Chapter 452 – Permission to Decide -2-

“···.”

“···.”

Eclair escorted Atra to the church and did not say anything.

Art, who suddenly exploded with spirit and emotion in front of Roman, did not have the energy or energy to answer even when asked a question.

I am very grateful for that consideration.

– Brother. Can you come to the church when you have time?

By saying those words to Roman, my mental strength is at an all-out level.

To be honest, I consider it a miracle to even be able to walk upright.

Again. Again. Ttogak.

The moment Eclair, who was guarding the side with a sword, dropped his closed mouth was when he arrived near the church.

“I will go back from here.”

“···Thank you for seeing me off the long way.”

Courtesy expressed in a voice that is exhausted.

Eclair could not keep her feet down as the saintly woman could not raise her head properly.

“Saint.”

“Yes?”

“I am deeply touched by the courage you showed today. If I may presume to add, I hope that you will not have any regrets about expressing yourself tomorrow.”

“Regret… Does it regret…”

Eclair watched the saintess quietly mulling over the words.

How can we not know the emotional burden Atra is feeling right now? She even seemed to have a resemblance to her past self.

“I think she wants to be loved by Roman for her unadorned self. To that end, she is revealing all of her inner feelings.”

“···!”

The unique appeal of experience. It seemed to pierce Atra’s heart.

The saint immediately understood what Eclair meant by leaving behind no regrets.

“I also have the perception that it is just unnecessary interference. I am sorry if the saintess felt uncomfortable.”

“Oh, no! That’s really helpful. Thank you…”

Eclair could clearly see the expression of the saintess with her back to the church.

A faint light appeared in Atra’s eyes, as if her mind had become more relaxed than before.

She repeatedly opened and closed her lips as if she wanted to say something.

Eclair did not turn from her seat and just waited.

I don’t feel any stuffiness. Now, isn’t this kind of waiting familiar and welcome?

“Sister. I was sorry today.”

“Yes?”

“···No matter what the outcome is, I will go and apologize to the sisters separately. I promise.”

It was something completely unexpected.

Eclair blinked in embarrassment after receiving the sudden apology, and Atra continued her words in a quiet voice.

“I feel truly sorry to the sisters. I was obsessed with the thought of conveying my thoughts, so I made a mess of the event they had invited me to…”

The more I come to my senses and look back, the more it becomes true. I am so embarrassed and regretful that I want to die.

I was obsessed with the thought that I had to reveal my true feelings, so I spoke and acted unilaterally.

She could have answered the questions that came to her more sincerely, but she couldn’t because she was too busy.

“Saint.”

“···.”

“How can you apologize for something like that? It’s okay.”

Atra slowly raised her lowered gaze and looked into Eclair’s eyes.

What I encountered there was the gentle and benevolent smile of the 5th knight, something he never showed in public.

“I was like that in the past. Everyone in the mansion understands that the saintess’s heart is not at ease right now.”

“···.”

“I really enjoyed today’s meal. I hope the saint can enjoy it lightly next time.”

Finally, Eclair promised the next time and finally took her steps off the floor.

Atra watched in a daze as Eclair walked away, and only after a while did she move her legs to her feet.

····

After returning to the church, Atra was caught up in the flow of her work without even having time to catch her breath.

As expected, if Roman returned safely from his meeting with the three knights, it meant that something big or small had happened.

She was certain that Roman’s personality would not have taken such a soft approach as reconciliation.

“Where is the letter that said you arrived? Please show me.”

“···Here it is.”

Artra rolled his eyes and quickly read the letter handed to him by a priest.

The content was so urgent that it made no sense. However, from Atra’s point of view, the issues she had anticipated caught her eye.

Atra, who had taken out a few of her important words and put them into her head, handed her letter back to her priest.

It seems that Majella wanted to take care of it with her high-ranking priests, but since her agenda, which was dropped at night, came from the imperial family, it made sense for her to move on her own.

No matter how late it was, I had to go at least once.

‘It’s better.’

It’s good to be busy right now. I wanted to move without even thinking.

