The Second Saintess (3)
Waaaaah……
Elijah moved his body as he heard the cheers rolling in like waves from afar.
'Looks like she's doing well.'
The Ordination Ceremony was the occasion where a new saintess first demonstrated her powers before the masses. By proving her ability to purify demons, she was at last exalted as a true saintess. From the church's perspective, there could be no more important event.
In other words, it meant every member of the church was gathered at the Grand Cathedral for Sera's ordination. Which made the church grounds practically empty right now.
An ideal opportunity for Elijah.
'Being excommunicated is actually convenient at times like this.'
Elijah gave a wry smile. Sinners weren't allowed to attend a saintess's ordination ceremony. But they couldn't just leave a sinner unattended either. So they assigned minimal supervision. And such tedious tasks usually fell to the lowest-ranking members of the Holy Knight Order.
"We're here. Please wait a moment."
Kyle said, pulling a jingling bundle of keys from his belt.
"Not this one… nor this…"
While Kyle fumbled to find the right key for the lock, Elijah carefully scanned the surroundings. His eyes caught a small plaque above the door.
4th Document Repository
"I need to see the trial records."
"Pardon? That might be… a bit difficult…"
Kyle shook his head awkwardly at Elijah's request to view the trial records from five years ago. But when Elijah explained his specific plan, Kyle's eyes widened.
"If that's the case… it might actually be possible."
And so, they had arrived here.
The document repository housed everything from ordinary priests' prayer scripts to the saintesses' handwritten records—the entire history of the church. Among them, the 4th Repository held confidential records related to church trials.
Normally, entering required a rigorous approval process, but today was the saintess's ordination. Those who had sworn lifelong devotion to the goddess wouldn't miss the moment when her proxy first wielded her powers.
As Elijah had anticipated, the repository was deserted. Only the triple-locked padlocks on the heavy iron door rattled faintly.
"Ah, found it!"
Kyle let out a small exclamation. With a final clunk, the last lock opened. The two slipped inside, holding their breath.
The interior was filled with towering shelves reaching nearly to the ceiling. Elijah stepped forward amid the musty scent of aged leather and damp paper that stung his nose.
Weaving through the labyrinth of shelves, he finally found what he sought.
Saintess Lien Assault Incident Trial Records
Elijah picked up the thick bundle bound in leather. He brushed off the dust and carefully turned the pages.
His eyes grew cold. Fabricated evidence and testimonies, a judgment predetermined from the start. It was nauseating just to read, but he forced himself to continue.
At last, he reached the page titled 'Witness List.'
His gaze swept down the names and halted on one.
"Kalliden Elspeer……."
A dry voice escaped Elijah's lips. The man he had clashed swords with endlessly during their knight order days. Seeing his name on the witness list left Elijah feeling hollow.
He had once considered him a rival, at least. Even the inferiority complex he showed toward Elijah—he had chalked it up to the man's pride. Elijah had thought his passion for swordsmanship was genuine.
Oooooong—.
The organ signaling the end of the ceremony echoed from afar. High priests might stay until the very end, but ordinary ones would hurry back even sooner—to hide their absence.
Elijah quickly gathered the documents and returned them to their place.
'I've got the info I need for now.'
The witness list was already etched in his mind. Until Rohan brought more intel, he'd dig into their backgrounds. That was Elijah's plan.
As Elijah and Kyle prepared to leave, methodical, heavy footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor. They swiftly ducked into the shadows against the wall.
Two knights soon appeared around the corner. Kyle tilted his head upon recognizing one.
'……Captain?'
Why was the Holy Knight Order captain—supposed to be guarding the ordination—here? Ignoring Kyle's puzzled expression, the knight with the blue epaulet spoke in a low voice.
"I need to report directly to the cardinal as soon as the ordination ends. Any movements from the new saintess?"
"Nothing unusual yet."
"And the sinner she came with?"
"Same. Seems to be behaving quietly in the annex."
The subordinate knight replied. The blue-epauleted knight—Kalliden Elspeer—issued a commanding order.
"Don't underestimate him. Keep a close watch."
"Yes, sir."
The knights passed down the corridor, discussing Sera. Once their footsteps faded, Elijah emerged.
He suddenly noticed a stinging pain in his hand and looked down. Unclenching his fist, he saw a drop of blood welling on his palm.
"…What did I just hear…?"
Kyle said to Elijah, his face filled with shock.
Elijah glared in the direction the knights had gone.
'……Kalliden.'
