weapons such as swords or bows futile in their attempts to harm her.

    "But that was a tale from when I truly was Evelina," she pondered aloud.

    Oddly enough, there were no memories in Evelina''s recollection regarding the use of her power. Thus, besides the power that automatically manifested, she still remained unable to utilize any other force. If someone were to attack her now, she would be defenseless.

    "Fortunately, the people are oblivious, so there should be no attacks," she sighed with relief.

    Her decision to attend the final ceremony was predicated on that belief.

    "I will proceed," Latvan declared.

    The officials received his words, and he returned to my side, extending his hand once again. Some of the officials couldn''t conceal their astonishment at Latvan''s actions. It was an expression that conveyed admiration for Latvan, who remained dedicated to fulfilling his duty even after enduring such humiliation.

    Sensing Latvan''s warmth as his hand touched mine again, I instinctively took a half-step back.

    "It would be best to keep some distance," I suggested.

    Upon hearing my words, Latvan briefly glanced at me.

    "Should I step back a little more?" he queried.

    In that moment, as I considered taking a further step back, he took hold of my hand and pulled me towards him. Consequently, I found myself unable to increase the distance between us, and we walked side by side.

    ***

    "Oh, holy maiden! Oh, holy maiden! Please bestow upon us your divine blessing!"

    "It took me two whole months to come here! I''ve been waiting for this Sunday in front of the temple, barely able to make my way forward. Please, offer a prayer of blessing for my child!"

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    As we descended to the central square, the cries of the people resounded in my ears like thunder. Despite the knights and guards desperately trying to hold them back, it seemed futile to stop the overwhelming crowd that approached with an eerie intensity as soon as they caught sight of the holy maiden.

    In such a situation, Latvan ordered the knights surrounding me to reinforce the security. Promptly, the knights, who had seemed fatigued just moments ago, responded with vigor and successfully held off the approaching throng with unwavering tension. Thanks to them, a narrow path was created, allowing us to pass.

    As we began to walk along this path, the people reached out their hands through the gaps between the knights, once again shouting their prayers for blessings. As I hesitated upon seeing those hands, a priest who had been walking ahead approached and whispered quietly.

    "If you wish, we can prepare for you to walk through as we did last year. For them, merely catching a glimpse of the holy maiden is considered the greatest honor in life..."

    "No."

    It was not that I didn''t want to reach out. On the contrary, I was contemplating how I could reach as many people as possible.

    Among the people reaching out their hands toward me, many were afflicted with severe illnesses. The sacred power could heal wounds and toxins, but it could only temporarily improve the condition of an illness and never completely cure it. Especially those illnesses that come with old age. It was said that one could not resist what nature inevitably brought forth according to the divine order. Yet, despite knowing this fact, people still clung to hope.

    Memories of my sister, who had been in the hospital bed next to me, came to mind.

    "My illness cannot be cured."

    Nonchalantly, my sister sent a mail to the radio show she always listened to. Perhaps she had been unlucky. She sent dozens of emails, yet her story never came through. But then, finally, her story was introduced. At that moment, my usually listless sister listened to the radio with sparkling eyes and a face flushed with excitement.

    "You''re currently undergoing treatment. Someday, you''ll be able to overcome it all and stand up."

    Looking back now, it wasn''t particularly remarkable. However, my sister kept replaying the recorded voice of the DJ over and over again. Even until the moment she entered the intensive care unit, she wore a smile.

    That radio show couldn''t cure her illness, but it gave her hope and a sense of peace.

    I lifted my head. I could see hands reaching out to me.

    "If I can bring them that kind of serenity, even if I''m not a true holy maiden."

    Then I can grasp it, no matter what. Thinking that way, as I approached, the line suddenly collapsed, and someone fell to the ground, causing my hood to slip off. The people nearby let out short screams and stepped back as they saw the face of an elderly man, his face lined with countless unknown sores. The old man looked at me and prostrated himself.

    "Oh, holy maiden! Please offer a prayer of blessing for me!"

    Looking at the old man, I turned to Latvan and spoke.

    "Commander Latvan, could you bring that person to me?"

    Judging from the situation, if I were to approach him directly, more people would crowd around, causing a disturbance. Latvan, realizing that there was no one else suitable to call, turned his body.

    And then...

 Chapter 23 - Outburst

    "Filthy harlot!"

    With a sudden outburst, something flew toward my face.

    [Thwack!]

    A shattering sound accompanied the impact, and I felt pain on my face. It wasn''t a tremendous pain that would make me immediately clutch my face, but rather a dull ache. A viscous liquid trickled down from my hair. Simultaneously, I caught a whiff of a repulsive odor.

    I didn''t need to ponder for long to know what it was. A broken eggshell lay crushed beneath my feet. Judging by the foul smell, it seemed to be a rotten egg.

    Before I could fully comprehend what was happening, another cry reached my ears.

    "I know all about how you spend your nights with men in the temple!"

    Once again, something flew amidst the crowd. This time, I had a hunch that it wouldn''t be an egg. Without even realizing it, I momentarily closed my eyes, and a crimson blur covered my vision. Then, a warm sensation enveloped me. In the distance, I heard a thud, a muffled sound.

    "Capture her."

    Latvan''s voice resounded above me. His low voice sent shivers down my spine. In an instant, I understood the situation. Latvan had wrapped his cloak around me and pulled me close. With my arms restrained by his cloak, I couldn''t see what was happening outside. But I could hear the knights'' shouts and the brief screams of people. Subsequently, rough voices commanding them to let go followed suit.

    "They say she''s bedded the temple priests in her sacred sanctuary every night!"

    It was the voice of the person who had thrown the egg. My body stiffened at his words. I couldn''t refute them. It was true that Evelina had engaged in such activities, if not every night, at least occasionally.

    "Silence!"

    Latvan spoke again, and with a thud!, the voice of the man who was hurling insults ceased. Instead, the voices of the people around me echoed.

    "So, the rumors were true?"

    "I heard whispers of it as well. Apparently, there are many men selling the relics given by the saint."

    "I heard it''s not even a big secret within the temple. The priests themselves openly talk about it!"

    A murmur turned into a loud uproar. In the blink of an eye, the atmosphere of the people shifted so swiftly that the cries and curses directed towards me, which had been filled with blessings just moments ago, seemed like lies.

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    The man no longer needed to shout. Instead, the voices of the people began to rise.

    "It would be wise to go inside."

    Latvan lowered his head and spoke to me, concealed beneath his cloak. I couldn''t muster a response.

    I was afraid. If I looked outside now, I would be greeted by the gazes of contempt and disgust that I would have to endure as long as I lived in Evelina.

    "Filthy harlot! How long will you hide behind the knights of the temple? Knights! You need to know! My relative..."

    This time, was it Latvan who moved? After he pulled me close, the body that held me trembled, and there was a thud. The voice of the man who had called me a harlot ceased.

    "I apologize."

    Latvan seemed to have no intention of waiting for any further response. As he led me forward, I reached out and grabbed his arm.

    "Wait."

    As I responded, he halted his movements. I removed the cloak that covered me. As I did, rotten eggs plopped down from my hair. Was I under the illusion that by revealing myself, I would be able to enter the temple as planned? The people who had been joyfully cheering moments ago suddenly fell silent upon seeing me.

    Now, no matter what I said, I knew I couldn''t quell this rumor.

    "Regardless of what I do, the story progresses like a novel."

    Unlike in the novel, even if Evelina had attended as planned, the prayer meeting would have become the catalyst for spreading vile rumors about the saint across the entire continent.

    "If that''s the case..."

    I turned away, leaving behind the disdainful gazes. In that place, forgotten for a moment by everyone, an old man had fallen. Amidst the gathered crowd, he was the only one still seated, refusing to move.

    "Are you still seeking my blessing?"

    I queried the old man, and he nodded in response. Approaching him, I raised my hand above his head. Though I could see the repulsive odor and grotesquely contorted skin, having witnessed even more dreadful sights during my time in the hospital, it did not greatly astonish me.

    "In the most challenging moments, in the happiest moments, may the Lord always be with you. He will be by your side whenever you desire."

    There are numerous words of blessing. Even though I had memorized dozens of phrases for this ceremony, only this one would be used. I bowed my head and pressed my lips against the old man''s head.

    Just as a trivial radio broadcast became someone''s solace, I hoped that even this artificial nun''s blessing would provide strength to the old man. It was then that the old man lifted his head and looked at me.

    "Thank you, Sister."

    "...!"

    In that instant, I could tell.

    "He''s not an old man!"

    The azure eyes gazing at me were as clear as they were intimidating. Moreover, there was no sign of illness-induced weakness or fatigue anywhere. Instead, his eyes sparkled with amusement and curiosity, as if he had found something intriguing.

    As I tried to rise in surprise, he reached out his hand. Then, he grabbed my hair cascading down my shoulders. His grip, though not rough, exerted a strong force, leaving me unable to stand up, but compelled to continue gazing at him.

    He slowly brought the strand of hair he had captured to his mouth. After gently touching his lips to it, he looked at me and spoke.

    "I will eagerly await the day when I see you again, Sister."

    ***

 Chapter 24 - Exhausted

    Chapter 24 - Exhausted

    The first day of the prayer gathering concluded with its final ceremony.

    Those who had caused a disturbance by proclaiming Evelina as a prostitute were all apprehended by the temple knights and confined to the knights'' prison. The officials sighed with darkened faces, as their fears had inevitably materialized. Even without making an effort to listen, their voices reached my ears clearly beneath the thicket of bushes.

    "I knew this would explode in such a manner!"

    "Now those scandalous rumors will spread across the continent within a month."

    "People will be cursing at the temple! What a disgrace!"

    The voices of the officials grew increasingly louder. Then someone spoke up.

    "Why on earth must we endure such troubles? It''s all because of the saint, isn''t it?"

    "Yes, indeed. We thought she would come to her senses after causing all sorts of problems and then collapsing... but we were completely mistaken."

    After ranting for quite a while, they seemed exhausted even from slandering Evelina, whispering with hushed voices.

    "Being called the temple''s prostitute... Now, I don''t even know anymore. I suppose I should go and finish preparing for the remaining prayer gathering tomorrow."

    With that, the officials engaged in conversation and soon departed, leaving the sanctuary once again in silence.

    Confirming that there were no signs of anyone approaching, I rose from my position and lay down on a bench. Damp strands of hair fell beneath the bench. I reached out and held them close to my nose, where a rich floral scent wafted. Despite the fact that the smell of rotten eggs should no longer linger, there was something about the scent I caught during the final ritual that made my nose tingle.

    "I''m tired..."

    Unintentionally, I found myself murmuring those words. There had been too much happening within a single day. I couldn''t sleep deeply since the previous night and had been active since dawn. In addition, the prayer gathering''s ceremonies continued throughout the day. However, above all, what had exhausted me was undoubtedly the incident during the final ritual.

    "I didn''t expect Latvan to kneel again."

    Upon returning to my room, he immediately dropped to one knee before me, lowering his head.

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    "I failed in my duty. Please hold me accountable."

    His words made me realize why he suddenly knelt. Latvan was the one responsible for my protection today. Yet, I ended up being hit by the eggs thrown by the people, despite his presence.

    "It''s not your responsibility, Sir Latvan. It''s my fault for giving you a different task."

    If I hadn''t asked Latvan to bring an old man to me, he would have easily deflected the eggs. As I thought about this, I stood up and spoke, but he did not move.

    "For whatever reason, it is my responsibility that you were harmed, Saint. No one will be able to make me change my mind about that, unless someone questions me."

    His demeanor was resolute. It seemed he would not rise unless someone held him accountable.

    "I understand. I will inquire about your responsibility for my injuries, Sir Latvan. However, not now. Please continue your duties without any changes until the prayer gathering concludes tomorrow."

    "But..."

    "It''s an order. Step back now."

    As I mentioned the word "order," he reluctantly stepped back.

    "Now, what should I do..."

    I murmured while gazing at the night sky, but no particularly good ideas came to mind. I tried to find the mildest punishment possible within Evelina''s memories, but all that came to mind were cruel ones, one after another.

    "I don''t know."

    For now, I realized that I needed to think more carefully about Latvan''s punishment. That issue seemed to occupy my mind even more than, or perhaps beyond, any other lingering questions.

