The palace hall was magnificent, surrounded by exquisite and beautiful openwork carvings. Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting Maggie's shadow on the gold-edged red carpet.
Ministers, knights, and servants stood respectfully beside the emperor, their breaths catching for a moment when they saw Maggie.
Maggie's eyes, clear and cold like those of a deity, could give others the illusion of divine favor simply by looking at them; the pale golden color of her pupils could even make them overlook her beautiful and flawless face.
His aura was as noble and elegant as that of a deity, making it impossible for anyone to feel offended.
“Welcome, Your Highness. I am His Majesty the King’s secretary. You may call me Grey.”
The young man waiting beside the emperor stepped forward and quietly expressed his welcome.
"Upon hearing that His Majesty was unwell, His Excellency the Bishop was deeply worried. Seeing him today, it seems the situation is indeed urgent."
Yarlin also stepped forward, not giving Maggie a chance to speak.
Maggie wasn't angry; she just stood there quietly, her gaze fixed on the emperor.
The king had clearly groomed himself to receive them, but he still looked haggard and had dark circles under his eyes.
He didn't even have the energy to speak, and had to ask his ministers to help explain. An emperor in his prime should not be in such a state.
It seems that none of his princes are easy to deal with.
"Please excuse His Majesty, High Priest. He has been suffering from nightmares lately and is unable to close his eyes. He is becoming increasingly thin and unable to handle state affairs. Recently, several princes have been taking over his duties."
Secretary Gray's tone was slightly apologetic.
"We can only ask the archbishop for help in dealing with the evil spirit. We never expected that Her Highness the Saintess would be sent. We are truly flattered."
Yarlin smiled and shook his head, turning to the side to signal to Maggie with his eyes, but only Maggie could see the threat flashing in his eyes.
Maggie inwardly scoffed, but outwardly showed no displeasure.
“Your Majesty is of noble birth, while I am but a mere saintess. It is my honor to be able to exorcise evil spirits for Your Majesty.”
Maggie smiled elegantly and bowed like a noblewoman.
"Then I'll trouble Your Highness."
After speaking, Secretary Gray gave a wink to the waiting servants, who immediately stepped forward to lead the way for Maggie.
"His Majesty insists on receiving you both in the main hall as a sign of respect. Please wait a moment while His Majesty returns to his bedchamber, and then the Holy Maiden will exorcise the demon."
The secretary bowed slightly and turned to the side in a gesture of "please," her every move demonstrating impeccable etiquette.
"Your Majesty shall be the master."
Maggie smiled and agreed.
...
After the servant brought Maggie and Arlin in, he quietly withdrew, leaving only Maggie and Arlin in the room.
The wait wasn't long. Maggie leisurely sipped her Earl Grey tea from the palace, while Arlin sat upright opposite her, staring at Maggie with cold eyes.
Maggie ignored him, as if the person in front of her didn't exist.
In terms of status alone, the saintess is far superior to the high priest. Even if the archbishop only sees her as a weak saintess who is easy to manipulate, Arlin should not have treated her like this today.
Maggie had no intention of confronting the Archbishop, but Arlin's contemptuous attitude towards her was truly infuriating.
Yarlin's overstepping boundaries made Maggie unable to suppress her urge to teach him a lesson.
Time ticked by, and finally, Yarlin couldn't hold back any longer and spoke first.
"The archbishop hopes..."
Before Yarlin could finish speaking, Maggie interrupted him.
"The Archbishop's position is naturally unshakeable, but you... are nothing but a disgusting maggot from the slums. Even if you are promoted by the Archbishop, it will not change the fact that you come from a lowly background."
She had been very polite throughout the journey, which was probably why Yarlin dared to be so arrogant in front of her.
"Compared to the Zefnia family, what do you think is the difference between you and a sewer rat?"
Maggie set down her teacup with a half-smile, her aloof demeanor concealing the most wicked core in the world.
Every word she said struck at Arlin's deepest sore spot. What Arlin lacked most and cared about most was his humble origins. He desperately wanted to erase this past, but now Maggie had brought it up to him.
It's like tearing open his old wounds and then rubbing salt into them.
"you!"
Arlin suddenly stood up, pointing a trembling finger at Maggie, unable to utter a single word, his pupils dilated as if he had been insulted.
"What? You're shocked that I know about your background?"
"You still think I won't fight back?"
Maggie lazily lifted her droopy eyelids, a sarcastic smile curving her lips, her clear eyes seeming to see through the skin to the soul.
"You think that just because the archbishop values you, you can be arrogant and disregard me?"
"I bet you're thinking about how to report to the archbishop how rebellious and uncontrollable I am, aren't you?"
"It's truly pathetic that someone of your humble origins can only barely survive in the temple by serving as someone else's dog."
People who have been oppressed by class for a long time have twisted hearts. Even the seemingly upright and holy high priest is nothing more than a slave to jealousy. His birth is a psychological shadow that he can never overcome.
Maggie is no good person. If you offend her, you'll make her suffer a hundred times more to make yourself feel better.
"Hmph! Since Your Highness is so confident, I have no comment on the Archbishop's orders."
Arlin was caught off guard when his secret was exposed, but as a high priest in the temple, he quickly regained his composure, calmly sat back down, and left only one sentence before no longer looking at Maggie.
"I don't need you to tell me."
Maggie smiled gently, suppressing the intense malice emanating from her. She picked up the fragrant black tea again and slowly savored it. She transformed back into the noble Holy Maiden of Light, as if everything that had just happened was an illusion.
"Heh, Your Highness, don't get too cocky. You think you've hidden it well, but everyone knows."
As if remembering something, Yarlin reverted to his arrogant demeanor, speaking in a condescending tone as if he were giving alms to a beggar.
"You have offended me, and you have also offended the bishop. Without the bishop's protection, Your Highness will find it difficult to move an inch."
Maggie raised an eyebrow, leaned back with a relaxed posture, carefully straightened her skirt, and then looked up at Yarlin with a smile.
"Then please wait and see, High Priest, what my fate will be."
Perhaps because Maggie's attitude was too indifferent, Arlin's originally very confident attitude also began to waver, and doubt flickered in his eyes as he looked at Maggie.
"Don't panic, after all, there's nothing I can do about you 'for the time being'."
Maggie wore a polite smile, emphasizing the word "temporarily," as if it were both a warning and a reminder.
"snort!"
Seeing Maggie's arrogant attitude, the high priest angrily flung his sleeve and left the room.
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