Why Are They So Close...?
“Gray… why are you being evasive? Huh?”
“………… I didn’t mean to be evasive.”
“Then answer me. How did you come to know the Saintess?”
“Elysia. It’s not what you think.”
Gray kept repeating the same thing.
What do you mean by what I think? Elysia wanted to ask that, but the moment she saw Gray’s bitter smile, her spirit collapsed.
In the end, Elysia had no choice but to return to the reception room empty-handed.
This wasn’t the time.
Elysia understood her own situation far too well.
She knew it wasn’t the time to feel jealous like this, or to be the one being watched.
She understood that Archangel Elaim had descended to the lower world, that people were naturally accepting the new Saintess while external pressures loomed, that it was tradition and procedure so even the church members except the Saintess and Boris would follow, and that in a way, everything had happened because Elysia had wanted it.
But even so, she didn’t realize that the one standing in the eye of the storm was herself.
She needed to show a more composed face. Pull yourself together, Elysia.
You can’t act like a child now.
Everyone else was taking this seriously—how could you be the only one thinking differently!
The worst situation Gray had joked about yesterday—“From now on, I’ll have to live in the church headquarters”—which would have been desperate enough to make even cutting off one’s wrist seem reasonable—wouldn’t happen. But still…
Calm down… calm down…
Elysia gently swirled the clinking teacup and tried to steady her mind.
She offered a cup to the Saintess. The girl smiled brightly like an innocent child and expressed her gratitude. There was no hesitation at all. Her heart gave a small, painful prick at the pure, unspoiled reaction.
The Saintess had done nothing wrong.
On the contrary, she was the one who had traveled a long distance to help Elysia.
She couldn’t even express proper thanks for simply discussing the current situation together, and although it was unintentional, she had acted so coldly. It wasn’t strange if the Saintess felt upset. In fact, it was only natural.
… But.
Still……
No matter what……
“Ah! Right, Teacher Teacher, have you received any contact from the goddess?”
“Hm? No, not yet. Still, it shouldn’t take that long. I’ll wait a day or two.”
“Then I’ll have to impose on you for a while. Ah! I already got permission from Bishop Boris! Ah, what about Sister Lucia… Ah, is it okay? Thank you so much, even though it’s an inconvenience, I’ll be staying with you.”
“If you can get permission on the spot, does that mean the Saintess came here without any plan?”
“Teacher, really. Hehe… This is also thanks to Astasia-nim’s wisdom.”
“True. If it’s the goddess’s wisdom, it makes sense.”
“Eh?! That’s blasphemy!”
“……… You were the one who said Astasia’s wisdom?”
“……… Uwa…! I need to pray for forgiveness to the goddess.”
“Don’t joke. By the way… I don’t think I should interfere, but is it okay for the Saintess to be rolling around here?”
“Rolling around… Your way of speaking is as harsh as ever.”
“...........”
“Hehe, and of course it’s fine! I told the church people I was on vacation and came secretly!”
The Saintess shrugged her shoulders proudly.
Elysia forced herself to drink the tea and flinched, her shoulders trembling.
Wait a second. Too close. Why. Why? Why do these two feel so close? The physical distance is still within the acceptable range, but the mental distance is far too close.
Actually, the physical distance is worrying too.
One step forward, or even one finger… or if the finger gets any closer, my heart might burst. Of course, in the worst way possible.
Uwa, ah, my finger got even closer.
Do I really need to be this close?
Coincidence… right…?
It must be a coincidence. …… Probably.
I’ve been wondering since earlier—what exactly does “Teacher” mean.
Teacher.
Teacher…
Teacher…?
When and where and how did they meet, and among all the countless titles in the world, why “Teacher”?
The age difference isn’t that big. It’s not like they’re in a position to teach or learn from each other. But it’s “Teacher.” If it were just ordinary priests, the Saintess wouldn’t have that kind of connection either. The oddly depraved and secretive feeling isn’t just due to some creepy preconception.
Is it possible that it’s their own secret title, something like that? Now, laughing “haha,” naturally touching hands, accidentally fingers intertwining, accidentally holding hands, and then… and then…
Ah, I don’t like it…
Don’t get close. Don’t come near!
I hate… I hate… I hate… Ah… ah… What is this! What is this! She’s the Saintess, the Saintess who should be the purest above all others can’t be laughing and chatting with a man like this! It’s chaotic! It’s chaotic! It’s chaotic! The goddess might be very angry!
Gray is the same! Even though I asked him courageously how they knew each other earlier, he just evaded it!
If he answered properly, I wouldn’t be this heart-pounding…!
Why…
Why…
Not in that way…
Did Gray do that to me?
Don’t cry. Think slowly, Elysia. Maybe this is Gray’s rejection message. Let’s interpret it with a woman’s intuition?
………… No. I don’t like it.
What if it’s really a rejection?
