They were also wondering.
If the Princess of Valdina was a true Saintess, why did the oracle designate her as a sacrifice?
No matter how evil the black magic was, forging an oracle was an unimaginable and heinous taboo.
Therefore, the High Priests could not imagine that Rachel had manipulated the oracle with black magic.
"Ha, if you do it, even if it's just once a month, ah, no, every two months, no, even once every half a year..."
"In the Holy Kingdom, you cannot ask my sister for anything as a Saintess. The High Priests know better than you don't deserve it."
Peleus frowned.
The voice was so cold that it left no room for the Priests, but they stomped their feet and said nothing.
Cesare snorted.
The Priests' faces were flushed with blatant ridicule, but they couldn't make any excuses with their open mouths.
"Your Highness, the Princess..."
The left and right were crushed by the fierce pressure of the Emperor of Valdina and the First Prince of Katzen.
Instead of negotiating, they didn't know when their anger would explode and engulf them, and they were numb.
Naturally, all eyes turned to the Princess Medea.
They felt like she was the only one who could communicate with these cruel men.
"..."
Medea watched the changing air currents in the room in silence.
'Holy Nation has already lost the initiative.'
The mistake of not recognizing the Saintess who has returned to the continent and almost offering her as an oracle sacrifice will not be undone in any way.
But.
'We must not turn Holy Nation into an enemy.'
Even though it has lost its reputation due to the invasion of warlocks and its long depravity, it is still one of the three most powerful countries on the continent.
"I can't just kick that shield."
Her green eyes sparkled after she finished paying.
"Besides, Katzen's coronation remains."
Soon after leaving the Holy Kingdom and arriving in Katzen, the official coronation ceremony as the First Prince will take place.
It was the first stage to Imprint her on the Katzen people.
Medea knew from her previous experience that this should not be pushed back at all.
"If it's even a day late, it'll be hard to get a place in Katzen."
She still wants to finish Rachel herself and complete the revenge with her own hands.
After learning about the reason why her brother died in her previous life, her heart became stronger.
But now, she can't be swept away by bitter emotions.
There were still days ahead of her when she had to deal with Perdiccas II and Jason in Katzen.
Therefore, the relationship with the Holy Nation also had to flow in a way that could lead to the best outcome, excluding emotions.
As Medea's silence grew longer, the people became more and more anxious.
"If you do, why don't you pay an informal courtesy to Her Highness the Princess?"
The High Priest, who was by the Pope's side, suggested.
"Even if you do not want to be officially declared a Saintess, Your Highness may use all the power and influence of the Holy Kingdom given to you as a Saintess."
Cesare swallowed his laughter when he saw Medea's eyes sparkle and disappear without a sound.
'Did you induce this from the beginning?'
A way to enjoy the minimum obligations and the maximum benefits.
"The temple knights escorted Her Highness, and the High Priests accompanied her..."
"I don't need an escort, I don't need a priest."
However, he still didn't let go of the initiative, so Cesare knew at once that this wasn't the only thing Medea was aiming for.
"I don't think the escorts in particular are any better than the ones I have."
Beside Medea stood the Facade and the Agemas.
"Hah, but..."
For a moment, the High Priests were speechless.
Unlike Rachel, this Saintess is not just a representative of God.
She is the only sister of the Emperor of the new empire, and now wife of the First Prince of the old empire, who holds the hegemony of the continent.
Moreover, she was bold enough to cut down the evil dragon herself. She was not a person who could be manipulated according to Holy Power's taste.
"And one more thing: now you know very well that the shrine maiden of Shadeia was the representative you were looking for."
Medea turned to the Pope.
"Find and protect the Shadeian tribes on the continent, and acknowledge the persecution that the Holy Kingdom has inflicted on them."
Shadeia? What is it?
The ministers tilted their heads and looked at each other.
Only a few labor-priests paused.
Those who know the truth, and those who don't even know that it exists.
A strange crack appeared in the atmosphere of the audience.
"Ha, but Shadeia is a heretic!"
At that moment, a shrill voice rang out. It was High Priest Paul.
Halfway up from his seat, he shouted harshly.
"They are heretics, they have used distorted practices to speak the will of the goddess, claim to be shrine maidens, and disturb the world!"
He tried to endure it, but he couldn't stand it.
It was like a taboo that Paul's belief in arrogantly uniting himself with the Holy State could not be accepted at all, and should not be accepted.
"Why does the Holy Woman acknowledge the apostles and invite evil?"
But Medea was adamant.
"If you will hide your origin to the end, I will not accept this name."
"Your Highness, the Princess!"
