Chapter 20
“Saint. It seems all that gold dust has finally fallen away. You don’t seem to be glowing as much anymore.”
Even the High Priestess spoke in her usual indifferent tone.
That meant the blessing of beauty bestowed by Ephrosyne had been nullified.
“…Haha. I told you before, High Priestess. I didn’t put on any gold dust. Maybe I was just sparkling in the sunlight, and now that’s gone.”
“Hm. It feels as though something has changed.”
“I’m just a little nervous. Maybe that’s why I look a bit pale?”
“…Hm.”
Though she answered in a bored voice, the High Priestess carefully examined me from head to toe.
It didn’t matter.
A chill of fear ran through me.
I knew exactly what was happening.
Because this had only ever happened once before.
“The Marchioness is waiting with her guests.”
The butler spoke gently as he opened the tall, heavy doors.
“Saint, stand behind me and follow me in.”
“Yes.”
I immediately hid behind the High Priestess.
As the doors opened, the Marchioness’s reception room came into view.
And inside…
“…Your Majesty.”
The High Priestess murmured Theodore’s title so quietly it was almost inaudible. There was unmistakable surprise in her voice.
“This is the first time I’ve seen guests arrive this late, Marchioness. You should be more selective about whom you invite.”
Seated inside, Theodore wore a teasing smile as he mocked the High Priestess.
“Your Majesty.”
An elderly woman, who appeared to be the Marchioness of Alland, gave Theodore a stern look of reproach.
“Please come in, High Priestess. Saint.”
Then she welcomed us warmly.
I clung tightly behind the High Priestess and hurried along in her shadow.
I want to stay hidden behind her forever.
Of course, I knew I’d have to meet him eventually. But still…!
I hadn’t prepared myself.
“Glory to the Sun of the Empire.”
“My thanks.”
“Marchioness, thank you for your invitation.”
After the High Priestess greeted everyone with perfect composure, it became my turn.
I truly didn’t want to step forward.
Not at all.
“Saint?”
But I couldn’t keep hiding like this.
Prompted by the High Priestess, I finally stepped out.
Theodore, who had been smiling pleasantly at the High Priestess, slowly shifted his gaze.
To me.
I forced the best smile I could manage.
“G-… Glory to the Sun of the Empire.”
Then I hurriedly bowed.
“Yes, Saint.”
Theodore’s voice was calm.
“So this is our ‘first’ meeting.”
He emphasized the word first, grinding it out with deliberate weight.
The instant those words settled over my bowed head—
I knew.
I’m screwed.
“At long last, we’ve finally met.”
“It’s a real pleasure. I hear you’re the Empire’s gift.”
Theodore spoke cheerfully.
That only made it scarier.
His sarcasm was unmistakable.
“…Yes, Your Majesty. I am honored by your welcome.”
My heart pounded violently, but fortunately I managed to answer without biting my tongue.
“Raise your head. I’m not the host of today’s gathering. The Marchioness is.”
Theodore kindly suggested it to me as I remained bowed.
Taking several frantic breaths in secret, I slowly lifted my head.
“…!”
Theodore was smiling brilliantly enough to melt ice.
“My, Your Majesty seems to be in an exceptionally good mood today.”
The Marchioness chuckled as she watched him.
The atmosphere around the room immediately relaxed.
As if.
The High Priestess was here.
There was no way he could actually be in a good mood.
“Yes, Marchioness.”
“I’m in an excellent mood today.”
Liar…!
No one else could tell.
But I could.
I had wronged him.
That smile meant he was furious.
Cold sweat ran down my back.
Every instinct I had screamed at me to run from Theodore’s smile.
“Saint?”
The Marchioness called my name, bringing me back to my senses.
Right.
I was the Saint now.
Even the Emperor couldn’t simply kill me here.
Straightening my back, I bowed politely once more.
“Marchioness, thank you very much for inviting me. This is a truly beautiful reception room.”
Drawing on the etiquette the gods had taught me, the warnings the High Priestess had drilled into me on the carriage ride over, and every noble gathering I’d ever read about in novels, I pieced together a respectable greeting.
“Hehe. Thank you for making time to attend despite your busy schedule. Please, have a seat.”
Fortunately, the Marchioness gestured toward a seat far away from Theodore.
The problem was…
It’s far away, but we’re practically sitting across from each other…!
Both the High Priestess and I were seated directly opposite Theodore.
The seating arrangement revealed the Marchioness’s intentions.
Among all the noble houses, House Alland was famous for being the most devout.
The donations the family had made to the Temple alone were enough to buy an entire mansion in the capital.
Meanwhile, Theodore, despite being royalty, possessed not a shred of religious devotion.
He never even visited the Temple.
