<Chapter 20>
“Saintess, it seems the gold dust has all fallen to the floor. You’re not shining as brightly.”
The High Priest’s casual voice followed.
It meant that the blessing of beauty Euphrosyne had bestowed upon me had been nullified.
“…Haha. I told you, I didn’t sprinkle any gold dust, High Priest. Perhaps the shimmer from the sunlight has faded.”
“Hmm. I feel like something has changed.”
“I’m a bit nervous. Maybe that’s why my complexion has worsened?”
“…Hmm.”
The High Priest replied in a bored tone, but her eyes scanned me from head to toe.
Regardless, a shiver of fear ran down my spine.
I knew exactly what this meant.
There had only been one other time this had happened.
“The Marchioness and her guests await you.”
The butler spoke in a gentle voice and opened the tall, thick door.
“Saintess, stand behind me and follow.”
“Yes.”
I quickly hid behind the High Priest.
As the door opened, the Marchioness’s reception room was revealed.
And inside…
“…The Emperor.”
The High Priest muttered Theodore’s name almost inaudibly. Her voice was laced with surprise.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen guests arrive this late, Marchioness. You should be more selective with your invitations.”
Theodore, sitting inside, was smirking and taunting the High Priest.
“Your Majesty.”
An elderly woman, presumably the Marchioness of Alland, gave Theodore a stern look.
“Come in, High Priest. Saintess.”
Then, she greeted us warmly. I hurried inside, sticking close behind the High Priest.
I felt like hiding behind her tall figure forever.
‘Of course, I have to meet him eventually. But…!’
I wasn’t mentally prepared.
“Glory to the Sun of the Empire.”
“Thank you.”
“Marchioness, thank you for the invitation.”
After the High Priest calmly offered her polite greetings, it was my turn. I really didn’t want to step forward. Really…
“Saintess?”
But I couldn’t just stand there. At the High Priest’s urging, I finally stepped forward.
Theodore, who had been looking at the High Priest with a smile, slowly shifted his gaze. To me.
I put on my best smile.
“Greetings… to the Sun of the Empire. Glory.”
And I quickly bowed.
“Indeed, Saintess.”
Theodore’s voice was calm.
“It’s the ‘first’ time we meet. A pleasure.”
But the moment his voice, emphasizing the word “first,” washed over me as I bowed…
I knew.
‘I’m screwed.’
“We finally meet. It’s a great pleasure. I heard you’re a gift to the empire.”
Theodore spoke in a bright voice.
That was what made it scary. I could sense the intense sarcasm laced within.
“…Yes, Your Majesty. I’m honored by your welcome.”
My heart pounded, but thankfully, I managed to reply without biting my tongue.
“Raise your head. I’m not the host of today’s party, the Marchioness is.”
Theodore suggested kindly to me, still bowing in greeting.
I took a deep breath and slowly raised my head.
“…!”
Theodore was looking at me with a dazzling smile, bright enough to melt ice.
“Oh my, Your Majesty seems to be in a very good mood today.”
The Marchioness chuckled, looking at Theodore’s face. The atmosphere around us warmed.
‘There’s no way.’
There was no way he could be in a good mood with the High Priest, of all people, present.
“Yes, Marchioness. I’m in a very good mood today.”
‘Lies…!’
Everyone else might not know, but I, who had wronged him, knew. He was extremely angry.
Cold sweat trickled down my back. I desperately wanted to escape Theodore’s smile.
“Saintess?”
The Marchioness’s call brought me back to my senses.
Right, I was the Saintess now. Even the Emperor couldn’t just kill me on the spot.
I straightened my back and resumed my greeting posture.
“Marchioness, thank you for the invitation. This is a truly beautiful reception room.”
I strung together plausible words, using the etiquette I had picked up from the gods, the “things not to say” I had heard from the High Priest on the way here, and my experience from reading the novel.
“Hehe. Thank you for attending despite your busy schedule. Please, have a seat.”
Fortunately, the Marchioness gestured towards a seat far from Theodore.
But the problem was…
‘The seat is far, but we’re practically facing each other…!’
Both the High Priest and I were seated facing Theodore.
Seeing the seating arrangement, I realized the Marchioness’s intentions.
The Alland family was considered the most devout among the nobles.
The donations they made to the temple alone would be enough to buy a mansion in the capital.
But Theodore, unlike other members of the imperial family, had no faith and never visited the temple.
