Chapter 22
Chapter 22
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Dish of Holy Knights
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Erin looked down at Ophelia with a deeply satisfied smile and performed a simple ceremony appointing her as a Holy Knight.
She gently stroked her head and shoulders in turn with her hands, then took out the Holy Scripture she always carried in her bosom and pressed it to her forehead.
"This body of mine, solely for Lord Igugwoden."
"The will of God is my own will. It is the path I must follow."
"The honorable position of the Dish of Holy Knights—even if it is the lowliest seat, I gladly accept it."
After that, the ceremony concluded with Ophelia reciting the abbreviated version of the "Holy Knight's Oath."
Erin beamed with a smile like sunshine.
"Since we will likely have to leave this place soon, please come to the plaza in front of the Igugwoden Cathedral once you're ready."
"I've passed by the cathedral on my way here and there. You're referring to the building with the tallest spire, right?"
"Yes, that's correct. Though it's in the past tense now..."
"......?"
She flashed a grin!
With a fresh smile on her face that seemed like it might pop if touched—
"It collapsed."
"It collapsed...?"
"Yes. By the will of God."
Erin said as much and bowed her head in prayer.
"All is the will of God."
A perfectly fine cathedral collapsing by the will of God.
Even in a situation ample enough to raise questions, Ophelia did not show surprise or ask again; instead, she bowed her head and politely showed her respects.
She had always lived without thinking too deeply in the face of "the will of God."
If God thinks so, then it must be so—that was her motto.
"Understood. I will come to escort the Saintess within a short time. Take care."
"Yes. Until we meet again, Lady Ophelia. Farewell."
After Saintess Erin departed like that.
"Miss!!"
The maids who usually attended Ophelia, standing behind her, approached her.
"Miss Ophelia! You've finally become a Holy Knight, just as you've always dreamed! Congratulations!"
"Yes, thank you."
"You turned down the offer from the Erdurp family just a while ago, too. We were so worried you'd have to quit being a knight altogether."
"What are you saying? Our miss turned down offers from the Imperial Knight Order and the Nightheart family to be their escort knight. Why would she go to a lower-tier family like the Erdurps?"
"It's truly a blessing that the Saintess appeared..."
After some light chatter like that, one of the maids asked with a worried expression.
"You won't be returning to the mansion for a while now, will you?"
"Probably not. A long trip out... no, not a trip out, but leaving the house entirely... an escort...?"
"Miss, you mean you're entering monastic life?"
"Yes. Entering monastic life. It seems it will be a long one."
Normally, one wouldn't discuss length when it came to entering monastic life, but the maids seemed accustomed to such talk and no one raised any objections.
"It feels a bit empty. With you gone, miss, it'll stand out so much. The empty space will be even more noticeable..."
"But it's unavoidable."
Ophelia said that, clasped her hands together, and offered a polite prayer—
"I have devoted this body of mine for a lifetime of service to God."
She said, her golden eyes shining with deep piety.
The emotion the maids felt upon witnessing Ophelia like that—awe.
Ophelia Translente.
Born the only daughter of the prestigious Translente family, she had shown her talent as a "genius knight" from a young age.
Even at the young age of twenty-three, she had reached a certain "realm," receiving scouting offers from countless nobles and even the Imperial Knight Order—an unparalleled knight.
However, Ophelia had rejected all offers, including those from the Imperial Family, with a single phrase: "Give me more time."
The reason for rejection was one: "I want to live a life in service to Lord Igugwoden." Of course, serving God ultimately meant becoming a Holy Knight.
That was the reason—she had been waiting for the Saintess to appear one day so she could become a Holy Knight.
If she couldn't become one, then so be it, but in her youth, she would wait as long as possible for God's word—that steadfast character and piety.
It was only natural that countless knights admired her.
Her employees were no different.
Employer and employee. And there was a clear difference in status as well.
Yet Ophelia mingled with the maids without reservation.
They all deeply respected and followed Ophelia, who treated them with courtesy beyond differences in status.
Even if there were places offering higher pay, they didn't change jobs, so most employees of the Translente family had over three years of service.
