Chapter 105

I safely selected the first option.

But then…

“To think you would hold the hand of a filthy commoner.”

“As expected of someone from a commoner background themselves…”

“Ahem! Her Holiness is different! Do you wish to be dragged away for the crime of blasphemy?!”

“I made a slip of the tongue.”

As I helped the children up one by one, my reputation began to plummet at a terrifying speed.

‘If they’re going to act like that, why even bother donating…?’

Was the occasional plus sign from the children?

Well, the reputation I had worked so hard to build up until now wouldn’t even be scratched by the slander of a few nobles here.

I placed my hands on the heads of the bewildered-looking children and bestowed my holy protection.

“May your future be filled with endless blessings.”

A horrified Count Romil pointlessly added his own commentary.

“Ah, Your Holiness. You do not strictly need to lay your hands on them!”

“I cannot bestow holy protection without touching them.”

“Ah… As expected of Your Holiness. You mean to say that no matter what, nothing can dare defile you!”

Think whatever you want…

The venue wasn’t very far from the Imperial Palace.

It was a distance that took easily thirty minutes by carriage.

I was currently waiting inside for a moment before the carriage departed.

‘I’m exhausted.’

My energy was completely drained thanks to being surrounded by those bizarre fanatics.

Still, just as the Emperor said, I really didn’t have the luxury to sit around worrying.

‘Should I say I’m grateful? Like hell I am.’

The problem remained entirely unresolved.

I had so many thoughts running through my head that it was giving me a headache.

“Please have some of this.”

Right then, a cold glass of water was thrust in front of my face.

‘Good timing.’

It was perfect to cool down my head.

“Thank you, Sir Ilian.”

Ilian spoke as he sat on the seat across from me, while I was absentmindedly staring at the glass of water like a daze.

“You play the part of the Saintess remarkably well.”

…Seeing how the corners of his mouth curled up sarcastically without a single hint of a smile, it didn’t seem like he was trying to banter with me like usual.

‘What is his deal now?’

“What are you dissatisfied with?”

“Dissatisfied? There is no way I could be dissatisfied with you, Your Holiness.”

“Then what was the intent behind what you just said?”

“Because a fake acts so plausible that even I occasionally forget you are not the real Saintess.”

For the record, I too had forgotten that this guy was a person who knew I was a fake.

He had been serving me so exceptionally well that I had almost deluded myself into thinking I was the real deal.

But what kind of sudden change of heart did Ilian experience to bring up my true identity all of a sudden?

“Though you are not the Saintess of the prophecy… I used to think you were a person possessing power rivaling her. No, I still think so.”

“……”

“The protection you bestowed upon those children—was it compassion, or was it a deception?”

The children?

Ah, was he talking about me bestowing blessings upon the children who came as representatives of the orphanage a moment ago?

I didn’t have the power to bestow real holy protection.

Ilian was bound to know that too.

“Calling it deception is a bit harsh. I merely went through the motions because the other side requested it.”

“Then as I thought, you truly lack the power to bestow holy protection, Your Holiness. That is why the Countess, who was supposed to receive punishment, is still perfectly fine to this day…”

Ilian hesitated for a moment before continuing.

“And that is likely why you could not save Emily either.”

“……”

“Do you still have no intention of telling me about that mysterious power of yours?”

Ilian shrugged his shoulders sarcastically with a twitching mouth.

“Aren’t I qualified enough by now? I’ve done my fair share of cleaning up after you all this time, Your Holiness.”

Cleaning up after me… The wording was harsh, but it wasn’t a lie. However, he didn’t have the right to say such things to me either.

Piecing together the scattered fragments from the depths of my memory, I recalled what Ilian had told me in the past.

“I did not aid you out of pure intentions. Therefore, you have no need to be grateful. Let us just say our mutual interests aligned well. Are you not also utilizing the Church for a certain objective, Your Holiness?”

“Sir Ilian, you mentioned before that you are helping me for a personal objective. Does that objective require my secret?”

In an instant, the smirk on Ilian’s face snapped back into place.

Though his face was entirely devoid of any amusement, he didn’t seem angry.
Rather, he looked resigned.

“…No. And though I spoke as if it were a grand deal back then, it is really nothing special. I merely wanted to deceive the Order of Ralphican.”

“Deceive?”

“Have you not personally felt it yourself after joining the Church, Your Holiness? The Church is truly not a group qualified to represent Ralphican.”

The Church had certainly put the traits of a typical corrupt organization on display, but it didn’t seem like something the son of the Pope should be saying.

“Did you know? The Order of Ralphican also sponsors the foundation you just visited.”

“Not just the imperial nobles?”

“Yes. It is because the places sponsored by the Church are scattered all over, and they do not discriminate by nation.”

“So, what of it?”

“Do you know the reason why the Church sponsors an orphanage foundation?”

Ding!

…What on earth is this? All of these options are completely unhinged.

Is the correct answer hidden among these chilling choices?

It was hard to see the word “procure” as something fitting for human beings, but it was at least more ethical than the top two options.

Granted, it was only relatively better, as it was equally bizarre.

As soon as I selected the third option, a correct answer notification blocked my field of vision.

