Wow! So This is Exorcism!
"Whoa! So this is exorcism!"
A dull thunk echoed as the teacup hit the table.
"Those fossils at the noble academy are rolling in the mud, using the budget as an excuse," grumbled the Lancaster Duke, pressing a thick finger to the bridge of his nose. Exhaustion and irritation mingled on his face after returning from the meeting.
Across from him sat Roën, prim and proper, cradling her teacup in both hands like a treasure. In her childlike voice, she asked, "They're fighting over putting their own people in the vacant chief justice seat, right?"
It was a sharp question from such an innocent face. The duke stared at his daughter over his teacup before bursting into a wry chuckle.
"Exactly. Even His Majesty is dragging his feet, weighing options, so this tedious council will drag on for at least a month."
The duke vented his frustrations, but a flicker of secret delight passed through Roën's eyes as she hid her smile behind her cup.
Perfect.
Her time in the capital had just been extended by a whole month. More than enough to mold Elia and that mysterious silver-haired kid into plush toys to her liking.
"Father."
Clink. Roën set down her teacup, curving her eyes prettily.
"While you're busy with meetings, may I visit the cathedral? Building ties with the saintess candidate first would be good for the future."
"...."
It was a clever pretext wrapped in sweetness. The duke twitched an eyebrow, then let out a hearty laugh.
"What a clever girl. You're right. Go handle the church's treasure nicely."
Roën bowed her head demurely, the corners of her mouth twitching upward slyly.
From that day on, Roën headed to the grand cathedral almost daily, always carrying ornate dessert boxes in her hands—items even nobles had to queue for at dawn.
On the surface, it was pure friendship with saintess candidate Elia. But once in the garden, Roën's behavior veered oddly off-course.
"The patissier was so slow, making everyone line up for nothing," Roën huffed arrogantly, chin raised, as she dropped a pink-ribboned box onto Chloe's lap on the bench.
"It'll attract bugs to this pretty garden if left out—its shelf life is short. Consider it a favor and eat it for me?"
Her words were silky yet barbed. The open box brimmed with jewel-like macarons and éclairs.
"Whoaaa! It smells so sweeeet!" Chloe's eyes sparkled as she stuffed a macaron into her cheeks until they bulged.
Roën gazed down at the chubby sight with an inscrutable look.
That's when her eyes met those of the hesitant brown-haired girl approaching from afar—Elia.
Roën's expression hardened instantly.
"L-Lady Roën, you're here—"
"...A saintess candidate who still can't control her holy power properly?"
Elia's steps halted at the low, sinking voice.
"The priests were desperate looking for you. Got time to idly watch others eat snacks? If you're to be the empire's miracle, prove you're worth it."
"Ah...!"
The scathing rebuke poured out mercilessly. Elia flinched, shoulders trembling, but bit her lip and nodded.
"Y-You're right, milady. I've been too lax... I'll go train right now!"
Roën snorted curtly and turned gracefully.
But why am I doing this?
The sudden doubt bubbled up. She'd come to manipulate Elia, yet why did that idiot silver-haired kid keep sticking in her mind?
Those blindly pure eyes. That scrawny little frame. Just a common pretty girl.
Roën irked herself at how her gaze kept drawn to her.
Right, it's just to neutralize an unknown variable.
An uncut gem with infinite mana. The first anomaly she'd found since regressing.
So she'd keep her close and under control. Nothing more.
Roën rationalized it that way.
Meanwhile, Elia clasped her hands at her chest, watching Roën's retreating back. Chloe remained, still munching away.
As Lady Roën says, I'm the saintess, so I have to work ten times harder. I've been too relaxed.
Elia's green eyes shimmered in the sunlight, landing on the luxury dessert box in Chloe's lap.
She always speaks so harshly, but...
Elia worried. The bishops made allowances for her, but Chloe seemed out of place in high society, drifting on the edges. It always tugged at her heart.
She brings such precious snacks every day so Chloe won't get bored.
Maybe her strict expression hid endless kindness. That's what Elia believed.
Crunch crunch.
"Hiya!"
The sweet chocolate cream burst in my mouth, making me squeeze my eyes shut and shiver all over.
Yesterday it was colorful macarons. Today, chocolate éclairs!
Nobles really have tons of money!
Cheeks puffed like balloons, I looked up. Roën stood there in her fancy dress, arms crossed, watching me eat.
