Chapter 125: Queen Maker (23)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 125: Queen Maker (23)
“Not again.”
Marietta sighed, flicking away a bug that had crawled up to her neck. A rat scurrying outside the iron bars snatched the insect, tore it to pieces with its sharp teeth, and swallowed it in one gulp.
Squeak, squeak-!
It wagged its tail a few times as if in thanks before departing. Marietta let out a hollow laugh and looked around.
Stone walls and iron bars, a sight bleak enough to drain the spirit.
The unventilated prison was thick with humidity, making everything feel disgustingly clammy.
To top it off, shackles were locked around her wrists, a discomfort unlike any other.
“This brings back memories…”
Marietta, Saint Candidate of the Hero Lorian’s party.
She was born the fourth daughter of a poor tenant farmer. Her childhood memories were so wretched she didn’t want to recall them even in jest.
After working her fingers to the bone all day, all she got to eat was a single potato. She’d even been harshly scolded for throwing a tantrum, demanding more.
Her home?
A cramped wooden hut with a thatched roof.
It was far too small for a couple and their eight children—four sons and four daughters. Because of this, the siblings had to play rock-paper-scissors every night to decide who got to sleep on the bed.
If you were unlucky enough to get the floor, you could forget about sleeping.
All sorts of bugs would crawl over your body, pestering you endlessly.
On days when a bug that had crept into your clothes was crushed to death…
Those were truly terrible days.
Marietta couldn't endure such a life. If she stayed, she would either starve or die of disease. She ran away from home and took refuge in the church.
And she regretted it deeply.
Why hadn't she run away sooner?
That was how different the quality of life was between her home and the church.
Basic necessities, a personal bed, and three meals a day.
For Marietta, who had survived on a single potato a day, the church was nothing short of heaven.
Of course, the church had its downsides.
First, as a closed organization, its hierarchy was rigid.
Factions formed and engaged in internal politics, and above all, the religious education was difficult and esoteric.
But none of that was a problem for Marietta.
A rigid hierarchy?
Could it be any worse than the one between a landlord and a tenant farmer?
Factions? Politics?
It was laughable. The most one could gain from politicking inside was an easier work assignment.
The real problem was the religious education…
Marietta gritted her teeth and studied.
A nun who couldn't manifest the Goddess's blessing, her divine power, had no right to remain in the church.
She didn't want to be kicked out and return to that miserable life.
Fortunately, she had a talent for it. Before long, she was emitting a purer divine power than not only her peers but also her seniors.
After that, her life was unremarkable.
She worked hard, and she was rewarded accordingly.
It all culminated in her becoming a Saint Candidate, a position ordinary nuns couldn't even dream of.
‘Back then, I really thought I could become the Saintess.’
The Empire hadn't nominated a Saint Candidate, and her Hero, Lorian, was superior to the other Heroes, Gis and Cloud.
And yet, this was how things had turned out.
She was now trapped in a filthy, poorly maintained dungeon.
‘I really hate this…’
Marietta had grown accustomed to life in the temple.
She had lived intoxicated by comfort and ease.
Now, being forced to endure the discomfort of her childhood again, she couldn't adapt.
Finally, with an irritated gaze, she looked at the empty cell across from hers.
It was where her Hero, Lorian, had been imprisoned until recently.
‘Honestly, why did he have to go and do something so pointless…'
Starting something he couldn't even take responsibility for.
Just as she was about to click her tongue in annoyance, a soldier approached and unlocked the bars of her cell.
“Lady Marietta, Archbishop Vedic has summoned you.”
*
“How is the tea?”
“The aroma is wonderful. If it’s not too rude to ask, may I inquire where these tea leaves were grown?”
“They were grown in the royal gardens of Rufus. That is, before the unfortunate incident.”
“Ah…”
Marietta set down her teacup and quickly bowed her head.
“I apologize for what our Hero did. I should have stopped him, but he was so insistent…”
“Oh my, please raise your head. It makes me uncomfortable when a Saint Candidate bows to me. And I am the one who should apologize for not getting you out sooner. I told Hero Cloud time and again that such a place was no station for a Saint Candidate, but his mind was set, and it took some time to persuade him.”
