Chapter 149
“Hiiek!”
Linder jerked in terror when the blade touched his neck. Trembling violently, he lifted his eyes toward Sylaria.
“W-Why are you doing this!”
“High Priest. I am not like the Empress.”
Speaking gently, Sylaria lowered herself until she was at eye level with the priest who lay prostrated on the floor. His pupils quivered in fright as he met her gaze.
“Why do you suddenly bring up Her Majesty the Empress…?”
“I just had a thought. His Highness the Crown Prince used to visit the temple every day for purification. Naturally, he would have interacted with you often. Isn’t that right?”
“That is true, but…”
“When His Highness fought monsters to protect the Empire, I’m sure the temple was thrilled. The Crown Prince slew the beasts, yet the people believed it was the temple’s prayers reaching the heavens that made the monsters vanish.”
“Are you doubting the power of prayer right now?”
Linder, who had been shrinking back, snapped his eyes open wide. As if he had discovered a heretic, he glared at her with contempt.
“The temple has always prayed for the Empire’s peace. How dare you utter words that insult priests who devote their lives to prayer and ascetic practice for the sake of this nation.”
“If you devote your life to the Empire, then why did you avoid His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“T-That is…”
“Have you perhaps been devoting your life to something else? Money, for example. Or power.”
“No!”
“I told you. I’m not like the Empress.”
Sylaria’s voice cooled. She stared at Linder intently and smiled faintly.
“It’s said people worry over whether to hold the Crown Prince’s side or the Empress’s. I’m telling you this because I fear a wise High Priest might make the wrong choice. It would be best if you didn’t. This isn’t the time for that.”
Linder’s confusion showed plainly. That alone confirmed to Sylaria that he had chosen the Empress. And soon enough, he would deeply regret that choice. Of that she was certain.
“Maws have opened all over the Empire, but the temple has given no prophecy at all. Won’t people wonder if the temple’s prayers really do anything, and where all the offerings they donated have been used?”
The High Priest’s attire appeared modest at a glance, yet the jewels he was wearing were anything but. On his thumb gleamed an enormous amber ring, and on another finger was a bright yellow gold ring.
And it wasn’t just the jewelry.
Even his priest robes were unlike those worn by the other priests. Not because of his rank as High Priest. The fabric itself was far superior in quality.
Sylaria, who had once stitched clothing to pay for Elenia’s medicine, recognized how expensive the textile was. The color and feel were incomparable to what ordinary priest robes were made of. The finish was immaculate. It was clearly crafted by a master. And judging from how pristine it looked, he likely owned several sets.
Linder was enjoying every form of luxury one could within the thin disguise of austerity. When she had first seen him, she had only glimpsed him in passing. Later, when she noticed the expensive items he wore, she had assumed he used his personal allowance to maintain the dignity of the High Priest.
But upon investigation, she learned that a High Priest was supposed to live in extreme self-restraint. So where did the money come from?
He had either been embezzling, or committing some equivalent corruption. If not that, then he had accepted bribes from the Empress. Or else she had discovered his crimes and held them over him.
The details didn’t matter. What mattered was that he had already turned his back on Euclid. And he had done it for the sake of his own safety.
“The Empress may have coerced you, but I am quite simple. I act before I speak. Well, I’m sure you already knew that.”
“I-I am the High Priest! To harm a High Priest is a grave crime…!”
“That’s right. And how could I possibly harm the High Priest? So I plan to send you back unharmed. However, since you have been uncooperative with His Highness’s people, I cannot provide you with his escort.”
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