-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: A Lesson in Manners
-----------------------------------------------------------------
***
“...”
This, however, was completely unexpected.
The visitor to the Grand Temple was a vassal of Count Kiris.
Since he was a titled noble, I assumed he would have been led straight to my drawing room.
But when I heard he was still at the entrance, I wondered what was going on...
“S-Sob, I-I’m sorry...”
An apprentice priestess was kneeling on the floor, tears streaming down her face as she apologized, surrounded by a few holy knights who seemed to be protecting her.
Standing before them was a man dressed impeccably from head to toe.
His blue eyes, framed by a monocle, were filled with contempt.
Seeing the apprentice priestess, who had clearly been slapped, I realized the maid who informed me wasn't just scared because of me.
“What is going on here?”
As I approached and asked, the gathered people flinched and stepped back.
The man, who had been seething with anger, scowled deeply when he saw me.
“You’ve finally arrived, Lady Kiris.”
Lady Kiris?
A corner of my mouth quirked up. It was the first time I’d heard that title since possessing this body.
“It seems the temple doesn’t properly educate its underlings, so I took the liberty of teaching her a lesson myself.”
“A lesson?”
“She failed to recognize the greatness of Count Kiris and kept me waiting here. How dare she, in a Grand Temple that would have long since fallen without the Count’s support.”
A cold silence fell over the crowd at his insolent remark.
No matter how much the temple relied on the Count's donations to survive, this was the Grand Temple, where the Sun God was served more closely than anywhere else.
That comment had definitely crossed a line.
“Lady Kiris, what do you think the Count will say when he hears of this? Tell them to start their education properly, starting today.”
The man lifted his chin and declared confidently.
The faces of Airic and Seth, who had rushed over, also hardened.
However, the man showed no sign of surprise upon seeing them.
Instead, he looked straight at me as if to say, *What can the likes of you do?*, and made his demand.
“Now, escort me inside. My legs are getting sore from all this standing.”
“That bastard...”
At his shameless attempt to order me, the Saintess, around, Victoria, who stood behind me, gripped her sword. Her aura was menacing, as if she would cut him down in a single stroke if I gave the word.
Instead of giving her permission to take the bastard’s head, I took a step forward.
“What an interesting thing to say. So...”
“...”
“So... who were you again?”
Damn it. I wanted to say something cool, but I blew it because I don't know his name.
Only main characters like Airic or Seth can recognize people just by their appearance. How am I supposed to remember all of Kiris’s lackeys?
“What was your name?”
What else could I do? I swallowed my pride and asked, and from somewhere, I heard a *pfft*—the sound of someone trying to stifle a laugh.
Airic was clutching Seth’s shoulder, covering his face, and trembling.
I could see Seth clenching his jaw tightly as well.
At the two main characters' antics, the man’s face turned red, then purple.
Okay, even I have to admit that was a bit harsh.
“How could you not know the name of the Count’s aide...!”
“How am I supposed to remember every little thing like that?”
“E-Every little thing!”
“What, is your name so precious that you just keep squawking without telling me? Who the hell are you?”
“H-He said he was Baron William Gale!”
The one who answered for the man was the apprentice priestess, still kneeling.
“Oh, thank you for telling me. By the way, it looks like you were hit. Are you hurt? Someone please take the apprentice priestess to be treated.”
At my words, a female priestess hurried over and helped the apprentice to her feet.
But her tear-streaked face was so young. This bastard hit a child that young? Is he out of his mind?
“To strike a child so harshly in the Grand Temple. I wonder who really needs a lesson. So, you said Baron Grail?”
“It’s Gale! The problem is with *that thing* over there, who failed to recognize me—here on the Count’s orders—and blocked my way, babbling about needing permission!”
“And here I was wondering why you hit someone. You hit her for doing her job? Baron Goreil, what is wrong with your character?”
“It’s Gale! And why is that her job...!”
“Of course she should stop an uninvited guest trying to barge in.”
Gale flinched. He looked utterly incredulous, as if he never expected me to say such a thing.
It was truly ridiculous.
“It doesn’t matter who you are or whose orders you’re following. If you want to enter this place, you must have permission from me, the High Priest, or the Captain of the Holy Knights. That is your place in this Grand Temple.”
