The Saint's Heartfelt Gift
I was being held captive by the Saint.
Why was I held captive?
“Hero-nim, what kind of dress do you like~♡”
The Saint had dragged me over to pick out a dress for the banquet.
Why did I ask that? Isn’t it fine for the Saint to wear her nun’s habit as usual?
“Hero-nim, you’re such a useless dummy for asking a question like that, huh? You can’t wear a nun’s habit to a private banquet anyway. You’re seriously lacking in common sense~♡”
Haha, you damn brat.
“My preferences don’t matter that much.”
“I wasn’t even asking what your preferences are. I was just curious which one of these two is better~♡. What exactly are you thinking? You’re making me mad♡.”
“...I don’t know. As a commoner, I have no idea how to pick dresses.”
“You have aesthetic sense, don’t you~?”
“...Haa.”
Just pick any and be done with it. I chose the one on the right.
“That one.”
“Aah♡. Hero-nim, were you picturing my cleavage like this~? How lewd♡. I absolutely hate it♡.”
“...What are you even saying?”
“Look. The dress you chose is...”
The Saint turned the hanger.
“Cough!”
I startled and coughed awkwardly.
When the Saint turned the hanger, the front part had a deep V-neck at the chest.
If she wears that...
“You wanted to put this on me? Hero-nim is so low♡. Pervert♡. Horniest guy♡.”
No, you have to show the front part, you damn...
“...I didn’t see the back part.”
“Even though it’s the one you chose, I’ll try it on~♡.”
“Just use the left one instead.”
“Ehh~? Why?”
The left dress had a back cutout, but I thought that might actually be better.
Why only this dress? There are plenty of non-revealing ones too.
“This one is better than that. The one I picked wouldn’t be so great even in your opinion.”
“I don’t care♡.”
“What?”
“I’ve got a great figure~.”
“That’s not the point. Isn’t the problem that your skin would be exposed?”
“...What?”
I don’t get why she’s so flustered. I was just saying something obvious.
“The Saint is from the Solaria Church. You can’t just show your bare skin to others like that, right?”
“...Ah, I see.”
What the hell. I sense a hint of disappointment in the Saint’s voice. Or is it just my imagination?
“Don’t worry about that part. The Solaria Church doctrine includes preserving purity, but it doesn’t prohibit showing bare skin.”
“Oh, really? Do doctrines differ by church?”
“Of course. Each church worships a different god. I know the Minerva Church follows the one you mentioned.”
“Ah ha.”
The Saint’s image is probably like that anyway.
Saintly, can’t just let any man touch her. So of course, exposing bare skin would be taboo.
“Since I know there’s no problem with the doctrine, let me ask again. Which one do you prefer, Hero-nim?”
“...Left one.”
“Hero-nim wants to see my flawless, smooth back♡. How lewd~♡.”
“...Sure.”
I don’t know. I answered vaguely, but the Saint seemed satisfied and smiled sweetly.
“Then I’ll go try it on. Don’t go anywhere and wait here~♡.”
“Yeah.”
But I still have to change into my banquet clothes. Whatever. I’ll change after she comes out.
“Hero-nim~♡.”
The dressing room door opened and the Saint stepped out.
“Y-yes... ah...”
“How is it?”
...Ah.
I suddenly had nothing to say. If she said it like a dress is a wing, then maybe it really is.
The Saint’s black hair and wine-red dress looked incredibly good together. Since the Saint was already pretty, even the flashy color didn’t look out of place at all.
Plus, a part of her long hair was tied back with a pretty ribbon, giving a completely different vibe. I think that’s called a side-up or something.
“Hero-nim~♡. What are you staring at like that~? You pervert♡.”
“...You asked if I think you look good.”
“You don’t say anything and just breathe hotly while staring with lewd eyes, that’s why~♡.”
“...I haven’t done that.”
I haven’t breathed hotly.
“Fufufu♡. Seeing your reaction, it suits you well~.”
“...Yes, it suits you well.”
“But Hero-nim.”
“Yeah?”
The corner of the Saint’s eyes curved like a crescent moon. Her unique smile came with that arrogant grin too, and she whispered softly.
“I haven’t shown you the real one yet~♥.”
“...Yeah?”
The Saint gathered her hair with both hands and flipped it forward. Then she turned around.
“...Hic!”
“Kyaha~♡. Did Hero-nim hiccup?”
The Saint giggled like she found it hilarious.
...Honestly, I was too shocked.
Because the dress itself had a back cutout, I could clearly see the flawless, smooth back and the sharp wings of her spine.
People’s skin can actually be this beautiful. I thought that automatically.
“Shut up, hic...ku.”
“Ahahaha, your reaction is so funny. You can’t even stop hiccuping, you loser♡.”
She really was beautiful. The dress suited her too. It was a beauty that would make most men lose their minds.
“Are you getting excited just from seeing my back? I don’t think you’re that kind of pervert~♡.”
...Please shut that mouth already.
“Saint-nim, I still need to change into my banquet clothes.”
“Yes, you should.”
“What should I wear?”
The Count had provided tons of banquet outfits.
Honestly I could have picked one, but since the Saint was from this era, wouldn’t it be more accurate if she chose?
“Hmm~♡.”
The Saint surprisingly looked at men’s clothes with real seriousness. Among the many banquet outfits, she picked one right away.
“This would be good.”
“Really?”
The one she picked was a white tuxedo. Would this look good on me?
“Hero-nim has rare white hair, so it should suit you.”
“Mmm.”
White hair was rare, huh. In a fantasy novel world I figured it would be super common.
“I’ll go try it on.”
“Yeah~♡.”
Abel walked into the dressing room. Someone knocked on the door. Estelle didn’t open it right away. She narrowed her eyes and watched for a moment. The other side knocked again.
