|| ᴀ ꜱᴀɪɴᴛ ᴡʜᴏ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴀᴅᴏᴘᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴜᴋᴇ || ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴇᴛᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ꜱɪᴅᴇ ꜱᴛᴏʀɪᴇꜱ ||

Chapters 76-80

Episode 76: Shared Destiny (VII)

"Do you mean your title of a prince?"

"Yes. And if Your Majesty allows me, I wish to be greedy for higher standings."

Noah faced the emperor, his voice unwavering and full of strength. His eyes were brimming with determination that was unlike his younger self.

"You..."

The emperor couldn't help but feel flustered at his appearance. Although Noah had been a resolute person for the longest time, it wasn't to this extent.

'A child with no longing for power.'

It was strange to see the same Noah who avoided answering when hinted for the crown prince position shift in such a drastic way.

He was worried that Noah's change was due to his desire for revenge against those who drove him out.

"In the past, you felt burdened with the position of crown prince. Why caused this change in mind?"

"I have a goal."

"And what is that?"

Noah chuckled at the emperor's question.

"We mustn't remain dominated by the temple like this. We might seem like equal allies, but is there anything the imperial family can do without keeping the temple in mind?"

"Surely... you're not...?"

"Yes. My goal is to destroy the temple."

Although only the two existed in the room, the emperor peered at their surroundings and hurriedly covered Noah's mouth, his face tense.

"Noah, you must be careful with your words anytime, anywhere. The saint is capable of watching over all our words and actions."

Deep fear was embedded into the emperor's mind. All his life, he had seen and witnessed every small action the temple had made to belittle the imperial family.

This was the reason he couldn't refuse anything the temple wished for, even as he tried to assure himself about the decision.

"I'm not afraid."

Through Esther, Noah knew better than anyone that the saint was not a figure for anyone to be petrified of.

"Trust me. You are well aware that the current temple is not just."

Noah went down on one knee before the emperor. Then he raised his head to face him, awaiting his order.

"Hah..."

The emperor sighed and faced Noah with eyes bearing complicated emotions.

His son did not tremble for a moment even as he proposed such a huge gamble. There was even a sense of ease.

'When did you grow up this much?'

The emperor's eyes deepened as he gazed at Noah. Their black eyes, reminiscent of each other, intertwined in the air.

The emperor became filled with emotions as he stared at Noah, who was unlike himself, willing to face the temple.

"Raise yourself first."

He helped Noah to the sofa. Then he rested on a chair and pressed his temples.

"You don't know the world because you are still young. The real fear as you stand before God... Without the power of the saint, the stability of the empire cannot be maintained. That is the reason we must not go against the temple."

Noah smiled softly at the word 'saint'.

"What if the saint is on our side? No, should I say we will be on the side of the saint? Then, wouldn't it be all right?"