Chapter 56

Was that really intentional?

“I thought a major accident like losing a Holy Relic would get me removed from my post immediately, but hmm, it’s become quite a nuisance. Someone blocked it desperately.”

That “someone” did it to help. With very good intentions, mind you.

“Why do you even want to be removed from your post?”

“Well. That’s a bit difficult to say…”

Ilian sweated profusely, looking out of character. Then, as if he had made up his mind, he continued.

“Do you know this? The position of the Berha Knight Commander is for life. No transfers, no voluntary resignations… It’s an old tradition and a piece of useless stubbornness. While voluntary quitting is impossible, reappointment after a dishonorable discharge is actually allowed.”

“…….”

“So, well…”

Ilian hesitated for a long time before finally confessing.

“…Truthfully, I planned to apply as the Saintess’s personal guard once I was fired. The Knight Commander role has too many duties and restrictions, making it difficult to assist you by your side.”

A life term where you can’t even resign. To quit, one would definitely have to create a reason to be fired on purpose.

“Isn’t it just that you hate being the Knight Commander and you’re using me as an excuse?”

When I spoke playfully, Ilian let out a hollow laugh.

“Who knows? Perhaps that’s it.”

I looked at Ilian after his absurd reply, but something felt off. While the corners of his mouth were curved upward, his eyes were calm and sunken.

“Since the Saintess asked a question, may I ask one as well?”

I nodded for now. The atmosphere had suddenly turned serious, and I was curious, so I figured I’d hear him out.

“Why did you try to help me?”

Ding!

‘…Crazy, why is this so long?’

I quickly skimmed the choices. Number 1 was too cold, so rejected. Number 2 sounded insincere—what does “just felt like it” even mean? Rejected. Number 3 felt like a sudden, random confession, but at the very least, it didn’t look like it would lower his affection. Of course, saying it would be embarrassing… but whatever, I threw away my sense of shame a long time ago. I’ll go with this.

“I did it because I like you, Sir Ilian. You want to help the people you like, don’t you? Ah, I mean ‘like’ in the sense of one human to another…”

“Does the Saintess even come to like people who tried to kill her?”

Perhaps I hadn’t fully discarded my shame yet, because as I was adding a long-winded excuse, Ilian delivered a “fact-bomb”. He was smiling crookedly, looking as if he didn’t believe a word I said.

‘I guess this was the wrong choice.’

And to be honest, I had actually forgotten that Ilian had tried to kill me.

‘But shouldn’t Ilian be the last person to say that?’

Ilian only made an attempt; I actually stabbed him with a knife. Yet, wasn’t he registered in the Affection System with a perfectly positive number? I decided to throw his words back at him.

“Then you must hate me quite a bit, Sir Ilian.”

Ilian looked slightly troubled.

“…How could I possibly hate the Saintess?”

I knew. His affection level was nearly reaching sixty, after all.

“It’s the same for me.”

Ilian let out a small sigh. He looked like he wanted to say more but held his tongue. Instead, I spoke up.

“And didn’t you only try to punish me because you misunderstood me for a thief, Sir Ilian?”

I still think pulling a sword first was the behavior of someone with a broken personality, but let’s sugarcoat it for now.

“Ever since the misunderstanding was cleared, you’ve faithfully helped me this far to keep your promise, even while knowing my secret. Though my status may be humble, I still have a sense of shame.”

He was likely only helping because he lost a bet and had to “eat mustard while crying”,¹ but still.

“Thank you, Sir Ilian. I mean it.”

I was thinking that I hoped there would be more things to be thankful for in the future when Ilian turned his head away to avoid my gaze.

“I didn’t help you out of such pure intentions. So, there is no need for thanks. Let’s just say our mutual interests aligned well. Aren’t you also using the Church for some purpose, Saintess?”

“…….”

It seemed Ilian wasn’t helping me simply as the price for losing a bet. Am I in a position where I have utility value to him? The only thing that came to mind was acting as a check against the Orthodox Faction. But setting up a fake Saintess for that seemed incredibly reckless.

‘…Well, he must have his reasons.’

Ilian had a look on his face that said, “I won’t pry into you, so don’t pry into me,” so it was hard to ask.

“I spoke a bit too harshly. I apologize.”

“It’s fine.”

Before long, we arrived at the residence.

“Why did you two take so long?! Goodness, I was about to go looking for you!”

At the residence, Emily greeted us warmly the moment we arrived. I felt like my ears were going to bleed as soon as I walked in.

“What a fuss.”

Ilian replied by pressing his thumb between his eyebrows as Emily’s eyes sparkled at us.

“So, how was your time alone?! Were the stories you shared—while excluding! and upsetting! poor little me—at least interesting?”

“Emily.”

“Uh-oh? Why is Lord Ilian reacting so sensitively today? There really is something between you two, isn’t there? The atmosphere is so strange! Co-could it be you’re dating? Were you just coming back from a date?”

“No.”

“Really, no.”

Ilian and I answered immediately, but the light in Emily’s eyes didn’t fade.

“Oh, honestly! You don’t have to hide it from me!”

I said it’s not like that!

Two days later.

‘Hmm. Will five outfits be enough?’

It was dawn, while everyone was sound asleep. I was secretly packing clothes in the dressing room. At that moment.

“Yaaaawn!”

…!!

