As Geril expected, the rumor that the Saintess had rejected Duke Lylester’s marriage proposal spread even faster than the rumor that he had brought the rockdragon’s heart and proposed to the Saintess, causing the entire empire to stir.

Along with that rumor, the news that Sir Seiden had rejected the imperial marriage proposal also spread at a terrifyingly fast pace. However, the surprise about the Holy Knight Commander who rejected the imperial marriage proposal couldn’t overcome the shock and criticism toward the Saintess who dared not fulfill the oracle.

“Don’t you think the believers coming to the temple have been cut in half?”

“Not just that, the donations have taken a big hit too.”

“Plus, didn’t the imperial family prohibit the temple’s expansion? Though permission had been granted long ago, they suddenly ordered construction to stop!”

The apprentice priests whispered while keeping their voices very low.

The aftermath of the Saintess’s decision didn’t just stop at Bellota’s level, but this time the Grand Temple too was taking a solid hit and stumbling.

The imperial citizens’ resentment toward the Saintess who had kicked away the achievement of fulfilling the oracle after a hundred years, combined with the imperial family’s displeasure toward the Holy Knight Order that dared reject the imperial princess, caused the number of believers visiting the Grand Temple to decrease day by day. Moreover, the donations to the temple and countless helping hands were also diminishing at a frightening pace.

“Why did the Saintess reject the Duke? Did she not know this would happen?”

When one of the apprentice priests finally made a tearful face and resented Bellota, the priests’ complaints that had barely been held back burst forth like a flood.

“I really don’t understand. What’s the problem? He even went to the Forbidden Land and brought back the rockdragon’s heart for the Saintess! Such an excellent man loves her desperately, why did she reject him!”

“Could it be because she was too disappointed at the hunting festival?”

However, even such suspicions were clearly explained by Geril in front of everyone, and that explanation was incredibly convincing.

“That was sufficiently explained. He said he was saving his strength to go to the Forbidden Land. That’s natural. If I had plans to go to the Forbidden Land, I wouldn’t waste energy on something like a hunting festival either.”

“You know how the Duke disappeared right after the hunting festival ended? They say he headed straight for the Forbidden Land.”

“I still can’t believe the Saintess didn’t fulfill the oracle. The holy god will surely be angry.”

“What if They bring calamity upon the temple?”

“Ha, just the temple? Calamity will fall upon this empire. We’re finished now……”

That was exactly why Bellota was facing the resentment of all imperial citizens. The god’s anger toward the Saintess who refused the oracle. They all feared that the holy god, angered at Bellota, might bring calamity upon the empire.

That fear rapidly grew larger day by day, with devout believers refusing to visit the Grand Temple or cutting off donations as silent protest, and demonstrations were even being held in front of the Grand Temple urging the Saintess to reverse her decision and accept Geril’s proposal.

So Bellota couldn’t have been unaware of these frenzied reactions. When news spread that the heartbroken Duke Lylester had shut himself in his castle and wouldn’t come out, criticism toward the Saintess grew even stronger. To the point where the Pope personally suggested that Bellota refrain from participating not only in temple events but also masses for the time being.

Bellota had no choice but to accept the Pope’s suggestion, as she was more than troubled by not only the sharp gazes fixed on her whenever she walked through the temple but also by believers who openly rushed to her begging her to reconsider her answer to the proposal.

Thus Bellota spent her days either staying all day in her tower or office, or secretly moving between the garden or prayer room where believers wouldn’t come. It was truly… a dispiriting thing. That she had nowhere to stay even in the temple to which she had devoted her everything.

In those suffocating times, only Seiden gave Bellota room to breathe.

“Lady Margaret is safe. They say the medicine made using the bevel has taken effect and she’ll be able to hold on easily for three more months.”

Whenever he had time, Seiden would visit Bellota under pretexts like Lady Margaret or the whereabouts of the Demon God Book and quietly spend time with her. Though neither of them brought up things like Geril, the imperial family, or the situation of the temple, they both knew well the circumstances they were in.

