Time-limited Saintess, You’ve Been Caught by the Tyrant Once Again - Chapter 5

The city where travelers stayed was always full of people, especially since it was a city with an overland route to the capital. Gathering in groups of twos and threes, everyone chatted loudly as the sounds of glasses clattering filled the inn and tavern. Meanwhile, the inn’s employees were busy taking orders from customers.

“Ellin, come clean the table!”

“Yes!”

Elena replied vigorously.

Currently, Elena—no, Ellin was working as an employee at a tavern and inn in the city of Bezela.

‘It’s really busy today.’

Thinking so, Ellin tied her flowing hair up tightly. Her beautiful white blonde hair had long been dyed a rather dull dark brown. Even though the work was hard, she did not hate it. After all, hearing the stories people told had never been so much fun.

“I heard the new Emperor ascended?”

At those words, Ellin’s hand, which was cleaning the table, paused.

“New Emperor?”

“Oh, the Second Prince?”

“Ah, the child of that Normaty slave?”

“He killed the Emperor and all his children, leaving only his younger siblings alive.”

As he said so, the man pretended to slit his throat with his hand. Ellin stared at his hand with her eyes wide open.

“Oh, he’s cruel.”

“Shh, don’t say it out loud. There are many ears around.”

Ellin’s hands trembled as she wiped the table.

…Was it true? It should have been two years later when the emperor’s position changed, the year she would turn twenty. Still, even though the timing was different, it was clear who the child of the Normaty slave they were talking about was.

…Arkan.

He was the Emperor she hated

The man was called the Black Emperor because he was always covered in black, dried blood… was he already Emperor?

“Ellin, don’t just wipe there. Wipe this side, too.”

“Yes…!”

She moved on to clean the other table as well. Nevertheless, other tables were also talking about the ascension of the new Emperor.

‘They aren’t lying.’

Her heart was pounding hastily.

What happened…? Calming down her heart, Ellin squeezed her eyes shut.

‘…Now, it doesn’t matter to me.’

She pretended she did not hear their words. However, when she heard the next words, Ellin almost dropped a glass of water.

“The temples are searching for the saint?”

“The saint?”

“Yeah. There was a prophecy that the saint would be in a small town in the southern part of the Empire.”

“If the prophecy is given, they should go.”

“But, I don’t think any of the village maidens had the divine pattern. Apparently, it’s already been three years since the prophecy was given.”

“That’s strange.”

“The Gods were famous for their high noses, though it seemed that the revelations were wrong.”

Ellin sighed in relief.

There was no sign of her being pursued by the temple. She, of course, changed her appearance and even changed her name when she left town, just in case they would seek after her.

‘It’s like this now.’

It has been three years since she left the village. Determined to not become the saint, Ellin left the village secretly without Vistoun Timothy’s knowledge. She, of course, donated the land documents to the temple when she left.

How exhilarating she was as she thought of Viscount Timothy, who would disassemble because he could not take the land. Ellin could not be more excited about her departure. Although she thought her journey alone would be tough for a woman, she could easily travel to another city smoothly as if God had taken care of her.

One of the kind merchants took her to her other village.

Then, the owner of the inn, who was introduced to her by the merchant, gave her a higher salary than expected, saying that the number of customers had increased thanks to her. Thanks to her kind owner, Ellin had many days off. On her days off, she roamed the streets and enjoyed life in a small city.

This was the normal and beautiful life she had longed for.

Even if demons or magical beasts appear, Erich and Maynard were more than capable, so they could take care of them. In addition, if there was any danger, it would not be too late for her to come forward then. Thinking so, Ellin felt a little at ease.

The world was full of interesting and delightful things that she would be willing to throw herself away even when the day of destruction approached.

“Do you even think of me as a person?!”

“Your Majesty doesn’t treat me like a human being, so how could I treat you as a person?”

Elena replied with a cool expression at the intense hatred in his red eyes.

“No matter what you do, I won’t let you go.”

…At that time, what kind of expression did she make then? Elena had lived as if she had been imprisoned in the temple and afflicted by the Imperial Palace.

Pure life in the temple and life in the Imperial Palace where only exaggerated and splendid colors exist…

…None of that made Elena happy.

That was why Ellin’s small daily life was so precious to her… this was her desire. With that thought, she struggled to erase her memory with Arkan.

 ﾟ· : * ✧ * :· ﾟ

“You still haven’t found her!”

As the High Priest exclaimed in anger, the priests and paladins all bowed their heads as though they were sinners.

It had been three years since the prophecy was given, and the saint had not been found. How great would it be if the saint appeared when he was anxious about the confrontation with the Emperor like now…?

Just her presence alone would subdue people, especially now that the demon’s offspring, a mad emperor of Normaty blood, had ascended to the throne and officially revealed his teeth to the temple.

How surprised the Pope was to see those devilish red eyes.

“I apologize.”

Maynard lowered his head so deeply that his face was disappearing. When he, the vice-captain, who was respected by the Paladins, bowed his head, the other knights also bowed their heads. In addition, there were not many cases in which the stiff Maynard bowed his head.

Seeing that, the priests felt like they had to say something.

“Don’t pressure them too much, Priest Anton.”

Unexpectedly, a soft voice was heard. The priests, who were stiff with tension, were remarkably relieved as soon as they heard the voice.

“High Priest Erich.”

High Priest Anton frowned.

Erich, who spoke in a soft voice, had soft sapphire-like hair that resembled the sea. With a refined jawline and pure white skin, he resembled a sculpture carved by God. Similarly, the pure white clothes were also not just a holy shroud but made their charms stand out.

Orange eyes with long eyelashes curved.

Since childhood, he has excelled in divine power and has become a high priest. It was also mentioned that the Pope cared for him as well.

Anton’s voice softened.

“Though Priest Erich, we haven’t found the saint for three years already.”

“It’s all God’s will. Things will be fine.”

Somehow, Erich’s words contained a strange conviction.

Anton clicked his tongue inwardly, thinking it was because he was young and did not know anything. After all, what would such a young priest know…? There would be no faithfulness to see the saint in person, let alone the position of the monastery.

It was when he thought so— 

“High Priest! High Priest…!”

An urgent sound was heard.

When Erich and Anton turned to the source of the sound, detecting an unknown excitement in the urgent voice. Perhaps they noticed it, too, the Paladins who bowed their heads also glanced at the priest.

“Saint, the Saint has appeared!”

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