She looked beyond the drunken Priests to the Pope. Her eyes were clear, as if she were waiting for an answer.
"..."
How much time had passed?
"...I will do so."
The Pope swallowed his sigh and nodded.
It is time to bring out the truth that the beginning of the Holy Kingdom was not so honorable, and that it has been hidden for a long time.
'The moment that should come one day has just come to my generation.'
"Your Holiness!"
Paul cried out in horror.
"Look right away. Do you not know what is really important to this Holy State?"
The High Priests paused at the Pope's words and took a breath.
They finally realized.
The moment they lose their real representatives, the legitimacy of the holy country they want to protect can be shaken.
"We must prevent her from leaving our Holy Country completely."
They are still desperate for the existence of the Saintess, so they have no choice but to accept her conditions.
There was no other choice.
It was when a tacit agreement was signed.
"Your Holiness..."
The Priests standing at the entrance of the Pope's office were embarrassed.
Beside him stood a jailer dressed in ashen armor.
"What's going on?"
The Pope asked in a chaotic atmosphere.
"That's it... Rachel, a sinner, is demanding to see Her Highness the Princess in prison. She has something to say to Her Highness..."
"What?"
Suddenly, the air in the room became sullen.
Ever since the identity of the fake Saintess was revealed, the Holy Nation has tried to find out the warlocks' stronghold through Rachel.
However, she remained silent despite all kinds of interrogations and torture, and she spoke for the first time.
She asked them to let her meet Medea.
"If we let her see Her Highness, then she will reveal the stronghold of the warlocks..."
"How dare a sinner, even a person who has fooled the Holy Country, make such a private request?"
The Pope's voice was filled with anger.
"But, Your Holiness. It tells you where those evil beasts are strong."
"What if we catch the clue for the first time and miss it like this..."
No matter how much they searched for them, they were never brought to the surface.
"There may not be a next chance, His Holiness. Your Highness, the Princess, please judge wisely."
He said it while looking at the Pope, but everyone here knew it.
Only the Princess has the right to decide this matter.
'Besides, she's already a criminal who is about to be executed. On her last journey, she might want to see Her Highness the Princess and repent for her sins.'
"If our Holy Kingdom clears out the warlocks, we will be able to cover this shame."
The High Priests looked at her with a longing face.
It was not difficult for Medea to recognize the anticipation in their eyes.
Medea's eyes turned cold.
"Those who worship the gods are too greedy."
"First, she asked me to take on the duties of a Saintess, and then she asked me to carry out Rachel's execution. But now, you even want to go see her?"
By allowing the Holy State to execute the false Saintess, Medea had already taken a step back.
"No. It is impossible."
The Princess's affirmation to the Priest was short and intense. The audience was drunk again. She didn't even listen to it anymore, and she just said no.
"But...! Holy Lady. I ask you to consider it once more."
"Despite mobilizing all the manpower of the Holy Kingdom, we have not even figured out the exact location of the Warlocks."
"That's why it's a trap."
Medea said coldly.
"They have been living in silence for half a century. Do you think they didn't think of the possibility of their location being exposed when they let Rachel into this central temple?"
"..."
The Priests, who were protesting fiercely, were silent.
"Have you checked her mouth?"
Medea asked calmly.
"...There is a curse in black magic that makes you prohibits your opponent's life."
Lenyar, the commander of the Knights Templar, agreed.
"It's not that Rachel doesn't open her mouth, but maybe she can't."
Medea nodded calmly.
"If I go to see her, she will single me out as a fake again. She will say that she has fallen into my trap and will produce evidence or phenomena that will shake your faith."
"What is so great about a sinner wearing a restraint? I think it is an excessive concern."
"We can't be fooled by her again!"
Some Priests retorted.
However, Medea could not let her guard down until the end.
"You who were deceived by her three tongues and demanded the fulfillment of the oracle?"
She found Paul among the High Priests. The rusty gaze stayed on him long enough for others to notice.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not willing to take any more risks. I ask you to keep in mind that faith without doubt is more dangerous than heresy."
It was a slap in the face and a slap in the face to the pride of High Priest Paul, who had been at the forefront of protecting Rachel.
'This, this... Compared to heresy...!!'
Paul's face was dyed red like a bright red sunset with shame.
Veins stood out over the thick nape of his neck.
However, neither he nor the others here dared to refute the Princess's point.
'What do we say when we have proved to ourselves how shallow that faith was?'
The Pope, who did not lose his sense among the dumb people who were fed by shame and humiliation, ordered High Priest Anastasia.
"...Go check it out."
After a while, Anastasia, who had gone to see Rachel, returned.
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