She did this on purpose…
She had deliberately invited both Theodore and the High Priestess.
She’s being awfully forceful.
Forceful enough to make anyone frown.
Especially considering she knew perfectly well why Theodore had come to loathe the Maelta Faith itself.
“Thank you all for coming. I recently acquired some rare tea leaves, and I wished to share them with such distinguished guests.”
The Marchioness began speaking.
Ironically, despite someone who relentlessly pushed religion onto her own nephew, her voice was warm and gentle.
From then on, she led the conversation.
Thoughts on today’s black tea.
Comments about the desserts.
A countess complaining she’d been avoiding sweets because she’d gained weight.
News that someone’s child had entered the Imperial Academy and was proving exceptionally gifted…
All perfectly harmless topics.
Subjects that wouldn’t make anyone at the table uncomfortable.
Please let it stay this way.
Watching the two ticking time bombs before me, I prayed desperately.
The High Priestess had intended to spread rumors against Theodore today, only for the man himself to appear and ruin her plans.
Knowing her hot temper, she was undoubtedly cursing him endlessly in her mind.
Meanwhile, Theodore was already irritated because of both the High Priestess…
…and me.
I didn’t want to provoke either of them.
Please, don’t let religion come up.
Please.
Anything but religion…
No.
The Marchioness would definitely bring it up somehow.
Then at least don’t talk about me.
I know I’m the Saint and you’ll want to ask about me, but please… just this once…
“I’ve found the recent stories about the Saint most impressive. Beginning a relief campaign—what a truly wonderful thing.”
My prayers were answered with complete indifference.
The conversation turned to me.
Forcing a smile, I replied,
“…Thank you for thinking so highly of it, Marchioness.”
“So I’ve heard you flew through the sky. Is that really true?”
At her question, the ladies seated beside her all turned to stare at me.
Their eyes sparkled with excitement.
Carefully choosing words befitting a saint, I answered,
“Yes. That day, the gods helped me—”
“Haha.”
A laugh cut me off.
Theodore was looking straight at me with open mockery.
“Your Majesty.”
The Marchioness scolded him, her voice a mixture of embarrassment and anger.
Theodore merely shrugged.
“What can I do, Marchioness? Unlike a proper member of the Imperial Family, I have no faith. I simply cannot believe such absurd stories.”
“You’re being rude to the Saint.”
“Hm. Since I fear I may become even ruder, perhaps I should excuse myself.”
“Your Majesty!”
“Marchioness. I’ve endured enough already. But if you arranged this gathering simply to lecture the Emperor of this nation about the Maelta Faith, then I shall take my leave. I have far too much work waiting for me.”
Theodore maintained his smile throughout.
“…I apologize for inviting Your Majesty without fully explaining the purpose. However…”
It dawned on me that Theodore, like the High Priestess and me, had apparently been lured here without knowing who else had been invited.
No wonder he was in such a foul mood.
“Your Majesty has shown no interest whatsoever in the appearance of the Saint, and this old woman has been deeply worried.”
The Marchioness spoke with genuine concern.
Even I felt suffocated listening to her.
Why does the overworked Emperor have to take an interest? Let the Maelta Faith handle its own affairs…!
Even I, the person in question, found this whole situation bewildering.
“How about spending just a little more time speaking with the Saint, Your Majesty? Who knows? Perhaps today you may discover a new faith…”
The Emperor looked at the pleading Marchioness with an even more perfectly painted smile than before.
It seemed he had finally reached his limit.
“Marchioness, you truly—”
Just as I dreaded what words would come out of Theodore’s mouth—
“U-Um… Marchioness!”
Summoning every ounce of courage, I interrupted.
“Yes, Saint. Please refrain from interrupting the conver—”
The Marchioness calmly tried to stop me.
Before she could finish, I blurted out,
“The gods… just now… delivered a revelation to me!”
“What?”
Every eye in the room snapped back toward me.
Thank goodness the High Priestess had flooded the newspapers with stories proclaiming that the Saint could receive divine revelations directly, even without the Temple’s blue sacred flame.
She had probably intended to use that claim as an excuse to manipulate my words for her own benefit.
If she could exploit it…
Then there was no reason I couldn’t exploit it too.
It was a wonderfully convenient setup that saved me the trouble of convincing anyone.
“Wh-What do you mean, Saint?”
“…First…”
“First…?”
Deliberately, I paused, making everyone wait in suspense.
The Marchioness was practically leaning out of her chair.
“I must speak to His Majesty first.”
“Would it be possible for us to talk in private?”
At my words, everyone’s gaze shifted once again toward Theodore.
I was going to have to talk to him eventually… so I might as well do it now…!
Having thrown caution to the wind, I gambled everything on that single move.
Meanwhile, sweat poured from my trembling hands.
