FLBE Chapter 8 Part 3

Hearing about the reduction in Liena’s lifespan made Rhetrik’s previously smooth eyebrows furrow. It wasn’t new information, but inexplicably, the mention of Liena’s lifespan constricted his heart.

 

 

 

“She’s the one you’d be most troubled without. What will you do if she falls ill or if another Saintess doesn’t appear before your rut? Like last time, medicine wouldn’t solve it. If something happens to her, I won’t cooperate with you at all.”

 

 

 

For the first time, Rhetrik was at a loss for words. He knew better than anyone what it was like to endure a rut cycle without an omega. But what was this feeling?

 

 

 

He couldn’t hear the threats about enduring the rut alone or Roan’s threats of non-cooperation. Only a few words resonated in his mind.

 

 

 

‘If something happens to her.’

 

 

 

“Ha! Hahaha. This is madness.”

 

 

 

Stunned by his own thoughts, Rhetrik laughed derisively and chewed on his lip. Roan’s resolute gaze and firm words about Liena made his blood boil. Roan was serious about her.

 

 

 

“I’m curious. Since when?”

 

 

 

“Since when what?”

 

 

 

“You didn’t look at her like this when we were hunting down that mage. And you definitely said you had no feelings for her.”

 

 

 

“Hmm.”

 

 

 

Roan exhaled shortly in response to Rhetrik’s biting question. Then, as always, he spoke with a gentle smile.

 

 

 

“Can anyone really control their emotions? I naturally melted away at her smile and her kind heart. As you know, I’m a servant to a deity. I’m used to following someone wholeheartedly.”

 

 

 

“So you’ve decided to follow Liena? Throwing aside the god you serve?”

 

 

 

“No, the only god I serve is Goddess Vertia. But Liena is the woman I will protect. I swear by my title as pope that I will keep her by my side and protect her.”

 

 

 

Hearing ‘Liena’ from Roan’s lips made Rhetrik’s heart ache once again. What is this unpleasant feeling? Irritation surged within him at this emotion he was experiencing for the first time.

 

 

 

He wanted to kill Roan right there and then. But eliminating someone who, like himself, was beloved and trusted by the people of the empire would lead to uncontrollable consequences.

 

 

 

Moreover, Roan was also a top-righteous alpha. If Roan decided to oppose him, half the empire might be at stake—a fact Rhetrik was well aware of.

 

 

 

And if Roan decided to ally with Lance, there was no guarantee Rhetrik could defeat them both, no matter how strong he was. Even if he did, such a war might devastate the empire, perhaps even the world.

 

 

 

Roan’s change of heart was a painful loss for Rhetrik.

 

 

 

“I’ve been played.”

 

 

 

“We still have our alliance. If you accept my conditions, nothing needs to change between us.”

 

 

 

“So in the end, you want to keep Liena for yourself.”

 

 

 

“The Saintess will still serve the emperor as before. It’s just that her residence will return to the temple. And given Lance, it’s safer for her to be in the temple than the Imperial palace.”

 

 

 

His words were irrefutably correct. That made Rhetrik even angrier. Until now, whether it was people or countries, he had obtained everything he wanted. But securing this one woman was proving to be so difficult.

 

 

 

While he felt like destroying everything in his anger, fortunately, he wasn’t reckless or irrational. To Rhetrik, the empire and its citizens were still more important than Liena.

 

 

 

“Fine. I’ll bring your conditions to the council of nobles. Even as emperor, I can’t make decisions about the country’s major affairs on my own.”

 

 

 

“Hmph, always quick to admonish the nobles about expecting the Saintess’s blessings, but now you hide behind them because you can’t decide on one day of blessings?”

 

 

 

“You’ve never ruled a country; you wouldn’t understand. An emperor doesn’t get to do whatever he wants. There’s always a line to draw.”

 

 

 

“Don’t think about changing your mind. Lance made me an offer recently.”

 

 

 

Of course. The very scenario Rhetrik had feared spilled from Roan’s lips. Keeping his anger in check, Rhetrik spoke in an unfeeling voice.

 

 

 

“Send her to the palace today.”

 

 

 

Upon Rhetrik’s words, Roan stood up. His demeanor had shifted from just moments before, reverting back to the usual composed pope as he politely responded.

 

 

 

“I shall ask the Saintess. She’s quite fatigued from taking care of me. If she feels well, I will bring her to the palace tomorrow. However, if she chooses not to come, there’s nothing I can do.”

 

 

 

Rhetrik’s eyes flashed with fury at Roan’s provoking words.

 

 

 

“Then I will take my leave. Do not forget the conversation we had today.”

 

 

 

Roan bowed politely and exited Rhetrik’s office. As the door closed, a loud crashing sound echoed from inside. Theor, who was fidgeting outside, flinched.

 

 

 

With a smirk, Roan placed a reassuring hand on Theor’s shoulder and spoke in a gentle voice.

 

 

 

“If you go in now, you might end up dead, so just stay put here.”

 

 

 

“…Your Holiness, how is the Saintess?”

 

 

 

“She is fine. Do not worry.”

 

 

 

Roan, ever graceful, left the emperor’s office. His appearance remained as saintly as ever, but his inner thoughts were more corrupted than anyone could imagine.

 

 

 

Suddenly, his face turned grim, and he bit his lip. Although he had placated the emperor by saying she could serve whenever required, he had no intention of allowing it.

 

 

 

His plan was to use the upcoming Harvest Festival to ensure that the emperor could never have her. He intended to enhance Liena’s abilities so that the emperor could no longer control her. If she fully awakened her powers as a dominant omega, it wasn’t an impossibility.

 

 

 

The prophecy had clearly stated that the strong pheromones of a dominant omega could dominate the powerful.

 

 

 

Stopping in his tracks, Roan summoned divine power to his fingertips. The same white light that surrounded her now enveloped his hand.

 

 

 

“To think the day would come when I’d use this power. You truly are an incredible woman, making me like this.”

 

 

 

The pope’s divine power had the ability to strengthen the Saintess’s divine power, which in turn would enhance her pheromones. There had been no need or reason to use it before, but now there was a definite purpose. Roan was determined not to lose her.