She used to glare like I was a bug on day one?
After I shared strawberry tart with her a few days ago, she'd been bringing piles of food daily like tribute.
Using my adult's keen insight... yeah, this blonde girl totally wants to be super friends with me. Same age, noble or not, she's just a kid!
Wait... am I older? Anyway.
What a tsundere!
I thrust out half an éclair smeared with chocolate cream.
"Roën! This is sooo good! Want some? Ahh~"
My sticky chocolate fingers neared her face.
The chat was full of laughter.
"Eek! S-Stay back!"
Roën yelped and leaped backward.
"Y-You have zero manners! Do you eat cream with your mouth or your nose?! And why's it on your cheeks?!"
"Psh, tasty stuff's meant to be eaten messy like this!"
I grinned wide, and Roën's red eyes quivered.
"Get over here now!"
Unable to hold back, Roën ordered her maids, then approached with something.
"Huh? What's that?"
"Hold still!"
She grabbed a white cloth and scrubbed my mouth, cheeks, and even between my fingers super hard.
"Owuuu, that hurts!"
Ignoring my protests, she cleaned every spot spotless. Her hands were pale and slender like a doll's, but her scrubbing was fierce.
"And why's your hair such a mess?"
Grumbling, she pulled a pretty comb from her pocket and gently untangled my hair. It felt cool and nice as the comb passed.
After combing, she suddenly untied a super fancy sky-blue ribbon from her dress.
Whoa, that looks expensive.
The floating windows blinked. Roën braided my hair into cute twin tails and tied them with the sky-blue ribbon. No mirror, but I could feel her skill—it swished nicely.
I liked how the silver hair with the blue ribbon looked.
Whoa. Gotta return the favor since she did my hair.
I pulled out grass blades I'd picked from the garden corner earlier. Pretty glowing blue weeds!
I turned and plopped them on Roën's blonde head.
"What's this?" Roën's eyes went wide.
"A gift! Roën's so sparkly pretty, flowers suit you perfect!"
Her pale cheeks flushed tomato-red instantly.
"W-Who asked for weeds on their head?!"
Roën shrieked, but she didn't toss the crooked flowers off. She held them carefully with both hands, scared they'd fall.
She likes my gift!
The blue chat windows flashed wildly, spewing laughing text. Seems like everyone loves Roën too.
Warm breeze, full belly! What a peaceful day.
The drowsy afternoon shattered in an instant as the day's peace tilted red.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
The massive emergency bell tore through the cathedral's silence mercilessly.
"W-What?!"
Roën jumped up, tea in hand. Beyond the garden, knights and priests sprinted down the colonnade, faces drained of color.
The clear cathedral air thickened instantly with heavy, fishy blood reek.
Clank! A grotesque carriage crossed the courtyard beyond the main gate. No elegance—just black walls wrapped in thick silver chains. Blood-red talismans stood out starkly.
"Grraaah! GRAAAAAH!!"
A throat-scraping beastly roar and malicious laughter erupted from inside.
-Thud! Each jolt scraped something sharp against the inner walls, chillingly rhythmic.
A priest crossing the garden bellowed at the knights.
"The count's been fully taken by the demon!"
"A d-demon?!"
"High-rank for sure! Open the barrier and summon all the exorcists now!"
The frantic cries echoed in the garden. Roën's eyes trembled.
High-rank demon possession...!
Memories of pre-regression horrors flashed. A high-rank demon claiming a body wouldn't end easily. Worst case, it'd slaughter hundreds.
She'd witnessed that blood-soaked disaster firsthand.
"Hah... haa..."
Roën's breath caught. Cold sweat trickled down her pallid cheeks.
"W-What's happening?"
Elia, rushing from afar, trembled under the horrific vibe despite not knowing details. Everyone froze as shadows loomed closer.
"Huh? All gone..."
Only Chloe stuffed the last cookie crumb into her pocket firmly. Her eyes suddenly sparkled with curiosity.
The translucent blue windows flickered madly.
They want me to go watch?
Chloe figured the chat folks wanted that.
"Okay! Let's go!"
She brushed crumbs off her skirt casually and stood.
"Kkamang! Let's check it out!"
She scooped up the black puppy at her feet. Her light, carefree steps headed straight for the carriage echoing with horrific screams.