At least in her view, all humans were equal under God.
Prestige.
At least among the three "Dish of Holy Knights," Ophelia held the most prestige.
"Miss... We'll miss you so much."
"Even while escorting the Saintess, there will be ample opportunities to visit here, so no need to be too sad. I will gladly make time to come back and see you all."
At that moment.
One maid approached closely and whispered.
"Miss. I'm saying this out of worry..."
"Yes?"
"The knight Luca Hevnisian, I honestly don't know much about her, but Princess Linea von Ainsberg doesn't have a great reputation. You're such a kind-hearted person, miss, but not everyone is as good as you, so please—"
"Veluna."
Ophelia cut off the maid who was advising her.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I don't want to hear gossip about a comrade who will soon be in the Dish of Holy Knights with me. How could I judge a comrade I haven't even met based on rumors alone?"
"...My apologies."
After the maids all withdrew like that.
Finally left alone, Ophelia offered another prayer.
Praying alone to converse with God and sort her thoughts was a habit she had kept since childhood.
'Lord Igugwoden. I give thanks for the boundless grace of appointing me as a Holy Knight. Please grant me Your...'
God's... what was it again?
'Thick...?'
She couldn't recall the word that came after.
Even though she had diligently memorized it several times, it still wasn't sticking in her mind.
'My devotion is lacking.'
Ophelia let out a short sigh.
However, just because she couldn't remember was no reason to avoid God.
'Please bestow upon me Your thick 'that.' I will gladly receive it with this body of mine and fill myself with it.'
After offering that brief prayer with all her heart, just as she moved to take a step—
—Thud!
With the loud clatter of her circlet hitting the floor, Ophelia tripped over her own feet and fell flat.
Her ears turned bright red for a moment... but fortunately, no one was around.
Ophelia quickly got up and brushed the dust off her hands.
'Failing to properly tread the path I must walk and falling. This too is a trial from God. I shall overcome this trial.'
So what if she fell.
She just had to brush off the dust and move forward.
If she considered this training as well, wouldn't it be joyful?
With that thought... Ophelia slowly took her first steps toward becoming part of the Dish of Holy Knights.
* * *
What the Dish of Holy Knights meant—three Holy Knights.
Another female knight was hearing Saintess Erin's message.
However, her reaction was a bit different from Ophelia's.
If Ophelia's reaction could be summed up as reverence for God, what she felt now was a clearly different emotion—perplexity.
"You said... Dish of Holy Knights...?"
"Yes. Three Holy Knights form one Dish of Holy Knights... That is the will of God."
"Then that means there are two other Holy Knights besides me?"
"Correct."
Her long golden hair reminiscent of a sunflower, and deep blue eyes like the lake symbolizing the Imperial Family—this female knight furrowed her brows in disbelief before cautiously asking.
"Then all three candidates...?"
"Yes. Based on the words of God and the contents of the Holy Scripture, a new Dish of Holy Knights has been selected."
Linea von Ainsberg, Holy Knight candidate of the Imperial Family, pondered for a moment before nodding.
There was no option to refuse anyway, so there was no need to agonize long.
"...Understood. I accept the position in the Dish of Holy Knights."
After that, she exchanged light oaths with Erin.
The meeting with the Saintess ended with instructions to come to the under-reconstruction Igugwoden Cathedral once prepared.
After Erin left, Linea sank into contemplation with a cautious expression.
'What... how should I take this?'
The reason the Imperial Family had sought a Holy Knight position.
To quickly establish a connection with the Imperial Family right before the Saintess appeared, strengthening the church's power and elevating the Pope's authority.
But that was only possible if there was one Holy Knight, and one from the Imperial Family's side at that.
With three Holy Knights, it became impossible for the Imperial Family to use one as a hostage for leverage.
They might claim it was based on the Holy Scripture now and select three... but if they didn't like it, they could just expel one under the pretext of "God's word," couldn't they?
In that case, it was obvious as day that Linea, with the weakest faith, would be the first at risk.
'I should consult Mother.'
Linea quickly made her way to the audience chamber in the Igugwoden Royal Palace.
* * *