Surviving the Saintess (4) 22
“Why don't you keep talking? About our family.”
Clink—
Chloe's teacup trembled mercilessly.
Barbarian. No class. Can't even give a proper gift.
Chloe's eyes rolled around as if recalling the words she'd just spat out.
She finally managed to open her mouth.
“Oh, my…?”
An awkward, yet desperately forced smile from Chloe.
“I was just talking about a northern collateral branch, right?”
“……What?”
“After all, the main Sinclair family is the empire's greatest noble house.”
Wow.
To switch stances so quickly.
While I marveled inwardly, Chloe continued.
“How could a kind and wonderful person like you come from a family lacking manners? Ha, haha…”
After that, she rattled on like a floodgate had opened.
Something about an empress from the Sinclair family in a certain dynasty. How they'd maintained the empire's peace through exchanges with northern tribes.
Family history I didn't even know.
Did I have to memorize stuff like this to navigate high society?
The world felt exhausting.
Veronica let out a hollow laugh at Chloe's display, looking utterly dumbfounded.
“Changing the subject now? How pathetic.”
“Pathetic? I'm just glad the misunderstanding is cleared up.”
Then Chloe looked at me.
Right?
Isn't it?
It was a misunderstanding, yeah?
Her gaze pleaded desperately.
I took pity and played along.
“I'm really glad the misunderstanding is cleared up.”
“Right?!”
At that, Veronica glanced back and forth between Chloe and me, her face sour.
She promptly turned toward the door.
“Whatever. Isaac, wear clothes from now on. Seems like a lot of people don't know who you are.”
She left with light steps, seemingly satisfied.
Watching her go, I couldn't help but feel exasperated.
Didn't you have a hand in me getting exiled from the family?
And you just got caught doing something weird to my pillow.
Why's she strutting out like she won?
As I vowed to put her in her place someday, Veronica had already vanished through the door.
A moment later.
Chloe approached with an awkward smile, having watched the scene.
“Teacher…?”
“Yes.”
“…Why didn't you tell me sooner?”
Her voice carried a subtle resentment.
Tears glistened slightly at the corners of her eyes, showing how humiliating the situation had been.
“Well, uh… there just wasn't a good chance to mention it.”
“When I was badmouthing your family, you must have been laughing inside.”
“Pardon?”
“Chloe Levantia, how dare she insult the Sinclair family. That rude girl. You must have thought something like that.”
Not at all.
I was just keeping quiet because mentioning the family as an exile would be awkward.
Of course, I couldn't say that outright.
For now, I needed to reassure her first.
“Absolutely not. Why would I ever laugh at you, Miss Chloe?”
“But…”
“Even if the whole world thinks that way, at least I don't.”
At my response, Chloe's expression softened a bit.
A short but deep sigh of relief.
That was probably what she wanted to hear.
I decided to add a little more.
“Besides, flaunting my family name isn't my style anyway.”
“……”
“This is a counseling office for sharing worries, not a place to elevate myself.”
Chloe stared at my face in silence for a while.
Her eyes deep in thought.
Then she picked up the lapis lazuli bracelet from the table and slipped it onto my wrist.
“You have to wear this from now on, okay?”
I nodded, and only then did she head to the door.
Just before touching the handle, she turned back.
“Hiding your status and helping commoners in this back alley.”
“Pardon?”
“Because it's the right thing to do. That's why you did it.”
Wait, how'd she jump to that conclusion?
As I stood there blankly, she continued with a convinced look.
“I didn't understand your noble intentions and spoke carelessly.”
No.
It wasn't that grand.
While I pondered how to correct her, Chloe bowed deeply.
“As expected, Teacher, you're far greater than I imagined.”
Ting-a-ling—
With those words, she left the counseling office.
Left alone, I scratched my head.
'Well, no problem, I guess.'
No matter the misunderstanding, facts don't change.
I'm still just the exiled fourth son of the duke's family.
From Veronica's words, the exile might be lifted or not…
More importantly, though.
She left so naturally again. I forgot to charge her again.
I never said gifts cover the fee.
…Vowing to collect next time, I closed up for the day.
The next morning.
My reflection in the mirror felt a bit unfamiliar.
The ebony black suit from Veronica.
The red Sinclair crest on the chest gleamed.
It fit perfectly, just as she said it was tailored to my build.
I didn't want her nagging if I didn't wear it.
And it actually looked pretty sharp, so I decided to wear it from now on.
I went down to the first floor and opened the door.
As expected, a line had formed today too.
A few maids.
And several noble ladies.
But the moment they saw me, the line's atmosphere shifted dramatically.
“T-Teacher…!?”
Marie was at the front.
I could see the cookie box in her hands trembling.
Her eyes wide, mouth half-open, she shouted.
“You look like a real noble young master today!”
Because I am one.
Of course, I couldn't reveal it outright, so I smiled as usual.
The counseling sessions that followed were uneventful.
Just Marie approaching with even sparklier eyes was a bit burdensome.
Too close, Marie. Your chest is touching.
After sending Marie off.
The next guest was the Fleur Viscountess.
As always, she entered with her fan covering her mouth and a sassy expression.
Then she spotted the crest on my chest and gasped.
“Th-that outfit… Don't tell me it's from the Sinclair Duke family…?”
“Ah, my sister gave it to me to wear.”
“Sister!?”
