Forsaken Priest of the Hero's Party-Chapter 74: To Keep a Promise

“Why did you stop me?”

On the way back, Prince Edmund questioned his escort in a harsh tone.

The female knight Malenia, bowed her head and said nothing. Then, when the Prince stared at her intently as if expecting an answer, she answered.

“It was because my abilities were lacking.”

“Was that wolf really that strong?”

“I could have definitely killed her. But you wouldn’t have been safe either, Your Highness. I couldn’t risk it.”

The woman who prided herself on being the strongest in the Expert realm was confident that she could kill not only Kyle but also Roka.It’s not she didn’t do it because of compassion. It was simply because the sun behind Roka was ready to explode at any moment.

“That thing was not a wolf, it was a mad dog. It was ready to die with us the entire time. The moment I killed the Priest, the girl would have ignited her technique, killing everyone in the room.”

Malenia sensed that if the mini-sun exploded properly, this entire area would be blown away.

Although the woman was first-class at killing people, she couldn’t guarantee protecting the Prince from the fire and heat that would engulf everything around them.

Of course, if she did that, Roka, who was right next to the epicenter, would also be burned black. It was a “you die, I die” situation.

She was an extreme girl who would burn her own life without hesitation. It wasn’t a threat, it was a firm declaration, and there was no hesitation or reluctance at all.

Through the fight with Kamira, Roka established such a combat style.Even if there was a pit of lava in front of her, Roka wouldn’t hesitate and would just charge through it to meet her enemy.  She developed a tendency to never back down no matter what and to bite and tear at the opponent.

The Prince frowned.

“Is that so?”“If she had tried to threaten us to back off, or even tried to defuse the situation, it wouldn’t have been a problem. Because that would be a hint of her fear, but that mutt...”

Roka simply expressed her intention to die together the moment her master was touched.

It was a quiet declaration rather than a desperate struggle. The non-threatening threat succeeded, and Malenia could never take such a dangerous gamble.

Even if she could survive the explosion, the Third Prince could not.

Prince Edmund wasn’t that desperate. He still had a lot to lose, and he still had the support of the temple. If he killed Kyle but died himself, what good would that do?

“Even though she was only at the beginner Expert level, the shape and quality of her mana were extraordinary. It’s amazing that she was born with the mana of the sun, and I don’t know what kind of enlightenment she gained to condense her own form, but that power far surpassed that of an ordinary Expert.”

“I thought she was just a maid of that priest or my sister, who would have thought they had such a little monster with them.”

The Prince sighed and asked.

“Then wouldn’t it have been good to take that priest hostage and subdue the wolf as well? I wasn’t planning to kill that priest from the beginning anyway, out of fear of retaliation from the ancient god.”

“Forgive my presumption, but I am not a master.”

It’s not that she didn’t consider that option.

It was just impossible to do so.“While I can kill that wolf, I can’t overwhelm her. Should we fight, I must go for the kill immediately, and that would have caused a commotion. Besides, I doubt the battle would be a short one.”

“To that extent?”

“If we cause that much of a commotion inside the palace, neither Your Highness would be able to handle the consequences.”

The Prince was surprised. He knew best how great this woman was.

He was proud to call her his hidden blade in the dark. When such a woman readily admitted that she couldn’t subdue Roka in a short time, the Prince couldn’t help but let out a low groan.

“You’re saying her talent is extraordinary.”

“It’s not just that. If we don’t cut her down now while she’s still a sprout, she will grow smoothly and become a giant tree that will lead the Ardein faction. In my opinion, she’s even more of a threat than that priest.”

Right now, there was no trace of Ardein’s power in the Empire, but since the Princess had broken through to the master level and returned, it was natural for her to gain followers.

In the eyes of the female knight and the Prince, Roka was currently a close aide to Ardein, and later, she would become the sword in her hand and the next leader of the Ardein faction who would stab them.

They had no choice but to be wary.

“I’ll have to come up with a plan in agreement with the Archbishop.”

The Prince muttered.

“Let’s subtly convey our intention to Archbishop Armata.”

This content is taken from fгeewebnovёl.com.

The Goddess of Earth, Nemi.

The Goddess of Light, Elysia.

And the Goddess of Healing, Hillai.

The three goddesses were officially equal deities, but there was definitely a hierarchy among them. The hierarchy was determined by the size of the faith and denomination.

Nemi was at the top, and Elysia was second. Hillai could never escape being third-rate. That’s why the priests of the Hillai Church secretly hoped for change.

Archbishop Armata was therefore the most radical figure among the three archbishops of the Grandera diocese. Someone who has little in their hands but wants to gain a lot is the perfect target for negotiation.

“Shall I also convey the intention to Archbishop Arice and Archbishop Hallonen?”

The Prince nodded at the female knight’s question.

“Proceed with that.”

