The Saintess's Hollow Days
Even as I felt my doubts deepening about Rita's intentions—intentions I couldn't begin to guess—I quietly followed behind Alice. Of course, no matter how much time passed, she never once spared me a glance. I had grown somewhat accustomed to that treatment, yet the frustration never fully faded. My desire to grow closer to her remained unchanged. The trouble was, I couldn't see any opening. With Alice ignoring me entirely, it was impossible to approach her first. I had never tried, but I already knew it would be a mistake. Alice was the sort who bared her fangs even at complete strangers with whom she shared no connection. So toward me, someone she already regarded with clear hostility? A favorable reaction was out of the question. Knowing this, I refrained from any rash moves and simply kept breathing in silence.
While I observed her that way, one detail began to nag at me. Alice showed not the slightest trace of vitality. Her life at the Academy was painfully simple. She followed the schedule provided by the institution, attended every lecture, and returned straight to her dormitory once they ended. That was all. Despite the considerable time I had spent tailing her, I had never once witnessed her doing anything else. Nor was it limited to what I saw with my own eyes. I had never even heard rumors of her visiting any other part of the Academy. In short, this truly was the entirety of her daily existence: wake up, attend lectures, return to the dormitory, then wake again to repeat the cycle. She met no one, used no other facilities. It was a barren routine for which the word "monotonous" felt insufficient.
Of course, the routine itself was not inherently a problem. Some people might prefer such a life, and it could simply be the result of her keenly aware of her position as Saintess. The real issue was that Alice's expression while living this dry existence was just as parched as the days themselves. Not a flicker of fulfillment, joy, or accomplishment could be seen. She looked like someone forcing herself through tasks she despised.
I had seen that look before—from Julia. When we had reunited at the Academy, she had worn a similar face and aura, one utterly devoid of pleasure or delight. It had troubled me so deeply that I ended up asking her by the lakeside whether she was happy now. Her answer remained vivid in my memory.
Was the current Alice in the same state as Julia had been? Was she feeling not even the smallest shred of happiness in this life, in these circumstances? The thought refused to leave me alone, and before I realized it—
"...Is the Saintess's daily routine always like this?"
I had turned to Rita and asked.
"Pardon?"
Whether because the question was abrupt or because she couldn't grasp my intent, Rita stared at me with wide eyes. I continued.
"Her schedule seems far too monotonous."
As much as I wanted to ask directly, I still needed to choose my words with care. "Since arriving at the Academy, she has done nothing but travel between the lecture halls and her dormitory. I was wondering whether that's only the case here, or if her life outside is the same."
It might not have been a question an outsider like me should voice. Still, I could not stop myself.
"......"
Rita gazed at me for a long moment before answering.
"Well. It could be said to be both yes and no."
A rather vague reply.
"The Saintess is fundamentally quite busy. There are official duties, and many other matters she must handle besides those."
It was still an answer that revealed little. Just as I opened my mouth to press for more—
"That said, it isn't as though she has no breathing room. The Church pays close attention to her schedule. They make every effort to respect her wishes. If the Saintess desired it, she could clear all her obligations and live a completely leisurely life."
However.
"She does not actually choose to do so."
"......"
"At least from where I stand... her life does appear to be on the monotonous side."
I swallowed dryly. It was not yet enough to be certain, but my suspicions seemed to be proving true.
"But why are you asking about that?"
Lana tilted her head and asked.
After a brief hesitation, I answered honestly.
"The Saintess looks bored."
"How should I put it... I've never once seen her appear to enjoy anything or look happy. If that is limited only to her time at the Academy, then perhaps it's fine... but if not, that would be troubling."
I wanted the girls—including Alice—to be happy. I wanted their lives to overflow with vitality. There was no way I could ignore Alice wearing an expression like that.
"......"
Rita said nothing after hearing my words. She simply stared at me in silence. After some time had passed—
"Is that something you need to concern yourself with?"
She suddenly asked.
"Pardon?"
The question was so unexpected that I reflexively echoed it. Rita looked directly at me and continued.
"You and the Saintess have not known each other long, have you? It's a little awkward to say, but I wondered whether your relationship was close enough to warrant such concern."
Having said that, she added,
"Ah, please do not misunderstand. I am not suggesting it is wrong. I am asking purely out of curiosity."
"......"
I paused to carefully consider my response. Rita's point was reasonable. From an outside perspective, Alice and I had only recently met, and even that connection could hardly be called significant. Ours was not a relationship deep enough to justify such worries. Therefore, my displaying this level of interest in her might appear strange. Moreover, Rita served as the assistant priestess who supported and protected the Saintess. A man with a reputation lower than garbage, whom she had met only recently, showing excessive interest in the Saintess could not possibly look good. Perhaps I needed to choose my next words with extra caution. Should I brush it off casually? Pretend it truly was nothing more than curiosity? No—that risked losing the chance to learn anything further.
As I struggled to decide, Rita spoke again.
"By any chance... are you interested in the Saintess?"
When I glanced over, she was watching me with a sly look quite unlike her usual demeanor. I could tell exactly what misunderstanding she had formed without needing to ask.
"I can understand it completely. The Saintess is extraordinarily beautiful, after all."
She immediately confirmed my suspicion. Letting out a mental sigh at the ridiculous misunderstanding, I replied.
"It is not like that."
"Hmm. You needn't deny it so strongly. It is only natural for a man."
"...It really is not."
"Yes. I shall take it that way."
"......"
It seemed Rita had no intention of believing me. As I let out a deep internal sigh—
"Still, to provide an answer..."
Her tone had changed. In a calm voice quite different from her usual cheer, Rita continued.
"The Saintess is always like that."
"No matter what she does, she always appears bored."
As if.
"As if she holds no interest in any of it."
The expression on Rita's face as she spoke was markedly different from her usual one. The bright, ever-present smile was gone; not even a fragment of it remained.
"......"
My chest ached. It could not have been otherwise. I had just heard confirmation that my unwelcome guess was correct. When I first learned the girls had become Saintesses, I had rejoiced. The greatest joy was that they had escaped the grasp of the Dark Cult, but that had not been all. The position of Saintess itself had felt like a blessing. After all, it was an extraordinary station—one even the emperor could not treat lightly, arguably the most noble on the entire continent. As I had said before, a Saintess could do anything she wished. Treated as the Goddess's representative, she was the being the Goddess Church valued above all else. It was a position that allowed one to fulfill any desire. Of course the Church did not pursue luxury or pleasure, yet even that rule would bend if the Saintess wished it. It was no exaggeration to say she could obtain anything she wanted. She could live a life richer than anyone in the world, one that would make even the emperor envious. That was why I had been happy. I believed that the children, who had endured miserable lives and could not live as humans while fleeing the Dark Cult, would finally be able to enjoy everything they desired in their new station.
But that had not been the case. Alice was not finding happiness as Saintess. The girl before me was not happy. Learning the truth made my chest ache unbearably.
"...You look sad."
Rita's voice reached me.
"...Pardon?"
When I turned toward her, those large eyes were fixed on me.
"You, Sir Kyle. You look sad. Your face suggests you might cry at any moment."
At her words, I reflexively raised a hand to my face. Had I really been making such an expression? I had not realized it, yet it did not surprise me. The sorrow blooming inside my chest was painfully deep. It would have been strange if I could still control my features.
That was when she spoke again.
"That's good."
The remark was so sudden that I blinked.
"Pardon?"
"No. It is because it seems our intentions align, Sir Kyle."
She smiled as she said it.