I felt at ease in the familiar landscape.

'Do you know how many territories are in the temple?'

The probationary period is said to be 10 years, but that is an average.

There are many who cannot become formal priests even after tens of years of training.

These people hate newcomers. Because they thought it was a competitor.

People from aristocrats, especially me, was hated even more.

There were quite a few who asked for favors like Leia, and basically, the arrogant atmosphere unique to nobles seemed to bother her.

Besides, unlike themselves, who have no other way to make a living than becoming a priest, the children of noble families do not go hungry even if they do not get promoted.

She couldn't help but become an object of jealousy.

If it was the empire, she wouldn't have even yelled at me, but if it was the same training in the castle kingdom, it would be different.

Priests are ranked according to the position determined by the Holy Kingdom.

“Do you hold your head up in front of your seniors? hey newcomer. Cover your eyes.”

"You're too outspoken on the topic of rookies."

Of course, I caught the military discipline, didn't I put bugs in my shoes, didn't I splash water while walking, and there were times when I pushed it and threw it into a pond.

There were many times when I intentionally ostracized by removing the chair from where I was sitting.

At first, I didn't know what to do, so I hid in a corner and cried.

'I overcame everything.'

After adapting to the temple life, I got along well while taking revenge.

I greeted her with a soft smile and holding the hem of my skirt in accordance with imperial etiquette.

I'm wearing a priest's uniform, but this is also an empire.

Since she referred to me as 'Lady Theodore', I decided to put myself in the position of a young woman.

“Meet the little moon of the Empire.”

Certina's eyebrows twitched slightly.

Seeing that I was not embarrassed and proud, it seemed that I was rather embarrassed.

I don't know what to do with no place to sit, so I have a lot of experience to stomp her feet.

The ladies-in-waiting who were seated pointed me out.

“Lady Theodore, the greeting is too late.”

"Right. Didn't you see Her Highness from the Rose Garden? Why are you saying hello now?”

They were the maids who held onto Certina's arm and waited on her.

'You said you didn't want to stand side by side with me and made me chase you from behind.'

Before that, she was talking to Cassius, and there was no way I could intervene, she complained.

It's been several years since I've been swayed by a bully called my senior, but I've been used to avoiding these traps.

“It's been so long since I left the empire that I forgot about etiquette for a while. I apologize if you were offended.”

A priest of healing from the Holy Land side invited to a party to celebrate the discovery of the Sanctuary of Healing.

If you were a princess, you would already know that I am an imperial citizen and that I had been living only in the Holy Land for a long time.

She becomes an ignorant person if she keeps pushing me for meekly admitting wrong.

The ladies-in-waiting bit their lips as if it had become difficult for them to keep on arguing.

“Yes, forgive me.”

Sertina, who was watching the situation quietly, opened her mouth.

“But Lady Theodore has one more thing to apologize for.”

what's wrong

I didn't know that, so I chased it all the way here.

'Explain my mistake!'

I will apologize without forgetting the thorough Eul-in position.

Sertina hadn't allowed her to speak yet, so I had to listen quietly for now.

“You took all of my second brother’s time at the rose garden today.”

I'm taking Schwartz's time.

I don't have that ability or guts.

“I’m sorry, so tell me once. What is the reason for approaching the second older brother?”

Rather, it was Schwartz who approached me.

She lied for no reason, and it was me who would be in trouble if caught.

Since the other person is the princess, it would be better to tell the truth.

“I never dared to think of stealing Prince Lyndemere's time. The Grand Duke said he needed prayers, and he found me.”

“A prayer? Isn’t Seongguk the one who said he couldn’t even baptize because he was an illegitimate child?”

That was right. I also thought it was unreasonable.

If you just baptize him like everyone else does, there will be no more unnecessary conflicts.

If I had the qualifications, I would have liked to baptize Schwarz.

“I have the blood of an imperial aristocrat, but at the same time I am a priest of the Holy Nation. Anyone who needs the help of the Lord God can pray.”

Certina's mouth hardened.

"okay? Right now, I also need prayer. I hope Lady Theodore will pray for me too.”

“Call me if you need me.”

“Pray to God to fix my leg right now.”

I couldn't put my hands together.

