Chapter 37
“It has been a while.”
The corners of Irene’s mouth faintly lifted.
“Indeed, it has been a long time. How long has it been, exactly? The last time we saw each other was before you all went to see me off to the tower?”
Chills ran down his spine at the straightforward question. However, upon facing Irene once again, there was no sign of anger on her face, which was somehow even more unsettling.
It seemed she hadn’t originally been this kind of person. He couldn’t decipher what she was thinking now.
“It seems that was the case.”
Sage barely managed to string his words together. An inexplicable pressure made his breath catch.
What had he been thinking?
A guiltless one had suffered undue pain because of him, in so much pain that they considered suicide.
Yet, he had tried to persuade such a person. What kind of arrogance was this?
He suddenly felt terrible about himself. It seemed like something had been blinding him all this while. And as that veil was lifted, the truth became apparent.
He was truly a despicable being. Others praised Sage for being gentle and compassionate, but that was all a lie.
“But why have you sought me out?”
“Saintess.”
Still, he couldn’t back down. Thinking of the people under his care, he couldn’t give up here.
He couldn’t let them suffer because of his mistake. So, he squeezed out his voice.
“I was wrong.”
That strained voice was all he could muster. He had intended to articulate his thoughts more coherently, to persuade with various arguments.
However, seeing the wounds wrapped in bandages made it hard for him to speak.
“What about?”
A calm voice asked in return.
“Sage?”
Shah-Naz, sensing something was amiss, called out Sage’s name.
“Everything.”
Sage knelt on the spot.
“Everything. What might that be?”
“The act of accusing an innocent person of wrongdoing and punishing her.”
At these words, Irene’s eyes widened, and the corners of her mouth lifted even higher. It seemed as if she was asking if that was truly the only sin he had committed.
“There are many other sins I have committed. But, Saintess, I am the only sinner. My people are innocent. Please, as a Saintess, have a broad heart and look kindly upon them.”
As he said this and bowed his head, Shah-Naz knelt down beside Sage and then prostrated himself, pleading.
“My people are innocent! So, if you are a true Saintess, let the punishment fall on me alone.”
Sage was taken aback by this. Although he had persuaded Shah-Naz to come along, he had not imagined he would show such a gesture.
Did they ultimately share the same concern for their people?
“A true Saintess?”
Irene murmured quietly, repeating Shah-Naz’s words. Sage added to the conversation.
“Do not trust Garan. He cannot become someone deeply trustworthy. Burt is the same. I cannot ask you to trust me either. Just please, show mercy.”
“Show mercy?”
She felt like laughing. Why hadn’t they shown mercy when they were the ones putting others in difficult situations?
Irene suppressed the laughter that threatened to burst forth as she looked at the two kneeling before her.
‘So repulsive.’
On the surface, they seemed like benevolent kings willing to sacrifice themselves to save their people.
But she wondered how long they would truly last if they were to receive punishment. She was genuinely curious.
Both seemed unwilling to rise until Irene would accept them. However, Irene did not want to accept them. She didn’t even want to share the same space with them.
“Go back.”
“Saintess!”
“Go back.”
“Please!”
Sage pleaded pathetically, but Irene repeated the same words like a parrot.
It was Sir Sizu who stood in the way of the kings who tried to persist.
“The Saintess is not feeling well. Please, return.”
At his words, Sage reluctantly rose from his position and said,
“Saintess, please do not forget the wretched ones.”
With a sigh, Shah-Naz shouted in a booming voice,
“This is why I didn’t want to talk! Act like a Saintess if you claim to be one!”
Act like a Saintess? What does that even mean? Irene smirked.
Shah-Naz bristled at her reaction but said no more. As the two withdrew and Sir Sizu left the room, silence returned.
And then, in that silence, the shadows whispered,
“Foolish ones, indeed. A compassionate king, a just king. How could one find compassion or justice in that display?”
“You are no different, are you?”
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