Someone opened the dressing room door with a loud yawn! I quickly dove between the hanging clothes to hide.

“Ah~ I totally forgot to prepare the Saintess’s outfit for tomorrow. I’m so glad I remembered now~!”

The voice belonged to Emily. I gave up on hiding and poked my head out from between the garments.

“Emily.”

“Uaaaagh!”

“Shh!”

I hurried to put my middle finger to my lips, and Emily clamped her mouth shut.

“Wh-what on earth is going on?”

Emily gasped as she saw the scattered clothes and the suitcase beside me.

“C-could it be? Are you running away? Y-you can’t do this! Is it because I teased you? I’m sorry! I’ll never do it again!”

Emily clung to the hem of my pants—no, my skirt—and slumped onto the floor.

“It’s not like that.”

“What do you mean it’s not?! Anyone can see you’re on the verge of running away! How many younger siblings do you think I have? Did you really think I wouldn’t recognize this!”

This was bad. It didn’t seem like I could compromise by just brushing it off. I had to change my tactics.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon.”

“I-if His Holiness finds out about this… No, if even a rumor spreads that the Saintess has vanished, it will be a disgrace to the Church! The backlash will be immense!”

“It’ll be fine. Here, take this letter and give it to His Holiness.”

I pulled a letter from my clothes and handed it to Emily. I had originally planned to leave it on my bed, but since things had turned out like this, I’d have to deliver it through her.

“No, I can’t! I won’t take it!”

Emily desperately avoided my hand.

“C-could it be that you’re planning to go to the medal ceremony? I heard Lord Ilian and Priest Kalat are leaving today…”

Oh, she’s sharp. Exactly. I planned to follow Ilian and Kalat to the medal ceremony. After that, I would regroup with the protagonist and head to the Marquisate.

‘They said they were leaving in the morning.’

That was why I had been rummaging through the dressing room in the dead of night to pack my things “secretly and greatly.” But I never imagined I’d get caught by Emily like this.

“You can’t! The appointment ceremony is just around the corner…! A-and you haven’t finished your preparations yet. If you go now—!”

“Emily. An event that will shake the entire continent is about to happen. My appointment ceremony will be postponed, so don’t worry. I’m going to help so that people won’t get hurt.”

“J-just like back in Lanta Village…?”

When I brought up the “greater good,” Emily showed a bit of a reaction. The strength in her hands, which had been gripping my skirt, slowly began to fade.

“Yes. Just like then.”

“I-if it’s to save people, then I have no right to stop you…”

It didn’t seem like she would go around spreading rumors to keep me from escaping. I had successfully gained her peaceful cooperation.

“I’ve always believed in you, Saintess… Please, make sure to succeed this time as well…!”

Letting go of my skirt completely, Emily pressed her hands together as if in prayer and made her request. I readily agreed.

“Of course. Thanks for the support, Emily. So, about that. I’m going to need your help.”

“My help?”

“I’m planning to secretly follow Sir Ilian and Priest Kalat. If you help me…”

“Ah!”

…?

“I heard Lord Ilian and Priest Kalat are leaving right now!”

What? Now?

“They said they didn’t want any fuss, so they dismissed all the servants and were going to leave secretly at dawn…”

“Emily, thank you!”

I immediately bolted out of the room.

“A-ack! You should at least know where they are before you go!”

“Ilian. Is everything ready?”

“Yes, Uncle.”

Ilian replied as he loaded the luggage onto the carriage. Since they didn’t want any commotion and had dismissed the servants for a humble journey, there wasn’t much to carry. Ilian quickly finished loading and secured the luggage so it wouldn’t shift.

“To think I’d live to receive a medal from the Empire. It’s quite strange.”

“It is indeed.”

While most in the Church welcomed the Imperial medal with pride, there were many who viewed it with displeasure. There was no reason to subject themselves to such uncomfortable glares unnecessarily. Kalat felt the same way, so he had followed Ilian’s suggestion without complaint, leading to their current situation.

“Everything is done. Let’s head out.”

As he was about to board the carriage, Kalat turned to Ilian as if something was bothering him.

“Shouldn’t we at least say goodbye to the Saintess?”

“I don’t think she would appreciate being woken up at this hour.”

“I suppose so, but…”

…!

It was then. Ilian sensed a presence in the bushes behind the carriage. He had said no send-offs were necessary. Did someone come anyway? Ilian figured the Pope had made another unnecessary fuss. However…

“Huff, huff…”

The figure that appeared was a person draped in a pitch-black cloak from head to toe. The suspicious person was panting as if they had run in a great hurry. Just as Ilian was debating whether to draw his sword, the figure pulled back the hood covering their face.

“S-Saintess?”

No, why was Belita here? Ilian’s brain stalled for a moment before restarting.

“How did you know to come here? And what’s with that luggage?”

“I’m coming too.”

The Saintess let out a completely nonsensical statement. Ilian felt a throbbing pain in his temples as he questioned her coldly.

“Do you really think that’s going to happen?”

The Saintess climbed into the carriage like a bulldozer and planted her rear on the seat.

“May I ask the reason for this?”

Ilian asked with a hollow laugh, as if he found it absurd, but he was soon forced to shut his mouth.

“I saw it in a dream. Something very terrifying.”

In that moment, he had an intuition. It was not going to be an easy task to kick the Saintess out of this carriage.