Chapter 44
“How about tomorrow evening? Evil spirits are strongest at night, so it’ll be easier to drive it away then.”
“Y-Yes! Of course!”
As I stepped out of the room, the believers who had gathered today came over to greet me.
“Saintess! It was truly an honor to meet you.”
“I’ll remember every piece of advice you gave me and put it into practice.”
“The first thing I’m doing when I get home is throwing away my jewelry box!”
“Those are wonderful decisions. Thank you all so much for coming today.”
“Not at all! It’s an honor that you made time for us, Saintess! Our family will treasure this blessing forever!”
“Goodness… hearing you say that truly moves me.”
I wanted to tear up for dramatic effect as well.
Unfortunately, my acting wasn’t quite good enough for actual tears.
“You all understand that today’s gathering must remain a secret, don’t you?”
“Yes! Of course!”
For now…
It was still too early for word of my activities to spread.
After reminding everyone one last time to keep quiet, I delivered my closing remarks.
“The gods care deeply for every one of you. That’s why they arranged for us to meet today. When you return home, please be sure to offer them your prayers.”
“Which god should we pray to? Lady Agatha, perhaps—”
“No. Pray to all eight guardian gods. Call each of their names, one by one. They’ll be very happy.”
“We’ll do exactly that!”
Everyone nodded eagerly, their eyes shining.
Thus ended another successful “business day.”
As more and more influential people met me personally and received my help…
Their trust and goodwill would gradually become powerful weapons.
Until that day came…
I’d simply have to keep working hard.
* * *
I stood in front of the two-story house where I secretly met Theodore.
Taking a deep breath…
I let it out slowly.
To be honest, the moment I learned what the High Priest was plotting, I’d wanted to rush over immediately.
But if I left the Temple too often, someone might start noticing.
Besides…
It seemed wiser to come after I’d secured a definite appointment with Charlotte.
He’s the type who wants confirmed facts.
Knock. Knock.
I knocked on the door.
Judging by how faint my connection with Agatha had become…
Theodore must already be somewhere near the entrance inside the house.
At least I won’t accidentally run into him out of nowhere.
After our last meeting, I’d realized he viewed me more as one of his citizens than an enemy.
I wasn’t nearly as afraid of him anymore.
That said…
If I encountered Theodore unexpectedly without any warning…
I was fairly certain my heart would give out.
Honestly, anyone would react that way. The man’s aura is terrifying.
“Who is it?”
An unfamiliar man opened the door.
He had an utterly ordinary build.
An utterly ordinary face.
The sort of person you’d immediately forget after passing him on the street.
“I’m here to see Theo.”
“Theo.”
That awkward nickname had become the password Theodore and I agreed upon.
Something no outsider would suspect.
And certainly not something his subordinates would dare call him.
“Ah. Please come in.”
The man stepped aside to let me enter.
He immediately led me upstairs to the same office as before.
“His Majesty is inside.”
“Thank you.”
Opening the door…
I found Theodore sitting behind his desk, frowning as he sighed.
“This is all the progress you’ve made?”
“Your Majesty… no matter how curious you are about the development project, you really should stop leaving the palace so often—”
“Isaac. Stop changing the subject.”
“Y-Yes, Your Majesty. My apologies.”
Isaac stood beside him giving his report.
I’d picked terrible timing.
Keeping my mouth shut, I quietly stood against the wall beside the door.
“Why are you standing over there? Come here.”
I hadn’t even realized Theodore had noticed me.
The instant he finished reprimanding Isaac, his eyes landed directly on me.
“Ah… me?”
“Yes. Sit.”
Looking exhausted, Theodore gestured toward me.
The office was piled high with documents.
Some were elaborate blueprints.
Others resembled densely written research papers.
…That looks like a car.
I blinked in surprise at one of the familiar-looking diagrams.
I’d spent this entire world riding horse-drawn carriages.
Everything still felt completely analog.
But apparently…
Industrial development really had begun.
“I think I came at a bad time.”
“No.
It’s always like this.”
He stood up and dropped onto one of the sofas meant for guests.
Watching his expression carefully, I sat across from him.
“What brings you here?”
“I’m here to request your assistance.”
“Assistance?”
Theodore looked puzzled.
“The mining project.”
“Ah. That.”
His reaction suggested he already knew.
Of course he did.
If you already knew, you could’ve told me.
We would’ve found everything much sooner.
I almost shot him an annoyed look.
Then I remembered.
The person sitting across from me happened to be the Emperor.
So instead…
I simply smiled.
“So you already knew. You could’ve mentioned it to me.”
“That’s information you should have been bringing to me.”
“But if we shared information, we wouldn’t waste time investigating the same things. We could focus on what’s actually necessary.”
Apparently…
He still didn’t trust me very much.
“…You make a fair point.
From now on, I’ll share information regarding the High Priest.”
Theodore looked at me…
Then quietly looked away.
Did he just avoid eye contact?
This man?
Deciding not to dwell on it, I got straight to the point.
“You need proof that the Temple is involved in the mining operation, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“I’ll get it.”
“From the Temple?”
I shook my head.
“No.
The High Priest would never leave evidence like that inside the Temple.”
“So…
You already have a method?”
One of Theodore’s eyebrows lifted.
For the first time…
He looked genuinely interested.
“You know House Russell is involved in the mining operation?”
“I do.
