Chapter 71

Time passed, and the day of the investiture ceremony arrived. From the day I returned from the Marquissate, I had to continue etiquette lessons with Beatrice day and night. After enduring hardships that felt like an eternity, I was now able to carry myself with elegant movements typical of any high-born lady, even by my own standards.

Beatrice’s final evaluation was as follows:

“You’ve finally managed to look the part.”

She was stingy to the end. Since we all suffered together, couldn’t she have finished with a beautiful compliment at the very last moment?

“There you go again, pouting your lips. It’s a good thing they’ll be covered by a veil. I skipped it because we lacked time, but a person of noble status should know how to keep their emotions from showing…”

In the midst of the pouring nagging, Emily—who had spearheaded everything from makeup and costume to hair styling—let out a roar of delight, satisfied with the results.

“You’ve worked so hard! It’s finally here. The day the Saintess’s existence is made known across the entire continent! Ah, though you’re already quite famous!”

“That’s right. The Saintess has shed the old bones and changed the marrow.”¹

“My goodness, Lora, you know words like that? Your Continental Common Language has improved so much!”

“Fufu, it’s all thanks to consistently reading a book titled ‘Improve Your Continental Language Skills in Just 10 Minutes a Day!’”

…While Lora and Emily were making a fuss, Olivia and Ail sat slumped over, unable to hide their haggard faces.

“I… I’ve burned myself white…”

“I’m just so glad the dress our boutique poured its soul into making will finally fulfill its purpose…!”

Because I had been rushed back by the pressuring Ilian, I had returned to the Church looking like a beggar. The Pope, horrified upon seeing me, had immediately summoned the three who had been waiting idly.

The three of them confessed how incredibly awkward and troubled they had been while I was missing, then immediately set to work on the restoration process. Olivia worked hard to massage away the muscles I’d built up in the meantime, and Ail—relieved that the dress he’d prepared wasn’t going to be scrapped—stayed up day and night altering it, noting I’d lost some weight and needed the size adjusted.

As for Lora… well. It seemed she had only studied the Continental Language while I was away, as she kept chattering away using four-character idioms.

Anyway, it was thanks to everyone that I was able to make it this far.

Now, I just had to do my part… Just me.

“Oh dear, Saintess, you’re nervous. Your shoulders are stiff… I worked so hard to loosen them, I might have to start over…”

“Olivia, you’ll wrinkle the clothes!”

It was true. Just as Olivia predicted, I was incredibly tense. I was constantly rehearsing the order of the ceremony in my head, terrified I might make a mistake. It was already chaotic enough, but having them being so noisy beside me made it feel like death. While Olivia and Ail were bickering, Emily checked the time and let out a startled cry.

“Oh my! It’s really time to go! Ail, please bring the shoes!”

“A-Ah, yes!”

Ail hurriedly brought over a prepared box and stripped away the expensive-looking silk wrapping. Inside the box were high-heeled shoes adorned with diamonds. They said these, too, were custom-made specifically for today. Though they were a perfect fit and lined with soft leather, they were not comfortable.

“Now, the veil…”

Ail wrapped my head in a soft cloth made of a slightly translucent material. Then, he secured it with a headband. My vision became slightly blurred, though not to the point where I couldn’t distinguish objects, and the soft fabric touching my cheeks felt a bit awkward.

“It’s a shame since the Saintess’s face is so pretty.”

Lora let out a sigh, saying it was a waste since I’d even put on makeup.

‘I guess so.’

Staring into the mirror in front of me, I saw a woman with her face hidden by a veil. Belita’s face, which had been fully made up, was barely visible. It was understandable that Lora felt it was a waste. Not that I could take the veil off, though.

Right on cue, an escort knight came to find us, saying it was time. Guided by them, I headed toward the chapel of the Great Cathedral where the investiture ceremony was to be held.

Diplomatic envoys invited from various countries were filling the seats in the chapel one after another. Every one of them was a person of high status, including the Imperial Crown Prince, princesses, and members of the Council of Elders.

“Mmm~ there are quite a few faces I’d rather not see.”

A woman with straight, low-saturation green hair rested her chin on her hand and grumbled quietly. The man sitting beside her, who had curly hair and an exotic appearance, soothed her in a kind voice as if talking to a child.

“It can’t be helped, considering that virtually every nation on the continent that believes in Ralphican is in attendance.”

“Are you going to tell me that whether they are bitter rivals or allies, they must set aside all personal feelings and welcome the new Apostle in this place?”

“You know it well.”

When the man gave her a proud smile, the woman puckered her lips.

“You’re no fun. By the way, to think the first Saintess to appear in a thousand years is an Imperial. I suppose Ralphican looks upon the Empire with special favor.”

“Well, that was the prophecy. Though I didn’t expect her to be a commoner. A commoner being an Apostle of God must have caused quite a stir in the monarchies. How was it?”

“Fufu. You’re acting as if the Union doesn’t care.”

“We also serve Lord Ralphican, but we don’t claim authority by asserting ourselves as his Apostles.”

The woman chuckled and shrugged.

“Well. You can just consider the Saintess an exception. Other countries will likely make similar excuses. The world has changed a bit lately, and shouldn’t our kingdom hop on this trend as well?”

