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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Visitor
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"..."
Gail just trembled, unable to say a word.
I must have hit the nail on the head.
"Of course, I haven't forgotten the Count's kindness. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be enjoying this lavish life as a Saintess. How could I ever forget such grace?"
I deliberately gave him time to think, then whispered in a subtle tone, as if I had never threatened him at all.
Having wielded the whip, it was now time to offer the carrot.
To keep swind—ahem, no, to keep extorting donations from the Kiris County.
"It's just that both the Count and you kept ignoring me, so I got a little angry. If it gets out that I'm a fake Saintess, the County will be in trouble, but it's not like I'll come out unscathed, right? I'll be completely ostracized from high society."
"..."
"So, here's the thing. I'm going to start playing the part of the Saintess properly, just as the Count wants."
"...What did you say?"
Gail, who had been eyeing my sudden change in attitude with suspicion, widened his eyes.
The momentum had now completely shifted to my side.
"You saw how the High Priest and the Captain of the Holy Knights were worried about me, right? If I put my mind to it, earning their trust is a piece of cake."
The reason I had asked the two of them to react so strongly on purpose.
It was for this very moment.
Because Gail would believe Airic and Seth's reactions more than my words.
"..."
Just as I expected, Gail's eyes began to waver, as if he couldn't even imagine I was deceiving him.
"You came here because of the spies, didn't you?"
"..."
"I was the one who reported the chef Kento's embezzlement. And the High Priest and the Captain of the Holy Knights investigated and rounded up all the spies."
"Why would you do such a thing! Now that the High Priest and the Captain know, it will be difficult to plant new spies!"
"In return, I gained their trust."
I whispered a sweet lie into his ear, one he couldn't help but fall for.
"It's all thanks to that how I, with my mouse-tail's worth of divine power, earned their trust. They never found out that the spies were planted by the Kiris family. If they had, they wouldn't have let you in here today."
"...Ah."
"If I, having earned their trust, play the role of the Saintess perfectly, there'll be no more need to plant spies here. Because I'll become the spy myself."
"..."
"So, what do you think, Gail? Do I still look like the incompetent 'Miss Kiris' to you?"
It was a jab at how he had called me 'Miss Kiris' instead of 'Saintess' in front of the Grand Temple's people, who didn't know I was a fake.
The foolish Gail's eyes wavered as he finally realized just how dangerous that had been.
"So go back and tell the Count. Tell him to stop planting spies just to embezzle some paltry sum. I'll become the Grand Temple's true Saintess and earn him back several times that amount."
Of course, it was a lie. The one who falls for it is the fool.
Who told them to be the bad guys first? This is what they get.
"...I don't know if the Count will accept the Sain, tess's proposal, but I will relay the message."
Completely overwhelmed by my presence, Gail stammered his reply. I smiled in satisfaction and leaned back leisurely on the sofa.
If Count Kiris is a smart man, he'll agree to my proposal. If not, he'll probably come running to grab me by the hair.
I can only hope he doesn't make a foolish choice.
* * *
"Will she be all right...?"
Seth asked with a sigh.
Having left the drawing room, Airic and Seth were now at the entrance of the Grand Temple.
They were there to block the knights of the County, brought by Baron Gail, from entering.
To think he brought nearly ten knights with him to the Grand Temple.
"Even if he is a vassal under the Saintess's father, for such a rude man to..."
Wary of the knights, Seth let out a worried sigh.
Airic, who knew more than him, also had a hardened expression.
Ordel already received no love from the Count; who knew what greater disrespect he might show her now that they were alone.
His earlier refusal of Ordel's order to leave was partly because she had instructed him to, but it was also half-sincere.
"...Sir Victoria is guarding the front of the drawing room, isn't she?"
"Of course. She's not yet at the Master level, so she won't be able to hear the conversation inside. The drawing room is too well soundproofed."
"Can she hear any loud noises?"
"If it's loud enough to warrant a knight's intervention, she will."
Airic nodded at Seth's assurance.
Ordel was the type to scream when she got angry, not hold it in, so it would probably be fine.
...But when was the last time she had screamed?
