Chapter 175

Looking at the light pouring out before me, even though it was a scene so rare it might never occur again in the world, my mind grew more complicated.

‘Remer, you bastard… doesn’t he have some ulterior motive again?’

Because I had no interest in the gods of this world, I didn’t even know the existence of a “Saint.” Since there wasn’t one before, I just assumed the world didn’t have it.

But then, right in front of me, my client suddenly awakened…?

Olgard and Priest Nora, who had no way of knowing my inner thoughts, were streaming tears of joy. Other priests who had rushed over wondering what the light was seeing the sight were stunned and fell to their knees.

“Saint…!”

“Divine Lord Remer!”

I don’t know how they could tell that she was a Saint immediately, but the priests apparently could.

After a moment, the light disappeared and Elize, who had been floating in the air, gently came down to the ground. She slowly opened her eyes.

“My divine power has become incomparably stronger than before.”

‘Even I, who don’t know much, can see that.’

Priests swarmed around her, bewildered.

“To witness the birth of a Saint like this…!”

“To think she was so close to us!”

“Has there ever been a case of a priest becoming a Saint?”

“I don’t know, but Elize, congratulations!”

“Saint Elize!”

They were practically fanatics.

Still, from this situation I could infer a few things. First, Elize had truly overcome the wounds of her past. Otherwise, it seemed unlikely she would awaken as a Saint at such a coincidental timing. Second, the trip to the Grand Duchy (대공령) had been frustrated. Now that she was a Saint, she would have to remain at the main Resera temple.

‘Well… whatever, what’s good is good.’

After finishing with the last client, I decided to quietly leave behind the excited priests.

“Um, Chancellor!”

She called out to me loudly and stopped me. Suddenly everyone’s gaze turned to me.

“Could I see you again? This time I’d like to come to you…”

She had become a Saint, but inside she was still the Elize I knew. It didn’t seem like divine possession had suddenly changed her personality. I had grown fond of her from meeting her steadily for a year.

“If you’re coming, come as a friend, not as a Saint.”

“…!”

Tears welled in Elize’s eyes again. No, what did I do…!

“I’ll wait.”

“Yes!”

I gave a small wave and left the temple. I didn’t know how things were unfolding, but it seemed I had become friends with a Saint.

The rumor that a Saint had appeared spread through the empire in an instant. Temples nationwide declared this day the birth of the Saint and commemorated it. Olgard and Priest Nora were visibly excited. The people of the empire cheered, calling it a good omen. However, they were shocked to learn she was a victim of the special baptism and enraged at the perpetrators. They said the Saint had nearly been lost forever, and that Lord Remer had nearly become displeased.

Elize had no hesitation in revealing that she was a victim of the special baptism.

“Even if someone points a finger and calls me tainted, I’m a wonderful person. Right?”

She had truly become a wonderful person. It was far better than hiding everything only for her enemies to expose it. After all, not everyone can hold affection for just one person.

Moreover, the Emperor couldn’t have been in a better mood.

“As expected, you are my faithful retainer! A Saint even appears! You cared for her devotedly until the Chancellor awakened her as a Saint, didn’t you?”

“It was purely coincidental. Among the people I counseled, Elize happened to be one; I did not know she was a Saint and therefore help her.”

Because people thought the birth of a Saint was the very epitome of a good omen. It felt as if Remer’s blessing had manifested in human form.

“Humility indeed! Didn’t she even give an interview saying she was able to heal her wounds thanks to you? I don’t think that is unrelated to the Saint’s awakening.”

“It really was a coincidence…”

Elize did not hide her fondness for me in various newspaper interviews. I wondered whether she knew what her actions implied.

‘She’s practically advertising that she’s on the Chancellor line, in other words, the Emperor’s faction.’

That’s why the Emperor was on cloud nine. Not only did a Saint appear, but she was very close to his loyal retainer.

“She hasn’t long awakened and still carries emotional scars, so public activities will be difficult. Don’t rush things; let’s watch over her as is.”

He stroked his beard leisurely and smiled with satisfaction.

“Then I’ll do as my Chancellor says. This is enough for now.”

He was preemptively protecting against the possibility of parading Elize around to strengthen imperial authority and make her work—if my expressed favor for her brought me trouble, it would be problematic.

“As expected, having a Chancellor is reassuring. I will continue to rely on you. And the reason I summoned you today is another matter.”

As expected, one must not let their guard down when a superior summons them; they more often throw burdens than rewards. I had a rough idea based on recent events.

