The Saintess Appears
“No, do you have any idea how hard it was to carry this all by myself? And now you want me to take it back? It was already a pain to get it secretly!”
“Not my problem.”
“Ugh…”
Pay fought to suppress the laughter threatening to burst out. It was simply too funny. At some point, everything Raphael Orleans did had become amusing to her.
Raphael’s future bride will laugh every single day.
She didn’t particularly envy the woman, but laughing was better than crying, at least.
Pay began sprinkling the gold dust from her own pouch beneath the river’s surface, hiding it carefully. She had deliberately prepared a large amount with lower gold content to make the scene look convincingly real.
Raphael, still grumbling, joined in scattering the gold dust and even pressed the strange lump of metal firmly beneath a rock to conceal it.
When the work was nearly finished, Raphael spoke again, unable to let it go.
“Lady Pay.”
“Yes?”
“I may not look it, but I’m quite popular in high society.”
She knew that. During her time as Morgana, she had seen him from afar often enough to know he never hesitated to offer playful remarks or surprise gifts of flowers.
But… what did that matter when everything about him was simply funny?
Pay brushed off Raphael’s sulking and checked the time.
It must be around midnight by now.
Their eyes had fully adjusted to the darkness, allowing them to see each other’s expressions clearly. Raphael looked even more indignant when he noticed the faint smile lingering on Pay’s face.
“I helped this much, and you’re still treating me like this!”
“Keep your voice down. Sound carries in these mountains.”
At Lucius’s sharp remark, Raphael grumbled and then said something unexpected.
“Fine. Since we’ve come this far, when my family holds the Atonement Charity Ball, you must attend, Lady Pay.”
“Pardon?”
“You’ll dance the first dance with me. It may be the Atonement Charity Ball rather than an ordinary one, but I want everyone to see us together. Decide then.”
“Decide what? And what exactly is the Atonement Charity Ball?”
“Just come.”
“Who decided I’d be your first dance partner?”
Lucius, having finished scattering the gold dust, snapped irritably.
He had no complaints about leaving the Crown Prince’s half-brother, Astain, to escort the debutante. Back then, Lucius had never even dared to imagine spending eternity with Pay.
And now, we…
…Wait. What exactly are we to each other? Had he ever properly defined their relationship?
That day, he had confessed everything without holding back—his true nature, why he had appeared before her, and how he had twisted her fate even in the days she couldn’t remember.
Yet he hadn’t made the other confession.
The most important one of all—the confession of love—he had left unsaid! In his nervousness, he had completely forgotten!
He had never told her that the petty jealousy and arrogance he once felt while watching her had long since turned into compassion, tenderness, and love.
He had never admitted that a fallen immortal like him dared to love her!
What on earth was wrong with him? Had he lost his mind? Lucius, you fool! You were so overwhelmed at not being rejected that you forgot the most crucial part!
“…Lucius?”
In the darkness, Pay’s small fingers brushed against the back of his hand.
Only then did he manage to return to reality. His consciousness, which had drifted far away toward the Origin Forest, finally stirred his cold, wet lips to move.
“Ah, yes.”
“Is something wrong?”
“No. We just need to head back now.”
If Momo had known, he would have mocked him mercilessly. Really… thank goodness he didn’t.
Lucius felt like strangling himself.
After finishing the midnight gold-dusting operation, they returned safely to the capital. To avoid prying eyes, they had prepared two precise return coordinates—one at the Magic Tower and one at the Imperial Palace.
Now it was time to welcome the woman who viewed her own life as a stage and was coming to fully embrace her role as the “protagonist.”
Pay, for her own reasons, was eagerly awaiting the Saintess’s visit to the palace.
* * *
“Saintess!”
“Everyone, if the chance arises again, I will definitely return.”
Capia gently pushed away the filthy hand extended by a beggar seeking a handshake. At the same time, she continued emptying the small pouch of silver coins from her basket onto the ground.
The poor gathered around, desperate to snatch the coins, but retreated hesitantly under the stern gazes of the holy knights.
The person at the very front seized the opportunity and fled at once.
The Saintess had come all the way to the capital’s back alleys—streets where sunlight never reached even at midday—and was generously bestowing her mercy.
Capia hoped the rumor would spread far and wide.
The capital, Lapis, was relatively safe, but it was impossible to save every beggar that appeared each year. Poverty relief had always been beyond even the empire’s reach.
Even if these people were driven outside the capital, new groups would inevitably form the following year.
Like tree stumps that sprout mushrooms whenever it rains, or like sewer rats that multiply the moment you let your guard down.