    "Who is that man?"

    The man who pretended to be an old man and asked for my blessings.

    "What on earth was his purpose?"

    I grasped my hair once again, contemplating the spot where the man had kissed me, but no particular thoughts arose.

    "I shall await the day we meet again..."

    His voice carried a resolute strength. It was an instinctive understanding on my part. The man undoubtedly harbored intentions of reuniting with me.

    While curious about his true identity, I held no concerns. Through the gaze directed at me, the man appeared content, devoid of any hostility.

    "If danger lurks, those who stood by his side would be in greater peril."

    Suddenly, a pang of emotion welled up within me as I recollected their words.

    "Why is Evelina considered a harlot?"

    If she were indeed a harlot, she would have exchanged her body for money. However, wasn''t Evelina the exact opposite? She embraced the men who sought her, returning their wealth and valuables. Of course, her actions were not commendable, but unjustness clung to the air.

    "I must also prepare for tomorrow''s prayer meeting..."

    Having cleansed myself, I lay beneath the refreshing night breeze, and my eyelids naturally grew heavy. Although I needed to return to my room through the secret passage, my exhausted body refused to comply.

    "Just a while longer, then let us depart."

    With that thought, I swiftly succumbed to sleep.

    And when I opened my eyes once more, I found myself atop my bed in my own room.

 Chapter 25 - Ancient Tradition

    "What is it? How did I return?"

    Now, as I gazed at the familiar ceiling painting, I blinked my eyes. No matter how many times I blinked, it remained unchanged, indicating that I was not seeing things in vain.

    "I can¡¯t remember anything."

    Clearly, my last memory was falling asleep on the bench, feeling the cool breeze. But when and how exactly did I return to my room? Slowly, I rose from the bed and examined my body. I was still wearing the same clothes, covered by the same blanket. As I ran my fingers over the blanket, I unintentionally murmured to myself.

    "Something feels different."

    In that moment of drowsiness, I vaguely remembered holding onto something. It was soft and warm, and I didn''t want to let go of it. I wondered if it was the blanket, but the rough texture felt entirely different from the sensation in my memories.

    "What was it that I held onto?"

    While pondering this, I heard a knocking sound at the door, accompanied by the voices of the palace guards announcing their presence.

    "May I come in?"

    "Please come in."

    As I replied, the door opened and they entered.

    "I apologize for not knowing you had awakened."

    They seemed surprised and bowed their heads in response to my groggy appearance.

    "It''s alright. But more importantly, what time is it now?"

    "Lady, the ceremony you are attending won''t take place until much later. You can take your time getting ready."

    In their words, a memory came back to me. Thankfully, the ceremony I had to attend was scheduled for the afternoon on the second day of the prayer meeting.

    "You look much better today than yesterday. It seems you slept well last night."

    Oh, is that so?

    Upon hearing those words, I realized that I indeed felt somewhat better. When I lay on the bench, my body had been aching all over, but now, even when stretching, there was no particular pain.

    "No one would have used healing powers on me, saint."

    In truth, it would be futile for other palace guards to use their healing powers on me, saint. Perhaps, if they exerted quite strong powers, there might be a slight improvement, but who would bother with such meaningless actions? Lost in such thoughts, I recollected how I had returned to bed, groping for memories.

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    "Who brought me back to my room last night?"

    "What? Last night?"

    "I distinctly remember falling asleep outside..."

    "That couldn''t be. Lady, you haven''t left since you fell asleep yesterday..."

    As the palace guard spoke, their voices grew faint. Their expression seemed to ask whether I had gone out and met someone. In response to that look on their face, I quickly lifted my head.

    "No, I must have dreamed it. Don''t worry about it."

    As I said that, the palace guard''s face became slightly suspicious. However, other guards who followed them entered and urged them to focus on preparing for today''s ceremony. They wiped away their expression and followed the others to the adjacent room.

    [Phew]

    Breathing a sigh of relief, I looked at the bed. It seemed that no one had brought me back. After all, the palace guards who stood guard outside the room all day would have known if someone had taken me out. If no one knew that I had left, then undoubtedly, I had returned through the secret passage inside.

    "Somehow, I managed to come back on my own."

    I didn''t think anyone else knew about the existence of the secret passage. Moreover, it seemed that only I could open the door leading to the passage.

    "For now, let''s focus on today''s tasks."

    With that thought in mind, I lightly tapped my cheek. Still, the lingering sensation in my hand did not easily disappear.

    ***

    The impending participation in the event did not allow for leisurely rest in the afternoon. After adorning myself in formal attire, I promptly headed to the office with the officials. It was a place I had visited two or three times since inhabiting this body. However, the moment I opened the door and took a step inside, I halted in my tracks, for it bore little resemblance to my memory.

    "What on earth is this?"

    I couldn''t discern whether it was an office or a warehouse. When I last visited, it was a well-organized, spacious room, but now it was filled to the ceiling with piled-up objects. These objects, though referred to as "belongings," were not mere luggage. They were ornate boxes, adorned with splendid decorations, clearly indicating their value, stacked upon desks and the floor.

    As I stood motionless amidst the cluttered objects, the officials who had followed me inside began to explain.

    "Offerings for the prayer ceremony have been sent from numerous countries, even more grandly than last year. After the ceremony, there will be a time for each country''s diplomats to present their respects. Please have a look around."

    It was only then that I understood the purpose of this place. It had been lightly touched upon in the novel as well¡ªthe offerings for the prayer ceremony.

    It was an ancient tradition.

    Thanks to the presence of the Saintess, this continent could enjoy a certain level of safety from the forces of darkness. However, not every place was secure. The farther one moved away from the central temple, the more vulnerable the land became to the threat of the dark forces. To ensure people''s safety from these malevolent beings, the central temple dispatched the Order of Temple Knights or high-ranking officials to those areas. Occasionally, even the Saintess herself would go.

    The countries that sent offerings to the central temple in gratitude for the assistance during the prayer ceremony¡ªa gesture of appreciation. Those were the offerings for the prayer ceremony.

    Over time, it had become a tradition throughout the continent that whenever the prayer ceremony took place, every country would send offerings to the central temple as a matter of course.

    These offerings were broadly divided into two categories.

    Firstly, there were offerings for the crowds gathered outside, akin to clouds. These offerings mainly consisted of provisions distributed to the people staying here for two days. They were not limited to food but included herbs and fruits as well.

 Chapter 26 - Extraordinary Offering

    The other offerings were dedicated to the central temple''s proprietor, Saintess.

    "Many have been sent indeed."

    Among them were countries that sent an exceptional number of offerings. It seemed that the more remote the country, which had to rely on the central temple''s assistance, the greater the amount of offerings it sent. It was a way of requesting the dispatch of the Order of Temple Knights or high-ranking officials to their respective countries.

    "I heard that they didn''t send this much..."

    The novel mentioned that the quantity of offerings had multiplied several times after Evelina became the Saintess. The reason was her sending of the Order of Temple Knights and officials to the countries that sent more and more valuable offerings.

    Initially, I wondered if the Saintess would discriminate among the countries based on the quantity of offerings, but as time went by, it became clear that sending offerings had turned into a competitive endeavor.

    "And this is the result."

    After exhaling a short sigh, I picked up a small wooden box nearby. Attached to the box was a paper with the word "Laurus" written on it. Upon recollecting my memory, I remembered that Laurus was a small country quite distant from the central temple. I wondered what they had sent here.

    "This is..."

    Considering it was a small box, I casually opened it. Inside, a brilliantly sparkling red gem, about the size of a child''s fist, caught my eye. Despite my lack of knowledge in this field, I instinctively knew.

    "It must be extremely valuable!"

    Carefully, I put it down with trembling hands and then laid my eyes upon a slightly larger box. Made of solid, fragrant black wood, it was exquisitely adorned with delicate carvings. Even before opening it, I could sense that what lay inside was even more extraordinary than the gem I had just seen.

    With that thought in mind, I opened the lid of the wooden box and was left speechless, blinking my eyes.

    "Wow..."

    Nothing came out of my mouth but a simple exclamation of awe. Were those diamonds? Inside were necklaces and earrings, a set embedded with hundreds of transparent jewels. They reminded me of artifacts from a distant museum that I had seen in a book.

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    After closing the box, I quickly moved on to the next ones. Inside every box were jewels and ornaments¡ªsometimes even gold ingots and coins.

    "This is not merely a jewellery store..."

    Rather than offering treasures adorned with biblical inscriptions, or framing elaborate illustrations depicting the exploits of past saints, these dedicatory offerings were all, without exception, meant for one purpose...

    "For personal use," the clergyman standing nearby, his gaze transfixed upon the boxes I opened, murmured, bowing his head.

    "This year, it seems you have taken great care in fulfilling the words of the saint," he added.

    "As I instructed?"

    His words stirred a sudden recollection of Evelina.

    "Goodness gracious."

    The memories of last year''s prayer meeting flooded back to me. In those memories, Evelina had flung offerings brimming with devout faith out the window. The object she cast into the depths was a tapestry crafted in the fashion of the region''s inhabitants, adorned with biblical verses, a creation born of unwavering faith, crafted diligently amid the hardships of a place where daily sustenance was scarce and the threat of malevolent forces lurked.

    "Who in the world would send such rubbish as an offering?"

    Uttering those words, Evelina cast the offering into the pond beyond the window. And to the land that sent it, no knight or clergyman extended their gratitude.

    That land was Laurus.

    The country from which I received the first opened box.

    No wonder my mouth felt as though I had chewed on sand. Laurus had suffered great losses in the past year, besieged by frequent attacks from malevolent forces. Hence, this year...

    "These were sent as pleas for salvation."

    I closed the box with a bittersweet feeling, different from before, and pushed it aside. How should I handle these offerings? Once the prayer meeting concluded, it seemed I would need to meet the envoy sent by Laurus and promptly dispatch knights and clergymen.

    "And return those offerings as well."

    Laurus was a far-from-prosperous country. How difficult must it have been for them to prepare such offerings? As I silently reproached Evelina in my heart, I moved forward.

    "This is..."

    Then, I noticed a towering pile of offerings, seemingly accumulated as children''s playthings, sent by Laurus just moments ago.

    "Where could this be?"

    Surveying my surroundings, it became apparent that this land had sent the most offerings. Recalling the names of the powerful nations on the continent, I picked up the box that lay closest and harbored a sense of suspicion.

    "This can''t be true."

    It had been clearly written in the book. All had sent offerings, except for the Empire of Appelius, which had refrained from sending an offering to the saint.

    Yet, affixed to the box I now held in my hands was a slip of paper bearing the words "Empire of Appelius."

 Chapter 27 - Letters

    "How did this come to be?"

    In the book, it was clear that the Empire did not send anything to the saint. Instead, they sent offerings for the attendees of the prayer ceremony, surpassing any other nation in both quantity and quality. Consequently, people praised the Empire, or more precisely, the current ruler, Prince Leon, who effectively governed the Empire.

    "Of course, Evelina was furious,"

    Therefore, I remember that after the prayer ceremony, they did not meet the Empire''s envoy. The Empire''s delegation relayed the facts they had witnessed to Prince Leon, which only intensified his disgust toward Evelina.

    Even without that incident, the relationship between the Empire and the Temple was incredibly delicate.

    The Appelius Empire had rapidly grown in power several decades ago, shortly after the current emperor ascended the throne. Back then, it wasn''t even known as an empire. The name was acquired through the emperor''s victorious conquests in the preceding war.

    The expanding Empire had gradually absorbed numerous neighboring countries surrounding the Temple within a span of a dozen years or so. As a result, the once bordering nations around the Temple had all become part of the Empire''s territory.

    To the Empire, the Temple was a thorn in its side. If it were up to them, they would have marched their army straight into the Temple and wiped it out. However, the Temple, being revered and worshipped by not only all the nations on the continent but also by the people, couldn''t be invaded like any other country.

    Meanwhile, the current emperor weakened, and his son, Prince Leon, assumed practical control over the Empire. The emperor had repeatedly told Leon,

    "No matter what happens, you must bring the Temple to its knees beneath the Empire''s feet."

    The prince, who held his father in high esteem, vowed to fulfill his wish with utmost dedication. Therefore, he developed a deep interest in the Temple''s affairs.

