Don’t Be Holy! - Chapter 185

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After finishing the bath and washing herself clean, Eir finally changed into the clothes the apprentice priestess had given her and prepared to meet the Proxy of God according to her guidance.

Perhaps because her body had been weakened for several days, or because she had barely eaten while suffering from seasickness the entire time, now that she had arrived at this place filled with divine energy, her strength returned vigorously and she felt hungry. She practically gulped down the soup they brought her. She ate so hurriedly that those assigned to watch over and guide her exchanged sidelong glances.

‘Can you believe it? It’s like she’s possessed by a hunger spirit.’

Even if they thought that, there was nothing she could say.

After all, from their perspective, Eir was some unknown witch. She was in no position to comment on their unkind glances.

‘Anyway, this misunderstanding will soon be over.’

Eir pretended to check her appearance in the mirror while secretly observing the apprentice priestess standing behind her. The fact that she was going to meet the Proxy wearing a dress like worldly women might wear, rather than priestess robes, somehow felt sinful.

The Proxy would surely see through the fact that Eir was a priestess. And when the curse that grandmother had placed on her was lifted, everyone would know who she was, how she had escaped three years ago, and why she had run away.

Perhaps Eir would stand at the Purity Rite that Rubel had agreed to and receive God’s punishment, then disappear like dew on the execution ground.

And when everything was revealed, Rubel…… He would despise me. Having given his heart to her despite her being a witch, the shame of learning that his feelings were in vain would leave an enormous wound. Though she couldn’t change the fate of betraying him, she felt she should at least tell him about all her sins first.

“Excuse me…….”

Eir opened her mouth to ask whether news about her had been conveyed to Rubel and if he was still confined in the underground prison, but as soon as she spoke, a priest who had been standing at a distance stepped forward, moving the apprentice priestess behind him and stepping aside.

“The Proxy is waiting.”

The implication was clear: don’t waste time with idle words or actions and move quickly.

After briefly rolling her eyes and hesitating, Eir soon let out a short sigh and moved. As she walked following the apprentice priestess’s guidance, she heard priests and holy knights they passed in the corridor whispering while looking at her with curious and contemptuous eyes.

“I don’t understand why she’s being treated like a guest and walking proudly through the Central Temple!”

“I heard Lord Del Gatos himself gave the order. Are you questioning his command?”

“Even so, this seems wrong.”

The contempt was so palpable she could almost grasp it, but Eir passed by as if she hadn’t heard.

She was used to priests whispering about her anyway. If anything, it felt familiar, like returning to her days as a priestess.

After walking for quite some time, they finally reached the audience chamber. When the priest who she thought would enter with her stepped aside at the door, Eir couldn’t help but be surprised.

“Am I meeting him alone?”

The priest maintained an expressionless face and simply repeated like a parrot:

“He is waiting.”

After hearing those words repeated twice, they suddenly sounded more significant. So, was that not just a customary phrase? Would she not have to kneel and wait for an hour before he finally made an appearance?

“Is he really waiting for me?”

At Eir’s foolish question, the priest who had guided her opened the door with a look that said ‘I told you so’ and pushed her inside.

Finding herself inside, Eir heard the sound of her dull misconception shattering into pieces. The Proxy was indeed sitting in a chair waiting for her. He gazed at her with strange, indecipherable eyes, and Eir, after standing dumbfounded for a moment, belatedly knelt down and bowed deeply.

“I come before Lord Del Gatos.”

With every breath she took, divine energy layered in the air entered her lungs, and overwhelmed by that energy, Eir unknowingly addressed the Proxy with such a title as she paid her respects.

The Proxy observed her quietly, then commanded in a low voice.

“Raise your head.”