The Saintess (2)
A priest led me out of the room against my will, and I was shown to my quarters.
The room they'd given me was quite well-appointed. Sitting on the edge of the bed and staring up at the ceiling, the events of earlier came flooding back. I'd barely been able to follow half the conversation. And the ending had been far too much of a shock.
I went over everything that had happened today, step by step. I'd suffered a bit from a hangover that morning, then provided the final escort to Wizheim. We'd arrived a little late and waited a long while before being allowed inside…
I pulled a small wooden cask from my pocket.
The gift she'd given me… I would have been happier if it had been for me alone, but it was a gift for everyone. Even then, she'd seemed reluctant to hand them out.
That prickly demeanor of hers had felt endearing, but at the same time, disappointing.
She still didn't seem to look my way. When we'd talked about status and rank, I'd glimpsed a small hope…
And then… I'd wandered around looking for an inn. While searching for lodgings, I'd gotten a feel for the city and scouted places worth exploring the next day.
I'd planned for the two of us to tour the city, build some atmosphere, and if we found a nice spot, I'd try proposing.
Well, that was no longer possible.
Even accounting for the late hour, it had been strangely impossible to find a room at any inn. Figuring it was now or never, I'd offered to take the night watch if we had to sleep outdoors. She'd shaken her head. I'd thought she was refusing out of concern for me. That had made my heart flutter a little.
Following her claim that she had a way, we'd gone to the temple — and I'd learned a shocking truth.
If only I hadn't known… I might have foolishly confessed anyway… But now even that had become difficult.
"Saintess…"
A special existence.
Nobles and royalty claim they are chosen beings. Chosen by gods or special entities, blue blood, and as proof of that, they can wield the special power called mana…
Nowadays it's been revealed that mana isn't like that, but hundreds of years ago it was different.
By contrast, a Saintess was a truly special existence. In the true sense, a being chosen by a god.
A being who brings transformation to the world.
An existence even more special than nobility…
She was said to be a being chosen by a god…
Was that why she'd asked about my status…? Had I been grasping at empty air all along…?
I rested my head against the soft bed and stared blankly at the ceiling.
I recalled the conversation she'd had with the old man earlier. Judging by that exchange, there was a reason she couldn't reveal her identity.
"A reason, huh…"
What kind of reason? I started matching it against the domestic and world affairs I knew.
"Saints, saints…"
It's been a long time since a Saint appeared in other orders? But the Metis Church has had Saints even recently. Just a few decades ago, a Saint appeared and turned the world upside down. I remembered learning that at the Academy.
"Could it be…"
Are they wary of checks from other religious orders?
"If that's the reason, hiding it makes sense."
Listening to palace politics, such things happened often. She was in a similar situation now. Thinking of the Church as a political faction made it easy. A situation where only one faction kept connecting with the royal family and building achievements… And then that same faction produced yet another talent? Other factions would have no reason to sit idle.
What would happen from here on?
Should I give up on her? I didn't want to.
Rather, there were advantages to her being a Saintess, weren't there? It would be easier to persuade my parents.
How could they object to me taking as a wife someone even more special than a noble?
The problem was that she didn't look my way…
"Tomorrow, I'll talk to her properly."
Everything would only be settled by speaking with her directly tomorrow.
Hah!
I'd only meant to lie down for a moment on that impossibly soft bed, and I'd fallen straight asleep.
Ugh! I recalled what had happened after entering the room yesterday. Seeing how lavish the room was, I'd been momentarily intimidated…
I'd carefully set down my bag and sat on the bed.
"The bed was a work of art."
The moment I sat down, it had reminded me of a modern soft mattress. I'd used some decent beds while living in this world, but this one far surpassed them all. I had no idea what they'd stuffed it with, but it was so cozy. Even now, I couldn't bring myself to leave the plush bed.
"Nngh…"
Reluctantly, I forced myself up.
"I slept way too deeply."
Part of it was probably staying up late talking…
I stretched and looked around. The room was truly lavish. Desk, table, chairs, ornaments… everything was high-class.
Judging by the room's condition, it seemed to have been carefully maintained — but what kind of room was this? Surely they hadn't prepared this room for me ages ago or something like that?
I wandered around the room, exploring.
"Here…"
Besides the door I'd entered through, there was another door in the room.
"A bathroom, I suppose?"
Carefully opening the door and stepping inside… sure enough, it was a toilet and bathroom.
The moment I saw the bathroom, I suddenly wanted to wash up.
Unable to resist, I stripped off my clothes, went in, and washed.
After a refreshing bath, I pulled underwear from my bag, put it on, and sat blankly in a chair.
"Haah, what am I going to do from here."
Now that I'd come here, it would be hard to just brush this off.
I should roughly show them some of the alchemy I've been researching, listen to what they have to say, then make a quick escape?
If I stayed here any longer, I was sure to collapse from stress.
While I was zoning out, a knock came at the door.
I jumped and hurriedly pulled on my clothes.
"J-just a moment!"
Once I was fully dressed, I opened the door first — and the nun I'd seen yesterday was standing there.
"You've woken up."
"Yes, well…"
"Here are some clothes."
The nun politely held out the garments she was carrying. What clothes were these?
"I was told you wish to conceal your identity. So I've prepared ordinary nun's robes."
Ah, if I wore civilian clothes, other priests and nuns would get suspicious? Understanding, I accepted the clothes right away.
"And a message. The Cardinals request that you join them for breakfast."
