If You Take the Enemy Prince as Your Knight Chapter 32

An old man, wrinkled like an ancient tree, appeared. He was dressed in a white priestly robe symbolizing purity and virtue, but it was adorned with numerous extravagant ornaments that clearly displayed traces of luxury. Even the ceremonial staff he leaned on for support was lavishly decorated with pure gold and moonstone. He was the very picture of a corrupt clergyman, as if drawn straight out of a painting.

 

“It’s been a while, Archbishop Gremol.”

 

Watching Sasha greet him gracefully, as if she had been waiting for this moment, Regen thought to himself. ‘The will of the goddess’—isn’t that just another way of saying the princess’s schemes?

 

Sasha spoke. “His Majesty seems to summon you often, Archbishop Gremol. He must hold you in great trust.”

 

In truth, Gremol wasn’t particularly special. The mad emperor frequently called upon the archbishops to the imperial palace throughout history.

 

-The mad emperor’s son will kiss his father and seize the throne.

 

The mad emperor lived his life haunted by this curse-like prophecy. Even now, after having eliminated all his sons, he remained anxious, fearing that the prophecy might not refer to a ‘son’ but rather a ‘child.’ Unless the saintess, imprisoned in the Grand Monastery, delivered a new prophecy declaring ‘The mad emperor’s reign will last forever,’ his unease would persist.

 

Taking Sasha’s flattering words seriously, Archbishop Gremol let out a hearty laugh. “His Majesty trusts me deeply and often seeks my counsel on various matters. This old man has devoted both heart and soul to the goddess, so when I offer advice, it is free of personal bias or greed. Perhaps that sincerity moves His Majesty’s heart.”

 

“Of course. How could the authority in your words, Archbishop Gremol, ever be compared to those of mere mortals?”

 

“Haha, as expected, Your Highness has a discerning eye.”

 

“I was worried for some time, as the only one advising His Majesty closely was the chamberlain. But now that you have earned his trust, Archbishop, I am relieved.”

 

“The chamberlain… “Archbishop Gremol repeated the word, his voice sounding as though he were chewing on tough meat. A moment of petty rivalry slipped through.

 

“Hmph, no matter how long the chamberlain has served His Majesty, he is, in the end, just another human tainted by the secular world. Even today, His Majesty sought my opinion on the charity auction and made his decision based on my counsel.”

 

“As he should. I have no doubt, Archbishop Gremol, that you will only take the best aspects of theocracy and apply them wisely.”

 

“Ahem, now that my position as archbishop is secure, I think it’s time to alleviate His Majesty’s concerns.”

 

“His Majesty’s concerns?”

 

“Recently, the number of children born with the ability to handle mana has been decreasing. It’s not yet an immediate crisis, but if this continues, in ten or twenty years, it will become difficult to maintain the order of knights serving His Majesty.”

 

“Oh dear.”

 

“It seems the war has caused a decline in birth rates. Isn’t it the role of religion to establish the foundation of the nation by encouraging family-building? If we reduce the number of convents and send the nuns back into society, the birth rate will increase.”

 

“Ah, I see. How wise of you.” Sasha lowered her gaze. As deeply as her eyes sank, a plan of unfathomable depth was forming in her mind.

 

“Haha, it seems this old man has burdened Your Highness with a difficult and complex topic. It’s alright if you don’t understand.”

 

Archbishop Gremol’s gaze toward Sasha was filled with goodwill, but it was the kind of goodwill one might show to a flower in a vase. Sasha smiled just as much as that flower might. Seeing this, Archbishop Gremol, perhaps wanting to play the role of a benevolent old man, added what he thought was a kind remark.

 

“Come to think of it, Your Highness has reached a prime age for marriage. I look forward to officiating your union with Sir Dominic in this very Grand Chapel. Shouldn’t Your Highness grant His Majesty the joy of holding his grandchild soon?”

 

“…”

 

At his lewd remark, both Sasha’s and Regen’s expressions hardened simultaneously.

 

Sasha tried to respond calmly. “I have no intention of marrying yet…”

 

“Oh, come now! How can a woman of marriageable age say such outrageous things? Bearing and raising children is the true happiness of a woman.”

 

“Before being a woman, I am a princess—”

 

“Silence! Such words go against the doctrine. If you speak like that, you will be punished. Can you bear the consequences if the sin falls upon the child you will carry in the near future?!”

