Doesn’t that sound a bit tempting?
The “Holy Knight” was the power and foundation of Beligreum. A transcendent being beyond human. At the age of fifteen, they manifest the blessing of the gods and freely wield supernatural powers.
Naturally, Holy Knights were born from the bloodline of the Holy Ones.
If the mother was a Holy One, only one child would be born, regardless of gender, and that child would possess a powerful blessing.
Though she passed away early, Rahic’s mother was also a Holy One.
However, the value of the Holy Ones was not limited to their wombs.
Holy Ones were indispensable for the survival of Holy Knights.
Without bonding with a Holy One, the more the Holy Knights used their blessed powers, the more they were consumed by madness. But when a Holy One soothed that madness, they quickly found stability.
‘In any case, there’s only one conclusion. I must bond with Legria as soon as possible.’
A “mate” was an extremely special being to a Holy Knight.
Just being near them or sharing minor physical contact made the Holy Knight tremble with joy. And going further—joining bodies—was said to bring ecstasy beyond comparison.
If the mate said “die,” they’d die. If the mate said “live,” they’d live.
Someone giving such commands might seem like a nuisance, and if possible, one might wish to cast them off—but it was impossible.
Is there a mammal whose heart still beats even when it’s torn out? This wasn’t a matter of will.
Being drawn to a Holy One was the destiny of a Holy Knight.
And so, being ultimately dominated by a Holy One and falling to one’s knees in worship of that weakness—was inevitable.
Rahic grew up watching Holy Knights go mad because they had no Holy One to become their mate.
He saw those who raged because the Holy One they longed for rejected them. He watched, scornfully, as others spiraled into ruin upon their Holy One’s death.
One of them was the man he called father.
That’s why Rahic had no intention of repeating that mistake.
‘I will tame her thoroughly.’
Golden eyes flashed.
He couldn’t live without Legria. But that didn’t mean he would let her climb on top of his head.
There was only one official ritual for summoning a Holy One in each generation. Out of seven potential vessels, only one would be chosen.
Legria was the only one qualified to become the Crown Princess.
It had been that way for 700 years—a tradition passed down.
After a Holy One enters the vessel’s body, they are fed this land’s food and water for at least seven days.
During that time, mirrors are never shown. Even reflective glass or porcelain was forbidden.
They must not panic upon seeing their changed body.
The “Spring of Sanctity” ritual was the final step to settle the cherished Holy One’s soul into the vessel completely.
Once it’s completed, the Holy One gains the ability to foresee and calm the Holy Knight’s madness in advance.
‘Even now, my throat is parched.’
Thirst gripped him. His Adam’s apple bobbed sharply.
On the first day she was summoned, Rahic knew. Even with just one kiss, the fierce, thorny energy inside him had calmed.
Their lips touched, yet it felt like a union of souls.
Knowledge, refinement, intellect—all those rational things vanished in an instant, leaving only the illusion of a bare, exposed body.
At the low moan escaping through his teeth, his female faltered and drew back. Even that slight rejection sparked wildfire-like fury, and he nearly grabbed her by the hair.
But ironically, it was because of that very rejection that he couldn’t.
For in that fleeting moment, he sensed her fear.
That stopped Rahic.
The long years of education as Crown Prince. And the words his father always murmured—those played their part.
“You have to coax and soothe them. I couldn’t do that. That’s why things fell apart with your mother.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“The war with Aritum is upon us. You must gain a mate before the war begins. The full bloom of the blessing only comes through the mate’s power.”
He had to act with perfect control. Suppress his instincts, mimic selflessness, hide his savage nature, and become her protector.
First, bind her so she couldn’t live without him. No matter how much he clipped her wings or broke her ankles, nothing was a tighter shackle than staying by choice.
From what he’d seen so far, taming Legria wouldn’t be all that difficult.
“Your Highness. Forgive my boldness, but just one last question. That barbarian you threw in the dungeon…”
It was time to return to the Imperial Palace.
Rahic narrowed his eyes, displeased by the attempt to delay him, and the Archbishop flinched, quickly continuing.
“He refuses to eat at all. If he dies… what shall we do…”
“Barbarians don’t die easily. Even if he has to chew on bugs crawling up the walls, he’ll survive. No need to worry. Better to focus that energy on the ceremony.”
“Ah, of course! Absolutely. Understood.”
With that, Rahic left the Holy Palace.
He had more to do than just raise a pet.
‘Let’s start by teaching her how to wait.’
If she endured well, she deserved a reward.
Wouldn’t it be something to see her wearing matching bracelets of rare red diamonds and platinum on both wrists—and one around her neck too?
‘How delightful.’
A smile-like expression briefly surfaced on his lips atop the horse, then faded.
The labor of carefully controlling a single person’s life turned out to be more enjoyable than he had expected.
****
The Great Empire of Beligreum is a theocracy that believes in the one true god. The one who serves the god most closely is the Pope, and the Pope is also the Emperor.
However, ruling as Emperor while managing all the temples spread across the empire was no easy task, so near the capital, in the holy land—
A New Holy See was established in Utgard, the place where the first Holy One was said to have appeared.
The Holy See was supposed to remain quiet at all times, so people normally didn’t chatter—
but that rule didn’t apply in bed.
Selin boasted proudly in front of the apprentice priests who envied her.
“Y-you wouldn’t believe how gentle his gaze was! I heard some Holy Ones act like, like savages—but he was nothing like that.
His eyes were full of dignity and grace!”
“Wow, the Roermel family got lucky. They offered up a useless daughter and, just like that, someone like him descended!”
“That’s right. Oh, and I-I got to massage his arm, okay? And he looked at me like he was thankful! Maybe he’ll pick me to be his personal attendant priest. M-maybe!”
“You wish. You’ve still got a long way to go before you can become a priest!”
Laughter rang out in the dormitory for apprentice priests. They’d get scolded if the supervising priest caught them, but it couldn’t be helped. After all, they were still girls between the ages of fifteen and eighteen.
At that age, even watching a leaf fly in the wind could send them into giggles—so when one burst out laughing, the others followed.
They couldn’t laugh in the sacred halls, so this was the only place they could enjoy a little freedom.
“To think she’ll become the Crown Princess. I’m kinda jealous.”
A short while later, the girl who stopped laughing first stuck out her lips. She laughed because it was funny, but truthfully, she was envious.
She never imagined that that “mad dog” would end up as the match for such a wonderful Crown Prince.
There were six better bodies available—so why that one, of all things?
“The Roermel poison weed has bloomed into a flower.”
“Exactly. The rest of us will spend our whole lives working hard just to maybe become priests, but the Holy Ones are treated like saints and saintesses the moment they descend. I really am jealous.”
Truth slipped out from every corner of the room.
And then—
“I don’t get it. Why do we have to wait on her just because she’s called a Holy One?”
The one who spoke was Anita, a girl praised as someone who would soon become a priest.
With that one sentence, the warm atmosphere Selin had worked so hard to build melted away like an outgoing tide.
Apprentice priests were the lowest rank within the Holy See.
They worked the hardest, doing all the dirty jobs, while aiming to rise past the deacon level and become full priests.
But Holy Ones skipped right past that hierarchy and were immediately ranked higher than priests.
Saying you weren’t jealous would be a lie.
“That girl barely touched the carefully prepared food.
And still, the kitchen sprinkles that precious Mormarla powder on every dish every day.”
Mormarla was a rare herb that only grew in the “Sacred Forest” surrounding the Holy See.