"Cardinals?"
This was the headquarters of the Church and a temple, so of course there would be high-ranking people. But how high up was a Cardinal?
Higher than a bishop?
Ugh! My past-life knowledge and present-life knowledge were getting mixed up and confusing me!
"The elderly gentleman you spoke with yesterday is a Cardinal, so you need not worry too much."
"Ah…"
I'd expected he was someone important, but so that old man was a Cardinal…
"Wh-where should I go?"
"You may wait in this room."
Well then…
When she closed the door and left, I changed into the nun's robes. The Metis Church's nun habits were pure white from the dress to the cape, giving a very clean impression.
Once I put on the nun's robes, the pressure hit hard. Pure white clothes… if they got dirty, they'd be hard to clean, right…? I'd have to be careful.
Somehow they knew my size — the clothes fit perfectly, neither too big nor too small.
"This is a little creepy."
I changed and sat blankly, and another knock came at the door.
"Come in."
"Pardon the intrusion."
The voice from outside wasn't the nun's.
"Wh-what?"
The one who entered was the Young Master.
"You're up early."
"I-it doesn't seem that early, though."
I said, looking out the window. The sun had already been up for a long time. The Young Master was in priest's robes rather than civilian clothes, which gave him a rather different impression.
"The clothes suit you well."
The Young Master's sudden compliment left me frozen, unable to react. A man praising my outfit was so surprising and flustering.
Not disgusting — flustering! And on top of that, there was a ticklish feeling in my chest.
No, isn't this something that has nothing to do with gender? Being happy when praised is natural, right? Yeah, let's think of it that way.
"They suit you well too, Young Master."
Honestly, that fresh-faced look combined with neat, clean black priest robes… Especially his deep golden hair, rich enough to call to mind honey, stood out even more.
"Thank you."
He pulled up a chair and sat in front of me, then fidgeted, watching my reaction.
He must have a lot he wanted to ask.
"If there's anything you want to ask before the others arrive, go ahead."
"Then, if I may. A-are you truly… the Saintess?"
Starting with that, huh…
"Yes, truly."
Even if I wanted to show proof, I was in a position where I couldn't easily do so.
"If you really want proof, I can show you."
I turned my body slightly.
"The Holy Scar is said to be the greatest evidence, right?"
He didn't answer.
"Would you like to see it?"
"Ah, no. I believe you. I was simply flustered."
Honestly, showing my lower back to a man was embarrassing and I didn't want to do it, so this worked out well.
"For all my rudeness until now…"
"It's fine. I only found out myself not long ago…"
"Not long ago?"
"I found out two days before leaving on my journey."
"I-is that so?"
The timing was something else…
"And for various reasons, I had no intention of announcing it."
"I roughly heard about that yesterday. I'm a noble myself, so I understand the reasons well enough."
"What do you plan to do from now on?"
I decided to ask now. What he planned going forward.
"If you permit it, I would like to remain by your side."
"Why?"
Honestly, I couldn't understand the reason. Because he felt sorry for me? If that was it, escorting me all the way here was more than enough.
"If it's because you feel sorry, I think escorting me this far was more than sufficient."
I spoke a bit sharply.
The Young Master looked at me with serious eyes.
"That may well be true."
So this was the end after all. Thinking back on the time we'd spent together… At first it had been uncomfortable, but from the middle I'd found him convenient. And later on, I'd felt he was helpful… reliable.
So I felt a little disappointed.
"Still, I'd like to stay with you for a while."
"Huh?"
Wait? Had that last statement not been a rejection?
"If you permit it, I will continue to protect you. Is this not precisely a situation where you need an escort?"
I had my older sister, but having even one more fighter was better.
"Are you really sure?"
"I have at least a year of free time, so I'll stay with you during that period."
At his earnest words, my face suddenly felt hot. For some reason, the Young Master looked reliable.
"Ahem, well, if that's the case…"
A handsome man looking so serious and earnest… it was tremendously powerful. His already fine looks got an extra boost, I suppose?
But he still hadn't explained why he was going this far for me. I was curious, but asking about it felt awkward.
It would feel like interrogating him, and it seemed mean to doubt words spoken with good intentions.
When I kept my mouth shut and fell silent, the room grew quiet.
"The Cardinals are entering."
Then a voice came from outside the room, and the door opened.
Not only the old man from yesterday, but a man and woman of similar age… Beside each of them stood an attending priest and nun.
"Oh dear, it seems we've interrupted the young people mid-conversation."
"Not at all."
The Young Master rose from his chair and bowed deeply to them.
"No need for such formalities."
Their eyes suggested they found the Young Master's behavior excessive.
"I was quite rude yesterday."
I also rose from my seat and dipped my head slightly.
"Not at all. We are the ones who can offer only this much help, and for that we can only apologize."
They said it was regrettable that if the Church's influence had been stronger, no one would have been able to touch me.
"I-I don't like being a burden…"
At my words, they looked disappointed.
"Haha, the meal should be out shortly."
"But I don't see the one who was with us yesterday."
Ah, my sister — is she still asleep?
"My sister is weak in the mornings…"
Normally I'd wake her, but since I wasn't there today, she was probably sleeping soundly.
"Is that so?"
"Yes, you needn't worry about her. Ah, it would be nice if you could set aside breakfast for her separately."
"You need not concern yourself with that, Saintess."
Ugh, being called Saintess directly by someone from the Church felt strange.
Now it was truly hard to deny…!