Let's Give Presents to Good Children
Yoanna's steps toward the church were light as air.
Honestly, wasn't talking to people hundreds of times easier than killing them?
And Yoanna was the city's famous perfect daughter.
A pretty young lady who combined literary and martial talent, taking after her father and mother (not a drop of shared blood, but still).
Her diligence was already famous through the gossip of early risers.
On top of that, her gentle nature and the smile that could melt anyone's heart made boys her age flutter.
That was the problem.
"Hello. If it's all right, would you like to talk…"
"Ah—hello!!"
"Um, excuse me?"
Children who had come to church with their parents recoiled as if an invasive species had just appeared the moment Yoanna showed up.
People wanted to befriend someone moderately impressive. Meeting someone too impressive simply left them flustered.
The children who received Yoanna's greeting instinctively snapped into ninety-degree bows and fled.
They vanished before she could even try to stop them, leaving Yoanna bewildered.
Did I do something wrong? No… I followed proper etiquette.
She hadn't done anything wrong. Being so outstanding that children found her hard to approach could hardly be called a fault.
After several more failed attempts to approach the children, Yoanna made her way to the fountain that occupied one corner of the church grounds.
She spread a cloth so her clothes wouldn't get dirty, sat on it, and sank into thought.
Why are the children so intimidated by me?
First she checked her appearance.
Maybe something strange was stuck in her hair or on her face and that was why they had panicked.
But nothing looked different from usual. When she used the flowing water of the fountain as a mirror, there was not a single flaw to pick at.
Shining golden hair and eyes, and skin without a single blemish.
While she was at it she turned her face this way and that in the water-mirror, then tilted her head.
She looked as neat as always, didn't she?
"Whoa, I've never seen a girl that pretty in my life!"
"She's Lady Messela's daughter. Did you see that smile just now? I thought my heart was going to drop out."
"Maybe I should've tried saying something when she greeted us…"
"Are you crazy? You can tell just by looking that she lives in a completely different world from us."
At that moment, the children watching Yoanna from a distance whispered among themselves.
Boys and girls alike were completely captivated by her looks. She was as pretty as a princess from a fairy tale—how could anyone not fall for her?
Only a prince could approach a princess that beautiful.
Thinking that, the commoner boys quickly gave up.
Then what about the noble children?
"Ah, Father, may I speak with that girl?"
"Ahem! Sir Clove's daughter has not even held her coming-of-age ceremony yet, has she?"
"Even so…"
"From what I've heard, Sir Clove's daughter is a demure young lady. If you show a more mature side, she might open her heart to you, don't you think?"
On this side, the parents cut them off at the source.
Yoanna's marriage prospects were already a frequent topic in high society.
Marriage talk for a girl who hadn't even come of age yet?
Sir Clove is a rising star trusted by the mayor, and he's still a young man not even thirty.
Lady Messela is a major figure in the city's social circles. That family's potential for growth is endless.
So if I can marry my child to Miss Yoanna… wouldn't that mean at least fifty years of smooth sailing?
Marriage ages in the empire were quite early.
Especially among nobles. When even unborn children were betrothed, what did a little youth matter?
Noble fathers with sons had no intention of missing this guaranteed successful match.
"If you want to court Miss Yoanna, you need eeeeeeffort!"
"But I'm already struggling with imperial history and sword training—"
"Then give up on Miss Yoanna."
"—I was taught that a weakling who says that never wins a beauty! I'll work even harder!"
A knight heading to the battlefield never neglected his arms.
The young masters of noble houses glared at one another and fanned the flames of their secret affection.
Well…
What on earth is the actual problem???
The side that approached first would have had a far higher chance, of course.
Having finished her volunteer work at the orphanage, Messela left with light steps.
Another truly rewarding day.
Nothing made her happier than the bright smiles and joyful laughter of the children.
Carrying an empty basket and a smile still on her lips, Messela headed for the church.
By now Yoanna should also be having a satisfying time…?
"Miss Yoanna?"
"M-Mother, you're here."
Messela looked at Yoanna with a bewildered face.
Yoanna was sitting alone on a bench by the fountain in the church garden, looking thoroughly dejected.
Messela approached and asked with concern,
"D-Did something happen?"
She flicked a glance around without letting Yoanna notice.
If nothing had gone wrong, there was no way no one would be near Yoanna.
But Yoanna shook her head.
"Nothing particular happened."
"Then why are you alone?"
"The children kept avoiding me. I feel like there must be a reason, but I don't know what it is."
"Hmm…"
Messela fell into thought.
Had the little ones simply shut out Yoanna because it was her first visit to the church?
…No, that can't be it. What boy in his right mind would snub a girl this pretty?
Messela had always been confident in her own looks.
There was no way boys would snub Yoanna, who was far prettier than Messela had been as a child.
