Chapter 11: The Bridge of Salvation (2)

“What? The bridge is going to collapse?”

“Shh, you were too loud just now.”

I gently placed a finger on Abigail’s lips, trying to calm her down. Her wide, startled blue eyes met mine.

“…Now that you mention it, someone did come to me during a recent audience, begging for help, saying the bridge would collapse.”

So, the eccentric geologist had approached Abigail as well, just as he had come to me back then, pleading on bended knee. Yes, everything was unfolding exactly as I remembered.

“Did you inform the Emperor or the Crown Prince?”

“…Not yet.”

“Good. It’s better that way. Don’t tell them.”

If she did, she would only be ridiculed, just as the geologist had been.

“Don’t tell them? But you just said the bridge is going to collapse!”

I quickly covered her mouth to keep her from yelling further. Her eyes widened, blinking like a frightened rabbit.

“Listen carefully, Abigail. After the bridge collapses, you’ll be the one leading the search for the victims.”

As I released my hand from her mouth, she questioned me.

“Why would I be the one to lead the search?”

“You’ll use your divine power to locate the victims trapped under the rubble.”

“Divine power? But I… I don’t have any…”

Her voice trailed off as she lowered her head in despair.

“Abigail, don’t worry. I’m here with you. I’ll help you.”

I took her hand, and slowly, she lifted her head to meet my gaze.

“How can you help?”

Her doubtful eyes searched for reassurance, and I gave her a firm answer.

“I know where the victims will be.”

“How do you know that?” Abigail asked, disbelief etched on her face.

“I can’t explain everything right now. Please, just trust me and do as I say.”

I gently caressed the rough, white skin on the back of her hand.

“Wouldn’t it be better to tell the Crown Prince now? If we evacuate everyone before the bridge collapses, there won’t be any casualties.”

She was thinking the same thing I had once considered in the past.

“Abigail, this is your chance to prove your divine power.”

“But what if I make a mistake…”

“After the bridge collapses, the Archelio Monastery will be sending out a relief team. I’ll be there with you, so don’t worry.”

Abigail, I’ll be right there beside you, protecting you from the closest distance. All you need to do is lend me your hand, and in return, I’ll make you a revered Saint.

“I should go now. The cleanup after the Mass should be wrapping up by now.”

“Alicia…”

She called my name with the same warmth as before. A bright smile blossomed on my lips as I heard her voice.

“I’ll see you again soon.”

Abigail, don’t worry anymore. Just trust me.

***

The entire monastery had gone on an outing together for the first time in ages, except for Father Daniel, who, despite his tearful pleas to join, had stayed behind to watch over the place. Carrying sandwiches we had busily prepared since morning, we headed to a lake near the monastery.

As we pushed through the lush greenery, where fresh green leaves had grown thick, the expansive lakeside opened up before us.

“…Let’s all take a well-deserved break today,” Father Edwin sighed deeply as he plopped down onto the picnic mat.

“Sister Alicia, sit down and rest for a while,” he said, patting the spot beside him. Perhaps today, as he suggested, it would be good to take a moment of peace, enjoying the calm, rippling lake.

“Alicia, help me, please!”

But someone was calling for my help, and it was none other than Lucio. Surrounded by the children, he stretched out a trembling hand toward me.

“Princess! Let’s play princess!”

“…Alicia, please save me,” Lucio pleaded desperately.

The children were clearly excited about the outing, brimming with energy. Seeing Lucio’s pale, almost panicked expression, I couldn’t just ignore him, so I finally joined the children, sitting down on the picnic mat with them.

“Wow, then Sister, you should be the prince!”

“…Uh, kids, don’t you think something’s a bit off?”

Lucio was suddenly the princess, and I had become the prince. Then again, with Lucio’s delicate frame, he did look every bit the part of a princess.

“Alright, I’ll be the prince.”

“Alicia, you too? What am I supposed to do now!”

“You look beautiful as always, Princess.”

Lowering my voice, I extended my hand to Lucio, causing the children to burst into uncontrollable giggles.

“…Yes, Prince.”

Lucio, seemingly resigned, placed his hand on mine. His hand was so slender and delicate that it was hard to believe it belonged to a man.

“How can even your fingers be so beautiful, Princess?”

“Beautiful… How embarrassing.”

Lucio’s cheeks flushed a deep red.

“With eyes like a deer, lips like cherries, and skin as smooth as porcelain…”

I was in the middle of a dramatic performance when I noticed the children’s faces growing pale. They looked genuinely frightened, as if something had scared them.

“…Do bears show up by the lake too?” one of the children whispered nervously.

A sense of foreboding made me turn around, only to find not a bear, but a wildcat standing there—no, not a wildcat, but Edwin, looking far from the relaxed state he claimed to want today.

“Father Edwin?”

The man who had insisted on taking a break today was standing behind me, his face stormy.

“I’m much better at watching over the children.”

“…Then would you like to sit here?” 

Lucio scooted closer to me, making room for Edwin, who raised his left eyebrow and promptly sat between us, effectively cutting off the space.

“Father, there’s plenty of room. Did you really have to sit right here?” 

Lucio asked, his cheerful expression still intact. Edwin snorted in response.

“Well, if there’s so much room, why don’t you just move over?”

Lucio chuckled and shifted to my right, leaving me sandwiched between the two of them, unable to move.

“Sister! Continue the princess game!”

“…Is Sister Alicia the princess?” Edwin asked, his tone curious.

“No, Father! Sister is the prince.”

“What? …Then I shall be the princess.”

Father Edwin as the princess? Such a tyrannical princess would be unlike any in the world.

“I’m afraid the princess role is already taken by me,” Lucio said, dimples deepening on his cheeks.

