<Episode 31>
* * *
"Saintess, thank you so much."
"Please rise. You're embarrassing me."
Two days ago, watching the father-daughter reunion had been a secret, so officially, it had been a week since Cayden and I last met.
This morning, two days later, Cayden invited me right away. I'd thought it would take at least a week after enjoying family reunion bliss, but it was faster than expected.
The moment I received the letter, I instructed the priest to send a reply saying 'I can't come,' then secretly slipped out of the Temple without anyone knowing and boarded a carriage.
Cayden's face brimmed with vitality upon our meeting.
He was still gaunt, but his bright demeanor made it seem like he'd gained weight.
"I heard you couldn't come, so how did you manage to come?"
"......Well."
I gauged Cayden's mood. According to Agatha, the ducal family treated benefactors impeccably.
At this rate, he'd keep my words without blabbing to the High Priestess.
"The High Priestess said no...... But Ridge missed you so much, I came out."
"I see. Ridge— Pardon? The High Priestess said no? Why?"
"The High Priestess is quite strict about me contacting outsiders outside the Temple......"
"Strict......?"
"I can't go out alone. Even inside the Grand Temple, she wants someone by my side."
I gave an innocent smile and spoke in a troubled voice.
"She must cherish you greatly."
Cayden responded with puzzlement, thinking something like, 'Does the High Priestess treasure the Saintess too much?'
Of course.
Even without deep faith, any Empire citizen believed the High Priestess was upright. It was a deeply rooted prejudice.
Thus, they couldn't imagine her harming me. It showed how thoroughly she'd built her image.
"Actually, last time...... The day I came to the ducal residence, I got caught, which put me in quite a bind. I was grounded from going out......"
At those words, Cayden finally frowned sharply.
"That's surveillance, isn't it? Even if she's the High Priestess, treating the legendary returned Saintess like that....... Sigh. How did you come out today?"
"Pardon? Ah, well....... I said I wanted to enter the prayer room alone, put on a robe, and snuck out. I was a bit scared of getting caught, but it was fun."
I even added a playful 'hehe' smile.
"Do you really have to sneak out like that?"
"If the High Priestess knew I wanted to go to the ducal residence, she'd get angry....... Ah, of course, it's just because she cherishes me."
"......You're too kind, Saintess."
"Pardon? You're too complimentary."
"No, I mean....... Never mind. Sigh."
Cayden let out a troubled sigh.
[He didn't realize the High Priestess was like that.]
Her pristine image had shattered inside him. Fortunately, as someone without deep faith, it broke easily.
If he'd been passionately devout for years......
'It would have been tough.'
Cayden was the perfect target to win over.
[‘How can she view such a person positively? So kind...... I must protect the Saintess.’]
His thoughts showed the misunderstanding had piled up perfectly. Extreme favorability was so convenient.
I brought a finger to my lips with a troubled face.
"Young Lord. Could you keep my visit here a secret......? Please ask the Duke too."
No matter how secretly I came, if the ducal family spoke, the High Priestess would know in an instant.
Well. Asking for secrecy was also to hide my demands from her today.
"Saintess......"
"Please. The High Priestess worries I'll misuse my powers. I just want to help everyone......"
"Good heavens."
Cayden inhaled sharply.
It was the signal that I'd successfully built the image of a 'kind Saintess monitored yet blaming no one, seeking to aid all.'
"Young Lord, will you protect me? Promise......"
"You're under such surveillance...... And you came secretly to find my daughter."
This time, he even got emotional on his own.
I just smiled silently at Cayden. As always, people here misunderstood so obligingly.
"I don't know how to thank you......"
His lips moved. He looked ready to shed tears of gratitude, slightly burdensome, but it was going as planned.
"No need. I just did what God's messenger should. Praying to Lord Horte who watched over her is enough."
"I was going to build a chapel on the perfect empty lot next to the mansion anyway, so I hired contractors. Even found a sculptor for the statues! I'll pay extra special attention to Lord Horte's statue."
'A chapel too......?'
His action was no joke......
"For the chapel, will only ducal family members use it?"
Perfect. One of my topics was worship.
"Haven't decided on opening it yet. Building it as a gift to God."
"Aha......"
I quickly made a regretful face. Cayden, eager to shower his benefactor, jumped at my fleeting expression.
"Do you need a separate chapel? I can build a new one and offer—"
Why go there? No.
"No! In the Grand Temple, it's hard to meet believers, so I've been thinking a place to meet and talk separately would be nice."
"Saintess, such a kind thought......!"
"Yes. If the ducal chapel were open, I thought I could sneak in to meet sometimes, so I was a bit disappointed. Was it obvious?"
"Taking on such trouble......"
"Meeting believers is my joy. And unintentionally, I could help you too."
