112 – The Beginning of the Feast

Beautiful music echoed serenely

throughout the crimson ballroom,

and within it, the people began to

raise their glasses, each in their own way.

“Ho ho ho, good evening… Madam,

I wonder if you recall me…”

“Hahaha, so we shall decide to process

this matter in this way… and next is…”

“My Lady, perhaps a dance with me…”

From long ago, the banquet hall had always been

synonymous with a gathering place for nobles.

A place where business was discussed between them,

where talk of connections and power flowed.

A place where even merely offering someone a drink

carried its own particular meaning,

that was exactly what the banquet hall was.

“Saintess, please, would you accompany me

to a quiet place for a moment, to share a conversation…”

“Saintess, how would you feel about

visiting our territory sometime in the future…”

“Oh my… is that not the Saintess?

Perhaps, for the tea party I will be holding next…”

And now, amidst these nobles, each one as prominent as the next,

a woman was receiving every kind of solicitation.

Unlike her usual black nun’s habit, she was striking in her

pure white dress and the gently fluttering veil.

The Saintess, Hildegard.

She had now made her appearance in the banquet hall.

“Hoo… she truly possesses a beauty

as stunning as the rumors suggested…”

“I heard she was certainly young…

I cannot imagine how beautiful she will be when she is fully grown…”

“Indeed… even glimpsing her only slightly through the veil…”

“Despite all, I sensed an unordinary aura about her.”

The very fact that she, who normally never graced any gatherings with her presence, had appeared here tonight sent ripples through the room.

Some simply praised her beauty, their gazes lingering, attempting to absorb her image.

‘If only I could invite the Saintess to my tea party… my reputation in society would surely soar!’

‘They say she doesn’t usually enjoy social events… but since she’s here, one never knows…’

‘If I could just promote our merchant guild’s goods to the Saintess… our sales might skyrocket!’

Others, driven by their own self-interest, eagerly sought to attach themselves to her.

Though, naturally, such individuals were intercepted by the paladins surrounding her before they could even approach.

“Ahem, how dare you lay hands on me?! Do you know who I am?!”

“…It is for the Saintess’ safety. We beg your understanding, Marquis Jonasen.”

‘…Ugh, this is so tiring…’

But that didn’t lessen the fatigue weighing upon the Saintess.

She had never enjoyed being surrounded by so many people.

Even at the academy, she often sought refuge in the infirmary to escape the crowds that flocked to her.

‘…Those people are the ones who visited the Order recently, trying to promote their merchant guild.’

And now, the people swarming around her were all driven by ulterior motives.

In other words, they were a collection of people with desires burning brightly.

She had always been desperate to avoid even the academy students approaching her with admiration and goodwill. She certainly wouldn’t want to deal with the pot-bellied men and those with fluttering mustaches.

“…Tern, I wish to rest for a while.”

“Understood, Saintess. I shall escort you to the VIP room immediately.”

In the end, she chose evasion.

Under the guise of a weary body,

I chose to excuse myself from the gathering.

That a Saintess, capable of healing any wound desired,

would fall ill might seem peculiar,

but what could be done?

She claimed to be unwell.

“Ah…M-My…Saintess…!”

“Step aside. Do you dare obstruct

the path of the Saintess?”

Even the Pontiff, rumored to be the dominion’s ruler,

spoke respectfully to this woman in formal settings.

That woman was the Saintess.

And if she wished to rest,

who would dare stand in her way?

“Ah… No, not at all… I pray for your swift recovery…”

“Ah… No, Father! To let her leave like this,

without gaining anything…!”

“Silence yourself… please…!”

Though nobles, merely Dukes,

held their own grievances, they dared not voice them freely.

In the end, with the hearts of dogs chasing after a lost chicken,

they had no choice but to let her go.

“S-Saintess, I haven’t finished speak─”

“Make way. I shall escort the Saintess.”

“…Heh, listen here… I am speaking with the Saintess,

so know your place and where you don’t belong…!”

Of course, among them, there were those who committed truly reckless

and discourteous acts,

but it mattered not.

“Gah…!”

“The Saintess’s safety

is our utmost priority at this moment.”

“W-What is the meaning of this…!”

“And, as it stands, the Saintess has expressed

that she is feeling unwell.”

“Ugh…”

“…Do you have anything further to say?”

For those who did, soon tasted the brute force of the Holy Knights

who stood behind her, and promptly tucked their tails between their legs.

They charged forth in the name of honor and influence, only to be…

It only served to mark him amongst the gathered nobility.

“..Tch, tch, what’s that fellow’s name and house?