    "Then, rumors about Iris spread, and he approached her with the intention of using her to bring Evelina down, only to fall in love.".

    In the book, when the prince suffered an ambush and got injured, it was through Iris'' care that they first met. Unaware of his royal status, Iris treated him kindly, taking care of him until he recovered. Even after he healed, the prince never left Iris'' side. It was truly a textbook romance.

    Regardless, it was around that time when Prince Leon began to take real action.

    "It will take a year for me to leave the Empire and take action," he revealed.

    He is not someone you can meet as easily as Latvan just because you want to.

    "It seems difficult to even become acquainted,"

    Rather than becoming acquainted, it would be fortunate if they could meet without drawing their swords in the current confrontational situation between the Temple and the Empire.

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    "But..."

    I shifted my gaze back to the offerings. Not a single item sent by the Empire was unimpressive. Moreover, their variety was remarkable. There were items exclusively for the saint, as well as sculptures and paintings that could be placed in the Temple.

    "This wasn''t part of the novel''s plot," I wondered.

    Surely, the Empire didn''t send anything to Evelina. That''s how it should have been.

    As I surveyed the accumulated offerings, a heavy feeling weighed upon my chest. The prayer ceremony, as well as these offerings...

    "Why is it different from the book?"

    If that''s the case, the entire narrative would veer off course. Although the circumstances may differ, ultimately the novel would follow its original flow.

    Frowning at the Empire''s offerings, the attendant spoke up.

    "The Empire''s envoy is already causing a commotion, stating they must meet the saint once the prayer ceremony ends. Although in the past, you had refused any audience with the Empire''s delegation, it seems this time they must be received..."

    "Understood," I replied.

    "Pardon?"

    "As the first person to meet the Empire''s envoy, please make the necessary preparations," she instructed.

    After saying that, I lowered my hand.

    "And until I summon them, no one should enter this place."

    "Yes."

    After the officials had departed, they carefully inspected the offerings. All were splendid jewels and adornments intended solely for the holy maiden''s personal delight. One might surmise that Evelina was consumed by greed, demanding such luxurious goods from every nation. However, I know better. In truth, Evelina had little interest in such trinkets.

    Her drawer was filled with countless jewels, treated as though they were trivial refuse. She never bothered to adorn herself with them, occasionally bestowing them upon the men she entertained at night, clutching them like toys as they were caught in her grasp.

    "They were never meant for such purposes, I dare say."

    If anything, gold coins would have been more practical. But why Evelina desired these items remained an enigma, a memory veiled from my sight.

    "Whatever her intentions may have been, they must be returned."

    Accepting these gifts from all the kingdoms would only amplify the animosity towards Evelina, a consequence not to be taken lightly. No, they were probably already showering her with harsh words.

    As I spent a considerable time sorting the items to be returned, I grew weary and took a seat.

    "There are also many letters."

    Glancing at the desk, I noticed an array of missives sent by various diplomatic envoys. After the prayer session, I would have to reply to each one in the audience hall.

    "The position of the holy maiden entails more tasks than I had imagined."

    When I first possessed this body, I thought merely offering prayers would suffice. Now, it feels as if I''m incessantly burdened with work day and night.

    As I read through the letters one by one, I stumbled upon something peculiar at the very bottom.

    "What is this?"

    Among the ornately decorated letters on the desk, there was a thin, white envelope with nothing written on it.

    "Perhaps it was mistakenly included?"

    No nation would be so careless as to send a letter to the holy maiden with such a lack of attention to detail. Perhaps it belonged to some covert underground transaction rather than the temple. Intrigued, I decided to inspect its contents. Though it seemed thin at first glance, there was only one sheet of paper inside. Curiously, the outside of the envelope bore no indication of the sender or recipient.

 Chapter 28 - Magic

    Chapter 28 - Magic

    "I''ll know once I read the contents."

    Thinking so, I rotated the paper in my hands. There, only one sentence was written.

    "The deal has been struck. There is no turning back. I shall find you soon."

    "A deal?"

    It must be another misplaced letter, but even so, it seemed unlikely for anyone within the temple to send or receive such correspondence. This letter seemed more suited for a clandestine underground transaction. As I examined the paper between my fingers, I felt a sharp sting.

    ¡°Ouch."

    I had slightly cut my finger on the paper. Who would have thought that being cut by paper could be so painful? It was a regrettable mistake. I placed the letter back into the envelope and set it on the desk.

    "Why on earth would something like this be here?"

    And then it happened.

    The letter I had just put down began to burn as if it were in flames. In an instant, the blazing letter diminished in size on the desk until...

    "It vanished?"

    I could hardly believe what I had witnessed. Not only had the letter caught fire inexplicably, but there was no trace of ashes or remnants left on the desk. It was as if the letter I had been looking at just moments ago had never existed.

    "This can''t be possible..."

    It was no illusion. It was undoubtedly there!

    As thoughts reached the point of questioning my sanity, a sharp pang of pain tingled at the tip of my finger.

    "Ah."

    There was evidence. The wound on my finger, caused by the paper in the envelope that I had shaken and sliced. Clearly, that letter was not a figment of my imagination.

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    "Well then, how did this happen?"

    There is only one force in this world that makes such things possible. It is none other than magic.

    While the divine officials who wield celestial powers are revered and loved everywhere, the sorcerers who use magic are despised and hated across the continent. It was no small matter. The magic they employ is the very essence from which demons derive their power. Thus, despite its incredible strength and versatility, people feared sorcerers.

    "Using magic leads to becoming a demon."

    There was not a soul on the continent who did not know these words. Therefore, how could any sorcerer be welcomed among the people? They were no different from demons pretending to be human.

    However, there were many who desired their formidable magic. That is why, despite officially being antagonistic forces, there were many who sought out sorcerers. Especially in countries at war, it was said that the presence of a few sorcerers could determine the outcome.

    Thus, the sorcerers existed in this world, but they pretended not to be seen.

    "But to use magic and put something like this inside the temple?"

    And to saint Evelina?

    "Who on earth could it be?"

    Hardly any sorcerer could approach the vicinity of the temple, let alone send a letter inside with such mastery of magic without appearing in person.

    "Could it be?"

    The image of the third male protagonist from the book came to mind.

    The king of sorcerers, Aslan.

    He lived on an island of sorcerers, a month''s journey by boat from the northern end of the continent. Due to the persecution he faced on the continent, unless he had a special purpose, sorcerers mostly gathered there to study and develop their powers. According to the descriptions in the book, it was said that even demons could hardly venture into that tumultuous land.

    In the book, his first departure from the island of sorcerers was due to Iris. When Iris appeared and Evelina''s celestial power shifted in that direction, he became intrigued by the immense flow of power and left the island to meet Iris.

    "And Aslan ended up helping Iris."

    He didn''t have many appearances until what I saw, but I remembered that he had spoken dangerous words every time. Though he was almost like a demon himself with his use of powerful magic, he seemed to become a gentle lamb in the face of Iris'' overwhelming celestial power. His demeanor still seemed rough, though.

    "But it will be a long time before Aslan makes an appearance."

    There is no reason for someone who will not leave the island of sorcerers until a year later to send a letter to me, no, to Evelina.

    "Moreover..."

    The letter stated that he would agree to a transaction. What could Evelina propose to him as part of the deal?

 Chapter 29 - VillaiN

    It was well after a long time that I finally emerged from my study. Only when the concerned officials knocked on my door and urged me to come out did I manage to gather my wits and step outside. The individuals who had been waiting for me quickly dressed me in a finely tailored attire.

    Even as I made these preparations, my mind was still preoccupied with the missing letter. The words that promised to return lingered in my thoughts.

    "What kind of deal was it? And when will they come?"

    The contents of the letter kept plaguing my mind.

    "Madam, are you alright?"

    Had I been lost in thought for too long? A minister who had been explaining something to me called out.

    "I''m sorry, what did you say?"

    "I mentioned that it might be best to omit the final ceremony of today''s prayer meeting."

    "Ah."

    I nodded in agreement to the minister''s words. The ceremony that had caused such an uproar yesterday, despite being the crucial part of the prayer meeting, the ritual of blessings. Although it didn''t involve the use of holy powers, it attracted a large crowd.

    "There''s nothing more we can do."

    In my heart, I still desired to proceed today. However, I doubted anyone would still seek the Lady''s blessing. I learned from eavesdropping on the ministers'' conversation yesterday that rumors spread even faster after the event turned chaotic. Furthermore, it seemed that Evelina had been actively enticing men before the prayer meeting even began.

    "Isn''t it only right that we abstain from such activities before the prayer meeting?"

    The anger that had flared up at the mention of courtesans had now shifted to resentment towards Evelina. While I had tried to empathize with her given that I inhabited her body, the fact remained that a villain is a villain. Not even a shred of sympathy arose in me, especially when I recalled the offerings in the study.

    "Ha."

    Why did I end up in Evelina''s body and face such circumstances? As I pondered this, I covered my mouth with my hand.

    "Goodness."

    Not long ago, I had been grateful for the fortunate opportunity to live in a healthy body.

    "I have lost my mind."

    Instead of expressing gratitude for the given fortune, I was now searching for something better as if it had been mine from the start. While berating myself for such selfish thoughts, I stood there, and the door opened, revealing a familiar person.

    "Commander of the Temple Knights, Latvan, greetings to the Lady."

    "I entrust today to you as well, Latvan."

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    Before Latvan could say anything more, I intentionally exerted force and wished him well for the day. Otherwise, he would surely mention yesterday''s events and request further punishment. My gaze, fixed upon Latvan, stopped at his cloak.

    "It seems your cloak has changed."

    "Ah."

    Yesterday, he had been wearing a cloak with red lining. However, today, it was a similar shade of red but different from the previous cloak.

    "It must be the color for ordinary knights."

    Upon closer inspection, it also appeared slightly smaller. It was clear that this cloak was not his own. I recalled how he had covered me with the cloak after I endured the rotten egg baptism.

    "It was because of me."

    "I apologize, Sir Latvan. It was my fault."

    "..."

    Whether or not it was the right thing to say, Latvan turned his face without uttering a word, as an act of courtesy. Then, in a slightly subdued voice compared to his greeting earlier, he replied.

    "You needn''t worry about it."

    As if there were any chance not to worry. At first glance, it might not be noticeable, but upon closer inspection, it was evident that the cloak didn''t suit him.

    "Rest assured. There won''t be any ceremonies today where you have to meet people directly, as was the case yesterday. So, your cloak won''t get dirty again."

    "..."

    In an attempt to lighten the stiff atmosphere, I added a touch of laughter to my words. However, Latvan''s face grew even sterner.

    "I should refrain from such unnecessary remarks."

    As I approached, I sensed that Latvan was avoiding me more and more. Why was that, I wondered, until I caught sight of the expressions on the faces of the attendants standing beside me. They wore expressions that seemed to convey their weariness towards me.

    "Incredible."

    Why had I forgotten about what had happened between him and Evelina?

    "It''s nothing short of a miracle that he is here right now."

    Yesterday, I had felt a sense of familiarity as if he were an old friend, all because of the favor he had bestowed upon me. It wasn''t as if Latvan didn''t feel the same way just because I had no connection with him.

    Upon realizing this, a wave of embarrassment washed over me. While trying to soothe my flushed face with a fan in my hand, one of the attendants I had seen yesterday inquired.

    "Shall I prepare something to drink?"

    I quickly nodded in response to his words. I felt I had to pretend to be occupied with something else. Perhaps they had already made preparations. The attendant swiftly prepared and brought the tea. Though my face was heating up, hot tea didn''t seem appealing, but I had to drink it for the sake of diverting attention.

    "Thank you."

    "You''re welcome. It seems the tea I personally selected suits your taste."

    "¡­?"

    Upon hearing those words, I briefly glanced at the teacup. I had thought it was the tea that the attendants had brought on their own, but Evelina had personally chosen it? The scent and taste were nothing special, so what had appealed to me?

    With those thoughts in mind, I slowly sipped the tea. Fortunately, as it became difficult to speak under the pretext of drinking tea, the attendants turned to Latvan and began discussing the event. He turned away from me as they did so.

    After a moment had passed and I had finished the teacup, a sudden sensation swept over me.

    "Oh?"