I tried for a sad smile. Not knowing sad smiles well, I just lowered my eyebrows and smiled faintly.
Should have practiced expressions.
"Hm....... Does anyone else know your situation?"
"Pardon? No. Coming to the Berardi ducal residence was my first time out interacting alone."
Agatha's relay of Cayden's inner thoughts flowed exactly as I wanted, nearly making me smirk slyly.
Innocent face. Effort, self......!
Cayden pondered deeply, then lifted his head.
"Then. How about I host worship services, and you attend secretly?"
"Pardon?"
"The chapel is for God anyway, so using it would be the greatest honor."
"W-Would that be okay?"
"Your joy, so I want to help. Many acquaintances have troubles, and most are tight-lipped."
"Then...... Sorry, but I'll accept the favor."
"Sorry? Don't say that."
Cayden smiled happily.
It went exactly as planned, yet seeing his joy tugged at my heart.
I'd intended to ask for secret meetings anyway.
In a ducal family...... Influential figures hard for me to approach directly would attend invitations easily.
The High Priestess managed all invitations to me, so as a Grand Temple-bound Saintess, expanding connections had clear limits.
This was becoming influential in the Capital City......
Of course, I hadn't expected a chapel. Pure luck.
Cayden. He was a walking blessing drawn by Horte's compassion for children. A huge help to us.
The impossible future was nearing. A future without seeing ghosts......
"Regular services? Sending invitations to the Grand Temple would be hard, so better set a meeting spot. The ice cream shop in the plaza seemed good; I can buy it—"
Nodding absently at Cayden's grand scale, the door suddenly opened.
"Sis!"
It was Ridge.
The child approached smiling brightly. Worlds apart from our first meeting.
"Ridge!"
I stood delighted for real.
"Siiiis."
Ridge ran to the sofa and hopped beside me. She wore a lovely dress.
"Sis! How are the kids? They didn't cry without me?"
"Surprisingly fine?"
"Those rascals, cheeky!"
"Haha. Kidding. Come visit sometimes, Ridge."
"Yes!"
I chatted lightly with Ridge about recent events, then turned to Cayden.
"I was surprised your daughter was one of the kids I brought to the Temple and cared for...... God doesn't tell precisely, so many things are hard to know."
I steadily revealed the 'God's words are vague' setting.
"Indeed."
This was already in Cayden's letter.
Yes.
Not only had I found his daughter for Cayden, but I'd brought his starving child to the Temple out of kindness and protected her. I was his ultimate benefactor.
"I didn't know you snuck out at night, Ridge. To see the night market?"
"Yes! Was it...... trouble? Priest sis said it'd be fine......"
I feigned ignorance on purpose. Ridge gave a perfect, honest, pure answer.
"No. You went with a priest, so safe. If anyone nags me, Ridge can scold them, right?"
"Hehe, yes!"
I laughed and stroked Ridge's hair.
"Without Saintess sis, we'd have starved. Ah...... Daddy."
After chatting with me, Ridge smartly praised me to Cayden.
Her calling 'Daddy' awkwardly was utterly adorable.
"Thank you truly, Saintess."
About six times now. Cayden bowed. I waved it off.
"Enough, it's fine."
"Anything you want, I'll grant. I may not seem reliable, but the ducal name carries weight."
Loyalty gleamed in Cayden's eyes.
Eyes making me want to say 'Become my subordinate' despite acting Saintess.
Having the next Duke as a subordinate...... Thrilling just thinking.
But as Saintess, I had to hide my intentions meekly.
Of course, I'd exploit maximally while hiding.
"Take this first."
"Pardon?"
Before me appeared four large boxes.
Cayden's aide approached, gloved in white, opening them one by one.
"......!"
Boxes packed with exotic gems and gold bars at a glance.
I swallowed involuntarily.
This much...... should be okay? Won't tarnish Saintess image? Better than gambling? Seems far more than gambling winnings?
I agonized fiercely.
"......No thank you. I didn't do it for reward."
But I had to refuse, swallowing bloody tears.
A Saintess declaring world salvation, carrying ultra-luxury valuables? Bad for image.
Cayden sighed.
"I figured you'd say that....... Won't you accept?"
Grateful, he kept pleading, understanding my heart.
"It's troubling, Young Lord."
"Ugh....... Then at least this. Please."
"What's this?"
Cayden offered a bracelet embedded with yellow gems.
"Minerals from the Beza Mountains, the Empire's highest range. Locals believe keeping it protects from nature spirits."
"Oh, so pretty......"
"Not that valuable, so accept without burden."
This much is fine.
"Ah, then...... Thank you."
Quite pretty.
Silver ring on wrist with scattered yellow gems, like moons orbiting Earth.
Some...... mystical aura flowed.
[Spirit energy clings to it.]
As I admired the bracelet curiously, Agatha chimed in.
