Chapter 440: A Lesson to Be Learned
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 440: A Lesson to Be Learned
Things always seem to happen with startling suddenness.
Ariel was currently being wrapped in layer upon layer of various restrictions and shackles by a swarm of vigorous knights. Thick, heavy iron chains were coiled around her more times than anyone could count. It seemed they were terrified of further disturbing the Saintess, so they hauled her away with brisk efficiency. Before leaving, the knights even flashed the Saintess a simple, honest smile that seemed to say, Leave everything to us.
Meanwhile, Muen and Liya remained in a state of total bewilderment.
Was this the legendary efficiency of the Temple Knights? You had to love it.
But could they at least let a person finish their sentence?
It felt like Ariel was in the middle of saying something very strange before she was cut off... What exactly did she mean by "Don't look at me"?
Liya and Muen looked at each other, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
However, since Ariel had attempted to "assassinate" her in front of so many people, Liya couldn't say much directly due to her status—even if she knew there had to be a misunderstanding.
She had no choice but to summon Lin, who was currently directing the men in a rapid cleanup of the battlefield.
"Help me pass word to them. Tell them not to make things difficult for Ariel."
"Ariel... you mean that assassin from just now?"
Lin also looked like she was struggling to process the situation.
"With all due respect, Your Highness, attempting to assassinate you is a capital crime at any time, let alone in broad daylight before a crowd. Even in your name, it won't be easy to explain this to the Judgment Temple... May I ask why you are showing her such favoritism?"
"She is my friend."
Liya rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on.
"There must be a misunderstanding. Tell them that until the truth is uncovered, they must not harm Ariel."
Even as a newly appointed Saintess, Liya had heard of the Judgment Temple’s methods. She was afraid that if she didn't give them a heads-up, Ariel might be missing a few vital parts by the time she managed to fish her out of the Black Prison.
"A friend..."
Lin was stunned. What kind of friend comes to "assassinate" you on such an important day?
Are you sure this 'friend' isn't the kind who stabs you in the back?
Actually, this was stabbing her in the front. Lin truly couldn't understand the Saintess's standards for friends. Even the man she had chosen didn't look like anything good!
Despite her confusion, it was the Saintess's command. Lin nodded respectfully.
"Understood. I will inform them. The interrogation of Miss Ariel will be conducted by Your Highness personally."
"Mhm, thank you," Liya said with a smile.
"No, this is my duty. There is no need for thanks. Furthermore, Your Highness holds a noble status; please be sparing with your words of gratitude."
Lin’s expression turned solemn as she offered a serious admonition.
"Otherwise, a casual remark from you could cause an unimaginable situation. According to Church records, there was once a believer who became so overexcited by a single word of praise from the Saintess that his heart burst, and he died on the spot."
"...I understand."
Liya immediately composed herself and entered "Saintess Mode," though her attempt to keep a stiff, serious little face was exceptionally cute.
"It is best that Your Highness understands. Also..."
Having finished correcting Liya’s etiquette, Lin silently turned her gaze toward Muen, who was trying his best to fade into the background.
"Sir Knight, the matter is concluded. The assassin has been captured, and the Sacred Carriage is about to move again. Why are you still here?"
"..."
A gentle breeze blew past. Muen sat nearby, ignoring Lin’s question. He leaned his head on his hand like a quiet, brooding artist, his fingers brushing against the white veils swaying in the wind.
"I just realized that even these white veils are made of magical materials. As expected of the wealthy and powerful Church."
"...This has nothing to do with being wealthy."
Lin desperately wanted to kick this guy out, but she had to maintain her manners in front of the Saintess. She patiently replied:
"These veils are designed so that when Her Highness is inside the carriage, believers from any direction can perfectly see the silhouette she casts through the fabric, while simultaneously blocking any fanatical gazes or sensory probes.
"After all, light, temperature, wind direction, shadows... many factors affect the believers' ability to pay their respects. Naturally, we couldn't just use ordinary white cloth."
"I see."
Muen nodded.
He had noticed earlier that while he was inside the carriage, he hadn't even realized the knights had surrounded them. There was definitely something here that shielded perception.
"Wait... so you're saying the silhouette projected onto the veils from inside the carriage can actually be controlled?"
Muen rubbed his chin, looking like he had just discovered a new continent.
"...Mr. Muen."
Sensing that something was wrong and having reached the end of her patience, Lin gritted her teeth, her expression darkening.
"If you have something to say, say it plainly. Do not delay the Saintess's ceremony!"
"In that case, I won't beat around the bush with Miss Lin. I'll be blunt."
Muen turned his head and let out a soft sigh. Then, with an expression that was thirty percent worry, thirty percent sincerity, and thirty percent "I have no choice," he said in a deep voice:
"Regarding the Church's security work... Miss Lin, you patted your chest and guaranteed it earlier, but now it seems it wasn't quite as excellent as imagined. You almost let the enemy succeed."
"We..."
