The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne

Chapter 828: The Saint Lumiel

What Elina lacked right now was information. She knew next to nothing about the saint, just a little general knowledge.

Jasmine put her index finger to her lips and said hesitantly, ”To be honest, I don’t know much about Saint Lumiel either. But I will tell you what I know.”

And so she told Elina everything she knew about Saint Lumiel.

Elina didn’t expect much at first after hearing Jasmine say she didn’t know much. But the longer Jasmine talked the more surprised Elina became.

The information she gave was surprisingly detailed. She even knew Saint Lumiel’s favorite food.

Five minutes later, Jasmine finally stopped and smiled shyly.

”Sorry, did I talk too much?”

Elina suppressed the turmoil inside her and waved her hand.

”No, that was very helpful. Thanks.”

She understood Saint Lumiel much better now, which would certainly help her with her future plans.

”The Saint has arrived!”

As soon as the announcement rang out in the church, everyone stood up and clasped their hands together.

They bowed their heads in unison and greeted, ”Welcome, Saint.

Elina quickly followed their lead.

A woman stepped in gracefully. She wore a white ceremonial gown meant for communal prayer.

Her face and hair were covered in a white veil. She was barefoot, with no shoes or slippers, and every step she took was graceful and captivating.

”Thank you all for coming to tonight’s prayer service. Let us begin our prayers,” she said calmly. Her voice was soothing, and it immediately put everyone at ease.

Like everyone else, Elina looked up at the Saint standing before them.

Her face was hidden beneath the white veil, but Elina was certain she was incredibly beautiful. Her skin was milky white, and her slender figure was concealed beneath the flowing gown.

A moment later, the prayer service began.

From the start, Elina had never been someone who placed much faith in gods and goddesses. Of course, she believed they existed, but she had never prayed to them.

As a result, she felt quite awkward participating in the prayer session. She felt a little guilty as well.

But she had come to do the mission her father gave her, so she calmed herself and participated in the prayer until it ended.

An hour later...

”Thank you, everyone,” said Saint Lumiel in a soft voice. ”The prayer session is now over, but I have an important sermon to share with you all.”

No one complained. Everyone sat quietly and listened.

A few minutes passed before Saint Lumiel brought up a topic that caught Elina completely off guard.

”What do you think the purpose of life is?”

Everyone went quiet, waiting for the Saint to say more.

The saint smiled and said, ”To fulfill the mission that the Goddess has given us.”

”Mission?” Elina said in surprise.

”Everyone in this world has a mission and a role in life,” Saint explained as she walked toward her followers. ”Take merchants and farmers, for example. Farmers grow their crops to survive. They sell the surplus to merchants. Once the merchants buy them, they sell those crops to the public. This creates a long cycle that allows them to support one another. In short, they need one another. That is the mission and role I’m talking about.”

Pausing for a moment, she smiled again and continued, ”Take another example. Kings and emperors are leaders of their people. They are granted power by the goddess. Their mission and purpose are to protect the people from enemy attacks. They must also provide for and ensure the people’s livelihood. Conversely, the people are obligated to obey their leaders. Both need each other. So far, do you understand?”

Elina’s expression turned serious as she listened. For some reason, those words stirred something deep inside her.

Saint Lumiel continued her sermon, and Elina listened attentively until the very end.

Afterward, the nuns handed out bread and milk to everyone.

Elina accepted her share before asking Jasmine, ”Why are we being given bread and milk?”

Jasmine took another bite of her bread before replying with her mouth still half full, ”You know... not everyone here is middle class or wealthy. So...”

She swallowed her food and smiled sweetly.

”The church gives out bread and milk so that those who are poor won’t have to sleep hungry tonight. Sleeping on an empty stomach is torture.”

Elina fell silent, staring at the bread and milk in her hands with mixed feelings.

***

A few days passed quickly. Before she knew it, three days had gone by since Elina arrived in Halveran City.

She had already gotten used to the city’s rhythm. It had to be said, Halveran City had a charm unlike any other.

Back then, she had only ever visited instead of staying for any length of time.

Because of that, she had never noticed what made the city so special.

But after spending a few days there, she started to see what made the city so special.

”Good morning, Miss Eria. The usual? A glass of soy milk?” an elderly man greeted her.

Elina smiled. ”Yep. And don’t forget two chocolate-filled bread rolls.”

”Coming right up.” The old man prepared her order quickly.

Elina paid and headed for the city square. It was still early morning, but already plenty of people were about.

Merchants called out to passing customers, while parents walked hand in hand with their children in search of breakfast.

Elina found a seat beside the fountain and quietly ate her breakfast while watching the peaceful scene around her.

”Peace is beautiful,” she murmured.

Because of the conflict between the Holy Valtanir Empire and the Great Velmora Empire, Elina had always hated the Holy Valtanir Empire, including its people.

She had desperately wanted to wipe them out. Only then, she believed, would her empire finally know peace.

But not anymore. The men, women, and children of Halveran deserved to live in peace as well. No one wanted to die because of their leaders’ selfish ambitions.

”So this is what the Church of the Goddess of Light truly stands for,” she whispered.

Over the past three days, Elina had attended the church’s nightly prayers and listened to every one of Saint Lumiel’s sermons.

She had to admit, everything Saint Lumiel said made sense. The Church existed to protect the people, and if it ever fell, Elina was certain the imperial family would start a war against the Great Velmora Empire.

And when that happened, it would be the ordinary people who suffered.

”Tonight’s my last night here. I have to meet Saint Lumiel.”

Elina finished her breakfast and tossed the empty bag into a nearby trash can.

Time was running out. She had to finish her mission and return to the empire as soon as possible to report her findings.

Just as she was about to head back to the inn, the sound of approaching horse hooves echoed through the street. People quickly stepped aside to clear the way.

Without thinking, Elina stepped over to the roadside with everyone else.

Then she caught sight of the passing horse-drawn carriages, and her eyes widened.

”Adalen?”