Proof of Love
“Prove it. — (4)”
“Saintess, this way.”
“…How many months do you think I have lived here at Arjen Academy?”
“…”
Aria’s single quiet remark, spoken while wearing an elegant white dress, was ice-cold. Within that one sentence lay a sharp rebuke the Saintess would never have uttered before.
—This place is already familiar to me. I need no escort. Do not try to bind me.
The three Holy Knights understood the rebuke. They also understood that the Saintess was deeply angry…
‘…She is nothing like the Saintess we saw back in the Theocracy.’
Yet they offered no reply.
“…”
“…”
“…”
As members of Raoul’s personal unit—elite even among the lofty Holy Knights of the Theocracy—they simply followed their orders with mechanical precision. Their given order was to escort the Saintess. Her own wishes had no bearing on it.
Raoul had commanded them that very morning:
—The moment the examination ends, escort the Saintess to the chapel. There will be a gathering with the faithful of Gallia who wish to interact with the Theocracy. It is an important occasion, so the Saintess must attend as well.
Thus the knights escorted the Saintess in silence.
“…”
“…”
“…”
Aria did not expect an answer from them either.
“…Haa.”
‘They have been granted the authority to defy even the cardinals if it is not Raoul’s command… There is no way they would obey the orders of a Saintess who holds no real power in Theocracy politics.’
Aria felt powerless. Everything had felt uncomfortable and difficult for the past several days.
「Have you forgotten the duties of a Saintess?」
She had believed being the Saintess granted her freedom, yet it seemed that very title had rendered her powerless. Was this truly what she “had to do”?
She could not tell.
In the end, she sighed and moved.
“…I understand. Let us go, then.”
“Yes, Saintess.”
Aria walked toward the chapel, “protected” by Raoul’s Holy Knights. Though they kept more than three steps behind her, it felt closer to an arrest. In silence, the Saintess and the knights walked on. Only the soft rustle of fabric and the clink of armor echoed through the suffocating stillness.
From afar came the lingering cheers of the crowd still caught in the afterglow of the Hero Examination.
—Waaaaah—!
The sound of people cheering for the boy who had defeated the Theocracy’s Holy Knights.
The knights left the noise behind, as though they wished to pretend it had never happened.
“…”
“…”
“…”
Only Aria turned her head slightly.
“…”
The training grounds were already far away, yet the cheers still rang vividly in her ears. Somewhere among those voices, the boy who had been the star of today was surely lying down to rest, exhausted.
She wanted to run to him. She wanted to ask if he was hurt. She wanted to tell him she was sorry she could not cheer for him in person…
“…”
‘Hero…’
What if… What if Aria had not been the Saintess? Would she be holding his hand right now, celebrating with him?
‘If I had never been the Saintess to begin with, we would never have met anyway.’
Even so, she imagined it.
Aria pictured herself in that fantasy—an ordinary, unremarkable girl from a rural village in the Theocracy.
“…”
In her imagination, she ran to the tattered Arty, clasped both his hands, and jumped for joy. She shouted, happier than anyone else. It was the truest feeling she still carried in her heart.
—Arty! You were the most wonderful—!
—Aria, thank you.
In the fantasy, Arty smiled brightly. His face was dusty and tired, yet filled with a proud smile. He offered that same smile even to the version of her who was not the Saintess.
「I could do it because you were watching, Aria.」
—I could do it because of you, Saintess.
A sense of déjà vu struck her. Aria flinched.
“!”
‘…That line. It feels like I have heard it before, not just imagined it.’
Why? Why did she remember hearing those words?
—Having you beside me gave me strength.
‘Lydia and Mave are already by Arty’s side…’
—Thank you.
“…”
Yet it was Aria who had received that gratitude.
“…!”
The realization made her heart drop.
‘The place I should be… the place I truly belong is…’
Aria tried to turn around, as though entranced. But the sight of the cheering training grounds was blocked by the shadow of a massive man.
His white armor and cloak hid everything from view.
Raoul was already standing behind her, smiling.
“Huhu, my. I was about to chase after you to the chapel, but it seems you were already on your way.”
“Raoul…”
“This is perfect timing. The faithful of Gallia have requested an audience with us. Would you not join us and represent the Theocracy as well, Saintess? The faithful would be overjoyed.”
“…”
Raoul extended his hand with polite courtesy. Yet Aria’s back was blocked by the knights. She stared at that hand.
