## Chapter 848 – The Black Knight

The Saintess was sitting by the window in a similar manner as before, sipping her tea with a languid air.

—Sparkle, sparkle.

Her loose blonde hair caught the sunlight, shimmering like gold. As expected, her hair was the most striking feature. It wasn’t often you saw hair that felt so luxurious.

“Saintess! I’m here!!”

I called out in a slightly loud voice, and the Saintess turned her gaze towards me, pausing for a moment.

“…”

Anyway, let’s get closer.

“Cloudy. That’s her.”
“Hmph… I see. A fine woman.”

A fine woman, she says?

—Clack, clack.

Cloudy said that and walked towards the Saintess, her heels clicking. As expected, her long legs suited her well. High heels really suited her. I immediately followed Cloudy.

—Rustle.

The Saintess, who had been still, also put down her teacup and stood up.

“Good morning, Saintess.”
“…Ah, good morning. Paladin.”

When I greeted her first, the Saintess bit her lower lip for a moment and stared intently into my eyes. What’s this? It’s more like a glare than a stare.

“So, this person next to you is… the Paladin’s wife.”
“Yep. Nice to meet you. I’m Cloudy. You’re Saintess Kadia, right?”
“Wait, Cloudy?”

Cloudy greeted her with extreme ease. I thought it would be better to use formal language in a situation like this.

Wouldn’t it be a bit much to start like this?

“Pleased to meet you. As you know, I am Kadia, serving as the Saintess of the Brass Celestial Angel Society.”

Despite Cloudy’s sudden informal greeting, the Saintess covered her ample chest with her hand and bowed politely. Well, is it okay? I should ask Cloudy to use formal language as much as possible.

—Swish.

The Saintess, who had been bowing, stood up straight again.

“Hmph…”

But Cloudy was staring intently at the Saintess’s face. Was she trying to confirm the rumors of her being one of the kingdom’s three beauties? Even so, Cloudy, being a half-elf, was more beautiful.

Still, staring at someone’s face like that on a first meeting wasn’t polite. Just as I was about to poke Cloudy’s waist with my finger, the Saintess spoke first.

“…Is there something on your mind?”
“No, I was just surprised that the Saintess is indeed a Saintess. I was just looking because you’re more beautiful than I expected.”
“…You are quite beautiful yourself, Cloudy. As expected of a half-elf. I’ve seen quite a few elves while living in the capital, but you’re on another level.”
“Hehe, is that so?”

Cloudy covered her mouth and giggled softly. With that, the ritual of women complimenting each other ended, and we sat down.

“First, I apologize for the rudeness. But the eyewitness testimony is crucial in this Death Knight case. I’m sorry to have called you out like this. I hope you don’t take it the wrong way.”

The Saintess, sitting down, bowed her head with a different attitude than usual. Is this how she is when meeting other people? It feels so different from when she’s in her audience chamber, it feels fresh every time I see it.

“It’s okay. It’s nothing. Katt asked me to.”

I immediately poked Cloudy’s waist gently and whispered in her ear.

“Cloudy. Formal language since it’s our first meeting. You have to use formal language. It’s a bit much if you speak too casually.”
“Ka, Katt. Suddenly… it tickles.”
“No, that’s not it.”
“Hyaaah…!”

This woman is so sensitive in the ears.

“Ah, it’s fine with me. Don’t worry about it.”

The Saintess said to me, having watched it all.
…This is a bit embarrassing.

“Cloudy. You understand, right?”
“Oh my, look at me spacing out.”

I poked her waist once more, and Cloudy smiled and clasped her hands together.

“Hmm, then. How about we call Kadia casually too? I think that would be more comfortable for me.”
“…”

The Saintess closed her mouth and glanced at me. Is our Cloudy uncomfortable with honorifics? Well, if that’s the case, it’s better to say it like this.

—Nod, nod.

I nodded slightly.
It felt like she was asking for permission.

“In that case… may I also call you Cloudy, casually?”

The Saintess, having regained her usual attitude, spoke cautiously. Cloudy simply smiled and nodded.

