The Second Saintess (2)
The imperial palace's reception room exuded an elegance all its own, distinct from the church's austerity. Antique tapestries bearing the imperial crest adorned the walls, and from the porcelain teapot on the polished marble table drifted an elegant floral aroma.
Artisia personally poured tea into a cup and handed it over.
"They say the church's tea purifies the mind. I prepared something as close as possible, but I'm not sure if it'll suit your taste."
"...Thank you, Your Highness."
Sera took the teacup but couldn't bring herself to drink. She'd heard there would be time after the ordination ceremony to foster ties with the empire, but facing the princess alone made her stomach twist uncomfortably. Conversing with nobles was tiring enough... but the princess before her put Sera even more on edge. After all, she was the empire's heir apparent. In Sera's terms, the highest of the high and mighty.
Sure, she was called a saintess now, but Sera was still just a girl who hadn't even undergone her coming-of-age rite. She didn't know intricate court etiquette either. In the end, Sera set the teacup down without a word.
Artisia simply sipped her tea slowly, observing Sera with quiet scrutiny. Time passed like that.
Unable to bear the awkwardness any longer, Sera spoke first.
"Um, you said you had something to tell me...?"
Artisia smiled faintly.
"Straight to business?"
Sera's face flushed with embarrassment.
"Ah, no... that's not what I meant. I'm sorry, Your Highness."
Artisia's smile deepened slightly.
"Don't be nervous. I just want to get to know you better, Saintess."
"... ."
Artisia took a sip from her cup and set it down.
"How did it feel standing before everyone?"
"Ah... I was shaking more than I expected. My mind went completely blank."
"You didn't look it. I was trembling like a leaf at your age. Couldn't even speak properly."
Sera ducked her head shyly at the praise.
"I practiced a ton. Wanted to look good for Oppa, too..."
Artisia's eyelids flickered faintly at the word oppa from Sera's lips, but she soon smiled softly.
"Purifying the demon was impressive too. I think you'll be a great strength to the empire, Saintess."
"Yeah. But now that it's over, I can't remember a thing. Feels like a dream..."
Sera thought Artisia was surprisingly easy to talk to, guiding the conversation so naturally. Tension eased from her stiff shoulders, and her rigid expression softened.
Artisia lifted her teacup again. Casually, as if commenting on the weather, she dropped a remark.
"What do you think of the church, Saintess?"
"Pardon...?"
Sera blinked in confusion.
"Just what it sounds like. Oh, as a person, not as a saintess—I'd like your personal opinion."
"Uh..."
Sera hesitated briefly but gathered her thoughts. It wasn't a hard question. But she was quick on the uptake. She couldn't just blurt out anything. Choosing her words carefully, she answered cautiously.
"...I'm just grateful. Without them, I might've died."
The events in Liberuno were public knowledge by now. Details about Elijah seemed suppressed by the church, so rumors only went as far as some man being with her when she was chosen as the new saintess. Naturally, her humble origins had leaked out too, fueling all sorts of speculation among the gossips.
...That's what Celia said.
Sera recalled her chatty maid's face and smiled wryly to herself. Willingly or not, the girl kept her somewhat informed about the outside world.
"Is that so?"
Artisia gazed steadily at Sera's face. Tapping the table lightly with her teaspoon, she continued.
"Then... what do you think of the Saintess?"
"The Saintess? You mean Lien Saintess...?"
"Yes. I heard she helped a lot with preparing for the ordination."
"Ah... yes, that's true. She helped me out in so many ways."
It was a fact—Lien had assisted Sera greatly. Without her teaching how to handle divine power, Sera wouldn't have been ready in time.
"...Nothing strange about her?"
"Pardon?"
Artisia set her teaspoon down with a clink.
"Lien."
Sera inhaled sharply at the sudden question. It felt too pointed for mere small talk. Strange about the saintess? What exactly did that mean...? Sera stared blankly into Artisia's eyes, then swallowed unconsciously.
Loathing. The emotion in Artisia's gaze was unmistakably loathing.
Sera felt bewildered.
Why...?
A princess loathing the saintess? Sera couldn't make sense of the situation.
After much deliberation, she ventured carefully.
"...She was kind. She zones out alone sometimes, but... nothing too strange..."
"Hm..."
