While the Pope and the High Priest have breakfast separately in their own rooms, all other priests eat together in the dining hall at the center of the main temple.

Though not always, I often eat in the dining hall, and today especially—my first day after being released from the Pope’s punishment—I deliberately went down to the dining hall. I thought the other priests might be wondering if I was still in the temple.

“Good morning, Holy Maiden.”

“May God’s blessing be with you today as well.”

After exchanging greetings with several people and beginning my meal, someone sat down beside me. I didn’t need to wonder who it was. Only one person in the temple would sit next to me without hesitation.

“Cioranne, are you alright?”

Richard, his curly golden hair neatly combed back, was looking at me with kind eyes full of concern. I shrugged.

“I was just visiting the provinces. There’s no reason I wouldn’t be fine.”

“That’s just the official story. Do you really think I don’t know what actually happened?”

“Haha.”

I just laughed lightly. It seemed impossible to fool Richard, if no one else.

“I’m fine. Really, I am.”

Richard didn’t believe me and narrowed his eyes, examining me closely. Then he shrugged with surprise.

“You look happy. Did you really visit the provinces? Weren’t you summoned by His Holiness?”

“I was summoned.”

“But…”

I was scooping up potato soup when I smiled brightly and said to Richard:

“Richard, I think I understand why people keep pets now.”

Richard’s brow furrowed at my unexpected comment.

“Pets? You mean that cat? The spiteful one that scratches your skin raw?”

“Kyle must have been going through puberty! He doesn’t do that anymore.”

“What puberty for a cat… But why?”

The punishment from the Pope had been painful, but thinking about Kyle who had come to find me made me happy. Since the person sitting next to me was the only one who knew I kept a cat, I couldn’t help but chatter away.

I enthusiastically explained how lovely a cat Kyle was.

“When I was locked in the basement, Kyle came all the way there to see me.”

“The cat went down to the temple basement? How did he know?”

“Who knows? Maybe he followed my scent?”

Honestly, I didn’t know either. I was just amazed that Kyle had found me when I least expected it.

“Until Kyle came, I didn’t even realize how cold it was down there… Thanks to Kyle, I learned that simply having someone by your side can make you incredibly warm.”

“Cioranne.”

The emotion I felt when that unfriendly cat licked my fingertips is still difficult to express. As I was trying to convey those feelings with my limited vocabulary, Richard called my name in a strangely subdued tone. I looked up at him, wondering why he called me.

After furrowing his brow briefly, Richard muttered while avoiding my gaze:

“…I’m glad you’ve come to think that way.”

At Richard’s response, I smiled again.

“Thank you for always standing by my side, Richard. You’re important to me too. You’re the only person in this temple I can call a friend.”

“…”

Despite my words, Richard’s expression didn’t soften. Had I said something wrong? I tilted my head.

“Richard? Did I say something wrong?”

“No. I’m just glad to see you’ve regained your spirits.”

Richard shook his head. Then, continuing to eat with his spoon, he asked in a casual tone:

“So? Are you completely healed now?”

“I’ve treated everything.”

“Still, don’t do anything so reckless again. There’s no need to stand up during mass.”

Ah, Richard thought I was taken away because I defied the Pope during mass. I shrugged. If I told him what happened at the infirmary, righteous Richard would certainly not stay quiet.

“Yes. I should be careful, if only for Kyle’s sake.”

Next time something like that happens, I’ll just heal them secretly without getting caught.

Honestly, I was angry too, which is why I responded more harshly than usual. Seeing people discriminate in their healing, contrary to God’s will, made me so angry.

I don’t regret healing those people, and I’m not particularly bothered about being punished, but I was concerned about Kyle who had come all the way down to the cold basement to find me.

“When I returned to my room, I found that Kyle had eaten all the food I’d left out. If I’d been delayed even one more day, Kyle might have collapsed from hunger. I need to be careful not to let this happen again.”

“…”

“Richard?”

