Chapter 9 (1/2)

“!”

His big hand blocked me from screaming of being surprised at his sudden appearance. A reliable, large index finger came up to his lips.

“Shh, he will hear you outside.”

When I opened my eyes wide and blinked, his hands fell gently. When his warmth fell, I realized.

It didn’t matter if it were a one-sided love. I liked Astein. That’s why I had vowed over and over again not to bother him.1

“Didn’t you go?”

“You didn’t say goodbye and I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“I’m afraid I won’t be able to come for a few days from tomorrow.”

It was unfortunate. The fact that he wouldn’t come. But I couldn’t express myself.

“Yes, I see.”

“If you’re still looking for the remaining two people, put a birch branch at the entrance of the prayer room. I’ll find more.”

I nodded. I hadn’t been able to go out and find her because I didn’t have a lot of luck yet. I had to get his help, and I wanted to see him even with this excuse.

“I’ll see you after the Imperial banquet.”

The time I couldn’t see him was long. I hated it. So the words came out impulsively.

“I might go to the banquet, too.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Would you, by any chance, be my partner then?”

Astein opened his eyes wide and didn’t answer.

Oh, you don’t like it, do you? It would be difficult to be another woman’s partner in front of a woman you like.

“I don’t think my father will be able to try to assassinate you if we stay together on the move.”

I made excuses. I was a little embarrassed if words of rejection would come back.

“It’s hard to get permission from the Marquis, so I have to sneak it. But would it be okay? The Marquis will hate it.”

“It’s okay with the atmosphere these days.”

“Then I will gladly prepare the day to be Lady Freya’s partner.”

My heartbeat went crazier, even though I knew his words were just courteous. For a moment without a word, we just looked at each other.

After a while, Astein said he really had to go. I prepared to go out to the garden on the pretext of a walk. Then could get out.

“By the way, Lady Freya. I unintentionally heard you talking with your escort.”

He came to me with a bit of a serious face. The eyes were full of worry.

“A saint is human too. So you can be greedy or angry. Don’t put up with it too much.”

Again today, as always, Astein had left me the consolation I needed the most.

༻✿༺

All the women Astein sent were not Ellaner. Where on earth did she hide?

I was getting nervous. Time shouldn’t pass like this. I thought I’d go out to the slums again for once, but I couldn’t find a chance.

“Why hasn’t the divine power returned since that day? Is your prayer insufficient?”

The Marquis became sensitive again because it wasn’t long before the Holy Lady’s death. He was ready to put violence back on me at any time.

In the past, I would only have crouched or avoided his punishment.

“If it was such a sacred power to come back so easily, I would’ve come back soon. Don’t be too impatient.”

But I decided not to. I decided to be courageous. With the encouragement of Astein in my heart.

“Don’t you know that it’s over on the day you go to the Imperial banquet in this condition and they find out that you don’t have divine power?

“Is there anything I can do with the divine power at the banquet? If I don’t come and go now, I’ll get even more strange eyes.”

The Marquis’ hand came up to my retort as always. I wasn’t here to cry to make it less painful. I wanted to change a little.

To be more confident when Ellaner returned and I leave.

“If I regain divine power, father might be punished by God instead of touching the body of a Saint.”

His hand stopped.

“Besides, if the Saint’s body or face is hurt, people will find it strange. The body of a person with divine power cannot be hurt or damaged.”

My voice trembled because of the small courage I had. But still, it worked. The Marquis’ hand fell. Instead, he glared at me with terrifying eyes.

I gave strength to my hands, which were cold with tension.

Let’s not back down.

“So cocky. Don’t forget who saved you from dying in the street.”

After he left the room, I sank on the chair. My legs gave out.

“Are you all right, Miss.”

“Yes.”

It was hard to do this because I didn’t know my nature would rebel. Every time, I felt my body was energized.

“My Lady, I think you are looking for the dignity of the Saint now.”

Selemion was very pleased with the situation.

“Sir Solar says that the poor and the common people are coming with flowers and fruits for a long day.”

After the visit of people believed to be Ellaner, everyone came to see me. Among them was Lyra, who came back to visit me.

“A slum child who got a job because of your blessing. That’s how they praise you.”

“I don’t do much.”

“I hear your medicine is very popular among the poor and the common people. It’s God’s medicine.”

Thanks to this, I was consolidating my image as a Saint. It wouldn’t help at all because everything would return to Ellaner.

“It’s been a long time since the Young Master came, you’ve had such a good time.”

I narrowed my eyes to the word ‘Young Master’. Euteran, who was training as the successor at the Academy, wasn’t happy about me at all.

It was him who came to Ellaner and pushed her into my sight. He was as abusive as the Marquis to me.

—Dirty fake!

—Come down from the Saint’s seat right now! Before I bring you down.

“When is he coming?”

“On the morning of the banquet.”

It was different from my memory. Before the reversion, Euteran hadn’t returned home even on holiday until graduation.

I didn’t have a good feeling about this. The ominousness came on the day of the banquet.

“Miss! Look at this! Wow, who the hell is that?”

I went to Selemion who was fussing about something.

An elegant beige chiffon dress, elegant accessories to match the dress and white shoes.

“Who sent it?”

“I don’t know. Maybe they thought they could give everything to a prospective saint?”

There was no message in the box. Could I wear this?

Something fell from the dress when Selemion lifted the dress saying it was pretty. It was a birch branch. I realized who sent it.

I shouldn’t show that I liked it, but the corners of my mouth didn’t go down easily. I carefully swept the fine fabric of the dress.

“What? Is there a stupid guy who cares about a fake saint?”