I Will Trust You
The prayer priest declared solemnly.
“Then the final test, the Trial of the Oath, shall take place at dawn tomorrow. The Hero candidate shall swear his own path beneath the Sun God, before the Saintess. The second trial is now concluded.”
Everyone’s attention turned to the boy from Gallia who had overcome today’s ordeals. But the eyes of Heresy Inquisitor Raoul were fixed solely on the Saintess.
“…Saintess.”
Yet Aria did not hear his voice. She approached the disheveled Hero and was saying something to him. Her voice was quiet, but it no longer trembled.
Arty nodded. His face was filled with pure joy. The Hero and the Saintess smiled at each other. It had been ten days since their reunion, and their conversation was incredibly quiet. But this time, neither of them wavered. In their eyes shone a firmer confidence than before. Even as they prepared for the final trial, they would protect each other’s side.
The prayer priest spoke to them.
“Hero and Saintess, familiarize yourselves with the details of the next trial.”
“Yes!”
“Understood.”
They answered with firm resolve, standing shoulder to shoulder. It was far too solid and steadfast to be called an awkward first love.
Raoul could only watch.
“…”
Something felt off. It was as if the foundation he had believed in was beginning to crack.
‘The Saintess… is the partner the Sun God ordained for me…?’
Ten years. He had waited ten years.
“Who… are you…?”
“Uncle Raoul?”
“Sir Raoul.”
“Sir Raoul…!”
“Knight Raoul!”
“!”
Raoul unconsciously reached out his hand. He tried to step between the Hero and the Saintess. But the area was packed with distinguished guests who had gathered to witness the Hero’s trial. He could not rudely push them aside. As a Heresy Inquisitor, doing so might invite misunderstanding and tarnish the reputation he had built.
“…”
For the first time, Raoul felt that his hand could not reach Aria. It was like the shock of discovering that the doll he had hidden in a cabinet had walked out on its own.
It was wrong.
‘This can’t be happening…’
At the plains where the sun was setting, Cardinal Albert had desperately tried to take Aria away after her declaration. But Lydia had blocked his path.
“What?!”
Lydia gave the cardinal an elegant greeting.
“Cardinal, we saw each other at the entrance ceremony, but this is our first proper meeting. It is a pleasure.”
“…?!”
“Please understand the rudeness of this devout believer from Gallia who has not been able to meet with the cardinal until now.”
“Haha, of course. Even if we do not see each other for a day, the sun always rises again. Now, what brings you…?”
“Nothing of great importance. I simply wished to exchange greetings with Cardinal Albert.”
“What an honor. I shall pray that Your Highness may always receive the Sun God’s blessing.”
The cardinal prayed as if to clearly signal that the conversation was over, yet…
Lydia simply smiled and refused to step aside. Instead, she invited the cardinal to her tea party.
“Is that so? Then how about we hold a tea gathering right now and speak of faith together? Since this is my first conversation with the cardinal, I am sure I will learn a great deal.”
“…”
Mave and Morgan, watching from the side, were visibly startled.
“Lady Lydia…?”
“Lydia…?”
Cardinal Albert’s eyes showed clear bewilderment.
‘What is this greenhorn royal thinking? They said she had completely withdrawn from high society. Could she really be this oblivious…?’
Ever since entering the academy, this royal who had quietly buried herself in the Swordsmanship Department was suddenly acting this way in public. He could not fathom the reason.
‘Is she trying to play the Gallia royal card now?’
The meeting between the princess and the cardinal caused a stir as people gathered around.
The princess who had never participated in social events. The princess who had shown no reaction to most matters. Lydia de Gallia had finally moved. As much as her long silence had drawn attention, her actions now drew even more.
Even the academy students who had been leaving stopped to watch. Cardinal Albert’s lips grew dry.
“Hoo…”
Honestly, he couldn’t care less about some discarded princess. This was the moment he needed to present a ‘different direction’ for the Hero’s trial. Damn it, why did it have to be a royal he couldn’t easily ignore…!
“…”
Before the atmosphere could swallow him any further, Cardinal Albert spoke decisively. Even if it earned him a reputation for rudeness, precision came first now.
“Haha, I see. However, unfortunately I must discuss urgent matters regarding the Hero’s trial with the Saintess today. I hope you understand that I cannot stay.”
“…Heh.”
Lydia continued speaking to the cardinal without concern. Her smile was more elegant and confident than ever.
“How fortunate. Aria and Arty are friends with whom this lady has shared friendship since the entrance ceremony.”
“Pardon?”
Lydia smiled brightly.
“This lady also has much to discuss with them, so why don’t we all attend the tea gathering together?”
“…”
This was not the situation Cardinal Albert wanted.
“It is a matter of the Theocracy, so I hope you understand there is no choice.”
“As a member of the Gallia royal family, this is an important occasion to welcome the Hero and the Saintess. As a witness to this historic meeting, this lady can also uphold the cardinal’s dignity.”
“…”
“The cardinal, as the representative of the Theology Department, can proudly present the achievement of arranging a connection between Saintess Aria and a high-ranking noble. It would be a satisfying outcome for both this lady and the cardinal.”
“T-That is…”
“Do you have any objections, Cardinal? As a follower of the Sun God, where could there be greater honor than this?”
“…”
All of Albert’s ‘excuses’ had been dismantled. He wanted to scream at her to shut her mouth.
“Ugh.”