“It’s nothing. I was listening to your story.”

Since Richard had been quiet for a while, I tilted my head curiously. Without either of us initiating it, we naturally continued our meal in silence.

After quickly finishing breakfast and leaving the dining hall, Richard followed beside me. However, he was wearing casual clothes with just a sword at his side. Usually, he wore light armor when coming to the temple.

“You’re dressed lightly today?”

“Ah, I didn’t come to the main temple on Holy Knight business today.”

“Then?”

“My brother has come to visit. He seems to have something to discuss.”

“Richard’s brother… isn’t he the Imperial Chancellor?”

“That’s right.”

Imperial Chancellor Marquis Noel Ferol. He was also famous as Emperor Kailas’s right-hand man.

People said that if Richard’s rise had been even slightly delayed, he wouldn’t have secured a key position in the Holy Knight Order due to wariness of Noel Ferol.

Even now, the fact that they were meeting at the temple rather than privately outside showed that the Chancellor was still being watched. The temple side must have set those conditions.

“You’ll receive a lot of disapproving looks. It must be something really important.”

“Well…”

Richard seemed to have something on his mind but said nothing more. I stared at his worried profile for a moment, then took a small stone from my pocket and held it out.

“Take this.”

“What is it?”

“There might be people trying to eavesdrop. But don’t worry. While you have this, no one can listen in.”

“It looks like an ordinary stone, but that’s interesting.”

It is just an ordinary stone. But since I, who communicates with God, have blessed it, it’s no longer just a stone.

[‘The Dragon Trampler’ clears his throat, saying to trust only in him.]

Could anyone else in the temple modify blessings like this?

I smiled brightly and extended my hand to Richard. He bowed, lowering his head. I placed my hand on his crown and blessed him earnestly.

“May your path ahead be filled with joy and happiness.”

“Thank you, Holy Maiden.”

I gave this blessing because Richard’s face looked particularly dark. After finishing the blessing, I removed my hand and shrugged.

“Take care, then.”

Perhaps feeling guilty about my punishment, the Pope had said I didn’t need to attend temple events today. So I planned to spend the day in my room with Kyle.

‘I can’t wait to touch Kyle’s paw pads.’

I was smiling fondly, thinking of soft jelly, when:

“Cioranne.”

“Yes?”

Richard stopped me as I was heading to my room. When I turned around, he was looking at me with a strange expression I couldn’t decipher.

“Do you truly wish for my happiness?”

“Of course.”

Why would he ask such a question? Though puzzled, I answered honestly.

“I’m happy now thanks to you, Richard. I sincerely want you to be happy too.”

“…I see.”

Richard smiled at my answer, but somehow it looked like he was swallowing something bitter.

“Could you spare some time for me when I return? There’s something I want to tell you.”

“Sure. Gladly. I’ll be in my room all day today, so you can come there.”

“See you later, then.”

What could it be about?

‘Is he leaving the temple perhaps?’

Richard’s family now held important positions in the Empire, so it would be natural for them to want the help of their second son who was in the temple. With Richard’s swordsmanship, he might even become the Emperor’s guardian knight.

‘That would be a bit lonely.’

But if it’s better for Richard’s future, then so be it. If Richard brings up something like that later, I should support him without showing any sadness.

* * *

Just as Cioranne had guessed, the Pope was extremely wary of the Ferol Marquis family. Noel Ferol’s request to meet Richard had been rejected countless times before finally being approved.

There were two conditions: they must meet in a reception room designated by the Pope within the main temple, and the meeting could not exceed 30 minutes.

Richard, who arrived at the reception room before Noel, sat down and sighed.

His mind was filled with thoughts of none other than Cioranne’s cat. Richard twisted his lips.

‘That cat is definitely suspicious.’

He had always thought it was suspicious, but what Cioranne said today was even more so.

‘Since Cioranne wouldn’t lie, it means that cat really did go down to the basement to find her.’

A normal cat searching for its owner? A cat, not a dog?