Richard kindly explained to me what ear-flap hats were.

“They’re knitted hats for cats with rabbit ears or bear ears attached. Doesn’t it sound cute just hearing about it?”

“Wow.”

I looked at Kyle with sparkling eyes. Was it my imagination, or did Kyle’s body just twitch?

“What would look good on our Kyle? Oh my. I think he’d look fantastically cute in anything.”

He’s already perfectly adorable, but adding cuteness to cuteness! Who could have come up with such a brilliant idea?

As I bounced excitedly while looking at Kyle, Richard adjusted my slightly slipped hood and smiled maturely.

“It’s been a while since you’ve been out in the streets, hasn’t it?”

“Ear-flap hats! What color would suit our Kyle best? Perhaps yellow, matching his eye color?”

“…Cioranne, do you realize that’s the seventh time you’ve said that?”

“Oh.”

I was completely obsessed with ear-flap hats.

Being unable to focus on anything else when I concentrate on one thing has always been my problem. When I stuck out my tongue and gave an embarrassed smile, Richard returned it with a bitter smile.

“Do you really like that cat so much?”

“Yes. Kyle is my family.”

“Family.”

I stroked Kyle’s dignified, majestic head and said, “This is the first time I’ve had someone to take care of, who also comforts me.”

Richard always told me that I had many people around me, and among them were good people whom I should try to like.

But now that I had given my heart to Kyle, Richard didn’t seem particularly happy about it. When I tilted my head in confusion, Richard spoke in a slightly subdued voice.

“But you have the temple family too.”

“Of course, they’re family too. We call each other brothers and sisters. But how should I put it… Kyle feels like he’s mine?”

I liked the temple. But if you asked whether it was a place of rest I’d return to no matter what, the answer would be no. I stayed there simply because God had placed me there.

But Kyle was different. Unlike the many people who could substitute for one another, Kyle couldn’t be replaced by any other cat.

‘What other cat would come looking for me all the way to that underground chamber?’

Just thinking about that day still warmed my heart. Kyle probably didn’t know how surprised and happy I was then.

Unable to contain my emotions, I planted a kiss on Kyle’s forehead. Kyle made that sour expression again. Why would a cat make such an indifferent face?

‘Do cats naturally dislike displays of affection?’

I’d have to have raised cats to know. Just as I met Kyle’s narrowed eyes with my gaze, Richard gently ruffled my hair like an older brother.

“You always gave things up when you were young. Come to think of it, that cat seems to be the first thing that’s truly yours.”

I shrugged. It was true that I hadn’t possessed much since childhood, but I wasn’t particularly dissatisfied. It had been my choice.

“Giving things up was the right thing to do. Because of my strong holy power, all the delicious food always came to me. The other children couldn’t even taste it.”

“But in the end, you didn’t eat it either.”

“It’s fine. I didn’t particularly want to eat it anyway.”

“Cioranne.”

Though I was stating an obvious fact, Richard wore that wounded expression again. After hesitating briefly, he asked in a careful tone:

“Have you ever thought about having a family?”

“A family?”

I laughed. How could I suddenly have a family when I never had one from birth? Instead, I held up my cat.

“I have Kyle, I told you.”

“I don’t mean the cat. Of course, pets are called companions too. But I mean people, not animals.”

“I’m a Holy Maiden, remember? Are you suggesting I adopt someone?”

It wasn’t uncommon for clergy to adopt. Especially in their later years, whether from loneliness or softened hearts, many adopted orphans.

But I knew that adoption wasn’t what Richard meant. I wasn’t even taking care of myself properly, let alone having room in my life for others.

“Not adoption…”

“Marriage?”

At my question, Richard froze with wide eyes. I simply stared blankly at his face, which instantly turned bright red.

[‘Kyle’ finds this amusing.]

‘Watching this like it’s a romance novel again.’

This cat. Only finding things amusing at times like this.

I wish he’d have more fun when playing with me.

I frowned. Whatever feelings Richard harbored toward me were his freedom. But because Richard was special to me, I hoped he wouldn’t get hurt.

So I drew the line before he could say anything unnecessary.

“Who would dare marry me?”

“What? That’s…”

“The moment someone marries me, they’d face all the criticism this continent has to offer.”

“…”

At my words, Richard’s reddened face paled again. Pretending not to notice his emotions, I calmly stroked Kyle’s back. Was it my imagination? Kyle’s small body seemed to have stiffened too.

“You already know, Richard. The reason women can’t become Pope. When women marry, they lose their holy power.”

The reason I couldn’t hold real power despite having stronger holy power than Pope Incensino, the reason priests crowded the infirmary while nuns only grew vegetables in the backyard.

Women lose their holy power when they marry. The temple taught that this was because women were meant to serve men.

‘Of course, that’s a misinterpretation of scripture. Gender has no meaning before God.’

Just like they denounce beast-folk as animals, scripture was merely being used as a political tool.

But losing holy power was real.

“Do you know how many people I save each year? Could I discard all those people just because I want a family?”

I’m evaluated as having the strongest holy power in temple history. For me to lose that power? That would be tantamount to abandoning all the people I could save.

My own happiness versus the peace of countless people. Making a choice just for myself…

[‘The Dragon Trampler’ says what’s wrong with that?]

No, even if others might say that, God shouldn’t!