“Ah… I see. Thank you for your grace, Your Eminence.”
“Not at all. You must have suffered, staying in such a squalid place.”
“…Honestly, I can’t say that I didn’t.”
The wretched environment reminded her of her childhood.
She never wanted to experience it again.
“But it’s alright. It was our fault to begin with.”
This was why she maintained a humble attitude toward Archbishop Vedic, despite her status as a Saint Candidate.
If she acted arrogantly, she might be dragged back to the dungeon after this conversation.
Watching her, Archbishop Vedic smiled with satisfaction.
“I appreciate you saying so. Now then, I should get to the reason I’ve brought you here.”
Archbishop Vedic took a sip of his tea before speaking.
“Lady Marietta. Have you ever considered serving Hero Cloud instead of Lorian?”
“…Pardon?”
The Archbishop’s proposal was so unexpected that Marietta couldn't help but be surprised. In contrast, the Archbishop continued with a warm smile, as if he had anticipated her reaction.
“It is as I said. Do you have any intention of serving Hero Cloud, Lady Marietta?”
“Ah, no, wait a moment. I’m having trouble following. Doesn’t Sir Cloud already have another Saint Candidate?”
“That one’s a lost cause.”
“What?”
That one?
Did he just refer to a Saint Candidate as ‘that one’?
Stunned by the series of unexpected events, Marietta’s mouth hung open.
“Do you recall when Ophelia switched to Hero Gis’s party in the past?”
“What? Ah, yes… I remember.”
How could she forget?
Lorian had also brought Eri into his party.
To be honest, Marietta hadn't cared about it then, and she didn't care now. She believed that as long as she did her own job well, it didn't matter what those other women did.
However, judging by the Archbishop’s expression, this was a more serious matter than she’d thought.
“At the time, the church in the Prona Kingdom was in an uproar. Not just the priests and bishops, but even the previous Archbishop was running around frantically. I believe you know the reason for that well, Lady Marietta.”
“Yes…”
No matter where you went, people were people.
The church was no different.
It sought more power and more honor.
That was why each kingdom nominated a Saint Candidate.
The church of the kingdom that produced the Saintess would gain a stronger voice.
“I understand what you’re saying, Your Eminence. But as you know better than I, if I were to switch to Sir Cloud’s party, I would become an enemy to every church branch in the Carta Kingdom. I also can’t ignore the damage it would do to my public reputation.”
“So you are refusing my offer.”
“I am grateful for the offer, but yes.”
“Very well. If that is your choice, Lady Marietta, then it cannot be helped.”
Archbishop Vedic nodded and then called out.
“Guards! Escort Lady Marietta back to her cell.”
Marietta’s eyes widened. She stared back and forth between the door and the Archbishop, at a complete loss.
“W-Wait a moment?! Your Eminence! I-I’m a Saint Candidate—”
“It was a joke.”
“…Pardon?”
Seeing Marietta frozen stiff, Archbishop Vedic smiled faintly.
“Even so, how could I possibly keep a Saint Candidate in such a wretched place? It was merely a jest to encourage you to reconsider my proposal. Was it not to your liking?”
“No… well… yes, it was… amusing. Haha…”
Does this man think a Saint Candidate is a joke?
Just you wait until I become the Saintess. I’ll get you for this.
Marietta hid her true thoughts behind a forced smile.
Archbishop Vedic’s tone grew more serious.
“I believe the things you are worried about will not come to pass.”
“…How can you be so sure?”
“Rufus, which overcame a fierce battle with the wicked Four Heavenly Kings. Hero Lorian coveted it. Saint Candidate Marietta pleaded with him to reconsider time and again, but he raised an army anyway. What do you think?”
Isn’t that a sufficient reason for a Saint Candidate to turn her back on him?
“…”
“Think carefully. Hero Lorian is out of control. For some reason, he has become obsessed with power. This recent incident is proof of that. If he continues to charge ahead so recklessly, he will eventually meet his ruin.”
