Surviving as a Cult Leader in Another World

"The man who will be my husband is Monk Hyde!"

Psyche declared boldly in the garden.
Hearing this, I thought, 'It's finally happening!' Of course, most people couldn't accept this situation and murmured amongst themselves.
"Sir Loras was rejected? What in the world is going on?"
"And not even the skinny scholar Selim, but Wooden Plaque Monk Hyde?"
If there were sheep panicking at the sight of a wolf, it would probably resemble the current state of the people. As their gazes turned towards me one by one, I was looking at Loras.
Knight Loras's sun-tanned face seemed flushed red with humiliation.
Whoosh-!
As if unable to bear the situation, Loras flicked his cloak and left the scene.
Serves him right.
Of course, Loras's hardship was just beginning.
It wasn't just Loras.
The thought of being able to kick out Priest Manaan and his cronies altogether made me feel good already.
And what made me happiest was the fact that I could marry Psyche, whom I had been crushing on for quite some time.
That beautiful, dignified, and devout person would become my bride!
The first lady of the church I would build!
While I was immersed in such emotions, Psyche said,
"Then let's proceed with the wedding immediately. I've already contacted Priest Manaan, who is in charge of the Agarphe territory church, so he will soon be the witness to our marriage."
That Priest Manaan.
He'd be shocked to the point of his eyes popping out when he finds out that I, whom he looked down on so much, became the Count's son-in-law.
Moreover, he would have to witness the marriage, so he'd be feeling very complicated.
With that in mind, we waited in the garden for the priest to arrive.
However, as time passed, the only person who appeared in the garden was a servant who had gone to call the priest.
"Priest Manaan refuses to witness the marriage?"
Psyche raised an eyebrow at the news from the servant. The servant, who had hurriedly run to the church and back, added while catching his breath,
"Haa, hoo. I heard that he's starting an all-night silent and fasting prayer session. Not just Priest Manaan, but also Iron Plaque Priests Gurvan and Ogid!"
To think that people who have been silent all this time suddenly want to hold a silent and fasting prayer session?
And because of that, they can't be the officiant and witness for the wedding?
What a perfect timing.
Anyone could see that this was intentional.
In this world, marriages that were not witnessed by a priest of Iron Plaque rank or higher were not officially recognized.
Even if two men and women who loved each other and were without blemish or fault came to get married, if the Church said, "No," they couldn't get married.
You ask why the Church has so much authority?
It's all because the Church won the war against the royal family.
I heard that the direct cause of the war between the royal family and the Church was a fight that broke out when someone from the royal family tried to have a marriage that the Church wouldn't recognize.
That's why the Church in the current kingdom had the strongest authority when it came to marriage.
"A-and, there's something I need to tell you, My Lady…"
The young servant was sweating profusely and looking around nervously. Everyone was watching, wondering what he was going to say, when the servant closed his eyes tightly and shouted,
"Oscar Archibald has arrived in the Agarphe territory!"
Oscar Archibald.
Psyche gasped at the name.
"You're saying Lord Archibald is already in the territory?"
As far as I knew, the reason why Countess Psyche was rushing through the marriage as if she were picking up a stray cat and adopting it was to avoid a man named 'Oscar Archibald'.
But now that Oscar Archibald had come to the territory before the wedding could even take place, it was only natural for Lady Psyche to be deeply troubled.
Seeing Psyche clicking her tongue, I fell into deep thought.
On a bright lunchtime.
There was a commotion coming from the garden.
Looking out the window, I could see a man in a purple cloak entering the garden of the Agarphe mansion without any obstruction.
He was holding a wooden staff like a shepherd herding sheep, his platinum blonde hair was long like a woman's, and his face was as pretty as a girl's.
"That man must be Oscar Archibald."
I recognized the man.
We had met once before on the battlefield.
That was all, so my memory was hazy.
Turns out he was quite the young master.
Thud.
Oscar stood in the center of the garden like the main character.
He shouted to those around him,
"I heard news even outside the territory that Lady Psyche has recovered from her illness! Is that true? If so, it seems my prayers worked!"
He shouted loudly in a pleasant voice.
Having a good voice was definitely a plus for priests and pastors, and he had a beautiful voice that could captivate people.
Psyche went out to the garden and soon faced Oscar.
Oscar, the Archbishop's second son, bowed politely like an elegant young nobleman.
"Lady Psyche, it's an honor to see you again in such good health. Even illness couldn't hide your beauty. You are as beautiful as an angel."
As beautiful as an angel, he says.
What a lame compliment.
It's not that angels are pretty like Psyche, it's that Psyche is pretty like an angel.
As I was thinking this, Psyche replied very politely,
"Lord Oscar, thank you for the compliment. But I heard that your younger sister is the most beautiful in the kingdom. Is your sister doing well?"
Saying that, Psyche lightly touched her shoulder. Seeing her frown slightly, it seemed like she was in pain somewhere.
"My Lady, let's not talk about my mischievous younger sister right now. I want to talk about you and me."
Oscar's eyes narrowed into a crescent shape.
I was sure he was looking at Psyche's white and slender neck, her 70F chest, and her slender waist.
He seemed to be trying to be discreet with his gaze, but my eyes don't miss a single speck of sin.
How dare he look at my wife's body so lustfully?
I don't care if he's the Archbishop's son or whatever, this was a straight-up three strikes you're out situation.
This young master, completely unaware of what I was thinking, placed his hand on his chest and spoke to Psyche like a moved orator.
"Lady Psyche, it's an amazing coincidence that you recovered from your illness right before my arrival. No, maybe it's not a coincidence. I feel the providence of the Creator right now."