    My head felt a slight dizziness.

    "Lady Saint?"

    The attendant who brought the tea called out to me as if asking if something was wrong. As I tried to reassure him that I was fine, the dizziness returned. The moment I thought the ceiling was spinning, a loud crash echoed through the air, and darkness engulfed the world.

    ***

 Chapter 30 - Strange

    "Is the maiden inside?"

    As Latvan asked, the attendants quickly bowed their heads towards him.

    "Yes, it seems the preparations are complete."

    "Very well."

    In response to the attendants'' answer, Latvan nodded his head. Now he had to go inside, but somehow his steps didn''t come easily. As he hesitated at the door, he noticed the cloak draped over his shoulder.

    "If the captain wears it, it would be an honor!"

    Sidel said so, offering her own cloak to Latvan as if she would even strip off her undergarments if he wished.

    Latvan recalled where his cloak was. It would be neatly hanging on the barren coat rack in his bleak office.

    In truth, his cloak wasn''t so dirty that he couldn''t wear it. When he wrapped the maiden, a few rotten eggs from her hair had stained it, but that had been easily wiped away with a simple cleaning. The reason Latvan had hung up the cloak was different.

    He saw the cloak she had worn. Specifically, the lower right part. Sidel''s cloak was immaculate, without a single wrinkle. However, the cloak hanging on the coat rack now would be filled with creases. They were all marks left by the maiden who had made it last night.

    After a hectic first day of the ceremony, as the deep night set in, Latvan headed to the sanctuary.

    There was nowhere else in the temple grounds that offered quietude during the ceremony. Occasionally, there were attending priests who sought the sanctuary, but as soon as they exchanged a few words that didn''t seem particularly welcoming, they quickly left.

    Indeed, when he arrived, the sanctuary was enveloped in tranquil stillness.

    Latvan purposely walked slowly. The events of the day kept troubling his mind.

    "It''s strange."

    The maiden is strange.

    His conflicting emotions of disliking the maiden and yet feeling compelled to fulfill his duty clashed sharply within him. At first, he couldn''t bear the insult and refused to guard her, but in the end, he turned his heart around and went to fulfill his obligation on the morning of the ceremony.

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    Since he had been responsible for guarding the maiden until last year, there was no major issue with rearranging the knight assignments. Rather, the superior knights of the order, who had been responsible for guarding the maiden, couldn''t conceal their relief at Latvan''s change of heart.

    Just as the knights disliked the maiden, the maiden also disliked them.

    Of course, it wasn''t always that way. Evelina had been quite friendly with them when she was a young girl. Although they didn''t meet often, whenever she had the chance, she would visit the order and play with the knights, a cute little girl curious about the knights. But at some point, her visits became infrequent, and eventually, they ceased entirely.

    "When did it start?"

    Why did Evelina suddenly begin casting disdainful gazes toward them? The exact reason was unknown. In fact, the reason itself wasn''t important. What was important was the fact that the maiden harbored hostility toward the temple knights.

    "Ah..."

    As Latvan momentarily recalled past events, he sighed out of frustration. It wasn''t the time to reminisce about old matters. The individuals who caused a disturbance during the ceremony and were captured were calmly sporting faces even when thrown into the underground prison. Among themselves, they laughed and chattered, saying things like "We''ll be out soon." Why they were making such remarks, Latvan knew.

    They were the ones referred to as the "people who dared to criticize the maiden courageously." And outside the temple, the voices calling for their release seemed to be growing louder.

    However, regardless of what others said, Latvan had no intention of releasing them easily. They were the ones who had harmed the maiden.

    "And..."

    They claimed it was in the name of justice to expose the maiden''s falsehood, but their attitude was strange.

    "I must conduct a more thorough investigation and deliver my words to the maiden!"

    As Latvan pondered what to say to the maiden, he came to a halt when he turned a corner in the sanctuary. On the bench in the corner, he saw a white figure lying lengthwise. There was no need to look closely. It was the maiden.

    "Why is she here again?"

    After the conclusion of the prayer meeting, I presumed she would be quietly resting in her room.

    "Are you planning to have another rendezvous with the men tonight?" I reflexively thought.

    Upon realizing she was alone, Latvan blushed. It was embarrassing over his audacious speculation.

    Even though he purposely made a noise with his steps, the saint remained motionless. As he stood there silently, he could hear the rhythmic sound of her breathing. Apparently, she had fallen into a deep slumber.

    "Oh dear."

    No matter how grand the sanctuary was, it was unexpected for someone to sleep so soundly in such a place. Latvan thought he should wake the saint and approached her.

    "......"

    However, when Latvan got closer, contrary to his expectations, he found himself unable to utter a single word. The saint, who was asleep on the bench, had an incredibly serene expression on her face.

    "Perhaps I should just go back."

    As he entertained that thought and attempted to turn away, there was a hand gripping his cloak.

 Chapter 31 - Waking Maiden Up

    Latvan stared at the person clutching his cloak, holding his breath. Naturally, the owner of that hand was the maiden lying on the bench.

    "Were you awake?"

    If that were the case, it would be impossible not to notice. He had seen the maiden. She still had her eyes closed, and her breathing remained quiet and regular.

    "Mmm..."

    It seemed that when he approached, she unconsciously grabbed onto what she had touched. Latvan sighed and cautiously pulled the upper part of his cloak.

    "..."

    However, contrary to his expectations, the cloak held tightly in the maiden''s hand did not easily come loose. In fact, the more he tried to pull it away, the stronger her grip became. Did she find comfort in the sensation of holding it? The maiden tugged on his cloak, pulling it over her face like a blanket.

    "Uh..."

    She then smiled slightly, as if satisfied, and pulled him into an embrace. Latvan was on the verge of bursting into a hollow laugh at her behavior.

    "What could she be thinking?"

    He had witnessed her committing an unseemly act not long ago. Yet here she was, coming out again to sleep so deeply and defenselessly. Latvan couldn''t comprehend her actions.

    A night breeze blew again, causing the maiden to huddle up even more, shivering in the chilly air.

    He could perhaps defend against magical attacks, but he couldn''t use his powers to fend off the biting night wind that penetrated their bodies. Moreover, he couldn''t use his healing abilities on himself. If they continued to sleep here, the maiden would not feel well tomorrow morning.

    "Should I wake her?"

    As Latvan contemplated this, he was startled by his own thoughts.

    Was he genuinely concerned about the maiden?

    "..."

    Not long ago, he couldn''t even bear to utter the word "maiden." If it hadn''t been for the oath he made before the gods when he entered, he would have immediately resigned from the Temple Knights. But he had made the vow, promising to serve and protect the maiden, the representative of the gods, until his last breath. Furthermore, the position of the commander of the Temple Knights was a lifelong commitment. If he wanted to leave that position, there was no other way but to go to the lair of the demons himself and die.

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    As Latvan recalled his past thoughts, he felt a sense of urgency.

    He could sense movement near the entrance to the sanctuary. Although he didn''t expect anyone to come, it appeared that there were officials engaged in discussions related to the prayer service.

    "What should I do?"

    If they continued like this, people approaching from outside would see the maiden sleeping. If that were to happen...

    "Unfavorable rumors will spread once again."

    The sanctuary was already filled with rumors about the maiden. What kind of rumors would arise when they saw the two of them together? Latvan could easily predict that. In a place where it was known that the maiden had relationships with men, if the two of them were seen together at night...

    "..."

    His head began to ache. It was as clear as day that if it became known that the maiden had lured the commander of the Temple Knights into the sanctuary, it would not bode well.

    I have to wake her.

    And I must quickly send her back to her room for tomorrow''s prayer service.

    Perhaps it was his sense of urgency that caused the problem. As he pondered what to do, Latvan took hold of the edge of his tightly clung cloak and gently held the maiden''s hand.

    "..."

    Upon touching her hand, Latvan found himself staring at the sensation in his own hand.

    It was the finger that had commanded him to crawl not long ago. At that time, he had felt an overwhelming desire to rush forward and break that finger. Why did it now seem so small and delicate?

    Furthermore, the sensation of the maiden''s finger in his hand was completely different from his own cold and rough palm. It was warm and soft. It was a sensation he had never even considered, and Latvan froze in place. Meanwhile, the approaching footsteps grew closer.

    Latvan quickly regained his composure and spoke softly.

    "Fair maiden."

    "..."

    But there was no response.

    "Fair maiden, please wake up."

    "......"

    He called out in a louder voice, yet it seemed that his words still failed to reach her ears.

    Should he shake her awake, even against the saint''s permission? But it was forbidden to touch her without the saint''s consent. Contemplating this rule, Latvan glanced at his own hand. He saw his pale and trembling hand held out before him.

    He had long been disregarding the rule.

    After a while, the officials who had delved deep into the sanctuary for a quiet conversation found themselves seated on an empty bench. They could engage in a lengthy discussion for quite some time.

    ***

 Chapter 32 - Secret Passage

    Latvan walked down the corridor, suppressing any sign of anticipation. No one could enter the inner chamber of the saint when night fell, and he considered himself fortunate for that. After all, no one would witness him carrying the saint in his arms.

    "So, this is my first time using the secret passage."

    Latvan was aware of the hidden passageways that connected to the saint''s chamber. The former commander had informed him about it when he was confirmed as the next leader of the knights.

    "This is a secret known only to the commander. The saint probably thinks she''s the only one who knows about it. So, make sure you never let it slip that you''re aware of the existence of the secret passage, unless it''s a truly desperate situation."

    The former commander spoke these words as he led Latvan towards a wall and revealed how to open it.

    "He also said not to use it or pretend to know about it unless it''s an urgent situation."

    However, now he was using this secret passage to bring the sleeping saint back to her chamber. His eyes, accustomed to darkness, navigated the path without stumbling. After walking for a while, he reached a place where the wind ceased.

    With the saint in his arms, Latvan leaned against the wall. The blue light circled, causing the wall to vanish, revealing a small room on the other side.

    "It''s been a while since I used my power."

    Like the high priests in the temple, the knights of the temple also possessed a certain level of power. However, they rarely used it except in battles against demons.

    Latvan silently offered a prayer of atonement in his heart towards the departed former commander and continued on his way.

    Latvan looked at the still-sleeping saint in his arms. Her body was trembling to such an extent that one would think she had died if not for her rhythmic breaths. It seemed that she had fallen into a deep sleep due to exhaustion from the recent events during the final ceremony of the prayer gathering.

    As the corridor came to an end, the saint''s bedroom came into view. Latvan carefully laid her down on the bed. Only then could he start to contemplate.

    "What have I done?"

    What possessed me to do such a thing?

    To carry the sleeping saint and bring her to her bedroom using the secret passage. Unable to believe what he had done, Latvan repeatedly wiped his face with his hands.

    "Let''s go back."

    It seemed that his mind was in a chaotic state. He needed to return quickly through the passage he had used earlier. Even if it was unlikely, the situation of being in her bedroom with the saint made him feel extremely awkward.

    But just as he took a step back, he had to turn around again.

    "Ha..."

    The saint was still holding onto his cloak.

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    Should I just forcefully remove her grip?

    Even if she held on tightly, there was no way she wouldn''t let go if he did that.

    "..."

    However, Latvan released the hand that held onto his cloak. Then, he quietly stood by the side of the bed. Though he could have forcefully removed her grip, he somehow disliked the idea.

    By the time Latvan exited the saint''s room using the secret passage, dawn was breaking in the sky. One side of his cloak was filled with creases, evidence of what had transpired.

    ***

    That was the events of the previous night.

    Latvan deliberately turned away from the maiden. Somehow, it was embarrassing to see her now. Even if he had no other thoughts, he had touched the maiden''s body without permission, entered her bedroom, and stood by the side of the sleeping person for quite some time.

    "What have I done?"

    Latvan couldn''t understand why he had done such a thing, even upon reflection. Above all, what bewildered him was the fact that the disgust he had felt towards the maiden until recently no longer remained.

    "Why on earth?"

    After falling down once and getting back up, the maiden is working like a different person. However, that doesn''t mean the things the maiden had done have disappeared. Latvan somehow felt that the current maiden was not the person he used to know.

    "It can''t be true."

