About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 152

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 152. The Saint of Arde Temple
In the original story, Melissa Bilsty purchased the temple using Luderne Sellen’s inheritance and became a saint, but the cost of fifty million gold coins seemed excessive for what transpired.
Though the temple did establish her as a saint, when I recall that time, it felt less like she held an enormous position and more like she possessed the standing of a high-ranking noble.
‘Since I have almost no information about Arde Temple, wouldn’t it be better to ask people who would know better rather than judge alone?’
With my makeup finished, I paused my thoughts, tidied my space, and changed into different clothes.
As I stepped outside the lodging, an elegant four-wheeled carriage in deep burgundy caught my eye. From its emblem, I recognized it as Luderne Sellen’s carriage.
At the outdoor seating of a nearby cafe, Luderne Sellen rose upon seeing me, as did Sir Jester, who had apparently returned.
“I was thinking we might stop by the temple before heading to the Daicer Marquis Territory.”
This was what Luderne Sellen said first as I approached.
Sir Jester continued from there.
He had met with several mages mentioned by Menglow Breeze in the Doorban Empire. Though the timing varied for each, they actually did remember the regression, he said.
“There’s supposedly something called the Eye of Truth at the temple. Since it’s at best information from the temple’s side, I’m uncertain how much it would actually function, but they say it’s a legendary magical tool that could help me.”
Sir Jester wanted to properly understand what had happened to me before the regression. Yet from his expression, he seemed to harbor no great expectations.
At the same time, I could sense the temple’s actual standing.
If so, the saint would at best feel like a high-ranking noble, as I had suspected.
“How fortunate. I also had something I wanted to learn about the temple.”
“You’re interested in the temple too?”
“Yes. And I had a few questions to ask along the way.”
We boarded the carriage immediately.
Luderne Sellen and I sat side by side, while Sir Jester sat facing us.
As the carriage departed toward the temple, I asked the two of them.
“I’m curious about what standing the saint holds in the kingdom. And her influence as well.”
I watched their expressions as I waited for their answers.
“Well, how should I put it.”
“The thing is, the saint of Arde Temple is….”
Both gave lukewarm responses.
It seemed she didn’t even hold the position of a high-ranking noble, so I pressed further.
“Is her status higher than that of a noble?”
“It couldn’t be.”
Luderne Sellen answered immediately.
Sir Jester then offered additional information.
“She may not rank among the nobility, but she does gain supporters among commoners. After all, her image is quite distinctive.”
Luderne Sellen nodded as if he now understood.
“I see. If I consider the vague influence a saint herself exerts on high society, but think of it from the commoners’ perspective, the matter becomes quite different.”
“I understand. Then would her status be sufficient for marriage to the King?”
At my follow-up question, both their heads tilted simultaneously—a response suggesting there remained barriers in status.
Then Sir Jester seemed to realize something and tapped his left palm with his clenched right fist.
“Ah! There is one way a saint could avoid issues with a royal marriage. She would need to accomplish something great for the kingdom.”
He then scratched the back of his neck slightly.
“But that seems impossible, doesn’t it? It would require gaining a title through merit to elevate her status, and that would require nearly the caliber of a nation-saving hero…. And if it were that, she wouldn’t necessarily need to be a saint. Of course, the high society’s negative view would likely persist regardless.”
“Ah, I see now. A saint could quell the negative sentiment in high society.”
Luderne Sellen drew an additional conclusion.
“A saint receives support from the Temple and the common people. With that, we could claim justification for contributing to the kingdom’s unity. Even if the church’s influence is weak, it’s still the state religion, after all.”
If one accomplished something for the kingdom….
Recalling the original work, I immediately understood what kind of nation-saving heroic deed Melissa Bilsty had accomplished.
It was likely Luderne Sellen’s death.
At least, it would have been an enormous achievement in King Zerox’s eyes.
Luderne Sellen, whose eyes met mine, shrugged his shoulders.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“It’s nothing at all.”
The carriage soon arrived at the Temple.
The Temple was clean, but few were visible except for priests, and the facilities appeared dilapidated.
Upon hearing that Prince Wintem had arrived, a middle-aged High Priest came waddling out at a run, flanked by two other priests behind him.
There had been no prior arrangement, so I found it strange when the High Priest suddenly appeared, but at that moment he cried out.
“Welcome! Your Highness Prince Wintem!”
It seemed even stranger.
The High Priest acted as though he were receiving a deity.
