His red eyes revealed an emotion never seen before. It was the first time something other than contempt had lingered in his gaze as he looked at Rou.
How utterly bizarre.
Brukisel had lived a harsh life. He thought he’d seen every sight worth seeing and not worth seeing, but a madman as original as the High Priest was a first. He had a peculiar talent for always making choices that exceeded any predictable category.
A love confession while his life was being threatened. Did he even know what kind of situation he was in right now? Or did he perhaps have some strange fetish for feeling love in murderous moments?
Brukisel had been utterly dumbfounded at first, but thinking about it again, everything seemed to make sense. If he wanted to prove he was the High Priest, he could have just gone to the temple from the start, yet the High Priest had abruptly thrust his naked body before him.
The intention behind showing his bare body in a secluded space like the greenhouse was now crystal clear. To think he only realized something so blatant now.
‘You must be so upset that all your pitiful efforts have gone to waste.’
Brukisel once again openly despised him.
People like the High Priest were all the same. Every single one of them lived trapped in the delusion that they were special. They were the type who mistakenly believed that a few words they uttered would leave a great impact on others, who believed they could save someone with easy resolutions and childish impetuosity.
Brukisel had already encountered this type before. Perhaps because of his appearance, these fake saviors would often come even on his walks, or in severe cases, into the Main Palace itself, spouting ridiculous words. The things they said were all predictable. Mostly sophistry about how their love could heal his wounds.
The idea that their love held such value—it only made him sneer. It was astonishing how comfortable and leisurely a life one must have lived to evaluate oneself in such a way. At such times, Brukisel would command them, Well then, try saving me, and naturally, not a single person had ever succeeded.
Receiving such worthless, cheap pity was nothing but unpleasant. After throwing those who came seeking him into the underground dungeon and showing them a few harsh sights, things had been quiet for a while. It seemed that news hadn’t reached as far as wherever this High Priest was born and raised.
Compared to the conspiracies of the small kingdoms, this was less troublesome, but unlike the others, the High Priest was a truly tiresome existence in that he couldn’t just be thrown in the underground dungeon and forgotten.
“There’s an endless stream of believers visiting the temple, isn’t there? I heard you overworked yourself meeting each and every believer. Who do you think sent all those believers—who wouldn’t even be helpful—to the temple?”
“Ah……”
Rou hesitated for a moment. As he slowly blinked his large, innocent-looking eyes, Brukisel held a hopeful expectation that this High Priest had finally realized. If he backed down this much, he’d almost be grateful.
“The believers were so devout! I was so happy to be able to talk with those children. So you did such a wonderful thing for me!”
“Ha.”
Unlike the young ladies and lords with mental fortitude like glass crafts, Rou wasn’t hurt by ordinary matters. His smooth, golden eyes were only clear.
As the Goddess’s representative, he deserved to be treated the same as the Goddess. The former High Priest, the only one who knew this, seemed to be unable to dare confront him and was swallowing his rage alone.
Such a being, the High Priest, was staying in the temple. In that isolated place deep within the Imperial Palace, where only guests with the Emperor’s permission could enter. Moreover, that temple hadn’t been touched by human hands even once since the previous Emperor’s death, making it no different from an eyesore.
Staying there, the High Priest was someone even the most noble had to wait to meet, yet he spent all day dealing with those stained with dirt and dust. According to reports, this High Priest apparently had no hesitation whatsoever in escorting old women.
The High Priest was quite different from the northern nobles. Moreover, it was strange considering that the class system was supposedly more pronounced in the southern kingdoms. He treated everyone the same, whether they were elderly or children, the Emperor or servants. He didn’t even seem to care that he himself wasn’t being courteous to them.
“Thank you so much!”
Brukisel stared intently at Rou’s face, wondering if his words might be highly sophisticated sarcasm, but he couldn’t discern anything from those utterly clear eyes without a speck of dust.
Was he acting like this while knowing, or was he genuinely acting like this thinking it was for his sake? Either way, it was remarkable mental fortitude.
Brukisel felt extreme fatigue at those sparkling golden eyes looking up at him. He roughly swept back the hair covering his forehead.
Brukisel didn’t like anything about the High Priest. The way he looked so fragile he might scatter in a light breeze yet stared up at him unflinchingly, the way he didn’t turn away despite being easily hurt, the way he easily confessed his feelings while being ignorant about him—all of it was irritating.
