The Saintess Returned to the Emperor’s Arms – Chapter 151

Author: Chewyy

My Enril

“What? Me? As the new head of the temple?”

Riela asked with wide eyes, then burst into laughter, unable to hold back her disbelief.

“That doesn’t make sense. Why me?”

She kept laughing.

But Asion, on the other hand, remained completely serious.

As if to say, *you know the answer better than anyone.*

‘Why me.’

As her laughter faded, Riela repeated those words to herself and began thinking of the answer.

Who she was.

The Empress of the powerful Elsweig Empire.

The incarnation of Antu.

The only saint who could govern the descendants of Enril with the power of purification.

And the only bloodline left to carry on Yvonne’s will to reform the temple.

“Ah…”

“I think it would be harder to find someone more suitable than Your Majesty,” Asion said.

It was so true that it was almost embarrassing to deny.

“Even so, how could I take charge of the temple? I’m not even a priest.”

“Technically, it would be the head of the supervisory body, so it’s appropriate for someone who hasn’t been ordained.”

“But still…”

As her voice trailed off, countless thoughts passed through Riela’s mind.

Her role. Her destiny.

And the worry—’can I really do this?’—along with an equally strong sense of anticipation.

After hesitating, she spoke carefully again.

“If I accept that position, what happens? Would it affect my marriage with His Majesty?”

“No, not that. But you would become very busy. You wouldn’t be able to stay comfortably in the palace like now. You’d have to travel often to the temple, and you’d take on many difficult responsibilities.”

After a brief pause, Asion continued.

“And you would help a great many people.”

Those working to rebuild the temple.

And countless descendants of Enril who needed the power of purification.

“His Majesty told me to keep this a secret because he believes you would accept the offer. Because he knows how kind you are.”

“….”

“So…”

“….”

“May I ask what you will do?”

Asion lifted his head and asked.

His honest, upright gaze was fixed firmly on Riela.

Riela understood why he had told her.

Not just because he couldn’t withstand her pressure— but because in the end, this was something she had to decide herself.

* * *

After sending Asion away, Riela entered the bath.

Herhan was leaning back in the tub, looking relaxed.

A wine glass rested in his hand.

The bottle beside the tub was already half empty.

“You’re late. I’ve already had three glasses by myself.”

His voice, lightly scolding her, sounded unusually soft.

Riela walked up to him and took the wine glass from his hand, setting it aside.

He let it go without resistance, but frowned slightly when he noticed her clothes.

“Why are you still dressed?”

“I never said I’d undress.”

Herhan narrowed his eyes.

His sulkiness deepened.

“Riela.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

She answered bluntly.

She expected him to complain about bathing together again, but instead, he asked something unexpected.

“You’ll stay by my side, right?”

“I’m right here now.”

“No. I mean always.”

His words were slightly slurred—he seemed a bit drunk.

His flushed cheeks.

His eyelashes glistening with steam.

His hazy eyes.

If she wasn’t careful, she might completely fall for him again, so Riela deliberately looked away as she answered.

“Well… I’ll decide based on how you behave. Maybe I’ll stay with you the whole time, or maybe just a little.”

She said it teasingly on purpose.

Normally, he would react right away—but instead—

“What should I do?”

“….”

“What do I have to give you so you’ll stay only by my side?”

Tonight, he seemed almost dangerously vulnerable—and because of that, even more beautiful.

“Hmm? Riela…”

Herhan pulled her closer, urging her.

The air around them was thick with steam.

In the rich scent of roses, Herhan instinctively found the source of his life and kissed her.

“Mmm…”

Then suddenly, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her in hard.

“Y-Your Majesty!”

*Splash!*

Water spilled everywhere with a loud sound.

It all happened in an instant— Riela letting her guard down, and being pulled into the bath by Herhan.

“Your Majesty! I’m all soaked now!”

“Ah. Sorry. Did I drink too much? I was just trying to hold you, but my arm isn’t moving the way I want.”

The arm that supposedly wasn’t working properly pulled Riela in just fine, placing her on his lap so they faced each other.

Embarrassed by the sudden position, Riela tried to twist away, but the more she moved, the louder the splashing water became.

And the more she moved, the tighter the arm around her waist grew.

“I never said I’d get into the bath.”

“We said we’d continue what we were doing earlier. Wasn’t that what you meant?”

“Not at all!”

“Really? Absolutely not?”

Herhan straightened his back and pressed closer.

The moment their wet bodies touched, Riela’s mind went blank.

She couldn’t tell if his body had been hot from the start, or if hers had only just begun to heat up.

‘I should say no…’

But his warm breath came closer again.

Before, it had smelled like tea—now it carried the rich scent of wine.

Was that why it felt so dizzying? As if she herself were getting drunk.

Now Riela’s cheeks were just as flushed as his.

She couldn’t shake the thought that this was some clever trick of Herhan’s to trap her.

“Your Majesty, something feels off. Are you really drunk? Be honest—you’re just pretending, aren’t you?”

She barely managed to push his head away as he kept nuzzling into her.

Herhan caught her hand, holding it firmly, and answered by pressing his lips into her soft palm.

“Does that matter?”

Inside her palm, his lips moved softly.

It tickled unbearably.

And if she listened any longer, it felt like her whole body would melt away in this rose-scented bath.

‘No… I guess it doesn’t matter.’

Instead of pressing him further, Riela wrapped her arms around him tightly.

* * *

Late that night, near dawn—

Riela woke up and quietly left the bedroom so as not to wake Herhan.

