<Chapter 46>

“Ah……”

Temenos averted his gaze as he pulled his hand away from mine. He wiped his palm on his thigh, as if to clear the sweat, then lifted his head to meet my eyes.

“Before that, I have something I want to ask you.”

Suddenly, I had the distinct feeling that this was the real conversation he wanted to have with me all along.

“Don’t be alarmed.”

Temenos stood abruptly, untying his belt without warning.

The robe, which had been held in place, loosened and fell open, revealing an absolutely stunning set of abs and a broad, muscular chest.

‘Kyaaa!’

I had tried to prepare myself, but this was far more intense than I expected. Covering my eyes with both hands, I couldn’t resist peeking through the gaps between my fingers at his body.

If Temenos noticed my gaze, he gave no indication. Instead, he shrugged the left sleeve of his robe off, baring his left side.

‘Oh……’

From the curve of his neck to his shoulder, chest, ribs, thigh, and leg, all the way down to his arm and hand—his entire left half was covered in scales.

Though I’d seen the scales on his left forearm before, I hadn’t imagined there would be so many more across his body. On closer inspection, even the nails on his left hand were thicker and longer than those on his right.

‘So this is what they mean by a deformed half-body……’

Like his face, his body was split cleanly in half, with scales covering only the left side. Truly, his “half-body deformity” was as literal as it could get.

“Do you know why I was born with this body?”

“Why were you born like this?”

Temenos glanced down at the scales covering his left side and spoke in an even tone, “Three hundred years ago, during the holy war, three temples were destroyed. Are you aware of this?”

“Yes. I read about it in a book.”

To be precise, it was in the novel.

“Do you know why the temple in the North was destroyed?”

“Uh…… wasn’t it attacked by monsters during the holy war?”

“The other two temples were indeed destroyed by monsters. But the northern temple wasn’t.”

“Then who destroyed the northern temple?”

“Three hundred years ago, my ancestor—the first Duke of Winstein—destroyed it.”

What?

‘So this is why the North is called the land of sinners?’

“I thought… they said only God can build temples.”

The reason the three destroyed temples couldn’t be rebuilt for three centuries was precisely that.

Humans could build chapels, but only God could create temples.

“And yet humans can destroy them?”

“I don’t know exactly how my ancestor managed to destroy the temple.”

But it was certain that the Duke of Winstein’s ancestor had brought down the northern temple.

This act incurred the wrath of God, and divine punishment was delivered upon the Winstein family. From that point on, the firstborn of each generation in the family was born with a deformity.

“Usually, the deformity was limited to a small part of the body—something that could be concealed if needed. But I was born like this.”

Apparently feeling he’d shown enough, Temenos adjusted his robe and tied his belt securely.

“This is why the North is called the land of sinners, and why the Great Temple doesn’t send priests or holy knights here.”

“……”

“As a Saintess who serves God, can you truly live as the wife of a man cursed by divine punishment?”

Temenos’ face was calm, but the faint tension in his voice betrayed the emotions he was holding back.

‘Is he afraid I’ll truly see him as a sinner because I’m the Saintess?’

If I were to think that way, why was he telling me all of this in such excruciating detail?

Scratching my cheek, I met his eyes and opened my mouth to respond, “I think there’s a reason I came to the North.”

To be specific, there had to be a reason I’d ended up in Inosensia’s body as the bride of the Duke of Winstein.

“Honestly, three hundred years seems like enough time to have paid for any sins. Why not ask God for forgiveness?”

“……Do you think I could be forgiven?”

“Of course. Why else would God have blessed our wedding so beautifully?”

Did my words sound convincing?

After a moment’s hesitation, Temenos knelt before me, his voice steady despite his actions.

“Temenos Winstein seeks forgiveness from God.”

Watching him kneel reverently, hands clasped together on his knees, I silently called out to God myself.

‘God, you’ve already forgiven Temenos, haven’t you? If so, please send lots and lots of divine power like you did earlier!’

At that moment, Temenos’ body became enveloped in a pure white light speckled with golden particles.

The sight was so dazzling that I clapped my hands in delight.

“It worked! God have forgiven yo…u?”

My words caught in my throat as I took in the scene before me.

“……”

“……What’s this?”

I was utterly at a loss.

Although his robe was securely tied and his body hidden, his left side—exposed by the absence of a mask—was a different story.

The number of scales on his left face had nearly doubled!

“No, I mean, uh…”

“……”

“Are… are you okay?”

Temenos didn’t answer. Instead, he let go of my hands.

My gaze followed his movement, landing on his hand. The scales covering the back of his left hand had spread even further.

‘If his face and hand are like this, then his body must be…’

“……”

“……”

I couldn’t bring myself to meet his eyes. If a hole had opened up in the ground, I would have gladly crawled into it.

‘Why did I so confidently say he’d be forgiven?’

The silence weighed heavily on me, and the awkward atmosphere was suffocating.

Temenos was the first to move.

“I… just remembered… something urgent…”

“Oh, r-right, something urgent came up? Then you should go. Quickly!”

“Yes…… Please rest first.”

I couldn’t bring myself to stop him as he stumbled out of the room. After all, how could I, when I was the one who’d caused this mess?

‘Wait. It’s our wedding night!’

Realization struck me like a bolt of lightning, but it was too late. Temenos had already left the room.

‘Did I just get abandoned? Am I spending my wedding night alone?’

Unbelievable. I’d been ready. Really ready!

I’d only gotten to see those amazing abs and that broad chest with my eyes! I hadn’t even gotten to touch them or admire his lean, muscular waist!

‘God! What is the meaning of this?!’

What am I supposed to do about my wedding night now?!

If you’re listening, give me an answer, God.

Can’t you hear me? Answer me!

*  *  *

In the capital, at the Great Temple…

The temple welcomes countless worshippers from dawn until dusk, but once night falls, the gates close, and no one is permitted to enter.

There is, however, an exception.

Under the cover of deep night, an imperial carriage discreetly passed through the side gates of the Great Temple.

Its passenger? None other than the Emperor.

But no one was aware of this as the Emperor was led to a secret reception room.

The one who greeted him there was the Pope.

The Pope, wearing a large triple crown and a white veil that obscured his face, accepted the documents handed to him by the Emperor.

“These reports detail what the nobles witnessed and heard during their time in the North.”

The Pope silently reviewed the documents, the veil seemingly no obstacle to his reading.

Inosensia not only restored the bodies of those who had lost limbs but also healed dozens of people on the verge of death in an instant.
Such miracles have led the people of the North to call her the Saintess……

After meticulously reading the report, the Pope finally opened his mouth—
 

<To be continued>

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