No, actually, even if all of that were the opposite. He wanted to sweep away anything related to Goddess Kaine from his sight. He hated everything that made him think of ‘that bastard.’
“So. What’s the reason you came looking for me, even borrowing the Goddess’s power?”
“Ah, Brukisel.”
Rou paused for a moment. The Holy Communion was the best birthday gift Rou could give. The Goddess had never turned away from Rou’s prayers, and Rou would pray a blessing for Brukisel with all his might.
He couldn’t help but anticipate just how happy Brukisel would be hearing this.
Gently biting his lower lip, Rou glanced up at Brukisel. That looked exactly like he couldn’t contain his emotions and was being shy, which turned Brukisel’s stomach even more. Being swept up in foolish, childish emotions. It was only pathetic.
“May I perform the Holy Communion at your birthday celebration? I want to bless you.”
Know your place.
He’d thought he was just stuck in the temple offering meaningless prayers. But he was actually thinking of entering the Imperial Palace. Thinking that the High Priest would come on top of an already bothersome birthday celebration, Brukisel was already irritated.
If he were properly sane, he’d know that such a ceremony couldn’t possibly take place in his palace, yet with what confidence was he bringing up the ceremony? Brukisel narrowed his brow and glared at Rou, then soon stopped.
He didn’t want to waste time on this fool. He just wanted to sweep him out of his sight.
He even considered just ignoring him and leaving right now. That frail body could be easily injured, and if he wanted, he could swing his sword a few times and make sure he couldn’t leave his bedroom for a while. The only reason Brukisel didn’t do so was because the High Priest didn’t seem like the type to be intimidated by such things.
If even after drawing his sword, he didn’t cower and stuck his face in front of him again, then he might really slit the High Priest’s throat. Just thinking about what troublesome incident would unfold then, his head was already throbbing.
“How… do you feel about it?”
Rou’s eyes rippled with golden light.
“What’s your purpose?”
“……”
Rou smiled brightly. He looked satisfied just imagining it, as if having just that would leave nothing more to wish for.
“I just. I just want you to be happy.”
Brukisel mocked Rou’s words completely without any consideration. Happy. It wasn’t even funny. He would’ve at least believed him if he’d been honest and said he wanted to seize power or enjoy wealth that ordinary people couldn’t have. It was laughable.
“Fine.”
Brukisel twisted one corner of his mouth. If the High Priest moved according to his thoughts, he wouldn’t have to face him—that eyesore—ever again. If he was so blindly devoted to him, the High Priest would leave for the south immediately and never return.
Rou had no idea what Brukisel was thinking and was simply delighted. Brukisel had clearly just said “fine.” Brukisel had even smiled at him. Though it was only one corner of his mouth, the way it curved upward—that was definitely a smile.
Actually, he’d been briefly worried about what to do if Brukisel flew into a rage again and raised his voice saying no. It was quite fortunate for Rou.
“I’ll let you perform the Holy Communion.”
“Thank you, Brukisel! I’ll give you the greatest blessing I can……”
“However, there’s something I really want to receive, so. Can you get it for me?”
Rou’s eyes began to sparkle even more. Brukisel, who had always turned away in anger or only denied what he said, was asking him for something for the first time. It felt like he was slowly opening his heart to him, albeit gradually.
“Of course! Tell me anything!”
“Can you really get it for me? Even swearing on the Goddess’s name?”
‘Whatever Brukisel wants. I want to do it for him.’
The image of young Brukisel, gaunt and sensitive from fatigue and hunger, flickered before his eyes. To think that even after becoming Emperor, he had something he wanted. Rou still felt sorry for him. He wanted to fill his poverty to overflowing. For his happiness, he wanted to do anything.
“I swear on the Goddess’s name.”
“Good.”
Brukisel smiled as if he’d seized victory. Since he as the High Priest had even sworn on the Goddess’s name, he wouldn’t dare return to the Imperial Palace without bringing the item, if only for the sake of his reputation.
“I want Saint Patricia’s belt.”
“……Patricia’s?”
It was quite presumptuous to call a saint who had returned to the Goddess’s embrace 200 years ago as if she were his close friend. However, Rou quickly spoke as Brukisel’s gaze seemed about to turn cold.
“Saint Patricia’s belt. I understand. I’ll definitely bring it!”
“……Yes, if you just bring that, I’ll let you perform the Holy Communion before all the nobles.”
“Huh? No, I only need you to be there. It’s your birthday.”
“……”
