◈ Chapter 335 White Lion (3)
About 15 minutes before meeting Rudger.
Priestess Lemria walked through the corridors of the palace following the guide of the deputy.
"These are truly audacious individuals. How dare they treat the priestess of our nation with such disrespect."
Princess Eileen did not see them off or provide them with a guide after their meeting.
It was clear that they were unwelcome guests.
"Priestess, what would you like to do? Will you go directly to the scene where the incident occurred?"
The deputy asked in a polite tone, trying to match Lemria's mood.
Lemria shook her head.
"It doesn't seem necessary to go immediately."
"But if we go even a little late, the this unholy empire might try to eliminate the evidence."
"No matter how thickly they bury it with sand, the true form of a genuinely corrupted existence is bound to be revealed. The more they try to hide, the easier it becomes for us to find. So it's alright."
"But, still..."
"Moreover, since we have finally entered the imperial palace, it would be a shame not to admire its famous scenery, wouldn't it?"
Lemria asked with a natural smile.
No one could refute her words.
Lemria, who usually handled most of the tasks through the deputy, directly expressed her opinion.
There was no one in this position who could reject the proposal of the woman with the highest authority present.
"Since we have received permission from our homeland to stay here for a while, let's take a look around the famous Imperial Palace inside. I've been curious about it for a while."
"Yes, understood. Then let me be your guide."
Due to Lemria's whim, the Bretus delegation changed their direction.
It was an unexpected action that Eileen didn't expect.
While Lemria was wandering around the palace, fascinated by its wonders, she spotted a man approaching from the opposite side.
Having passed numerous servants and guards on her way here, Lemria had not paid much attention to them.
But this man was different.
Even for Lemria, who was indifferent to everyone except the gods, he had a captivating charm that unknowingly drew her gaze.
No, it could even be called a magical aura.
'Who is he?'
His appearance was truly that of a sculptor's masterpiece, crafted with utmost dedication, making him the epitome of a handsome man.
But beyond simply being 'good-looking,' he exuded a unique charisma and atmosphere that flowed around him.
In an instant, one could mistake him for a bloodline of the royal family.
However, his hair color was different, and there was no reason for someone from the royal family to be wandering alone like this.
That meant he was either an outsider or a servant of this place.
Just as the man noticed her presence and momentarily paused his steps.
Though it was a brief moment, Lemria couldn't help but sense something peculiar.
As the man resumed walking past her.
Lemria took the initiative and spoke up.
"Who are you?"
* * *
"You go around with your own entourage that suits you perfectly."
In that moment, the deputy couldn't understand what Rudger had said.
"W-What? What did you just say?"
Although the deputy asked, Rudger didn't even respond.
That sharp gaze was unexpected.
Frustrated by once again being ignored, the deputy clenched his fist tightly.
In Rudger's actions, the insult he had received from the First Princess a while ago seemed to overlap.
"Answer me right now!"
Shouting, Rudger finally turned to the deputy and asked.
"You're being noisy. I spoke to this woman, not you."
"What? You insolent... Look at me properly. I am the representative of the noble person present here! If you want to speak to this person, you must speak to me first!"
The deputy shouted with a voice full of pride.
his attitude showed no hint of embarrassment because he was the representative of the priestess.
However, Rudger's reaction was not only cold but even icy.
"A representative? Are you so proud just because you act and speak on behalf of others?"
The deputy's proud expression twisted into a miserable one.
"I am not an ordinary representative! How dare you babble without even knowing who this person is!"
"Should I know that?"
".....What?"
Rudger's confident question left the deputy flustered.
Should I know? What a natural question to ask.
"Well, then, did you dare to babble such nonsense without even knowing who this person is?"
"That was a wrong choice of words."
Rudger sneered.
"The one who babbled nonsense in the first place wasn't me, but her."
"You arrogant b*stard! How dare you speak like that as a mere employee staying at the palace!"
