Saintess Candidate (3): Betrayal in the Desert
"Are you leaving?"
"I find it rather amusing that the one sending me away would ask if I'm leaving."
The Pope had sought out Rowena just before her departure from the Holy Kingdom.
"I thought you'd be going alone, but you're taking everyone with you?"
"Not everyone—just those who would suffer without my guidance."
"Don't you know they are also brothers and sisters of the Holy Kingdom?"
"Even siblings don't always get along. Sometimes distance is the only way to survive."
There was much he wanted to say, but the conversation's course was set from the start. One side questioning the need to take them all, the other insisting they must all go.
"Do you think the Empire will accept them all? The Empire has forbidden missionary work from the beginning."
"It's not forbidden—it's just that they shouldn't cross the line. They tried to plaster the Holy Kingdom's colors all over the south as 'gifts,' so naturally, the Empire pushed back."
"Are you defending the Empire?"
"I'm stating facts, not defending anyone. You used to be wiser than this, but protecting your saint has changed you."
"...."
The Pope's eyes sharpened at Rowena's words, which scratched at his sore spot. The benevolent gaze vanished, replaced by the feral stare of a wounded beast fixed on the saintess candidate.
"You're saying some very irritating things."
"You know it's wrong, that's why it irks you."
"Do you think everyone can safely reach the Empire? The Holy Kingdom can barely spare any escorts right now."
"Isn't that how it has to be?"
Yet Rowena's expression remained unchanged. Calm and resolute, she met the Pope's eyes and spoke her piece steadily.
"If you'd just called it exile outright, you wouldn't have needed to agonize like this. I suppose even you couldn't bring yourself to go that far."
"Rowena!"
"Do you truly believe that the woman your saint favors can become the true saintess just because I'm gone? I'm not questioning her talent."
A saintess was a symbol. If Rowena became saintess, it would be uncomfortable, but she would still exist within the Holy Kingdom. But if the saint's beloved took the title?
"You're doing Maselin a favor. Once word spreads that their kingdom has a saintess, how much weaker will the Holy Kingdom's influence become?"
"...."
"From your expression, you know exactly how this will play out. And yet you have no intention of stopping it?"
"...The times are changing. And you've seen it yourself—her divinity was purer and stronger than anyone's."
"That's an important factor, sure. But by that logic, why not just pick any holy knight and call them saintess?"
The Pope knew this, yet he closed his eyes.
"That's not how it works."
"What you're doing now is even more unprecedented. How can the standards differ so much?"
"This saint is special. You know that too—no one in the Holy Kingdom's history has been so deeply connected to the divine."
"That's why I'm trying to understand. I'm just saying I'll go my own way... I don't get why you're holding me back like this."
Seeing he had no intention of even opening his eyes, Rowena hardened her resolve. But why drag out this conversation, clinging to her like this? Tomorrow, they would leave for the Empire anyway.
"Go alone. Leave the rest behind."
How long had this dragged on? As if tired of wasting time, the Pope spat it out bluntly.
"If I said 'Yes, I will,' would you believe me?"
Rowena replied lightly.
"...."
"But on second thought, taking everyone does seem unreasonable."
"Does it?"
"We'll all go together."
A pun that didn't fit the moment. The Pope, rising to leave, froze and fixed his gaze on her again.
"It's the same thing."
"You used to say they were clearly different. You've changed completely."
"Don't you know taking them all will cause bleeding—irrevocable loss?"
"Did you think you could blissfully spend time with your son without steeling yourself for this?"
With that, Rowena pointed to the door. The Pope knew it was her signal to end the audience.
"I pray your journey to the Empire is peaceful."
"Save your insincere words."
With that exchange, Rowena set off for the Empire with her people.
"Lady Rowena, many in the lead are growing weary."
"...Let's rest a bit."
"Yes."
The movement itself wasn't hard, but the group was far too large. There were elders and children among them. Mindful of them, their pace naturally slowed. The slower pace demanded finer attention to supplies. In the desert terrain, they also had to prepare for hidden dangers in the sand.
So much to worry about... Normally, for a dispatch, the Holy Kingdom would handle logistics properly.
To cast them out like this, utterly abandoned. She knew it would be bad, but not this severe. She'd never dreamed they'd provide almost no escorts. Supplies were cut to the bare minimum too.
Have they abandoned even their last shred of conscience?
Should she be grateful no one was hurt yet? As Rowena pondered this,
"Lady Rowena, word from the Holy Kingdom... unknown forces are heading toward the Empire."
News arrived like a trial from above.
"Knights, I presume?"
"Yes, that's the estimate."
Who were they targeting?
I can't be the target—I'm en route to the Empire on dispatch. Harming me makes no sense.
A saintess candidate dispatched to the Empire, assassinated by the Holy Kingdom? Absurd. It would shatter their prestige and risk war with the Empire.