 

At his scolding tone, Regen moved immediately. His sword was drawn halfway from its sheath, its cold gleam flashing ominously. Gremol stumbled backward in fright, tripping over his own feet and falling to the floor.

 

“Sir Regen.” Sasha’s voice was so sweet it could melt ears. “I don’t want to see any more blood today. Please, hold back.”

 

“Eek!”

 

At her nonchalant words, the archbishop tried to get up, only to stumble again. Desperately attempting to salvage the situation, he forced a servile smile. “I-If Your Highness is worried about the punishment the child will face, there is a way Your Highness could make a donation and receive absolution for your—”

 

“Archbishop.”

 

Sasha gestured toward the ceremonial staff that had fallen to the floor, extending her hand. Regen nudged it up with the tip of his foot and then respectfully handed it to her with both hands. She didn’t immediately return the ornate, extravagant staff to the archbishop. Instead, she held it hostage, leaning in to whisper exactly what she wanted to say into his ear.

 

“Do you know why His Majesty places his trust in you?”

 

“Well, it’s because I am close to the divine…”

 

“The one closest to the divine is the saintess. Have you ever considered why His Majesty still prefers to keep you nearby?”

 

“Perhaps because he finds men more comfortable…”

 

“There are plenty of authoritative, older men around His Majesty already.”

 

“…Your Highness, what exactly are you trying to say?”

 

Sasha smiled. She loved getting straight to the point. “The position of archbishop is reserved for men who have devoted their lives to serving the divine in purity. His Majesty, who has worked tirelessly for the continuation of the imperial lineage, finds men who remain celibate their entire lives to be utterly fascinating. In other words, to His Majesty, the role of archbishop is like a living piece of art.”

 

“…”

 

It was a carefully measured insult. However, Archbishop Gremol broke out in a cold sweat rather than showing anger.

 

Sasha personally handed the ceremonial staff to the archbishop, whose bony shoulders flinched. Like a granddaughter greeting her grandfather, she spoke with extreme kindness. “Please, do not lose your purity, Archbishop.”

 

Leaving the pale-faced Archbishop Gremol behind, Sasha exited the grand chapel with Regen.

 

Regen, unable to hide his quiet anger, spoke up. “He’s out of his mind.”

 

“His soul will leave soon enough, so there’s no need to be angry.”

 

“Doesn’t this make you angry, Sasha?”

 

“It’s fine because there’s someone else getting angry on my behalf.”

 

Regen felt conflicted. He wanted to be angrier, but at the same time, her words just now seemed to calm his own anger.

 

“Your Highness…!”

 

As soon as they stepped out of the main hall, they encountered a maid with short green hair. It was Hamel.

 

Sasha, as if there was no need to rush, calmed her down. “If it’s about the news of the archbishop entering the palace, I already know.”

 

“I’m late, then. My apologies.”

 

“No, you came at just the right time.”

 

There were two orders to be given.

 

“It seems the mad emperor is preparing a charity auction with the archbishop.”

 

“I’ll look into it.”

 

“As soon as the information is confirmed, dispose of Archbishop Gremol. It seems it’s time to discard the useless executioner’s blade.”

 

He, which had been used effectively in disrupting the religious order for some time, was no longer of any value. Sasha felt no sense of regret in letting him go.

 

While Hamel waited for precise instructions on how to handle the matter, Sasha spoke up. It was a death sentence carried out in a place unknown to Archbishop Gremol.

 

“Expose the archbishop’s disgrace.”

 

✦

After sending Hamel away and being left alone with Regen once more, he immediately asked the question that had been on his mind. “What is the archbishop’s disgrace?”

 

“He has a wife and children. Three sons, to be exact.”

 

“…So he broke his vow of celibacy.”

 

I shared the story of the fool’s love affair. “He fell in love with a prostitute he met during his

 

“He fell in love with a prostitute he met during his priest days, set her up in a mansion near the area, and started a household with her. From that point on, he began embezzling donations. The sons they had together are already middle-aged, and each of them holds a position in the imperial capital. Considering their lack of talent, it’s clear they must have received significant help from the Arondit ducal family.”

 

That was why Gremol had pushed for my marriage to Dominic—to curry favor.