Because I like the Saintess very much.
Because I like the Saintess very much.
Starting the day after the banquet ended, a strange rumor began circulating around the Saint's Palace.
How did I find out? It was thanks to the maids and nuns I ran into on my way to the dining hall for breakfast after ditching Elisia.
Every single time they made eye contact with me in the hallway, they hastily bowed their heads, didn't they?
They usually showed a similar reaction anyway.
Given the kind of things I do, I was treated similarly to Elisia.
But today was somehow a little different.
It wasn't a face avoiding me out of fear, but an expression like a young sprout hastily bowing its head upon beholding a spring day.
Whenever I passed by, they would giggle softly or poke each other in the ribs, whispering in voices so quiet even I couldn't hear.
'What's going on?'
For my part, I was utterly bewildered.
Because I had no idea why on earth they were acting like this.
If they had been affectionate from the start it would be one thing, but if people who used to fear me suddenly changed like this, anyone would be flustered.
Elisia would have ignored it, brushing it off as "barking dogs whatever", but as someone who used to be an ordinary petty citizen, there was no way I could.
Just then, quiet voices drifted from beyond the corner.
"I heard she really took the lead with Saint-nim."
"Oh my goodness. So that's the kind of relationship they had...."
"I heard Saint-nim absolutely refused to let go of Aide-nim."
"I wondered if it could really be true. So it was real. They do look good together, don't they?"
"They really do suit each other well."
Hearing their conversation, I froze in my tracks.
Because I had just learned the reason.
It was all because of a mere dance, danced simply to stop Elisia from murdering someone.
'No, to call it "mere"... we were stuck together a bit intensely.'
Where there's smoke, there's fire.
Since we were clinging to each other to an extent that felt a bit excessive, I had no right to complain even if such rumors were flying around.
Besides, the personnel of the Saint's Palace usually saw firsthand just how constantly attached I was to Elisia.
'What did I do again?'
I replayed in my mind just how crazy the things I did yesterday were.
First of all, I fundamentally wrapped my arms around her waist and back like lovers spending a passionate night together.
Should I stop thinking about this?
Flushing with a belated wave of embarrassment, I stopped thinking.
'What do I even do about this?'
The rumors spreading was my own mistake, so it couldn't be helped.
The problem was that this world wasn't particularly tolerant of homosexuality either.
If seen from afar, one could mistake that sight for lovers—
The union between man and woman was considered the standard, and romance between the same sex was treated like an immoral preference that ought to be kept quietly hidden.
For an ordinary noble young lady, mere rumors of that sort would be enough to break off any marriage talks.
And if the person involved was the Saint, the very face of the Holy Kingdom, it wouldn't end as a simple romance rumor.
Or would it?
Since it's Elisia, maybe nothing will happen.
Elisia lives like a total lunatic anyway, so what could possibly happen just because of one strange rumor?
It's not like it's the truth either.
With all the shit I'm going through, what kind of romance could there possibly be?
Realizing my conscience was completely clear, I confidently strolled around the corner.
"Just who and who are having that kind of relationship?"
"Hiik!"
The maids choked down their screams simultaneously.
One of them even dropped the towel she was holding onto the floor.
I picked up the towel for her and stared intently at the maids.
"A-Aide-nim."
"Were you talking about Saint-nim and me?"
"We're sorry!"
Just how close were they? They bowed at the waist almost in perfect unison.
"Raise your heads. I'm not particularly trying to punish you."
I meant it, but not a single one raised their head.
Come to think of it, there was one more reason for them to be terrified of me.
Namely, the fact that I had snapped none other than the Archbishop's neck.
Knowing that, it made sense that they were scared.
Without bothering to tell them to raise their heads anymore, I just said what I had to say.
"Saint-nim and I are not in that kind of relationship."
I drew a firm line.
Things like this must be nipped in the bud.
Once the maids of the Saint's Palace start squealing and gossiping, the rumors will undeniably spread out of control.
Though it feels like it's already spread as far as it could, there's no harm in putting a stop to it now.
"We are not lovers like you all think."
"What are you talking about?"
The voice coming from behind my back sent a chill down the nape of my neck.
The one person who absolutely shouldn't hear this rumor had arrived.
Didn't she go back to her own room when I fell back asleep and woke up?
'I'm fucked.'
Sweating cold bullets internally, I slowly turned around.
Elisia, having returned to being the picture-perfect Saint before I even noticed, stood in the middle of the hallway.
"Saint-nim."
"What are you talking about?"
"It's nothing special."
"Answer me."
The corners of Elisia's eyes twitched.
I shifted a step sideways, shielding the maids from Elisia's view.