“May you receive the blessings and glory of Debus, the chief god of Arde.”
Through this greeting, I came to understand why the church’s influence was said to be weak and why a saint had no standing in aristocratic society.
It was a god’s name I had never heard before.
Not once had I heard it in high society, nor had I seen it in any book featuring this temple.
In other words, while the god could serve as an object of prayer for spiritual solace among the common people, it meant nothing among the powerful.
According to Luderne Sellen’s words, being the state religion at best allowed us to claim justification, nothing more.
If Melissa Bilsty had leveraged the saint’s position, it was likely that even this justification was something King Zerox had reluctantly fabricated.
At this point, I thought it might actually be easier than expected.
The High Priest personally guided us to the Reception Room.
Another priest brought tea and cookies. They were clearly not of particularly good quality, which allowed me to gauge the Temple’s circumstances.
With two priests lined up neatly behind him, the High Priest sat on the sofa and asked our business with a very courteous manner.
“What brings Your Highness the Prince to this sacred sanctuary of the god so suddenly? Perhaps you require prayers that demand considerable effort?”
Luderne Sellen spread both hands and gestured toward me and Sir Jester.
“My business will be explained by these two.”
The High Priest looked at Sir Jester first.
“We’ve heard there exists a magical artifact called the Eye of Truth. Would it be possible to borrow or receive it?”
“Hmm, that is one of the Temple’s treasures….”
The High Priest’s brow furrowed slightly.
“Would you grant me a moment to consider?”
We nodded our heads.
While we emptied a cup of the mediocre tea, the High Priest, who had been deliberating, finally opened his mouth carefully.
“I can provide it, but… there is a condition.”
“A condition?”
“Yes. First, I wanted to inform you that the Eye of Truth alone cannot be used. It must be used together with the Eye of Insight housed in the Doorban Empire Grand Temple.”
Luderne Sellen spoke at those words.
“I understand that much. Now tell me the conditions for handing over the Eye of Truth. How much of a donation would suffice?”
The High Priest clasped his hands together and bowed respectfully.
“Though the world’s chaos has dimmed the divine presence of late, this place remains sacred ground. Money cannot take precedence here. Only the Saint may take the Eye of Truth.”
The unexpected statement left me bewildered.
‘I was certain Melissa Bilsty had purchased the Temple’s favor with considerable funds?’
Luderne Sellen and Sir Jester’s eyebrows shot upward.
“…A Saint?”
“W-where is this Saint?”
A small sigh escaped from the standing priests. The High Priest himself made no effort to conceal his sigh, his hands clasped together.
“According to the Book of Prophecy, the Saint is sent by the Divine with brilliant miracles. However, we know neither when nor who she is. Unfortunately, she has yet to appear.”
The tone was so resolute that Sir Jester was taken aback.
“Then—then you cannot hand over the Eye of Truth?”
“Since the Eye of Truth belongs to the Saint…we cannot….”
Sir Jester merely bit his lip at the High Priest’s solemn words and melancholic demeanor.
And I had found my opening.
When Jester fell silent, the High Priest turned his gaze to me instead, as if asking me to state my business.
I placed my hands together gently upon my lap and spoke with composure.
“Well, listening to all this, I seem to be the Saint.”
Every eye in the Reception Room widened. Particularly the expressions of Luderne Sellen and Sir Jester were quite entertaining, and I found myself amused.
Soon one of the High Priest’s eyes began to twitch.
“W-what grounds do you have for saying such a thing?”
I rose from my seat.
“According to the Book of Prophecy, the Saint is sent by the Divine with brilliant miracles, is she not?”
“Yes, that is correct, but…”
I spoke to the standing priests.
“Would you clear this table for me?”
The priests, looking bewildered, moved the table to one side.
An empty space opened between the sofas.
“That brilliant miracle.”
I extended my left hand straight out.
“I believe I can produce it.”
The ring on my index finger gleamed brilliantly.
Suddenly, brilliant light cascaded onto the rug below, forming a mountain of gold coins. The distinctive metallic ring of coins striking one another filled the air—clinking, clinking, clinking.
The High Priest and the priests looked as though their eyes might pop from their sockets.
They seemed to have forgotten how to breathe, unable to tear their gaze from the mountain of gold coins that shimmered and accumulated with radiant brilliance.
I poured the gold coins until they rose higher than the High Priest’s height, then ceased. Bringing both hands together over my chest, I spoke with reverence.
“Oh, Divine One.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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