The Saintess Returned to the Emperor’s Arms Chapter 120

You just have to look at me 

 

The investigation was immediately halted.

 

There was no mental space to move back to the office.

 

In a rush, Herhan had the soldier he had been questioning move to a nearby isolation room, then checked the message Asion had brought.

 

“A s-summons from the Temple…? Why would they…?”

 

Meanwhile, Riella stood confused, unable to grasp what was happening.

 

It wasn’t that she didn’t know what a Temple summons meant.

 

Fabian had once received one while staying in the Imperial Palace, and that was why she was even more afraid.

 

It was essentially the Temple’s declaration of war, a spider luring its prey back into the web.

 

“Don’t tell me… your identity has been discovered? Are they planning to take you away to a detainment camp? Is that it?!”

 

Riella asked in a panicked voice.

 

Herhan remained silent even after confirming the contents of the message.

 

Since it seemed like he would remain silent and frozen for the rest of his life if left alone, Riela took the letter from Herhan’s hand instead.

 

“Hah…”

 

‘If they dare try to take away my emperor, I won’t let them.’

 

Determined, Riella began to read the letter-but then suddenly stopped thinking altogether.

 

There was a reason Herhan became frozen.

 

Because the summons from the Temple was addressed to “Riella Blinite.”

 

* * *

 

The Imperial Palace of Elshweig suddenly ceased all political affairs and entered a state of emergency.

 

An unprecedented meeting was called, and all the officials of the imperial palace, regardless of department, gathered together.

 

“Even the local military commanders all returned to the palace.”

 

“Why is everyone acting so grim? Is a war about to break out or something?”

 

“Eh? Don’t be stupid. That’s ridiculous.”

 

“Then what is it?”

 

“The national wedding is only a few days away! Everyone is doing this to prepare for it!”

 

Ah, right, of course. We should get a move on with the celebrations, too.

 

While the outside palace guards, who still didn’t know the news, were enjoying their last moments of leisure by making such lame jokes.

 

The inside of the palace had already become utter chaos.

 

“Foreign press are swarming us. They want confirmation that Lady Blinite has been summoned for a ‘Saintess Verification’ by the Temple.”

 

“Aran says they’re withdrawing their wedding delegation.”

 

“There is now a diplomatic consensus that Lady Blinite’s lineage and qualifications must be verified and that his future course of action must be decided upon by everyone’s agreement.…”

 

Somehow, word from the Temple had already reached the lords all over the world.

 

It was a strange thing.

 

The Temple had always acted as a neutral force, never publicly announcing their activities, much less involving themselves in international politics.

 

“The rumors are spreading like wildfire. It’s as if someone is deliberately spreading them.”

 

At Jess’s ominous remark, Riella nodded—but couldn’t stop the question that lingered in her mind.

 

‘Who is it? It must be the alliance. They are trying to separate me from His Majesty.…’

 

You didn’t need to climb a high watchtower to see the world shaking.

 

It was right here, in the Grand conference room.

 

Even the imperial officials who had been preparing for the wedding and talking to Riella about various things until yesterday were equally in a state of panic.

 

“Your Majesty! Is it true? That she’s really a descendant of Ann…?!”

 

“Is Lady Blinite truly the Saintess?”

 

“Did Your Majesty know all along?”

 

As a barrage of agitated voices filled the room, Herhan suddenly stood.

 

Everyone fell silent at once, even though there was no order to keep quiet.

 

Herhan’s cool voice cut through the tense conference room.

 

“Riella Blinite is my empress, your lord, and the mother of this land. Do you need any other title?”

 

Herhan’s strict order continued.

 

“Send out an official message worldwide through the emergency network. Let it be known—any nation that dares covet or question my empress will be considered an enemy, and we will prepare for war.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

Asion answered.

 

The emperor’s determined appearance, as if he were already prepared for war, dragged the already suffocating conference room into an even heavier state of tension.

 

Standing beside him, Riella tried her best not to bow her head.

 

Although she tried not to be discouraged, as the Emperor had instructed, Riella still knew.

 

The gazes of the officials who occasionally raised their heads and glanced at her were different from those of just two days ago.

 

Riella felt confused and heartbroken at the same time.

