The Holy Man of Another Century Gospel

Chapter 91: Relying on Favor
When Sophie woke up early for morning prayers, she looked listless, her eyes were wandering, her mind was absent, and she had no focus on what was happening in front of her.

In the scripture hall, there are quite a few nuns like her, at least a dozen.

After the morning prayer, Sophie was still sitting there in a daze. Two nuns walked past her, whispering to each other.

"We'd spread the word a long time ago, but I didn't expect it to be canceled... I was thinking after three years of training, I'd finally be able to go back to Lutia... Miss Percy, who lives with me, cried all night when she heard the news."

"After all, Her Highness the Saint's body..."

"But didn't Her Highness the Saint ask His Highness Eric to go back on her behalf? It was His Highness Eric who canceled the trip."

"Is this true? Where did you hear this from... Is it reliable?"

Reliable.

Sophie thought silently, because that was what she had heard—from the quasi-saint.

After sitting in the scripture hall for a while, Sophie didn't have to go to the seminary for class and Eric didn't come to see her. She ate something and returned to her room. She lay on the bed and continued to be in a daze, but her eyes gradually became red.

——Eric not only canceled the itinerary of a large group of people at the Saint's Monastery, but also wanted to leave alone, and the saint actually agreed.

This meant they were separated for a long time.

"Then I'll go with you!"

"……no."】

"—Sophie?"

The door to the nuns' dormitory was suddenly pushed open, and the head nun of the Seventh House walked in. "Why are you sleeping here? His Highness Eric asked you to come over."

Sophie raised her head after rubbing her face against the quilt. "Your Highness, what do you want from me?"

"Aren't you taking classes in the seminary with His Highness? His Highness is about to leave and said he wants to give you some books and notes he has read and asked you to get them," said the head nun.

"..."

What does she want those things for!
Sophie, filled with resentment, finally stood up and asked, "Where is His Highness?"

"The Saint's Abbey."

When she arrived at the Saint's Monastery, Her Highness the quasi-Saint had already greeted her. The nuns outside did not stop Sophie, but let her in directly and showed her the way.

Behind the desk, Eric looked up at the little nun who came in and said casually, "You're here."

When she came closer, he saw that her eyes were red and slightly swollen, and he couldn't help but fall silent for a moment.

"Take a look at these books and notes to see which ones you need... Having said that, the main reason I asked you to come here is because I wanted to see you."

Eric stood up and caught Sophie who was rushing towards him.

"I'm leaving tomorrow."

"..."

A large area of ​​my chest soon became wet.

Eric gently stroked her back, and waited until she calmed down before continuing:

"From today on, you'll be Alena's assistant. You'll study with her in the Saint's Convent... It's okay if you don't want to learn. Anyway, I'll give you a holy position. There are several empty rooms in the side buildings. You can move in here."

Sophie raised her head: "I want to go with His Highness..."

"Who was it that was so determined to stay in the monastery?" Eric wiped the tears from her face.

"But His Highness didn't say he was leaving at that time."

"I said that."

"..."

He actually did, and Sophie quickly remembered.

"Why can't Your Highness take me with you?"

Eric let go of her and sat back down behind his desk, continuing to organize his things. "Do you want to hear the truth, or something nice to say?"

Sophie rolled her eyes and just stared at him.

Eric started by saying something nice: "It's rare for the Saint to let me go. I have a lot of things to do. I'll have to sleep in the open and even face danger along the way. I don't want you to suffer with me."

Sophie immediately spoke up: "As long as I can be with His Highness, I can endure any hardship."

"Okay." Eric could only tell the truth, "Miss Sophie is too delicate. Having her around would be a nuisance, a burden, or even a distraction..."

"—I understand!" Sophie glared at him.

Eric smiled and said, "I'm glad you understand. Besides, it's not like I won't be back."

"But according to your Highness, once you are free to leave, you will not stay in the monastery forever," Sophie said.

Eric was silent for a moment. "There's nothing I can do about this. You've always been by my side. You know more about the future than even the Saint. I hope you can understand me."

“I don’t understand that much.”