‘She did this on purpose…’
She deliberately invited both the High Priest and Theodore.
‘This is quite forceful.’
It was a forceful, almost oppressive, arrangement.
And she knew the reason why Theodore abhorred the Maelta religion.
“Thank you all for attending. I received some rare tea leaves, and I wanted to share them with you all.”
Meanwhile, the Marchioness spoke. Her voice was benevolent, unlike someone who would exploit her nephew’s feelings and force her religion upon him.
After the Marchioness started the conversation, small talk followed under her lead.
Impressions of the tea served today, talk about the desserts, a Countess lamenting about avoiding desserts due to weight gain, someone’s child entering the academy and showing great promise…
It was all appropriate conversation. The kind that wouldn’t make anyone present uncomfortable.
‘Please let it end with just this kind of talk.’
I prayed desperately, watching the two ticking time bombs.
The High Priest, who had intended to spread bad rumors about Theodore, had lost her purpose because he was present.
Knowing her hot-tempered nature, she must be cursing inwardly.
Theodore was irritated because of the High Priest and me.
I didn’t want to provoke either of them.
Please, don’t let the topic of religion come up. Please. Anything but religion…
No, knowing the Marchioness, she would definitely bring up religion.
Or at least, please don’t talk about me. I know you want to talk about me because I’m the Saintess, but please, just this once…!
“The stories about the Saintess have been quite impressive lately. The relief effort, that’s truly wonderful.”
As if to defy my wishes, I became the topic of conversation. I forced a smile.
“…Thank you for your kind words, Marchioness.”
“Indeed. I also heard stories about you flying. Is that true?”
The Marchioness asked with wide eyes, and the other ladies sitting nearby all looked at me at once. Their eyes were gleaming.
I chose the most Saintess-like words I could think of.
“Yes, God helped me that day-”
“Haha.”
But a laugh interrupted me. Theodore was looking at me with a smirk.
“Your Majesty.”
The Marchioness’s voice was a mixture of embarrassment and anger.
Theodore shrugged, looking at the Marchioness.
“What can I do, Marchioness? Unlike befitting royalty, I lack faith and can’t believe such absurd stories.”
“You’re being rude to the Saintess.”
“Hmm. I think I’ll excuse myself, as it seems the rudeness will only continue.”
“Your Majesty!”
“Marchioness, I’ve been patient until now, but if you arranged this gathering to lecture me about the Maelta religion with the Emperor present, I’ll excuse myself. I have a heavy workload.”
Theodore spoke, still smiling.
“…I apologize for inviting you without properly informing you. But Your Majesty.”
It seemed Theodore, like the High Priest and me, had been lured here without knowing the attendees. How displeased he must be.
“This old woman has been worried because Your Majesty hasn’t shown any interest in the Saintess’s appearance.”
The Marchioness spoke in an earnest, pleading voice, as if genuinely concerned.
It was frustrating to listen to.
Why does the busy Emperor have to show interest? The Maelta religion can handle it themselves…!
Even I, the person involved, was bewildered.
“How about talking with the Saintess a little more, Your Majesty? Who knows, you might find new faith today…”
The Emperor, looking at the pleading Marchioness, was smiling even more brightly than before. It seemed he had reached his limit.
“Marchioness, you are truly-”
Just as I was dreading what would come out of Theodore’s mouth…
“Um- Marchioness!”
I mustered my courage and spoke.
“Yes, Saintess. Please refrain from interrupting the conversation-”
The Marchioness of Alland tried to calmly stop me. I spoke quickly before she could finish.
“God- just now… delivered a message to me!”
“What?”
All eyes were on me again.
Fortunately, the High Priest had plastered the newspapers with articles saying, ‘The Saintess receives God’s words regardless of the temple’s blue flame revelations.’
She probably intended to use that fact to manipulate my words and exploit me.
There was no problem with me turning the tables. It was a convenient device that saved me the trouble of lying.
“Wh-What do you mean? Saintess!”
“…First…”
“First…!”
I deliberately paused, drawing out the suspense.
The Marchioness leaned forward in her seat, as if she would jump out of it.
“I must speak to His Majesty first. Could we speak privately?”
At my words, everyone’s gaze shifted to Theodore.
‘I have to talk to him anyway, so let’s do it now…!’
Sweat trickled down my hands as I made my bold move.