“Alright.”
At his unwavering answer, Dana let out a small laugh.
“You should at least hear where we’re going.”
“I’ll go anywhere you want to go, Senior.”
She brushed off his blind devotion as a bit of a joke.
But Edwin was nothing but sincere.
He wouldn’t simply follow her—if it meant being where Dana was, he would chase her to the ends of the earth.
Oblivious to what was going on inside Edwin’s devoted mind, she smiled brightly.
“Let’s go to the temple.”
“The temple? Why would we…”
Before he could even finish his sentence, realization dawned on Edwin.
At the same time, a dazzling light of joy lit up in his mind.
“…To get a marriage certificate?”
“Yep. I told you—I want to marry you as soon as possible.”
To submit a marriage certificate to the Empire, three parties had to give their approval: the bride, the groom, and a priest who could serve as the witness before the gods.
Dana continued, unfazed.
“It’s still early in the day. If we leave now, we’ll have enough time.”
“…Then that means we’ll be married today.”
Edwin’s voice was filled with disbelief.
Could happiness really come this quickly, one wave after another?
It was a dizzying rush of overwhelming joy.
Dana took his dazed hand in hers.
“Come on, let’s head to the plaza and catch a carriage. The nearest temple is just outside the capital.”
As she hurried ahead, Dana suddenly stopped in her tracks, as though something had just occurred to her.
“Come to think of it, isn’t the Founding Festival coming up?”
“Is that a problem?”
“They say that when the festival approaches, the priests stay at the Imperial Palace to bestow blessings.”
If their timing was unlucky, they might not even meet a priest today.
That couldn’t happen.
Whether by law or divine approval, Edwin needed to make Dana his wife as soon as possible.
Thinking that far, a bright smile lit up Edwin’s face.
“Senior.”
“Yeah?”
“Isn’t the nearest temple the one inside the Imperial Palace?”
There was, indeed, a temple inside the palace.
It had been built to maintain friendly relations between the Empire and the Holy Nation.
Some high-ranking priests from the Holy Nation resided there, offering prayers for the peace of the Empire.
“That’s right. But the priests there only serve the imperial family.”
“Why?”
“They’re quite full of themselves.”*
In other words, they didn’t concern themselves with lower nobles or commoners.
Just being stationed at the palace gave them that sense of entitlement.
And yet, when it was the emperor’s birthday, they’d receive massive funding for the blessing ceremonies.
Where did all that money even go?
Edwin’s lips curled into a crooked smirk.
He turned to Dana and said.
“Let’s go to the palace temple.”
“What?”
“If someone who speaks on behalf of the gods discriminates against people, that’s not right, is it?”
Standing beside her, he offered his arm.
“What’s this?”
“Husbands and wives are supposed to walk arm-in-arm.”
Hurry up. At Edwin’s playful insistence, Dana gently took his arm.
At the same time, a satisfied smile spread across Edwin’s face.
To anyone watching, they looked just like a couple in love.
***
A temple was supposed to be a place where all were equal before the gods, no matter where on the continent.
Whether commoner or high noble, anyone could enter.
But, as Dana had said, the temple inside the Imperial Palace was different.
The priests there could recognize the faces of every high-ranking noble and member of the imperial family.
They believed it was their duty to bestow divine blessings only upon the elite.
That was why—
They looked at Dana and Edwin, clearly dressed like minor officials, with thinly veiled disdain.
They couldn’t even identify which division their uniforms belonged to, and the faces were completely unfamiliar.
How dare they, in this place?
Mocking smiles played on their lips as one of the priests approached.
“How may I help you?”
“We came to get our marriage certified.”
The priest, seeing Edwin’s smiling face, felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
He looks like someone…
But the fleeting familiarity didn’t matter.
The priest, with a mocking expression, replied.
“This is not that kind of place.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Hmm, how should I put it…”
He scanned Dana and Edwin from head to toe.
“This temple is reserved for people of status…”
“So, you’re saying I’m beneath you,” Edwin replied calmly.
The priest responded with a silent smile—a look that said, Now that you understand, kindly leave.
Of course, it wasn’t strange that the priests didn’t recognize Edwin as the third prince.
First, Edwin had spent a long time secluded in the North.
Second, he absolutely hated the ceremonial blessings.
