🦋M.o.m.m.y V.i.l.l.a.i.n.e.s.s🦋

Chapter 103

"LADY NYSTROM, tomorrow is your final day as the Beast Priestess."

Tilly sipped her tea while listening to Howard.

Right now, she was having an afternoon tea with the High Priest. They were in the rose garden in front of his temple. There were priestesses and two Holy Knights standing a few feet away from them.

Kiho wanted to join as well but he had to leave because his "curfew" was over. He wasn't allowed to stay the night after all.

"The Beast Priestess is supposed to be blessed by His Holiness Saint Forrester," Howard continued, then he put the cup down on the table. "But unfortunately, His Holiness has been in slumber for almost two decades now."

She heard about that.

Apparently, the Saint was forced to enter a deep slumber to regain his divine powers that he lost for a reason unknown to people outside the temple.

That was why all these years, Howard became the highest authority in the church. Some people even say that the High Priest was loved by the people more than they loved the saint. But of course, the die-hard devotees refused to believe that.

So even if the Saint has been in slumber for a long time, his followers remained loyal.

"Your Eminence, what am I supposed to do tomorrow?" Tilly asked after she finished her tea. "That's the reason why we're having tea right now. Am I wrong?"

He chuckled. "You're as straightforward as usual, Lady Nystrom."

She just smiled at that.

"You will light the holy candle and lead the prayer tomorrow," the High Priest said later. "The Beast Priestess is asked to pray to the Ancients Beasts for two days so her voice will be heard by the gods. Then, for the Beast Princess's final day in the temple, she will be asked to pray to the gods for Saint Forrester to awaken."

"Oh," she said in surprise. "So, praying for the saint to awaken is the reason why a Beast Priestess is chosen every year?"

"Yes," he answered. "It's been a tradition for almost twenty years now. But the selection for the Beast Priestess had been changed when His Majesty, the current emperor, started the Hunt."

"Before the Hunt began, how did you choose the Beast Priestess annually?"

"There's not much competition," he said. "Once the ladies realized that Her Royal Highness was one of the candidates, they would always concede even before the competition began."

"So, Her Royal Highness was the chosen Beast Priestess until His Majesty changed the selection process?"

"You can say that, Your Grace."

"No wonder the saint hasn't woken up yet."

The High Priest almost choked on his tea. But in the end, he let out a soft laugh. "Lady Nystrom, I'm really glad that you were the chosen Beast Priestess for this year. I hope you succeed in waking up the saint."

Guilt crossed his eyes.

Bull's eye.

"That's why I can never trust you, Your Eminence," she continued. "That's the same with the saint. I don't need people who stand in the neutral side. After all, I believe that people who turn a blind eye and keep their silence don't help the oppressed. In fact, they are worse than the oppressors. I don't want to associate myself to people without balls."

Once again, the High Priest choked on the vulgar word that she used.

She just sipped her tea.

I'm not in the mood to filter my words.