I’m Not A Saint Though?

chapter 20

The bustling square fell silent.

Not only the crowd but also the Emperor, who had delivered the verdict, wore a bewildered expression.

“What do you mean, withdraw it?”

It was only natural.  Wasn’t I the one who had been demanding the punishment of the culprit who had angered the Goddess just a while ago?

But such a sudden change in attitude…

“Do you think the punishment I handed down is too lenient?”

At the Emperor’s puzzled question, I shook my head silently and bowed my head with a sorrowful expression.

“No matter how great their crimes, they are people I served as a father all my life. People of low status, but whom I considered family.  How can I just stand by and watch them die? Please have mercy and lessen their punishment.”

Gasps arose from here and there at my words.

“Oh my, look at her silken heart.”

“To think of them so compassionately, even though they not only killed her parents but also tried to kill her.”

“As expected, the Goddess’s daughter has a different capacity for forgiveness.”

The crowd seemed moved by my plea for leniency for the trash, and so was the Emperor.

“Indeed, whether you like them or not, they are people you’ve lived with under the same roof for over ten years as family. How could it not be painful?”

Nodding as if understanding my feelings, he subtly asked, “Then what kind of punishment do you wish for them?”

After a moment of pained silence, I spoke with a determined look, “How about reducing their status to slaves and having them serve at the temple to atone for their sins?”

“Hmm, I think that’s an excessively light punishment considering their crimes…”

The Emperor, tapping the armrest of his throne with a troubled expression, asked again, “Are you truly satisfied with such a light punishment?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Although they have committed unforgivable sins, they are also beings born with the Goddess’s blessing. I believe it’s right to give them another chance.”

After a moment of contemplation, the Emperor nodded.

“Alright, then I’ll accept your will and conclude this matter by reducing their status to slaves and sending them to serve at the temple.”

At the Emperor’s declaration, the trash and his two appendages breathed a sigh of relief.

And so did I.

‘After everything I’ve been through, I can’t just let them die so easily.’

I would keep them by my side and make them atone for their sins until they were old and decrepit.

But who would know my true intentions?

“Oh my, to be so merciful to those who lived comfortably after killing their parents and stealing their place!”

“As expected of the Saintess!”

“Of course, only the Saintess could have such thoughts.  She’s truly like an angel.”

Everyone sang my praises.

Except for one, the lion.

“Angelic heart my ass! She’s Satan, Satan, you idiots!”

The lonely truth that escaped the lion’s mouth drifted into the void, unheard by anyone.

***

After the trial, the trash and his appendages were dragged away by the knights.

The trash’s departure, from being the most powerful person in the Empire, excluding the Imperial family, to a lowly slave, was truly pathetic.

‘Oh, this is good.’

It was so satisfying I hummed to myself.

As I chuckled inwardly, reveling in the trash’s downfall,

The Emperor, who had been seated in the highest seat, stood up and walked to the podium.

“Thus, the culprits who angered the Goddess and brought disaster upon Catalon have received their due punishment. I offer my deepest condolences to my citizens and Lady Veloce, who have suffered from the wicked schemes of those treacherous individuals.”

The crowd’s expressions turned somber at the Emperor’s solemn words.

It was only natural, considering how much they had suffered from the sudden disasters.

Farmers had to watch helplessly as their crops were ruined by the sudden climate change, and those who depended on tourism for their livelihood swallowed their tears, looking at their empty businesses.

Some lost their homes and had to leave their lifelong villages due to the volcanic ash, and others lost their beloved family and friends to an unknown epidemic.

As if recalling their past hardships, the crowd couldn’t stop their flowing tears.

The Emperor, gazing at them, spoke again.

“But we can’t remain resigned forever. We must move forward again.”

Oh.

I couldn’t help but admire the Emperor’s unexpectedly powerful speech.

‘He is the Emperor, after all.’

Well, he was born into the Imperial family and had been observing and learning this all his life, so it would be strange if he couldn’t even do this much.

‘In that sense, our trash is quite remarkable.’

Born into such a venerable family, with the Empire’s top elite as his father, and receiving heir training all his life, yet all he could do was eat and defecate.

‘My grandmother was also a very intelligent woman… Who did that trash take after?’

As I tilted my head in bewilderment, the Emperor, after pausing to catch his breath, continued, “Of course, it won’t be easy to overcome the disasters that have ravaged the Empire for 13 years and regain our former glory.  But there’s no need to worry.”

He spoke firmly and then extended his hand, pointing somewhere.

“Because the daughter of Goddess Hedel will be with us!”

…Me.

‘Why is he bringing me into this after such a good speech?’

Well, it was natural to announce it to all the citizens since the Saintess had returned.

The only reason I felt so uncomfortable was that I wasn’t the real Saintess.

“Lady Veloce, come forward.”

Swallowing a sigh, I stood up at the Emperor’s command.

“*Cheers!*”

With each step I took, the excited cheers of the crowd followed.

Finally arriving next to the Emperor, I stopped, and he firmly grasped my hand.

“I believe you all already know. Although it was delayed due to an unfortunate incident, I would like to use this opportunity to announce to all the citizens of the Empire.”

A suffocating silence pressed down on my shoulders.

But it was only momentary.

“Lady Shaen Veloce, the heir of the Veloce Dukedom and the last candidate for the Beloved, has been appointed as the 29th Saintess of Catalon!”

“*Cheers!*”

As soon as the Emperor raised our clasped hands, thunderous cheers erupted.

“We welcome the new Saintess!”

“May the blessings of Goddess Hedel be upon Catalon and its people once again!”

“Eternal glory to Catalon!”

Shouting with excited faces, they then started prostrating themselves one after another.

As if they were welcoming a goddess.

These people, who wouldn’t even bow to the Emperor, were willingly kneeling before me.

Any ordinary scammer would have been too ashamed to even lift their head.

But not me.

‘I haven’t forgotten how you mocked my death.’

The voices that had ridiculed me, chosen as the Beloved and destined to be lion food, still rang in my ears.

They had praised me profusely when they received the relief food and funds I provided, but as soon as I faced hardship, they changed their attitude as if nothing had happened.

Why should I feel guilty because of them?

Thanks to them, I could shamelessly grin without any hesitation.

“I, Shaen Veloce, am honored to become the Saintess of Catalon, upholding the Goddess’s will. I will dedicate my body and soul to restoring Catalon’s former glory.”

“*Cheers!*”

“Long live the Saintess!”

“Catalon back to the Goddess’s embrace!”

“For the revival of Catalon!”

The crowd cheered uncontrollably, unable to contain their joy.

The Emperor, unable to hide his satisfaction, patted my shoulder and said, “You’ve worked hard, Saintess. You must have been heartbroken by Musikan’s actions.”

“Not at all. It’s also my duty to ease the citizens’ anxieties.”

“Truly a Saintess.  Your capacity for forgiveness is different.  To even plead for those who murdered your parents.  Hmm?”

The Emperor chuckled.

“Now that we’ve made the announcement to the citizens, shall we go have a meal?”

“Thank you for the offer, but I’ll return to the temple.”

“Why, do you have something urgent?  The disasters have stopped, so I don’t think there’s anything particularly pressing.”

“Of course, but no one knows what the future holds. I intend to offer my prayers to the Goddess with utmost devotion.”

It was a complete lie, of course.

‘As if the Goddess would appreciate the prayers of a Saintess imposter.’

I simply wanted to return to the Grand Temple quickly and “train” the trash and his family.

“Then I’ll be going now, Your Majesty.”

Just as I bowed politely to the Emperor and was about to leave,

“If you don’t want a meal, how about some tea?”

A deep voice suddenly addressed me from behind.