“Make these commoners back off. This Prince intends to act with some humility today, after all. Soldiers, block them.”
The arrogant youth with short blonde hair waved his hand dismissively.
The soldiers beside him viciously forced the crowd apart. The youth walked toward Idledra with a smug expression that made one want to punch him.
“Good morning, respected Saintess. I am the Third Prince of the Empire, Chris Owen. I have come specifically to admire your beauty…”
Idledra completely ignored the man’s mutterings, but Hailey, standing beside her, felt like this guy was looking for a fight.
The Pope had mentioned that the Imperial Family would send someone to cause trouble, but he hadn’t mentioned they were sending such a bizarre character.
Were all nobles this over-the-top?
“Sorry, sir, but regardless of who you are, you have to wait in line here. If you have nothing else to do, please leave. Thanks.”
Hailey had no idea what kind of tricks he was planning, so she figured it was best to just get rid of him.
Without waiting for the narcissistic Third Prince to continue, Hailey impatiently pushed him out of the center of the hall.
He was forced back into the crowded mass of people, where someone even took advantage of the chaos to stomp on his foot.
As soon as she shoved the Third Prince into the crowd, Hailey was surrounded by the weapons of the soldiers.
She was used to this by now. It was like she was some kind of taunting minion that everyone felt compelled to attack; it always ended up like this.
“How dare you be so rude to this Prince! Who exactly are you, girl? Guards, seize her!”
Clutching his face in pain, the infuriated Third Prince ordered the surrounding soldiers to slowly close in on Hailey.
Hailey didn’t resist. She spread her hands, signaling for them to do whatever they wanted. It wasn’t like they could actually touch her anyway.
‘You’re asking who I am? Good question. This is Holy See territory. You dare move against me in front of the Statue of the Goddess and the Saintess? I am—’
‘Good question, what should I say? I’m the Saintess’s personal Apostle? The Saintess’s roommate? The Saintess’s…’
“She is mine. Do you understand? To me, she is just as important as the Goddess.”
Idledra gripped Hailey’s hand and slowly stepped in front of her, shielding her. Although her face was obscured by her veil, Idledra’s forceful and insurmountable divine aura was still palpable.
‘Wait, Sister! You don’t need to use our Goddess as a comparison right now! I know you’re anxious, but you shouldn’t say things like that!’
Fortunately, the surrounding believers didn’t hear that somewhat reckless statement. Otherwise, the two of them would be called in for a talk with the Holy See tomorrow.
“Third Prince, by taking action in front of the Statue of the Goddess, does the Empire intend to settle scores with the Holy See?”
As the words rang out, Hailey stayed one step ahead by retreating behind Idledra, making faces at the previously arrogant soldiers with a look of disdain.
Idledra simply spoiled her. She was the Saintess, after all.
What was wrong with letting Hailey use her status for protection? As long as her Hailey liked it, she could use it however she pleased.
“Third Prince, for you to come here for worship with armed soldiers — are you seeking the Goddess’s blessing, or are you planning something else…?”
The more baseless the accusation, the easier it was to fluster those with hidden motives.
The Third Prince’s expression clearly faltered, but he forced himself to stay calm to smooth things over, ordering the soldiers to withdraw with a look of disgust.
Moreover, if this Saintess was so wary of him, then the Holy See must have received news.
That new Pope, who looked younger than the old man before him, was far from simple.
However, if he retreated now, how could he, the Third Prince of the Empire, hold his head up in front of those other two? Besides, he had boasted loudly in front of his father and the ministers.
“Haha, the Saintess must be joking. It was my mistake for causing such alarm. I will have them leave immediately so as not to disturb everyone.”
Once the soldiers retreated under the Third Prince’s harsh gaze, the crowd in the Church finally calmed down a little.
Everyone watched the “ill-intentioned” Third Prince with wary and guarded eyes.
Although Idledra couldn’t see the man’s face, she could tell from his aura and his every word and action that he was extremely unpleasant.
Most importantly, Hailey hated him, and he had even dared to try to lay a hand on her… This man deserved to be annihilated in the depths of hell, boiled in oil and scorched by fire 10,000 times before she would feel satisfied.
“Then, respected Third Prince, if you are not here to worship the Goddess, please do not waste the time of the other believers. After all, the Goddess treats everyone as equals, even a Prince like yourself.”
“No, no, no. I am here today to worship the Goddess. I assume that as the Messenger of the Goddess, the Saintess won’t refuse me?”
‘This Saintess… she’s as beautiful as the rumors say, but her sharp tongue is… Tsk, what a pain.’
If he hadn’t been sent to take the Holy See’s rising Saintess down a peg, he never would have come to this place crawling with commoners.
“In that case, Third Prince, please go wait in line over there.”
If he were here to cause a scene, the Third Prince wouldn’t have been able to do anything given her status in the Holy See.
But if he used the excuse of worship and prayer, Idledra couldn’t do anything to him, no matter how much she hated the guy.
But since you’re a “devout believer,” you have to obey the arrangements of the Messenger of the Goddess. Go and stand with the commoners you hate so much.
Sure enough, as soon as Idledra finished speaking, the Third Prince’s expression turned as miserable as if he had eaten a bitter melon.
Yet, he could only endure it. With a dark look on his face, he walked into the crowd.
“Hey, are we really letting that Third Prince over? I feel like he’s up to no good. How about we secretly — “
Hailey gently poked the back of Idledra’s hand and secretly made a throat-slitting gesture.
She then suddenly remembered that they were currently maintaining the image of the Goddess’s messengers and couldn’t just kill people, so she gave up in disappointment.
Idledra gently took her hand and leaned against her arm as if nothing had happened.
She caught the floral scent of Hailey’s hair, having already thrown the annoying matter of the Third Prince to the back of her mind.
Hailey’s hands were so small and soft, yet her shoulders were firm and plump — healthy and dependable. And Hailey’s scent…
“All right, all right. Let’s hurry up and deal with this eyesore before we play. Everyone is watching right now.”
Hailey whispered into her ear.
Being interrupted clearly made Idledra dissatisfied, and she directed all her resentment and annoyance toward the intruder — that immense eyesore of a Third Prince.
“Fine.”
As the Saintess, she couldn’t just kill people whenever she wanted.