I Will Buy Divine Power With Money! - Chapter 264

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

Side Story 3. New Family

Main Hall of the Temple of the Sun God.

Under the massive divine statue, Great Holy Maiden Ordel was leading the prayer.

Priests, followers, and visitors all devoutly clasped their hands together and listened to the Great Holy Maiden’s prayer.

“…Therefore, the Sun God leads the faithful who believe in you with an unbreakable indomitable will and the light of intense conviction, so we shall always be filled with hope.”

Ordel stretched out both hands toward the people filling the main hall.

Sparkling beautiful light poured down over everyone’s heads and shoulders.

Just by touching it, people felt their hearts naturally become peaceful and fulfilled, and they each shed tears while clasping their hands together.

“Ah, there’s a halo shining behind the Great Holy Maiden. That must be God’s blessing, right?”

“She’s so sacred and beautiful. God must be pleased with the Great Holy Maiden’s prayer.”

“As expected of someone who receives God’s love.”

People were mesmerized by the massive golden halo shining behind Ordel, who wore the crown of the sun.

That was proof that she was a special messenger of God.

People’s trust, respect, and worship toward the special Holy Maiden blessed by all Three Sovereign Gods grew even greater.

Yuri Polton, who had come to the Grand Temple after a long time to pray, whispered to Lute beside him with a reverent demeanor.

“…That halo, isn’t it Ordel’s power rather than a blessing bestowed by God?”

No matter how he looked at it, it seemed like Ordel was directly using her power to make it appear like a halo.

“That’s right. But to mistake it for God’s blessing. Good grief, it’s so absurd.”

At Yuri’s whisper, Lute, who had been gazing only at Ordel, clicked his tongue.

“Since it’s Ordel’s power, this should rightfully be called the Great Holy Maiden’s blessing. What nonsense about the Three Sovereign Gods’ blessing when they barely revived thanks to Ordel.”

“…”

Yuri closed his mouth.

He shouldn’t have asked.

Lute Sieri was a fanatic devotee of Ordel, not the Three Sovereign Gods.

“The Sun God will always watch over us. May His conviction dwell within us as well.”

Ordel smiled brightly.

People chanted the Sun God’s name and clasped their hands together, praying earnestly.

Lute, who had been watching that scene with a dazed expression, clasped his hands together and whispered.

“May the Great Holy Maiden’s blessing always be with me.”

“…”

Yuri was disgusted.

Even though this wasn’t the first or second time he’d seen it, every time he witnessed it, he couldn’t get used to it—it was downright revolting.

He wasn’t normal to begin with, but after meeting Ordel, he had become even more abnormal.

For the first time, he felt sorry for his own situation, having pledged eternal loyalty to such a Lute…

‘At least it’s fortunate that Ordel is holding the reins.’

Since meeting Ordel, his displays of foul temper had decreased, making it somewhat bearable.

Yuri clasped his hands together and prayed earnestly to the Sun God—no, to all Three Sovereign Gods.

‘Three Sovereign Gods. Please bestow your protection so that Ordel and my lord never fight. Please let the two of them live happily together for a hundred years without any problems!’

There probably wasn’t anyone in this Grand Temple praying more earnestly than him.

Unaware that the Three Sovereign Gods who heard his prayer were muttering, ‘Even we can’t guarantee that… sorry,’ Yuri prayed more passionately than anyone else.

Sometimes ignorance was bliss.

* * *

“Everyone worked hard.”

After the prayer ended, I smiled broadly and greeted Airic and Ditrihi, who had prayed together with me.

Seeing the majority of visitors registering as followers made me smile naturally.

This was true happiness.

“As I always say, you must manage, and manage again, to ensure the followers don’t defect. Understood?”

When I added firmly, Ditrihi nodded.

“Of course, the donations I…”

“I know very well that you’re not doing this because of donations.”

After saying it so many times his ears were calloused, Ditrihi now answered naturally.

Of course, donations were nice.

The Grand Temple was running excellently on donations and contributions from followers alone.

That didn’t mean we used it all—we offered most of it to the Sun God.

As the Sun God became stronger through people’s faith, the priests’ power also grew stronger, so offerings had to continue.

It was just very nice that even after offering so much, plenty of money remained.

Thinking of the storehouse that had been expanded several times already, I couldn’t stop smiling.