"Providence?"
"Lady Psyche, please marry me."
Oscar Archibald knelt on one knee.
He was holding a ring with a large pearl in his hand, which looked very expensive.
Thanks to his appearance, the scene looked very romantic, and some of the maids let out moans of admiration, "…So handsome!" or "So romantic…!"
I didn't like this situation at all.
At the same time, something clicked in my mind about what Archibald had said about it not being a 'coincidence'.
This guy was the reason why Priest Manaan refused to witness the wedding. He was trying to buy time until this guy arrived.
How ridiculous.
Does he think he can stop the inevitable?
Of course, it was up to Psyche.
The story would change depending on what choice she made here.
Then Psyche took Oscar's hand and helped him up.
"Don't do that, Lord Oscar. I'm already engaged. All that's left is the wedding ceremony."
Frown-.
Oscar's handsome eyebrows twitched strangely.
Of course, he still hadn't lost his smile as he asked,
"He must be a very lucky man to be engaged to you, My Lady. Is that man here right now? It's not this barbarian, is it?"
Oscar finally looked at me.
I extended my hand towards him and said,
"I am Monk Hyde. You are Oscar, the second son of Archibald, right? I've heard a lot about Archbishop Archibald. You seem like a fine priest, just like him."
Oscar didn't take my hand.
Whatever.
I didn't want to hold hands with a man anyway.
Clink-.
I was carefully examining the silver cross hanging around Oscar's neck.
Oscar Archibald was probably a Silver Plaque priest.
At least the rank of a bishop.
Then Psyche said with a bright smile,
"How about Lord Oscar witnesses our marriage right now? It seems like divine providence that you arrived just when we needed a priest."
Asking Oscar to be the witness?
Psyche was indeed a smart woman.
To smile and counterattack the enemy who just proposed to her. I was now curious about what Oscar would say.
"…"
Oscar was smiling subtly, but his eyes were darting around as if he was inwardly flustered. Didn't he expect this situation to happen?
Just then, it happened.
"Objection! I object to this marriage!"
Someone shouted loudly.
Everyone turned their heads at the loud noise, and Knight Loras, clad in silver armor, was walking briskly, shouting at the people,
"Lady Psyche is still ill and unable to make sound judgments! Therefore, this marriage needs to be reviewed more carefully!"
Loras, you bastard.
You're going to be this petty now?
The problem was that it made Oscar's face brighten.
"You are Sir Loras, the runner-up of the tournament, right? I've heard a lot about your valor. But Sir Loras, is what you just said true? Lady Psyche's illness hasn't been cured?"
"That's right! The evidence is right here in these blasphemous questions and answers! Look at the questions and answers to select a marriage candidate! Hyde, he's a heretic who says the Earth is round!"
The Earth is round-.
At those words, the people around them started to gasp one by one.
They trembled in fear, as if they didn't understand the situation.
"How can the Earth be round?"
"Then wouldn't we fall off?"
Amidst the commotion, Loras clenched his fists foolishly, as if he had gained the upper hand.
He didn't even seem to care that Count Doban, who had been silent all this time, was muttering, "That bastard dares to say that to my daughter-."
Was he willing to risk being hated by the Count to stop Psyche and my marriage?
Perhaps after ruining this, he's planning to join the Holy Knights with the backing of the Archibald family.
Anyway, knights.
This is why I don't like knights.
Soon, Oscar looked at the scroll and the answer sheet he had obtained from somewhere and said,
"To think that she's trying to marry a man who said such heretical things. Lady Psyche, this is impossible unless you're possessed by a ghost. Lady Psyche must be possessed!"
Psyche being possessed by a ghost.
What a ridiculous and amusing story.
A woman who was feigning illness now has to be tormented by a fake ghost.
Loras looked at me with an expression that seemed to say, 'How about that?'. He seemed very pleased with himself for landing a critical hit on me.
He must have interpreted my silence as weakness, as he sneered and said,
"Hyde, you said at the banquet that the Lady was possessed by a ghost. You knew that and tried to marry her while she was out of her mind, didn't you? Or are you the one summoning the ghost?"
To accuse a devout and pious person like me of summoning a ghost.
Loras, this ignorant fool, must have never heard of the saying, "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor."
As I was about to say something, Doban shouted,
"Insolent! To say that my daughter Psyche, a member of the Count's family, is possessed by a ghost! Retract your words right now, or even if you're Oscar Archibald, I'll…"
Doban's face was red with anger, like a volcano about to erupt.
I thought Doban had quite a fiery temper.
If Count Doban were to cause trouble in front of Oscar Archibald like this, he might give Archibald a reason to attack.
That's exactly what Archibald and his people would want.
I decided to step up for my future father-in-law and my wife.
"I also object! I'm not summoning any ghosts, and Lady Psyche is not possessed! Therefore, I demand a public trial! Please gather as many people as possible!"
A public trial.
It's a gathering of many people to argue about who's right and who's wrong. Oscar groaned, "Hmm," as if he didn't like my suggestion.
I added, to entice him,
"As a witness to prove my and Lady Psyche's innocence, I request the presence of Priest Manaan, the priest in charge of the Agarphe church! Even though Priest Manaan is currently on a fasting and silent prayer session, wouldn't he listen to your request, Oscar?"
Priest Manaan.
At that name, Oscar smiled brightly.
"Priest Manaan is a trusted disciple of my father, Archbishop Archibald! He would be a perfect witness, as he would judge fairly from various perspectives! Alright! I'll ask him to testify!"
"Yes, that 'conscientious man' would never lie and only tell the truth."