Lin wanted to snap back at him as she usually did, but the words caught in her throat.
At that moment, two knights were carrying the black-robed man away. Lin’s gaze swept over them, and she found herself unable to argue.
Facts spoke louder than words. No matter how much the Church had supposedly done for the Saintess's safety on the surface, the reality was...
The Saintess had been in danger, and it had been a very close call.
"You see, if I hadn't arrived in time, Liya would have been in real trouble. That black-robed man was terrifyingly strong; I had to use every ounce of my strength to deal with him.
"Of course, I'm not saying this to claim credit. I just want to offer a timely suggestion..."
Muen slapped his knee and put on a look of utter, handsome sincerity.
"We can't guarantee there won't be more accidents like this later. So, just to be safe... shouldn't we appoint someone to protect Liya at her side?
"Of course, it can't just be anyone. This person must be strong enough, must have a good enough relationship with the Saintess, and most importantly, must be handsome enough...
"Don't misunderstand, I'm certainly not talking about myself. It's just that after thinking it over, the only person here who fits those criteria is..."
"..."
Muen talked on and on.
Lin, who was already serving her second Saintess and considered herself a woman of great cultivation, couldn't stop her temples from throbbing violently.
She watched Muen’s mouth flapping away. The sound of his clicking abacus was practically hitting her in the face. Her fingers gripped her thigh tightly, fearing that if she relaxed for even a second, she wouldn't be able to stop herself from pulling out a knife and stabbing this bastard to death.
But she couldn't. Because the other gaze coming from the side—shy yet full of anticipation—left her feeling utterly powerless.
"According to the rules, the Saintess cannot have anyone by her side..."
"But according to the rules, can you protect her?"
"If people find out..."
"Who's going to find out?"
Muen poked his head out and saw that everyone was busy; no one was paying attention to them. He winked and said:
"These magical veils don't just block perception; they probably block sound too, right? You could even project a fake silhouette onto them, couldn't you? Isn't that how you set them up? Don't worry, I'll only be responsible for Liya's safety. I won't do anything else. I swear on my teacher's—"
"You said that last time too."
"Then this time I swear on my old man's estate!"
Muen stood tall, four fingers pointing to the sky.
"If I do anything else, may my old man return to find that all his manors have gone up in smoke!"
"But the rules..."
"Safety."
"We'll be caught..."
"We won't..."
"This kind of ridiculous behavior is truly..."
Peek, peek~~
"..."
Lin closed her eyes.
She had already predicted that once she let this bastard onto the carriage, it would be hard to get him off. But she hadn't expected this... It wasn't just "hard." He was like a piece of dog-skin plaster, seemingly dead-set on sticking right here.
And she had to admit that to prevent any further accidents, this was indeed the best solution...
In her twenty years as a Great Nun, this was the first time Lin had the urge to resign.
*
"Great Nun."
As soon as Lin stepped out of the Sacred Carriage, a knight came forward to report.
"The cleanup is complete."
"Good work."
Lin nodded slightly and looked around.
It had to be said that the efficiency of the Temple Knights was beyond reproach. In the few minutes she had spent inside the carriage wanting to kill a certain bastard, the battlefield—which had been a mess of beast-transformed limbs and corpses—had been completely cleared. Not a single drop of blood remained.
These people were professionals at "cleaning the floor."
"Then let us begin. Do not miss the appointed hour; we only have twenty minutes of buffer time left," Lin commanded.
"Yes."
The knight responded solemnly. Then, he suddenly pulled on his horse's reins, turned back, and looked behind Lin, asking curiously:
"By the way, Lady Lin, do you know where Sir Muen is?"
"Muen..."
The corner of Lin’s eye twitched imperceptibly.
"What do you want with that do—with that man?"
"Oh, it's nothing. It's just that since Sir Muen was a primary witness to the assassination attempt, we were hoping he could cooperate with us and provide more details so we can uncover the truth."
The knight scratched his head, looking a bit troubled.
"For some reason, we couldn't detect even a trace of a soul on that black-robed fellow. We wanted to use Soul Search to find the masterminds, but we had nowhere to start. We can only seek out the witnesses for more intel."
"...I see. However, it is currently inconvenient."
"Inconvenient? You mean..."
"Muen Campbell has other important duties right now."
Lin remained expressionless.
"He cannot get away for the time being."
"Is that so?"
The knight’s expression immediately turned to one of admiration. He clicked his tongue and said:
"As expected of the Honorary Holy Knight personally appointed by His Majesty! He just finished the great task of protecting the Saintess, and he's already throwing himself into another job without a moment's rest. Such diligence is truly admirable! My subordinates have been a bit lazy lately; after this is over, I'll have to tell them to look to Sir Muen and learn a thing or two from him!"
Lin: "..."
Lin glanced back at the Sacred Carriage and massaged her forehead.
Don't, she thought. I'm serious.
The things that bastard does... you lot couldn't learn them if you tried.