“...”
“Understood, Baron Gain?”
Gale bristled again, but this time he didn’t try to correct his name.
Right, by now he should be starting to get it.
That I have no intention of properly saying the name of some punk who dared to cause a scene in the Grand Temple.
“If it were up to me, I’d throw you out... but you seem to have something to say, so I’ll give you a chance. You can either leave now or come inside quietly. I won’t stop you. The choice is yours.”
Without waiting for his answer, I strode inside.
Airic and Seth didn’t follow me, instead remaining where they were, staring intently at Gale.
All traces of laughter had vanished from their faces.
I left them to it and headed to my room with Victoria.
After all, Gale’s choice was already decided.
***
As I expected, Gale didn’t leave. He swallowed his shame and remained at the temple.
Victoria informed me that Airic and Seth were with him.
So what was I doing now?
“Ah, that feels refreshing! A bath after breaking a sweat is the best.”
I worked up a sweat during my morning exercise, so of course I had to wash up!
Thanks to the groundwater, I could use as much water as I wanted without worrying about money. What a relief.
“It’s a shame I can’t give you your usual massage to properly relieve your fatigue. All because of that uninvited guest.”
Victoria sighed as she dried my wet hair.
Has it been about three days? Victoria, having opened up to me, had started giving me massages after my post-workout baths.
Befitting a knight, her massage skills were excellent, and I was treated to luxury every day.
“I’m disappointed too. Still, I feel sorry for the High Priest and the Captain, who have to stay with the baron, so let’s go.”
After changing into my saintess robes, I entered the drawing room connected to my bedroom.
And I couldn’t help but laugh.
The confident Gale who had first arrived at the Grand Temple was nowhere to be seen.
He was completely overwhelmed by the presence of Airic and Seth, who sat opposite him.
“I see the High Priest and the Captain have been keeping you company. You must not have been lonely.”
Gale shot me an aggrieved look, but I ignored it and took the seat of honor.
“You two may leave now.”
I casually said this to them, just as we had arranged a few days ago.
Now all they had to do was protest a little before leaving...
“I cannot allow it. There’s no telling what harm that insolent man might do to you, Saintess.”
“I agree. How can we leave you alone with a man who so readily resorts to violence? Absolutely not.”
...But you can. Their reaction is more intense than I expected.
Seeing Gale’s face flush crimson, I had to admit it wasn’t bad.
The two of them continued to provoke Gale for a bit longer before finally pretending to yield to my wishes, sighing as they left the room.
I could see Airic doing it, but I never knew that Seth, who was usually so rigid, could act so well.
“Ordel Kiris. Have you lost your mind?”
The moment Gale and I were alone, he spat out words that were exactly what I'd expected.
He’d thrown away the title ‘Lady Kiris’ and was now using my name coarsely.
So, Airic and Seth, with their powerful divine abilities, were intimidating, but I was a nobody, is that it?
“What do you think Count Kiris will say when he learns of your behavior!”
“He’ll be angry.”
“W-What?”
“But you’re the one who’ll have to face that anger when you go back and report, not me. I have no intention of ever leaving this place.”
I mocked him openly.
“Did you think I’d fall to my knees and beg the moment you mentioned the Count? Dream on. That’s never going to happen.”
“Ordel Kiris!”
“On second thought, I’ve been acting like too much of a pushover. There was no reason for it. After all, I’m the Saintess now.”
At my words, Gale slammed his fist on the table.
The sound was so weak it wasn’t even scary.
“How dare you, a fake Saintess who only got her position thanks to the Count’s grace!”
“You’re right, I am a fake. But that’s a secret, isn’t it?”
A fake Saintess.
If this were to be exposed, who would suffer more damage—me, or Count Kiris?
“If it’s revealed that I’m a fake, I’ll just be a little embarrassed. But do you think Count Kiris, who made his adopted daughter a fake Saintess out of a lust for power, will get off with just mere embarrassment?”
I made sure to drill their situation into the head of this man who still couldn’t grasp his place.
“Baron Gale. The one being blackmailed over a fake Saintess isn’t me—it’s Count Kiris. You’re the ones who should be trembling in fear, trying to hide this fact.”
