The Runaway Maid is Loved by the Archmage - Chapter 227

※ This book contains depictions of coercive/dubcon/noncon acts, violence, and immorality. Reader discretion is advised.

‘You will find my disciple in the inner city. He is in charge of communication among the Castrello people who are unable to speak their minds under the rule of the empire.’

That’s what Neilla said. Although her eyes didn’t look pleased as she said that.

‘Although I don’t agree with that child’s methods, if you mention my name, he will probably help Roina-nim and the Crown Prince.’

Roina remembered her words and took a step. The inner city definitely had a more bustling atmosphere. There were also more plants visible, so it was clear that water was abundant. The people’s expressions were lively, and many imperial citizens who had migrated here were seen.

“This place is almost like imperial territory.”

“……”

Ethan looked down with a bitter expression and didn’t answer. Roina simply squeezed his hand once in a comforting gesture and let go.

Finding Neilla’s disciple wasn’t difficult. One of the largest buildings in the inner city was the Pantheon, which served the gods of the empire, and he was staying there. It was ironic that a priest of Aiha was staying in a temple serving Kail.

Although Neilla simply shook her head when Roina asked if he had quit being a priest. It was clear that things were no longer the same as before.

Originally, the empire was a theocracy, with the imperial family being the temple of the empire, and the imperial family members being the messengers of the gods. There were also priests of Kail residing in the imperial palace. The young boys who assisted the Crown Prince’s rituals were among them.

However, since people couldn’t see the members of the imperial family and pray to them every day, temples like this were established in places far from the capital. Also, since there was no doctrine that denied other gods, it was also possible to serve them alongside other gods.

‘It’s unnatural.’

That’s what Roina thought. Such a system was not sustainable for such a long time. It was a system where power was too concentrated in the monarchy. It was natural for it to collapse if something happened, like with the Crown Prince this time, but it had been maintained for a thousand years.

However, weren’t there more than a few unnatural things in this world? Roina didn’t think deeply about it and headed to the temple with her group.

The temple clearly looked like a modified version of Aiha’s temple. There were discordant statues and decorations that didn’t seem to belong there. Each of the decorations was extremely beautiful, but they didn’t blend well with the place. In the empire’s capital, after the New Year’s Eve incident, the imperial authority had plummeted, and the priests were in a self-restrained mood, but it wasn’t the case here.

A Castrello priest was stepping forward, greeting people with a bright face and giving them blessings.

“…Ethan, is that person the disciple Neilla mentioned?”

“…Yes, it is.”

Ethan hesitated before answering. He was a handsome man with a beautiful face, confidently giving blessings in the name of Kail instead of Aiha, and actively helping to promote the empire, reassuring the people.

It was certainly understandable why even Ethan would hesitate. He looked less like a priest and even less like someone from the Castrello Kingdom. Looking closely, his appearance was slightly different from typical Castrello people. He looked a bit more like an imperial citizen.

Then, he swept back his wheat-colored hair and smiled softly, looking at Roina and her group.

“You traitor!!”

Pak, something like a flour clump flew towards the man. The man’s smiling face froze.

“Please calm down. Everything is the will of the gods…”

“My daughter was taken away! And you’re saying that now?!”

A middle-aged man, his face completely red with anger, shouted that. The priest lowered his eyes, looking troubled. Then, he gestured towards somewhere and received a towel from a child assisting him nearby, wiping his face as he turned around.

“You bastard-!”

The man rushed forward to grab his collar, but guards rushed out from where the priest had gestured and restrained the man.

“Know that you are only getting off this lightly because Mana Priest is merciful. If you approach again, you will be executed immediately.”

Those were the guard’s words. The man shouted and raved in anger, but he couldn’t take his life lightly, and in the end, he sat down there, sobbing.