He skipped them every chance he got, always finding some excuse.
No priest ever dared to visit him personally.
After all, the story of the third prince setting a high priest’s beard on fire was infamous.
Because of that, every time Edwin came to the palace, the priests stayed as far away as possible.
Just then, the High Priest came into view in the distance.
As expected, he had returned in preparation for the upcoming Founding Festival.
Edwin glanced toward him and whispered to the priest in front of him.
“I wonder if the High Priest shares your opinion?”
“How dare you mention the High Priest so casually!”
The priest was outraged, but Edwin merely smiled.
His crimson eyes, however, burned with intensity.
The force of that sharp gaze made the priest flinch involuntarily.
He had never experienced such pressure before.
Then Edwin gently seated Dana on a nearby bench.
“Please wait here, Senior. I’m going to check on something.”
“Where are you going?”
“I want to see if we can get our marriage certified.”
At his words, Dana glared at the priest.
“I doubt it. That one alone is full of himself.”
“I know. But I’ll still try.”
Her blunt remark made the priest’s face flush red with indignation.
“I’ll be right back. Please enjoy the flowers in the meantime.”
With that, Edwin disappeared swiftly.
He strode confidently toward the High Priest.
The priest tried to stop him—How dare he approach the High Priest?!
But Edwin’s strength easily overpowered him, sending the priest sprawling.
Then Edwin shouted, loud enough for Dana to hear.
“Oh my, you seem to have tripped.”
He spoke with a brazen tone, as if he had done nothing wrong.
Hah! The priest let out a dry laugh, clearly taken aback.
Dana turned to the man who had been knocked down.
“We’re not allowed to bring weapons in here, right?”
“That’s correct. Are you worried something might happen to him?”
“No, it’s not that…”
Dana gave him a cold, piercing look.
“You should be worried about yourself. You have no idea what I might do.”
The chilling remark made the priest clear his throat uncomfortably.
Dana didn’t take her words back.
Edwin was someone she had vowed to protect.
***
High Priest Rohas had always lived a peaceful life.
Born with innate divine power and an exceptional mind, he rose quickly to become a priest.
He even attained the position of High Priest at a young age.
Everything he said was deemed sacred.
Every move he made was graceful.
Because of that, everyone looked up to him.
Or rather, he believed they did.
Then one day, without warning, came the first—and likely last—trial of his life.
A moment so unforgettable…
Rohas was certain he would carry the memory of that day to his grave.
That day was truly special.
It was Founding Day, and blessings were bestowed upon many people, including the imperial family.
But Rohas didn’t think his blessing was particularly long.
On the contrary, he believed it was a gift—good fortune—for those who heard it.
“…The Lord loves you all. That’s why He sent someone as talented as myself into this world…”
“Boring.”
…Wait, what?
He had just heard something completely unacceptable in his life.
Rohas quickly shook his head. He must’ve misheard.
His blessing continued.
“…At the age of seventeen, with powers greater than anyone else—”
“This isn’t a blessing, it’s self-praise.”
Again, strange words drifted in.
Could it be… a devil?
Perhaps this was a trial sent by God Himself.
Rohas swallowed hard.
“…We’re about halfway through the blessing now. Next, I’ll speak of—”
Just as he announced they were only halfway through—
His beard caught fire.
“KYAAAH!!”
He really might be a devil!
High Priest Rohas screamed at the top of his lungs.
The small flame playfully danced along the tip of his beard.
Even that was enough to terrify him.
Startled priests nearby hurriedly reached for the holy water.
But before they could even sprinkle it, the flame went out on its own.
As if it had only wanted to give him a scare.
His legs gave out, and he collapsed on the spot.
In the haze of his panic, he heard the Emperor’s voice.
“Edwin! You’re going to get in big trouble with Daddy for that!”
Edwin? As in the third prince?
The youngest prince—the one he himself had blessed at birth.
The one said to possess the power of fire.
At that moment, Rohas locked eyes with Edwin.
Those eerily calm eyes—they belonged to a devil.
And now that devil was walking toward him again.
Now all grown up, the devil he hadn’t seen in years stood before him—
“……..”
Rohas couldn’t say a word.
🍓; *The person is very arrogant or proud, even when they are alone.