“…”
The hand of the Heresy Inquisitor. The steady hand that had dealt with countless heretics and apostates as the Theocracy’s hero. It carried the power of someone who had reached the Ignition stage years ago and might soon reach the Extreme Light stage. The Holy Theocracy called this hand the hand of a hero.
Aria did not take it.
Though her body trembled, she rejected the hero’s hand that had cared for her for years—the first time she had ever done so.
“No. I… I will not attend that gathering.”
“…”
Aria refused firmly. It was a rebellion born of emotions she herself had not yet recognized, the first time she had directly opposed Raoul’s will.
Yet Raoul’s smile only deepened.
“Huhu…”
“?”
He said something unexpected.
“You have become completely human now.”
“What…?”
“When I first found the young Saintess in the forest during my mission, you were like a doll with no emotions. It was frightening. You truly felt like an angel sent by the Sun God…”
“?!”
Aria’s eyes shook violently. Cold sweat began to pour down her back, gripped by an unknown terror.
Seeing that reaction, Raoul’s lips curled upward. His eyes curved into crescents. He looked pleased.
“Huhu.”
He recalled memories of the past.
The inorganic expression. The empty child who knew nothing of love.
—Who… are you?
The shy smile. The good child who followed the teachings of the Theocracy.
—Thank you, Inquisitor Raoul.
Now that child had grown into a girl who coldly rebelled. She had become fully human, just as Raoul had wanted.
He found it deeply satisfying.
“Huhuhu…”
‘If she is human, then it cannot be helped. Even pining after an impossible first love is a natural scene ordained by the Sun God. Eventually realizing her true destiny is also the natural order of things.’
Growth, wandering, and eventual return. It was a perfect growth curve. Like a masterpiece Raoul himself had created.
‘Truly, a destined gift prepared by the Sun God for His faithful servant…’
In that case, he must finish his preparations to welcome her as the hero of the Theocracy. Preparations to make Aria “his.”
‘Politically, through power… I shall complete every preparation.’
Raoul gazed lovingly at Aria, who was glaring at him.
“…”
“…”
Even this expression now felt like part of the destiny approaching him. So he smiled. The laughter would not stop.
“Huhuhut.”
She was unbearably lovely. But now it was time, as an adult, to teach her the cold reality.
‘…Now is the time for each of us to do what we must.’
Raoul withdrew his smile and spoke. His expression carried the charisma of a man who had seen the blood of countless people.
“Saintess.”
“…”
“It is time to fulfill your duty. We must solidify the Theocracy’s position, which could be shaken by unexpected events.”
He slowly reached his outstretched hand toward the terrified Aria. But the hand was forced to stop.
Because of a heavy voice that rang out from afar.
“Hey.”
“?!”
Raoul turned around. There stood an old man in battered black armor, wearing a crooked expression. The knights, only now noticing his presence, were all flustered.
“Suddenly from behind…?!”
“What?! When?!”
Instructor Jacques ignored them and pointed at Raoul.
“You. What do you think you’re doing?”
“What business does the renowned Black Knight of Gallia have here?”
“An old man openly chasing after a young girl’s tail looks mighty suspicious. It’s the kind of perverted behavior you don’t see often in the Kingdom of Gallia, so I followed along.”
“…”
Instructor Jacques spoke plainly.
“Take your hands off the Academy student. No matter how strong the Vow of Chastity may be, laying hands on someone weaker than yourself is unbecoming of a knight.”
“Huhu. There seems to have been some misunderstanding.”
“Then explain the situation where three Holy Knights block the escape route while someone who has reached the Ignition stage reaches for a girl who has never learned self-defense.”
“…”
Raoul’s face stiffened slightly, but he spoke calmly.
“…This is an internal matter of the Theocracy.”
“This is Arjen Academy. A neutral zone recognized by the Holy Theocracy’s own Holy King. And I am the person responsible for the Swordsmanship Department and security here.”
“My apologies. I shall respect your authority.”
“Then explain the situation.”
“There was a minor disagreement while we were on our way to greet the devout faithful of Gallia. We powerless ones had no choice but to respect their voices.”
“…”
The “Black Knight of Gallia,” Jacques, frowned. Raoul’s words were cleverly crafted.
—From now on, the people we are going to meet are nobles you cannot possibly stop.
That was what he meant.
‘…What a truly nauseating man. Every single word removes his own responsibility while instinctively pressuring the other party.’
