Chapter 001
Episode 1
“I bless Salome Krueger, who has become a saint, in the name of God Ataras.”
John poured a little perfume on Salome’s veiled head. The perfume slowly flowed down Salome’s red hair.
John placed his hand on Salome’s head and recited a prayer. Salome quietly knelt in front of him and prayed to God with him.
John quietly stared at Salome, whose face was not visible. I thought he was a much quieter person than I had heard through rumors. I was reassured that the rumor that she was the crazy princess of the Kruger family was just a rumor.
Many people in the temple were watching them. It was a gathering of various priests and nobles. John glanced at their eyes from the corner of his eye.
Salome’s father, Duke Kruger, looked somewhat anxious. Salome’s brother, the Duke of Izmel, was watching her with eyes full of love.
John blinked his eyes slowly.
“Princess, I will lift the veil.”
John muttered softly so that only Salome could hear. Salome nodded once.
What kind of expression does Salome make under the veil? John carefully lifted Salome’s veil.
Salome’s face was revealed beneath a pure white lace veil. Skin as transparent as glass, and purple eyes that look like amethyst.
John stopped breathing. Next, a little bit of perfume had to be applied to Salome’s face. But daring to touch Salome’s face itself felt like an act of profanity.
Salome made eye contact with John. John couldn’t say anything. Ah, what were you trying to do? I felt like I would lose my sense of reason with just one smile from Salome.
Salome must have sensed John’s feelings and pulled him towards her in the blink of an eye. And without hesitation, she placed her lips on top of John’s.
Warm breath came and went. Without closing her eyes, Salome clearly imprinted herself in John’s eyes.
The sound of people murmuring echoed throughout the temple. Among the dogs, there were some who were startled and let out a small scream.
John was so embarrassed that his body froze. Finally, Salome parted her lips.
“Your lips taste bitter.”
Salome smiled very satisfied.
***
“Priest John!”
I turned around when I heard a voice calling me. Anton was the only one with such a loud voice, at least within this temple.
What’s going on this time to make such a fuss? It’s been a while since I decided to take a leisurely walk. I sighed softly.
The peaceful birdsong that echoed within the temple was drowned out by Anton’s voice. Anton ran at full speed and gasped in front of me.
“What’s going on this time, Anton?”
“It was a really big problem. It is said that the princess of the Kruger family will hold her coming-of-age ceremony at this temple!”
“If you are a princess of the Krueger family….”
“Yes, that crazy princess who returned from studying abroad in the Lehelyn Empire not long ago! What should I do, priest? I don’t know what kind of accident she might cause inside the temple!”
“Anton, be careful with your words and actions. What a crazy princess.”
I touched my forehead. It was not that I had never heard rumors about the princess of the Kruger family. A princess from the Kruger family who recently returned from studying abroad. Did you say her name was Salome?
Since I wasn’t really interested in rumors, I didn’t know any detailed information. However, no matter who the princess was, there was no problem in holding the coming of age ceremony at this temple.
Everyone in the Therium Empire who turned eighteen had to undergo a coming-of-age ceremony in the name of the god Atharas.
Commoners also held coming-of-age ceremonies at the temple, albeit informally. If a woman from a noble family had a coming-of-age ceremony at a temple, things would increase, but it wasn’t something to make such a fuss about.
In the first place, the funds for the temple mainly came from the support of nobles, so they could not complain about the increase in work.
Besides, you call someone you haven’t even met in person a crazy person. I felt like I had to pay close attention to Anton.
“If I were another noble, I wouldn’t even say this. But you’re not Princess Salome Krueger!”
“All saints deserve to be blessed in the name of Atharas, Anton.”
“I’m not saying this because I don’t know that! Priest John is too insensitive to rumors. The princess is well-known for being rude and having a bad temper. Moreover, I had an accident as soon as I returned from studying abroad.”
“Accident? What kind of accident are you talking about?”
“It is said that he spilled tea on the face of Lady Antheia, the fiancée of His Majesty the Crown Prince. And that too in front of everyone else.”
Catherine Anteia. I remembered his face. She was the fiancée of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Antheia. He was deeply religious and visited our temple every week to pray to Atharas. She was such a kind-hearted and kind person that she was rumored to be a saint of the empire.
If you listen to Anton’s story, it certainly wasn’t a sane thing to do. No matter how much she was a princess, the recent status of the Antheia family was not something that could be ignored.
But in the first place, it was impossible to know if it was really true. I hated inflating stories.
“It’s all just rumors. When rumors spread through people’s mouths, they tend to be exaggerated in a provocative way. What should you do if you, a priest, disparage people so carelessly?”