“As you wish. I don’t mind.”
“As expected of an elf. It can be said that the customs are different since the races are different. Is this common in Shurdic?”
“Yeah. That’s how it is.”

Since the Saintess seemed okay with it, there shouldn’t be any problems now.
That’s how the two of them started speaking informally.

“Although I requested this meeting for official matters, there would be no problem in sharing personal friendships. I requested this meeting with Cloudy regarding the Death Knight, but I am also very interested in the faith of the Shurdic Desert. I would appreciate it if you could tell me about it.”

As expected, she’s unstoppable once her true personality comes out.

“Sure.”

Cloudy nodded naturally.
Taking advantage of the gap, I called a waiter and ordered tea.

“Ah, and… due to the nature of my profession, my tone may be authoritative, but I hope you don’t mind it. If I speak casually, this is all I can do… I ask for your understanding.”
“Humans seem to care a lot about that kind of thing, but don’t worry. It’s okay.”
“That’s a relief. I’ll introduce myself again. I am Kadia, the Saintess of the Brass Celestial Angel Society.”
“I’m Cloudy.”

After finishing their introductions in that manner, they began their serious conversation. The Saintess immediately brought up the story of the Death Knight, and Cloudy told her what she had seen and heard.

“Hmm… It’s not much different from the Paladin’s testimony.”

The Saintess said, taking a sip of her tea after hearing the story. Well, that’s to be expected. Cloudy was right next to me.

“We were together. It can’t be helped.”
“…”

Silence fell for a moment as Cloudy replied.

While that was happening, the tea came out, and I drank it with Cloudy. We also ordered some snacks as dessert, and they were so delicious that I kept reaching for them.

“…Then, about the Shurdic faith.”
“Yeah. I’ll tell you.”

The topic of the Death Knight was over.

Cloudy and the Saintess began to talk enthusiastically about the Shurdic faith. Cloudy would say something first, and the Saintess would ask questions and elaborate on the story.

The things about Shurdic weren’t much different from what I had heard. The only difference was that the Saintess, burning with academic desire, asked more detailed questions. There were some details that I was hearing for the first time.

In that way, they busily exchanged stories about their religion, the daily lives of their religious people, and the relics and pilgrimages.

“Hoo… I see. That’s unique.”
“I find this religion more unique.”

Their conversation flowed quite smoothly. Well, they’re both extremely beautiful women. It wouldn’t be strange if they had something in common. Originally, birds of a feather flock together, so pretty women tend to get along well.

“But… there’s something I’m most curious about.”
“What is it?”
“Ah. But this might be rude. So I should ask if it’s okay to ask first.”
“Hehe, I came because Katt asked me to for that purpose. As I said, I don’t mind. You can ask.”
“Is that so.”

The Saintess nodded and continued.

“What I want to ask is about the polygamous culture. It’s a bit much to say this, but… Cloudy is our Paladin’s first wife, and she allowed him to have multiple wives. Is that right?”

Oh, our Saintess is still worried about this issue. More than anything, she wanted to ask Cloudy directly, not someone else. I looked at the Saintess’s face to protest, but the Saintess was staring at Cloudy, unaware of my gaze.

“Hmph… So that’s what you were curious about? You asked Karin a similar question, right?”
“It’s best to hear it from the person involved if possible. I’m just asking personally. It’s actually the part I’m most curious about.”

—Slurp.

Cloudy, who had been drinking her tea, put it down.

“As you know, I am Katt’s first woman.”

—Swish.

She took my hand.

“In Shurdic, polygamy is common regardless of religion. Because it’s a barren place. Women and men often want to be protected in the arms of a stronger partner rather than living with just one mate.”

Well, it’s a desert after all.

Islam was also a polygamous culture.

“A strong man having women. Conversely, a strong woman having men. Either is a natural form.”
“…”
“Of course, I am a woman that Katt ‘possesses’.”

The Saintess paused for a moment.
You shouldn’t say such shocking things.