 

‘Who am I? A beloved empress? A coveted saint? Or a troublemaker who shakes the nation?’

 

Just then, one official, seemingly mustering up all his courage, asked with a trembling voice:

 

“Your Majesty… will you comply with the Temple’s summons?”

 

Herhan’s blue eyes trembled violently.

 

But in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to answer.

 

* * *

 

“I’ll go to the temple.”

 

That night, Riella said to Herhan.

 

Both of them were just about to lie down and fall asleep.

 

“Riella. No.”

 

Herhan immediately got up and grabbed Riella, but she shook her head.

 

“And what, we keep pretending nothing is wrong? Keep avoiding it until the problem is solved? If I do that, how am I different from Greta?”

 

Herhan furrowed his brows and turned away from Riella.

 

He didn’t want to hear such bitter truths.

 

Riella persuaded Herhan with her affectionate eyes.

 

“It’s already been revealed, so I don’t think it’ll be covered up by remaining silent. Before the whole nation finds out—maybe it’s better if I go willingly. Face the Temple on my own terms.”

 

Herhan let out a long, heavy sigh, still refusing to meet her eyes.

 

Riela smiled faintly.

 

Even if his silence meant reluctant acceptance, it was still permission.

 

“If I go to the Temple and go through their so-called ‘verification’… will I be sent to a detainment camp afterward?”

 

“No. Absolutely not. That will never happen, Riella. I will destroy the entire temple myself if I have to.”

 

Herhan’s voice rose again in agitation.

 

It was, as expected, a sensitive topic.

 

But one that Riella had to understand.

 

Herhan calmed down after a while and explained calmly.

 

He barely restrained himself from talking about tearing down or burning the Temple.

 

“The detainment camp is to manage the descendants of Enril. The Temple might have authority over Enril’s bloodline, but they have neither the right nor the qualification to restrain a descendant of Ann. Of course, those bastards will try to gather all kinds of evidence to claim ownership over you.”

 

Was it really okay to call people who served the gods “those bastards”?

 

Riella gave a soft snort of laughter.

 

She needed to laugh—otherwise, she might start to feel even more afraid.

 

In other words, there were no set rules or precedents when it came to dealing with a descendant of Ann.

 

It was natural.

 

After the collapse of the Alliance and the Temple’s assumption of control over gifted individuals, not a single descendant of Ann had ever existed.

 

That made it all the more dangerous.

 

If no one had been designated as the rightful holder, it meant anyone could make a claim.

 

Even friendly countries that had been promoting friendly relations until yesterday suddenly changed their attitudes, and no one said the whole world wouldn’t come running for her.

 

But…

 

“Your Majesty will protect me, right?”

 

At those words, Herhan nodded and then closed his eyes tightly.

 

“If I had known this would happen, I would have brought the wedding forward.”

 

“More than now?”

 

“I have a better reason to protect you if you are my ‘empress’ rather than my ‘fiancée’.”

 

‘Ah. I see.’

 

Riella fidgeted with Herhan’s hand for a moment, then suddenly jumped up from the bed.

 

“Then let’s do it now.”

 

“What?”

 

Herhan widened his eyes in disbelief.

 

However, the more confused he looked, the more Riella smiled brightly and moved around the room.

 

She lit candles on the table.

 

Brought over the veil that had been hanging on the mannequin.

 

“I guess this was our fate. The marriage vow document was completed just this morning, remember?”

 

“Riella. What are you trying to do?”

 

Finally, unable to contain his curiosity, Herhan stood up and followed her.

 

Riela, now wearing a white veil atop her neatly brushed hair, approached him holding the gold-rimmed vow document.

 

* * *

 

A few minutes later, Asion and Jess rushed into the main palace.

 

It was because of the emperor’s emergency call.

 

Although working all night has become a daily routine these days, they have never been called at that late hour.

 

“What could it be, Jess? Did something happen?

 

“Are there any more accidents that could happen?”

 

With anxious hearts, they entered the inner room… only to be met with the most absurd command.

 

“Yes? A witness?”

 

“Yes. We need witnesses for the wedding vows. Ashion, you over there. Jess, over here.”

 

“Y-Your Majesty…?”

 

Ashion opened his mouth wide.

