FLBE Chapter 5 Part 4

Why did he feel such a strong desire to protect her? He had seen many Saintesses, but never had his emotions been so stirred.

 

 

 

Confronting his unsettling feelings, Roan narrowed his brows, then quickly softened into his usual gentle smile. Approaching her, he realized that instilling trust in her was paramount. He couldn’t let the Saintess prioritize the palace over the temple any longer.

 

 

 

Taking her small, nail-marked hand in his, Roan spoke tenderly,

 

 

 

“I swear before Lord Vertia, whether you are a Saintess or not, a villainess or a witch, I will protect you.”

 

 

 

“!”

 

 

 

“So now don’t be afraid of anything.”

 

 

 

Taken aback by Roan’s unexpected words, Liena widened her eyes, and the tears that had been clinging to the brim finally fell.

 

 

 

“….Why, why? Because I’m an omega? You said you didn’t need me.”

 

 

 

“It’s not your body I need. I just… like Vertia, want to protect your goodness.”

 

 

 

Liar.

 

 

 

Liena didn’t believe him.

 

 

 

How could he promise to protect her, even if she wasn’t a Saintess…. after only a few meetings? Why? Why on earth would he? How could he possibly know whether she was good or not?

 

 

 

Her tears flowed freely, a whirlwind of indescribable emotions engulfing her.

 

 

 

“I don’t expect you to believe me right away. You don’t have to trust me now. Just let me be by your side to help you.”

 

 

 

“….Okay…But, I don’t believe you… still… stay with me.”

 

 

 

Because I’m too scared to be alone…

 

 

 

Liena bit back the tears threatening to burst forth, overwhelmed by her surging emotions.

 

 

 

Yes, she didn’t trust him. He was a man who had hidden his true identity from her. Yet, if anyone, Roan seemed unlikely to harm her. His bright face resembled Vertia, the god of love, with her gentle smile. At least, he wouldn’t kill her, not unless she became utterly useless.

 

 

 

Carefully wiping her tear-stained cheeks, Roan extended his hand.

 

 

 

“Don’t worry. I’ll always be beside you. Shall we go now?”

 

 

 

“Yes.”

 

 

 

Different from before, Liena placed her hand in his. His bright smile was met with her bitter one.

 

 

 

To survive, to live like a human, she needed him, even if he was a high-tier alpha. Surely, a Pope wouldn’t swear a false oath before his god.

 

 

 

A man equal to Rhetrik. A man who promised to protect her.

 

 

 

She couldn’t trust him completely, but for now, Liena wanted to believe, even if it might be a lie. She had nowhere else to turn.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

As Liena walked through the garden towards the depths of the temple, she tried to calm her trembling heart with deep breaths.

 

 

 

What on earth in here is making me so nervous and scared?

 

 

 

Eventually, they reached a small garden. The sight of it, with just a few ordinary trees and sporadically blooming wildflowers, surprisingly brought a sense of peace and tranquility, as if a deity had just departed from this spot. Liena let out a soft exclamation of wonder, her nervous heart finding solace in the serene atmosphere.

 

 

 

Her gaze, sparkling with curiosity, eventually settled on something peculiar – a small pond-like body of water filled with crystal-clear l*quid. The absence of fish suggested it wasn’t a pond.

 

 

 

But why does the ordinary water look so mystical here?

 

 

 

As she turned her head, pondering the strangeness of this place, Liena suddenly jerked in surprise.

 

 

 

W-What’s this?

 

 

 

A procession of priests in pristine ceremonial robes entered from where she had come. They lined up around the pond in an orderly fashion, all turning their attention to her. The numerous gazes from nearly twenty people made her go pale.

 

 

 

Surely…. they’re not going to do the confirmation in front of all these people?

 

 

 

Her mind flashed back to her first encounter with Rhetrik. Priests had nonchalantly entered, standing beside her and casting lecherous glances over her body.

 

 

 

Were some of those priests present here too?

 

 

 

Liena glanced around nervously, scrutinizing each priest’s face. She knew she wouldn’t recognize them from before, but an instinctive urge to understand how they viewed her compelled her to observe them closely.

 

 

 

As Roan released her hand and approached the pond, dipping his hand into the water as if testing its temperature, Liena’s heart pounded even more. She resolved that no matter what, she wouldn’t undress in front of so many priests.

 

 

 

Then Roan’s clear voice broke the silence, his tone different from before.

 

 

 

“Hear me, everyone.”

 

 

 

“Yes, Your Holiness.”

 

 

 

“Lord Vertia has sent us a noble soul. However, this Saintess is different from those before her. She is more delicate and possesses stronger abilities.”

 

 

 

At Roan’s words, the priests’ gazes unanimously shifted towards Liena. Overwhelmed by the sudden focus, her face stiffened awkwardly.

 

 

 

What abilities? Why was Roan telling such pointless lies? She was flustered. She had done nothing to demonstrate any strong abilities.

 

 

 

“Therefore, I declare that we cannot expose the Saintess’s sacred body. The ritual to confirm the color of her mark will be conducted only by me and in the presence of Lord Vertia.”

 

 

 

The atmosphere became uneasy at Roan’s words, but none of the priests voiced objections or argued. They just exchanged curious glances, not openly resisting.

 

 

 

“Pray, everyone. We might be welcoming the most powerful Saintess ever.”

 

 

 

“Yes, Your Holiness!”

 

 

 

With barely concealed joy, the priests chattered among themselves and left in a line. Watching them leave, Liena’s gaze accidentally met that of one priest. She shivered, sensing malice in his fleeting glance.

 

 

 

Was he one of the priests from the palace? Why would he look at her like that?

 

 

 

Brief and disoriented as it was, she couldn’t be sure if he was the same priest from before.

 

 

 

Maybe he was angry at her for not fulfilling the saintess’s duties. But how could she know what those were? The fear of death had been overwhelming.

 

 

 

The idea that serving the Emperor was a Saintess’s duty suddenly felt ridiculous. It was unjust and bitter to be treated with contempt for not attending to the Emperor’s nocturnal needs while being hailed as sacred. It was hypocritical and demeaning.