Unfortunately, I'm an Evil Villainess

Chapter 41 - A Blessed Saint (II)

I took a deep breath and entered the hall. The side chamber was by the platform, so I had a clear path as I glided to the altar, eyes lowered in humility as much as I wanted to raise them. When I was beside the high priest leading the ceremony, I turned and curtsied to the audience.

The high priest introduced me, though anyone would've been living under a rock to not know my name. He made me sound so good that it was barely believable, and I didn't even think of myself that highly in regards to morals. Not for the first time, I had to contain the urge to laugh.

He moved on to state my purpose in the holy language, and I listened carefully for my cue. I hadn't a clue what the words meant, but I knew the sounds well enough that when the high priest finished his speech, I jumped right in.

'A brief self-introduction. I bet people normally know what they're saying about themselves.'

The good thing was that I could spew gibberish and no one in the crowd would notice. I didn't have to worry about that, though, because I pronounced every cursed syllable perfectly. My voice was clear and echoed through the temple, carrying so that everyone could hear me. I wondered vaguely if a spell had been cast to keep the crowd so quiet.

'Next, get blessed by God. Except he's just a rock.'

When my introduction concluded, the high priest said a few more words I didn't understand, but I knew the signal. I turned, my back to the public, and walked up the platform. The row of high priests had parted to form two lines, their heads bowed to me in respect, and I went through the middle, heading for the raised dais.

It was designed so that the dais was visible over the altar, so everyone could see on it the huge statue of God from head to toe. I knelt down before said statue, sitting on my heels and folding my hands. I loathed how tiny I felt, which must've been why it was so big, and since no one could see my face, I didn't bother closing my eyes. In fact, I tried to stare God down, but I couldn't see his eyes from my position.

I recited my lines easily. In my past life, unrealistic as it was, I had wanted to be an actress. Then, I realized that I was already acting everyday, and it was just the fame and glory I craved.

This was the longest and worst part, an uninterrupted speech that must've gone on for hours. My legs were soon sore, but I kept going. The words flowed out of me naturally, because in this world I was taking charge of, I was the true saint, the one and only, and God was presumably giving me a blessing. I didn't know precisely how long it was, but finally, I was done. I stood up slowly, careful not to pull my legs, and turned back around.

'Blessings from the high priests. Do they actually do anything?'

One by one, every time I took a step forward, a high priest left their place in the lines to stand in front of me. I would say something, they would say something back, and I again. When they were apparently satisfied, they would press two fingers to my forehead to bless me. We would have another exchange, and they would step back in line while I repeated the cycle with the next priest.

What annoyed me was that I had to remember responses for all the damned twelve of them, when they just had to memorize for the one of me. I made it through the eleven in the lines, and in the end to the one at the altar. We had a similar conversation to the rest, one with contents I wasn't aware of. For his blessing, he dipped his fingers into a stone bowl on the altar that held fresh water. It was mostly for show, since we couldn't risk the water smearing my makeup. All I felt from his blessing was a brief coldness, gone in an instant.

'Lastly, vows. If God were really watching us, I would've been struck down long before now.'

It was almost as long as the blessing from God. I stood there, speaking all from memory, impressing myself with every passing moment. I still couldn't look at the crowd out of chastity, so I stared at my reflection in the bowl of water, amusing myself with the irony.