 

The two of them were acting too serious to be joking.

 

Riella wore a bridal veil over her hair, and Herhan held out a ring.

 

“The moment we sign the vow, the marriage becomes official. The ceremony can be held later, once we return.”

 

“W-Well, yes, that’s technically true, but… Lady Riella…”

 

“I agree. Should I stand here?”

 

Even Jess lightly betrayed the bewildered Asion and moved to his master’s side.

 

Ashion had no choice but to follow suit.

 

It seemed like the most absurd surprise wedding— yet as they moved the candles closer and watched the two stand face-to-face, they looked genuinely loving and solemn.

 

“Hah…. really….”

 

Asion, who had been sighing, eventually just laughed in vain.

 

The candle flames flickered gently.

 

Riella recited the vow in a clear voice, and Herhan slid the ring onto her finger.

 

Under the faint, shimmering light, their names were written side by side on the golden-rimmed marriage vow.

 

“Riella. You are now my empress.”

 

“Do you know what that means, Your Majesty?”

 

“What does it mean?”

 

“Now, Your Majesty, it is your duty to protect me.”

 

Riella brushed a tender kiss against Herhan’s lips before pulling back slightly to continue.

 

“There may be many who desire me in this world… But the only one who has the right to protect me—is you, Your Majesty.”

 

* * *

 

Two days later, a huge procession marched from the imperial palace to respond to the summons of the temple.

 

It was a grand procession reminiscent of a march to the battlefield.

 

The imperial guards and hundreds of soldiers were mobilized for this unprecedented show of force.

 

Two flags led the way.

 

One is a golden lion symbolizing the emperor.

 

Another one was the red rose flag, which signified the empress.

 

Priests and Holy Knights lined up in front of the Temple, awaiting the arrival of the Imperial procession.

 

Some were frozen by the thought of seeing the Emperor in person, while others trembled at the thought of a possible battle.

 

Although their faces were different, they all looked the same, cowering like prey thrown before a beast.

 

It was really funny.

 

They were the ones who had summoned Riella Blinite.

 

Then, the two flags soared into view, tall enough to pierce the sky.

 

The knights at the front got off first, prepared the place, and lined up on both sides, and then a golden carriage radiating the majesty of the Imperial Family came to a stop at the center.

 

Ludovico, the high priest of the central temple, stepped forward.

 

He opened his mouth politely, but did not bow his head.

 

“I greet you, Your Majesty the Emperor, the Sun of the Empire, and the descendants of Ann, blessed by the gods.”

 

It was a clear provocation.

 

By protocol, he should have said, “His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress.”

 

But Herhan didn’t point that out.

 

“High priest Ludovico, would you please step back?”

 

With a dismissive tone, he ignored the man entirely and reached into the carriage.

 

The moment Riella, escorted by Herhan, came out of the carriage, all the priests and knights who filled the wide courtyard of the temple trembled.

 

‘That is the one—the only living descendant of Ann.’

 

‘I’ve been searching for nearly a hundred years.’

 

The Empress of the Empire, the continent’s sole savior.

 

A woman of noble and pure appearance matches her reputation.

 

“Oh…”

 

High priest Ludovico let out an involuntary gasp and reached out a hand, but Captain Asion of the Guard sharply struck him away.

 

“Ah, High priest. Forgive me. I made a mistake.”

 

Before High Priest Ludovico could even point out the captain’s rudeness, the emperor and the lady walked into the temple.

 

The rude captain of the guard followed the emperor, as did dozens of knights and attendants who followed behind him.

 

The verification ceremony began immediately.

 

There was no need to delay—Emperor Herhan’s will aligned perfectly with High Priest Ludovico’s.

 

Visitors who arrived on schedule filled the vast halls of the temple.

 

Finally, on the platform of the temple where he had ascended, Herhan held Riella tightly in his arms.

 

“You don’t have to worry. You don’t have to be afraid. You don’t have to tremble. I will protect you even if it means turning this place into a sea of blood.”

 

The two people held hands in front of the huge waves.

 

And then Herhan spoke—

 

Words he had always said to the one he cherished more than anything else in the world.

 

Words that had become a habit, a vow.

 

“Riella, you just have to look at me.”

 

* * *