“Who says there can only be one princess? What emperor decreed such a law?”

“…Haha, you both can be princesses,” I interjected, trying to defuse the tension, but Father Edwin wasn’t having it.

“So, Prince, which princess will you choose?” he demanded sharply.

Father Edwin, what kind of princess raises her voice and sneers like that?

“Excessive attachment only brings misfortune. Look, the prince’s face is turning pale… naturally, he’ll choose me,” Lucio added, clearly enjoying the banter.

Lucio, how does that make any sense?

“I doubt the prince would prefer a timid princess like you. I’m clearly more mature,” Father Edwin retorted with a smirk, flexing his solid muscles.

“Wouldn’t a prince prefer a petite princess like me over a towering one like you?” Lucio countered.

The children, entranced by this unexpected and amusing “princess” game, stared up at them in awe, completely captivated.

“…And so, the prince decided to become a priest of the monastery and live a life of celibacy,” I said, trying to wrap up the game as I stood up. But Father Edwin wasn’t letting me off so easily. He grabbed the end of my sleeve.

“Who decided you could become a priest? After rejecting the princess’s heartfelt love, you’re just going to run off and become a priest, expecting her to give up?”

“P-please, just let it go…” I pleaded.

It was a picnic at the monastery, peaceful in its own peculiar, slightly tense way.

* * *

Early in the morning, Father Edwin had been summoned to the central temple and didn’t return to the monastery until after lunch. He gathered the clergy in the chapel, and, with sweat-soaked silver hair, he began to speak.

“This morning, the Bridge of Salvation to the west collapsed, and our monastery has been called to provide relief efforts.”

As soon as Father Edwin finished speaking, the serene atmosphere of the chapel was replaced by a buzz of alarm.

“My goodness…”

“I crossed that bridge just a few months ago, and it seemed fine back then.”

Everything was unfolding exactly as fate had dictated.

“Since the royal rescue team will be handling the debris, we will focus on providing food and essential supplies to the slums beneath the bridge and taking care of the children there. While we won’t be going near the debris, the ground is still unstable, so we’ll need to prepare for any potential danger,” Father Edwin explained.

Even for those who live by faith, volunteering for a relief mission that involves risking their lives isn’t an easy decision. I worried that no one would step forward.

“I’ll go.”

A nun raised her hand resolutely.

“I’ll go too.”

“And I will help as well.”

One by one, hands started rising like waves around her, each one volunteering willingly, ready to risk their lives. They were the clergy, those who stand closest to the divine, dedicated to caring for the weak, becoming family to those who have lost theirs, and acting as a shield to protect them.

Even Lucio, who had let out a sigh moments before, raised his hand, leaving me as the only one who hadn’t yet volunteered. Father Edwin slowly scanned the chapel, his gaze finally resting on me.

“I’ll go as well.”

When I finally raised my hand, a satisfied smile spread across Father Edwin’s lips.

“Hurry, we need to get going. It’ll take quite a while to get there on foot.”

Archelio Monastery only owned two carriages, as it was rare for the clergy to need to travel in large groups. While the Central Cathedral might have lent them carriages, knowing Father Revencio’s foul temperament, there was little chance of that happening.

When I was a Saintess, the monastery that went on relief missions was Bacentius Monastery, not Archelio. It took them nearly half a day just to reach their destination on foot.

“Fortunately, a benefactor has agreed to lend us horses and carriages,” Father Edwin announced.

At the mention of a benefactor, Father Daniel scratched his ear, doubting what he had just heard.

“Since when did Archelio Monastery have a benefactor…?”

When Father Daniel looked up at Father Edwin with suspicion, he was met with a cold response.

“Father Daniel, instead of complaining, you should focus on getting ready.”

By the time the clergy finished their preparations and stepped outside, just as Father Edwin had said, a line of carriages stretched endlessly, surrounding Archelio Monastery. The crest of House Sossilion fluttered proudly atop the carriages.

* * *

The carriages of House Sossilion were encircling the monastery. An all-too-familiar figure stood alone, his back to the carriages. It was Brian, the butler. Father Edwin approached him and offered a respectful bow.

“Thank you for your kindness. Thanks to you, the members of the monastery can travel safely.”

“There is no need to thank me.”

Brian’s gaze moved past Father Edwin to meet mine. As soon as our eyes met, his wrinkled eyes softened into a kind smile.

“The servants of House Sossilion are merely following the orders of our master.”

I suppressed the urge to run over and talk with him. Instead, I offered a brief nod, like the other nuns, and boarded the carriage.

‘Father…’

It seemed that my father was too busy with work to come. I wished I could see him, even from afar, even if it was just his silhouette.

As the conversation between Brian and Father Edwin concluded, Father Edwin climbed into the carriage.

“…We’ll be departing shortly.”

I looked at him, arms crossed as he took a moment to catch his breath.

“Father, thank you for relaying the message to the Duke’s household.”

I had sent a letter to my father two weeks ago, but it was because Father Edwin stopped by the Duke’s estate right after leaving the central cathedral that we were able to have the carriages ready on time.

“I should be the one thanking you. Without the Duke’s carriages, we would have had to make that long journey on foot, which is a dreadful thought.”

“Though I’m fortunate to be traveling by carriage, I must admit I had hoped… maybe I would see my father’s face.”

“Look outside. The cherry blossoms in full bloom are quite beautiful.”

Following his suddenly captivated gaze, I looked out the carriage window.

Amid the line of carriages heading towards our destination, there was one going in the opposite direction. Inside, I caught a fleeting glimpse of a familiar profile sitting beside Brian as the carriage receded into the distance.

‘Father…’