Anyway, if I put my head on her pillow now, I won’t be able to sleep and will spend the whole night worrying about her.

“Mazella. Please take care of your things. I will just change my clothes and come back.”

“Yes! I understand.”

“Please bring consumables as well, just in case.”

It’s been less than 10 minutes since she returned to the church.

Atra came out of the church again and rode her carriage to the imperial palace.

*****

“Hmm…”

The time when the sun began to set with a red glow.

As promised, Roman’s mind as he heads to the church has been complicated since yesterday. Her gait was also a little awkward.

Although she wasn’t sure, there was a close chance that Atra knew what she was trying to say and what she was calling herself.

Roman was puzzled by Ricke’s reaction today.

‘Was it my mistake? Then I feel so embarrassed.’

Roman’s first habit and routine as soon as he wakes up is to take spermicide to prevent pregnancy.

In what felt like an ingrained habit of hers, when she found herself in a situation where she was likely to become involved with a new woman, she would give her another dose of medicine as a gesture to lighten her heart and do as she pleased.

But today, she didn’t have that procedure until the moment she walked out the door.

‘Rike simply forgot?’

No. This is excessive speculation. That doesn’t make sense.

She is not another character, and it is definitely not for Rike.

‘I’m not the one who gets offended because I go to the church.’

It was just yesterday that she answered yes with a meaningful smile when asked if she had a good time playing with the saint.

And today, she even showed the expressions on the faces of everyone who came to greet her as she left.

‘I’m sure there’s something.’

I don’t think there’s a problem or anything bad, so I don’t plan on questioning the lovers.

The more I think about her, the more I feel like the answer is further away.

In the end, she concluded that if she talked to Atra, she would find some answer.

After briefly cutting off her thoughts, Roman entered the church.

“Excuse me.”

“Welcome.”

Majella, who was waiting for Roman and just looking at the entrance of the church, approached with great strides.

Majella, who was wearing her armor differently than usual, had eyes that looked like she wanted to talk about something, but she remained faithful to her duties.

“The saint is waiting in the penance room.”

“···?”

“I will guide you.”

Although my mouth was closed in an unfamiliar place called the penance room, which was neither the reception room nor the last corner.

Without any time to answer her questions, Majella took the lead and walked behind her.

“This is it. We’ve prepared some light refreshments inside.”

“Thank you.”

As Roman raised her hand to knock on the door of her penance chamber, Majella bowed her head and clasped her hands together.

“···Brother, I am truly grateful.”

Majella, who felt Roman’s hand stop and his gaze turn to her, continued her words.

“Last night, I had an urgent request, so I stopped by the saint and the imperial family.”

“Ah, I’m sorry for making you leave so late.”

I finally understood that Majella was unable to take off her armor even though she was in the capital.

She suddenly threw the devil into the imperial garden and returned quickly after saying a few words to the emperor, so the commotion must have been no ordinary one.

“Not at all. I think the saintess would have thanked you separately, but I thought it would be rude to remain silent.”

Slam!

Majella brought her armored legs together and raised her fists to her chest to show her manners.

“I respect you for winning against such a hideous and powerful demon. It is truly shameful, but among the Holy Knights and Priests of the Empire, who else but a saint could defeat such a demon?”

What Majella saw yesterday – Juergena di Venta’s transformation into a devil was absolutely terrifying.

Even thinking about the disgusting appearance, as if it was tightly packed with malice, made me feel numb.

I’m glad I didn’t have a nightmare when I came back that day.

“It was not done with great intention, but rather an action closer to resolving resentment.”

Still, I thank you for acknowledging me and say that it makes me feel good.

Roman bent his finger and knocked on the door of the penance room.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

“This is Roman. Can I come in?”

– ···Yes! Please come in.

Hearing permission in Atra’s voice, Roman placed his hand on the doorknob.

For some reason, the structure reminded him of his days at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the corners of Roman’s mouth turned up, and he burst into laughter.

“I will leave now because the saint has ordered me to do so.”

“Thank you for the guidance.”

Roman, who saw that Majella was walking away with great strides, turned the doorknob he was holding.