Though not as much as Bellota, Seiden also had no way to avoid the countless rumors following his rejection of marriage with the imperial princess. Among the public, rumors that Seiden was impotent were growing uncontrollably. However, Seiden didn’t care at all about rumors created by those who didn’t know about his full moons.

“Tomorrow I plan to visit a nanny who worked at Count Alkeria’s house.”

At those words, Bellota, who had been silently listening to him while picking out dead flowers in the garden, quickly turned her head to look at Seiden.

“The nanny from Count Alkeria’s house?”

As that news drew out interest from Bellota who had been down all along, Seiden didn’t miss the opportunity.

“Yes. Though Yevar has already met her several times, I feel like we’re missing something.”

“Wasn’t she suffering from dementia?”

To Bellota’s question filled with curiosity and sympathy, Seiden nodded.

“I hear she’s currently staying at a nursing home. They say she regains her senses very occasionally. I’ll tell you more about her exact condition after meeting her.”

At that, Bellota’s silent gaze remained fixed on the flowers she had picked out without moving. Watching her, Seiden slowly opened his mouth again.

“Perhaps.”

Seiden hesitated briefly, closing his mouth, but soon gathered courage and asked.

“If you’d like to come along……”

Before Seiden could finish speaking, as if she had been waiting for those words, a quick answer came from Bellota.

“Alright. I’ll go with you.”

It was an unexpected answer, so Seiden looked at Bellota with deliberately surprised eyes even though he had asked. Under his gaze, Bellota, somewhat embarrassed at having answered too quickly, made an excuse with a slightly reddened face.

“I was hoping there would be something I could do anyway. Maybe my healing power could help with dementia? Even if it doesn’t have a big effect.”

It was a reasonable thing to say, but instead of nodding in agreement, Seiden continued to stare blankly at Bellota. Because he knew that couldn’t possibly be the only reason Bellota wanted to go with him.

Embarrassed by Seiden’s gaze, Bellota finally quietly added.

“Besides, I’ve already picked too many flowers so there aren’t any left.”

Bellota showed the dead flowers with a slight wave and smiled sheepishly. Seiden’s gaze briefly went to those dead flowers before fixing back on Bellota’s face. Soon Seiden also lifted the corners of his mouth following Bellota. It was a leisurely smile as if he had already long forgotten about the unpleasant and vulgar rumors floating outside.

* * *

Since Bellota had no schedules for the time being, the two attempted an escape from the temple as soon as day broke the next day. They wore Yevar’s rings that had been used during the festival.

The nursing home where the elderly nanny from the Count’s house was staying was quite far from the temple. The two decided to go on horseback. Since the horses they usually rode were too conspicuous, Seiden had to divert two horses from those tied at the temple.

Secretly stealing temple horses and escaping the temple while avoiding the priests and believers gathering in small groups from morning was a more thrilling thing than expected.

Seiden helped Bellota up onto the horse and examined her face. Her pale face was even whiter than usual. It seemed Bellota was nervous about the sudden deviation.

“I…… have never done anything like this before.”

Bellota’s voice saying those words trembled slightly. It was natural. The devout and earnest Saintess Bellota secretly escaping the temple… At a time like this no less.

Of course, she had secretly slipped out of the temple like this during the festival too, but now was different from then. Since they couldn’t say the Saintess was in hiding to avoid the imperial citizens’ pressure, the Pope had announced that Bellota would not participate in any temple events for the time being due to poor health.

Not many people believed those words at face value. The imperial citizens had willingly waited with expectation for Bellota who had gone into seclusion after receiving Geril’s proposal, but they showed no understanding at all for Bellota who had hidden to avoid their anger.

At a time when demonstrations were being held in front of the temple urging Bellota to withdraw her rejection of the proposal and quickly accept the oracle, if this were to be discovered, enormous ripples would follow. Having thought that far, Seiden was about to tell Bellota they could return to the temple if she had changed her mind, but before he could even open his mouth, Bellota spoke first.