“Ah, wait, Cloudy. Don’t be embarrassing. Don’t say things like that too much…”
“But it’s true.”

Cloudy tried to hug my neck as if she was trying to tease me.

“A strong warrior has the right to have more partners. So I want to give Katt more wives. That is a wife’s duty. Katt, right?”
“Ah, wait. Cloudy.”

Ah, I really like it when she acts cute, but it’s a bit embarrassing in front of the Saintess…!

—Tap, tap.
—Tap, tap.
—Tap, tap.

I heard a sound from across the table. Looking over, the Saintess was tapping the table with her finger, slightly averting her eyes. Damn it. She’s definitely bothered by it. Just as I was about to gently grab Cloudy’s hand.

“Ahem.”

The Saintess said, clearing her throat.

“…It seems a bit too stimulating for a cleric to hear.”

—Tap.

At the same time, the sound stopped.

“Yeah. Cloudy. It’s too stimulating.”
“Yeah… is that so?”

I shouldn’t say such explicit things to the Saintess.

—…

Silence fell.

Even if she’s a Saintess… hearing these words directly might make her think negatively, even across cultural boundaries. The silence continued for a while, and I kept emptying my tea.

“Katt, just a moment. I’m going to the restroom.”

As I was doing that, Cloudy stood up and said.

“Restroom?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll go with you.”

When Cloudy stood up, the Saintess immediately pulled out her chair and stood up as well.

“As it happens, I also…”
“Then shall we go together?”

She dropped the formalities and now she’s even going to the restroom together. The two of them, who had stood up, walked towards the restroom, talking quietly.

“…”

I, who had suddenly become a luggage guard, sat still, sipping my tea and stuffing snacks into my mouth.

What’s with the two of them talking about everything?

The story about the Death Knight was very short at first, and they talked about the Shurdic faith for a longer time. They talked more about the secondary story than the main purpose.

I wonder if the Saintess came out on purpose to take a break, using the excuse of hearing testimony about the Death Knight. No, considering how tired she’s been lately, that might be the case.

I rested my chin on the table.

—…

They’re not coming back.

I feel a bit strange being left alone.

—…

How much time had passed?
Cloudy and the Saintess, who had returned, walked together.

I didn’t bother saying they were late.

The two of them naturally sat down and continued their conversation.

“The Paladin is a more capable man than I thought. I know it well since I’m in a position to have him work under me.”
“Hehe, right? Katt is a very wonderful warrior.”

But aren’t they changing the topic to praising me? I don’t know if they were talking about it from the restroom or what they were talking about.

“No, well, it’s embarrassing to suddenly talk about that.”
“Isn’t it true? We were just talking about that.”
“Is that so?”

The topics of conversation are so diverse.

“Hehehe, well, it’s okay to talk about me too.”

With that kind of feeling, the leisurely time in the morning passed. Cloudy and the Saintess seemed to get along quite well. They wouldn’t be able to talk for a long time if their personalities didn’t match. No, is it because they’re just dropping the formalities rather than being polite?

“Ah, I’ve kept you for too long. I apologize.”
“It’s okay.”

Around noon, the story came to an end. It’s time to go back. Without anyone saying anything first, they stood up, and the Saintess paid the bill and went outside.

“Ah, yes. Then, Saintess. I’ll see you in two days. Have a good trip back.”
“Paladin, get some rest too.”

I greeted her as soon as we got out.

“Then, Cloudy… goodbye.”
“Yeah.”

Cloudy waved her hand, and the Saintess turned around.

I also immediately linked arms with Cloudy and headed home.

* * *

“Katt. After talking to her, yeah. She was a good woman after all. Beautiful. And a Saintess on top of that. Mama likes her.”
“Being a Saintess means she’s a good woman.”

She’s capable and has a high position.
If she’s beautiful on top of that, is there anything bad about it?

“But, Katt.”

Suddenly, Cloudy stopped walking.

“Hmm? Why, Cloudy?”

She gently pulled on my arm, which was linked with hers, and whispered in my ear.

“I think that Saintess wants Katt.”
“Huh?”

What.