Where exactly do you keep getting your information?
I’m beginning to wonder who you’ve hired.”
A faint smile crossed Theodore’s lips.
“At this point, I’m honestly curious who your informant is.”
“My answer hasn’t changed.
The gods tell me.”
The instant I mentioned the gods…
His expression hardened again.
He seemed to recognize that there was something mysterious about me.
But accepting that mystery…
Was another matter entirely.
“…I see.
In any case…
Count Russell’s company was recently involved in a fatal accident.”
“You know about that too?”
“I’ve been keeping an eye on House Russell.
I never liked the contracts they use to hire workers.”
Theodore answered quietly.
A dangerous smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
What exactly has he been planning…?
“Um…
You’re not planning to… do something to House Russell, are you?”
“I can’t discuss that.
Classified information.”
He almost looked amused.
“You don’t mean… wiping out the entire family… right?”
I wasn’t exactly fond of House Russell either.
Still…
Something about his smile made it feel as though bloodshed was inevitable.
Theodore simply stared at me.
Silently.
His expression practically said:
“If that’s all that happens, they’ll be lucky.”
“Let’s return to the main topic.”
Even his voice had become frightening.
Swallowing hard, I hurried back to what I’d originally come to say.
“Y-You probably won’t believe this…
But because of that accident, an evil spirit attached itself to Countess Russell.
She hasn’t been able to sleep.”
“…I see.”
The moment I mentioned an evil spirit…
I’d expected another lecture.
Sure enough…
His face clearly showed he had plenty to say.
Yet…
He swallowed whatever comment had been about to escape.
Instead, he answered calmly.
Apparently…
Since we’d formed an alliance, he was making an effort not to argue with me over everything.
An unusual amount of patience for Theodore.
I’m… kind of proud of him.
I explained everything.
How I’d met Charlotte.
How Kaiden had begun hosting regular worship services.
How various nobles had attended.
And finally…
How I’d been invited to House Russell.
As I talked…
Theodore’s exhausted, hardened expression gradually seemed to soften.
“You really are…
Quite resourceful.”
“Exactly!
I’m making full use of my position, my abilities—everything! Doesn’t that make me an incredibly valuable asset?”
I grinned at Theodore with shameless confidence.
He looked almost dumbfounded.
“…Very well.
Let’s call it that.”
“Wait…
Was that a compliment?”
I asked in genuine surprise.
Once again…
Theodore slightly turned his head instead of looking directly at me.
“So.
You’re planning to obtain the evidence from House Russell?”
“Yes.
The account books would be ideal.”
“Then why do you need my assistance?”
“I’m not an idiot.
I’d rather stay alive.”
“You’ve already emphasized how much you value your life.”
Apparently…
His memory for details about other people was surprisingly good.
Laughing awkwardly, I continued.
“I can steal the ledgers.
But if the ledgers disappear, everyone will notice.
Since I’d just visited the estate, I’d become the obvious suspect.”
“True.”
“That’s why I need something else to distract them.
At the same time…
I’d like you to stage an attack on the estate.”
“…Hah.”
Theodore let out a quiet laugh.
“You’re rather cunning yourself.”
“You’re too kind.”
For a brief moment…
Theodore wore an oddly complicated expression.
As though wondering,
“What exactly am I supposed to do with this woman?”
“Very well.
If they’re already sleep-deprived and then suddenly attacked…
They’ll probably blame whatever evil spirit they’re imagining.
It’s a sound plan.”
He nodded.
“I’ll prepare a copyist as well.
We’ll need duplicates in case anything happens.”
He immediately began planning all the necessary preparations himself.
Which made my job incredibly easy.
He really is smart.
“However.”
“Yes?”
“How exactly do you plan to retrieve the ledger?”
“I know precisely where it’s hidden.”
“Then why must you go personally?
Couldn’t one of my people simply sneak in and steal it?”
“The lock protecting it is… rather complicated.
I think I’m the only one who can open it.”
According to the guardian gods…
That was true.
They’d already examined it beforehand.
I was only going because they believed they could manipulate it with their telekinetic abilities.
“But you can open it?”
Theodore looked thoroughly unconvinced.
Can I really tell him…
…that I’ll be using the gods’ powers?
But I couldn’t think of any better excuse.
He didn’t believe in my abilities to begin with.
There wasn’t much point trying to convince him.
“…With the gods’ power.”
“The gods again.”
There it was.
His face immediately darkened.
Scary.
Really, really scary.
“I know you don’t trust me.
That’s why I’ll prove it.
And besides…
When else are you going to get an opportunity like this?
Just trust me this once.
You don’t really have anything to lose.”
“…”
“Your Majesty.
Use me.
Even if something goes wrong and I end up in danger…
You won’t lose anything.”
The atmosphere kept growing heavier.
So I quickly returned to my best sales pitch.
Use me!
Surely there was no phrase Theodore, of all people, would appreciate more.
Silence settled between us.
One second…
Two…
How much time passed?
Then—
“…Very well.”
An unexpectedly positive answer.
I clapped my hands together happily.
I’d thought this argument might work because Theodore always used capable people like pieces on a chessboard.
But I hadn’t expected it to succeed so easily.
“Really?
Great! I’m visiting the estate tomorrow night, so where should—”
“I’m coming too.”
“…What?”
The answer was so completely unexpected…
That I could only stare at him in shock.