Before, she used to throw a tantrum almost every other day.
It had been quite a while since he'd heard that high-pitched voice, which used to get angry as if she were crying.
Instead, his recent memories were filled with a relaxed and gentle voice he had rarely heard before.
"High Priest. Someone is approaching."
Just as a strange feeling washed over him at this new realization, Seth's voice cut in.
From the end of the garden, two unfamiliar men were walking toward them.
Could they be people from the Kiris family who came with Gail?
Airic glanced at the Kiris knights with cold eyes.
Strangely, however, they also wore wary expressions.
Are they unrelated to that man? Then who on earth are they?
It had been so long since anyone other than those connected to the Kiris family had visited that he had no idea.
"High Priest, it's Duke Lute Ciel."
At Seth's urgent whisper, Airic's eyes widened. The man's appearance certainly matched the rumors he had heard.
Lute Ciel.
The Duke who ruled the western part of Carnus, the continent's only empire, and the owner of the vast western mines.
The head of one of the empire's four ducal houses, the only one without imperial blood, yet possessing overwhelming power.
A man like that had come to this Grand Temple?
He had lived here for eighteen years, but this was the first time he had seen a figure of such stature visit the Grand Temple.
"Did you know I was coming? To think you'd all be lined up waiting like this. I'm overwhelmed by such a fervent welcome."
The man, Lute Ciel, who had approached in no time, stood at an angle and tilted his head.
The intensity in his eyes as he looked over the people swarming the entrance was extraordinary.
It was enough to make one feel instinctively intimidated.
While the Kiris knights, belatedly recognizing his identity, scrambled in confusion, Airic and Seth descended the stairs to greet the Duke.
"Welcome to the Grand Temple of the Sun God. I am High Priest Airic Derte."
"I am Seth Noel, Captain of the Holy Knights."
"Oh, the High Priest and the Captain of the Holy Knights. Did you really know I was coming?"
Lute arched an eyebrow, as if he hadn't expected them to be the two highest-ranking people in the temple.
It was awkward to give a lengthy explanation to someone whose purpose for visiting was unknown, so Airic cut straight to the point.
"Had we known the Lord of the West was coming, we would have prepared a proper welcome. However, we lack the eyes to see the future and could not predict today's events in the slightest."
It was a refined way of asking why on earth he had come.
"Ah, so you don't have the power of prophecy?"
Instead of answering the question, Lute responded with one of his own.
"...We do not."
"Damn, I was really hoping you might have prophetic abilities. How disappointing."
Beyond his crookedly worn glasses, the corners of his eyes drooped with disappointment.
He didn't seem to be sarcastic but genuinely expectant, which flustered Airic.
Prophecy, the ability to see the future, was the domain of the gods, something only they could possess.
How could a mere mortal possibly see the future?
Even the Saintess and Saints, chosen by the gods, could not prophesize.
It was surprising that he had genuinely believed it.
"I've come on important business, so please guide me to a quiet place. The matter is a bit difficult to discuss where there are many listening ears."
As if he had never spoken playfully, Lute Ciel's expression suddenly turned serious.
The heavy atmosphere that shifted with it subtly pressured Airic.
Indeed, he wasn't called a pillar supporting the empire for nothing.
"This way, please."
Having no reason to refuse and also being curious, Airic was about to lead him inside.
"High Priest? Who is that gentleman?"
Ordel appeared with Gail, their conversation apparently over.
Airic instinctively checked Ordel's face first.
When she was angry, the corners of her eyes usually turned red as if she had been crying, but right now, her complexion was perfectly calm.
As if nothing had happened.
Only after checking the expression of Victoria, who stood behind Ordel, did Airic secretly feel relieved.
"This is Duke Lute Ciel. He said he has come to the Grand Temple on business."
Airic didn't add any further explanation, assuming Ordel would know who Lute Ciel was.
"...Who did you say?"
But for some reason, her face was blank, and Airic tilted his head in confusion.
Could it be she doesn't know the Duke?
"He is one of the four pillars that support the empire, and the Lord of the West."
Ordel's face, which had been perfectly fine just a moment ago, suddenly turned deathly pale.
