Chapter 562: The First Sin
Under the warm afternoon sun, the military group sent by the King of the Sorex Kingdom finally arrived at the Holy Temple. At least twenty soldiers had been assigned to guard the temple, and most of them looked like they had spent years training their bodies.
As soon as they stepped inside, their eyes wandered across the temple grounds. Most worshippers were only allowed to enter the side hall, where they could pray and confess their sins to the Saintess. Because of that, they had never seen the temple in its entirety.
None of them expected the Holy Temple to look like a piece of heaven. A beautiful garden filled with colorful flowers stretched before them, making the place feel peaceful and almost unreal.
A gentle breeze carried the sweet scent of flowers through the air, making everyone pause for a moment without realizing it. Birds sang from the trees, while butterflies fluttered from one flower to another, adding even more life to the peaceful garden.
For a brief moment, the soldiers almost forgot why they had come.
"Soldiers, welcome to the Holy Temple," the Cardinal said in a polite tone.
He stood before the temple’s grand entrance. His white robe, decorated with elegant golden patterns, made him look almost like an angel standing in heaven.
"Greetings, Your Holiness." The Captain of the Royal Knights stepped forward and stopped before the Cardinal. Placing one hand over his heart, he lowered his head in respect. "His Majesty the King has sent us to protect you and the Saintess. From this day forward, please allow this humble servant to be at your service."
"The Holy Temple gladly welcomes you, Captain," the Cardinal said gently.
The Captain of the Royal Knights slowly raised his head. A warm smile appeared on his face, making his sapphire-blue eyes sparkle as they curved into gentle crescents.
"But I must admit, I didn’t expect His Majesty to choose you," the Cardinal said again.
The Captain’s smile remained, but there was now a hint of caution in his sapphire-blue eyes as he looked at the Cardinal. "And why is that, Your Holiness?" he asked calmly.
The Cardinal let out a soft chuckle, his voice carrying the feeling of a smile hidden beneath his mask.
"Please don’t misunderstand me, Captain. I simply heard from His Majesty that you are one of his finest soldiers." He paused for a moment before continuing. "I just didn’t expect a Lycan warrior to willingly serve a human kingdom... and even devote himself to protecting a human temple."
The Captain met the Cardinal’s gaze without the slightest change in his expression. There is no such thing as humans or Lycans when it comes to doing my job."
"His Majesty the King had helped me in the past. That’s why, serving the Sorex Kingdom is not a burden to me. It is simply my way of repaying the kindness His Majesty once showed me."
The Cardinal watched him quietly for a moment before giving a small nod. "I see," he said. "Then His Majesty truly chose the right person."
"I only hope I can live up to the trust he has placed in me," the Captain replied with a humble smile.
After a brief pause, the Captain steered the conversation back to the matter at hand.
"Most of the Anti-God factions are constantly trying to erase every symbol of the Gods," the Captain said. "Because of that, I believe the Saintess’s safety must be our highest priority. For the time being, His Majesty has ordered me to personally protect her."
"Yes, I have already received the same message from His Majesty," the Cardinal replied with a nod. "Since the Saintess is not allowed to set foot in this filthy world, you will only need to accompany her within the temple.
"There are a few rules you must follow whenever you are around the Saintess. They may seem a little strict, but I ask for your understanding, Captain. After all, the Saintess is not permitted to make direct eye contact with outsiders."
The Captain nodded without hesitation. "That won’t be a problem, Your Holiness." A calm smile remained on his face as he added, "I will simply carry out my duty and will not trouble the Saintess in any way."
"I’m glad to hear that, Captain," the Cardinal said with a gentle nod.
He then stepped aside and gestured toward the temple entrance. "Please, Captain. Allow me to escort you to meet the Saintess."
The Captain’s smile grew even wider the moment he heard those words. After all, only those who devoted their lives to serving the temple, along with a few high-ranking nobles—the King, the Grand Duke, and several of the King’s most trusted people—were allowed to meet the Saintess in person.
As for the Captain and the other worshippers, they could only confess their sins to the Saintess through separate rooms divided by a wooden partition. They could hear her voice, but they were never allowed to see her.
Even so, everyone who had confessed their sins to the Saintess spoke of her with deep admiration. They said her voice was as gentle as a spring breeze, and her sweet fragrance reminded them of flowers blooming in the morning.
Without ever seeing her face, people naturally imagined her as the most beautiful woman in both heaven and earth.
"As the temporary protector of the Holy Saintess, I, the Cardinal, hereby grant you permission to meet the Holy Saintess in person," the Cardinal said as they stopped before the Saintess’s private sanctum.
The Captain lowered his head as the Cardinal gently placed a hand on his shoulder in a symbolic blessing.
"As the Saintess’s protector, you are permitted to remain in the same room as her. However, you must keep a distance of at least five meters at all times."
"You are not permitted to look directly into her eyes, nor may you speak to her unless it is an emergency."
"Please be mindful whenever you are around the Saintess, and do not bring anything unnecessary from the outside. We must protect the Saintess from the impurities of the outside world while she remains within this holy temple."
The Captain listened carefully to every word before giving a respectful nod. "I understand, Your Holiness," he replied without the slightest hesitation.
The Cardinal then opened the door to the Saintess’s private sanctum.
Inside, the Saintess was kneeling in the middle of the room, facing the dozens of statues of the Gods she served as their Saintess.
Hearing the sound of the door opening, she slowly rose to her feet. Her long white robe brushed softly against the polished floor as she turned toward the entrance.
For a brief moment, the entire room fell silent.
The Captain remembered every rule the Cardinal had just given him. He was not supposed to look into the Saintess’s eyes, but the moment she turned to face him, he couldn’t stop himself.
His gaze met her golden eyes.
They were clear and bright, almost as if they held the light of the heavens within them. Without realizing it, he stood frozen where he was, unable to look away.
The Saintess remained still as well, feeling that the Captain’s eyes were too hypnotizing to ignore.
Without either of them realizing it, that was the first sin they had ever committed together.