“Haa.”
Estelle flung the door open. She looked at the person’s face like she’d been expecting them and didn’t even flinch.
“Hero-nim Elfride, what brings you here?”
“Ah, is the preparation done? I came to get Abel thanks to the Count’s request.”
Elfride wore a beautiful blue dress that showcased her outstanding looks. The full, voluptuous chest that had been hidden under her armor was now clearly visible under the dress.
Estelle frowned at the sight.
“...I’ll take Hero-nim. You don’t have to worry.”
“Ah, I see. But since the Count asked you specifically, maybe I should go together...”
“It’s fine. You go ahead, Hero-nim Elfride.”
“...Has Abel not come out yet?”
Instead of answering, Estelle smiled sweetly. Elfride narrowed her eyes at the silent Saint.
“...Saint Estelle, I don’t understand why you don’t like me.”
“Mother♡. What are you talking about? Why would I not like you, Hero-nim Elfride?”
Estelle’s face went blank. But Elfride had been raised by a powerful noble family, so she knew. Every time Estelle talked to Abel, her gaze was anything but ordinary.
“When I talk to Abel, and right now too... It’s like you’re saying I can’t approach him.”
“Stop calling Hero-nim so intimately, okay?”
“...Huh?”
Elfride looked flustered, and Cynthia, who had been quietly standing behind her, widened her eyes too.
Of course. Estelle was openly showing hostility. Elfride was stunned by the sight of Estelle narrowing her eyes and glaring at her.
“Hero-nim is mine. That’s all you need to know.”
Estelle spat it out like a warning and slammed the door shut.
Elfride stood alone outside, stunned, and turned to look at Cynthia behind her.
“...Why is she like that?”
Cynthia shook her head. It was the same for her; she didn’t know.
“I’ve never heard the Saint of the Solaria Church being so rude.”
Elfride reached for the doorknob, thinking she should say something. But someone stopped her.
“Cynthia?”
“Elfride, just go.”
“...Why suddenly?”
“Please listen to me just this once.”
This was the first time Cynthia had made such a request. But it was clearly to stop Elfride from doing something wrong with the other person.
“...Haa, I can’t understand.”
Elfride shook her head and walked toward the banquet hall. Watching her go, Cynthia sighed with relief.
“Elfride, I saved you.”
“Who was there?”
When I was changing, the outside was a bit noisy.
“The Saint?”
The Saint didn’t answer the question and just stared at me blankly.
“Why?”
“...Ah. Hmph!... What is it? Hero-nim, you have one that suits you well too~♥.”
“Oh, really? I didn’t know because there’s no mirror in here. Good for you.”
“Whatever. It just looks like a goblin wearing a banquet outfit~♡.”
“...Really?”
I thought the outfit itself was really cool. Maybe because I was wearing it, it wasn’t great.
I was a little disappointed when suddenly the Saint started rambling.
“W-well, of course it looks much better than the others, so keep wearing it! Don’t even think about changing!”
“...I wasn’t even thinking about changing.”
Why is she like this?
“Ah, but no one came, right?”
“No one came♡.”
“I thought I heard the Saint talking to someone...”
I asked the question she hadn’t answered earlier. The Saint smiled with her eyes but made a weird, smiling expression.
“N-no one came~♡.”
“...Yeah.”
Mom, I’m terrified.
“Count, you worked hard too. Thanks to your knights and soldiers fighting fiercely, we could defend without any damage.”
“Haha, thanks to Hero-nim Elfride. I really didn’t expect a Barbatos-class monster. To think you took it down all by yourself, Hero-nim Elfride.”
Elfride, who had been scolded by the Saint, chatted with Count Baterk while holding wine glasses. While talking to the Count, she occasionally glanced toward the door.
“Is there anyone you’re waiting for?”
“Ah, I was waiting for Abel, but he hasn’t shown up.”
“Ah, Hero-nim Abel also showed amazing performance. Honestly, I didn’t have high expectations for you, Hero-nim Abel. After all, you only became a hero recently, right?”
“...That’s right.”
“But as a hero, you defeated a troll, an upper-class monster. I was stunned when I heard the report.”
Elfride nodded at the Count’s words and took a sip of wine. Then she said to the Count.
“Regardless of skill, as a hero you’re a person with the right mindset. You came running to save people even if your own power wasn’t enough.”
“Mmm, that’s right. Well said.”
Count Baterk seemed a little suspicious of Elfride’s words. Because Abel had initially refused the summons.
He responded after receiving the second letter from Levius, saying he had to come because the distance was far.
But the Count decided not to push the point since Elfride looked happy and just laughed it off.
While they were talking, Elfride looked back at the door again. The door opened and a white-haired handsome man walked in.
“Oh...”
“Oh, it’s Hero-nim Abel.”
“Wow, you’re really handsome.”
Gasp-like admiration spilled from everyone at the party. Count Baterk gave his honest opinion too.
“Looking at him like that, I can’t believe he’s a commoner.”
“...That’s right.”
Elfride simply nodded.
As the Count said, Abel oozed noble dignity from his appearance. When Elfride heard he was a commoner, she was secretly quite surprised.
Elfride smiled faintly at Abel. But right after, her expression hardened.
“Oh, it’s the Saint from the Solaria Church.”
“……”
The Saint in the dress appeared behind Abel, who had suddenly stopped walking, and spoke to him.
And she grabbed Abel’s tie and straightened his collar.
Abel scratched his head, accepting the Saint’s touch.
“Haha, Hero-nim Abel seems pretty close to the Saint already. Right, Hero-nim Elfride?”
“...Eh? ...Yeah, I guess so.”
Elfride unconsciously nodded, but when she saw the two people close together, she felt a complicated, subtle emotion.