It's easy to pray, but what Certina wanted was not prayer, but a miracle.

“Why don’t you beg?”

“…… Although the Lord God is merciful, he does not answer everyone's prayers.”

“My leg was originally fine. Isn't it God's will that I suddenly get hurt? Then you have to fix it.”

"sorry. I do not dare to interpret the meaning of the Lord.”

“Why can’t a priest do that! Your god sent you trials, but you don't know anything?”

“…… sorry."

Certina's eyes twitched, and her voice grew louder and louder.

She seemed to be adding to the anger boiling up from within.

Perhaps prayer was Certina's wrath.

“I am undergoing this kind of trial because I have done something wrong!? Answer me, what does your god say?”

There was a saying that priests used to say to those who prayed but were disappointed because it did not come true.

‘It is an ordeal. If you persevere, a miracle will come someday’.

I couldn't bear to say that to Certina.

Maybe she's heard the same thing from quite a few priests.

Certina gritted her teeth.

“Let’s change the question. Do you hear my prayers, servant of God?”

Not at all.

If God Magnus had listened to my prayers, I wouldn't have been afraid of the obsessive Gwanggong in the original work.

When I kept my mouth shut, Sertina shouted.

“Do you know why the prayers in the Sanctuary of Healing are in an ancient sacred language? Answer me!"

“I can’t fathom God’s will either.”

“I ask you one last time. But if you come directly to the Empire, is there a way to finally awaken?”

"no."

“…… Did you visit the Empire without even having a final awakening? To flirt in a dress?”

“……”

I felt like a thorn in Certina's eyes because I couldn't finally wake up.

None of the questions could be answered calmly, and Sertina shouted as if she was throwing up the anger she had hidden deep inside her stomach.

She said, “I was only seventeen years old. What is the sin that makes a child's legs useless? What else do I gain by enduring this ordeal!”

I couldn't answer her question.

It was obvious that if I explained the doctrines I had learned while practicing as a priest, it would only make her angry.

“Are you ignoring me again?”

When I didn't open my mouth, the princess trembled with her fists.

Then, using a cane, she tried to get up alone.

Certina was unable to stand on her own.

“Your Highness the Princess!”

She was able to stand upright only then as the maids-in-waiting held her by her side.

Certina, who shook off the handmaid's arm on her right, swung her hand vigorously.

match! My cheeks were burning.

It wasn't as painful as I thought.

As much as her legs were uncomfortable, her hand strength didn't seem to be strong either.

“How much more earnestly do I have to beg for!”

Certina shouted like the scream of someone facing death and slapped my cheek again.

She vomited all kinds of words.

I could hear why she hated me as I listened to her outbursts.

'She hates me because I'm a priest of healing.'

It seems that Celtina prayed to God more than I could have imagined.

But God did not show a miracle.

“I didn’t even drink water, so I prayed until I collapsed. Will God know that I am desperate if I die while praying?”

“…….”

“My mother passed away the same year I lost my leg. Because of omega fever. He blamed me for saying it was my fault too. Every morning I beat myself on the back with a whip and begged for my sins to be forgiven!”

“…….”

“i got up earlier than the priests and prayed. I stayed alone in the prayer room until everyone else fell asleep!”

“…….”

“I gave them gold coins as they asked for. They said they needed a temple, so I robbed of her money. I even gave away my precious jewelry, a memento of my mother! What more do you want me to give you!”

The priests who helped her pray might have said something like this.

You lacked sincerity to reach the truth.

You have committed a great sin. The Lord gave us trials to wash away our sins.

You can overcome trials through prayer.

Show sincerity.

How she hated the priests who preached that the word of God, who did not heal her leg, was right.

I came out of the princess's palace as if being pushed by her ladies-in-waiting without any objection to her.

When I came to my senses,I was in front of the princess's palace.

Shoot aaaaaa—.

In an instant, I was soaked in the sudden pouring rain.

The wet hair and the weight of my clothes pulled me into reality.

‘…… I was shocked.'

I worked as a confessor and listened to the concerns of many people.

But I've never seen anyone so upset.

Sertina's slaps didn't hurt me, but the inside of my chest was sore as if stabbed by the knife.