He was the very incarnation of political ambition and power. That was how he had risen to the position of Heresy Inquisitor, always ready to claim credit… but Jacques had no intention of acknowledging that.
“…Then there is no problem. Since this is not an Academy matter but something concerning each other’s countries.”
“Huhuhu, thank you for understanding…”
Jacques ignored him. Instead, he looked at Aria and spoke in a heavy voice.
“In that case, the ‘powerless Saintess’ Aria shall receive an order from Princess Lydia de Gallia. Her Highness has announced that she will host a tea party to commemorate the Academy’s temporary closure, together with the high-ranking noble students. Attend it.”
“…?”
Jacques finally turned to face Raoul.
“The high-ranking nobles of Gallia and the devout monotheistic faithful will be there in abundance, so it should not matter, right? It would be better for the young people to build friendships instead.”
“…”
Raoul wore a confused expression.
‘A princess? Why would the Princess of Gallia…’
Aria was startled.
“What…? Princess Lydi—Her Highness?”
*
Lydia sat calmly before the tea table. While being attended by her maid Mirian, she watched the new noble students of the Swordsmanship Department arm-wrestling in front of her. Beside her, Morgan quietly turned the pages of a book.
The Academy’s rear courtyard was lively.
—Hup! Take this, Dominic—!
—Kuaaak?! Mave, you bastard?! You’re a girl, how are you so strong—?!
—Losing to a girl, Dominic…
—No! I’m not done yet!
Lydia spoke to Aria.
“Come, Aria.”
“…”
“This is a tea party hosted by this lady. I forgot to extend an invitation to you, my dear friend.”
“Th-thank you, Your Highness.”
“It is fine. Call me Lydia while we are here.”
“…”
Aria sat down beside her with a mixture of doubt and belief. Mirian the maid politely poured tea.
“Welcome, Lady Aria.”
“Ah, yes… Thank you.”
Lydia spoke with satisfaction.
“The white dress suits you very well.”
“…Th-this is.”
“The priestesses who followed you must have forced you to wear it, claiming it would uphold the Saintess’s authority. I am all too familiar with such matters, having grown weary of them myself.”
“…”
Hearing those words, Aria somehow felt her heart ease. The floating feeling she had among students in uniform seemed to settle.
“Um… Perhaps.”
“If it is Arty you are wondering about, he has returned to his dormitory and is sleeping. The examination was quite harsh, after all. Though he overcame it splendidly.”
“…Yes.”
“He is safe. And he was worried about you.”
“…”
Aria felt a ticklish sensation.
‘Just how does Lydia see through my heart so clearly…?’
Lydia suddenly spoke.
“I will not speak at length. This lady has no right to comment on the matters you are currently facing.”
“!”
“…Therefore, I shall tell you the story of this lady’s first love.”
“What?! Lydia, you have been in love too—?!”
Aria was rudely shocked. Morgan’s hand, which had been turning pages, also froze stiffly.
Lydia smiled faintly.
‘Strictly speaking, it was Lee Daehyun’s first love in his previous life. Since I was born a princess, I never experienced anything like romance.’
Still, it might be of some help.
She spoke in a calm voice.
“It happened long ago.”
“…”
“I loved someone I had not intended to. They were simply beside me, yet my gaze was drawn to them.”
“…”
“But I could not approach them.”
“…Why?”
“I believed I was unworthy.”
“?”
A princess? Aria tilted her head. But Lydia continued.
“I thought the circumstances, the time, and the conditions would not allow it.”
“…I see.”
“So I distanced myself. I forgot.”
“…”
“But looking back now.”
Lydia murmured wistfully.
“It turns out no conditions were necessary. Simply being beside them was love itself. There was never any need to prove love or anything of the sort.”
“…”
“That is all this lady wished to say.”
“…Thank you.”
“This is a secret between friends. Do not speak of it elsewhere.”
“Huhu, yes.”
Silence fell over the table. It was a strange silence filled with both comfort and tension. Amidst it, Morgan’s silence ran even deeper.
The rumor she had heard earlier surfaced in her mind.
“…”
—Was she not even considered as a marriage candidate for Sir Lucian, the “Golden Knight” who had been a prodigy since childhood? Of course, the engagement fell through, but…
Could it be? Could Lydia’s first love be…
Could it be…
“…”
Morgan’s silence, for some reason… hurt.