Chapter 33

“Only the one who has seen the book would know how it turns out, right?”  

When Edelis said that, the Saintess couldn’t say anything more. She couldn’t possibly know Edelis had the book. So if Edelis kept her distance and chose her words carefully, the Saintess would have nothing to refute.  

“Exactly. Only the one who has seen the book would know.”  

Edelis had worried the Saintess might persist in her claim. But thankfully, the Saintess simply smiled brightly and agreed with her.  

“You seem to know a lot of interesting stories, Saintess.”  

“Well, not many people in the temple can read the records.”  

“If you have any interesting stories—whether they’re about the book or not—please share them with me.”  

Edelis added that to avoid making the Saintess suspicious by focusing solely on the book.  

“Of course.”  

Both women had smiles on their faces, but the air felt inexplicably chilly.  

Lehan, seated between them, decided it was better to step in and break the tension.  

“Thank you for the stories.”  

“Not at all. I’m glad we could share some tea together.”  

With that, the Saintess raised her cup to her lips. The teacup still held plenty of tea.  

Lehan had assumed she would rise quietly and had been slightly taken aback. Since she mentioned the tea, it was clear they were expected to remain seated until her cup was empty.  

Lehan began slowly finishing his own tea so he could get up at any moment.  

“Come to think of it, Your Majesty,”  

What is she going to bring up now? Edelis was curious, wondering if the Saintess might say something useful again. Though the atmosphere wasn’t exactly pleasant…  

“I don’t see the knight who usually escorts you.”  

“He’s stationed at a distance.”  

Lehan subtly nodded toward the imperial knight positioned farther away.  

If it were only Edelis, Lehan would’ve stayed at her side no matter what. But since the Saintess was also present, someone had to watch over her as well.  

But the Saintess tilted her head and said something that caught Lehan completely off guard.  

“No, I meant the silver-haired knight who used to guard Her Majesty before.”  

The one she was referring to—smiling so innocently—was the person Lehan regarded with the most caution.  

And the one Edelis had longed to see again.  

There was only one silver-haired knight who had ever guarded Edelis.  

“Do you mean Sir Berman Pasis?”  

Berman Pasis. When Edelis spoke his name, Lehan instinctively tensed. His gaze turned sharp toward the Saintess—how did she know him?  

“I saw him once when I came here to pray.”  

“Oh, so Sir Pasis was at the temple when you came to offer prayers?”  

“Yes. I was surprised to see the knight who guarded Her Majesty there as well.”  

Hearing that name again—a name Edelis had hoped not to—was unsettling.  

Still, it was plausible. Given it was a widely followed religion, it made sense for the Saintess to have seen him during a visit.  

The real issue was that the man she spoke of had foolishly confessed his feelings to Edelis.  

“But I don’t see him today?”  

“No. Since I’m here, I’ve reassigned her personal escort.”  

There was no need to mention that Sir Pasis had confessed to his wife and was now suspended. That would only lead to unwanted questions from the Saintess.  

So Lehan kept it vague, citing ‘escort reassignment.’  

It wasn’t even a lie—he really had pulled Pasis from his post because he was with Edelis today.  

“Then next time we have tea, it would be nice to have him join us.”  

The Saintess, saying she wanted to meet him again because he seemed like such a devout man, caused Lehan’s brow to furrow involuntarily.  

Edelis caught his reaction.  

From her perspective, there was no reason to refuse.  

‘I was wondering how to bring Sir Pasis back anyway.’ 

Even though she now believed the future could be changed, it was only a possibility.  

She couldn’t stake her life on a mere chance. So she had to prepare for the worst—and in that case, having Pasis around would be reassuring.  

Even if she did manage to change the future, he had been on her side in the worst scenarios.  

‘But Lehan’s going to be uncomfortable…’  

Of course he would be. Who would look kindly on a man who had confessed to their wife?  

Edelis glanced at Lehan. His expression was far from bright.  

‘Just as I thought.’  

There was no need to mention that Lehan had suspended Sir Pasis. That would only provoke questions—especially considering how nosy the Saintess had proven to be at the last banquet.  

“Is there a specific reason you’re asking for him?”  

Pasis was just a knight. It was awkward for someone of his position to be involved in a gathering between the Emperor, Empress, and Saintess.  

But if the Saintess extended the invitation, it wasn’t impossible.  

Still, Lehan didn’t want to sit face-to-face with that man and share tea.  

“You’re aware that I receive divine revelations, aren’t you?”  

“Yes.”  

“I’ve received one concerning that knight.”  

“…Sir Berman Pasis?”  

“Yes.”  

Of all people, the divine revelation had to be about Pasis? Lehan silently swallowed a sigh.  

“I’m supposed to deliver the message to him directly, so I was hoping he could attend.”  