The Holy Knight who had given false testimony against him. And now, he was captain of the order.
At the same time, Sera was walking slowly toward the annex. Her mind was a mess.
The princess's offer kept echoing in her ears.
'The imperial family will lend you its strength.'
In the short time she'd spent in the church, Sera had learned one thing: being a saintess didn't mean she could do whatever she wanted.
Lien proved it. The priests respected her, obeyed her every gesture—but only because of church orders, not true loyalty to her.
Just as the princess had said. But…
'Suspicious.'
Rule 1: Nothing is free.
Rule 2: Beware favors without a price.
Sera recalled the lessons from her back-alley days. From her perspective, the princess's offer was tempting. All she wanted was to free her brother.
Even Lien hadn't fully released him.
'I don't know how much power the imperial family has, but…'
The princess had been so confident—maybe she could actually do something.
'But…….'
What could someone with that much power want from her? Given her relaxed demeanor, it wasn't something Sera could offer right now.
After agonizing over it, Sera shook her head. She couldn't decide yet anyway. First, she needed to see Elijah.
Knowing his personality, he'd be worrying about her again. So she'd face him casually, to put his mind at ease. And while she was at it, she'd rub her face against him and act spoiled to her heart's content.
'If I tell him… he'll try to handle it himself.'
Elijah was already treated poorly in the church. No need to burden him with more worries.
Sera quickened her steps toward the annex.
Knock knock.
"Oppa, you in there?"
A cautious voice. Elijah rose and opened the door. Sera stood there, beaming.
She shook the small basket in her hand.
"Brought yummy stuff~"
Sera slipped under Elijah's arm and entered the room. She plopped onto the creaky bed, bouncing lightly.
"I think every time I come, but… this thing's way too old."
"Can't be helped. It's weird for a sinner to expect good treatment."
Elijah gave a wry smile and pointed to his cheek. Sera furrowed her brow slightly.
"……I don't like that."
"What?"
Sera pouted.
"Why are you a sinner, oppa? What'd you even do wrong? I still don't get why you have to carry that label."
Elijah looked troubled. She'd asked casually before, and he'd brushed it off with a smile. He had no desire to dredge up the uncomfortable past—or burden her with it.
"Sera, drop it. It's all in the past."
Maybe because he'd dealt with people all day and was exhausted. Sera, who usually gauged his mood and held back, kept pouring out her words.
"I just can't figure it out. Why does someone as kind as you get treated like this? The church folks are weird. If I'm really a saintess, you're the saintess's family, right? So why treat you this way? What did you even do?"
"……."
Elijah clamped his mouth shut. Sera puffed her cheeks more at the sight. He always did that when he didn't want to answer.
"……Hmph."
After staring at him intently, Sera silently spread her arms. A sign she was sulking and wanted a hug.
Elijah smiled wryly and gave her a light embrace.
"'All in the past'? You're still locked up here, can't even go anywhere."
Sera grumbled, sounding upset. Elijah chuckled softly and patted her back.
Once the siblings' reunion ended, silence settled in the annex.
Elijah broke it first, reaching into the basket Sera had brought.
"Whoa, this looks delicious?"
His voice was overly bright. With exaggerated motions, he took a big bite of a pastry.
"As expected of saintess privileges. Getting to eat stuff like this."
Elijah chewed with his mouth full. The sight shattered the lingering heavy mood.
Sera stared in disbelief before bursting into giggles.
"You're such an idiot. Sugar's all over your mouth."
"So what? Tasty is all that matters. Here, you try a bite. It'll cheer you up."
Elijah held the sugary end toward Sera's mouth. She opened wide with feigned reluctance and took it.
The sweet sugar powder improved her mood a bit. Wiping the sugar from Elijah's lips with her finger, she grinned broadly.
And thought to herself.
'…No way.'
Now that she was officially a saintess, her duties would only increase. She could visit a few times a week now, but if she got busier? Maybe only once a month.
'That… I hate it.'
She'd become a saintess—something she wasn't suited for—only to stay by Elijah's side.
Sitting on Elijah's lap, munching pastry, Sera thought.
'…I'll find a way.'
Some way to get him out of here. And if possible, revoke his excommunication.
To do that, she'd need to learn why he was excommunicated.
'He might hate it if he finds out….'
But she couldn't leave him here forever.
"Here, ah~."
"…I can feed myself."
"Tsk. It's an order from the saintess. Ah~ quick."
Sera grumbled but shoved a piece into Elijah's open mouth, then beamed.