“You are quite an open-minded person, Princess.”

“Not as much as the Union, I’m sure.”

Those blossoming into conversation about the status of the newly appointed Saintess weren’t just the Princess of the Brishwin Kingdom or the elder councilman of the Union.
The hall was filled with a quiet sense of elevation—slightly apprehensive, yet unable to hide their anticipation.

“I am truly curious what kind of person she is. Even before the investiture, there have been nothing but rumors about her.”

“Haha, me too. After all, she foretold the Imperial anomaly and that Magic Beast Terror incident that almost swallowed the whole world.”

“Together with that Sir Hereis. Was it Sir Ilian and Sir Arianne as well? If this keeps up, they will likely… ah.”

The woman paused for a moment. The surroundings had become frantic. People’s gazes were fixed on a certain individual: a man with red hair and a fierce impression. Those who saw him began whispering here and there.

“I thought the Princess would come from the Empire, so this is unexpected.”

“Still, they sent the Crown Prince for the Saintess’s investiture.”

“And even the Duke came…”

“I thought Sir Hereis would show up, but this is a surprise.”

The identity of the man everyone was focused on was none other than the Crown Prince of the Nilcaron Empire, Theodore. Although the Empire was quiet for the moment, it was a nation founded on a history of brutal conquest.

Even his red hair, which proved his royal bloodline, seemed to symbolize an Empire stained with blood. People whispered while trembling slightly.

In contrast, Theodore, who was at the center of it all, seemed thoroughly dissatisfied with the situation. He sat with one arm draped carelessly over the armrest and his legs crossed sloppily—a stark contrast to the others who were maintaining a reverent, upright posture.

The blond man sitting next to him drew just as much attention. In a cathedral where solemnity was required, someone should have pointed out such an impure attitude, but there was no hero brave enough to dare. Instead, they simply walked on eggshells to avoid offending them.

The Nilcaron Empire was a powerful military state that occupied half the continent under Ralphican’s protection.

The House of Duke Rubel was a prestigious family that had contributed to security for centuries by protecting the Empire from the magic beasts pouring out of the Dark Forest.

These were the key figures of the continent’s undisputed hegemonic power; who could possibly quibble over their posture?

Well, to be fair, even putting that aside, no one wanted to get into a scuffle with this man who was famous for having significant flaws in his conduct…

“A Saintess, huh. To be honest, I suspect this is some trick by the Church. I heard she’s even a commoner?”

Crown Prince Theodore grumbled with an expression that looked like he was dying to leave the chapel immediately.

“Is that so?”

“Show some interest, Duke. Even if the House of Rubel is neutral, shouldn’t a Duke be well-versed in world politics?”

The man who answered brightly as if he had no interest was the Duke of Rubel. Even at Theodore’s arrogant jab, he kept his mouth shut and simply smiled, offering no significant reaction.

Theodore, losing interest quickly, clicked his tongue. What a boring man.

Theodore’s expectation that he and the Duke of Rubel would get along well was completely off the mark.

This man had become so much more tight-lipped than before!

Was he watching his behavior now because he was a Duke?

Theodore, who had intended to use their journey together as a chance to get closer, changed his mind.

“Ugh… I shouldn’t have come with the Duke!”

At the moment Theodore was ruffling his hair in agony. The door swung open, and a woman entered, her face hidden by white lace. Though her face wasn’t clearly visible, her silhouette suggested she was quite a beauty.

“She looks like she’d be pretty?”

Theodore, who had managed to shake off his boredom in that short time, leaned forward in his chair to observe the woman. When he let out a sharp whistle, the woman remained unfazed, but the faces of the people around them turned pale with shock.

The woman cast a brief glance toward the source of the insolent sound, but that was it. She continued walking until she reached the Pope at the end. The woman knelt at the Pope’s feet and held out both hands.

It was truly a historical moment, the first appointment of a new Saintess in hundreds of years. Everyone watching held their breath at the sacred sight, and the Pope declared calmly in a low voice.

“You are the evidence of divinity granted by Ralphican. We accept you as the Apostle of our Ralphican.”

The Pope handed the woman an ancient, worn dagger. It was a Holy Relic of the Order of Ralphican, inherited only by saints. With this, her status as the Saintess was firmly proven.

“Saintess Ruebel, please arise.”

‘Is that the Saintess’s name?’ the audience wondered. Of course, it was a divine name and not her birth name, but it would be somewhat similar. The mysterious woman, her face and identity shrouded by a veil, was more than enough to pique everyone’s curiosity.

“Glory to Ralphican! Blessings to the new Saintess!”

The audience shouted as the Saintess raised her hand. Some wept with joy, and others prostrated themselves on the ground in worship.

“Uhoohoo! Oh, how I have waited for this day…! It is a blessing, Saintess! Uhuhuhu-eugh.”

Theodore watched the situation with a lukewarm gaze, feeling like it was all a play.
At that moment.

“What do you mean, Saintess?! If you are truly a Saintess, why is it that you couldn’t save our Kleheim alone!”

In the middle of the chapel, a man shouted words that would horrify everyone.