The return trip was much slower than the departure.

Hayley and Sophie joined in. Hayley was half tired and half angry.

But when she saw Artizea’s face, she swallowed everything she was about to say.

So did Sophie. She left the room alone without saying a word and returned with swollen eyes.

“I should take this opportunity to dye your hair in a very hot and pretty color. It starts with a light blue color and ends with a light pink color at the tip of your hair.”

“Don’t be absurd.”

Hayley replied in a bewildered tone.

“Or, I like red and black.”

“At least make it match.”

“You were so anxious that you couldn’t collect all the colors, and now you want to pour them all over her head?”

“If not now, there is no other chance.”

“I can dye my hair black any time.”

“But, Madam, I don’t think I want to touch your original hair.”

“But isn’t hair dye bad for your body?”

Artizea smiled bitterly at her lady-in-waiting and maids, as she felt their effort to brighten the mood a little.

That day Sophie re-measured her clothes.

It was due to be sent to the Capital for the coronation dress. As Artizea had been thin again in the meantime, it would not be able to fit her body properly just by mending it to her former dimensions.

“In the Capital, preparations for the coronation are almost complete.”

“I don’t think it’s been such a while since the Crown Prince arrived?”

“Because the abdication decree has already been issued.”

Hayley said,

“I heard that Her Majesty made the preparations in advance. It seems that His Majesty the Emperor’s condition is not very good.”

“I see.”

“Did he pass by yesterday? The Lord who will attend the Coronation Ceremony.”

“Yes. To be honest, I was shocked I thought something was going on.”

Sophie nodded her head.

There was a coronation, and those in important positions in each region set out to attend the coronation, as time permits.

There is a plague problem in the West, so a decree was sent to move cautiously.

But it was the most important political event in decades. Even if they were an administrative worker, they could not stop their interest if they were involved in politics.

The Empire will be overturned.

Even if the Crown Prince had already done the cleaning for several months, it was not much different. It can only be said that there will be a change of government only now.

“It is said that some of the Eastern nobles are coming.”

Hayley thought as she recalled the letters she had received in advance.

Among them, she laughed when she heard that Count Brennan was among them.

And she realized again that Cedric had accepted such a compromise.

Cedric had already changed while they mocked and disappointed that nothing would change.

“Among the envoys who came for the Crown Prince’s Coronation Ceremony, few have yet returned and they’ll see the Coronation as well.”

“What are you talking about? They have to send an envoy again. They have to send congratulatory gifts and diplomatic documents again.”

“We need to stay strong.”

At Sophie’s words, Hayley tilted her head.

“What do you mean?”

“How pretty was our Madam on the day of the Coronation Ceremony. But on the day of the Coronation, we can’t do anything worse than that.”

Sophie said forcefully. A bitter smile appeared on Hayley’s lips.

Artizea suddenly stood up after hearing such a story.

Hayley followed and stood up.

“Oh, Your Highness. Where are you going?”

“Let me get some air.”

Alice supported Artizea. Artizea said she was fine, waved her hand and raised her cane.

“It’s not going to take long anyway.”

“Madam.”

As Alice said sadly, Artizea took her cane and stepped out at a slow pace.

Alice grabbed her hat with a veil and followed her.

She said she was going to have some air, but she actually had an appointment with Brother Colton.

Artizea was escorted by Owen, and she went out into the garden. There, Brother Colton was waiting.

“I made you wait.”

“No. I have just arrived, Madam.”

Brother Colton bowed respectfully.

“I should have told you now that I am not a saintess.”

“You have received an oracle, so you are a saintess.”

This conversation was also the third time after reuniting.

Artizea sent a letter to the temple.

It was a letter that said her role as a saintess had come to an end, and that God had bestowed upon Lysia a new oracle.

So from now on, she has made a request to the temple to serve Lysia as she is the Saintess, and to support her in healing the plague with all their might.

Unlike the past, with real power backing her up, Lysia would not have to fight the temple.

Lysia had left before Artizea, she was told that she had already healed three villages.

Venia followed Lysia. She had stopped by her hometown once before.

Lysia sent her a brief letter, telling her not to worry too much. As time passes, Venia’s heart will soften, too.

So she wrote a request that she be a good ruler, so as to not disappoint her.

Anyway, Brother Colton did not listen to Artizea.

“Because I know the truth.”

“Only Brother knows exactly what an oracle is, but most people in the world don’t use the word saint with the same meaning as Brother did.”

