Chapter 25

“Pardon?”

“Understood.”

They soon opened the sealed box and took out a stone tablet that rattled inside.

It seemed to have been made a long time ago, the rectangular tablet was made of a slightly oxidized, dark gray stone. The High Priest carefully examined the writing engraved on the tablet placed on the wooden desk.

Was she allowed to look at that, or not?

Elcia hesitated, then frowned and tried her best to see from where she stood. Unfortunately, the writing on the tablet was in a script she didn’t know, so it was no use.

The High Priest scrutinized the letters on the tablet, then spoke.

“Hoho, you found it properly. I never expected it to bring back memories from when I was ten years old….”

“Pardon?”

“Ian, do you know why I called a mere half-day’s dream a divine revelation? It’s because it was the same voice I heard when I was ten.”

“Is that so?”

“…It was a very long dream. Though it was only a single night’s dream, in it I wandered the wilderness for more than ten years, upholding the teachings of the god. In the dream, I could hear the voice of the god so clearly that I thought I could even imitate it, but after waking, I couldn’t recall even the tone of that voice. All I was left with was the knowledge of what was said and taught to me. So when I woke up, I felt so empty that it took me some time to accept that I had returned to reality.”

The High Priest, recalling distant memories, copied the script he learned at ten onto paper and then deciphered the letters on the tablet. He did not hide what was written on the tablet from Elcia and her companions, but told them openly.

「My precious children born from the World Tree, I will never forsake you, my poor ones. If you wish to hear my voice, bring Haden, the embodiment of purity, to the Vanir Temple. On the day that child attains enlightenment as a true Saint, you too will truly open your eyes.」

“H-Haden, you say?”

Elcia was startled. So, the trace of the god they had found was not designating the deceased Saint, but rather Haden, the servant at Usley Castle, as the next Saint.

Moreover, the name Haden was uncommon in the Empire, so there was no time to think of anyone else. It was certain that it was the Haden they knew.

What was even more surprising was that the High Priest had said before opening the box that Haden was a blessed being!

As Elcia stared in shock, the High Priest smiled kindly.

“Hoho, no need to be surprised. I only recognized it because the holy power I felt from your hand matched the holy power inside this box.”

“Haden, a Saint… Ah! Come to think of it, there was a time when Ian felt pain in his hand, but when Haden held it, the pain went away. At that time, my doll even said Haden might become a High Priest… Oh my! I’m sorry.”

The High Priest smiled gently.

“Hohoho, it seems everything is arranged by the god. Fate is always close by.”

Ian, who had been silent, added,

“…I’m worried whether Haden will adapt well to the quiet life at the temple. Ah, Haden is a servant at Usley Castle, where I stayed. He’s still a young child who doesn’t know much about the world.”

Despite Ian’s worry, the High Priest only nodded slowly.

“To the eyes of the god, we are all like one-year-old children running through a field of flowers, so there’s no need to worry too much. If that child does not wish to come to the temple, it’s fine to let him stay at the castle for a while.”

“Really?”

The High Priest carefully straightened his bent back and continued.

“If it is the will of the god, the child will come to the temple someday, won’t he? Even if the time to receive the oracle is a little delayed, the god will watch over us… It will be alright. If punishment is given for not immediately carrying out the will of the god, let it fall entirely upon this old body.”

“High Priest!”

“Now, all three of you have worked hard. You must be very tired, so rest here well today, and from tomorrow, return to your world and live energetically. Thank you all for answering this old man’s request.”

The High Priest cut off Ian’s words and sent them away to rest.

Do divine punishments really exist?

Even after finding the trace of the god and receiving the oracle, would terrible misfortune befall them if they didn’t obey immediately?

Elcia, who entered a solitary room that was spacious but had no decent furniture except for a bed and desk, let out a light sigh.

This was something she had never even considered.

That Haden could be the one to replace the departed Saint as the new Saint?

Of course, the child was lovely, cute, honest, and as transparent as water…

As Elcia recalled Haden’s character, she came to a realization.

‘…The High Priest is right. Pure and transparent Haden truly deserves to be a Saint who will illuminate the world. Does it matter that he was born a servant? If anything, such a child would suit the solemn atmosphere of the Vanir Temple even better. The only question is… Will Haden come to this unfamiliar place?’

She had pretended to be cheerful in front of Ian, but Elcia was extremely tired. As drowsiness made her eyes droop, her mind drifted into unconsciousness.

Why?

Isn’t the Vanir High Priest one who serves the Vanir Goddess all his life?

Then why, in this matter, did he keep referring to it as the trace or call of the god, but never once say ‘Vanir Goddess’?

For what reason…?

Even though he said the voice and oracle he heard at ten matched, did he still lack certainty?

Her doubts were reasonable. But as sleep pressed down on her like clouds covering the night sky, she couldn’t unravel her tangled thoughts. By the next day, all the thoughts she’d had before sleeping had unfortunately vanished from her mind.

After discussion, the three decided to go to Usley Castle. Ian again suggested taking Elcia to the capital first, but Elcia insisted on going together. Though Haden was a surprisingly brave servant for his age, as the High Priest said, he was still just a child. She thought that if she held his hand tightly, the road to the temple would feel less frightening for him.