"Employee? It seems that you were babbling such nonsense without even knowing who I am."
Not an employee?
Even seeing the expression of the deputy asking that question, Rudger didn't bother to correct him.
"As you say, the person here is really considered great person"
"It's not about being considered, but actually..."
"But authority isn't something that simply comes from words. Just because you, a self-proclaimed deputy, raise your voice and make a scene, it doesn't mean you have authority. Haven't you learned that?"
The words, as sharp as flying daggers, along with the chilling gaze, struck the deputy's body.
"And as a citizen of the Empire, except for the Emperor, I am not obliged to bow my head to anyone. Even if they are an envoy from another country, it should not be forced."
"T-This person is a priestess of the Bretus Kingdom. It's different from an ordinary envoy!"
The deputy argued, pushing out words that should have remained unsaid.
Despite Rudger's accurate statement, there was an undeniable urgency in their desire to argue.
"A priestess?"
"Yes. The priestess holds a revered position that can only be attained by those who have received the blessings of the saints in the Bretus Kingdom. You are not in a position to casually trivialize her words."
It was indeed true that the Bretus Kingdom had severed diplomatic ties with other nations for a considerable period.
However, due to their longstanding reign over the continent, their prestige remained intact.
Over the years, some individuals had become ignorant and forgotten their rightful place, daring to question the esteemed status of their own homeland.
That was a tree that should never be looked up at.
The agent spoke confidently while observing Rudger's expression.
Now, do you realize your place?
As he was about to ask, he felt something strange when he saw Rudger's unchanged face.
Despite mentioning the position of a priest, Rudger's face was full of 'So what?' expression.
"So, are you a priest?"
"I am their representative!"
"Right, a representative. Parrots who speak and act on behalf of others, spineless creatures without their own backbone. I know well. So what do you want me to do?"
Of course, the agent hoped that he would bow down on his own, but Rudger had no intention of doing so.
He hated such people from the beginning, and bowing down to them was worse than death.
"Above all, if you're going to claim to be a representative, at least be faithful to that role. It seems like you're not even fulfilling your duties as a representative."
That statement not only mocked the agent, who claimed to be a representative, but also subtly revealed his own motives.
"If you think you are serving someone properly, then learn to act accordingly. Unless you want to disgrace your master."
The agent's face turned red as if it was about to explode.
He clenched his fist as if he would swing it at any moment, but Rudger wasn't concerned at all.
'He's a guy who has only received preferential treatment all his life, so he doesn't understand his own position.'
A typical example of being surrounded by sycophants.
Most likely, no one would dare to confront him directly.
Just being called the priestess's representative would have received similar treatment.
Even though the authority to bow down was not with him but with the priestess.
He forgot his own position and became intoxicated with the taste of power.
'Originally, if your own representative acted like that, there's no way the true master would let it pass quietly.'
However, the key figure in the incident, the priestess herself, was calmly observing the situation.
She didn't care about the actions of her direct subordinate.
It was as if she was a completely unrelated person.
Perhaps they shared the same thought, which is why she didn't intervene or show any interest.
'The expressions of the priests and paladins behind me don't look good, so incidents like this must have happened more than once.'
Since there was no means to hold this foolish subordinate accountable, there was only one inevitable outcome.
The priestess displayed a complete lack of interest in her subordinate's actions.
She seemed devoid of agency or personal will.
She was truly nothing more than a puppet, living and breathing.
It seemed like the behavior befitting a priestess of the Lumensis Church.
That's why Rudger openly disregarded the subordinate and spoke directly to the priestess himself.
"Don't you think the same?"
He wanted to test why she remained unresponsive even when he spoke so directly.
The expressions of the priests and paladins who had been quietly listening behind froze coldly.
It wasn't that they didn't consider the subordinate's behavior contemptible, but it was problematic for an outsider to speak so directly and bluntly to a priestess.
"Yes, that's right."
But even more surprisingly, it was Priestess Lemria, the priest herself, who answered.
