Chapter 38 - Heading to the Holy Land
Chapter 38 - Heading to the Holy Land
The lodging where Azelia currently resides is the nunnery of the Papal See.
As it is a religious space, a subtle tension always permeated the atmosphere of the nunnery.
However, within that nunnery, only Azelia's room exuded a bright air.
"Edric-nim... I want to see you soon."
At the center of that air was Azelia.
Having received the reply letter stating that Edric would attend the investiture ceremony, Azelia could not hide her joy.
Life at the Papal See was not bad.
Everyone was considerate of Azelia, and Azelia, in turn, learned their teachings and prepared for her life as a Saintess.
But that did not mean it was fun.
Azelia was, after all, a human being; she preferred talking to friends over stifling teachings, and she was happy meeting the person she loved.
To such an Azelia, Edric's visit was a moment she anticipated so much that her fingertips trembled.
"Are you that happy? Your mouth is stretched from ear to ear."
"Kyaaaaaa!"
At the calm yet playful voice, Azelia turned her head in surprise.
Before she knew it, Nun Cale was standing behind her, holding a steaming teacup.
"Ca, Cale! When did you come in? Without even a sound!"
"I've been here since you were reading Edric-nim's reply and laughing 'hehe.' It's been about three minutes, I believe?"
"Wh, when did I laugh like that! I... I was just politely happy."
"Sure. Let's say that."
Azelia put on a feigned solemn expression to hide her reddened face, but to Cale, everything about it just looked amusing.
The bond between Azelia and Cale began before she became a Saintess.
When Azelia was just the daughter of an ordinary farmer, Cale was assigned as a nun to the church in her neighborhood.
Cale was a nun who thought of every child in the village as her own, and Azelia was a young girl who possessed a heart purer than anyone else's.
The two quickly became close, and Azelia followed Cale like an eonni.
Even after the southern civil unrest broke out and Azelia awakened as a Saintess, that relationship continued.
However, Cale could feel it. She knew that Azelia was slowly crumbling under the weight of the Saintess's responsibilities and powers.
But she could not offer any help, so she simply prayed and prayed that Azelia would gain the strength to live as a Saintess.
And then, Edric appeared.
Having met Edric, Azelia returned to being the bright sunflower she was in the past.
Of course, the path lying ahead for the two would not be an easy one.
Edric is an aide to the Prince, and the Saintess is the face of the Papal See.
Cale could not even imagine what kind of butterfly effect their romance would create, but thinking back to the southern civil unrest, she felt that the two would be able to resolve things well together.
"Cale? Is there something on my face?"
"It's nothing, Azelia. I was just looking at you because I was reminded of the old days."
"Reminded of the old days?"
Azelia tilted her head, not knowing what she was talking about.
Cale sat in a chair and asked Azelia with a mischievous smile.
"Azelia, what is it that you like so much about Sir Edric?"
"I... I don't know what you're talking about."
"Are you hiding it even from me? With that expression?"
"... Haa."
At Cale's words, Azelia eventually let out a sigh.
There was nothing Azelia could hide from Cale when she went into this 'eonni mode.'
Azelia's gaze deepened.
Looking at the Papal See spread out outside the window, she murmured quietly.
"When everyone doubted me, and even I couldn't trust myself... he was the only one who believed in me until the end. Even I doubted Edric-nim."
"Azelia..."
"It's okay, Cale. It's in the past now."
At Azelia's words, Cale felt a stinging in her heart.
That was because she, too, had many moments in the south where she almost fell into despair.
She hadn't doubted Saintess Azelia, but Cale was the one who couldn't trust some of the other leaders among the people.
How much must Azelia's heart have ached, having seen their dirty lies every day through the Saintess's power?
Knowing that Cale would blame herself for thinking such things, Azelia smiled brightly and said.
"Thanks to Edric-nim, I was able to trust people again. Yes... that's right. We aren't perfect. Sometimes we make mistakes, and sometimes we might even lie. But I learned from Edric-nim that if we believe in each other until the very end, we can reach a happy ending."
At Azelia's dazzling smile, a smile also spread across Cale's face.
Cale responded to Azelia's smile.
"Edric-nim really was a wonderful teacher."
"Yes, he really was the best teacher."
Cale nodded with a satisfied smile.
Azelia suddenly looked at Cale as if something had just occurred to her and asked.
"Come to think of it... Cale, is there someone you like?"
"Me?"
"Yes! You've only ever talked about me."
"I am a person who serves God, so..."
"I serve God too!... Please, just tell me. You must at least have a preference."
"Hmm..."
Cale pondered.
No matter how lenient the Solar Order was regarding romantic relationships, it remained true that, as with all religions, God came first.
Would it be okay to share her inner thoughts? As she debated, Cale saw Azelia's gaze overlap with the eyes of the young Azelia from the past.
Cale smiled as if troubled, and unable to withstand Azelia's pestering, she slowly opened her mouth.
"Well... if I had to choose, I prefer someone with a strong sense of responsibility over looks. I like men who are like rocks—those who silently guard their place rather than seeking flashy positions."
"Someone with a strong sense of responsibility... I see. I'll be sure to remember that."
"Heh, I'll look forward to it."
At Azelia's words, Cale replied without any real expectations.
She was a nun who served God.
Even if she were to grow old and die alone, she thought she would have no further wishes if the name of God spread throughout the world and Azelia successfully completed her life as a Saintess.
Yes, Cale definitely thought so.
The day after receiving Azelia's letter, I went to work at the Prince's office with great confidence.
I entered the palace with such an imposing aura that it could rival the appearance of Grand Prince Suyang from a certain movie, and I could even see the guards flinching at the sight.
"Edric, you're here? You seem to have more energy in your body than usual today."
Of course I do.
Because I've brought back something huge.