    He shook his head. Just then, the officials approached him and spoke about the remaining schedule of the prayer meeting. In the meantime, the maiden had requested tea from the officials and received it. Latvan thought it was fortunate that there was no further need for conversation, so he engaged in a long discussion with the officials about work before turning away.

    While conversing with the officials, he regained some composure from the confusion in his mind.

    "Pull yourself together."

    She is a maiden. If she suddenly does things she didn''t do before, it is only right to be more cautious. Therefore, he must regain his composure and treat her at a distance, just as before.

    At that moment, he made up his mind.

    "Maiden!"

    As he dropped the teacup, the maiden''s body collapsed to the floor.

    ***

    I awoke from my slumber, blinking my eyes open.

    "How dark it is," I murmured.

    The dense darkness enveloped me like black paper, devoid of any other hues. At first, I wondered if I was in a lightless room, but as I lifted my hand for confirmation, it appeared remarkably distinct. Gazing at my hand in the dimness, a sense of unease washed over me. This hand...

    "It is my original body."

    It was the body I had died in on the hospital bed. The emaciated wrist twisted grotesquely and the marks of injections covered my arm. Even the skin had become discolored in places due to the medication.

    Perhaps it was because I had grown accustomed to Evelina''s body. I never expected to feel awkwardness in the body I had inhabited for decades. I raised my head.

    "Where am I?"

    Where could this entirely black space be? As I surveyed my surroundings, I noticed someone standing behind me. Without intending to, I turned my body to see who it was and exclaimed aloud.

    "Evelina!"

    There she stood. Evelina. Perhaps it was due to seeing a familiar presence, but my heart swelled with joy as I approached her. For the past few weeks, whenever I looked in the mirror, it was her reflection that greeted me. Long, golden hair, fair and rosy skin. A slender neck and elongated limbs that accentuated the curves of a grown woman.

    At that moment, I truly appreciated Evelina''s beauty.

    "Well, in the novel, no one denies Evelina''s loveliness."

    Then, our gazes met, her blue eyes locking onto mine.

    Evelina stared straight at me.

 Chapter 33 - Intentional

    "Ah..."

    Her blue eyes, reminiscent of a clear autumn sky, blinked slowly. It was truly Evelina looking at me.

    "Hello?"

    Without realizing it, I greeted her in response to our eye contact. However, Evelina''s expression changed. The initial curiosity that seemed to question what was happening vanished from her face, replaced by an icy glint that could make anyone shudder with its coldness.

    Then she spoke.

    "What are you doing?"

    "Pardon? Oh... I apologize."

    Caught off guard by her abrupt question, I took a moment to gather my thoughts and offered an apology. It was clear that she was angry with me; her expression conveyed that unmistakable fury. There was only one reason she would give me such a look.

    "For using your body as I please."

    "Pardon?"

    In that instant, unable to comprehend Evelina''s words, I questioned her while she stared back at me, laughing scornfully.

    "I pushed you into my body."

    "What are you talking about?"

    Evelina had put me inside her. It was a thought that had never crossed my mind. I stood there in silence, unable to grasp the situation, as she took a step closer to me. She scrutinized my body and then looked back at hers, speaking in a voice tinged with confusion.

    "How about indulging in the pleasures of life once you''ve died? I don''t mean running wild or anything like that."

    Was I dreaming? Evelina''s words reached my ears clearly, but my mind failed to comprehend them.

    If I ever met Evelina''s soul, I had thought she would be furious with me. Or perhaps she would be afraid and weep at the incomprehensible situation. Yet the real Evelina, whom I had finally met, only irritated me.

    "To be honest, I had some expectations. I deliberately chose the most pitiful soul among those who are visible. I thought, ''Oh, if someone like this uses my body, it will undoubtedly deteriorate more than me. Since life is already lost once, I might as well recklessly enjoy this bonus life,'' you know? But..."

    Approaching me, Evelina grabbed my chin. Her body was much taller than my original one, so I had to tilt my head to meet her gaze.

    "You''ve been unnecessarily diligent, haven''t you? Playing a prank?"

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    Her eyes now held a flicker of anger.

    "I''ve been watching what you''ve been doing inside me. But..."

    "Wait."

    I raised my hand to stop Evelina, who was about to continue speaking. Her face was filled with irritation, as if she were asking how I dared interrupt her. Nonetheless, I managed to silence her.

    "You brought me here?"

    "Yes."

    "It wasn''t a coincidence... You chose me?"

    "Yes. Aren''t you grateful?"

    Until now, I had thought that all of this had happened by an unknown coincidence. That''s why I always felt sorry for Evelina, who suddenly had her body taken away. But it turned out that everything she wanted had been this.

    "Why did you do that?"

    I couldn''t understand. I didn''t want to know how this was possible, nor did I need to. I simply wanted to understand why Evelina had done this. Without answering my question, she merely smiled. The sight of her smiling infuriated me.

    In the realm of books, and to top it off, within the body of a doomed fate, I had initially felt despair. I wouldn''t have been able to do anything out of fear if it hadn''t been for the ability to see Evelina''s memories.

    "Having memories doesn''t make it any easier."

    The situation was dire, enveloped in the worst circumstances imaginable. Everyone despised the saint and those who approached were merely seeking to fulfill their own desires. Moreover, I almost fell victim to the advances of an unknown man. And yet, in the midst of such a predicament, I was expected to be grateful?

    "When have you ever roamed around with such a splendid physique while still alive? Therefore..."

    "My physical appearance may have been pleasing, but..."

    Unable to contain my frustration, I interjected with a sharp voice.

    "The situation is far from favorable!"

    My discontent-filled words elicited a cackling laughter from Evelina, resonating loudly.

    "I am the saint, after all."

    "..."

    "While everyone may harbor dissatisfaction, they can only ponder and dare not bring harm to the saint. No matter what one does, they can only complain. For that is the position of the saint, a being whose very existence safeguards the continent against malevolent forces."

    At that moment, a wicked thought crossed my mind.

    I wanted to speak to Evelina right then and there, to inform her that her ostentatious charade was futile, that this place was merely a realm within a book, and that her cherished position as the saint would be usurped by Iris once she appeared.

    Yet, I remained silent.

    When I lost all my powers within the book and was no longer a saint, I recalled the image of Evelina. How she had died, proclaiming herself a saint as if consumed by madness. In the current situation, provoking Evelina would serve no purpose other than to invite trouble.

    However, remaining silent infuriated me. I yearned to retort to her words with any response.

    "Yet you threw eggs."

    Unable to conjure a suitable retort, I spoke those words, and Evelina''s face contorted.

    "Come to think of it, why didn''t you punish Latvan? The Grand Knight couldn''t even protect the saint. And it happened during a ceremony where the highest precautions should have been taken. In that case, he should pay for his sins with his life."

    With each word spoken by Evelina, her voice oozed with disdain. Her suggestion to slit his throat was no jest. The regret of missing such a perfect opportunity gnawed at me, causing my body to tremble.

 Chapter 34 - In Exchange

    "Why do you despise Latvan so intensely?"

    I couldn''t comprehend Evelina''s anger towards Latvan. Perhaps something had occurred that wasn''t mentioned in the book? However, based on Latvan''s demeanor, he didn''t seem like someone who would cause harm or bear grudges against others. If Evelina disliked him because her demands were not met, I could understand to some extent. But to exhibit such vehement fury?

    "He did nothing wrong."

    "Th-this... release me..."

    "He truly did nothing wrong."

    As Evelina muttered those words, she soon released her grip on my throat. Though she hadn''t exerted excessive force, my fragile body was prone to breaking with even the slightest impact.

    [Cough!]

    As Evelina released her grip, my vision blurred. Unable to regain my composure easily, I swayed before her eyes. Her bored expression turned into one of annoyance as she spoke.

    "I made a grave mistake in choosing you."

    She then gazed into the distance.

    "I thought it would be entertaining. That''s why I deliberately chose someone like you. But I suppose it''s better to give the chance to other pitiful souls. To those who live according to their desires, unabashedly."

    A chill crept into one side of my chest. I understood what Evelina meant by her words. She was now seeking another soul to inhabit her body.

    I had always pondered it.

    Having entered a body without reason, it could depart without reason someday.

    One must prepare oneself in advance to not feel unjust or saddened when departing from Evelina''s body. That''s why I had made daily preparations in my own way, but when Evelina mentioned choosing another soul, fear overwhelmed me.

    My body trembled. I never expected that the extra life I had luckily received would end like this.

    "Am I really going to die now?"

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    With that thought in mind, I lowered my head and sat down, and Evelina approached me, sitting in front of me and chuckling softly.

    "Indeed, did this body please you? You seem so reluctant to let go."

    I couldn''t respond to her teasing words. Every word Evelina spoke was the truth. I lifted my head and gazed at her. The healthy body I had enjoyed until just a while ago was shining before my eyes.

    I recalled the routines I had enjoyed over the past few weeks.

    When I wanted to go somewhere, I could go without any worries. The tiredness that followed a day of walking felt fascinating. The breeze brushing my face as I ran down empty corridors felt delightful. The ability to endure unfamiliar tasks in an unfamiliar world was all thanks to that joy.

    Now, I can no longer experience it.

    It was never truly mine to begin with. If the owner wants it back, I must return it. But why does it feel so unjust and regretful?

    Tears fell onto the back of my hand. I realized I was crying without even noticing. It was embarrassing and irritating to show such a side to Evelina. As I turned my head away, she laughed. Then, she grabbed my hair and forced me to look at her.

    "Do you desire this body?"

    "......."

    I didn''t answer. She had asked the question even though she already knew the answer.

    "You may have it."

    In an instant, my heart leaped. Evelina''s words expressed my deepest desires. I knew I had only two more years to live. Yet, I still desired Evelina''s body.

    "But there is one condition."

    "What is it?"

    I couldn''t even hide my anxious heart. My dry wrist held onto Evelina. Unlike my rough, calloused skin, her skin was soft and fair, and in that moment, my greed grew stronger.

    I want this body again. Even if it has an end, I want Evelina''s body, not someone else''s.

    "I don''t know if you can do it..."

    "I''ll do anything."

    As I replied, a wicked smile formed on Evelina''s face. She intended to mock and toy with me. She would surely demand something absurd. But it didn''t matter what it was. As Evelina looked at me and simply laughed, my impatience forced me to ask first.

    "Do I... have to kill someone?"

    The greatest sin and the most difficult thing I could think of was undoubtedly murder. However, Evelina shook her head at my words.

    "That''s impossible. A saint cannot kill others. Suicide is also out of the question."

    "......"

    Evelina''s voice was firm, as if she had already attempted it.

    "And it''s not even enjoyable. It''s better to have fun, right? So... yes, let''s go with something that seems challenging for you."

    "What do you mean by challenging me?"

    Evelina spoke with a brighter smile than ever before.

    "Engage in sexual intercourse with a man. Within a week."

 Chapter 35 - Follow

    "What?"

    In a state of bewilderment, I stared at Evelina, my mouth agape. A man and a wager? And within a week? Evelina''s face lit up with a newfound delight, as if she had finally achieved the reaction she desired.

    "If you can''t accomplish it within a week, I will immediately seize your body."

    "Why on earth would you do such a thing?"

    There was no extraordinary reason behind her proposition. She simply wanted to witness my distress. No, even if I were not the one, Evelina would have imposed the same conditions. Strangely enough, it seemed as if she yearned for someone to ruffle her being. I couldn''t fathom the reason behind it, no matter how much I pondered.

    "That is none of your concern."

    Evelina uttered those words, and tenderly planted her lips on my forehead. It was as if she was bestowing her blessing upon the endeavor I was about to undertake.

    "It''s an exceedingly easy task.¡± With just a flutter of your garment, men will readily succumb. It may sound audacious coming from my mouth, but this body of mine certainly has a way of captivating their desires."

    As Evelina spoke, her countenance momentarily contorted. It was a fleeting moment, imperceptible unless one observed closely.

    "Now, go forth and return no more."

    With those words, Evelina pushed me away. In that instant, I felt as if I were plummeting into a distant abyss, and consciousness slipped away from me. From a far-off distance, I heard Evelina''s laughter echoing in the air.

    ***

    When I opened my eyes, it was a familiar place. The ceiling of the saint''s bedroom, where I had always fallen asleep, came into view.

    "Your Grace!"