Even though it hadn’t been a full season since she’d left, Elcia missed even the view of Usley Castle from afar. The ivy winding around the castle walls and even the slightly broken bricks felt familiar and dear.

Elcia smiled as she entered through the castle gate. The servants, having heard in advance of their return, were waiting outside the building.

“Master! Miss Elcia! Sir Seiran too!”

“When did I drop to third in the ranks?”

Seiran laughed as he greeted Haden, not as a scolding but with genuine affection. Haden, who ran even faster than the butler, threw his arms around Ian’s sturdy waist.

“Master!”

“Have you been well, Haden?”

Unlike the purely happy Haden, Ian couldn’t quite smile comfortably. Understandably, he must have felt uneasy about bringing up difficult news. Elcia, thinking she would help persuade Haden, entered the castle.

Unexpectedly, Haden readily volunteered to go to the Vanir Temple and take priestly lessons. The High Priest had said he would do everything possible to make things easy for Haden, but above all, what Haden said deeply moved Elcia’s heart.

“They say the temple is closer than going to the capital with Master and Miss Elcia, right?”

“Y-yes.”

“Then I’m fine with anywhere. To be honest, I liked being at Usley Castle even though there was a lot of work… But with Master, Miss Elcia, and even Sir Seiran all leaving, I felt a little lonely.”

“If the High Priest allows, I’ll come visit sometimes.”

“Hehe, you really will come? Promise!”

“Yes, I promise.”

Elcia patted Haden’s brightly smiling head. Was Haden really the child to become a Saint through the god’s arrangement? No, even if not, it was fine. All she wanted was for this pure child, who always did his best, to be happy in the future.

If the wise Vanir High Priest, invigorated by finding a Saint candidate, lived long and healthy…

That would not be difficult either.

‘As long as it’s not a temple with a wicked Holy Knight like Nersian. Oh, I shouldn’t think such things.’

Elcia caught herself mocking the Tyr Church and pursed her lips, thinking it was irreverent. Just because she disliked Nersian, it was wrong to think poorly of the church Ian had once belonged to.

From the capital to the foot of Mount Friya, then to the Vanir Temple, and then back to Usley Castle, the long journey finally came to an end.

Seiran chose not to return to Duke Sesha’s duchy, but instead followed Ian to become a member of the Imperial Knights. It was fortunate that he continued to stand by Ian, who had endured years of despair, as a steadfast support.

More than that, a new worry had arisen for Elcia, who had safely returned to Ceylon House.

“…Will I be able to do well?”

「Aigoo, worrying again for nothing. If you want to live proudly as a noble, you need to wear shamelessness on your face, so stop looking so gloomy from tomorrow.」

Even at White Bunny’s grumbling, Elcia could neither laugh nor scold her doll.

* * *

As summer deepened, she was awarded a title by the imperial capital thanks to the High Priest’s official report. Although it was only the lowest rank of Baron, it felt very different from her life as a commoner.

The Kypris Marquisate wanted to give Elcia the Ceylon House where she had been staying as a token of gratitude. Elcia was happy too, since she wouldn’t have to leave a place that was familiar and comfortable. Sometimes, when temple life got boring, she could invite Haden over, and she was even preparing a room for him and building the bunny playroom White Bunny had wanted so much.

Everything was going smoothly.

Or so she thought.

Except for one thing—her sad, unrequited love that could never come true….

“Miss Elcia, the Count of Kypris is here. Shall I show him in?”

“Yes!”

When Ian arrived, Elcia pushed aside her aching heart and rose with a smile, unaware that White Bunny, still on the bed, was clicking her tongue.

The main reason she accepted the title offered by the Crown Prince was because Ian approved. Even when Conrad offered to grant any wish in return for healing Ian’s hand, Elcia had nothing she particularly wanted. So, when the High Priest sent a formal letter of thanks for Ian, Seiran, and Elcia, she had no reason to ask for anything more.

If Ian hadn’t insisted two or three times that she accept the title, she wouldn’t have had today’s worries. She could have refused, but because he truly wanted it, she accepted.

And yet, seeing Ian’s face made her happy. More precious to her than the expensive gold bars the Crown Prince had secretly given her for fear of thieves was just one of Ian’s relaxed smiles.

“You’re here?”

“Mm. Have you been well?”

“Of course.”

Ian quietly gazed at Elcia, whose expression was tinged with a bit of shadow.

Tomorrow would be her first day stepping into the capital’s noble society.

He had once blamed himself for dragging such an innocent, naive girl into a complicated, scheming world.

But now that things had come to this, it was a process she had to go through at least once.

After paying a steep price for information, Ian had learned that the current atmosphere at the Tyr Church was unusual. As expected, Nersian was the center of danger, and even the High Priest there seemed to have tacitly given up authority. With even a baron’s title, Nersian would be less likely to treat Elcia recklessly. Swallowing the discomfort in his throat, Ian spoke.

“You don’t have to be too nervous. Tomorrow, I’ll be there, and Se….”

Because Seiran would be there too. That simple phrase somehow got stuck in his throat and wouldn’t come out.