<Episode 20>
"Saintess. It seems all the gold dust has fallen off. You're less shiny now."
The High Priestess's mocking voice continued.
It meant the blessing of beauty from Ephrosyne had been nullified.
"......Haha. As I've said since earlier, I didn't sprinkle any gold dust, High Priestess. It's probably because the sunlight that made me sparkle is gone."
"Hmm. I feel like something has changed."
"It's because I'm a bit tense. Maybe that's why my complexion looks worse?"
"......Hm."
The High Priestess replied in a bored tone while scanning me from head to toe.
Whatever. A chill of fear ran through me.
I knew exactly what this was.
There had only been one such case so far.
"The Marchioness and her guests are waiting."
The butler said in a soft voice as he opened the tall, thick door.
"Saintess, stand behind me and follow."
"Yes."
I quickly hid behind the High Priestess.
As the door opened, the Marchioness's drawing room came into view through the gap.
And inside......
"......The Emperor."
The High Priestess called Theodore in a small voice that was barely audible. Panic laced her tone.
"This is the first time I've seen guests arrive so late. Marchioness. You should be more selective with your invitations."
Theodore, seated inside, smirked mockingly at the High Priestess.
"Your Majesty."
The elderly woman who appeared to be Marchioness Arland scolded Theodore with a stern gaze.
"Please come in, High Priestess. Saintess."
Then she welcomed us warmly. I stuck close behind the High Priestess, moving in quick steps.
I wanted to hide forever behind her tall frame.
'Of course, he's someone I have to face eventually. But still......!'
I wasn't mentally prepared yet.
"Glory to the Empire's sun."
"Thank you."
"Marchioness, thank you for the invitation."
After the High Priestess gave a calm, polite greeting, it was my turn. I really didn't want to step forward. Truly......
"Saintess?"
But holding out like this wouldn't work. At the High Priestess's urging, I finally stepped forward.
Theodore, who had been gazing at the High Priestess without losing his smile, slowly shifted his eyes. To me.
I smiled with all my might.
"I...... greet the sun of the Empire. Glory to you."
And hurriedly bowed at the waist.
"Yes, Saintess."
Theodore's voice was calm.
"'For the first' time. Nice to meet you."
But the moment he emphasized 'first' and ground out the words, as my head was bowed.
I knew instinctively.
'I'm screwed.'
"We've finally met. I'm very pleased. I heard you're the Empire's gift."
Theodore spoke in a bright voice.
That was even scarier. I could feel the sarcasm laced with fierce momentum.
"......Yes, Your Majesty. I'm glad you welcome me."
My heart pounded wildly, but fortunately, I answered without biting my tongue.
"Raise your head. Today's host isn't me, it's the Marchioness."
Theodore suggested quite kindly to me, who was still bowed in greeting.
I took a deep breath inwardly and slowly raised my head.
"......!"
Theodore facing me wore a dazzling smile that could melt ice.
"My, Your Majesty seems to be in a very good mood today."
The Marchioness chuckled at Theodore's face. The atmosphere around us warmed up.
'No way.'
With the High Priestess of all people here, there's no way he's in a good mood.
"Yes, Marchioness. I'm in a very good mood today."
'Liar......!'
No one else might know, but I, who had wronged him, knew. That's extreme anger.
Cold sweat dripped down my back. I desperately wanted to escape from Theodore's smile.
"Saintess?"
I snapped to attention at the Marchioness's call.
Right, I'm the Saintess now. No matter the Emperor, he can't kill me right here.
I straightened my back and resumed my greeting posture.
"Marchioness, thank you for inviting me. What a truly beautiful drawing room."
I pieced together plausible words using etiquette picked up from the gods, 'things not to say' heard nonstop from the High Priestess on the way, and bits from the novel.
"Hehe. I'm grateful you attended despite being busy. Please sit."
Fortunately, the Marchioness pointed to a seat far from Theodore and offered it.
But the problem was......
'It's far, but we're practically facing each other......!'
Both the High Priestess and I were seated directly across from Theodore.
I realized the Marchioness's scheme from the seating arrangement.
The House of Marquis Arland could be considered number one among nobles in piety.
