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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: The Real Saintess
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The real Saintess.
That was my true reason for taking the Ivory Tower’s test.
To let everyone know that I wasn’t a fake, but the real Saintess—that I truly communicated with the god of Heaven.
‘That’s the only way my words will carry any weight from now on!’
I might just be a simple subscriber to a reincarnation package and not a Saintess like people suspected, but for a peaceful future, I had to be known as the real deal.
“Heaven talked to me again.”
Since this was an important moment, I opened my mouth, paying as much attention to my pronunciation as I could.
“It said to invite Eugene of House Kroiche to the Ivory Tower.”
It wasn't exactly what Heaven said, but the intuition it gave me told me to separate Duke Kroiche and Eugene, so it was basically the same thing.
I shamelessly puffed out my chest.
The Duke's eyes widened slightly, as if surprised by the unexpected story.
* * *
“Cardinal Kaltas.”
A young priest entered with a serious expression and bowed deeply.
“Urgent news from Elpinade. The Saintess has delivered a revelation.”
Cardinal Kaltas set down the letter he was reading and looked at the young priest.
They say a true clergyman dedicates his everything to God.
Cardinal Kaltas had such a withered appearance that it seemed he had offered even his own vitality upon God's altar. He was like a dry twig.
“A revelation?”
But contrary to his frail image, his charismatic gaze made the young priest flinch.
Having served God for many long years, Cardinal Kaltas was the de facto leader of the church, acknowledged by all the priests of Kidsha.
The official head of the church was the Pope, but for the past three years, he had been bedridden with illness.
“What revelation did she supposedly deliver this time?”
“Well… she said that Eugene, Duke Kroiche's illegitimate son, must be invited to the Ivory Tower.”
At the young priest's words, Cardinal Kaltas let out a short laugh.
“And the Ivory Tower is willing to believe the Saintess's revelation? Their scholars are not exactly pushovers.”
They were men of immense pride.
“They wouldn't be swayed by the words of a mere child suspected of being a fake Saintess.”
“I thought so as well, but… the Ivory Tower is leaning toward following the Saintess's revelation. It's not confirmed yet, though.”
“What?”
When Cardinal Kaltas furrowed his brow, the young priest quickly added an explanation.
“The Saintess passed the Ivory Tower's test with a perfect score. She said God told her all the answers.”
“Hah.”
Cardinal Kaltas let out a hollow laugh.
The young priest, as if afraid of upsetting the Cardinal, spoke cautiously.
“Could it be… that the Saintess truly is real, and received a divine revelation…?”
Before he could finish, the young priest fell silent, feeling Cardinal Kaltas's sharp, piercing gaze on his face.
“Did I not tell you before? That Saintess is a fake put forth by Cardinal Bael.”
“My apologies.”
“If she were a real Saintess, Cardinal Bael would have kept her by his side in the temple. He must have sent her to the Elpinade estate, the house of his close friend, because keeping her near would expose her as a fake.”
“Your words are wise.”
“How could a Saintess who can't even wield divine power receive a revelation from God? Cardinal Bael and the Elpinades must have conspired to fabricate this story.”
“But Cardinal Bael is currently in a hundred-day prayer retreat and has completely cut off all outside contact…”
“Tsk. This is why I say you're shortsighted.”
Cardinal Kaltas clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“They obviously planned the scenario in advance. They deliberately pushed this forward while Cardinal Bael was on his retreat. That way, they have an excuse.”
“I-I see! I was being shortsighted. As expected of you, Cardinal.”
“It is enough that you understand now.”
Cardinal Kaltas's sharp expression softened, and with his usual withered face, he picked up the letter he had placed on the table.
He tossed the letter into the brazier, where it was consumed by flames.
“A father and son from an innocent family shouldn't be separated by the revelation of a fake Saintess.”
“Then…”
“We must summon the Saintess to Kidsha. We need to verify if this revelation is real.”
* * *
Today was my first day of classes at the Ivory Tower.
The other students lived and studied in the Ivory Tower's dormitories, but since my home was the Elpinade estate right next door, I could commute.
‘Is this a privilege, in a way?’
But it would have been strange to live in the dorms when my house was just a stone's throw away.
“You're so young to be studying at the Ivory Tower…”
Lily said, shaking her head as she combed my hair.
One would think she'd be proud that the person she served had been admitted to the Ivory Tower, but Lily looked rather glum.
Rose and Daisy tilted their heads, looking just as puzzled by Lily's reaction.
“Why the long face? It's a good thing. Now those people who used to look down on the Young Lady won't dare run their mouths, will they?”
“That's right. Other maids have already started approaching us on the sly, asking if they can receive the Young Lady's blessing.”
My admission to the Ivory Tower had started to slowly salvage my rock-bottom reputation.
Before, when I walked down the halls, the servants would give me half-hearted greetings, but these days, many of them bowed their heads respectfully.
‘The plan was a complete success!’
Of course, there were still more people who viewed me with disdain, calling me a fake.
But you can't change everything overnight, so there was no need to be impatient.
Just then, Lily finished combing my hair and let out a deep sigh as she looked at me in the mirror.
“At four, you should be running around and playing. I don't know how you'll endure that stuffy old Ivory Tower.”
Lily seemed to be the type who believed ‘kids should be kids!’
But even in my past life, I hadn't exactly grown up ‘like a kid.’
I grew up in the slums without knowing my parents or siblings, so I had to work from a very young age.
The most common job I could find was cleaning.
People often hired children because their small bodies could reach every nook and cranny, and they were cheap labor.
Of course, it was no easy job.
The cleaning itself was hard, but the prejudiced gazes were the most exhausting part.
‘If anything broke or went missing, it was always my fault.’
I was often beaten black and blue for things I didn't do or denied my day's wages.
Thinking back on those days, it felt like I could handle anything now.
No one hits me or falsely accuses me of being a thief.
And that wasn't all.
Nice clothes that didn't stink, delicious food that wasn't rotten, and warm water for bathing.
It was a life where everything was perfectly provided.
‘Compared to my childhood in my past life, studying at the Ivory Tower is a luxury.’
I clenched both my fists as if to tell Lily not to worry.
“I can do weally well. You don't have to wowwy.”
“Oh, my. How can you be so admirable?”
Lily said proudly, tapping me on the nose.
“Still, if it gets too hard, you can tell me anytime. The education at the Ivory Tower is mandatory, but it's not like they won't make allowances for special circumstances.”
* * *
Sitting at my desk and reading a book that was no different from a cipher made my eyes spin.
“Now, if we use the transformation equation here and apply the Aberjan-Teres formula…”
The lecture from the scholar at the front of the room felt just as much like a code.
Understanding this kind of talk was completely beyond the realm of intuition, leaving me feeling like a fish out of water.
On top of that, why were the chairs so uncomfortable?
I had only been sitting for thirty minutes, but my bottom already ached, forcing me to keep squirming.