To Artizea’s words, Brother Colton asked with a smile without answering directly,

“Then, the oracle was not fulfilled?”

“…….”

Artizea looked at Brother Colton silently.

He was not surprised or embarrassed to see Artizea’s aged face from the start.

It was the same when he was told that it was due to divine power.

Artizea was deeply concerned that he would deny that fact. But he only spoke with a quiet face.

“The Saintess didn’t believe in herself after all.”

Artizea sighed.

“It has been done. From a certain point of view.”

“Done does not necessarily mean complete, Crown Princess.”

“Yes. They say it was that way.”

Artizea responded. Brother Colton smiled again.

Brother Colton opened the carriage door. Artizea was escorted by an escort and got into the carriage.

Alice got in after her.

Brother Colton got on last and closed the door. Owen got on the horse and signaled the departure.

The plain carriage with all the decorations removed was escorted by four casual knights in a simple manner.

The destination monastery was not far away.

After leaving the castle for about an hour, she saw an old stone manor with a heavy and dark color.

The front door of the manor was wide open.

The monks, dressed in rough brown robes, were surprised to see the carriage and scattered to and fro. Alice asked curiously,

“Why are they running away?”

“There are people who practice silence or pray in a way that is completely isolated from the outside world. When patrons or nobles talk to them, they can’t help but be troubled.”

Brother Colton answered instead.

Artizea lowered the veil. Then she untied the diamond bracelet from her wrist and held it in her hand.

It was because her mind was dizzy and it seemed like it was going to fall to the bottom of her mind. Artizea gripped the bracelet tightly.

Thanks to the advance notice, they were able to greet her.

Likewise, a monk, dressed in a brown burlap monastic robe, saw Artizea and bowed to her respectfully.

Brother Colton asked,

“How is the Madam?”

“She doesn’t have seizures these days, but she seems depressed…….”

The monk secretly looked into Artizea’s eyes. However, there was no way to know the complexion of the lady behind the veil.

Artizea didn’t respond. Brother Colton told her,

“I heard that this was at his request.”

It was inappropriate for Cedric’s name to appear here, so he said so.

Artizea didn’t answer that either.

The monk who came out of the monastery looked quite worried that Artizea’s feelings might have been hurt.

But Artizea wasn’t offended, she just didn’t want to say anything now.

Knowing that Cedric cared about such things would break her own heart.

The monk guided Artizea inside.

The monastery was quite large. The central chapel at the entrance was close to the height of three stories tall.

The monk explained,

“All monks wake up at 4 A.M. and watch the morning worship service here. Be it a monk who came in voluntarily…… Everyone else is the same.”

“It’s roll call time.”

The monk smiled awkwardly at Artizea’s murmuring.

“Then, we have breakfast and then we go to work. Farming, carpentry, sewing…….”

Although it is a monastery quite close to the city, the monk explained that it is no different from other places in that it aims for self-sufficiency.

“There is a service every hour from 5 in the morning to 8 in the evening. Anyone can participate if they wish. After watching the closing service at 9 PM, you can spend your time freely in the monastery. We pray, we write, we do study groups, and others.”

Of course, the one who was exiled and sent here had no interest in such a thing.

Naturally, the environment was constraining. Still, it seemed to be a decent monastery with no problems with food, clothing, and shelter.

The monk hesitated to take a step in the middle.

“The Madam…… mainly does…… a lot of laundry.”

“…….”

“You have to be self-sufficient. It is the rule of our monastery not to share food with those who do not work.”

“She can’t be close to a knife and a fire, so she can’t cook, and even if I ask her to farm, she can’t tell the weeds in the field from the crop, her handwriting is not good enough to write a manuscript, and she has nothing to do with theology.”

Artizea said as if muttering.

The monk’s head bowed as if apologizing.

“I don’t mean to reproach. It’s just that whatever the situation, know that it’s not your fault.”

“…… She doesn’t have much energy.”

Finally, the monk stopped and spoke the words,

“I heard that moving her body helps, so I made her go to the river, but her heart and soul doesn’t get better…….”

Artizea raised her hand.

The monk was silent. It was already in front of the door.

Alice held her breath.

Artizea knocked on the heavy door. There was no answer, so she just opened the door.

The room was narrow. One bed, one desk and one chair. And there was a small window.

It was just such a room where ordinary monks stayed.

The most beautiful woman in the world was crouching on the bed.

Artizea called her,

“Mother.”

final 5 chapters!