Elysia. You’re too troublesome. If Gray said that, I might faint from heart failure…
Or maybe… maybe a woman who is so bright and sociable, like the Saintess, is good…
Sociability… social skills… and coquetry.
None of those words are related to Elysia.
The first mistake was learning all the rules, etiquette, and arrogant and straightforward attitude to not tarnish the family name, even though she was born with the Witch’s Red Eyes.
After escaping to the academy, defending herself, and treating others as she was taught in the family, she naturally got the nickname “Witch.”
Even now, after ten years, she gives normal emotions to close people, but she is aware that even that is awkward.
But I don’t like it…
I hate it so much.
Don’t get close. Don’t come near. Don’t talk nicely.
I… I was the first. I was the first. I liked you first!
Why. Why. Why. Whywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhy…
“Oops, Sister? You don’t look well.”
“……… What?”
Elysia reflexively answered and immediately cleared her thoughts and straightened her posture.
The maid’s teaching that she must never show an undignified appearance in front of others was still vivid.
That was why her cold expression and sharp voice came out when standing in front of strangers.
This time, it seemed her expression had shown emotion without her knowing.
“… Nothing. My condition isn’t good.”
“Condition? Are you okay?! But it makes sense. You saw the Archangel Elaim up close, right? You must be tired!”
“…… Is that…?”
“People say that those in the celestial realm have a unique energy. Receiving that power right in front of you, which is hard for ordinary humans to handle, is amazing in itself!”
“R-really? I learned something new.”
“If I may say so, I’m really envious! As one of the priests serving Astasia-nim, I have a dream to meet her directly once. Could you tell me exactly what experience you had at that time? Is Elaim-nim a beauty with hair like flowing water as described in the Bible?”
“… Yes? … Yes.”
“Really? Wow…… I want to see her! Right, Sister. There’s a stained glass depicting the Archangel in the church headquarters~ Let me explain first………”
The Saintess’s eyes sparkled as she took the seat next to Elysia and began to unravel her story bundle naturally.
Elysia didn’t have time to react.
The one-sided talk poured out like flowing water.
Stories about when the stained glass was made, how it looked, that it’s the pride of the headquarters and many believers travel far to see it, and that because the road is long, there was a story about getting lost in the headquarters for half a day the other day, and so on, rambling for about five minutes…
From the opposite side, “… It seems to have started.” Boris sighed quietly, and Gray chimed in, “There probably aren’t any friends of similar age at the church headquarters.”
Elysia listened silently to the Saintess’s words with a frozen face and rigid posture.
On the surface, she seemed not at all surprised and listening to the story leisurely, but in fact, she was in a very tense state.
One of the habits to appear relaxed in an anxious situation was tilting the teacup continuously.
It seemed that even that habit looked strangely interesting to the Saintess’s eyes.
“Wow, Sister, you hold the teacup very prettily. How do you do it? Can you tell me? Can I try following? Like this…? Like this?”
The sight was like a puppy wagging its tail at a stranger.
When she came to her senses, Elysia was teaching the Saintess how to hold the teacup.
“No… the index and thumb like this, the other fingers naturally hide. I learned this from before and only habitually hold it this way, but I don’t think you need to hold it uncomfortably just because it’s the Saintess.”
“Hehe, actually, I don’t often have tea with high-ranking people in my position. I don’t need to follow noble rules or etiquette, but if learning even one small behavior can be an opportunity to raise the church’s favorability a little, I want to learn it!”
…… Sincere. This is it…
Is this her personality?
Elysia, who was surprised, looked alternately at Gray and Boris with a stiff face. They shrugged their shoulders as if they knew this would happen.
…… I misunderstood. Only then did Elysia feel her face flushing red.
It was embarrassing to the point of being a fool that she had been jealous of the Saintess just moments ago, and even shameful.
“Sister is from a noble family, isn’t she? That’s why your speech and actions are different.”
“…… Yes? Do you know my… background?”
“Ah! Sorry! I couldn’t tell you in advance! Even though I seem a bit unreliable, first, I’m the Saintess of the Astasia Church. I heard a little about how Sister Lia came to the church!”
“… I’m sorry, Saintess. I was too short-sighted.”
“Teacher told me about it before, so if I make a mistake, please tell me!”
…… Gray told me about himself directly.
If I had heard it just one minute ago, I would have bitten my tongue in jealousy, but now, various complex emotions were mixed together.
Gray talked about me… Gray talked about me…
Elysia’s brain seemed to be drowning in dopamine spreading in an instant.
The joy that Gray showed interest in her enough to talk about her directly.
The anxiety of having a secretive conversation with a woman other than herself.
The relief that he remembered her for the past ten years.
Even the expectation that he might have told more.
I don’t mind if it’s creepy.
I don’t mind if it feels sticky.
Just… just…
No longer thinking of guarding the Saintess or being jealous,
But… as is… I just want to monopolize Gray, more than anyone else.
Reflexively looking at the place where Gray was, but……
“……… Uh, oops Gray?”
He had already left the seat a long time ago.