Faced with this kind of notification window for the very first time, I stood there flustered when Ilian gave a nod.

“The Order of Ralphican has utilized children for sacrifices, entertainment purposes, and the like since a very long time ago.”

“……”

“Children are considered excellent materials, both for hospitality and for ritualistic purposes. This too is merely the tip of the iceberg of even greater crimes, though there are things I cannot bring myself to speak out loud.”

Did that mean the orphanage foundation was simply a supply source to procure children?

I never thought the Order of Ralphican was a thoroughly honest institution, but I didn’t expect them to actually be plotting all sorts of dirty deeds behind the scenes.

‘Then again, if a cult in a fantasy world doesn’t possess an impure and insidious side, that would be a plot twist in its own right.’

It seemed the Order of Ralphican couldn’t escape that classic cliché either.

“Those old men tried to show Your Holiness only the good things in their own way, so it is only natural that you wouldn’t know.”

Ilian aggressively ran a hand through his hair, murmuring as if speaking to himself.
I pondered over it as well.

‘They did use me as a shield for public relations, but they didn’t show me any of the bad stuff… right?’

It felt like that might have been the case.

Though it was probably closer to them simply not bothering to dredge it up and show it to me, rather than them hiding it for my sake.

Well, hearing up to this point, I could tell that a sense of skepticism toward the Order of Ralphican had been sprouting from deep within Ilian’s heart.

If that was the case…

“Sir Ilian, do you wish for the Order of Ralphican to be ruined?”

Ilian, who had been acting composed this entire time, knitted his brows. Soon after, he gave a shake of his head.

“I wish it were so, but the Church is also the institution currently responsible for maintaining order on this continent. If it disappears, a massive upheaval will erupt, and there will be many sacrifices in the process. Therefore, I simply…”

Simply?

“It was quite satisfying. Watching them frantically revere you, believing you to be the true Saintess of Ralphican.”

Ilian quietly stared out the window, which was slowly beginning to move, before shifting his gaze back to me and speaking.

“Also, I was curious as to how you, someone who is not the real Saintess, would change the Order of Ralphican.”

“So, did anything change?”

Ilian let out a hollow laugh that sounded like a sigh and smiled.

“It wouldn’t be any fun if I just told you easily. I shall keep this a secret.”

It’s not like it needs to be a secret.

Since I was the party involved, I knew best. There was no way things had changed the way Ilian wanted.

It wasn’t as if I had actively uncovered the Church’s corruption and conducted an internal audit, either.

There was no way a practice they had been carrying out since the past would just stop because of my mere existence.

Predicting that I wouldn’t hear anything particularly good, and certain that he wouldn’t tell me anyway since he was mischievously narrowing his eyes, I decided to change the subject.

“Sir Ilian, how do you think it would feel if you met the real Saintess?”

Faced with a rather sudden question, Ilian narrowed his eyes slightly. He wore a face that seemed to ask why on earth I was bringing that up.

“The real Saintess?”

“Yes. The Saintess mentioned in the prophecy.”

“Naturally, I would serve her with all my heart and soul.”

“In that case, I shall tell this only to you, Sir Ilian.”

It was a half-hearted answer, but that didn’t matter.

I spoke in a firm tone to emphasize that it was not a lie.

“I know who the real Saintess is.”

……!!

The carriage jolted violently with a loud rattle. It was because Ilian had bolted up from his seat.

When the coachman asked if something was the matter, Ilian let out a dry cough and sat back down.

“From what I have known until now, no one has appeared who has acted according to the prophecy. Except for you, Your Holiness.”

“Originally, there is someone who was meant to carry out the deeds of the prophecy. My interference simply twisted destiny. And I believe that destiny needs to find its proper place again.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

Even though Ilian tried his best to harden his face, it was difficult to erase the confusion welling up inside him.

“I shall tell you who that person is and where they are. You want to serve the real Saintess too, don’t you? You must dislike a fake like me. It seems you are gradually getting tired of having your fun by now, anyway.”

In the game, Ilian was an excellent ally to both the Saintess and the protagonist.

Ilian spoke as if deceiving people was enjoyable, but releasing pent-up emotions in an unhealthy manner is never truly pleasant. He must know that himself.

That is likely why he couldn’t laugh with a light heart, even while calling it satisfying.

“…I am confused as to whether I heard you correctly just now. So, you know the real one, and you want to bring her here? What do you plan to do after that? If the fact that you are a fake is brought to light, you will not even be able to die a peaceful death for the crime of daring to deceive the world.”

He was talking about some incredibly dangerous consequences.

I had absolutely zero intention of publicly revealing the news of my impersonating the Saintess either.

I immediately corrected Ilian’s misunderstanding.

“I am simply planning to retire. Let’s handle this amicably for both of our sakes. Wouldn’t it look much better for you as well if I quietly stepped down by passing the torch, rather than having it exposed that I am a fake?”

“……”

“To think you are already contemplating retirement. It is truly hollow.”

“I am trying to live a life as far removed from the Holy State as possible.”

“If you were going to be like this, why did you become the Saintess in the first place?”

It was a reproachful tone, but it wasn’t a question he expected an answer to.

I refused to say anything further and closed my eyes.