Perhaps because the days had grown shorter, the winter darkness felt especially deep.

In the reception room, she pulled the candle closer to the center of the table.

By the soft candlelight, she opened a thin book.

The gift El had given her earlier that day.

A childhood treasure of hers— the storybook *“Enril and Antu.”*

As she carefully turned the pages, it felt almost like a dream.

When she saw the familiar illustrations, tears nearly welled up from the nostalgia.

Enril, flying through the sky with wings.

Antu, smiling brightly as she looked up at him.

Looking at it again, it was such a simple, even clumsy children’s story— but to young Riela, it had been her whole world.

*Enril… Antu…*

Enril and Antu, destined to be a pair.

As she read their story—two beings becoming one and moving forward together—Riela suddenly turned her head.

Through the slightly open door, she could see him— sleeping peacefully.

My love.

My Enril.

*How did we meet, and how did we come to love each other?*

Standing by the doorway, she gazed at Herhan and wondered.

‘If I hadn’t thrown myself into that river that day… If you hadn’t saved me… Would we never have met?’

Even though it was the kind of thought that could make one’s heart drop, Riela felt no fear at all.

Instead, she felt a strange certainty.

Even if they hadn’t met that day, they would have met somewhere, someday—and they would have fallen in love anyway.

Returning to the table, she turned the pages one by one, until she reached the final line of the last page.

“Enril and Antu loved each other and lived happily forever.”

She read that line over and over, then let out a soft laugh without realizing it.

‘Was the ending always this simple and predictable? Well… it is a fairy tale.’

And yet, strangely— That “predictable ending” felt overwhelmingly precious, almost too much to bear.

‘This kind of simple happiness came to me too.’

‘My Enril. You must be the one who brought it to me, with your wings.’

Just as her emotions swelled—

The reception room door clicked open, and a small gasp rang out.

It was Lou, who had come to check after sensing movement in her sleep.

“Your Majesty? You’re still awake? It’s dark—why are you here alone? Shall I bring you a cup of warm milk?”

Riela smiled at Lou, who rubbed her sleepy eyes, and replied,

“Instead of milk, could you bring me a fountain pen and some parchment? And… the Empress’s seal as well.”

* * *

A few days passed, and before they knew it, it was just two days before the royal wedding.

While the whole world waited in excitement for the blessed day, the imperial palace’s council chamber was still in chaos with an untimely debate.

“Please reconsider positively, Your Majesty. This is an opportunity that won’t come again.”

The debate was between the ministers who supported appointing Riela as the new head of the temple’s supervisory body, and Emperor Herhan, who continued to ignore their passionate proposals.

“It would practically mean that Her Majesty the Empress becomes the ruler of the temple, Your Majesty.”

“The ones who used to act so prideful are now willingly stepping into the imperial domain—why refuse?”

“Even international opinion agrees. When a descendant of Antu clearly exists, wouldn’t it be strange for someone else to take that position?”

“If you would just make the decision, we will ensure the royal wedding proceeds without issue—”

“We will establish a dedicated body to handle all duties, so please do not worry—”

“If Her Majesty accepts the position, the diplomatic and economic benefits—”

Herhan abruptly cut them off and drove all the ministers out.

“They’re getting more and more annoying by the day.”

“They just want it finalized before the wedding. It’s something to be proud of—Her Majesty becoming the head of the temple.”

“Something for *them* to be proud of. They have no idea whose mind is being torn apart over this.”

Even Jess was dismissed, leaving Herhan alone in the council chamber to think.

The ministers weren’t wrong.

From the imperial perspective, it was a proposal with far more benefits than drawbacks.

And above all— if it were Riela, she would surely accept it.

‘Is this my greed again?’

As the ruler of all people on this land, and as one of Enril’s descendants— if Riela wished to serve, he should naturally support her.

But once again, his desire to keep her to himself held him back.

‘I hate this side of myself too. I was going to hold out on my own… but still… I should at least ask Riela what she wants…’

Herhan clenched his fist and let out a sigh.

‘Damn them. They never leave Riela alone for even a moment. If they interfere with my honeymoon, I won’t let it slide.’

Just then, Priest Amelia—who had arrived at the palace that morning—came to see him.

She had been sending urgent matters by letter until now, so the reason she personally visited after weeks was obvious.

‘She’s here to take Riela. To settle things once and for all.’

Even though he had only just resolved, moments ago, to compromise and let Riela go just a little—

“Greetings to Your Majesty, the sun of the empire. Have you been well?”

Facing Amelia, an unexpected sense of rivalry rose within Herhan.

Whether good or bad, anyone trying to take even a part of Riela from him felt like an enemy.

At some point, that instinct had been carved into his very bones.

“Through internal temple discussions, we have finalized a candidate to take the role of supervisor. Would you be willing to review them, Your Majesty?”

Still displeased, Herhan took the reform proposal without responding—then his eyes widened.

He had naturally assumed the candidate would be Riela.

“…Duke Valois?”

“Yes. He has supported the temple in many ways throughout this reform.”

“Of course I know that. The Duke is trustworthy and upright. But…”

This unexpected name made Herhan feel both relieved and strangely puzzled.

It wasn’t just about not wanting to give up Riela— it was also a matter of pride.

“Did Duke Valois really receive a higher recommendation score than Riela?”

There’s no way someone better than *my* Riela existed.

At that, Amelia tilted her head in confusion.

“Hm? What do you mean…? Of course, Empress Blinite was the top candidate.”

…was?