364. The First Branch (2)
364. The First Branch (2)
- 1 -
In the palace of Rugnisah, a now-nameless abandoned palace.
Even in this unused palace, once occupied by a consort whose name had been erased, the sunlight shone beautifully.
Right there in the reception room, four women were seated.
Three Saintesses, and one wielder of power.
Dalkak.
Anyone watching would have pondered whether this gathering held some special meaning.
Adriana with her reddish-brown curls, Lucia with her chestnut hair neatly braided up and a cold impression, and Clementine with her glamorous blonde hair, blue eyes, and sensual impression.
Across from them, the woman in the black dress who stood at the center of all this.
After all, an occasion where four women, whose mere descriptions would make the world gasp, sat facing each other like this was, fatefully, not so common.
"To summarize."
Lucia set down her teacup, her cold gaze sweeping the room.
The gravity felt in her voice was not solely because the situation was momentous.
It was because she knew she was walking a tightrope right now.
"The inside of the Holy Kingdom has already been deeply infiltrated by Astaroth, a significant number of high-ranking clergy have been demonized, and they aren't even aware of their own state... Is that what you're saying?"
Libertas lifted her teacup, took a sip, and answered.
"Yes. That is exactly what I'm saying."
"And the proof is Saintess Adriana's eyewitness account."
Libertas and Adriana had already disclosed the case of Bishop Loperna to them.
Since Adriana had no reason to lie to the other Saintesses about such a matter, the other two women also knew it was the truth.
However, their reactions were not exactly favorable.
Clementine, with her arms crossed, leaned back against the chair and spoke.
"So, what are you suggesting we do about it?"
A voice full of sarcasm.
Adriana unknowingly frowned, but Clementine paid no heed.
"To sum up your words, it's this: The Holy Kingdom is rotten and might soon collapse, so join your side to prevent the Heresy Declaration. All we get out of it is an uncertain future and some honor. Did I get that right?"
"Clementine...! This is a matter on a completely different level...!"
"No, to me, it's exactly a matter on that level."
Clementine coldly cut off Adriana's words.
Her gaze was fixed on Philia.
"Let's assume things work out as you intend. When the Holy Kingdom, freed from Astaroth's influence, gets its act together, do you think they'll look kindly upon us Saintesses?"
A scoff escaped her. Pshh.
"Not a chance. To reclaim their lost authority and honor, they'll drive us into even harsher places than now. I'll pass on that kind of future."
She rose from her seat and slowly looked around the reception room.
Like a merchant appraising her own worth.
"They say your Grakheisen Alliance has been gaining strength lately, but that's only a story for small-scale localized wars."
Clementine pointed a straight finger at Philia and sneered.
"You've never properly clashed with the great powers that can shake the continent's balance, have you? The Norn Empire, where I will marry into, is the continent's strongest nation. The Xenota Empire is also still standing robustly. Logically speaking, isn't it obvious who would win if the Holy Kingdom joined hands with these two nations and attacked you?"
A brutally realistic analysis. Speech and conduct more akin to a noble than a Saintess.
Even so, the smile did not leave the lips of the black-clad woman looking up at her.
Though she didn't like that look on Philia's face, Clementine ignored it as much as possible and continued her words.
"This is an opportunity to become their Empress. A position that might even give birth to the next generation's Emperor. So why on earth should I throw away that opportunity with my own hands for something like a mere 'sense of justice'?"
Her words did not end there.
"The Grand Duke of the Demon Realm is going to destroy the Holy Kingdom? Let him. By then, I'll already be the safe Empress of Norn. With the Empire's overwhelming military might and Xenota's mages, would someone like Astaroth even dare to covet the Empire?"
She was clearly betting everything on the card of 'her own security.'
"Of course, I'd rather not make enemies of the two of you who will become grand nobles and royalty. And maybe there really will be no problem with the Holy Kingdom. So, I'll pretend I didn't hear any of this. Please, don't ever drag me into such dangerous affairs again."
Clementine walked toward the reception room door without looking back.
"I shall take my leave now. I need to summon an Imperial mage for the spatial teleportation back."
Even her final words did not forget to flaunt her wealth and power, and after she left, a heavy silence descended upon the room.
Adriana looked at Lucia beside her with a bewildered expression.
"Lucia... you..."
Lucia set down her teacup and spoke languidly.
"Compared to Clementine, I have a smaller stake in this matter. My betrothal to the Marquis household isn't finalized yet either."
She paused for a moment and stared straight at Philia.
Though not as blatant as Clementine, her eyes shone like a sharp blade.
"But even if it's smaller, I am still to become the matriarch of a storied grand noble family. Do I have any need to take such a risk?"
Her gaze was exactly like that of a merchant.
"Shall I be honest, Countess Philia? Joining hands with you could be an attractive proposition. But that's only a story for when you've won. In the process, I would become an aide to 'heresy,' forced to antagonize the Holy Kingdom. Even if things go well, my honor will inevitably be tarnished."
Lucia held a sardonic smile.
"I've never traded on an image of a 'noble Saintess' like Esther has. I need more realistic benefits."
'So,' she said, pausing, and slowly looked between Libertas and Adriana.
"Give me better terms. Sweet enough that I would willingly risk my life to become your blade. Give it a try, if you would."
Her voice was resolute until the very end.
- 2 -
The negotiation with Lucia did not last long.
She rose from her seat with a satisfied smile at a few conditions Philia presented.
"Very well. I accept."
She said as she stood and brushed off her skirt.