I said to the Prince.
"Leopold-nim, I have good news."
"Good news? What is it?"
"The date for the Saintess Investiture Ceremony has been decided."
At my words, the Prince's expression became indifferent.
While it is true that the Saintess Investiture Ceremony is a major event for the Papal See, it is not such a huge event for the Imperial Family.
In the original work, the Princess, who was infatuated with the Saintess, was a fanatical enthusiast with eyes ablaze, so seeing such a bland reaction was a fresh experience.
I really did turn that person into a decent human being.
But, would he be able to hold it together after hearing this news?
"Nun Cale will also be coming to the Saintess Investiture Ceremony."
"What! Is that true!?"
"Yes, I even checked the list just in case."
I handed the Prince the list of attendees I had requested from the Papal See just in case.
Nun Cale's name was clearly written there.
"The Papal See has also requested the Imperial Family's attendance. What shall we do?"
"Of course we must go! It is an important religious event, so it is only natural that I attend as a representative of the Imperial Family!"
The Prince's eyes burned with a different kind of intensity.
Wow, so the madness from his days as a reckless Prince hasn't completely disappeared.
The Prince's eyes, looking at the invitation to the investiture ceremony, shone like lanterns.
And so, that day, the Prince's and my trip to the Saintess Investiture Ceremony was decided.
The Saintess Investiture Ceremony is held neither at the Papal See nor in the Capital.
The place where the Saintess Investiture Ceremony is held is a Sanctuary located a bit further west from Solitaire, where the Papal See is.
It takes place in the land of pure white, 『Sola』.
This place is a Sanctuary where the legend remains that the Sun God first descended to the earth in the past, and it is a literal religious Sanctuary where several remaining ancient temples are preserved.
It is a Sanctuary that no one usually enters, but as the investiture ceremony approached, Sola was bustling with countless crowds.
Because the appearance of a Saintess is proof that God has not yet abandoned them, it was a big event that the believers of the Order absolutely wanted to attend.
The Prince and I arrived at the Sanctuary leisurely over the course of a week.
The Sanctuary was already swarming with believers dressed in white like clouds, and the air was filled with the scent of sacred incense.
The Prince got off the carriage, and I got off the carriage behind him.
Unfortunately, Nataliya could not join us because she had been called by the Northern Grand Duke.
Cardinal Raul greeted us with a benevolent smile.
"Thank you for coming such a long way, Your Highness the Prince."
"Not at all, Cardinal Raul. It is only natural for the Imperial Family to attend such an important event as the Saintess Investiture Ceremony."
Cardinal Raul was a person with kind black hair and glasses.
Is it because of Cardinal Albinus, who turned into a snake last time... I felt like I had developed a slight case of Cardinal phobia.
"You must be the rumored Sir Edric. It is an honor to meet you."
"The honor is mine, Cardinal Raul-nim."
Cardinal Raul reached out his hand first toward me, and I shook it naturally.
Cardinal Raul observed me intently.
What is it? Why do these people called Cardinals all observe me like that?
I wondered if there was something unsettling going on, but fortunately, after that, we arrived at the villa in the outskirts, which could be called our lodging, without any particular commotion, guided by the Order.
As Sanctuary Sola is a Sanctuary, there were no special facilities like inns.
There were only old buildings, and they were just being hastily renovated for use during events like this.
After dropping off my luggage at the lodging, I moved immediately to carry out the important mission I had received from the Prince.
That was, namely... meeting Azelia.
Having arrived at the Saintess's lodging, which I had been informed of in advance, I knocked on the door three times.
Then...
Clack-!
"Waa! Edric-nim, you've come."
"Yes, Azelia, have you been well?"
"Yes, ah... people around might see us, so please come in quickly."
I quickly entered Azelia's room.
It's called the Saintess's lodging, but since it's a Sanctuary, there wasn't much inside.
Should I say it was like a room in the middle of ruins?
But since Azelia was there, even that room in the ruins seemed to shine like a scene from a movie.
"I'm so happy that Edric-nim came."
"Of course I had to come. It's the moment Azelia is officially recognized as a Saintess."
"That's true... back then, I wasn't an official Saintess."
During the southern civil unrest, Azelia was not an official Saintess.
Because of that, the support she could receive from the Order was too weak, and she suffered a lot of heartache.
That was true in the original work, and here as well.
At least here, it ended with a happy ending, so it was fortunate; otherwise, it would have been a truly depressing investiture ceremony.
"But... you said in your letter that you absolutely had to tell me something important. What is it?"
"Ah... that is, well..."
To carry out the order received from the Prince, I needed Azelia's help.
"Azelia... listen to my words without being surprised..."
"Yes... Edric-nim, I won't be surprised by anything you say."
Azelia looked at me with eyes that were very expectant of something.
I grabbed Azelia's shoulders, took a deep breath, and said.
"That... by any chance, could I know what style of man Nun Cale likes?"
"...Ca... Cale-suyeonim?"
"Yes, Nun Cale."
The very important mission I received from the Prince—it was to find out the type of man Nun Cale likes.
At my words, Azelia's expression went blank as if she had been shocked.
That would be the case. Coming here so secretly just to ask about a fellow nun's taste.
But the words that came out of Azelia's mouth were even more shocking.
"By any chance... Edric-nim, do you like mature people like Cale-suyeonim?"
"What?"
No, what is this nonsense?
Why is this suddenly about my taste?
Azelia spoke with tears welling up in her eyes.
"I... I'm young right now, so that's why, but in a few years, I'll become mature like Cale-suyeonim. So... so please don't dislike me."
"A... no, Azelia, that's not what I meant by my words..."
It was 3 hours later that I managed to soothe the tearful Azelia and clear up the misunderstanding.
Ah... being a Cupid is tough.