Saintess from the Holy Nation (3)
Heehee. Sisilia's steps were light as she headed back to her lodgings.
The saintess is Sisilia's horse now. That was the reason—she was thrilled with the price she'd gotten for this job.
"As expected, our loli empress is the best."
Anyone who opposed Lydia from now on was Sisilia's enemy, and anyone who badmouthed her would be executed for treason.
...Come to think of it, wasn't that just par for the course with knights? Whatever, it didn't matter. The important thing was that she'd resolved the saintess's ownership issue so easily.
After all, snatching the saintess was as simple as licking frozen Betty ice cream.
For now, maybe I should ask if she wants to defect.
Sisilia reached the front of the lodgings with quick steps, wiped the dopey grin off her face, and slipped in through the window with the cold expression of the Sword Princess of Wind.
"Back from the bathroom."
"Eek."
Seraphina jolted in surprise and dove under the covers. She peeked out cautiously and greeted her with her eyes.
"Y-You took a bit long."
"On my period."
"...Ah, I see."
Sisilia landed lightly and closed the window. Then she stood primly in front of the door, hands clasped behind her back.
"......"
An awkward silence hung in the air. Seraphina kept stealing glances at Sisilia, gauging her mood, before finally asking.
"Um... c-can I go to sleep now?"
Sisilia blinked.
"No."
"O-okay..."
Seraphina clutched the blanket, sweat beading on her forehead. She was just resigning herself to staring blankly at the ceiling all night when Sisilia spoke up.
"Wanna go for a walk?"
"......Pardon?"
The question was so out of left field that it took Seraphina a moment to process. It was already late at night. Probably no one else was wandering around at this hour.
But...
After hemming and hawing, and wrestling with her thoughts for what felt like forever, Seraphina whispered in a voice as tiny as a mosquito.
"......Is that okay?"
Saintess Seraphina. Her entire life had been that tiny room. A thick restraint was always locked around one wrist, and even trips to the prayer room stayed within the Vatican walls.
...And on the rare occasions she went outside, if it wasn't an approved location, her eyes were covered.
She couldn't comprehend what they feared so much that they kept her imprisoned like that. All she knew was that people didn't like seeing her out and about.
She swallowed her frustration and endured. Because she was the saintess. She had to live up to everyone's expectations.
For fifteen years.
So she'd always longed for it. What was the world outside like? Did normal people—non-clergy—really exist?
Whenever she asked, the answer was always, "It's not a world worth seeing, Saintess."
But Seraphina wanted to see it for herself, no matter how grim it was.
That's why Sisilia's offer tempted her so much. But...
"Ah, no. Pretend you didn't hear that."
I'll just be a bother.
She knew the clergy wouldn't like it. And she knew her place.
If she acted out on her own—Sisilia would get in trouble.
Of course.
"I already heard, so that's impossible."
"Ah, aaah...!"
Sisilia wasn't the type to care about that anyway. She promptly scooped up the saintess and leaped out the window.
"W-wait a second!"
Seraphina cried out, but there was no stopping Sisilia now that she'd started running.
The surroundings blurred past in a rush.
S-scary...
Seraphina clung tightly to Sisilia. The whipping backgrounds, the feel of unfamiliar air—everything was so new and terrifying.
But...
Cute.
Adorable.
I want to keep her.
The voices in her mind weren't scary at all. Nothing but warm, kind feelings.
Only then could Seraphina open her eyes.
"Ah."
Sisilia set her down on a rooftop. From there, Terezia sprawled out at a glance. The blazing flame in the central plaza stole Seraphina's heart away.
She looked around, craned her neck to the sky.
"Stars...!"
Seraphina pointed excitedly.
"I can see the stars! So close up!"
She'd only ever seen them through the tiny window in her room. A half-obscured sky was her whole world.
The vast, open night sky hit her like a revelation, stunning her with its beauty.
Then.
Whoosh—
A chill wind brushed past Seraphina.
"Cold..."
She stared blankly at her hands, then flushed bright red.
Night air was this cold, huh.
"You'll catch a cold and get sick."
She turned at the warm sensation. Sisilia had draped her cloak over Seraphina's shoulders.
Her face burning, Seraphina mumbled.
"Thank you. For the cloak... and for bringing me out."
She looked up at Sisilia and smiled brightly.
"I'll never forget tonight for the rest of my life. Even back in the Holy Nation, I'll pray for you every day."
Sisilia smiled faintly and shook her head. She was probably just being modest—praying every day sounded tough, after all. How could someone be so warm and kind?
Moved, Seraphina resolved to start praying tonight...
"I'm not sending you back to the Holy Nation, so that's impossible."
Seraphina's eyes shrank to dots.
**
"Saintess."
I'm not sending you back to the Holy Nation, so that's impossible.
I didn't get a wink of sleep...!
Early morning. In the carriage heading to the palace, Seraphina's head spun.
It was all because of Sisilia's bombshell from last night—she'd tossed and turned all evening.
Sleep deprivation was one thing, but her mind was a total mess.
What did that even mean?
"Saintess."
I don't get it. But if she really means it...
Could I stay here? Without going back to that stuffy room...?
"Saintess."
"!"
Seraphina flinched. Right in front of the carriage stood Cardinal Baron, face stern.
"Didn't you hear me?"
"S-sorry, I was lost in thought."
"......Be careful. This is enemy territory."
Baron grimaced and tapped his wrist.
"Did you have a proper talk with her yesterday?"
Seraphina stared at the floor.
"Not really... She wasn't very talkative."
"......"
Baron's icy glare didn't fade. Seraphina was terrible at lying, after all.