The donations from the Marquis's house to the Temple alone were worth a mansion in the Capital.
Yet Theodore had no faith befitting imperial blood and didn't even visit the Temple.
'Deliberately......'
She deliberately invited the High Priestess and Theodore together.
'Quite the coercion.'
It was coercion that soured my mood.
Even knowing why Theodore despised the Maelta Church itself.
"Thank you all for attending. I received some precious tea leaves— I wanted to serve them to esteemed guests."
In the midst of it, the Marchioness spoke. Her voice was benevolent, unlike someone forcing religion on her nephew.
After the Marchioness opened the conversation, light chit-chat continued under her lead.
Impressions of the black tea served today, talk of desserts, the Countess avoiding desserts because she'd gained weight, whose child entered the academy and was so clever......
All suitable topics. Nothing to make anyone here uncomfortable.
'Please just keep it like this until the end.'
I desperately prayed while watching the two time bombs.
The High Priestess had lost her chance to spread bad rumors about Theodore since the man himself was here.
Knowing her temperamental nature, she must be cursing inwardly.
Theodore was heated because of the High Priestess and me.
I didn't want to provoke either.
Please, no religion talk. Please. Anything but religion......
No, the Marchioness would bring up religion somehow.
Or me, don't talk about me. She might want to because I'm the Saintess, but please hold back just once......!
"I've been very impressed by the Saintess's stories lately. Relief efforts—truly wonderful."
Defying my wishes, the topic turned to me. I forcibly lifted the corners of my mouth.
"......Thank you for the kind words, Marchioness."
"Yes. I heard you flew in the sky. Is that true?"
As the Marchioness asked with wide eyes, the ladies beside her all turned to me at once. Their eyes sparkled.
I carefully chose the most saintess-like words.
"Yes, that day the gods helped me—"
"Haha."
A laugh cut off my words. Theodore was looking at me with a full sneer.
"Your Majesty."
The Marchioness uttered a scolding mixed half panic, half anger.
Theodore shrugged at the Marchioness.
"What can be done, Marchioness. Unbefitting imperial blood, I have no faith, so I can't believe such absurd tales."
"It's rude to the Saintess."
"Hmm. It seems even ruder if I stand. Let me demonstrate."
"Your Majesty!"
"Marchioness. I've endured until now, but if you've arranged this gathering intending a Maelta Church sermon with the Emperor of a nation seated, I'll take my leave. I have heavy duties."
Theodore said still smiling.
"......I apologize for inviting you without proper notice, Your Majesty. But Your Majesty."
Looking closely, Theodore seemed to have been baited without knowing the attendees, just like the High Priestess and me. How displeased he must be.
"I've been very worried because Your Majesty showed no interest in the Saintess's appearance."
The Marchioness spoke earnestly, as if truly concerned.
It made my insides stuffy just listening.
Why force the busy Emperor to care? The Maelta Church will handle it internally......!
Even I, the person involved, was bewildered.
"Why not talk a bit more with the Saintess, Your Majesty. Who knows, you might gain new faith today......"
The Emperor gazing at the pleading Marchioness wore an even greener smile than before. He seemed at his limit.
"Marchioness, you truly—"
The moment I dreaded what words would come from Theodore's mouth.
"Um— Marchioness!"
I mustered courage and spoke up.
"Yes, Saintess. Please stay out of the conversation now—"
Marchioness Arland tried to calmly restrain me. I spoke quickly before she finished.
"The gods— just now. Spoke to me!"
"Pardon?"
All eyes turned to me again.
Fortunately, the newspapers had been flooded with 'The Saintess receives God's words regardless of the Temple's blue flames.'
She'd probably intended to exploit that to manipulate my words and use me everywhere.
No problem if I turned it around. It was a convenient tool saving me the effort of deception.
"Wh-what words, Saintess?!"
"......First......"
"First......!"
I deliberately paused to build suspense.
The Marchioness was leaning forward as if about to leap from her chair.
"I must tell His Majesty first. Could we speak privately?"
At my words, all gazes shifted back to Theodore.
'Anyway, I have to talk, so might as well now......!'
Having thrown the desperate gamble with that mindset, sweat poured from my hands.
