Melting the Saintess's Iron Walls
Cathedral Church Hospital Room. I opened my eyes.
My body felt light. The sensation of my bones shattering all over had completely vanished. A faint lingering trace of divine power. No injuries, perfectly clean.
The ceiling was familiar. I drew in a breath. Fresh, invigorating silver bellflower scent. And sweet honey. A subtle yet sticky-sweet aroma lingered in the hospital room air.
A shadow fell across the curtain.
Rippling long hair. A long, graceful line. Not a single flaw in her upright posture. Even as a woman, her silhouette was flat and slender around the chest, utterly devoid of curves.
The iron-walled saintess. Iris Cromwell. The original story's heroine.
She was stirring honey tea in one corner of my room.
I deliberately rustled the bedsheets, shifting around.
"……!"
The shadow flinched to a halt. Then, light footsteps approached the bed.
Swish. The curtain parted.
Sapphire-blue eyes. Silver hair. An elegant, aloof beauty's face that wouldn't give a man an inch.
But the moment our eyes met, that icy expression melted like spring snow. The corners of her red lips curved faintly.
It was a shocking smile. For this iron-walled cool beauty to flash me such a soft grin—it was so beautiful it made my face heat up on its own.
Her delicate, fragile hands cradled a mug. Looking down at me, she asked playfully,
"I didn't expect you to wake up so soon."
"Yeah, well. I guess I couldn't stay passed out when I wanted to see the saintess's face so bad."
My cheeky flirting. She let out a small sigh, like she couldn't deal with me.
"Haa. Keep that up, and I'll tell your scary girlfriend everything."
"What're you gonna tell her? Sounds good to me—I'd get to see you again."
"That you grinned all sly at me and wagged your tail."
"Am I a dog or something?"
"Not a dog, maybe a wolf. Can't keep your paws off any woman you see."
Our snappy back-and-forth. She held out the mug to me. I took it naturally and sipped.
It was warm. A cozy heat spread through my insides.
"How is it? I put in plenty of honey, like I said. My skills, honed daily while brewing. Cadet Karn."
Her blue eyes sparkled, waiting for my answer. I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Ugh, it's way too sweet. You should cut back on the honey next time."
"Oh dear."
Iris laughed out loud. The frozen saintess was gone. Just the clear, bright laughter of an ordinary girl our age, reveling in simple chit-chat. Another layer of the walls she'd built against me crumbled away.
"So. How'd you end up getting beat that bad?"
Putting away her smile, she scanned my body with a cool gaze.
"Knight faculty cadets wind up in here often enough. But you're not the type to get one-sidedly thrashed like that."
"I took the hits on purpose to see you, saintess."
"Don't dodge the question. You fought with your girlfriend, didn't you?"
"Well…… call it love's sweet sting."
Her lips parted slightly at my answer. I'd hit the mark without meaning to—she looked flustered herself. She covered her mouth with one hand and looked away.
"……Sorry. I'm still no good at this stuff. I don't really know how friends talk about topics like that."
She slowly lifted her fearfully lowered head. Her blue eyes tentatively met mine.
"We're…… friends, right?"
A frightened little animal. Tall for a girl, but her hunched shoulders made her look so small.
Suddenly, that bastard Descartes's face flashed in my mind. The prick who ravaged Rosalia's pussy like a cheap rag while still keeping Iris isolated under his control.
Original story setting. Memories of Iris's childhood surfaced.
Born and dedicated to the gods, raised solely under the cathedral's strict rules as the next saintess. Solitary confinement, no friends. Even when other kids played with balls, she couldn't join. Those iron walls were just a defense mechanism from being so awkward around people.
Well-meaning adults around her had sent her to the academy to find some youth. But here, Descartes's ambitions and the clueless northern duke's tactless confession kept her friendless and trapped.
I pitied her. This hand trembling as it awaited my answer.
I grabbed it firmly.
"Eek?!"
Iris's shoulders jumped. Her eyes went wide like a rabbit's.
"Then I'll call you Iris. Friends should be close, right? Saintess."
"……Pardon? Um, Ca, Cadet Karn……."
"Drop the cadet."
"Huh? Ca, Karn……sir?"
I set the empty mug on the table. Then I sat up, stretching both arms behind her waist and knees.
"Wh-what?"
She was light. Her frail body nestled perfectly into my arms. A romantic princess carry. She panicked and flung her arms around my neck.
"What are you doing?!"
"Taking my friend out to play."
Still holding her, I strode toward the hospital room window.
"W-wait! Why the window… Kyaaah—!!"
Her shrill scream rang out. Without hesitation, I leaped from the second-floor window. Wind whipped my face. Iris squeezed her eyes shut and buried her face in my chest.
-Thud.
Even mid-fall, my brain effortlessly calculated the landing trajectory. We touched down silently on the soft grassy area behind the cathedral.
"……Huh?"
Iris, who'd braced for death with eyes clamped shut, peeked open one eye. Realizing she was safe in my arms in the middle of the grass, her cheeks flushed red.
"There. We arrived."
"Wh-what is this……! I still have afternoon duties in the hospital room!"
"Let's go play, Iris. Working all day every day in that drab place will make you sick."
I set her down and flashed a bright smile. The wind tousled her silver hair pleasantly.
"Get some fresh air. Eat what you want. That's what people do."
"But……."
