I Married the Terminally Ill Emperor - Chapter 99

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

I Married a Terminally Ill Emperor

Chapter 99

* * *

“Iris. What brings you here?”

The Pope, setting down his teacup, welcomed Iris who had visited his office with pleased eyes. Iris, with her pale pink hair and deep violet eyes, was becoming more beautiful by the day.

The Temple would select young girls who showed early signs of manifesting Divine Power and raise them as Saint candidates.

Iris, an orphan, was the first among them to manifest Divine Power, and her Divine Power had the highest purity of anyone. Her disposition was also gentle, so many people followed her.

Most importantly, he had recently dreamed about her.

Iris was embracing something protectively, and sacred golden light spread out around her.

It was certain that the Goddess had spoken through the dream that Iris was the Saint they had been waiting for so long.

He had planned to soon give his surname to Iris, who had come of age this year, and proclaim her as the Saint.

“Your Holiness, I came to see you because there’s something I’d like to request. I hope you will reconsider granting me your surname.”

Iris bowed her head and made her request in a trembling voice.

“Iris. What do you mean by that?”

Iris’s beautiful face was darkened with worry. She whispered with difficulty.

“I don’t want to become a Saint…”

“Why?”

The Pope asked with an uncomprehending expression.

Inheriting his surname meant that she, an orphan, would gain power equivalent to the Imperial Family. There were thousands—no, tens of thousands who wanted to inherit his surname.

But she was refusing his surname? And on top of that, she didn’t want to become a Saint?

The Pope struggled to smooth his expression that was about to contort and quietly stared at Iris.

Having lived only in the Temple since childhood, there was no way she could have dreams other than becoming a Saint.

“I just want to live an ordinary life. An ordinary life where I leave the Temple, get married, and have children.”

The Pope was speechless at the unexpected words.

He had taught her like brainwashing since she was young. But could she really dream of something other than being a Saint?

“Wouldn’t becoming a Saint and benefiting the world be a greater purpose than getting married?”

The Pope began persuading her with a benevolent expression.

“…I’m sorry, Your Holiness. I am insufficient to become a Saint.”

“Marriage… Do you perhaps have someone you fancy?”

Iris blushed and shook her head.

“N-no.”

“I see. Go ahead and leave for now. I’ll give it careful consideration.”

The Pope soothed her with a kind smile.

“Yes. Thank you.”

Perhaps thinking he would grant her request, Iris left with a brighter face than before.

The Pope immediately summoned the Grand Inquisitor.

“Grand Inquisitor. Investigate Iris’s recent activities.”

“What has Iris done wrong?”

The Grand Inquisitor asked with a bewildered expression. Iris’s kind nature was famous even within the temple.

“Iris had an impossible dream. Confine that child so she cannot go out until she is proclaimed as the Saint.”

“I will follow your orders.”

* * *

“If I had known she would escape so well, I would have broken her legs.”

The Pope whispered while looking at her portrait, showing her with pink hair dyed red, hiding in the Foevern Royal Palace.

The Grand Inquisitor standing behind him bowed with a guilty expression. He was the one who had let her escape.

“Investigate Iris’s death in detail.”

“Yes.”

The Pope glanced coldly at the portrait.

“Let’s return now.”

He had learned everything there was to learn here. Now was the time to move.

The daughter Iris left behind. Princess Dahlia Foevern. Since she was the Saint’s daughter, that daughter must surely have extraordinary abilities too.

She had announced her engagement to the Emperor of Ruusephon, but they weren’t married yet.

It wouldn’t be easy to steal away the Empress of Ruusephon, so he had to bring that child somehow before the marriage.

* * *

Cain stood before the portrait containing both his parents in one frame.

Every day he passed by the portraits of past kings, hoping and striving to follow even a little of their footsteps.

But then he heard through his sister Dahlia’s dream vision the prophecy that the world might soon be destroyed.

The futility he felt then.

What had all his efforts been for, losing sleep while working for the kingdom?

However, he couldn’t just despair.

Like Dahlia, who had promised to marry a man she didn’t even love to prevent the world’s destruction, he too had to protect Foevern and Dahlia. That’s why he kept his senses sharp regarding the movements of the Krzea Empire and the Hallen Sacred Empire.

But he didn’t even know the Pope had entered the kingdom?

“How on earth was the Pope able to come all the way here?”

“At the border, he showed fake identification registered as a merchant. Since they were an old man and a middle-aged person, they didn’t pay much attention and let them through.”

The Captain of the Guard reported with a stern expression.

Currently, the carriage the Pope was riding was rushing hard back toward the border. The border guards had also learned about his true identity, but who could block the Pope’s path?

The position of Pope itself granted the qualification to visit any country. This was because there were many believers who worshipped the Goddess in each nation.

However, Foevern alone strictly managed visits from priests at the Royal Castle. High-ranking priests had requested visits several times, but they were politely declined.

But who could have predicted this?

The fact that the Pope, who was no different from an emperor of a country, would enter Foevern in a shabby carriage with fake identification. If he had requested a visit in advance, he probably did this because he expected to be refused.

“You’re saying the Pope just looked at this portrait and left?”

“Yes. He said he had past connections with His Majesty the Previous King and wanted time for a private audience. I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I never dreamed he would just leave like this.”

The servant who had guided the Pope reported in a completely frozen state.

Cain turned his gaze back to the portrait. His father with a stern expression and his mother with a gentle smile were holding hands.

Starting from Father’s generation, they began strictly managing the visits of priests.

And according to the servant’s report, the Pope had a connection with Father when he was crown prince and wanted to see this portrait.

Surely the Pope had a purpose for coming to the kingdom, but it was strange that he returned after only looking at this portrait. What exactly was this portrait?

Suddenly his gaze turned toward Mother.

The red hair in the portrait was dyed. Mother’s original hair color was the same pink as Dahlia’s.

Mother had always been a loving person, but whenever asked about the past, she would avoid answering with a sad expression.

He had never suspected anything until now. Could it be that Mother’s past was connected to the Hallen Sacred Empire? Was the Pope close enough to recognize Mother just by looking at this portrait?

“Contact the Intelligence Department and have them investigate and report on all of the Pope’s activities from 30 years ago until recently.”

“Yes.”

* * *

Dahlia got out of the carriage. Today was the day she had promised to visit the Princess Palace to tell Viviana about the founding festival.

But as Dahlia was about to go inside, her gaze stopped on an old man.

An old man with a walking stick was standing in front of the Princess Palace, holding a bouquet.

“Who is that person in front of the Princess Palace?”

“I wonder. Who could it be?”

Annie, who had gotten out of the carriage first, was also looking at the old man.

Then, a knight who came out of the Princess Palace approached the old man.

“Viscount. The maid says she won’t meet you. Please go back now.”

“Then please at least deliver these flowers.”

The knight sighed deeply and shook his head.

“She says she won’t accept the flowers either. Viscount Horeman. If you keep coming like this and Princess finds out, she will be greatly alarmed.”

“At my age, when I might go to the sky tomorrow or the day after, I’m not afraid of getting scolded by Princess. Cough cough.”

The old man laughed and then burst into coughing fits as if something went down the wrong way.

“You seem unwell too, so please stop coming.”

“I can’t do that. I’ll come again tomorrow.”

Dahlia tilted her head and looked at Annie, who was standing with a cold expression.

“Annie, why does that viscount’s name sound familiar?”

“Because it’s a familiar name. He’s the one who proposed to Lady Laura Under.”

“What?!”

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