EIITAB - Chapter 109 < Silenced >
Even if it is Trampled and Broken
Hestia's eyes widened.
"The High Priest?"
"Yes, this morning, he said he would visit after lunchtime, but the Princess wasn't feeling well... Wouldn't it be better to ask to see you another day?"
"Oh, no."
Hestia quickly put down the teacup and shook her head.
'I have to tie it up properly.'
If her condition worsens here, she doesn't know what he will catch at the temple.
Since she couldn't embarrass Aslan, it was better to allow him to visit and meet her.
There was still half of Dulcinea's tea left, but Hestia had no intention of picking it up again.
Hestia asked, looking at her maid with a slightly solemn expression.
"Angela, can you help me get dressed up?"
"Sure."
They had a quick breakfast and lunch, and as soon as Hestia finished dressing up, the High Priest visited.
"Come on in."
"Saintess Hestia, I finally see you."
The High Priest, with a smile on his face, looked at Hestia and walked in with strides.
At the same time, Jerome, who had been standing guard outside the room, followed behind and entered the inner room.
When Hestia greeted Jerome first, he politely nodded with a short nod.
"It's been so long since I last saw you!"
"The High Priest, welcome."
The tea table is located close to the connecting door.
"Please sit down."
Hestia offered The High Priest her seat and then turned to her maid.
"Angela, can you prepare some tea for me?"
"Yes, Princess."
Soon two cups of tea were on the table, and The High Priest drank first.
It didn't seem like he had swallowed it properly, but his expression suddenly frowned. It seemed like he was acting with a lot of intention.
"The tea leaves look old. Haha, I thought it was just in case, but it happened. All the teas served at our accommodation were so sour and bitter that I couldn't drink them at all. I wondered if they would give something like this to the Saintess.Tsk."
The High Priest poured out negative reviews that clearly showed that he had prepared for it.
But Hestia was unfazed and smiled.
"These are tea leaves brought from the capital, but I guess you didn't like them. Angela, please give me another tea."
"Yes, Princess."
Angela glanced at him as she retrieved the teacup placed in front of her and The High Priest.
She cleared her throat awkwardly with her awkward The High Priest.
"Hehehe, I had to bring it from the capital... It looks like it has deteriorated a bit."
"That could be true."
Hestia nodded her head thoughtfully as she drank her share of tea.
The High Priest repeatedly cleared his throat as if trying to determine the timing of his words, and then glanced at Jerome, who was standing behind Hestia.
"Hey, could you please leave the room for a moment? The Saintess and I have something to talk about."
But Jerome flatly refused.
"It's impossible."
The boy knight turned his back and slightly lifted the tip of his chin.
The position was as if he was looking down at the High Priest, and the High Priest instantly became upset.
"Are you afraid that I might harm the Saintess?"
"I'm talking about principles. This is my master's wife, and I am in charge of protecting her."
"You still look young, but why is there so much back and forth...!"
The High Priest clicked his tongue, frowning at Jerome.
He didn't seem to mind that he was in front of Hestia.
Hestia let out a light sigh of her own in a war of nerves that did not seem like a war of nerves between the two men.
Anyway, Hestia was the only one who could sort out this situation.
"Then let's do it like this."
Hestia looked back and said.
"Sir Jerome, you don't have to leave the room. I just wish there was more distance between us."
"But the principle of escort is close security."
Jerome responded in a very harsh tone.
Meanwhile, the gaze staring at the High Priest was so fierce that the High Priest kept his head up and repeatedly cleared his throat weakly to hide his frightened state.
Hestia smiled as if she were smiling at Jerome.
"I know. But that doesn't mean it's okay to open up my entire private life."
It was a gentle but firm statement.
Jerome, who found it difficult to refuse just as he had with the High Priest, responded by keeping his silence by pressing his lips together.
Although Hestia could see that he was in trouble, Hestia could not break her stubbornness.
She waited a little longer, but when there was still no response from Jerome, Hestia urged him.
"Are you unwilling? I think it's a reasonable compromise. Then I should go out to the garden. There's no trouble there, right? If It's an open space, me and The High Priest can walk side by side."
Jerome knew that Hestia was not well. He had heard from Aslan, and he had seen her maid, Angela, coming in and out of her room, sighing frequently with a worried look on her face.
