The two had the same dream a few nights ago, after they mustered up all their divine power to pray.
It was a dream in which the interior of the temple in the Tersia territory was reflected.
They saw a tremendous light surrounded by people and regarded it as a revelation from the goddess.
Thus, they came to Tersia without Rabienneâs knowledge to check.
âI heard rumors about the well and came by just in case. Itâs surprising.â
âYes. A well imbued with divine power. Isnât this a sacred object that the temple should take care of? I canât believe itâs just on a random street? ReallyâŠâ
They were admiring the existence of the well when they saw Esther and her brothers.
âThose children⊠Oh, I recognize their faces. I think they are the grand dukeâs children.â
âThen the girl must have been taken from our temple.â
The children of the grand duke.
Among them, Kyle and Joffreyâs eyes narrowed in on Esther.
It was because it was not considered a mere coincidence to meet a child who was a candidate for sainthood in a place they went to based on a dream which might have been a revelation.
The eyes of the two people observing Esther were full of tension.
âCome to think of it, that childâŠâ
Joffrey was startled. He suddenly realized something.
âDoesnât her appearance match the revelation we heard?â
His voice trembled thinly, probably because he realized an overwhelming truth. That trembling was passed on to Kyle.
âYes. It was definitely a child with grayish brown hair and pink eyes.â
As Kyle and Joffreyâs suspicions grewâŠ
Esther and the twins returned to the carriage with Jerome.
Kyleâs mind raced, and he hurriedly asked Joffrey.
âUh, what should we do? Should we follow?â
âLetâs go for now. There must be something about that child.â
With a resolute nod, the two hurriedly followed Estherâs carriage.
(TL/N: letâs not think too hard about how they followed lmao #my_midnightamusement you guys know I donât often comment in the middle unnecessarily, right?)
After a while, the carriage stopped at the temple of Tersia.
Now, since anyone could go in and out of the shelter, they were able to look inside the shelter without being stopped.
âItâs much better managed than I thought.â
âI know right. To think this was the space created by the cold-blooded grand duke. I canât believe it even after seeing it.â
They thought there would be confusion due to the closing of the temple, but the faces of the people in the shelter looked well-to-do and happy.
âIs this a place like this that the goddess showed us?â
ââŠLetâs take a closer look.â
Kyle and Joffrey observed the shelter while looking for Esther.
But the girl was out of sight for a long time.
It was when they headed back to the center of the shelter, trying hard to calm their growing nervousness.
The girl they were looking for appeared. She, along with one of the boys of the grand ducal family, headed to the place where the patients were.
Without hesitation, they approached the severely ill patients, and the girl began to devote herself to treatment.
There was a distance from the patients and an escort in case something happened, but it was quite a shocking sight for Kyle and Joffrey.
âGoodness, that childâŠâ
Kyle couldnât hide his surprise when he realized Esther was healing with divine power.
It was particularly astounding because the divine power used in succession seemed considerable.
âThereâs too many people, sheâll be in trouble if she uses her divine power like that.â
Joffrey clicked his tongue as he watched Esther pour out her divine power on the next patient without a break.
âMaybe there is no limit to her divine power. Arenât there very rare cases? Of course, they were all saintsâŠâ
The end of Kyleâs words blurred; he was taken aback. Estherâs eyes were unusual.
âDid you see? Those eyes.â
âYes, yes. I saw it too. Itâs far away, so Iâm not sure, but the color has definitely changed.â
Divine power that seemed to have no limits. Eyes shining golden.
Surprised by the undeniable evidence of a saint, Kyleâs and Joffreyâs mouths dropped wide open at the same time.
In that state, they stood there blankly for a while without saying anything.
âI donât know what to say, reallyâŠâ
The two men, whose hearts were complicated, looked at each other and sighed.
The real saint that they had been looking for so long.
Now that they found her, they should be happy, but for some reason, they couldnât let go of their surprise and unsettlement.
âItâs frustrating. Isnât it like we drove out the real saint with our own hands?â
âIf she hadnât been sold from the beginning, none of this would have happened. Ugh.â
Although it was done by a low-ranking priest, it happened because the temple was so rotten.
Kyle and Joffrey gazed at the statue of the goddess with a sense of responsibility and shame.
It was certainly the revelation of the goddess that showed them this place in their dreams and allowed them to find Esther, the real saint.
âNow what? Can we take away that happiness?â
Kyle was distressed when he saw Estherâs joyful grin in the crowd.
But Joffrey, already impressed with Esther, shook his head.
âIf she really is a saint, she shouldnât be in a place like this. We should take her to our temple.â
âBut we already have Lady Rabienne. There canât be two saints under the same sky.â
Unable to take his eyes off Esther, Kyle was conflicted.
The temple could not change the saint after the accession. Otherwise, the dignity of the temple would fall to the ground.