"A connection with royalty, maintenance costs for my dignity, and of course, the historical justification of standing against a corrupt Holy Kingdom. Fine. I accept."
She, too, left the reception room without any lingering attachment, just like Clementine.
Left alone, Adriana bowed her head with a deep sigh.
The hand touching her forehead trembled faintly.
What filled her heart was not relief that the deal went well, but only deep disappointment and despondency.
'I hoped not, but... I didn't expect it to be this bad.'
They had neither a minimal sense of duty nor justice as Saintesses.
Not even a shred of sympathy or empathy for the fact that their most faithful colleague, Esther, was being unfairly maligned.
Seeing them only calculating their own safety and gain, Adriana was ashamed to the point of embarrassment that they shared the same title of Saintess.
What was even more miserable was the part of her own mind that understood their choices.
The desire to avoid danger and secure a better future.
How could one possibly condemn that desire?
She had no right to curse them.
"There's no need to be so disheartened."
Philia's calm voice pulled her back to reality.
"...You seem so composed."
Adriana retorted with a hint of resentment.
Faced with this critical issue upon which the fate of the Holy Kingdom and the Alliance hung, Philia appeared far too nonchalant.
"It's because we have already achieved sufficient results."
"What do you mean by that?"
Philia smiled.
That smile held a depth as if it could see through everything.
"Think about it. Regarding the Heresy Declaration against the nation where the Saintesses reside, there are two against and one silent. No matter how unreasonable the Holy Kingdom is, it will be difficult for them to forcefully push through a declaration that two Saintesses openly oppose."
Adriana answered with a sigh.
It was because she thought Philia was judging things too naively.
"But... the Holy Kingdom will surely try to push it through if even just one agrees. Clementine... she might even decide that betraying this matter to the Holy Kingdom and raising her own value is the greater gain."
That was what Adriana was most worried about.
Clementine could choose not to believe Adriana's words and instead use this meeting itself as an opportunity to prove her loyalty to the Holy Kingdom.
However, Philia was still only smiling.
"It's fine. She will never, ever be able to speak of it."
A tone full of certainty.
Adriana looked at her with eyes filled with questions, but Philia offered no further explanation.
- 3 -
After parting with Adriana, I stepped out into the bustling streets of Rugnisah's royal capital.
Beside me, a woman who had dyed her hair brown and was dressed in plain adventurer's clothes silently followed.
In truth, there had been one more invisible observer in the meeting room just moments ago.
It was my lovely Saintess, Esther.
On her face, a cold disgust and contempt for the other Saintesses was faintly cast.
I gently caressed her chin and whispered.
"Smile, my love. Don't waste your precious emotions on such worthless things. All your feelings must be directed only at me."
"Why do you try to give chances to those who have abandoned their duty, is what I'm asking."
"Yes, that is my question."
Esther's voice was direct.
"Master, even in the life of the first round, you generously gave those women a chance. I have been unable to understand it since then."
Saintess. That name signifies immense authority and ability.
Then bearing a commensurate amount of duty and responsibility is only natural.
Also, I instinctively despise those who shirk their responsibilities despite having the ability.
This time, my thoughts were just a little different.
"Listen, Ash."
We walked slowly down the street.
Pausing for a moment in front of a street flower vendor, I picked a bundle of sky-blue violets blooming in the farthest corner.
"Humans, any being with a mind and intelligence, pursue the kind of pleasure and tranquility they desire. That's not a sin. It's simply an instinct and desire innate to life itself."
I infused power into my hand.
Swaaahh...
The violets dyed pitch-black starting from the tips of their petals.
Exactly until the original color and my color occupied half each.
I gently placed the flower beside Esther's brown side lock.
It was a shame it wasn't her original platinum blonde, but it was decent enough for now.
"Those Saintesses are the same. They simply pursued their own safety and happiness."
"It is difficult to understand. The grace and responsibility we have received..."
"Not everyone can consider the performance of duty and responsibility as the joy of life, like you do. Especially if they are 'children who practically raised themselves' without proper adult care."
I gently tidied her hair and whispered as if praising a child.
"That is why you are more beautiful, Esther. No one in this world, not even I, could easily follow the light of your steadfast heart."
"You are too kind. Master, you are..."
"It is not too kind in the slightest."
After lightly caressing her lips with my finger, I turned toward the reserved carriage.
"It's a thought I've had recently. Just as you don't easily blame a child for their faults, shouldn't we also give a chance to adults who grew up wrongly? Especially if, when that adult was a child, they were surrounded only by 'adults who grew up wrongly.'"
Among the clergy who had been eroded by corruption for quite some time, what had they seen and learned?
"Punishment must be given, but so must a chance. But if after that lesson, they still neglect their duty and refuse to bear responsibility..."
I narrowed my eyes and reached out my hand.
Esther naturally escorted me, and we boarded the carriage.
"At that time, shouldn't we exact a harsh collection, with interest, on everything they've enjoyed until now?"
Esther, who had grasped the cold meaning in my words, slowly nodded.
"That collection is your authority, Esther. Because the greatest indirect victim of the corrupted Saintesses... was you."
"It is also Master's authority. For everything I have belongs to you, Master."
A lovely answer. I smiled and embraced her head to my chest.
"Yes, you are mine. Come here. I wish to enjoy what is mine to my heart's content."
I grasped Esther's tie in my hand and pulled her closer.
Amidst the sound of horse hooves ringing in my ears.
My world was filled only with her white eyes and the sound of our overlapping breaths.