Time-Limited Saintess, You’ve Been Caught by the Tyrant Once Again - Chapter 32

Chapter 16.2

“Why?”

“Well, I don’t know either. He said he was returning his gratitude, so he insisted that you must bring her.”

Regardless, it had nothing to do with Ellin herself. As she made her way towards her room to prepare her belongings, Liliana called out to her.

“One moment, Miss Ellin.”

“….”

“His Majesty is calling for you. So, attend the banquet and leave.”

Ellin laughed incredulously.

It was ironic how Liliana had pushed her away before, and now she was telling her to go because the Emperor wanted to see her. As Ellin observed her flushed face, Liliana realized her mocking sneer as she opened her mouth again.

“Are you refusing His Majesty’s orders?”

“No, I’m saying that it doesn’t make sense for a sinner like me to meet His Majesty. Then, I’ll be on my way.”

“Miss Ellin.”

Even though Liliana called out to her as if pleading, Ellin didn’t look back.

“What kind of pride is that, anyway?”

“How audacious.”

“I hope His Majesty won’t be outraged.”

Each of them soothed Liliana.

“Paladins, listen.”

The next moment, Liliana’s voice was heard again.

“Capture her.”

‘…What?’

Glancing over her shoulder, she noticed that the paladins had already surrounded her under the order. With a perplexed expression on her face, she turned back to Liliana, who let out a sigh before speaking.

“If His Majesty becomes angry, everyone in the temple will suffer.”

“….”

“Ellin may not know, but His Majesty is truly a terrifying person.”

“….”

“So, please know that this is unavoidable.”

As Liliana concluded her statement, a tense expression crept onto her face, though her eyes glistened with a subtle glint that unmistakably conveyed her anger.

Meeting her gaze directly, Ellin posed a question.

“Is this coercion the Saint’s will?”

“Yes. I promise that after participating in the banquet, you may return right away.”

Looking at Liliana, she smiled coldly.

“I will do so.”

˚ ·: * ✧ * :· ˚

Upon his return, Maynard received a report about the commotion that had occurred at the temple earlier that day. His face registered a look of astonishment after hearing the ‘news.’

“What happened? The commoner Angelia sold the Bible?”

“Yes. The Saint has named that woman as the culprit.”

“Huh.”

“She was shamelessly insisting on her innocence until the end. She even laughed at the Saint at the end.”

“What’s the rationale?”

Maynard thought to himself that he didn’t think she would do that.

“First of all, the woman had gone out the day before, and the next day her maid happened to see the Bible being sold at the auction house.”

“So?”

“And she was wearing expensive clothes that she could never afford.”

“Expensive clothes?”

“Yes. They were fine clothes worn by noble ladies.”

At those words, Maynard and Lennon’s eyes met as they shared a look of incredulity.

“Didn’t she say where the clothes came from?”

“Yes. She says she got it from someone, but of course, it’s a lie, isn’t it? She wouldn’t even say who…”

Maynard frowned at the paladin’s words.

“That’s what I gave her.”

“Yes?”

The paladins looked at him in disbelief.

Even though he obviously didn’t like her, he bought her clothes?

“I was afraid that the Saint’s dignity would be compromised, so I bought her some outfits since it seems like no one else cares.”

“Ah…”

The paladins made faces of bewilderment.

“I never thought she would keep it a secret in such circumstances.”

She was foolish.

Maynard bit his tongue.

Due to his concerns about potential misunderstandings, Maynard had requested that their secret be kept hidden.

As a paladin, it wouldn’t be seen favorably for him to personally purchase clothing for a woman, as it could be perceived as an attachment to worldly desires. Therefore, he had asked Ellin to keep their arrangement confidential, although he had never explicitly instructed her to do so in such circumstances.

While this didn’t provide concrete proof of her innocence in regard to selling the Golden Bible, it would alleviate the suspicion.

“So what?”

“…Yes?”

“So, there must be something more definitive than that?”

The paladins all fell silent at his words.

The Bible was sold outside when she was out, and coincidentally, she appeared wearing expensive clothes that day… that was the end of it.

“Was that really everything?”

Maynard frowned.

“Th-that’s because the Saint was so convinced…”

“That’s right. It was the first time the Saint was angry.”

As the paladins began recounting the story, seemingly attempting to offer excuses, a noticeable change came over Maynard’s usually impassive face. Anger crept into his expression, a rare display of emotion that hadn’t been seen before.

“This is why paladins are looked down upon by imperial knights to be foolish!”

“….”

“At the very least, you should have found out whether the person who sold it at the auction house was that woman or not. The Saint is also human. She isn’t always right!”

“….”

“If there are rumors that the Saint cast aside an innocent person under hasty judgment, it would be equivalent to us tarnishing our own honor.”

It wasn’t a matter of obstinately taking sides with that woman. He couldn’t shake off the lingering unease he felt towards Ellin, but in the absence of concrete evidence, he felt an even greater sense of responsibility for her being suspected due to the clothes he had purchased.

Furthermore, if she wanted to defend herself, couldn’t she simply reveal that he had bought the clothes?

It seemed unlikely that someone who had remained silent out of consideration for him would resort to selling the Golden Bible. Even though he didn’t trust her, he also couldn’t bring himself to believe that she would commit such an act.

Any judgment should be based on objective facts.

“So, where is she?”

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