“……”  

“It’s actually against the rules to even mention I have something to tell him in advance…”  

The Saintess looked slightly troubled, and at that point, Lehan could no longer refuse.  

Even as Emperor, he had to show respect toward the religious institution.  

But it was frustrating—declining over something this seemingly trivial would make him look petty.  

“In that case, I’ll arrange a meeting with Sir Pasis.”  

“Oh, no. Her Majesty needs to be there as well. The revelation concerns her too.”  

“Me?”  

If both Edelis and Pasis were involved…  

She thought of the book again.  

Perhaps she’d finally learn something that hadn’t been revealed to her in its pages. There was no way she could say no.  

“Very well, then.”  

As soon as Edelis gave her consent, Lehan clenched his fist.  

Noticing this, she gently patted his hand, and he looked at her and slowly calmed down.  

“Then will His Majesty also attend?”  

“I will.”  

Lehan answered before Edelis could say anything.  

The Saintess liked Lehan.  

Edelis found the Saintess deeply uncomfortable.  

Pasis had once confessed his feelings to Edelis.  

 Lehan wanted nothing more than to erase Pasis from existence.  

‘There couldn’t be a worse combination.’

If they all sat down together, she felt she might be too stressed to even register the conversation.  

“Then, may we take our leave now?”  

“So soon…?”  

The Saintess looked disappointed, her lovely features tinged with regret.  

But the longer Edelis stayed, the more the Saintess seemed to shine—while she herself felt she was dimming. There was no need to hesitate.  

Now wasn’t the time to hear about Pasis.  

Right now, she wanted to speak to Lehan, who looked visibly distressed.  

“Yes.”  

“But there’s still so much tea left…”  

The Saintess lifted her cup slightly, showing that barely any had been drunk.  

If they waited for her to finish, it would soon be time for a meal, and then they’d end up dining together.  

This was the time to draw the line.  

“Unfortunately, we must be going now.”  

“……”  

Edelis knew how rude it was to leave before the guest had finished her tea.  

But their conversation had run its course, and she had a reason to leave.  

“As you know, we were married just yesterday…”  

“Oh.”  

Fresh newlyweds. Married just a day ago.  

And here the Saintess was, intruding on their time together.  

Implying: “Shouldn’t we be having some private time?”  

“We didn’t sleep well last night and are feeling rather tired—I’m afraid we won’t be the best company.”  

Her skin was glowing like honey, clearly well-rested.  

Nothing had happened last night, but the Saintess caught her meaning instantly.  

Her face turned red—apparently quite shocked.  

‘Or maybe… she just hates that the man she likes is now my husband.’

Still, she was the Saintess. Surely she wouldn’t covet someone else’s husband.  

‘But in the book, she did!’ 

No. It was too early to jump to conclusions.  

Maybe Lehan had seduced her the way he had Edelis.  

Even just considering that made her heart ache.  

“In that case, it’s alright.”  

“Forgive us, Saintess. My wife says she’s tired.”  

Although the Saintess said it was fine, Lehan stood immediately and took Edelis’s hand.  

“She must’ve had a hard time last night.”  

“……”  

Lehan smiled radiantly.  

Edelis had meant the comment only to cut the visit short, but she hadn’t expected him to use it like this.  

Now she’d have to deal with the consequences of her own words.  

“I’d like to sleep early tonight.”  

Truthfully, she wanted to sleep early again.  

She smiled awkwardly. Lehan kissed the hand he was holding.  

That silent gesture only made her blush more.  

A silence full of meanings.  

“We’ll offer our formal apology for today’s rudeness another time.”  

Nothing had happened last night, but anyone listening to this conversation would assume otherwise.  

The Saintess clearly understood, her face red, and said nothing in return.  

“Then we’ll be off.”  

With that, Lehan escorted Edelis out of the garden.  

The beautiful tea table in the garden was now left with just one person: the Saintess, her expression full of dismay.  

The moment they returned to the palace, Lehan said firmly to Edelis: “Sir Berman Pasis is not acceptable.”  

“But he’s said to be connected to me.”  

“I’ll ask if you can hear the message without being present.”  

“And then what? You’ll have him tell me about it afterward?”  

“……”  

“The Saintess said the message must be delivered directly. That means I need to be there.”  

Edelis was desperate.  

The future involving Pasis.  

The book might not shine again anytime soon. She couldn’t rely solely on it.  

“There’s no guarantee he’ll convey your part accurately.”  

“Exactly. That’s why I’ll hear it for myself.”  

She didn’t know if Pasis would go that far. But she didn’t deny that she had to be present.  

“Lehan… I really am sorry, but…”  

After the wedding, Lehan had worked late into the night to make time to be with her.  

She had seen the stack of documents he’d left on the nightstand while she slept.  

But Lehan read her intentions first and said, “It’s fine. I’ll summon Sir Berman Pasis.”