emperor chapter 3

Chapter 2 – A Child’s Whim

I was busy trying to find Lowell a suitable partner, and yet, I’d run into a nuisance.

“You’re saying nothing happened?!”

“Well…”

I’d spoken to her directly maybe three or four times. Even after reading the book, I couldn’t recall the name of this insignificant, extra cleric.

“Aria?”

Judging by her wide, attentive eyes, it seemed I hadn’t made any fatal mistakes, like getting her name wrong.

“Shh. Your voice is too loud.”

“But how could you?! You had His Highness right beside you, and you just slept? You should have pounced on him like a beast, unable to contain your desire!”

Despite her demonic-sounding words, Aria was, indeed, a cleric.

“Aria…”

“Oh, right. You said my voice was too loud. I’ll ask quietly then.”

It wasn’t the volume I was concerned about, but the content of her words.

Lowell had vanished without a word as morning broke, and I, left alone, hurriedly dressed before the maids arrived and returned to the temple. For some reason, I felt like I shouldn’t be seen like this, so I was sneaking around like a criminal when, of all things, I ran into Aria, who had woken up early today. Aria was a cleric dispatched from the Holy Academy, having just come of age this year.

“So…how was it? Judging by his physique, he’s definitely not ordinary, right?”

Perhaps because of her recent coming-of-age, her words were blunt.

I had whispered into her ear so there was little chance of being overheard, but, as if possessed by a compulsion, I looked around. Fortunately, no one was lingering near us. I grabbed Aria’s shoulders and urged her to be careful.

“I don’t know. Don’t ask, and don’t be curious. You know this can’t get out, right?”

“Yes, don’t worry! I’m His Highness’s loyal servant.”

Aria nodded vigorously. Did she realize that her enthusiasm made me even more worried? The first thing Aria asked me when she saw me was how the wedding night went, so I blurted out that nothing happened.

I made Lowell sleep without blankets in the cold so rumors wouldn’t spread, and now I’d forgotten about it. Was I really that foolish?

“It seems like you did the opposite, though?”

“…I must still be half asleep. I’ll do it again.”

Trying to hide my embarrassment, I made the sign of the holy symbol again for Aria and then we parted ways. It hadn’t been long since I’d possessed Miniel’s body; how could I perfectly pretend to be her?

Suddenly, I wondered if Miniel’s position was more of a bother than a privilege.

A gentle and wise Saint.

Not a single point matched me. I even doubted whether I could fully utilize her abilities.

Miniel was a saint with an overwhelming amount of holy power. It was innate, so even though it weakened after she met Lowell, she was still the strongest in the world in terms of holy power.

Light wounds would heal with a single touch from Miniel, and even those on the brink of death would miraculously survive under her blessing.

However, her actual influence wasn’t that significant.

It was a symbolic position. She was treated as a representative because of the divine oracles, but the practical work was all handled by her secretary.

The Saint’s sole secretary. His name was Raphaerd.

“I was wondering where you had gone. You were here.”

A calm, beautiful voice came from behind me. Turning around, I saw a man with dark gray hair and bright silver eyes.

“Raphaerd.”

He hadn’t appeared much in the book, but whenever he did, he was described as having a holy appearance. I had wondered what that meant, but seeing his refined features and noble aura firsthand, I understood.

“Everyone is waiting for Your Highness’s morning greetings.”

Raphaerd was diligent and competent. Miniel was also a well-behaved Saint who didn’t cause trouble.

But that was the original Miniel. There was no way I, someone who couldn’t even properly make the sign of the holy symbol, would know Miniel’s daily schedule.

“Can’t I rest just for today? You can give the greetings for me.”

If I spouted nonsense during the greetings, I would be mortified, and, worse, they might realize I wasn’t Miniel.

“What is the reason for this request, from someone who has never once neglected her duties?”

“I’m not feeling well.”

“Did he…treat you roughly, without any consideration? That dog, that…person?”

Was I mistaken? It sounded like Raphaerd was about to call Lowell a son of a bitch. Even if I, as the possessor, was an exception, Raphaerd was a devout cleric. Such foul language shouldn’t come from him! I must have misheard.

“No. My head’s been dizzy since yesterday. I also have chills. So, actually, with Lowell, we didn’t really…nothing happened.”

“Is that so?”

It wasn’t something to brag about. Was I talking too much? Telling Aria was a mistake, but there was no need to be honest with Raphaerd, too.