TL: Zimmings
***
When the pope gestured at Ridalante, another cardinal, Nicolasio, hurriedly pulled him out.
After that, the pope who supported me took me inside the Great Gate (the tower where the Popeâs office is located).
As soon as we crossed the bridge of the Great Gate, an intense aura enveloped my whole body.
It was the first time in my life that I was filled with surprisingly pure divine power.
If you are a person with divine power, just entering is enough to heal any wounds.
How on earth is this space maintained?
As I was thinking, I burst out laughing as soon as I saw the statue hanging in the chapel.
A broken statue whose face is not visible.
But I knew what kind of god it was.
It was something that Iâve always seen since I was young.
This is the âSergaâs Templeâ in ancient times.
âSince these things have been moved, there is no choice but to create a divine site.â
The two gods and 72 pioneers made that together. Their strength must have melted away as they hadnât been together for a long time.
The pope asked me, staring at the broken statue.
âDo you remember that?â
ââ¦At the center of the temple, there was a statue of Serga, whom you defined as evil God.â
âMeria and I were together in the last moments of ancient times.â
I looked at the pope.
âWith this degree of obsession, it has far surpassed the level of illness.
The pope seated me in the chair of the chapel and said,
âLeave only the healing priest and go.â
Adrian took a step forward. Then the other priest went away as he came closer to me.
He started healing on my knees in front of me.
A scar can be seen through the hood. I inadvertently tried to reach out my hand, then recalled that the pope was looking at me and hold back.
Adrianâs hand on my knee was warm.
âI will make sure that Ridalante never comes close to you again.â
ââ¦â¦.â
âMeria.â
The popeâs voice was heard again.
I managed to squeeze my voice out.
âOkay.â
ââ¦â¦.â
âWhy?â
ââ¦Why are you so gentle?â
âNow that Iâm inside the temple, I just knew that I couldnât survive without your help.â
Meanwhile, Adrian touched the back of my hand, which had been scratched. It became warm, and then the wound disappeared without a trace.
His fingertips collided with mine, and we looked at each other.
In fact, Iâve been very anxious so far.
The power of the pope exceeded Mina, and I was imprisoned in the enemy camp without etwal.
I was anxious that my life would be ruined again.
But the moment I looked at his firm eyes, my anxiety disappeared.
âSince when did he become a man with these eyes?â
Then, the pope got up.
âGo away.â
Adrianâs hands were tense.
I opened my eyes without realizing it, fearing that he would attack the pope.
It was almost impossible to help Adrian because I was not in good shape, and fighting without even expecting reinforcements in the middle of the enemy camp was like a suicide.
âCalm down!â
It was the first time in my life that I was this affectionate, but I had gone through all sorts of hardships and battles.
My life and my loverâs life are too precious for him to abandon.
âWhat are you doing?!â
When I glanced at him again, Adrian slowly stepped back, clenching his fist tightly.
The pope walked past him and approached me.
âIf you open your heart, how can I harm your precious things?â
ââ¦â¦.â
âThis imperfect body, ever since I was born, has lived only for you.â
The pope pulled my hands together and gently touched my forehead.
âPlease accept me. I will put everything you want in this hand.â
He looked so desperate.
People will think itâs pure love. But this is nothing more than stalking and obsession.
I was so shocked that I didnât even laugh.
âHow could a stalker pretend to be a pure lover!â
But I never said that. Rather, I pretended to hide my emotion.
âHow far⦠can you go for meâ¦?â
âAnything.â
âWill you give me an empire?â
The popeâs pupils shook as I looked at him with greedy eyes.
âIf I give you an empire, will you come to me?â
âBring the gold crown in front of me. Iâll make a decision later.â
There was joy on the popeâs face.
He put his forehead on the back of my hand as if he was thrilled. Then Adrianâs expression got colder. I quickly pulled out my hand and said.
âI want to change clothes. Itâs all dusty because of Ridalante.â
âI will call the priests.â
âGive me my clothes.â
ââ¦â¦.â
âHow would I believe if a man who didnât give me my clothes said he would give me an empire?â
ââ¦Wait.â
âWhere did you put it? Canât we go together?â
After pretending to be curious about etwalâs whereabouts and deliberately following him, the pope answered firmly.
âIâll bring it.â
It was only after I stepped back with my arms folded that the pope was relieved.
Anyway, he was a cautious man.
Heâs wary of me finding out where the etwal is.
It is also cautious of him to go alone without even notifying the priests where my stuff is.