Marietta couldn't deny his harsh assessment of Lorian. As he said, Lorian had been acting with a sense of urgency lately, a stark contrast to his calm and collected demeanor in the past.
He might do something even worse next time, and the consequences might not be his alone to bear, but could spread to those around him.
Just as she had been thrown into the dungeon this time.
‘…I can’t let that happen.’
Marietta had worked hard to be treated better. Why should she be mistreated because of someone else’s mistake?
No, mistreatment would be the least of her worries.
Seeing how he’d been acting lately, it wouldn't be surprising if they were both excommunicated together one day.
After a long moment of contemplation, she asked cautiously, “Why are you making me this offer…? Is it purely for political retaliation against Lady Ophelia…?”
At her suspicious tone, Archbishop Vedic’s eyes widened, and he let out a hearty laugh. Wiping away a tear, he said, “You misunderstand something. I am not saying this to get back at Ophelia.”
“Then…”
“I have simply judged that Ophelia is not a good match for Hero Cloud.”
.
.
.
.
.
Marietta was not the only one summoned by the Archbishop.
Ophelia.
She, too, had been called.
‘Ah… Aah…’
Overhearing their conversation from outside the Archbishop’s office, she fell into a panic.
‘I’m… I’m… not a good match for the Hero…?’
After all her efforts, was it still not enough?
Slowly, in the reflection in her eyes, her body began to be covered in filth.
‘No…! Filthy. Filthy. Filthy. Filthy!’
She began to scratch furiously at her arms as if trying to scrape off the grime. Her skin turned red and swelled, then tore, and blood began to drip to the floor.
Many priests and nuns saw Ophelia as she walked down the corridor, but no one dared to approach her.
The sight of a woman scratching at her raw wounds, her face contorted in terror as tears streamed down her cheeks, was clearly not that of a sane person.
*
“Sir Hero… the Archbishop is looking for you on an urgent matter. He is still waiting for you to arrive.”
“Tell him to wait a little longer. I have something more urgent.”
I waved my hand dismissively, signaling for the priest to leave. But instead of leaving, the priest raised his voice as if to ask if I was going to keep this up.
“Sir Hero!”
“What?!”
“…What could be so important that you would refuse the Archbishop’s summons—”
“Summons? Do I look like I’m beneath the Archbishop to you? You dare use the word ‘summoned’?”
“What…? N-No, that’s not what I meant…”
“It’s not? Then quietly go back and tell the Archbishop to wait. If he’s going to call for me unilaterally without an appointment, he should be prepared for this much. What are you doing? Go.”
When I scowled, the hesitant priest reluctantly turned and left.
I watched him go before turning away myself.
I felt bad for the guy caught in the middle, but what could I do?
I was meeting an old friend for the first time in a while. I couldn't be late because of work, could I?
‘That was a surprise, though.’
This morning, a guard came to me and said that Mars was looking for me. He said the person was unidentified, but he had insisted so strongly that they had detained him for the time being.
I knew we’d meet someday, but I never thought it would be like this.
‘Then again, it’s probably faster for him to find me than for me to find him.’
I wonder how that kid, Mars, has been.
It’s been a while, so he must have grown a lot, right?
I heard he’s part of a four-person team. I hope his companions are decent people.
Lost in thought, I soon arrived at the guardhouse where Mars was being held.
With a hint of anticipation, I opened the door.
“No, I’m telling you, it’s true… Oh, bro!”
I saw Mars talking with a guard.
Seeing him after several years, Mars had changed quite a bit.
He was taller, and his body was more built than before.
But the way he smiled and waved was exactly the same.
I chuckled and was about to step into the guardhouse when—
“Oi, oi, so you’re the real deal?”
A tone of voice I should never have heard struck my ears. I whipped my head around. My eyes fell upon three familiar-looking figures.
A blond tanned thug who looked like a skinny, dried fish.
A pig who looked like a bald vulture.
And a woman with pink hair, though she wasn't Isabelle.
‘…’
I slowly reached for the hilt of my sword.