“Will you reinstate Prince Lawrence?”

The Emperor seemed taken aback, his gaze flickering, then he gave an awkward laugh.

“You noticed. During this year he must have reflected a lot. I visited the palace recently and saw Lawrence devoting himself to study. He asked me to forgive the sins he committed.”

‘Do you believe that?’

I don’t see how living luxuriously in the palace without worrying about livelihood equates to genuine reflection. If he had truly repented, he would have gone out on his own to help the struggling citizens, planned projects for them, and bowed his head to apologize to the victims.

“I thought I should tell my loyal Chancellor ahead of time. You may not feel great about it, but be lenient with my son Lawrence. He still has much to learn, so it would be good if you looked after him like Raven does.”

Does the Emperor really think I’m the kind of person who would take this to heart?

‘I’m not that stupid.’

It sounded more like a hint to handle his return gently rather than snatch him up like a rat. Does he know what his son was doing before being reinstated?

The Emperor had already made up his mind. If I opposed him now, I’d only stack more unpopularity. But if he truly thinks of me as a loyal retainer, I should at least say this.

“Your Majesty, I am your loyal retainer. One cannot make someone a loyal retainer by order.”

“Yes, that is so…”

The Emperor smiled as if pleased, then pinched his brows in a slightly bitter way.

“May I speak sincerely?”

“Do.”

“Are you aware that the Saint is a victim of the special baptism?”

“…!”

“The birth of a Saint is an auspicious omen for the empire. Reinstating Prince Lawrence, the instigator of the special baptism, could run counter to the will of Lord Remer—please keep that in mind as the ruler of the empire.”

He seemed unable to conceive that the Saint and the victim of the special baptism were the same person. Those royal scoundrels.

I said that to the Emperor, who fell silent and sank into thought.

“If this peace continues, I will not be the one to harm Prince Lawrence first.”

‘But Lawrence, will you be able to sit still?’

Not long after the conversation, the Emperor ordered Lawrence’s reinstatement, saying he had been sufficiently punished. Of course I wasn’t pleased, but I had expected it because I didn’t think the Emperor would leave him alone.

‘Parental love that overcomes the will of the deity. Impressive.’

In the short time since, Raven had secured a perfect position, so conditions were much better than before. I also managed the Chancellery more thoroughly and cultivated close ties with the heads of central ministries. No one saw me as a rookie Chancellor anymore.

But the world doesn’t go as one wishes.

[Youngest Chancellor, Cornelia Libertas. Turns out it was a corrupt promotion?]

It was the front page. The article claimed I had seduced the empire’s top elite, Duke Vespera, and climbed to the Chancellorship at lightning speed.

Those who knew me wouldn’t believe it for a second, but it was enough to stir the opinions of low-level officials and the empire’s populace. When I entered the Imperial Palace, I could feel servants and officials looking at me with hostile gazes and whispering.

The strange things didn’t end there.

“Coco, sorry, but could we stay at your place for a while?”

“What’s wrong? Renovations or something?”

“Well, there was a fire at our house…”

A fire had burned the first floor of the house where Pinea and Nicola lived. Fortunately no one was hurt, but they needed a place to stay while they repaired the house. Of course I agreed without hesitation. We had many spare rooms.

“Brother, where are you going?”

“Oh, just to the Marquess’s residence for a moment.”

“To see Kiara? Didn’t you meet her this afternoon? That’s so cheesy.”

Marcella’s expression, as she put on her coat, was slightly stiff.

“Someone said there was a dead black swan and a broken Black Dia in front of the manor. I wanted to check.”

“…What?”

The black swan was Kiara’s symbolic image in society, and Black Dia was her signature brand.

“Kiara might be unsettled, so you should stay by her side. There’s also talk of a suspicious man loitering around the academy Julie and Rio attend, so things feel a bit off lately. Coco, be careful too.”

But the climax was this.

“…Your cherished horse died?”

Ren’s beloved horse, which he rode across the battlefield, had its throat slit overnight and died. The stable hand who apparently killed the horse was found dead at the scene as well. He said he was fine, but having seen him every day, I knew. Ren was as sorrowful as if he’d lost a friend.

I was furious. My blood boiled. There was only one bastard who would carry out such despicable, underground threats.

Okay, I admit it. The guy has a genius talent for pissing people off.

“Lawrence, shall we make his reinstatement quite a spectacle?”

You’re hopeless.