Jerome's eyes turned to the window. It was still snowing.
In this situation, it would be better for Hestia to keep herself out in the street rather than have her go out into the garden.
"All right. I will do as you say."
Jerome accepted Hestia's offer in a polite tone that was completely different from the one he had given to The High Priest.
He moved his steps toward the direction Hestia pointed. Even though it was the same room, it was quite far away.
Aslan, who had good hearing, might not have known, but it was clear that Jerome would have difficulty hearing.
Meanwhile, hse was having trouble getting to the point with The High Priest, as if she wanted to get him out of the room.
Hestia was the first to say her luck.
"If you're having trouble talking about it first, I'll tell you what you're most curious about first"
The High Priest slightly averted his gaze and cleared his throat awkwardly, as if he was uncomfortable with her blunt attitude.
However, Hestia did not speak back and immediately opened her mouth.
"My physical condition is getting worse."
She didn't react much to the High Priest.
"I see."
It was a face that said it was nothing surprising. And Hestia also understood that reaction.
The High Priest brought his dry palms together and rubbed them together until he made a sound.
"Then now it is my turn to speak. Let's get straight to the point. The reason I wanted to see Hestia is because I need help."
"Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Yes, I already told Duke Kalathi once, but he didn't seem to listen. So, I would like to borrow Hestia's power."
First of all, Hestia needed to know the content, so when he gave him a wink to show that she was listening, The High Priest nuzzled his neck for a moment and continued talking to her again.
"We want to rebuild the temple in the north."
"Yes? What is that?"
Hestia's eyes widened in surprise.
"Once I came here, I realized there was nothing I couldn't do."
Hestia was so shocked that she couldn't even speak, but he shamelessly continued talking as if he couldn't even see her.
"But it's difficult to normalize the village temple right away... How about opening the chapel within this castle first?"
The longer the conversation with the High Priest continued, the colder Hestia's head became. Her consciousness was also in its clearest state in recent times.
Hestia stared at the High priest.
"You know it's impossible."
In response to Hestia's calm answer, The High Priest asked back, tilting his head with an expression that he truly did not understand.
"Why is it impossible? Hestia, aren't you the Duchess of Kalathi? It seems like you can reopen it as much as you want with the authority of the hostess."
"In general, yes."
Letting out her heavy breath, she curled her lips and bit down, before releasing them and moaning again.
"But how could I dare? You know. Temples, religions... The High Priest knows better than anyone else what it means here in Kalathi."
"So, in times like these, shouldn't we properly establish the power of the temple?"
Hestia let out a cruel laugh.
'What kind of ridiculous situation is this?'
No matter how much she thought about it, it was really shameless.
Hestia spoke stiffly, unlike her first time.
"I don't think I can help you. Sorry."
"Saintess?"
"I think I should take this opportunity to make it clear. Upon my marriage, I decided to withdraw from all matters of the Temple Order. I told you about my decision in the capital, but you don't seem to remember."
The High Priest looked visibly embarrassed by the cold rejection.
Hestia greeted him with a smiling face, just like in the capital, so he thought she was welcoming him with all her heart and would work hard to help him.
Of course, her tone was as sweet and gentle as always, but her content was not.
Since Hestia had never treated him this coldly before, he could hardly hide his surprise.
"Hey, this is it."
The High Priest showed signs of embarrassment and touched his lower jaw as if he would rub it, but Hestia paid no attention and continued her story.
"Due to various circumstances, my name is still on the sacred register, but you know that is not my intention. So please don't force me to fulfill my duties as a Saintess. No more... It means please don't expect anything."
"Saintess."
As expected, the High Priest tried to appease her by grabbing her tail.
Hestia shook her head and spoke in a slightly exasperated voice.
"I think I have done enough just by keeping quiet about what happened six years ago."
At that moment, the gaze of the High Priest became cold.
He glanced in the direction where Jerome was standing and pulled his upper body forward.
"Be careful what you say."
Then he looked at Hestia with cold eyes, as if glaring, and asked.
"Duke Kalathi... Do he know?"
Hestia exhaled lightly. She gently closed her eyes and was just about to shake her head.
Without warning, the door burst open, and a frost-like voice penetrated sharply between the two people.
"What does this all mean now?"
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