The Male Lead isn't Following the Script!
Chapter 42: Saintess

Chapter 42: Saintess

"Ah, right. We have to attend the banquet held for the Second Prince."

"There is no ’we’. You are only five, you will be staying at home." Alaric couldn’t take another day of worrying about his sister. If it was up to him he would tie her to the foot of the bed so that she can’t go around causing trouble.

"But I was personally invited!"

"Can I come?" Dimitri’s interjection successfully stopped the siblings’ squabbling.

"Sorry, Dimitri. We can’t take you with us." Alaric broke the news.

It was unfortunate but they had to follow the rules. And it didn’t help that the places they visited were for the nobility and they couldn’t bring Dimitri along. He felt left out quite often.

"Oh, it’s okay. I just wanted to see the palace."

Seeing how wilted he looked Adeline tried to come up with solutions. Surely her father can make up an identity for Dimitri. Her father was the most capable person she had ever seen. If the Marquess heard his daughter he would be overjoyed. He was the most capable person indeed.

They could have some Baron adopt him on paper. Then Dimitri would become part of the aristocracy.

"Stop whatever you are thinking."

Her thoughts were written clearly on her face. She was coming up with some scheme, he was going to nip this in the bud.

"We can bring... Well... ’Servants’ so..."

Adeline was about to say something, she didn’t want any of them calling Dimitri a servant, especially since he was going to be the Arch Mage, but seeing his face light up she stopped herself.

Dimitri said he wanted to see the palace but that was just an excuse, what he really wanted to do was to protect her from the ’evil crown prince’.

As the children formed plans of their own, their father was down in the dumps with an awful cold.

The ex-priestess tended to him, taking care of someone seemed like second nature to her. Even though her mind was jumbled, her muscle memory acted on its own.

Out of habit she raised her hands to heal him but realised soon enough that no holy power came out. Her shivering hands covered her face as she slumped and started crying loudly.

The painful cries woke the Marquess up immediately. He tried to get up but he had no energy.

"Please... Don’t cry." He was able to utter a few words with what little strength he had left.

She might have been ’crazy’ but she had always been hospitable and kind. She could’ve refused his request immediately and left him alone in the cold but she didn’t.

"I- I am sorry. It feels weird that I don’t have powers anymore..."

His eyes widened, this was a moment of consciousness amidst the haze that plagued her mind.

She was seated on the ground and looked up at him, "There is a special fountain, they say the water came from the heavens. We drink that water on a daily basis, you see, we are only vessels that can handle the power. The holy power does not come from within..."

"So... My daughter-"

"It is likely her powers will fade... Without that water, no one can wield holy power. That is why the Holy Temple controls all the power. But, if it’s like you said, and her power grew stronger. Your daughter might very well be the Saintess..."

He felt like the vitality had returned to the lady in front of him, but it lasted only for a moment. The shine in her eyes quickly faded and her face became dull. She muttered something while getting off the floor.

"Is there any way to know if she is the Saintess? I- I do not want for her to be forced to live in that damned place!"

The woman didn’t reply, she was too busy cleaning the fish. He had too many questions to ask but it didn’t seem like he would get any answers from her. He wished to know her story, there was some pain in her eyes, and experience that came with her old age.

He just wished that she would be remembered for something other than a ’crazy old lady’. It was sad how her life had been reduced to this just because of the Holy Temple.

She had to spend her old age in such an isolated place, living in fear, losing her mind in the process, all because of the Holy Temple.

His fists balled, he felt like if he didn’t do something this might be his daughter’s future.

"I am trying my best... Elizabeth..." He whispered to himself before he drifted asleep.

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"What do you want from me?!"

"I already told you, you’re practically useless. But since you’re begging for my attention. I’ll relent."

Seeing Edward reveal his true colours scared her, but she wasn’t willing to accept the change. The man who had been obsessed with her his entire life threw her away the moment she was ’useless’.

She wanted to avoid him but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. It was like the roles flipped and now she was the one who couldn’t let him go. Her obsession reached the point of following him and sneaking peeks at him.

That led to him finally catching her. He cruelly scoffed at her.

The Temple received an invitation for the banquet as well. And as a representative, Edward was being sent. He had his plans set in motion, and he needed his partner to be less nosy. He didn’t have to hide his nature in front of her, and he knew the fear from their past life still had its grip on her. All he needed her to do was to play the part of a good partner and distract everyone so that they wouldn’t notice his absence.

The Sun Goddess’ statue lit up a few days ago, and he was there to witness it. This meant that the Saintess had been chosen. He needed to find the perfect vessel... At any cost.

He made up his mind that the Saintess was from the nobility. The disdain he had for commoners was written all over his face. His glaring eyes made Annora shiver. He let her get married and become an Empress only to get rid of the commoner tag... After all the plans he made, she ruined everything...

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