Sophie came over and sat on his lap, burying her face in his neck. "Weren't the demons wiped out long ago? Didn't the Black Ice Wall's defenders constantly monitor the Demon Realm, sending troops to eliminate any large demon tribes they discovered? How could they make a comeback? Even Lutia has been occupied by them... Is this really the future that Yela told Your Highness?"

"Of course." Eric lowered his head. "Did I ever lie to you?"

Sophie looked up and said, "Your Highness can lie to me more than ten times a day." "...I was just joking with you." Eric pursed his lips and said, "I'm serious now."

Sophie lowered her head again. "If that's the case, what can Your Highness do alone to change this?"

Eric took a deep breath.

He really can't change anything by himself. The so-called prophecy also needs the support of identity to have weight.

"I'll do my best to make a difference, no matter how little."

Initially, he just wanted to change his and Irene's fate.

But as he gradually took over the authority of the Saint and came into contact with key figures who could influence the future, he also wanted to find the key hub to change the future through his own attempts.

Is it worse to maintain the current situation or to suffer the destruction brought about by war? The answer will be different depending on your standpoint, but Eric knows this: there are many people who want to protect him now.

"Your Highness, you..."

As Alena walked into the study, she saw Sophie sitting on him. She stopped in her tracks and turned to leave.

"Alaina." Eric called her and patted Sophie on the back, asking her to come down.

Alena returned to the study, her eyes lowered, not even looking at Sophie.

"What's wrong?" Eric asked.

"Everything Your Highness needs has been arranged," Alena replied. "Once you leave the city, Your Highness can simply change clothes and leave. No one will notice your whereabouts."

"Did you find the kind of horse I wanted?"

"Yes."

"Okay." Eric was a little excited. "You can buy anything in the Holy City."

Alena looked up at him and said, "Besides..."

"What else?"

"I just went to see Her Highness the Saint. She said that she would send a team of knights to protect Her Highness."

Eric frowned immediately. "Then what's the point of me leaving quietly? If I have a team of Vatican knights follow me, wouldn't that be the same as telling everyone that I'm leaving?"

Alena lowered her head and said nothing. This was not something she could refute.

"I'll go talk to His Highness." Eric stood up, then remembered something and said, "Sophie will stay in the next house. Alena, please take her to find a room."

The two nuns looked at each other, with different emotions.

"Yes, Your Highness."

After Eric left, the two looked at each other for a while until Sophie smiled and spoke, breaking the silence.

"His Highness has promised to let me stay in the monastery."

"Your Highness has told me." Alena looked at her. "Have you really thought this through, Sophie?"

"Of course. I will stay with Your Highness for the rest of my life." Sophie said with a firm expression.

Alena was at a loss for words. She didn't know whether to remind her not to publicize their relationship, or to envy her confidence in saying this.

She herself has the confidence to be backed up, but not in this aspect.

"Your Highness asked me to be Sister Alena's assistant," Sophie continued. "Is it all I need to do to follow you?"

This was not Alena's idea. She thought for a moment and said:

"His Highness said that he has arranged a holy order for Sophie. It's similar to a lecturing nun in a seminary, but she won't be teaching other nuns. She only needs to answer His Highness' questions when he encounters them."

Sophie thought for a moment. "Isn't this just a personal consultant?"

Alena nodded silently. Although there had never been a clear division of responsibilities, this had always been one of her duties...

Sophie liked this arrangement, but soon became concerned about her own abilities. "But I don't know that much. During the past two years that I've been taking classes with His Highness, he's been the one studying, and I've been... accompanying him."

"That's why His Highness asked you to follow me," Alena said. "There's a lot of time to come, so you can see and learn more."

"I see." Sophie felt a little relieved.

"There are several empty rooms in the annex. Where would you like to stay, Sophie?"

Sophie didn't hesitate for a second: "Your Highness's room."

"Don't mess around!"

Sophie looked at Alena and opened her mouth. At that moment, she felt that she was really angry.

"..."

The long-suppressed and unspeakable emotions burst out, and then quietly retreated with regret and helplessness. Looking at the silent Sophie, Alena pursed her lips.

"Even if His Highness is not in the monastery, the Saint is keeping an eye on this place. Are you moving into His Highness's room with the intention of killing him?"

Sophie's eyes lingered on her face for a moment.

"Sorry……"

(End of this chapter)