    As I opened my eyes and sat up, the attendants beside me called out to me like screams. They hurriedly brought water and summoned other attendants, appearing restless.

    "What happened?"

    "Do you not remember? While preparing for the second day of prayer, you suddenly collapsed. You couldn''t regain consciousness for three whole days, and we were all deeply concerned. But to see you rise like this unharmed, it seems that the divine powers are always watching over you, Your Grace."

    No, the reason I woke up was because I thought Evelina would send me away. However, there was something else that bothered me.

    "Three days?"

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    "Yes. Since your stomach must be quite weak at the moment, we shall prepare easily digestible soup for you."

    The attendants spoke thus and busily moved around, causing a commotion. It was then that I heard a voice in my ear.

    Only four days remain. Stay strong.

    "Evelina!"

    I called her name absentmindedly. The attendants standing beside me looked at me with eyes that seemed to question what kind of sound I was making.

    "Ah..."

    Yes, for now, I am Evelina. Ignoring the pouring gazes, I looked at my hands. Snowy and flawless, without a single blemish, the skin caught my eye.

    "So, it was a condition that included the time I was unconscious."

    It must have been. I recalled Evelina''s whispering voice from a moment ago. Four days. To grow with someone within four days?

    I looked at my hands again. If this was still my hand four days later, then I had to follow Evelina''s absurd command.

    ***

    Fortunately, there were no significant issues with my health. It was unbelievable how someone who had collapsed for three days could bounce back as if nothing had happened. It was simply impossible to act as if nothing had occurred.

    Once I regained consciousness, I inquired about what had transpired during my absence. It seemed like a complete frenzy right after I collapsed. The attendant who had promptly brought me tea when I fainted was imprisoned. She tearfully spoke,

    "This tea was personally given to me by the Lady! She instructed me to serve it from now on! I haven''t done anything wrong!"

    The attendants scrutinized all the tea leaves that were brought from the kitchen in response to her words. They brewed and chewed them repeatedly, even investigating if the attendant had received a horoscope from someone else. Consequently, a name emerged naturally. It was Karus.

    A few days ago, Karus, in a fit of rage that could be heard from outside, had stormed into the Lady''s chambers. Now, the attendants who had kept their lips sealed all this time confessed everything. As a result, Karus was immediately dragged down to the underground prison. The problem, however, arose from there.

    "Release him! Are you daring to put a senior attendant in the underground prison?"

    Karus resisted harshly, defying the Temple Knights as he was being dragged underground. Then, the imprisoned individuals inside heard his voice and rushed to the iron bars, calling out to him.

    "Ah? Senior Attendant Karus!"

    "What, what is it? Why is Senior Attendant Karus here?"

    At that moment, Latvan did not miss their conversation.

    "So, they were acquainted."

    His words silenced Karus and the men, but it was already too late.

    "So... it was Karus''s horoscope that led to the egg-throwing and the commotion during the prayer gathering."

    "Yes."

    Latvan bowed his head. He had wondered what Karus would do, and it seemed he had chosen this path. It was a problem in the sense that he had gained nothing from it, but it appeared he intended to spread information about the other men as well, attempting to blackmail them.

    "How foolish. It seems that Evelina wouldn''t bother about such things."

    He recalled the conversations he had shared with her in his subconscious. It had been a short time, but he could discern what kind of person Evelina was. She might have even found it amusing and encouraged Karus to do more.

    Sighing, he reviewed the current situation.

    "In the end, I missed the second day of the prayer gathering."

 Chapter 36 - Fainted

    How could I have attended when I had fainted? However, it seemed that the story had spread a bit differently outside. They claimed that the Lady, sensing an impending attack, had fainted and thus couldn''t attend. It felt unjust. I had memorized so many prayers. I diligently prepared for the prayer gathering, walking until my feet were sore. But in the end, all that effort went unnoticed.

    Suddenly, the contents of the novel came to mind.

    During the prayer gathering, Evelina had used the excuse of feeling unwell to avoid attending. Of course, no one believed her.

    "Hmm?"

    In the novel, it was not mentioned what Evelina did during the time she didn''t attend the prayer gathering. It would have been interesting to see if she had done something during that time that would make readers despise her even more.

    Suddenly, that thought struck me. What if Evelina had truly been unwell? Just like me at this moment?

    "Lady?"

    "Ah, I apologize."

    Interrupted from my reverie by Latvan''s call, I slightly bowed my head to acknowledge him.

    "Thank you for the detailed report. You may return now."

    Since opening my eyes and sitting up, I could easily spot Latvan wherever I looked. It seemed that after his collapse, he had hardly slept, wandering around to investigate the cause.

    "But eventually, we still don''t know the reason."

    At this point, I began to suspect that the problem wasn''t really the tea but rather the fact that Evelina wanted to summon me, perhaps when she pushed me in that dark space. I thought about it as I prepared to bid farewell to Latvan.

    "I''m afraid that won''t be possible."

    I expected him to greet me as usual and leave, but he didn''t.

    "I heard you are scheduled to meet the imperial delegation tonight."

    "That is true, but..."

    The prayer meeting, which had been suspended while she was unconscious, had ended, and most of the diplomatic delegations that were waiting for an audience had already left.

    One could argue that they couldn''t even wait for three days. However, I was in a state where I didn''t know when I would wake up, and most of the delegations seemed to doubt the fact that Evelina had collapsed. They probably thought it was just an excuse for the saint to avoid meeting them.

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    "Moreover, it wouldn''t be wise to stay here when everyone else is avoiding us."

    Due to that, most of the delegations quickly gave up on the audience and left the temple. But not all of them had left. The Appelius Empire''s delegation, which I had expected to be the first to depart, was still waiting for the saint.

    Initially, I had thought about asking them to leave, considering that meeting them would be difficult. However, I changed my mind about meeting them. More precisely, I decided to be faithful to what the saint should do.

    There was only one reason to do something I didn''t have to do¡ªit was my resentment toward Evelina.

    I recalled her mocking me, using this body to taunt me like a starving beggar, shaking food in front of me as if playing a prank. That voice still echoed vividly in my ears. Even if I received such treatment, I couldn''t rebel. It was because it was true that I desired this body. If I wanted to live on in this body, I had to do as she commanded.

    "But I don''t want to obediently follow Evelina''s commands."

    Anything would have sufficed. I wanted to defy Evelina. Then, something occurred to me. She was annoyed by my diligence.

    "She said I was working diligently for no reason."

    The moment I remembered her words, I spoke to the officials. I wanted to meet the Appelius delegation. Right away.

    Under the influence of her words, I didn''t tremble in fear and rush out to find a man. I certainly didn''t want that to be the image Evelina desired.

    ***

    As the appointed hour approached, I made my way to the banquet hall accompanied by several attendants. Latvan, along with several other temple knights, stood closely by, poised and vigilant. The door swung open, and as I stepped into the hall, the envoy from Appelius, who had arrived earlier, rose to their feet and bowed before me.

    The envoy consisted of three individuals. They had expressed a desire for a discreet audience, hence their minimal presence. Among the three, a man stood out as the representative, approaching me and gracefully sinking to one knee. In response to his gesture, I extended my hand, and he reverently brushed his lips against my palm.

    His touch stirred a sense of familiarity within me. The soft, golden strands of his hair seemed vaguely familiar.

    Of course, it couldn''t be. How long has it been since I last encountered someone in this world? Meanwhile, the man placed a gentle kiss upon my hand.

    Typically, such greetings involved a brief exchange of lips followed by a respectful separation. However, this man lingered, his lips pressed against mine for an extended moment. His behavior left me slightly bewildered, and in that moment, a peculiar sensation coursed through my hand.

    "¡­!"

    Clearly, it was the sensation of a tongue grazing my palm¡ªa sensation I had never anticipated. Startled by this unexpected occurrence, I saw the man lift his head.

    Intense, azure eyes were fixed upon me. They were undoubtedly eyes etched into my memory. Where had I seen them before? Where...?

    It was then that the man parted his lips and spoke.

    "It is a pleasure to meet you again, Lady, in this auspicious encounter."

    "You."

    The elderly man who had blessed me during the prayer assembly stood before me, transformed entirely.

 Chapter 37 - The Same Old Man

    On the first day of the prayer meeting, I recognized the intentional disguise as an old man the moment our eyes met. However, I had never imagined his true form would be like this.

    The man ceased his palm-licking gesture. Though the nearby onlookers seemed perplexed by the slightly elongated meeting of palms, their confusion stopped there. Only he and I knew the nature of his previous actions. Should I reprimand his impertinence or simply let it pass as if it were of no consequence? While pondering this dilemma, he rose to his feet.

    He was a rather tall man, appearing no less substantial even when standing next to Latvan. It was uncommon to find someone of such physique who did not seem small in comparison to the knight, Latvan. Of course, his impression differed considerably from that of the knight.

    A mane of bright golden hair of moderate length bestowed a vibrant aura upon him. Beneath straight, well-groomed eyebrows rested deep azure eyes, a refined nose, and well-shaped lips. Overall, he exuded a striking appearance that seemed exceedingly resplendent. Despite everything being impeccably neat, he carried an air of self-assurance as if he had possessed it since birth. Superficially, it could be mistaken for arrogance, but such an atmosphere suited him remarkably well.

    My senses were sharply attuned to this man''s presence.

    He was definitely no ordinary person.

    "Who are you?"

    Before I could finish my sentence, he smiled.

    "My name is Leon Habel Appelius."

    Appelius? As I contemplated stepping back from that name, he approached me and spoke.

    "I am the Crown Prince of the Appelius Empire."

    His words caused a chilling silence to descend upon the banquet hall.

    ***

    A few weeks ago, Leon was summoned by the Emperor, his father.

    Despite his weariness, Leon humbly bowed his head in genuine reverence for the Emperor''s enduring majesty. He had been the conquering Emperor who led the Empire before becoming his father. As a citizen of the Empire, it was only appropriate for Leon to hold profound respect for such a figure.

    The Emperor, now ruling the Empire through his son, issued a simple command.

    "Go and inspect the temple for me."

    Had there been anyone else present, Leon would have maintained his usual light smile without a hint of concern. However, in this moment, there was only the Emperor and no one else, and Leon did not hide his displeasure.

    Though the Emperor was known for his rationality and firmness, he was also a father with finite patience towards his son. Thus, the Emperor merely pursed his lips in response to Leon''s expression, refraining from scolding him.

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    "Do you find even that task distasteful?"

    "It is simply tedious, Your Majesty."

    Leon''s prompt response earned him a pursed lip from the Emperor. Undoubtedly, the command must have seemed mundane to Leon. He had been born and raised within the confines of the palace, giving the impression of a life untouched by hardship. His appearance exuded elegance and grace, seemingly devoid of any coarseness. However, the Emperor knew that beneath that visage, his son concealed a savage nature.

    "Blood cannot be deceived."

    Despite his resemblance to the Empress, Leon possessed the hunger of a famished lion, despite his outward appearance resembling that of a peacock.

    "Surely, you have other tasks to attend to. After all, you recently dismantled Astia."

    Astia, a relatively powerful nation located at the edge of the Empire. Leon had led the Imperial Army and exacted retribution for Astia''s transgressions, even going so far as to charge them interest. Now, there was no country by the name of Astia to be found anywhere on the continent.

    As Leon, still driven by his boiling blood, sought his next prey, the Emperor could only express disappointment at the prospect of Leon inspecting the temple.

    "I would rather take care of affairs within the palace. There are many matters to attend to.¡±

    "The saint is acting peculiarly."

    "What do you mean?"

    Leon straightened his posture. His informants had not provided him with such information. The Emperor''s network of information still held an advantage over Leon''s.

    "I heard she has been working diligently since her recent collapse."

    Those words brought a disappointed expression to Leon''s face. It was the same information he had received from his own sources. However, the following words from the Emperor stiffened his body.

    "And it seems the Night Escapades of the Commander of the Templars have become frequent."

    "...."

    Leon inwardly cursed. The temple had been the only place his network of informants had been unable to penetrate. The Emperor had planted people even there.

    "Investigate it thoroughly and report back."

    "I understand, Your Majesty."

    "While you''re at it, offer some prayers for atonement for the slaughter."

    "Do you mean to say I should become a priest?"