âIf sheâs a child of low status, the temple could simply take her in, but sheâs part of the grand ducal family. Itâs too twisted.â
Frowning, Joffrey scratched his head.
Among the people the temple could not do anything about, the most dangerous one was Deheen.
Both his wealth and combat power were threatening to the temple.
They couldnât turn him into an enemy.
Deciding that they couldnât come to a conclusion right away, the two watched Esther with a pained hear.
âLetâs go back immediately.â
âAre we going to report to the saint?â
âLetâs think about it a little more. Should we tell the other high priests, or should we confide in the saint?â
Kyle and Joffrey, whose eyes were still full of shock, forced their unmoving feet to return to the temple.
As soon as they entered the shelter, the three siblings dispersed to do their respective duties.
Esther would tend the holy flowers with Paras, Dennis would look over the children learning letters, and Judy would teach some children swordsmanship.
âParas, how are the flowers?â
âIâve cleaned them beforehand, but I think you should still see it for yourself.â
Esther followed Paras to the greenhouse. The holy flowers had grown to the point where they could be used.
âPlease send half of it to the imperial family. They will probably be sent to the borders.â
âAll right.â
Even though Paras purified the flowers, Estherâs divine power was still necessary.
After spending a good amount of time to ensure the flowers were fine, she left the greenhouse to take care of the seriously ill patients.
Dennis was also on his way out of the opposite classroom.
âDid you take care of all the flowers?â
âYes. Now, Iâll see the patients.â
âLetâs go down together.â
Judy was playing with the children on the first floor with wooden swords.
He didnât have to purposefully insert himself into the party. He naturally joined his siblings.
Seeing that, all the inhabitants of Tersia in the shelter were deeply impressed.
Unbeknownst to the three, praise for the grand ducal family, especially Esther, was increasing day by day within the territory.
The people of the territory were no longer sad that the temple was gone.
It had already been filled by the shelter.
Tersia no longer needed a temple.
Esther, who diligently treated the seriously ill patients, massaged her shoulders after receiving all the patients in line.
âAre you done now?â
And as she casually turned her headâŠ
ââŠâŠ?â
âŠShe noticed the high priests leaving the shelter.
Even though they were covered by a cloak, bits of faces were visible. There was no way that Esther would not be able to recognize the faces of the people she hated in her repeated lives.
âDo you know them?â
âWho are they?â
Seeing Estherâs expression change, Dennis and Judy followed her gaze and stared at the backs of the disappearing high priests.
âSir Paras, did you just see their faces?â
âNo. I didnât. Why?â
Esther spoke cautiously, but she was unable to hide her distraught expression.
âI think they are high priests.â
âWhat? Why are high priests hereâŠâ
âReally? We have to go and catch them right away.â
âNo. You canât.â
Different reactions erupted at the same time: Paras panicked, Judy was ready to leave, and Dennis kept his composure.
âIf they have come this far, itâs either to confirm that the temple is closed, or⊠itâs because of me.â
Esther, of course, thought the latter was more likely.
âThis is not the time to sit still. I need to do something.â
Seeing the high priests made Esther decide to move before Rabienne.
Her eyes, which had always been mild, were filled with great determination.
Esther took her brothers and Paras to a small room. She spoke calmly.
âSir Paras.â
âTell me.â
âI want to spread a rumor. I need your help.â
Esther thought about how she could deal a real blow to Rabienne.
âWhat rumor are you thinking of?â
A rumor that the saint in the central temple is a fake.â
Although they spoke quietly so that only each other could hear them, Paras glanced around in surprise and swallowed his saliva.
âThatâs a good idea.â
With twinkling eyes, Dennis agreed.
Spreading rumors was an easy way to threaten Rabienneâs place without using their own hands.
Her position as a saint was based on the faith of the people. If things got bigger, she would face more trouble in the temple.
âWait, and one more. That the epidemic spreading throughout the empire was caused by the saint being a fake.â
Esther wanted to discuss with Deheen how to spread rumors and utilize them more effectively, butâŠ
First of all, if Paras, who was a high priest, started the rumors, it would increase the credibility and become a great force.
âHow can my sister be so smart?â
With his chin propped on his palm, Dennis smiled proudly as he watched Esther expressing her opinion one by one.
âI know. Isnât she just like me?â
âDonât make me want to hit you.â
Judy laughed out loud at Dennisâ words, but he suddenly turned and stared coldly at Paras.
âWhich side are you on? Are you on our side? Anyway, you were a high priest. I still donât trust you.â
Paras was stunned by Judyâs aura, which was pressurizing despite his young age.
ââŠI serve the goddess. Her will is here, so how could I think otherwise?â
Exchanging glances with Esther, Judy, and Dennis one by one, Paras made up his mind and nodded slowly.
âI will be with you on the way to bring down the fake.â