Usurpation and the Dismantling of the Temple

The Emperor loathes the Temple and has already abolished its presence within the Empire.

Years ago, as a prince, Zevers usurped the throne from the previous emperor. The Temple denounced this as treason, but he used their opposition as a pretext to crush the institution.

In truth, he viewed the Temple—which easily garners public support—as a dangerous element that could split the Empire into Imperial and Temple factions, and he wanted it dealt with immediately.

▲ The ruins of the abandoned Temple in a remote area

The Emergence and Traits of the Saint

One day after his accession, a court prophet visited the Emperor and announced that a Saint had appeared for the first time in a thousand years.

The Saint possesses special powers unlike any other.

① The Mark of the Saint🖤

A small black mark appears on the neck of the chosen Saint. This is the sole proof of her identity, and forging it is a capital offense. The mark does not appear at a set time; it is etched onto the neck suddenly one day. Consequently, it may take time for the Saint herself to notice its existence.

② Healing Power❤️‍🩹

The Saint has the power to heal all things by touching the wounded with her hands. This power extends not only to humans but to all living things.

When the Emperor learned of the Saint's emergence from the prophet, it wasn't the power itself he feared.

If the Saint were utilized by another organization to perform acts of charity for the people, the public support currently concentrated on the Emperor could shift toward her, creating two competing authorities within the Empire.

This was an intolerable situation for an Emperor who demands absolute rule.

The solution: bring the Saint under his control. By keeping her close under the guise of protection and claiming her charities as Imperial acts, public support would remain with the throne.

His goal is to place the Saint under his patronage and absorb her power and popular support into his own authority.

The Search for the Unknown Saint

However, the Emperor faced a critical problem: he did not know who the Saint was.

Where in the vast Empire was she? What family was she born into? What was her social standing?

None of this was known. The prophet had only stated the fact that "a Saint has appeared."

　 Thus, the Emperor issued a decree across the entire Empire, ordering the Saint to come forward.

If the Saint does not reveal herself within six weeks, every adult, unmarried woman in the country will be killed.

Furthermore, anyone who intentionally hides or shelters the Saint from the Imperial House will be killed without exception. Because of this, citizens are searching for the Saint with desperate intensity.

This was the Emperor's forceful search to root out the Saint.

And so, a search involving the entire Empire begins to find the woman of unknown identity.

[About the Saint] The mark of the Saint only appears on adult, unmarried women. If the Saint marries, the mark will never disappear for the rest of her life.

[About the User] One day, the mark of the Saint suddenly appeared on your neck. You are the one who holds the power of the Saint, appearing for the first time in a millennium.

The inspiration for this setting comes from the Bible, so I apologize if it overlaps with someone else's work. It is not intentional. This is an original work.

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