Artisia pondered for a moment, then lifted her teacup again. Any emotion had vanished from her eyes.
"...You must know by now, but the empire and the church are inseparably linked. The imperial family respects the church's sanctity, and the church upholds the empire's order. But... sometimes that balance wavers."
She took a sip.
"I hope you're different from Lien. She's too church-centric... or rather, blind to anything but what she believes is right. From the palace's view, communication breaks down at times."
Artisia set her cup down.
"So, I'd like to make a proposal."
She met Sera's eyes directly.
"Take my hand."
"...Pardon?"
Sera's eyes widened.
"It means the imperial family will support you."
"... ."
"You already know, don't you? Even if you truly want something as a saintess, you can't lift a finger without the church's permission. The palace can help with that."
Sera fell silent. The princess's abrupt offer left her too flustered to respond.
"Of course, it's not free. The palace has expectations too. But that's not important now. We can start by getting to know each other."
Sera forced out words slowly.
"...Why me, of all people?"
She was just an ordinary girl. No great noble lineage like the others.
"Because you're the saintess."
Artisia smiled softly, then sipped her tea as if saying no more.
Silence filled the room. Sera glanced sideways at her. The princess drank calmly, seemingly content to wait for an answer.
But Sera couldn't nod blindly without knowing more.
In the end, her response was predictable.
"Please... give me some time to think, Your Highness."
Artisia's lips curved up slightly.
"That's enough. No need to rush—take your time. Ah, but I hope it's a yes."
Artisia rose gracefully.
"That's all for today. You must be tired."
"...Thank you, Your Highness."
"See you soon, Saintess Seraphina."
Artisia turned with a gentle smile. Sera watched her go, then thought of Elijah.
Oppa...
All she wanted was to live quietly and happily with him. Yet it already felt like burdens were piling up.
Hiding her trembling hands, Sera left the reception room.
Artisia walked slowly down the corridor, her gaze distant.
Seraphina.
Smarter than expected. Quick-witted, always gauging the mood before speaking.
If I can just sway her...
Artisia paused, looking out the window. A massive spire pierced the sky.
The palace had long warily eyed the church. They wielded the goddess to sway the masses, the saintess to obstruct imperial decisions at every turn. And that power? Used only to amass their own wealth and influence.
To her, the church was stagnant water, rotten to the core.
Still, she'd endured. Once on the throne with Elijah, she'd set everything right.
But.
Elijah...
He'd fallen into a trap. The one man she loved, her sole light, was fading away.
She'd done everything. Broken their betrothal through tears of blood, knelt before Lien begging to save him.
And the saintess she'd desperately brought back...
Betrayed him.
Artisia looked down at her hands.
"I'm fine, Your Highness."
His gaze still haunted her. She still lived in that nightmare.
And that wretched saintess...
"...Traitor."
Muttering under her breath, Artisia composed herself as she walked.
I have to make Seraphina my ally, no matter what.
She hadn't idled for five years. She'd scoured for proof of Elijah's innocence.
At first, she suspected rogue priests. Traces led to the Cardinal, whose demeanor was suspicious.
But the deeper she dug, the stranger it seemed. Too elaborate for one man like the Cardinal.
As if someone above was orchestrating the big picture.
Someone who knew the church inside out, high enough to move the Cardinal.
To her knowledge, only one fit.
...The Pope.
If he was involved, it all made sense. The rushed trial, the guilty verdict without the saintess's testimony.
But it was just suspicion. No direct evidence.
She'd tried planting spies in the church, but they were always weeded out.
All her connections, culled like unwanted seeds.
By Lien.
Grit...
Artisia ground her teeth. Lien's pitiful, fake smile flashed in her mind.
Wasn't betraying your family enough?
She wanted to demand. If the new saintess had appeared just days later, maybe.
Didn't expect you'd be by his side, though...
Thinking of Elijah brought a faint smile to Artisia's lips.
"Just wait a little longer, Elijah."
She wasn't worthy to face him yet.
But the day she burned that traitor and the rotten church to the ground.
The day she cleared all obstacles and stood proudly before him...
She'd confess again.
That she loved him forever.
Even in death, only him.
This time, I won't fail.
Artisia clutched her chest tightly.
With Seraphina in her pocket, reclaiming Elijah would be only a matter of time.
With sunken eyes, she strode onward.