Chapter 4
I deliberately chose a man who was timid and without greed as a husband candidate. He was never the sort who would be executed for treason.
‘Since someone else has already tampered with him, he’ll require long-term discipline. Don’t you think?’
That left only one conclusion: someone had framed my husband for a crime.
After that, things unfolded much like before—except for the part where I shattered a palace window and jumped out of it. I couldn’t hold out until the poisoned tea was served.
‘Though it’s a meaningless memory now.’
Lothar didn’t continue his question. Instead, he stepped down from the carriage first, moving to block my path.
I wondered what he was doing, but then he extended his hand toward me.
“……”
Was he the type to live and die by chivalry? For some reason, the thigh his hand had touched earlier still felt strangely heated. I shrugged lightly and took his hand.
The carriage had stopped at the entrance of a dilapidated temple. Waiting to receive us was Jakob, a priest—one of the few people I had used as leverage.
Seeing Lothar enter alongside me, he let out a low groan.
“So you truly came.”
“Did you think I was lying?”
“No, it’s just that……”
“Better this than going to prison for embezzling offerings at your age, isn’t it?”
“P-Please don’t say that so loudly!”
Lothar’s eyes narrowed slightly as he watched Jakob panic. It seemed the morality of the priest officiating our marriage displeased him.
Well, what did it matter? He was perfect for a snatch-and-grab wedding.
“Stop wasting time and lead us inside.”
Jakob being thrown into prison had happened multiple times in the past. The Archbishop would never let someone who touched his purse go unpunished.
The old priest sighed deeply and led us into the temple. Then he called over two waiting priestesses and gave them quiet instructions.
Before long, they approached and bowed.
“It is an honor to meet you, Saintess. Would you accompany us for the verification procedure?”
I nodded without hesitation. It was time to prove that my so-called “purity” had already flown the coop.
As I obediently followed them, I gave Lothar a warning.
“Wait quietly.”
I spoke formally since others were present, but he’d do well not to forget who held the upper hand.
I ignored the look on his face—as if he’d just heard something ridiculous.
“This way.”
The priestesses led me into a secluded room and locked the door before beginning a body inspection.
“Excuse us.”
They examined even the stains on the dress hidden beneath my robe. A pure white dress, marred by dark crimson blood—the contrast was precisely why I had chosen it.
“Oh my……”
One of the priestesses couldn’t hold back her gasp.
It was only natural. Before long, the relationship between Lothar and me would become the most sensational gossip in the empire. Even the Grand Temple would be thrown into chaos.
Perhaps that was why the inspection was so thorough. As the tedious search dragged on, my thoughts drifted to my third life.
Back then, I believed escape was the best option. How could a powerless saintess ever defeat the pinnacle of the empire?
I thought that if I could just flee across the sea to the Kingdom of Virelia, I might finally live a quiet life.
‘So this is where you were hiding, my Elise.’
—That illusion lasted only until Virelia was conquered by Maximilian’s army.
<If a woman with silver hair and violet eyes is found, she is to be captured alive without exception.>
That had been the emperor’s order, issued throughout the occupied kingdom.
Only later did I learn the truth—that Maximilian had destroyed every neighboring nation just to find me.
“It’s finished.”
At the priestess’s words, I blinked. Judging by her trembling voice, nothing unexpected had occurred.
I pulled my robe back over my dress and left the room. The priestesses who went ahead quietly reported their findings to Jakob.
Lothar, who had approached at some point, glanced at them and whispered,
“Does the Archbishop truly know nothing of your plan?”
It tickled. I touched the ear his breath had brushed against and nodded.
“If he did, he would’ve locked me up. Or broken my legs.”
“That can’t be. Even so, someone of the Archbishop’s standing—”
Lothar trailed off. After all, a so-called saintess was right beside him, committing a fraudulent kidnapping marriage.
At Jakob’s gesture, we stepped forward toward the altar. The other priestesses lit the candles before disappearing.
Standing on the platform, Jakob looked down at us and spoke in a trembling voice.
“Lothar Eisenrit and Elise. Children of the noble Pelmira. Do you swear eternal love as husband and wife before the divine?”
Pelmira—the goddess of life who had chosen this body as a vessel for a saintess.
Someday, I wanted to meet her and ask: what sin had I committed in the past? Had I been some kind of traitor in a previous life?
“I swear.”
“I swear.”
Our hollow vows rang out in unison.
Jakob sprinkled a few drops of lukewarm water over our heads. After reciting several ritual blessings, he finally reached the long-awaited conclusion.
“By the will of the divine, I approve their union.”
It meant the marriage had been officially sanctioned in the name of the temple.
I immediately approached Jakob, who was about to slip away, and made one final request.
“Hand over some paper and a quill.”
“You intend to write to the Archbishop?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“Y-You won’t mention my crimes, will you?”
“Oh, just give it to me already.”
With a troubled expression, Jakob handed over the paper and quill before retreating. He looked desperate to resign from the priesthood and retire quietly to the countryside.
Sitting on the altar, I began writing.
“Archbishop, I have something to say.”
「To the Most Honorable Archbishop,
This is Saintess Elise, writing to convey an urgent matter.」
Two lines so far.
As I paused in thought, Lothar leaned in slightly and said,
“It would be best to write that you felt a powerful attraction to me and abducted me.”
“……?”
That had been my plan anyway. There wasn’t any better excuse.
I shot him a glance and continued writing.
「I have safely encountered the Empire’s Second Prince, Lothar Eisenrit. However, captivated by his striking appearance, I resolved that I must have him, and thus made use of the Empire’s custom of ‘marriage by abduction’ to bind us as husband and wife.」
“Well? Do you like it?”
“Yes, it’s good.”
Was he serious? His expression was so calm that it was impossible to read his thoughts.
Clicking my tongue inwardly, I finished the letter.
「This union has received sacred approval from Sub-Priest Jakob at the Licht Temple of Lindenbelt. I shall visit you soon.
Yours, Elise.」
“The Archbishop is going to clutch the back of his neck and collapse.”
At the voice that spoke the moment I finished the sentence, I turned around.
Wolfgang had entered the temple at some point and was now reading the letter with clear interest.
Judging by the slight twist of his lips… he didn’t seem particularly pleased.
“What are you doing, snooping?”
“Snooping? As your subordinate, I was merely checking for any spelling errors. You didn’t receive higher education, did you?”
“Wow, now you’re bringing up my level of education.”
How exactly was a penniless, titleless, parentless commoner orphan supposed to receive higher education in this world?
I was just about to snap back at his annoyingly polished face when a low voice cut into the conversation.
“Come to think of it, you’re the second son of House Lichtenbrunn. Does the Marquis know about the current situation?”
“…….”
“…….”
Silence fell between the three of us.
Without realizing it, I glanced at Wolfgang first.
As Lothar had said, he was from a renowned noble family—one firmly aligned with the First Prince’s faction.
After all, the Archbishop wouldn’t appoint someone without backing as the commander of the Holy Knights.
Of course, it wasn’t a topic Wolfgang would welcome. With only the corner of his lips raised, he replied,
“Well now. It’s a matter far too trivial for His Highness, who is so busy with affairs of state, to concern himself with.”
That was a long-winded way of saying: none of your business.