The Fleur Viscountess's face paled instantly.
She was probably recalling the attitude she'd thrown at me, thinking I was just a back-alley commoner.
She hid behind her fan, but her hand holding it was shaking.
“Ha, haha… I knew you had such refined air…”
Subtle flattery slipped in.
What followed wasn't so much counseling as an interrogation.
“From what I know, the Sinclair Duke family's youngest…”
“I heard he went independent, could it be…”
“There's a ball coming up soon, if you'd like…”
If I kept indulging, it'd never end.
I cut it off at a reasonable point.
“I'm just a counselor.”
“Ah, ahaha… Of course.”
Who knew one suit could have this effect.
The maids seemed unable to pinpoint my exact status from the crest alone, treating me much like before.
Just with a bit more admiration in their gazes.
But the noble ladies were different.
They started with flattery bordering on bootlicking.
One even asked about my social debut schedule.
I had no lingering attachment to the family.
Still, borrowing a bit of that halo didn't seem so bad…
"Guess that's the thought."
A few days later.
I opened the door to start business.
Something was off.
The alley was unnaturally quiet.
There were people.
Ladies and maids, as usual.
But they all stood pressed against the walls, heads bowed, mouths shut.
'What's with this atmosphere?'
A solemn air hung heavy. Looking closer, a suspicious group approached from the far end of the alley.
People in armor resembling nun habits.
And in the center, a woman in a real nun habit.
She walked slowly toward us.
Dark monastic robes.
A thick leather belt cinched tight at the waist.
Silver chains dangling below.
She embodied perfect asceticism, without a single flaw.
However.
'The clothes don't make the person.'
Even with the habit buttoned to her neck, nothing was hidden.
A figure that forcibly drew the eye.
Was it the clothes' fault, or the person's?
As I glanced and thought that, she was already in front of me.
A soft voice flowed from beneath her slightly lowered eyes.
“Is this the Isaac Sinclair Psychology Counseling Office?”
“Yes, it is.”
I hadn't changed the sign yet.
Yet this stranger knew my full family name.
“Glad I found the right place.”
She turned, scanning the people behind her.
Then asked very calmly.
“Where should the line start?”
I shifted my gaze.
The crowd in the alley had mostly dispersed, leaving only a few maids with heads bowed like in prayer.
…Looks like today's customers flew the coop.
Then I couldn't send this one away.
I had a business to run.
“No line today, it seems. Come on in.”
“Then, if you please.”
The knights escorting her stood guard around the counseling office exterior.
She entered.
Before sitting, she glanced around.
Narrow counseling room.
Two worn sofas, one table.
Patently shabby, but she sat without a word.
In the process, she spotted the lapis lazuli bracelet on my wrist and gave a light smile.
With a reverent smile, she introduced herself.
“Serena Ustina Armenis.”
She added quietly.
“The fifteenth Listener who conveys the Lord's words.”
Listener.
An unfamiliar title.
But clearly some significant position.
Otherwise, people wouldn't tremble like that.
“Isaac Sinclair.”
She seemed to know already, and no reason to hide now, so I gave my full name.
After the introductions, I thought.
She's here for counseling, right?
She didn't look ordinary at first glance.
But once inside, she's a customer.
So, time for the line I hadn't used in a while.
“First, tell me. What troubles you?”
At my words, she closed her eyes briefly, then opened them.
A faint weariness shone in her reverent gaze.
“Conveying the Lord's words is my calling.”
She continued calmly.
“But sometimes, I feel there are places my words don't reach.”
“Is that so?”
“I listen to thousands of voices, yet no one hears mine. I offer tens of thousands of comforts, only to receive more laments in return.”
She clasped her hands as if in prayer and spoke to me.
“You'd understand as a counselor, right?”
No.
I don't.
Couldn't say that, so I nodded.
At the same time, I observed her closely.
Her neatly clasped hands.
Not a hint of tremor.
Breath steady, gaze unwavering.
And fixed solely on me.
…Intimidating.
'First person this composed.'
Chloe and Helen were calm at first too.
But as the talk went on, some nervousness showed.
Makes sense—they were sharing worries.
But this Serena showed none of that.
As if she'd sat in sessions like this countless times.
Ah.
Maybe that's it?
“Listening to others for so long builds up fatigue, naturally.”
I chimed in appropriately.
“The listener bears that much pain too.”
“You understand well.”
Serena smiled faintly.
Now's the time.
I activated my ability naturally.
Hypnosis has been activated.
She'd fall asleep in a few seconds.
Like always.
…But.
“Sometimes, irreverent thoughts creep in.”
Serena continued in her serene voice.
“Like, maybe my words mean nothing at all.”
“…Huh?”
“Have you ever felt that way, Counselor?”
What.
The eyes that should be closing were perfectly fine?
No, more than fine—sharper.
Not a single blink.
She spoke in a crystal-clear voice.
At that moment.
A familiar translucent window appeared before my flustered eyes.
※ Holy Blessing blocks the interference.
Holy Blessing. Blocks.
A message I'd never seen before.
Not once since acquiring this perk.
Maids, noble ladies, even the duke's eldest daughter couldn't last seconds.
Yet this woman gazed at me with a merciful smile, utterly unfazed.
Serena Ustina Armenis.
The fifteenth Listener who conveys the Lord's words.
Whatever it was.
Her tranquil smile sent a chill down my spine.