Of course, I didnât forget to look at Adrian, who dressed up as a priest.
The pope left the chapel.
Thud.
As soon as the door closes,
ââ¦â¦.â
ââ¦â¦.â
We hugged each other tightly.
***
I trembled with my face on Adrianâs neck. His arms, which have already become a man, are wide and firm, so I am relieved.
âHow did you get here? Why did you come to such a dangerous place?â
ââ¦I donât want to leave you alone.â
As soon as I heard his voice, the sadness I had barely endured soared.
My eyes were red, and I rubbed my eyes against his shoulders.
I grabbed Adrianâs face with both hands and looked at him for a long time.
âWhy are you so skinny?â
He smiled and took my hand.
âIâm fine.â
âItâs not fineâ¦â
âIf youâre okay, Iâm okay.â
ââ¦â¦.â
Why does my heart ache so much just looking at you?
Why is it that you donât regret even the slightest bit of giving up everything?
âHow did you get here, huh?â
âI heard from Lucia that you woke up. Besides her, there were quite a few people who had been planted in the temple, so I dressed up as a close aide to the pope.â
âWhat if the pope notices!â
As soon as I shouted, a group of lights gathered in Adrianâs body. And surprisingly, he changed in an instant.
Dark brown hair, green eyes, wrinkles around the mouth, and three dots lined up on the cheeks.
No matter where I looked, I couldnât find Adrianâs appearance.
Even the wave of divine power was a completely different person.
âHow are youâ¦!â
âBecause of Amy.â
âThatâs right!â
Adrian, who succeeded the blood of Gremory, was able to use some of the devilâs power.
With that power, Adrian formed a major relationship with Amy.
When devils become masters, they share some of each otherâs abilities.
Amyâs ability is .
It was the ability to change their appearance so perfectly.
âSo even the pope is bound to be deceived.â
âBut if it were Amy, he would notice that you changed your face.â
Mina used Amy.
Minaâs power has become the popeâs, so he will surely be able to call Amy.
âGo back before he summons Amy.â
âLetâs go together.â
âI donât think heâll let me go.â
âHe wonât keep you here.â
âAdr-â
When I was about to call him. Adrian, who returned to his true self, hugged me once again.
âWhen he hugged you, I thought I would burn with jealousy.â
I flinched.
His voice was too low. It felt unfamiliar as if he was a stranger.
And I⦠I got shy.
I forcibly fixed my voice and said.
âI thought Iâd turn around too. Itâs disgusting.â
ââ¦Donât go to him.â
Really, I felt so affectionate about this man.
I laughed at Adrian, who was like a puppy in the rain. And I stroked his hair.
âI decided to stay by your side.â
ââ¦â¦.â
âYouâre cool, but sometimes you look very vulnerable, so I decided to protect you. Adrian, Iâ¦â¦â
I continued with shame,
âI love you.â
As such, Adrian always left me with no pride.
A fool that made me think that showing the truth is not hurting my self-esteem.
A person who takes the last step on behalf of me, who is scared every time.
So, in the end, he makes me even bring out the words I hid desperately.
âI love you, Adrian.â
We were impatient and desperate to find each otherâs lips.
Like a person who has no tomorrow, desperately as if we would die soon.
Again and again, our lips met, he swallowed mine and I swallowed his breath.
âMeria, this is Christian.â
The popeâs voice outside the room was heard alongside the sound of knocking.
âMeria?â
We only fell apart after kissing several times.
I opened the door of the chapel and greeted the pope, as Adrian hid himself in the shadow.
***
At that time, in the imperial palace.
Andre, sitting crookedly on the throne, bit the grape and said.
âIs Leblaine Dubblede in the temple?â
The emperorâs head servant with a bruise bowed his head.
âIâve heard of it.â
Andre, who was licking his lips, raised the corners of his lips.
âGo ahead.â
âPardom?â
âYou dare not let the girl who despised me be alone, canât you?â
âBut I heard that she was under the popeâs protection-ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Andre, who opened his eyes, threw the silver bowl of grapes towards him.
Thud!
With a sound, blood dripped from his head.
âThe pope would keep that girl by her side because she was cute? He must have been afraid of the public sentiment, so he had to put her in the corner of the temple.â
ââ¦â¦.â
âSheâd be grateful if I took care of it.â
I will put the chain on the arrogant girlâs neck and use it as a weapon of war. Until she goes crazy or until she dies.
The corners of Andreâs lips twitched and rose.
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