    Prayers for atonement for slaughter¡ªsomething that neither of the nobles ever engaged in. The conversation came to an end there.

    Upon returning to his office, Leon gave his subordinates simple instructions. These subordinates, who were suddenly redirected from the battlefield to the temple, raised their eyebrows in curiosity and asked him.

    "Has the saint finally captured your interest?"

    "Ah, the saint."

    Leon replied as if he had just remembered.

    In truth, the Crown Prince''s interest lay not with the saint but with the Commander of the Templars, Latvan. When asked to name the strongest knight on the continent, people would unanimously mention Latvan without hesitation. It was a sore point for the Imperial Knights. Leon had yet to meet Latvan in person, having only heard rumors of his exploits.

    Stories of his feats such as slaying demons with an unblessed sword in a single strike or single-handedly facing hordes of demons that engulfed entire villages.

    Upon hearing that Latvan had recently severed ties with the saint, Leon wondered how he could somehow bring Latvan into the ranks of the Imperial Knights.

    "If I go to the temple, I must meet this man called Latvan."

 Chapter 38 - Play

    If the encounter with the saint was real, the noble pride of the Order of Templars would have been shattered.

    "If I give it a try, who knows if I''ll win?"

    That''s what Leon had thought, but the saint''s attitude had changed, and even the behavior of the commander of the Order had changed. Leon''s instincts shouted that these two things were intertwined.

    While Leon was contemplating Latvan, a subordinate who was organizing documents spoke up.

    "Well, she must have played with the young men and princesses in the palace quite often. It seems like it''s time to set our sights on the saint. From what I hear, she''s considered second to the empire in terms of beauty alone."

    "I''m not someone who judges based on appearances."

    That was true. Leon didn''t dislike beautiful women. However, he preferred interesting women. And if they were dangerous, even better.

    What kind of woman was the saint? Leon fell into deep thought. If he gathered all the information brought by his informants... a foolish and promiscuous saint would be very different from his taste.

    Disguised with a fake identity, Leon accompanied the diplomatic mission. Since he had moved separately and didn''t reveal his face, very few people knew that he was joining the delegation heading to the temple.

    After arriving at the temple, Leon acted to carry out the emperor''s orders. He gained a few things, but nothing particularly special. In the end, Leon thought that he had to take matters into his own hands.

    "I must meet the commander of the Order of Templars."

    However, Leon couldn''t openly move with the diplomatic mission. Among the diplomats from various countries, many knew Leon''s face. And a significant number of them would want to draw their swords as soon as they saw him. But that wasn''t the biggest problem.

    "You won''t be providing security?"

    "That''s correct. The informants confirmed it. Someone else will be in charge of protecting the saint this year."

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    "Well..."

    Leon inwardly whistled. Somehow, he had to make Latvan come out of the Order of Templars. If he continued to provoke his pride a few more times...

    "It seems his pride needs to be hurt a few more times."

    It would be convenient to completely alienate him from the temple. With that in mind, Leon turned his gaze toward the saint. He couldn''t wound the commander of the Order of Templars with ordinary people. Using the saint, whom he was the only one to obey, would be the quickest and most reliable method.

    "The saint, right? I heard she replaces men every night."

    One of Leon''s observant subordinates answered.

    "It seems she quite likes men with blond hair and blue eyes."

    "Fortunately. The saint should take a liking to me."

    Everyone raised their heads at Leon''s playful remark. They hadn''t expected to be tasked with pushing the crown prince onto the saint, they thought.

    "But before that, I''d like to see the saint once."

    "If that''s the case, attending the prayer meeting seems to be the fastest way."

    After hearing the explanation about the prayer meeting from his subordinate, Leon decided to make things a little more interesting.

    Even Leon himself found his appearance repulsive. People distanced themselves from him due to the appearance that seemed to be covered in skin diseases and the stench emanating from the intentionally worn stable clothes. Despite being finely crafted, the flaw of the fake skin couldn''t deceive even the eyes. However, as long as everyone kept their distance like this, no one would notice anything strange about him.

    "I should put on a play today."

    Intentionally digging through the crowd, he positioned himself at the spot where the saint would pass by. It was time for the blessing prayer, and the saint would pass by him.

    "I might not be able to touch her, but I might as well demand her presence."

    Considering everything he had heard about the saint so far, the likelihood was overwhelming. Should he act as if he had been pushed aside by the crowd, pretending to be a poor old man at his last breath, clutching onto the hem of her clothing? While contemplating such thoughts, Leon looked toward the entrance upon hearing that the saint had appeared.

    "Huh?"

    A spontaneous gasp escaped my lips as a figure stood before me, instantly recognizable even without a word spoken. It was Sir Latvan, the valiant commander of the Holy Knights.

    "Surely, I heard he does not provide protection," I muttered under my breath.

    However, there was no doubt that the man standing alongside the maiden was none other than Latvan himself. With an impassive countenance, he held the maiden''s hand, offering her his escort. Leon averted his gaze, his attention drawn to the hands that held the maiden''s. He observed Latvan''s rough, calloused hand against the fair skin of the maiden, treasuring it with an unspoken tenderness.

 Chapter 39 - Disguised

    He was an ordinary escort. Such a widely known escort, isn''t he?

    "But it should be impossible between those two."

    Latvan had experienced the humiliation of begging like a dog in front of the saint, pleading for mercy for his subordinates. And yet, he was working as an escort like that?

    "He clearly refused to be her bodyguard."

    But now, all of a sudden, he was back to protecting the saint. There was only one answer to that. Something must have happened between them that could change their relationship.

    "Surely the saint didn''t seduce the commander into her bed."

    According to the information he heard, Latvan was not someone who could be easily persuaded by such things. If they had been physically involved, rumors would have spread long ago. Latvan and the saint had known each other for a very long time.

    "What kind of miracle did the saint show?"

    There seemed to be no other way to change the heart of the knight commander, who was so devoted to his faith in the gods. Latvan couldn''t think of anything else.

    In the midst of these thoughts, the saint was approaching. People started pushing forward, causing a commotion as the line collapsed. Leon didn''t miss the opportunity. Pretending to stumble, he rolled into a position where he would be clearly visible to the saint. He didn''t forget to remove his hood. As he did so, he shouted loudly.

    "Oh, Saint! Please bestow upon me the prayer of blessing!"

    All eyes were on him. Whether to push him away or to bring him closer. Either way, he wanted to get closer to the saint. Soon, the saint whispered something to Latvan and let go of his hand, then approached Leon. At that moment, a loud voice came from behind.

    "You filthy harlot!"

    Chaos erupted starting with those words. Eggs were thrown, people shouted angrily. Leon looked at the commotion with annoyance in his eyes. Just when he thought he would finally get a closer look at the saint, something like this ruined his chance. But soon, his eyes widened. It was because the saint, whom he thought would go back into the temple, was coming towards him.

    Finally, the saint stood in front of him and asked.

    "Do you still seek my blessing?"

    As she spoke, the saint looked very composed. Ignoring the commotion around them, she approached him. Leon was delighted that she had come closer just for him.

    "How interesting."

    Nodding his head, Leon felt the short prayer of blessing from the saint. And then, she kissed his forehead, which was covered with repulsive skin and a disgusting smell. Leon knew that she wasn''t doing it to show off to someone else. Even the priests took a step back, but the saint, who had been inside the main temple all along, showed no hesitation.

    The saint, who had kissed his forehead, tried to move away.

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    "What a pity."

    It was a shame to end it like this. He wanted to meet her a little longer. His instincts were telling him that this woman wouldn''t be just an interesting woman. Leon reached out his hand and gently grabbed the long, golden hair that was swaying in front of him. The sensation of it wrapping around his hand delighted him.

    When he raised his head, their eyes met. In that moment, he saw the tremor in the saint''s eyes. He recognized his disguise at a glance. Leon kissed the hair he held in his hand.

    "I shall eagerly await the day I see you again, Your Holiness."

    Next time, he wanted to kiss her in a different place.

    A few days after that incident, Leon was so thrilled that he could barely contain himself. Especially today, ever since he received the letter from the saint saying she would meet with the imperial envoy, he couldn''t help but sing with joy.

    "Finally, we shall meet again."

    The image of the saint he saw at the prayer meeting passed through his mind. Standing amidst the flowing rotten eggs, enduring the finger-pointing from the people.

    ***

    I gazed ahead, feeling the cold, heavy air settle around me as if I were dining on ice. This encounter, which was supposed to be a gathering of four, including myself, felt more like a meal shared between the prince and me. It was only natural, considering the other two members of the diplomatic delegation hardly spoke, leaving all the conversation to Prince Leon.

    "I would take pride in returning to the palace with the knowledge that I dined with the princess. Many would envy such an opportunity," he remarked.

    Amidst this heavy atmosphere, I seemed to shine alone. Someone who, upon first glance, might be thought lacking in subtlety and speed¡ªa person easily dismissed. Yet, adorned with exaggerated gestures, laughter, and a blend of light-hearted jokes.

    "Why has this person appeared so early?" I wondered.

    Prince Leon, one of the male protagonists in the novel, possessed an impressively strong presence, even among the numerous individuals surrounding us. Strangely enough, the first time I laid eyes on him, I had a similar impression, reminiscent of when I first met Latban. He stood out so distinctly that one could recognize him amidst a crowd.

    The problem was that he would encounter Evelina much later. According to the book, he disliked formal occasions and disguised his identity when visiting the palace, returning to the empire promptly after gathering the necessary information. It was only after meeting Iris that he began visiting the palace as his true self.

    Yet here he was, enjoying his meal merrily in front of me. Such a sight sent chills down my spine.

    The book described him in detail, too. A person who appeared careless but possessed a mind more cunning than anyone else''s, thoroughly enjoying warfare. The person who exchanged greetings with a smile, but if deemed a threat to the empire, would swiftly eliminate them.

    As I scrutinized him quietly, he seemed to notice my gaze and changed his expression slightly before speaking.

    "Oh, it seems I have been doing all the talking. I''m concerned whether you have forced yourself to receive me, despite not feeling well," he said, his gaze shifting towards my nearly untouched plate.

    "Thank you for your concern. Rather than that, I worry if I have been neglectful in entertaining an unexpected guest like yourself," I replied.

    This was not merely a courteous remark. It was rather abrupt to have the empire''s prince right beside me. The expressions on the faces of the courtiers standing next to me became rigid, as if they had turned into statues. If they had known that the prince was present in the diplomatic delegation, this encounter would likely not have taken place at all.

    "Our relationship is not a good one," I thought.

    The prince, who strove to place the Divine Temple under the empire''s feet, was standing before me. That was why there was an invisible power struggle between the Divine Temple and the empire across the continent. Whenever news of demons appearing spread, the Divine Temple knights set out, only for the empire''s knights to arrive first and deal with the demons. Or when reports of an epidemic surfaced, the temple''s clergy rushed to assist, only to find that the empire''s doctors had already arrived to attend to the people. It was an ongoing hidden conflict between the two powers.

 Chapter 40 - Indifferent

    The empire was desperate to reduce the influence of the Divine Temple on the continent. However, suddenly and unexpectedly, the prince, who could be considered the leader of the opposition, had appeared in enemy territory. The courtiers, who were still in a state of shock, seemed unable to turn away from the prince''s gaze. Ignoring their gazes, he leisurely ordered more wine and continued to enjoy the meal.

    "I sincerely apologize for not informing you in advance. Originally, I thought I wouldn''t be able to attend the prayer meeting due to empire matters, but things concluded sooner than expected, allowing me to join later," he smoothly lied without batting an eye.

    "Such nonsense. How could someone who came in such a hurry be prepared to disguise himself?" I thought.

    As I glared at him, he still met my gaze with a smile, as if saying, "So what if it''s a lie?" He requested wine once again, but now it seemed he had lost interest in the meal. He lowered his fork, no longer focused on eating, and asked me a question.

    "However, it is a great pity."

    "What are you saying?"

    Tightly strung, I responded to his words. I could feel the crown prince''s scrutinizing gaze. What is he trying to say?

    "It reminds me of the offerings made in the name of the Empire''s princess. Knowing Your Highness''s discerning eye, we carefully selected and brought the finest craftsmanship of the Empire, but... it seems our sincerity may still be lacking."