“Ordel.”

A familiar voice came through between Airic and Ditrihi, who had been appropriately blocking the front to prevent the followers from seeing the Holy Maiden’s greedy smile.

“Lute.”

At the face I was seeing for the first time in almost two months, I smiled brightly and reached out my hand toward him.

He strode over and gently grasped my hand.

“I missed you.”

Lute sent me a tender gaze.

His eyes said he wanted to hug me right away, but…

“Yes, me too.”

Instead of hugging him, I patted his shoulder with my other hand.

Even though everyone now knew we were lovers, it was a bit embarrassing to embrace him tightly right after prayer ended, with followers still present.

Lute looked dejected, but I didn’t hug him until the end.

Anyway, once we were alone, we’d cling to each other and not let go.

“How is Trisha doing?”

Leaving the cleanup to Airic and Ditrihi, Lute and I left the bustling main hall.

Many people stared at us as we walked through the Grand Temple holding hands, but this level of attention didn’t even tickle anymore.

“She’s very healthy. She benefited greatly from the divine artifact you gave her.”

“That’s a relief.”

I let out a sigh of relief.

The reason I had been separated from Lute, who whined about missing me even after just a week apart, for a whole two months.

It was because of Trisha’s childbirth.

From when Trisha was nearing full term, Lute had to handle not only ducal duties but all capital duties as well.

Because of that, he had no time to come to the Grand Temple and kept traveling back and forth between the Western Ducal Residence and the Capital Ducal Residence.

I was also busy around that time dispatching Sun God priests at other countries’ requests, so I couldn’t go meet Lute separately.

In the end, we were only able to meet again after Trisha safely gave birth and roughly finished her postpartum care.

“So, do you have some free time now?”

Lute slightly lowered his head and asked.

His uncut, quite long black hair flowed smoothly down below his shoulders.

His gray eyes looked at me with anticipation.

Looking like this, do you think I’d like it?

“Of course. From now on, it’s vacation time for a while.”

I totally like it.

Lute knew that too when he did this.

When I nodded vigorously, Lute smiled brightly. It had been so long since I’d seen such a childlike smile.

“Starting now?”

“Mm, the prayer is over, and the High Priestess and Ditrihi will handle the follower registration…”

I had nothing more to do.

“Really? Then vacation starts now?”

When I nodded, Lute immediately lifted me up as if he’d been waiting. Then he began walking quickly toward the bedroom.

“Wait, Lute!”

People who had been subtly watching us now began staring openly.

I scolded him while hitting his shoulder, but Lute showed no sign of putting me down.

“Sorry. But I don’t have much patience right now.”

“…Good grief.”

His voice touching my shoulder instantly became heated.

I let out a hollow laugh at the familiar warmth I felt from our touching bodies.

“It’s been two months for us.”

Rute looked up at me and smiled.

Where did that childlike smile go?

There’s only a man here blatantly seducing his lover.

“Yes, I missed you too.”

When I finally gave up and wrapped my arms around his neck, Rute’s shoulders became even firmer.

At his doubly urgent steps, I finally burst into loud laughter.

I could no longer feel the gazes of people watching us.

It was just the two of us in the world.

* * *

“…I thought you’d come at least five days ago, but you’re later than I expected.”

Siery Ducal Town House in the capital.

Trisha, who was half-lying on the enormous bed, looked back and forth between me and Rute.

“That bastard Rute ran off to the Grand Temple like a colt with its tail on fire ten days ago.”

What could I possibly say?

I couldn’t meet Trisha’s eyes and pretended not to notice.

From the Grand Temple to the capital by train takes roughly two days. Round trip would be four days, so if we had rested for a day at the Grand Temple before leaving, we would have arrived five days ago as Trisha said.

But what could be the reason it took five more days?

Lovers who met after two months wouldn’t be satisfied with just spending one night together.

“Good grief. I used to think Miss Ordel was quite pitiful, but now no matter how I look at it, you’re a match made in heaven.”

Trisha, who had figured everything out, snorted.

Rute, who was the most shameless person in the world, answered indifferently.

“There’s no need to state the obvious again.”

“That little brat’s attitude.”

Trisha clicked her tongue. Thinking another fight might break out between mother and son, I quickly intervened.

“How are you feeling?”

I asked while looking at Trisha’s now-flat belly.

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