The Saint’s Manual for Redemption - Chapter 53

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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 53
Lacking any real authority, I was little more than a figurehead Saint—and as a result, I spent far more time confined to my chambers than wandering the Temple or attending to duties, unlike in my past life.
I’d be far more productive on assignment. Then at least I’d gain funding and connections, the way I had in the Lebon Territory matter.
All I could do was devise a plan to bring true salvation down upon the Order.
It suddenly occurred to me that Arden was himself a nobleman, so I turned to regard him and asked.
“Do you happen to know the Second Prince?”
At the question—phrased as casually as asking about a neighborhood acquaintance—Arden hesitated before answering.
“If you’re asking whether I’m aware of his existence, then yes, I am.”
“No, not his existence. His actual character, his reputation—things like that.”
After a brief silence, Arden shook his head.
“Our house has fallen into decline. We barely maintain our territory as it stands, so we were never in a position to engage in personal relations with the Imperial Family.”
Hearing this, I felt an odd discomfort—as though I were the one who’d carelessly touched upon his wound. The person asking had become the villain.
But there was something that troubled me even more.
The Hawellin Family fallen? The house of the Hero who’d slain the Demon King and sealed off the Demon Realm, protecting the empire—reduced to a fallen house after five hundred years?
I remembered that the imperial nobles, all of them scarred by trauma from monsters following the Demon King’s birth, hadn’t treated Valente with particular disdain even though he was commoner-born, since he’d beaten down both the monsters and their king.
Arden continued in an even tone.
“That’s why I offered to hide you in our territory back when you were a Saint candidate. The Hawellin house no longer has reason to draw particular attention—I judged we would remain sufficiently inconspicuous.”
Hearing that my ex’s family—which I recalled as a rising noble house expanding its influence and prosperity—had collapsed left me with a decidedly strange feeling.
“Now that I think about it, I haven’t heard why you joined the Holy Knight Order either. The way you handled those Ecclesia Order thugs in the Lebon County matter showed considerable skill—with that level of ability, shouldn’t you be able to join any knight order?”
I asked, recalling Arden’s Swordsmanship, which rivaled Valente’s own.
“A struggling house can lighten its burden when one less mouth needs feeding. As the second son, I’m free from succession concerns, and besides—dealing with monsters suits me better than dealing with people.”
Arden gave a brief, quiet laugh.
“But why did you suddenly ask about the Second Prince?”
At Arden’s question, I hesitated for a moment before deciding that explanation could wait. Instead, I drew out the note that Vivian had left and handed it to him.
Arden accepted the note and read through it slowly.
When he finished, his expression visibly hardened. He sat in silence, still holding the note, lost in thought, before finally lifting his gaze to meet mine directly.
“You must not become entangled in the Imperial Succession Dispute.”
His voice was calm, but the warning contained within it was unmistakable. Precisely because his tone was devoid of emotion, it carried all the more weight and authenticity.
“I know that much. That’s why it bothers me so much. I can see exactly who’s trying to use me, and it’s not easy to refuse.”
As I let out a heavy sigh, Arden fell silent for a moment before speaking carefully.
“If the Temple begins openly backing a specific prince, it ceases to be a simple matter of faith. Caritas’s intention to place you at the forefront as a symbol of support for the Second Prince will be unmistakable.”
I let out a scoff. Symbol—what a convenient word.
When needed, I was God’s representative. When not needed, I was an ornament that could be discarded at any moment.
“For now, I’ll gather more information about the Second Prince. There’s a good chance the publicly known reputation differs from reality. At the very least, you should know what position you’re being summoned to before you go.”
I watched as Arden rose hastily, then added a request.
“Can you find out whether the Temple’s upper echelon is truly backing the Second Prince?”
Understanding my meaning, Arden paused briefly before nodding.
“If that is your wish, I shall.”
***
The Archbishop’s summons came without warning.
Knock-knock.
I heard the sound at the door. The visitor’s log rapidly filled with many names. Rileth’s name was notably absent from it.
The moment I opened the door, it wasn’t just Rileth alone as usual—several deacons rushed in at once.
There were quite a number of them. Some faces weren’t unfamiliar; I’d seen them before in Kalianna’s chambers. They began attending to my appearance with practiced efficiency.
Compared to Rileth’s touch, their work was so much more professional it was almost embarrassing.
Lavish dresses that had been rotting away in my wardrobe, jewelry to match them, and makeup that lightly covered my face.
As I gazed at my reflection in the mirror, I couldn’t help but let out an admiring breath.
I’d never known it before—in neither life—always having dressed so plainly. But apparently, elaborate styling suited my appearance quite well.
They even found the Saint’s Crown that I’d thrown carelessly into my room after the coronation ceremony and hadn’t worn since, and placed it upon my head.
When the preparations were complete, they led me from the chamber without Arden, my escort knight, and without a single word of explanation about where we were going.
But dressed like this, without escort, wearing the Saint’s Crown—there could only be one answer to where I was being taken.
To be “presented” to someone.
And I hadn’t even received information about the Second Prince from Arden yet—what was this sudden ambush?
The moment I stepped through the door to the Archbishop’s office, the reason for all this became immediately clear.
The office wasn’t occupied by the Archbishop alone.
By the window, where sunlight streamed in at an angle, sat an unfamiliar man.
Listless eyes, jewelry that appeared carelessly draped but was subtly expensive, and above all else—an Imperial Uniform embroidered with the imperial seal.
The Second Prince of the Arkenia Empire.
I could find no trace in his face of that wretched Emperor from some five hundred and eighty years ago, the one I’d ground my teeth over so furiously.
His bloodline had bred true through to his grandson—I’d thought their genetic stock was particularly potent—but even such potent heredity could not withstand the passage of five hundred and eighty years.
The Archbishop regarded me as though studying my expression, then opened his mouth without any particular concern.
“There is someone who wishes to meet with you, Your Holiness Saint. I have arranged a meeting.”
His tone was so natural, as though I had known of this meeting all along and had already consented to it. Instead of answering, I shifted my gaze to the Second Prince.
The moment our eyes met, he rose from his seat with unhurried grace and bowed his head lightly. He was observing the proper courtesies toward me, yet there was no trace of tension or caution in his bearing.
“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Your Holiness Saint.”
His voice was calmer than I had expected. His demeanor bore no resemblance to the reputation of a wastrel that circulated through the city.
The Archbishop, now seemingly satisfied, nodded and set down his teacup before rising to his feet.
“Then I shall excuse myself for a moment, so that the two of you might speak freely.”
Having said so, he left the office without a shred of hesitation, opening the door and stepping through.
The sound of the door closing rang unnaturally loud. Now only the Second Prince and I remained in the spacious room.
Silence hung between us for a moment. I deliberately did not speak first. I wanted to see which of us would break the silence—that would tell me much.
The Second Prince watched my composure with an air of fascination, then lifted the corners of his mouth in the faintest smile.
“The Archbishop is quite eager, it seems.”
He was the first to speak.
“We had not even properly exchanged greetings, yet he leaves us alone without so much as a mediator between us.”
Whether his words were a light jest or a calculated remark, I could not yet discern.
But one thing was unmistakable.
The Imperial Family had just stepped directly onto the board that the Ecclesia Order had laid.

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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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