“Priest John, you are still a person who causes harm to others, so you should reconsider holding a coming-of-age ceremony at this temple….”
“Anton.”
I calmly called his name once. It meant saying no more.
Anton seemed momentarily taken aback by my firm words and actions. But then I muttered to myself that no matter what, I really didn’t think I was Lady Salome Kruger. If I left it like that, it would quickly become quiet.
I passed Anton and headed to the prayer room. Then he stopped for a moment and asked Anton.
“So when was the coming of age ceremony set?”
“In two weeks. They say that day is Princess Salome’s birthday.”
“Then I guess I should approach the coming-of-age ceremony with an even more blessed heart. Thank you for letting me know.”
I smiled slightly at Anton. Because I turned around, I couldn’t see Anton’s face, but I could definitely hear him sighing loudly.
I couldn’t understand Anton. Even if the rumors about the princess were true, it had nothing to do with the coming of age ceremony.
Even criminals deserve God’s blessings, but is there a law that says a princess who caused an accident shouldn’t be treated as such? Even I became such a decent priest in the first place.
I thought I should pray for the princess who would soon become a saint. Although I have never seen his face, I was planning to pray to Atharas in advance as a high priest.
Everything will happen according to God’s will. It wasn’t even a coming-of-age ceremony that was held once or twice. Even if something happens, it will be able to be resolved in a reasonable manner.
Anyway, Anton was really worried for no reason.
* * *
Time passed quickly and it was already the morning of the coming of age ceremony. The inside of the temple was busy preparing for the coming of age ceremony. I put on my formal attire.
I read the Bible one last time before entering the chapel. Although we will read the Bible a little later, it was my habit to read the Bible every morning before leaving my room.
Atharas, please let me have a peaceful day today under your will.
I said a short prayer and walked out of the room. Anton was waiting for me outside the room. Anton bowed to me.
“It would be nice if today were a peaceful day.”
“You can do that, Anton.”
Anton shook his head with an anxious expression. At that moment, the sight of a princess getting out of a carriage caught my eye.
The dark wine-colored hair caught people’s eyes. Although her face was not visible because she was wearing a veil, everyone passing by took a look at the princess. I stared at the princess in fascination and then our eyes met.
Of course, the fact that our eyes met because the princess’s face was covered by a veil may have been nothing more than an illusion on my part.
The princess soon came closer to me and started talking. She slightly lifted the hem of her dress and bowed her head in a formal manner. It seems that the thought that I made eye contact with the princess was not an illusion. I also bowed my head to the princess.
“It is an honor to meet you, priests. This is Salome Krueger. May Atharas be with the priests today as well.”
“Nice to meet you, princess. This is John, the high priest of the Temple of Salut.”
“Nice to meet you. This is Anton, Priest John’s assistant priest.”
The princess’s voice was soft, and her manner of speaking was elegant. I heard that I studied abroad for a long time, and there was nothing awkward about my pronunciation at all.
Moreover, his behavior was extremely polite. I couldn’t understand why people called this princess crazy.
When I glanced at Anton, he shrugged his shoulders with an embarrassed look on his face. After a brief greeting with the princess, we headed to the chapel first.
“Anton, aren’t you just a polite woman from a noble family? I don’t know why there are rumors going around that she is a crazy princess.”
“That’s fine with me too… I do not know. I thought you would pass by without even saying hello.”
I have been nagging Anton ever since. Anton listened to my nagging in silence, as if he had nothing to refute. We arrived in front of the chapel before we knew it. The paladins guarding the door opened the door.
As we entered the chapel, the people who came first bowed their heads. I smiled at the priests and several nobles and moved to the front of the podium.
After a while, all the other nobles entered and took their seats. The preparations for the coming of age ceremony were perfect. Eventually, at the right time, a sound was heard announcing the princess’s entrance.
“Lady Krueger is entering.”
The princess entered the chapel wearing a pure white robe instead of the pink dress she had worn to the temple. During the coming-of-age ceremony, it was customary for everyone to wear white clothes, symbolizing purity.
The ceremony began when the princess knelt in front of me. I began reading designated passages from the Bible.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of Atharas….”
After reading the Bible, perfume had to be poured on the princess’s head. Before I poured the perfume, the princess muttered softly so that only I could hear.
“Priest, what do you think love tastes like?”
It was a word whose meaning I could not understand. I couldn’t even figure out the intention behind saying such a thing in this situation.
But after pouring the perfume on the princess’s head, I realized what those words meant.