"There's this killer cake shop in the bustling street. Way better than hospital honey tea, I bet."
"Cake……?"
Iris's blue eyes wavered faintly. The allure of ordinary teen life she'd never experienced melted her iron walls completely.
I took her dazed hand lightly again.
"C'mon. My treat, as thanks for nursing me today."
With flushed cheeks bowed, she nodded ever so slightly. Hands still clasped, we stepped carefully into the academy streets bathed in warm afternoon sun.
The wind blew. The Academy Bustling Street buzzed with life. Cadets and merchants mingled as they walked.
Iris's hand was cold. But she didn't pull away. Head down, she followed my steps. Her silver hair swayed, brushing the stiff collar of her heavy uniform. Cathedral church suit. Buttons done up to the neck. Stuffy black jacket and thick long skirt. A physical wall cutting her off from the world.
I stopped. At the large women's clothing store at the bustling street entrance.
"Let's go in."
"Huh? Th-this is a clothing store. I don't need to buy……."
"I do."
I led her inside by the hand. Fancy clothes hung everywhere. Iris's blue eyes shook with unease—she'd clearly never been to a place like this.
I scanned the racks quickly. And picked out a few items without hesitation.
White blouse. Light blue pleated skirt. Thin brown leather belt to cinch the waist. Flat shoes without heels.
"Iris."
"Y-yes?"
"Go try these on."
I handed her the clothes. She backed away in panic.
"I-I've never worn anything like this. It violates the rules……."
"We're outside the cathedral. Academy's casual dress anyway. Go on."
I gave her back a light push. Iris hesitated, then entered the changing room.
A moment later. Click, the door opened.
"……It's awkward."
She emerged from behind the curtain, head down, fidgeting with her skirt hem.
She'd changed. The heavy, drab saintess shell was gone. In its place stood a fresh, neat girl her age.
The white ruffle blouse blended softly with her pale skin and silver hair. The light blue skirt was airy and crisp. The brown leather belt neatly accentuated her slim waist. Nothing flashy. Simple and clean. I fetched a simple silver necklace from the display and clasped it around her neck. The small pendant sparkled above her collarbone.
Pure white. Innocent. Pure as she was.
"It's weird, right? I should change back……."
"You look beautiful."
I said it bluntly. Iris's shoulders trembled. She slowly raised her head.
"Really beautiful. Perfect fit."
Her pale cheeks flushed crimson in an instant. She stole a glance at herself in the mirror. Awkward, but not displeased.
"Wear stuff like this from now on."
"Huh? But……."
"You're too stiff, Iris. You're already hard to approach, and that outfit scares people off. This cuts the distance way down. Looks much better, too."
At my words, Iris looked at her reflection again. I could see her toes wiggling in the neat flat shoes. She nodded faintly.
"……Thank you."
I paid for the clothes. Stuffed her old drab uniform into a shopping bag. We left the store.
"Now, on to the main event."
I led the way. Deeper into the bustling street, to a dessert cafe with a pretty terrace. The display case held colorful cakes. We sat facing each other by the window.
Strawberry shortcake piled high with fresh cream. I ordered the sweetest-looking slice.
I placed the fork in her hand.
"Try it. Told you it'd beat hospital honey tea."
Iris hesitated with the fork. She cut off the tiniest tip and cautiously put it in her mouth.
Nom.
Twitch. Her shoulders jumped. Her blue eyes went wide as saucers.
"……Huh?"
She covered her mouth. A mix of shock and wonder on her face.
"How is it?"
"Th-this……."
"Sweet, right?"
"Yes. Incredibly…… It pops in my mouth, melts away…… So, so sweet."
She grabbed the fork again urgently. Cut a bigger piece this time and shoved it in. Devoured it one after another, oblivious to the cream smearing her lips.
Yep. Knew she'd love sweets.
She even ate like Rosalia. The two might get along.
"Slow down. Not gonna steal it."
I propped my chin, grinning. Iris flinched and froze with the fork.
"Ah…… S-sorry. I ate like a pig……."
"It's cute. Here, you've got some."
I reached out. My thumb wiped the cream from her lip.
"Ah."
Iris's face burned red. She didn't pull away. Just stared at me with those blue eyes. The sturdy walls in her gaze melted away like the cream she'd just eaten.
We walked the streets. Passed the fountain, browsed street vendors' trinkets. Iris looked around constantly, everything new and wondrous. Ordinary girl life. Time she'd never known.
The sky turned red. Sunset. Street shadows stretched long. We reached the Cathedral Church Front Garden entrance.
Our steps halted. Iris had her head bowed. Her white blouse fluttered in the evening breeze.
"Thanks for nursing me today."
I said. Only then did she look up.
Sunset dyed her silver hair red. Her blue eyes turned to me.
A faint smile touched her lips. Poignant, wistful. Then it bloomed bright like a flower in full display.
"……No. Thank you."
She smiled wide. Not the iron-walled saintess, but Iris Cromwell—a girl's pure joy.
"I-I…… This is my first time like this. It was so fun. Really."
Thump. My heart pounded hard.
"Again?"
"Huh?"
"Will you take me out again later?"
She clutched her skirt hem, asking timidly.
"Of course."
Her smile deepened. Under the sunset, we waved lightly. I stood there watching her back until she vanished into the cathedral.
My steps felt much lighter.