Anyway, the masters of the Imperial Temple faction were the three archbishops dispatched from the Church, and he was just the figurehead of the faction. He had no authority to make important decisions, so he had no choice but to submit his opinions to the three of them.

Everything would be decided by the three archbishops.

*****The first place Ardein headed to after leaving the royal court was her own room.

The place she sought, even delaying her return to Kyle, was a shabby room in a corner that was hard to find. If one didn’t know the way, they wouldn’t be able to come here, but it was familiar to the Princess.

“Edmund. Father said to forgive you.”

In this quiet and lonely room, anger filled Ardein’s eyes as she looked at the state of this room that didn’t fit the Imperial Palace.

How could she forget that clever younger brother who had driven her to the edge of a cliff in collaboration with Archbishop Armata?

“But I can’t do that.”

Every time she looked inside the room that was tidy even though it had nothing, the Princess’s heart also warmed.

Half with anger, half with emotion. Of course, the targets they were aiming for were different.

“Even though I was away for so long, you didn’t abandon me.”

Even though she had been away for nearly several months, the room was still clean.

All the items were organized and in their place, and no dust could be found on the floor or the table. She quietly took her place in the center of that small room, sat down with her hands clasped, and prayed.

Her eyes moistened when she saw the clock hanging on one side of the wall. Looking at the time, it was about time.

For the Princess, for whom it was difficult to even leave the room, the daily routine of the maids who were like her caregivers was something that naturally became known as she lived there.

Unable to muster the courage to meet the eyes of those who were about to come now, the Princess sat with her back to the door.

They say you know loyal subjects in difficult times. The two maids who took care of her until the end were no longer just simple servants to the Princess. They were already like a family. At least to her, they were.

“Sigh.”

Unable to endure the wait, the Princess reached out and grabbed a doll that was placed in the cupboard.

Then she let out a sigh. After suffering from leprosy at a young age, she spent almost every day in this narrow room. She always regretted her past life in here. Yes, her life was a series of regrets.

Sometimes she burned with a desire for revenge in this back room.

She would dream of exacting revenge upon those who betrayed her. Those who threw stones at her. Even her family members were not spared. The  Archbishop Armata and the temple were also other targets of her hatred.

But now she wasn’t sure. It would be a lie to say there was no anger towards the patricidal Edmund and those involved with him, but when she heard the Emperor’s words, she also had something that came to mind.

She knew why Edmund hated her so much. Did she have the right to spew anger at him?“Are you going to stand there, Meabil?”

Feeling the hesitating presence outside the door, the Princess opened her mouth kindly. But her voice was trembling.

As if sensing a presence inside the room, the maid who had been hesitating to open the door slightly opened it and peeked inside through the crack.

“May I ask who... you are?”

With a trembling voice, but confidently, the maid Meabil opened her mouth.

“This is the residence of Her Highness, Princess Ardein. You can’t just come in here as you please.”

At those words, the Princess, who barely suppressed the tears that were about to come out, slowly stood up and turned her head. At first, she didn’t recognize her. The maids were always used to seeing her wearing a mask.

Such radiant blonde hair was not there before, so she just looked like a different person from the one who was fighting the illness.

The appearance of the Princess, who had become younger than before she ate the Firefly Crystal and fell ill, perhaps even younger than that, was not familiar to them. But still, in the end, she was the same person.

Meabil unknowingly dropped the bundle she was holding. The atmosphere was very different, and her appearance was completely different, but in the end, she recognized her.

The appearance of Ardein before she fell ill, which she could only see out of the corner of her eye.

“It’s me. I really... came back.”

The Princess couldn’t even speak for long. Because she had to hold back the rising tears.

The maid, Meabil, screamed. Only after the surroundings became noisy with the sound she let out did she realize it with a start, and surprised, she covered her mouth with both hands clasped together.

Then she couldn’t continue speaking. Her voice couldn’t escape her mouth. Surprise blocked her throat, and tremors twisted her vocal cords.

After some time passed, she was able to make a sound, but her eyes were as wide as coins.

Meabil found it difficult to even discern whether this was a dream or reality.

“Is it truly... Is it truly Your Highness... Your Highness...”

“I once said that if a miracle came and I was able to shake off this curse-like illness, I would not forget your grace then.”

The Princess approached her first and embraced a mere maid with open arms. Meabil didn’t know what to do with herself at this incredible event, but the Princess didn’t let her go.

A maid. Not even a lady-in-waiting, but a maid. A mere commoner laborer, not someone to interact with as an equal.

But what did it matter? This person clearly deserved to be treated like this.

“I came back to keep that promise.”

When someone falls, the person who holds their hand, whoever it may be, deserves to enjoy the glory together.

If only one more chance could be given.

If a way to repay the debt to those who helped me arises.

How much did I repeat it and remind myself?

Now that day has truly come. I will never again ignore those by my side like before.

I will not mistreat those who become my allies with my own hands.

The Princess made that resolution.