The Saintess from the Holy Nation (1)
At that moment, a belated telegram arrived in the Holy Nation.
"The Empress of the Liannen Empire appointed a Saintess!"
"So the Holy Nation's Saintess was a fake after all!"
BAM!
"Those damn heretics! I'll just...!"
In the Papal Palace, one of the cardinals slammed his fist down hard enough to shatter the table. If he were a Windsor Knight, the table would have split in two and he'd have earned 10 demerit points, but unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—it only lifted the wig of the priest beside him slightly.
"We must drag them all to a religious tribunal! Who dared spout such nonsense?"
"Um... it was Eldrashon from the neighboring district."
Unfortunately, those heretical friends were Eldrashon itself, so the Holy Nation couldn't do much about it. But they couldn't escape the enraged cardinal's denunciation.
"Don't they have any pride? Handing over continental hegemony they held just the other day?"
The idea that tiny Liannen—a mere distant minor nation—had swallowed the entire Eldrashon Empire whole was unbelievable even to the Holy Nation. Yet the dispatched investigators confirmed it was true. Thus, the Holy Nation's policy became: "Don't mess with Liannen unless absolutely necessary." Especially after the previous incident.
But this time, they couldn't let it slide.
"Your Holiness, this is a major national issue! How can there be two Saintesses under the heavens?"
"Indeed! We must lodge a formal protest!"
Pope Francesco V spoke calmly. "Can we wage a holy war and win?"
"Th-that..."
The world was divided in half, split between the Empire and the Holy Nation. The Holy Nation had assumed it would rise as the Empire fell—but that was wrong. Liannen had broken both the Empire's legs and graciously handed it crutches. Crutches that worked too well.
Five months ago, the allied kingdoms invaded the Eldrashon Empire, seizing their chance. A month into the war, countless allied commanders on the front lines lost their lives, forcing a retreat. The assassinations happened almost simultaneously. Eyewitnesses only said, "I saw the Reaper."
The Holy Nation hastily dispatched an investigation team and, borrowing God's name, identified the culprit: Reaper, a high knight of the Liannen Empire's Windsor Knight Order. Astonishingly, one man alone routed an army of 100,000.
"...Ahem, the distance is too great—it's not ideal for our holy war knights to shine."
"Y-yes. If I may be so bold, waging a holy war is..."
"A holy war is absolutely out of the question! Liannen's military strength defies imagination!"
"Hey, you! What did you just say?"
"Empire? How can that puny border state call itself an empire? Does it become one just by declaring it?"
The cardinals argued, but the Pope remained silent. Veiled, he spoke quietly. "Dispatch an envoy including the Saintess."
The Pope's command was issued. The cardinals' role was to transform it into "God's will."
It had been 500 years since the goddess's oracle last descended on the Holy Nation. To survive, they had betrayed her. But the cardinals hesitated.
'What if something happens to the Saintess...'
'Damn, just imagining it is horrifying.'
The Saintess was one of the few proofs that the goddess hadn't abandoned them. Losing that "proof" would be a national disaster. But the Pope's authority was absolute.
"What a profound oracle."
"Indeed. What do you judge its intent to be?"
"Obviously—to pity those disloyal fools in Liannen and show them God's power directly."
"Y-yes! Witnessing the Saintess's power, even that wicked heretic Lydia will repent and reflect!"
It was a forced justification, but the cardinals thought it wasn't entirely wrong. After all, the Saintess's power was one of the Holy Nation's few genuine assets. Seeing that miraculous might would naturally lead to conversion, right?
"Brilliant—not a scheme, but truly God's masterstroke! Oh, Lord!"
"Amen! Amen!"
"Show the Saintess this oracle at once and prepare for departure!"
Meanwhile, in the Saintess's chamber.
Chirp chirp.
The Saintess, feeding sparrows by the window, gently stroked one's beak.
Peck.
Annoyed perhaps, the sparrow hopped away slightly and pecked at the feed.
"Ah."
And with that, the Saintess could no longer reach it. Not because of distance or fear of startling it.
Clink.
Thick chains bound her wrists. The length wouldn't allow her to stretch further.
"If only I could fly away somewhere like you."
Gazing sadly at the bird finishing its meal and flying far off, the Saintess murmured.
"...How wonderful that would be."
***
"It's true... the Holy Nation is dispatching their Saintess?"
"Seems so. Have they lost their minds?"
"Heh, intriguing. Wonder what form the goddess-blessed Saintess takes."
"Surely not as cute as Lady Sisilia!"
"...Are you in Sisilia's fan club?"
The news of the Saintess's visit set the Liannen Empire ablaze.
"Hmm, what do you all think of this matter?"
Lydia gathered her ministers for a council.
"Probably to challenge Lady Beatrice's title."
"Yeah, that makes sense."
The conclusion came swiftly. Calling Beatrice "Saintess" was bound to provoke the Holy Nation. Naturally, it fell under Lydia's calculations.
The Liannen Empire was in a stable phase now. But it was a fragile stability, ready to shatter at the slightest touch. Before full war with the Demon King's army, they needed to demonstrate Liannen's majesty worldwide. Quelling the Holy Nation's discontent was highly effective—every nation had a church.