Contrary to the malice in her heart, Capia wore a gentle expression and slowly blinked.
“Saintess, it is time to proceed to the Imperial Palace.”
“We’ve already spent an extra two weeks on this schedule.”
Hmph.
When the priests who had previously ignored her came to urge her again, Capia shrugged as if she had no choice.
This was enough. She had wandered about performing acts of charity long enough to make it clear that the Saintess had been traveling. The effect upon entering the palace would be all the greater.
“Very well.”
Outwardly reluctant, the Saintess finally turned her steps toward the grand Imperial Palace.
No one had come out to welcome her arrival. They were instead guided to the solemn chapel where the statue of the Chief God was enshrined.
Even there, no particularly important figures were present.
Haa?
This wasn’t what she had expected.
There was no way the letter she had deliberately sent to the Emperor had failed to arrive. When the gates had opened without resistance, a report must have been sent up at the very least.
Instead of coming to greet her even in the back alleys where she had labored so hard, no one had shown their face until now?
A faint anger rose within Saintess Capia, but she had no choice but to suppress it. The bishop guarding the palace’s temple was present, along with priests watching, so she couldn’t openly demand to know where the imperial family had gone.
Above all, the weakened Temple of the Chief God had no choice but to watch the Imperial Family’s mood at all times.
Using the excuse of prayer, she dismissed the holy knights who were an eyesore and passed the time idly. An entire day.
The next morning, she awoke still dazed.
What is this?
Such blatant neglect.
She had waited until past midnight, wondering if they were simply busy, but no message came.
When she rose from prayer before the Chief God’s statue, she wanted to grab the bishop who had been nowhere in sight and demand answers.
Where was the Emperor? Where was the Crown Prince? Was there truly no one who had come to praise her hardships? The thought of even the indifferent foreigner, Empress Lanya, only fueled her anger further.
Capia’s table was set with a rather lavish meal, yet every bite felt like sand against her tongue.
The food had flavor, but she couldn’t swallow it. Why…!
As the meaningless mealtime drew to a close, the door opened and a maid entered.
Capia’s eyes quickly scanned the maid’s attire.
The red surcoat meant she could move freely between the outer and inner palace. In other words, she might be a messenger sent by the Emperor.
Stay calm.
The maid lowered her gaze slightly and spoke.
“Saintess, we thank you for visiting the Imperial Palace. In three hours, His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the Crown Prince will host a luncheon in your honor.”
“For me?”
“Yes. They apologize for being unable to meet you yesterday due to a heavy backlog of work and ask for your understanding.”
Ah… So that was it.
Capia rose, her hair still slightly disheveled, and nodded gently with words of gratitude.
“Having been away for so long, there were many places I could not overlook, and I ended up taking too much time. I am truly sorry to have kept such distinguished guests waiting.”
“Then we shall meet again later.”
The maid left the invitation and departed without another word.
Even when standing before the Emperor and Crown Prince, there was no suggestion that she change her clothes, bathe, or even be assigned a maid to help her prepare.
Haa…
When Capia had become the Saintess, things had been different.
Even back then, the total holy power of the temple had been declining, yet the palace had spared no effort for the newly born Saintess.
They had sent a new carriage engraved with the sacred emblem of the Chief God and even mobilized the palace’s holy knights to conduct the ceremony.
Now, not a single holy knight remained in the palace’s temple.
They had allowed the knights to retire one by one without replacement, letting time simply sweep them away.
Without lifting a finger, they had reduced the temple’s influence within the capital in exactly that manner.
“……”
Only three hours from now, they had said.
The important thing isn’t whether I meet them or not. I just need to make an appearance and use that to pressure Dotricia Caris. I’ve heard the Crown Prince still doesn’t actively participate in high society even after ending his seclusion. So…
Chief God, grant me hope.
Capia clutched the bracelet strung with tiny beads tightly before setting aside her meal and devoting herself to her appearance.
When she finished preparing and entered the Plenti Hall where the luncheon was to be held, something dazzling caught her eye.
“Ah…”
For the first time, even Capia let out an involuntary sound of surprise.
Pale pink hair…
There was no mistaking it. That was Tiana—the Tiana she had lost. Your name is Morgana, and also Pay, isn’t it?
Capia nearly asked aloud before barely managing to avert her gaze.
But she had already seen her. The girl sat gracefully in a light sky-blue dress that contrasted sharply with her hair.
Capia instinctively took a step back, only to meet the waiting maid’s pointed look.
“Saintess Capia has arrived.”