    "......"

    An uncomfortable silence lingered. Among the attending courtiers, I noticed faces frozen in discomfort. The prince''s words could be interpreted as, "You didn''t do as I asked, even though I specifically mentioned things you like." He sarcastically commented that as a princess, I should offer sacrifices that resemble extravagant jewellery and trinkets, satisfying personal desires.

    ¡°Treating me like a woman engaged in an exchange of gifts with the princess.¡±

    It is not befitting for the princess to question why I did not use the items I gave.

    In response, I looked at the crown prince. Regardless of the reactions around him, he wore a smile as if he knew nothing. Yet, his gaze continued to scrutinize me, waiting to see how I would react.

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    ''What should I do?''

    I caught sight of the fork I had set down on the table. If it were Evelina, she might have picked it up and thrown it at the crown prince''s forehead. I remember she became furious to the point of forbidding the mention of his name again when he mentioned Evelina, terrifyingly venting her anger.

    If she were treated this way by her counterpart, she would likely immediately issue an order to capture and detain the crown prince, without considering the aftermath, of course.

    ¡°How should I proceed?¡±

    The crown prince seemed somehow like a child who had just received a new toy. He was filled with excitement, not knowing what to do, wanting to touch or try something more.

    For now, I wanted to end it here for today. Merely contemplating Evelina''s conditions for me is exhausting enough. I''ve done enough for this audience, and it''s probably time to leave. With that in mind, I smiled at the crown prince.

    "I apologize for not having had the opportunity to examine the offerings sent from the Empire. I am grateful for the wheat and wine sent for those gathered here. May the gods always be with you."

    For the first time, Leon''s expression stiffened at my words. Seeing his face brought some satisfaction. Well, after sending such a substantial amount without even looking at it, it must have wounded his pride to hear that. Just then, Latvan, who stood behind him, spoke up.

    "Your Highness, it is time for you to prepare for the next engagement."

    "Yes, I suppose it''s time to rise."

    I replied and looked at Latvan. His expression was as blank as usual.

    ¡°I thought the crown prince was the only one skilled at lying.¡±

    I should reconsider Latvan as well. In truth, I have no further engagements after this audience. Yet, Latvan must have bid farewell with those parting words, hoping for the gods'' presence during our farewell.

    "Then, I shall take my leave now. I regret that I cannot join you for dessert, Crown Prince Leon. May peace accompany you on your journey to the Empire...."

    It was then that Crown Prince Leon interrupted my words.

    "I plan to stay at the temple for a while."

    "Pardon?"

    "I have committed many unavoidable sins while working for the Empire. Since I happened to come to the temple, I intend to offer extended prayers until those sins are forgiven."

    The crown prince looked at me with a rather sincere expression.

    "So, next time, I would like to enjoy what we couldn''t do today, together, Your Highness."

    Somehow, his words sounded different.

 Chapter 41 - Improved

    "Haaa..."

    A barely concealed sigh escaped as we stepped out of the banquet hall. It felt as if the uneaten meal had lodged itself in my throat. Thankfully, the refreshing air outside allowed me to catch my breath.

    "We''re exhausted."

    Amidst the heavy atmosphere, we had to read each other''s thoughts as if we were mad. We had to mind our manners and choose our words carefully. Summoning every bit of recollection and employing conversational techniques from the books I had read, I managed to respond, leaving me feeling utterly drained.

    "I think I managed to answer fairly well, all things considered."

    I noticed a slight stiffening in Prince Leon''s expression. If I hadn''t been in the habit of observing people, I would never have caught on.

    "Still, it''s satisfying to have given them a taste of their own medicine."

    I thought so as I finally let go of the burden. After walking for a while, I spotted the door to my room. I turned around and nodded slightly to Latvan, who had been following closely behind me.

    "Thank you for your assistance today, Sir Latvan."

    In response, he tilted his head slightly.

    "I appreciate your help in the end."

    In truth, I wanted to say more. Thanks to his quick thinking about preparing the next schedule, we were able to bid farewell to the imperial envoy, including Prince Leon, without much trouble. If I had announced that I had an engagement and had to leave, it would have been obvious that I was avoiding them. However, if someone else, especially Sir Latvan, had said it, it would have seemed like a genuine reason for me to leave.

    Of course, the subsequent schedule only involved resting in my room.

    "..."

    He did not respond to my second expression of gratitude. A moment of silence passed.

    "Is it because I lied that I feel unsettled?"

    I recalled that the Code of the Holy Knights had a provision requiring honesty. Of course, it couldn''t be followed perfectly, but one should strive to uphold it as much as possible.

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    "Although it may not bring any good as a High Knight to spend too much time with the prince."

    That seemed to be the reason Latvan had lied and helped me leave. I couldn''t find any other reason why he would go so far as to lie to let me leave. While I pondered this, Latvan spoke.

    "You are not a pleasant person."

    "Pardon?"

    "You give an unpleasant impression. It would be better to keep your distance until we return."

    "Oh..."

    With his lengthened words, I finally realized that he was talking about Prince Leon.

    Frankly, it was bewildering. It surprised me that Latvan would mention something other than what I was asking about. And what''s more, it was an assessment of someone else.

    "Moreover..."

    This was the first time he displayed such strong emotions about something. Because of that, he seemed more human to me than ever before. It was quite fascinating. As I stared at him intently, Latvan lowered his head.

    "I apologize. I spoke off-topic."

    "No, it''s all right. Thank you for your concern. You may go now; I don''t think we''ll need any further protection today."

    I replied like that, yet he didn''t turn away. Instead, he seemed hesitant, as if he had something else to say. After a brief pause, he cautiously spoke.

    "When will a decision be made about my punishment?"

    "Pardon?"

    Punishment? What punishment? I quickly realized that he was asking about the responsibility for the failed security during the prayer meeting.

    "I didn''t intend to hold you accountable for any mistakes..."

    I didn''t want to ask about it at all. If I hadn''t ordered him to bring the prince on the day of the prayer meeting, he would have casually refused. Ultimately, it was my doing that led to his failure, and I didn''t want to hold him responsible for that.

    "Besides, I could really use a break."

    When I first met Latvan, his chilling aura and contemptuous gaze made it difficult to even look at him. But now, we had reached a point where we could have conversations like this without difficulty. Moreover, whether it was him hiding it or my misconception, the disdainful gaze he had towards me seemed to have disappeared.

    I never thought our relationship could improve. Even now, we couldn''t say that we had a good relationship. Yet, if it could be said that the vast distance that Evelina had spread between us had become slightly closer, I couldn''t help but think it was a positive change.

    I recalled Evelina''s voice from the morning.

    Four more days to go.

    "If Evelina fails to fulfill the conditions she imposed upon me within four days, I shall likely cease to exist within this mortal form. Thereafter, it remains uncertain whether Evelina shall return or whether she shall insert a new individual in her stead."

    "I apologize, but I have no desire to narrow the distance that I have been endeavoring to bridge on my own accord. Therefore, I wished to defer the decision regarding the possessor of this body to the one who shall come after four days."

    ***

 Chapter 42 - Rebellion

    Chapter 42 - Rebellion

    Three days remain.

    With a disdainful chuckle, Evelina awakened me. I felt I should express gratitude for her morning ritual that roused me like an alarm, even though it brought me displeasure. After sitting in a daze for a while, I finally managed to rise from my bed.

    I washed myself, dressed, and made preparations to commence the day''s activities. Then, without delay, I proceeded straight to my study. There, I found today''s agenda, which I had received before retiring for the night. As I scanned it from top to bottom, a bitter smile crept onto my face.

    "Another day filled with obligations."

    I did not voice a complaint. After all, each hour of this meticulously scheduled day was filled with tasks I myself had requested.

    Yesterday, after concluding my meeting with the prince, I had summoned the officials responsible for managing my schedule and made a request.

    "I would appreciate it if you could further increase my workload for the foreseeable future."

    "Pardon?"

    The officials'' faces became incredulous upon hearing my words.

    Over a year had passed since the Holy Maiden assumed her duties. During prayer meetings, I momentarily recalled the significance of her role and resumed my actions with renewed vigor. However, to think that I still yearned to work passionately even after the conclusion of these devotional gatherings?

    Such thoughts were clearly apparent.

    "Is there nothing left for you to do?"

    "Oh, no. That''s not the case! Please wait a moment."

    Hastily, they rushed out and returned with a new schedule. I accepted it and briefly perused its contents before inquiring further.

    "There are considerable gaps in the schedule. Why have they been left vacant?"

    "It seemed that you might be in need of some rest..."

    "That won''t be necessary. If there are any urgent matters, please schedule them during this time."

    Laughter appeared on the officials'' faces upon my request to add more tasks to my agenda. However, as they continued to fill every available slot with new engagements, their expressions turned ashen. I sensed the reason behind this shift.

    "Do you fear the prospect of arranging and subsequently cancelling these scheduled events... is that what you are thinking?"

    "Pardon? Oh... no!"

    Well, perhaps they were right. The officials desperately attempted to regain their composure, but it was already too late.

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    The reason behind their hurriedly filling every moment of my schedule was a singular one: they wished to have me engage in activities Evelina despised. Strangely enough, she disliked me performing the duties of the Holy Maiden. It was as if she wished to prevent the erosion of her infamous reputation that had accumulated over time.

    While contemplating this, I muttered under my breath, gazing at the newly arranged agenda from yesterday.

    "Rebellion, indeed."

    The displeasing chuckle I heard in the morning resurfaced in my thoughts. Alongside it, I recalled Evelina''s face as I had seen it in my dreams. She had worn an expression of keen interest upon beholding me¡ªa countenance akin to that of a child who had obtained a fascinating toy. The only difference was that her face brimmed with an overwhelming desire to break that toy.

    Evelina despises me.

    To be precise, she detests my lack of initiative, just as I had conjectured.

    "She doesn''t even care."

    If she dislikes me, it would be preferable for her to expel me from this body sooner, allowing me to do as I please.

    "Is this endeavor truly amusing?"

    It was not difficult to imagine what Evelina expected of me. She must have wanted to witness my desperate quest for a man to spend the night with, fearing the loss of her hold over me. She would have relished observing my attempts to find a man, while uttering words of enticement and asking him to share the bed with her.

    "I refuse to be swayed."

    The thought of leaving this body terrified me. Yet, the more I pondered, the greater the anger towards Evelina grew, surpassing my fear.

    "I have no desire to move according to her whims."

    This body has always belonged to her. So even if she were to reclaim it, I would have no right to object. I tried my best to contain my emotions, urging myself not to feel aggrieved or afraid. In doing so, anger was all that remained within me¡ªa rage directed at the woman who was shaking me to my core.

    However, that did not make the tasks I could undertake any remarkable. I merely timidly engaged in actions Evelina disapproved of, showing her that unlike you, I am capable of such things. And in the end, I would express my gratitude for briefly experiencing a different life before vanishing. That''s what I wanted.

    "But..."

    My body trembled slightly.

    Perhaps, on the final day, I would come to regret my choices. No, I would undoubtedly regret them. Because of my foolish vanity, I would endure, even to the point of death, refusing to succumb to Evelina''s demand to bring anyone to bed.

    Once again, I glanced at the itinerary. I did not wish to entertain any thoughts. With such a busy schedule, it was certain that I could avoid them.

    ***

    "I suppose you could take a little break," whispered the neighboring official cautiously, observing the long gaze into the papers.

    "It''s fine," came the reply, without lifting the head, and soon the voice echoed again.

    "I must admit, it''s the first time I''ve seen you like this... Ah!"

    The official hurriedly covered their mouth with their hand. Their astonishment was evident, as if saying, ¡°It''s the first time I''ve witnessed such behavior.''¡±

    Unable to hear anything, the official signed the documents handed to them, casting a quick glance and bowing in farewell before swiftly leaving the study.

    With a bitter smile, I turned my head to the side, where there were papers that needed urgent attention.

    "It must be about the Deputy Official candidate."

    The current Deputy Official was in poor health, making mobility difficult. That must be why, even during prayer meetings, another senior official temporarily took over the Deputy Official''s duties.

    "Is this the list of candidates?"

    As I skimmed through the names written on the paper, one name caught my eye.

    Carl.

    In an instant, a sinking feeling enveloped my heart.