Volume 6, Chapter 27: The Priestess and the Scheme (2/2)
Its contents largely confirmed Maomao’s predictions. The king’s faction, who viewed the priestess’ influence as a hindrance, had attempted to evict her from her position. The eviction wasn’t much of an issue on its own, but following that, they had even picked out a groom for her, so she must’ve panicked.
“Their aim is probably to lòwer the státus of ‘Priestess’ to rock bottom.”
Whether they had realised the priestess’ true physique, or that they had tried to negate the sacred existence known as the priestess by marrying her as a normal human bride—there was no knowing which one it was. However, they could whittle down her great power by just passing on the position of Priestess.
Maomao made no mention of the priestess’ real physique, but from the context of the story, they spoke as though she had already noticed. It might’ve been a slip of tongue from her hysteria, but Maomao didn’t dare point it out.
“It wás Irene’s idea.”
Airin was well-versed in Rii’s national affairs. In the case where the priestess dies in a foreign country, her body will be returned as bones. Burials were the standard in Rii, and only those on the death penalty will be cremated, but that was a difference in culture. She was told that the priestess will be burned and returned to the sun.
(If she was reduced to bones, no one would be able to identify her gender.)
With the priestess’ death, Rii will become indebted to Sha’ou. The perpetrator was a citizen of Sha’ou, there was no mistaking that. With that, Sha’ou will be rid of the thorn known as the priestess. On that point alone, the king will be satisfied.
“Wouldn’t it be the same in the end if Priestess-sama passes away?”
“No.” The priestess looked at her attendant gently. “Evén without me, there is a successor.”
(Is that how it is?)
The priestess has set up a girl who hadn’t gotten her first period. Once the attendant returns to her home country, she would become the brain.
“The néxt priestess is much more superior than me. That’s why I can hánd mysélf over.”
A girl of tender years being much more superior than a priestess in her forties; where was the foundation for that statement?? Maomao was doubtful, but decided to keep quiet.
“It will be fine, evén if I’m gone.”
However, Maomao couldn’t help but cut into the priestess’ words.
“Is it truly the case?” Maomao said as she offered her water. “That’s the ideal outcome. Have you ever thought about what would happen if his imperial majesty is angered?”
Everything mentioned thus far only benefited Sha’ou. By raising a commotion, Rii, who became indebted to Sha’ou, reaped no benefits whatsoever in the end. Even if the priestess and Airin became scapegoats.
The priestess was thinking on behalf of her country, however, the act of imposing misfortune on others had given rise to her own feelings of sorrow.
“If Yao had died, what did you intend to do?”
That was all she wanted to say.
She thumped Yao’s notebook. She wanted to ask what the girl’s offence was.
“Th-thát…”
The two indeed harboured feelings of guilt. They didn’t have the means of using a weak poison. They needed to demonstrate the strength of the poison for people to understand and accept the priestess’s death. Although they made adjustments for the potency of the poison, a misstep would probably end in her death.
“Inflicting drawbacks on my country, while everything falls nicely into place for yourselves, even I can’t stay silent over something like that.”
“…will I háve to die?”
“I can’t stand for that, having you die or trying to end it another way.”
Maomao felt refreshed, having said what she wanted to say the most. In other words, would it be, why not see this all the way to the end?
Suddenly, she recalled the innocent girl who loved insects. The girl who had disappeared in the snow and was unable to be found.
“Following Priestess-sama’s death, is there any guarantee that Sha’ou won’t make any unreasonable demands?”
“…about that, we did consider overwhélming you with séveral demands.”
“Such as? Food supply?”
“There’s thát. One other thing we thought of was requésting for the white girl, who should be hére, to be réturned.”
“Lady Pai… was it?”
Parent and child—it’s just not possible. Which reminds her, Airin had also hinted at it from the start. Just what kind of connection do they have?
“That girl was supposed to háve been raised as the néxt priestess.”
She mentioned a relation to the priestess. As blood relatives, indeed they were from a lineage where albinos were commonly born, but apparently, it was still rare.
“At that time, had I obediently handed it over, we wouldn’t be in such a predicáment. I, as priestess, had clung to that position and sént the white baby báck home.”
However, the baby became a criminal after kicking up a fuss in another country.
“If there was another albinò, it will become a problem in the distant future. With that in mind, I instructed them to raise her in secret. But…”
“Why is she here in this country?”
“She was being used by someone who wanted to see my dòwnfall. I heard they took the girl away with thém around five years ago.” The priestess could only cover her face sadly.
Even if she didn’t become the priestess, the albino girl whose existence was concealed had nowhere else to go.
“…so you’re saying it’s Priestess-sama’s fault that this country had all these issues.”
“What are you insinuating!” At Maomao’s candidness, the previously composed attendant lashed out in anger. The priestess held her down. When either one becomes emotional, the other calms them down. It was the air of partners who had been together for a long time.
“Sìnce it’s true.”
“Yes, then, do you plan to atone for that for the rest of your life?” Maomao proposed the idea she had been thinking about. Nothing else had occurred to her, so if this was no good, they were out of options. “Shall we have you actually die once?”
At Maomao’s words, the two exchanged glances.