'But to resort to this move.'
Directly sending the Saintess. They babied her so much back home she never left. An unprecedented action.
But it changed nothing.
"Treat her with utmost courtesy. She's not an enemy this time—she's a guest. A most noble one bearing the name Saintess."
Even if protesting, the Saintess's status equaled a head of state. Accommodations, etiquette—everything must be perfect. Of course, her escorts demanded top-tier treatment too.
Lydia smiled faintly.
"To that end, I appoint Windsor Knight Order Vice-Captain Sisilia Windsor as the Saintess's guard."
She would be the finest protector—and diplomat. Though she had the drawback of not communicating well for a diplomat.
***
Sisilia was meeting the Saintess. The one holed up in depression in her room, no less.
"Lady Sisilia, you're an idiot! How could you summon the real Saintess?!"
Beatrice had secluded herself upon hearing a true Saintess from the Holy Nation was coming.
It was inevitable. "Saintess" was one of the things Beatrice was proudest of in life.
...A real Saintess coming would steal a mere knight's title.
Lost in such thoughts, Beatrice grew depressed and blamed Sisilia, the clear culprit.
Of course, Sisilia hadn't intended it.
She'd only wished it.
But Sisilia had no intention of explaining.
"Sacrifice for the greater good."
"That's mean! I hate you! I'm not talking to you anymore, Lady Sisilia!"
'Betty's so fun.'
Fun enough that watching her sob face-down in pillows was endlessly entertaining. Sisilia resolved to recommend this pure amusement to all high officials as she stood and scanned the room.
True to her meticulous nature, Beatrice's room was spotless, dust-free—impressive without a maid in the knight barracks.
Among it, Sisilia spotted a nostalgic item.
'You still have it.'
The Newbie Guidebook she'd written long ago. Beatrice's shelf was packed with them.
They should have gone to newbies upon summoning, but the palace pre-reviewed and branded them seditious—like "How to PK and Destroy Evidence..."
Anyway, they were worn ragged—clearly read multiple times.
'Touching. ...Was I too harsh? Be honest this time.'
Thinking so, Sisilia pulled one out.
Slide.
"?"
The cover slipped, revealing a different book. A swapped cover.
The hidden title: Duke's Lady and Knight's Illegitimate Child 1.
Unable to resist, Sisilia sat and devoured it.
Reading, she murmured in discovery.
"Virgin conception... is possible, huh."
"...!"
Beatrice shot up from her pillow. Hair disheveled, she ghosted over and snatched the book, sealing it away.
Depression cured.
"Th-this is, um, Lady Sisilia."
"It was extremely extreme."
Sisilia's phrasing reached its limit.
Beatrice flushed to her neck.
"F-forgot it. It's too early for minors."
"But I already read it. Her smooth waistline was irresistible—"
"Kyaaah!"
As Sisilia got thwacked with the 500-page tome with a blank expression.
In Liannen Empire waters—a massive ship approached.
The Saintess—in overly restrictive holy robes (practically restraints)—gazed out a tiny porthole.
Saintess Seraphina's eyes eagerly captured the novel sea view.
Then, someone entered her cabin: envoy special envoy Cardinal Baron.
He knelt on one knee.
"Your Holiness the Saintess, we near Liannen territory."
"I-is that so?"
Seraphina flinched, hand to her chest.
"Yes. Do you recall His Holiness the Pope's words?"
"...To discern Queen Lydia and Knight Sisilia's intentions."
"Glad you remember."
His stiff tone signaled no more questions; he left.
Seraphina stared glumly at her small hand. The stigmata on its back shimmered.
'...Finally out in the world.'
Her world had been that tiny room. Always gazing out, envying flying birds.
How she'd longed to go out.
Yet guilt weighed her shoulders.
'But... I have to do bad things.'
Seraphina could read minds on skin contact. The Pope, knowing this, commanded her.
"...I really hate it."
Her eyes welled sadly. She didn't want such creepy acts. Especially not prying into others' thoughts.
She'd seen plenty. Those begging blessings extended hands full of desire. Words never matched hearts. Pure ones died; filthy climbed high.
Would this be the same? Testify for desire-ridden filth again?
Better not—
"Delighted to meet you, Saintess Seraphina. I am Sisilia Windsor, assigned as your guard from this moment."
Seraphina stared blankly at Sisilia's outstretched hand.
'So... pretty.'
Prettier than any she'd seen. Even dream-goddess prettier.
Snapping from her trance, realizing her rudeness, she said,
"The honor is mine, Lady Sisilia Windsor."
'This person's heart must be beautiful.'
A strange feeling: impulse not to read thoughts doomed for evil use; curiosity about such beauty's mind.
As their hands touched.
Her thought echoed.
-I want to lick her.
"????"
Seraphina flinched, glancing around. Only Sisilia touched her.
Silent, curiosity won; she asked,
"...What are you thinking right now?"
"That I want to lick you, Saintess."
Holy Nation side doubted their ears; Liannen side fell silent.