"......I'll believe you for now. But when we return and check the recording orb, if you've lied..."
Baron stamped the carriage floor with his shoe.
"You'll do penance."
Seraphina trembled at the words "penance." But she couldn't bring herself to say a word about last night.
Sisilia had risked everything to show her the outside world.
Seraphina had basic knowledge of the world, even if she'd never been out much. No knight of a nation would make that call lightly.
Betraying someone like that? Seraphina could never.
Not even if it meant going back to the Holy Nation—locked in a one-mat room, in solitary for a month without seeing light.
"But."
Seraphina looked up. Baron smiled reassuringly.
"We didn't risk much. It's just insurance. Saintess, you need to play your role better from here on."
"...Role."
"Yes. First, when we arrive, we'll lodge a strong protest with the empress. Granting the title of saintess to one of their knights when our nation already has one is blatant disrespect."
Here, the Holy Nation would make an offer they couldn't refuse.
"You just say what we rehearsed. Take my hand and declare there's no malice. Then we'll call the whole thing off."
Lydia's true intentions would be exposed naturally. Returning home with that intel was the goal of this trip.
"Can you do it?"
"......"
Seraphina nodded silently. But part of her heart lingered on last night's starry sky.
"We're here."
Sisilia's curt voice rang out. Baron stood first and exited the carriage. As escort, Sisilia offered her hand to Seraphina.
The reason for assigning Sisilia as guard? To touch her repeatedly and read her intentions.
A knight's duty meant she'd have to hold the target's hand multiple times. That's what they'd banked on.
So she wouldn't suspect a thing. They'd held hands countless times already, and Sisilia's heart had been pure as glass, without a hint of cloudiness.
......Seraphina never imagined someone so innocent existed.
And yet here she was—harboring dirty intentions toward this pure girl.
Seraphina felt deeply ashamed.
"Saintess?"
Sisilia looked puzzled. Snapping out of it, Seraphina took her hand and stepped down.
Then she heard Sisilia's inner voice.
I hope the saintess is happy.
"......!"
Seraphina froze mid-step.
It's impossible.
Wishing pure happiness on a stranger after just one day.
Betraying someone like that? Seraphina couldn't bear it.
Her heart would shatter deep inside. Just as she opened her mouth to confess the truth—
But this won't do.
"Even if your legs hurt, you have to walk."
If the saintess doesn't ask for help herself, there's nothing I can do.
"Stopping here makes the whole trip pointless."
Seraphina's pupils shook violently. Her heart raced unnaturally, her head burned hot.
She had no choice but to follow Sisilia's lead—like being dragged along, but it was her own will.
The imperial audience chamber. The massive doors opened silently.
Seraphina whispered so faintly it was barely audible.
"......Help me."
Did she hear? Or was it too quiet? Before doubt could settle—
Sisilia lifted Seraphina's hand and gave it a quick lick.
"...!"
"Request accepted."
Sisilia strode forward confidently. She felt refreshed, like last night's escapade.
All conditions met.
Now she'd confirmed the saintess's will.
Time to floor it.
Sisilia led Seraphina through the cluster of priests. Unlike yesterday, she didn't match her pace.
From now on, Seraphina would have to get used to Sisilia's speed.
At the front, Sisilia turned back. Among the maids lined up on either side, one unusually short one caught her eye.
That maid was brazenly munching snacks in the audience chamber.
It was Lydia.
"No sign of the empress. What's going on?"
Sisilia gave Baron a peculiar smile at his words.
"I believe there's no room for two saintesses under heaven."
It wasn't a priest who said it—it was Sisilia.
The priests, hearing their own line from her mouth, looked baffled.
"So, I propose."
"......Propose?"
"A saintess battle. To see whose is real. Loser gets—"
Sisilia beamed.
"Executed."
The shock hit late, but didn't fade.
Baron scowled fiercely.
"What do you mean by that?"
"A trial by faith. Very simple."
Sisilia held up one finger.
"Cut off Cardinal Baron's head. Whoever can't save him loses."
No one grasped the meaning.
But Sisilia wasn't the type to wait for understanding.
"What do you—"
Sisilia sliced off Baron's head without hesitation.
Schwick—!
As the priests recoiled in horror from the head flying like a popped cork—
One of the knights behind drew his sword in panic.
"V-Valhalla—!"
A wave of light flooded the chamber. The radiant glow linked Baron's severed head and spurting neck—
And slowly reattached it.
It took less than thirty seconds.
"H-heuk, haa."
Baron, fresh from a dream-meeting with the goddess, collapsed in a heap.
Not even registering his soaked pants, Sisilia spoke.
"This is our saintess, Beatrice Schwartzfeder. Looks like the head's on fine."
She approached the slumped Baron and raised her sword high.
"Your turn now. I'll cut your head off—reattach it with your saintess."
Terrified but gripping her fists for courage, Seraphina said.
"I believe in myself. Trust me, Cardinal Baron."
Sisilia's blade shot forward like lightning.
"W-wait—!"
Baron screamed desperately.
"We lose! I admit defeat! H-huek."
Sisilia stared at him for a long moment, sword halted just shy of his neck.
To Baron, that one minute one second felt eternal.
Fortunately, she sheathed her blade. But as if he wasn't worth another glance, she turned her back while holstering it.
"Liannen Empire wins the saintess battle. I'll give you time to run. One, three seconds? One."
"Gwaaaah!!"
The priests bolted without a word. Only after the last one fled did Sisilia flash a triumphant V-sign at Lydia in her maid outfit.
"Mission complete."