I knew they wouldn't let us go quietly... but who are they after?
Unless... Rowena's eyes flashed. If her suspicion was right, the Holy Kingdom was about to do something insane.
"My... entourage?"
Regular priests wouldn't matter much if they left. And they couldn't touch her either. That narrowed the targets sharply.
Those following me now, who could wield meaningful influence in the Empire—priests with some divinity, holy knights trained for years.
If they were the goal?
"They're forcing my hand."
"Pardon?"
The priest's confused eyes met hers. Leave them behind? Unthinkable. But keeping them meant bloodshed.
Alert the Empire and request aid? If that worked, she would've already.
"Pick up the pace."
"Understood."
The only option now: stay tightly grouped and rush to the Empire. More escorts would've made it bolder. Encountering beasts would derail everything. Bandits were worry enough—now Holy Kingdom forces too.
I can do this, Rowena... I always have. Just keep pushing forward alone.
Rowena muttered inwardly and stepped on steadily. They had to reach the Empire's shadow. Touching its border would solve everything. Clinging to that hope, they walked and walked.
Thududududu.
Then, distant hoofbeats echoed. Sand clouds billowed—a clear sign charging straight at them.
"...How far will you fall into depravity?"
Dust from the Holy Kingdom side. Romper Church holy knights, disguised, heading their way.
"Romper, is this truly your will? To make your children fight each other... is this your intent?"
Rowena glanced skyward briefly, then looked ahead. God might dwell in heaven, but humans lived on earth. She couldn't stare at the sky forever. What mattered was the path forward.
"Prepare to fight."
"Yes."
"We won't lose a single one."
She would never yield to the profane.
"No need to intervene?"
"Without His Highness the Crown Prince's order, we don't move."
"Ah! I failed to grasp his intent. As expected of my master."
"Hee-hee, it's basic for me."
Arbeda and Theo watched the saintess candidate's group from the sky. As a massive group, their pace was glacially slow. Yet she tended to all while heading for the Empire. Impressive ambition—and she handled it flawlessly alone.
"Strong divinity in that one."
"Looks that way. Blessing so many daily."
"Without blessings, it'd take twice as long. Even simple ones... remarkable."
Such a capable woman as saintess candidate? Arbeda couldn't fathom it.
Humans are incomprehensible.
Bound by oath, she'd observed them long enough to think she understood. Yet they shunned talent, exiling her—and now targeted her limbs.
Why?
As Arbeda shook her head in bewilderment,
Theo was reporting to the Crown Prince.
- They're outnumbered.
- Obvious without seeing. Casualties?
- Confirmed Holy Kingdom?
While explaining the situation,
Theo asked half in disbelief.
The Crown Prince replied as if it were the dumbest question.
His Highness coming personally?
Even with a dragon and Theo here?
Don't I have his trust yet?
As doubt flickered,
- Exposing the Executioner and Mage Tower heir benefits no one.
His mood soared.
Excited, he rattled on.
- Not her. They're blatantly focusing on her entourage.
- ...Yes. Are you really watching?
Now? It's quite the distance from the Empire. Heavy divinity makes teleport tricky too.
What speed was that?
Curiosity brief.
"Kuhak!"
"Stubbornly holding out, but limits come."
Bloodshed at last. Stalemate broken. Knights herding masses on the move versus fresh knights charging straight to kill knights. Outcome predetermined.
"P-Protect Lady Rowena... at least!"
"Can't you see? We're not here for Rowena. We're here to kill you."
"...Why?"
"Better dead than the Empire's."
Blunt words overheard. Mercy from old ties? Brief reprieve.
"Is this the Romper Church's will?!"
"...Ah, slip of the tongue. We're just bandits."
Screams of those clinging to life mingled with killers' words.
"Today, you die to bandits."
"You think that'll fly?!"
Until days ago, they knew faces, no grudge. Why sword to sword? Her forces hesitated mid-fight. No hatred for these souls—why kill or be killed?
They'd assumed blessings for the departing. Was even that greed? Vain hope?
Slash! Leg severed, body crumpled like a puppet with cut strings.
"Who'd suspect? Kill only guards protecting civilians, then retreat—who'd doubt bandits?"
Raised blade eclipsed the sun.
"No! Stop!"
Saintess candidate begged for mercy.
"No god saves you."
Knight swung down at fallen comrade.
Whoosh!
"Arghhh!"
Blazing flames engulfed the blade-wielder.
"Saintess candidate, path looked rough so I came. Quite the bandit horde."
Sun reemerged. She knew the voice instantly.
The Empire's great change incarnate.
"C-Crown Prince... Your Highness..."
The Empire's little sun.
"Bandits eyeing Empire's prize—hear me."
Bellon Bellos.
"You won't die easy. I promise."
He appeared before the saintess candidate.