If anything, they should be fighting just to meet her eyes once…
Ah. That's it. She's too pretty—that's the problem.
Messela grasped Yoanna's issue in an instant.
Sometimes a person was so beautiful that an untouchable atmosphere formed around them.
It was hardly strange that children found it hard to approach Yoanna, who radiated dignity even when she simply sat still.
After a brief moment of consideration, Messela lowered herself so their eyes met.
"It seems the children find you intimidating because you're simply too pretty."
"Is it really that much?"
Yoanna asked with a puzzled expression.
Before meeting Dantalion, in the days when she had been little better than a slave, Yoanna had been a plain little girl.
Neither face nor figure had been remarkable—that was how she had managed to keep her purity…
"I guarantee you, once you hold your coming-of-age ceremony, the men who want to marry you will fill several laps around the city."
"That sounds like a severe exaggeration."
"It isn't."
Messela seized Yoanna's shoulders.
At the more aggressive attitude than usual, Yoanna unconsciously swallowed dryly.
This was Messela, who ruled the city's social scene. There was no way she would casually miscalculate the value of appearance.
"Listen carefully. The boys who met you today will fall asleep tonight dreaming of you. Maybe some of the girls will, too."
"But if they keep running away, what good is being pretty—"
"Tsk! That only means you haven't properly used your charm yet!"
Messela closed her eyes and pictured Yoanna.
Yoanna in a simple white dress, playing with children around six years old.
While she indulged their fussing and played with them, a child splashing in the fountain playfully flung water at her.
Soaked, Yoanna tumbled onto the ground with a bright, sunny smile…
Flash!
"You don't need to worry. I'll turn you into the most popular person in the city!"
"There's really no need for that…"
"Don't feel pressured!"
Could you start by dialing back those intense eyes?
Yoanna looked at Messela with a slightly awkward expression.
Back home, Yoanna washed up and headed to her room.
When she opened the door, Noir flapped his small wings in greeting.
"Caw!"
"Noir, did you have a good day?"
Yoanna stroked his head and held out a peanut.
After thoroughly enjoying her touch, the bird pecked the peanut apart and ate it.
Once he had filled his belly with a few peanuts, Noir fixed his third eye on Yoanna with a sharp gleam.
Yoanna knelt politely before him.
"Today I visited the church with Messela. I have no intention of praying to any other being, but as Lord Dantalion instructed—"
Ever since Noir had joined the household, this was how Yoanna ended each day.
She did not particularly believe Dantalion was listening. She simply wanted to report, along with her prayer, what had happened that day.
"Messela has offered to help, but personally I wish my way with words were a little better. If I could take after even a little of her eloquence…"
"Caw?"
Noir tilted his head.
Still a young spirit beast, he found the story hard to understand.
Amused by the sight, Yoanna lightly tapped his beak.
"That's all for today's report. You'll pass it on properly to Lord Dantalion, won't you?"
"Caw!!"
Noir spread his wings as if to say leave it to him. He circled the room a few times, then flew out the window.
Yoanna watched him grow distant, then went to bed.
And…
"Eloquence, huh… True, if your way with words is lacking, you'll have trouble preaching morality."
Dantalion, who had been listening to Yoanna's prayer through Noir, nodded.
Since ancient times, those who preached morality and religion had been famous for their silver tongues.
Yoanna did not need to reach that level, but she did need to clear at least a minimum standard…
"Handing down a suitable little gift wouldn't hurt."
Having thought of a fitting method, Dantalion rose from the sofa.
Sitri, who had been enjoying Yoanna's prayer alongside him, looked at Dantalion with a puzzled expression.
"What are you planning to give her? You know you can't just hand down anything too amazing, right?"
"Do you think I wouldn't have considered that much?"
"……"
Sitri stared at Dantalion as if he were being ridiculous.
Did he seriously think the power he had already bestowed on Yoanna was ordinary?
She still lacked experience, but once she properly blossomed, there would be almost no one who could lay a hand on her.
"So what are you going to give her?"
"Just a reference book or two. Don't worry."
"A reference book?"
Dantalion nodded.
Even if he did not grant more power, sharing a little wisdom should pose no problem.
"Hell is full of fellows who committed sins with their tongues, isn't it? I'll just grab one and wring some wisdom out of him."
Swindlers, demagogues, cult leaders, politicians, and so on.
Hell had plenty of people who had ended up there for wagging their tongues the wrong way.
Finding the plan rather decent, Sitri searched the sinner roster on her phone.
As luck would have it, two such individuals were currently imprisoned at the very bottom of Hell.
"Not bad. There happen to be two who made quite a name for themselves in that field."
"Two?"
"Yes. They're from your hometown, Chief Justice."
Dantalion tilted his head.
Who on earth could they be?