I Just Wanted to Avoid Death - Chapter 179
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“So that’s what this is about. What kind of backing does he have, that even the Archpriest covers for him?”
It was whispered softly, almost inaudibly, yet it pierced clearly into his ears.
Yeshion didn’t bother responding to the murmurs. He only turned his head and gestured silently for them to disperse.
“What, I thought he’d punch someone, but he’s just letting it slide?”
“There’s a rumor he turned over a new leaf. Some say the Archpriest reformed him.”
“Reformed him? If Yeshion could’ve been reformed, nobody would’ve gone through all that hell in the first place.”
Leaving behind the curses that had become a part of daily life, Yeshion rested his chin on his hand.
[The Procession at the Imperial Palace will begin shortly.]
Eldis’s voice suddenly echoed inside his head, and Yeshion flinched.
“……S-Seriously. I got it. I’ll let you know if I see Veronica.”
He muttered a reply, and laughter trickled through his mind again.
According to Eldis, this was one of the “conveniences” of being imprinted. They could communicate even from far away, ask for help if needed.
It was something Eldis had explained to him after he’d been dragged to the underground prison by Matthew.
‘Does that mean you can also sense where the other person is if you’re imprinted?’
Truthfully, there were still many things about the imprinting that he didn’t understand.
When Matthew had locked him in the underground prison, Yeshion hadn’t encountered a single priest on the way there. His mouth had been gagged, so he couldn’t even scream.
But soon after being imprisoned, Adelio had come to rescue him. Eldis had said he’d pinpointed the location himself.
With that memory surfacing, Yeshion glanced around in case Eldis was nearby, but saw nothing.
“I guess the mark doesn’t let you see their exact location…”
[Were you looking for me?]
“……Don’t eavesdrop.”
[I wasn’t eavesdropping. You’re the one whispering to me, Priest Yeshion. I don’t mind hearing your voice, but if you don’t want me to, just cut the flow of divine power.]
How do you even do that?
Yeshion puckered his lips in annoyance and turned his gaze away. Mumbling that he still didn’t know how to control divine power, Eldis chuckled and gently said he’d teach him more once the festival was over.
“……Ah?”
Just then, a red-haired woman came into view.
Yeshion clenched his fists and tried to steady the pounding of his heart.
“She’s here.”
[…I entrust this to you.]
Yeshion swallowed dryly and took a deep breath.
At that moment, Veronica, who was standing right behind the Empress, lifted her head. The moment their eyes met, Yeshion had to resist the choking feeling rising in his throat.
* * *
Veronica stared quietly at Yeshion’s face.
When their eyes met, sharp and narrow, Yeshion glanced toward Rosaline as if signaling he had something to report.
Veronica’s expression contorted violently, and Yeshion instinctively lowered his head. The moment she showed displeasure, it felt as though his heart dropped to the floor.
Was this her way of warning him for acknowledging her in public?
“Haa…”
His hand trembled.
Yeshion did his best to suppress the fear and stepped into a quiet hallway.
After a long wait, Veronica approached with heavy steps, and without warning, slapped him across the face.
Smack!
It had clearly been a slap, yet it felt like being punched.
As he staggered and clutched his cheek, Veronica clicked her tongue.
“Still don’t know your place, do you, Priest Yeshion? You dare tell me to come and go as if you have the right?”
“Y-You told me to… f-find out about the Saintess… quickly…”
Veronica looked at Yeshion with deep suspicion. For someone who always lost it the moment a priest so much as touched her, she was oddly cooperative this time around.
‘There were rumors he’d gotten close to the Archpriest… Is he trying to deceive me?’
Veronica watched him warily, scanning their surroundings.
Most priests had gone elsewhere, so the hallway was quiet, but even then, it was clear how others were seeing them.
‘If the rumors were true, everyone would be trying to get closer to Yeshion.’
But instead, the priests were avoiding him like the plague. Some even clicked their tongues as they glanced back and forth between Yeshion and Veronica, probably assuming he was trying to seduce someone rich under the guise of the festival.