But Lydia was royalty. Openly ignoring her would draw the eyes of the entire southern continent. Then everything would fail.
“…”
Albert looked at the retainers and knights of the nobles from the three nations gathered around them and fell silent. Then he gave Lydia a stiff smile and shook his head.
“This old man fears he would ruin the mood among the young people. I shall take my leave.”
Lydia answered with a bright smile.
“Indeed! This lady thanks the cardinal for his consideration.”
“…”
There was a smile on Cardinal Albert’s lips, but his eyes were colder than ice.
‘What the hell is she scheming?’
Why…? Why would a mere freshman royal brat suddenly approach him…?
Arty sat awkwardly in the corner of a private room in the royal dormitory. The fact that he, a man, had entered the residence of the female royals weighed heavily on his conscience.
‘Still, since the Saintess is here too, maybe I don’t need to feel too guilty…? Wait, is it even okay for a commoner to be here? But Mave is a commoner too…’
It was a pre-dawn training meeting. Arty, Aria, Mave, Lydia, and Morgan had gathered together for the first time in a while.
Arty recalled Lydia’s suggestion.
Lydia had smiled brighter than ever before. It was the first time he had seen such a refreshed expression on her face.
“Isn’t today a day worth commemorating? It would be good for all of us to safely have dinner together and spend time comfortably.”
So here they were.
“…”
Was it really okay to do this the day before the final trial? Arty let out a sigh.
“Hoo, I don’t know anymore.”
At the same time, Aria was preparing the meal in the private room’s kitchen. She wore an apron. Beside her stood Lydia, also wearing an apron.
“I-Is this the right way to do it?”
“I do not know.”
“Pardon?”
“This lady does not know how to cook.”
“…”
In the end, the two of them turned the kitchen into a disaster zone. After an hour, they barely managed to produce a slightly burnt loaf of bread and some stew.
Watching the stew bubble away, Aria spoke softly, her face dusted with flour.
“…Lydia.”
“Why do you call?”
It was one of the things she had been thinking about while walking through the dormitory grounds.
“Actually, at first… I was jealous of you, Lydia.”
“…”
“Seeing you stand beside the Hero, knowing everything and helping with everything… it felt like my place as the Saintess was being taken away.”
“…”
“If the Hero knows about the Holy Sword and how to grow stronger as a Hero… then what use would a Saintess whose prophecy has stopped have?”
“…”
Lydia’s expression grew slightly troubled.
“It seems this lady failed to leave your place empty. It is this lady’s mistake.”
Aria let out a small laugh.
“…Why would that be your fault? I was the one imagining things all on my own.”
“That is…”
“And.”
“?”
“Thanks to you, I was able to solidify my own thoughts.”
Aria carefully took something out from within her robes. It was the letter she had been holding when she made her declaration in front of the prayer priest. Just as Lydia had promised, it had been hanging from the tallest tree in the Theology Department dormitory.
On it was written:
This lady was too weak and let her first love slip away. But I hope you will be different.
“…”
When Aria read the letter, she finally understood how Lydia had been looking at her.
‘From the very beginning, she wasn’t trying to take my place… she was trying to help me grow too.’
As the Saintess, if she wasn’t herself, only a plain country girl would remain. But Lydia had tried to help her grow. If so…
How should ‘Aria’ grow?
‘First, I will go to his side. And while walking this path together, I will confirm it. …My own heart.’
Not as the Saintess, but as Lydia’s friend.
‘That is where I must be.’
That had been the moment she was about to leave through the main gate. There, she had seen the carriage waiting for her. Aria had no choice but to get into that carriage. And now, she was able to face her again like this.
Aria spoke with all her heart.
“Perhaps your path, Lydia, wasn’t about taking something from me… but helping me move forward even faster.”
“…”
“And if fate allows it, I would like to walk that path together with you.”
“…”
“Thank you. For everything you’ve done until now.”
“…I see.”
“Yes.”
In the kitchen, only the sound of the stew bubbling could be heard.
“…”
“…”
Lydia opened her mouth.
“…Tomorrow.”
“?”
“Do your best.”
“I will.”
Aria said nothing more. From now on, it was time to show her resolve not with words, but with actions and faith.
Lydia looked at the boiling stew. It bubbled and simmered…
“…”
Within the murky broth, it seemed as though a shadow was writhing. A shape that could no longer endure the heat and was crawling out.
‘It’s tomorrow, then.’
In the dark chapel.
Shunk—!
“Kugh…?!”
Raoul’s eyes widened. Cardinal Albert, wearing a gentle smile, had stabbed him with the Black Stake. Blood gushed from his stomach and flowed into the stake.
“H-How…? You…”
“Hmm, are you asking about the realm of Ignition? Or about my identity?”
“How…”
“Let us both be honest. Are we not comrades who have shared the same lust for power? We are brothers who have shared a desire thicker than blood.”
“I…!”
“Brother Raoul.”
Albert smiled coldly.
“Is it not natural for shadows to exist beneath the sun? Do not fear the darkness permitted by the Sun God. Already, countless others have accepted the shadow.”
“I…!”
“You carry it in your heart as well, do you not?”
A chilling voice reached Raoul’s ears.
—Aria.
“…?!”
The moment he thought of her, Raoul’s eyes turned pitch black. Albert laughed confidently.
“Hehe… Oh dear, oh dear. To think the renowned Heresy Inquisitor would run wild with lust for the Saintess and turn the Hero’s trial into a complete mess.”
This really… is quite the problem.