Better sever ties swiftly with any family that spawns such a dullard…”

“Daring to obstruct the Saintess when she’s clearly unwell—

is that even a reasonable thing to do?”

“..Perhaps ignoring that fellow’s family for the time being

would be the wiser course…”

And so, they earned the title of those who dared to press their suit upon the ailing Saintess, only to be cast out.

“Saintess, are you alright? Has your condition perhaps

worsened in the interim…”

“Ah…no, I’m quite alright, so let’s

just return to my chambers quickly…”

“As you wish, I shall escort you immediately.”

Ignoring the gazes of regret that rained down from all around, the Saintess

withdrew from the ballroom, retreating to her chambers.

The moment she entered,

she collapsed upon the bed.

“Ugh…truly, places with so many people

are simply the worst…”

“Saintess…maintaining decorum is…”

“What does it matter? It’s just Tern and me here…”

She tossed her fluttering veil aside,

and sprawled upon the bed, rolling about.

Her demeanor, having cast aside all pretense of dignity,

only deepened the worries etched upon the face of Tern, her guard.

“Saintess, even if you are feeling well at the moment,

should you present such a figure before others later─”

“..Tern, when can I return home?

What, in the first place, is the reason I was summoned to such a gathering…”

“As I have told you, you must bestow a blessing

upon the one who is to inherit their title this time.”

To that utterly indifferent reply,

the Saintess responded not with words, but by puffing out her cheeks.

So greatly did she inflate them, one might mistake her for possessing three faces.

“Do you truly believe that makes sense?!”

“What, Saintess, are you referring to?”

“Surely a High Priest would be sufficient for such a task?”

“Yes.”

“But why call *me* of all people…?

You know what it means for the Imperial Family to summon me.”

“….”

“His Holiness as well. He stormed into the Imperial Palace declaring he’d settle things, so why suddenly…”

She stopped, cheeks puffed out,

lost in thought about yesterday.

‘Your…Your Holiness, about that letter…?’

‘Ah, yes. You shall proceed as planned tomorrow.’

‘Ye…Yes? Ju…Just a moment, Pope…no, Father?!’

‘Haha, go and do your best.’

Instead of news of a smooth resolution, only

his sly smile remained fresh in her memory.

A smile that seemed to say he knew everything, and she needn’t worry.

‘…Ugh, no matter how I think about it, I have a bad feeling about this..’

[That is not so, child.]

“Eh…Ehh?!”

A voice echoed in her mind,

as she lay sprawled on the bed, face buried in the blankets.

The voice of the one she constantly worshiped, trusted, and never doubted.

“Go…Goddess…!”

“…?”

“Ah…It’s nothing…”

[…You haven’t changed a bit, child.]

Tern’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, puzzled

by the small exclamation she’d unintentionally blurted out.

But she couldn’t possibly

worry about such things now.

The very being she served

had spoken to her directly.

‘Go…Goddess, why to me…?’

[Child, I am lacking in virtue and must

ask you for a favor.]

‘I…I accept, please!’

[Please…do not disregard the one who seeks your help…]

‘…Pardon?’

[….]

‘Goddess… Lady Goddess? U-um…’

Leaving only those indecipherable words,

The voice vanished somewhere.

Appearing and disappearing so abruptly,

Her words left the Saintess’s mind

utterly bewildered.

‘…Someone is asking me for help?

When…? At this banquet…?’

“Saintess, it is almost time

for you to make your appearance.”

“Ah… has it already come to that?”

“Yes, just now…we heard that Duke Reinhardt

has crossed the gates of the Royal Castle.”

“…”

“He was the last, so His Majesty will likely

make his appearance soon, along with that person.”

She knew without looking who

“that person” referred to.

The one His Majesty was to personally

bestow a title upon today.

‘…I’ve heard it’s incredibly rare

for His Majesty to bestow titles directly.’

She figured whoever it was must be quite

the extraordinary person.

Otherwise, there was no way His Majesty

would move himself.

The very same man once known to never

let his sword run dry of blood.

“…Hmm, now that I think about it, I heard

that person also recently returned to the Empire…”

“To whom do you refer, Saintess?”

“Ah… um… that person, you know!”

“…I’m afraid I don’t know whom you mean.”

“…Never mind.”

Dong— Dong—

The chime of bells echoes throughout the hall.

The sound announcing the true beginning of the banquet.

“Saintess, you should prepare now.”

“I know… let’s finish this quickly and leave.”

She exhaled a sigh, heavy and lingering,

and roused herself from the bed.

Not even contemplating how long

this banquet’s end would take.