"You lot."
Elisia's gaze bypassed me and locked onto the maids.
A faint, whitish light blossomed at the tips of her slender fingers.
She hadn't done this in a while, but her violent tendencies were starting to surface again.
While deciding to wait and watch until she actually made a move, I readied myself to deploy my Authority at any moment.
"What did you say?"
"W-We were just talking about daily life in the Saint's Palace...!"
"Don't lie. I don't have much patience."
At least one quick-witted maid stepped up to tell the lie.
Normally she shouldn't, but I decided to overlook it.
However, Elisia—who didn't care about reading the room rather than lacking the wits to do so—didn't buy it.
"It's the truth."
"Ha. Did you think I wouldn't hear? You were saying that I looked like lovers with you."
The maids' faces turned deathly pale.
I rapidly ran simulations in my head on how to resolve this situation.
To think she actually heard that.
Overwhelming divine power bore down on the corridor, and the maids' legs involuntarily gave out beneath them.
Using my Authority, I neutralized the divine power and completely blocked Elisia's path.
"Please stop."
"Move."
"I refuse."
"Why are you shielding those things who spread rumors like that?"
"Because it's not a crime worthy of death."
"They talked about me behind my back as they pleased."
"I am saying that is not a capital offense."
The voice in which Elisia spoke was strangely cold.
"You sure were fast about it, weren't you?"
Elisia snatched my wrist and yanked it.
The anger that had been directed at the maids was now turned entirely upon me.
What on earth was fast?
Leaving without waiting for Elisia?
"Saint-nim? What are you talking about?"
"You didn't even hesitate."
"I'm asking, about what?"
"Denying that we're lovers."
Huh?
Isn't that obvious?
I denied it because we're really not lovers.
If I hadn't denied it, what kind of disaster would I have faced?
You would've acted like a complete bitch, ranting about "How dare someone like you not even deny being my lover?"
"Because it's the truth."
"So why do you deny that truth so quickly and resolutely?"
"If I don't deny it quickly, the rumors will only spread further."
"What does it matter if they spread?"
What do you mean, what does it matter if they spread?
What good could possibly come from rumors spreading that we're lovers!
Look, just look at them!
The maids who had their eyes cast down until just a moment ago are gasping excitedly again.
First, I need to change locations.
"Let us move elsewhere first."
"I don't want to."
"Saint-nim."
"Talk here."
After giving the maids a subtle glance indicating they could leave, I took Elisia's hand and led her half-forcibly to the aide's office.
Elisia looked displeased, but she followed along for now.
Instead, it felt like she was preparing to tear into me thoroughly once we arrived.
The moment we entered the aide's office, Elisia kicked the door shut.
Kwang!
The door slammed against the wall, shaking violently.
"I'm deducting that from Saint-nim's personal funds."
"Do whatever you want."
Elisia walked over to the front of my desk.
Without even straightening her voluminous skirt, she perched on top of the desk and crossed her legs.
As the skirt rolled up, her soft, wrapped thighs were revealed between the folds of fabric.
One of her long legs lightly tapped against the side of my knee.
I closed the door and asked openly.
"Why on earth are you angry?"
"I'm not angry."
"You are."
"I said I'm not."
Elisia reached out and grabbed the collar of my shirt.
As force was applied, my upper body was dragged forward.
Having pulled me in, Elisia firmly pressed down to make me kneel below her knees.
"Do you hate it that much?"
"Hate what?"
"Being seen in that kind of relationship with me."
I don't hate it, though.
What am I even supposed to answer to this?
I kept my mouth shut for a moment.
How should I answer this to survive?
Normally, I should say yes...
If I say yes, she'll probably get even angrier than now, and if I say no, she'll bullshit-rage at me with "How dare someone like you."
Whichever path I chose, I could only see a future where Elisia crushed me.
In that case, should I rather just go all in boldly?
I like Elisia so much, after all.
The title of "The Aide Who Dares to Lust After the Saint"?
'Honestly, I'm already coveting her anyway.'
Because I was secretly enjoying physical intimacy with Elisia.
For now, I decided to throw out the honest truth.
"I don't hate it. Because I like Saint-nim very much."
"What...?"
See, look at that.
Look at her grimacing.
I'd better correct myself before she throws a fit.
I stood up, smoothed out her slightly crumpled skirt hem, and corrected my words naturally.
"Naturally, that was a lie. I harbor no feelings whatsoever toward Saint-nim. Because I am your aide, and you are Saint-nim."
"You."
"Yes?"
"You're insufferable!"
"Aya."
My shin broke again.
No, seriously, why?
It's not like I said I particularly disliked it or liked it either!