And she answered in a form of consent.
"P-Priestess?"
The subordinate's face turned into a pathetic expression like an abandoned puppy.
However, Lemria didn't even glance at him.
She had no interest in how surprised her closest confidant was.
"I have been overseeing him for a significant period, and there was a time when he displayed initiative and passion. However, I am unsure when he began overstepping his boundaries."
Lemria acknowledged her own negligence in allowing such behavior to persist without consequences.
Yet, no one dared to hold her accountable.
"P-Priestess. No, it's not your fault. How could I..."
As the subordinate tried to argue, the priestess stared at her subordinate beyond her snow-white tiara.
Even though her eyes couldn't be seen, the subordinate's complexion turned pale with fear.
"You've been handling my affairs for far too long and working hard. I think it's time for you to take a good rest."
She said it in a polite tone, but in reality, she was practically driving him away.
The subordinate wanted to say something more, but two paladins stepped forward and quickly dragged him away.
"Priestess! Priestess!"
With an echoing cry that felt empty, the subordinate completely disappeared.
Lemria didn't even spare a glance for the subordinate who had been with her for a long time and instead smiled at Rudger.
"Now it's quiet."
"..."
Although it was indirectly mentioned, no one expected that she would openly chase him away in front of everyone.
'Furthermore, judging by the way she speaks, she must have been overseeing him for a long time, yet she has no hesitation in letting him go. It makes one wonder if emotions even exist within her.'
Even her smile at the moment feels alien, as if she has put on a mask over a wax doll.
"So, what is your name?"
"Before asking someone else's name, I believe it is proper to introduce oneself first."
A surge of vitality emanated from the paladins in response to Rudger's words.
But Rudger didn't even blink.
As if daring them to draw their swords and swing them, he provoked the paladins with his gaze.
"Enough."
It was then that Lemria spoke up.
The paladins immediately restrained themselves.
"I must admit that I lacked manners. I apologize. I'm not very accustomed to dealing with people. Allow me to introduce myself first. My name is Lemria. I am the priestess of the Bretus Kingdom."
Priestess.
'Has one of the priestess, numbering around ten, arrived?'
Furthermore, she appeared much younger than the priestess in his memory.
During his absence, it seemed that there had been a significant change in the priestsess as well.
"Rudger Chelsea. I am currently staying here as a guest, serving as a teacher for the Seron."
"I see."
"Since it seems that your curiosity has been satisfied, I will take my leave."
Rudger concluded that he shouldn't get involved with them at all.
When Rudger, with an openly expressed attitude of no longer wanting to converse, tried to leave, Lemria naturally blocked his path.
Rudger frowned.
"What are you trying to do now?"
"Just because you heard my name, do you already think it's time to leave? We've encountered each other like this for a reason, so let's have a little conversation."
"It seems like you have something you want to talk about, but I have no interest in that. So step aside."
A firm command, not even a suggestion to make way.
Even in the face of such overt displeasure, Lemria didn't erase her smile.
"You're Rudger, right? I sense a rather peculiar energy from you."
Only speaking what she wants to say.
Rudger became annoyed by Lemria's whimsical behavior.
Seeing this, he couldn't help but wonder who the personality of the recently expelled subordinate resembled.
"And what does that matter? Are you planning to ask me if I believe in a god or something?"
"Well, can I?"
"I don't believe."
"That's a shame."
Even in such a situation where it would be appropriate to feel offended, Lemria maintained a natural smile.
"From the very beginning, I sensed an unusual energy from you. For someone who seems eager to hold on to others, you appear quite nonchalant."
"Oh, if it sounded that way to you, I apologize. But I genuinely meant what I said."
"And I genuinely responded."
"Moreover, beyond the peculiar energy, there was a sense of familiarity that I couldn't resist being curious about."
At the mention of familiarity, Rudger fell silent.
Lemria subtly asked, "Have we perhaps met somewhere before?"