‘Since Father is kind and gentle to everyone, it’s impossible for people not to like him……’

She heard today’s meeting was about resolving disasters in a country suffering from severe drought and plague. Florencia wanted to listen to the content too, but being so far away, she couldn’t hear well what was being said at the front.

Contrary to what he had said about merely making an appearance, Ludwig seemed to be actively participating in the meeting. When the saintess sitting next to him expressed an opinion, he listened intently with a serious face, then nodded and added comments.

‘That person next to him is Saintess Elisabeth, right? I heard she’s intellectual and possesses tremendous holy power, so she now works directly beside the Pope……’

The saintess sitting right next to Ludwig, with jet-black hair and eyes like obsidian, was a beauty who could captivate anyone’s gaze.

When they first met in the morning, Saintess Elisabeth seemed to have known Ludwig from before and spoke to him familiarly.

“Have you been well? You look good, Ludwig.”

“Ella, it’s been a while.”

Ludwig wore a sociable smile like when conducting mass or dealing with elderly ladies visiting the Temple, but casually called her by a nickname. Though he maintained politeness as if meeting after a long time, there was a hint of greater intimacy.

‘If they were already acquainted, using a nickname isn’t anything special……’

‘Besides, that saintess looked about the same age as Father Ludwig. Perhaps they could be friends.’

Though she tried not to mind, her eyes kept drifting in that direction. She knew it was childish, but she kept feeling disappointed.

But it’s only a few hours until evening, so I just need to be patient.

Today we’re supposed to go sightseeing to places we couldn’t visit yesterday with Father.

Florencia tried to comfort herself with these thoughts.

* * *

However, despite her patient waiting, Florencia had to spend the evening alone and lonely.

“I’m truly sorry, Laura. There’s an additional meeting with just a few people in the evening, and I need to attend.”

“Ah….. I’m fine, please be careful.”

“I’ve spoken to the innkeeper, so make sure you eat dinner and rest.”

She ate the dinner prepared by the innkeeper and went up to her room to rest a bit before going to take a bath. Though she was hungry, eating alone somehow made her lose her appetite.

‘Perhaps soaking in the warm hot spring water will make me feel better. It’s true I’m tired after sitting all day today and riding in a carriage for a long time yesterday.’

The innkeeper guided Florencia to the open-air bath, which was separated for men and women. Since it was late, there was no one inside, allowing her to relax with relative ease.

The open-air hot spring, where the stars twinkling in the night sky were clearly visible, was much better than she had imagined. The water temperature was pleasantly warm, making her feel at ease, and the night air touching her nose was fresh and cool. Though she was n*ked, there was enough steam that she didn’t feel particularly cold even when moving between baths.

Florencia leaned her small head, wrapped in a towel, against the edge of the open-air bath. As her body became languid, sleep came quickly.

I shouldn’t be sleepy already…….

I was planning to stay awake until Father returns…….

Just as she was thinking this.

The door to the previously empty open-air bath opened, and someone entered.

“Miss Florencia?”

Huh?

Florencia, who had been dozing with her head resting on the edge of the hot spring, was startled awake by a voice she had heard somewhere before.

“……Saintess Elisabeth?”

“I’m sorry, you seemed to be sleeping, and I think I’ve disturbed you.”

She was Saintess Elisabeth whom Florencia had met earlier at the conference hall. Though her face was free of makeup, her obsidian-like black eyes and beautiful, intelligent impression remained the same. Florencia suddenly felt embarrassed for having dozed off thoughtlessly.

“I’m staying at this inn too, since I was the only woman among those attending the second meeting. Still, everyone’s priestly compassion hasn’t rusted yet, it seems, as they told me to leave first.”

Elisabeth, who sat next to Florencia, laughed heartily as she tied her long hair up in a high bun. She had an extremely bright and cheerful personality.

Elisabeth’s figure was as perfect as her beautiful face. With a slightly taller than average height, a slim waist and hips boasting perfect curves, and br*asts—the symbol of femininity—so full they seemed about to burst, she had an ideal woman’s body that would make any man feel dizzy…..

Florencia felt so unremarkable standing next to her that she sank deeper into the water, leaving only her head exposed.

“You have no idea how worried Ludwig was about whether the little saintess he brought had settled in well. He was making such a fuss that I offered to check on you myself. The innkeeper told me you went to the hot spring, so I came to wash up too.”

“Lud…wig?”

“Oh, he and I grew up together at the Temple when we were young. We still speak informally in private.”

“Ah, I see……”

I really don’t know anything about Father at all.

Or maybe…… he didn’t think we were close enough for him to tell me such things.

Was it because of the hot steam rising from the spring?

Florencia’s face became cloudy.

“By the way, how old is our little saintess? Fifteen? Sixteen? You look so young—surely you’re not 14?”

“……I’m 18. I came of age this year.”

“Oh my, I’m sorry. Ludwig was so worried about leaving you alone that I thought you were a younger lady.”

She seemed genuinely apologetic, so Florencia tried to smile and said it was fine.

“Saintess, how…… old are you?”

“I’m 26 this year, the same age as Ludwig. Oh, would you like to try this?”

Elisabeth sociably applied something like a thin flour paste to Florencia’s body.

“It’s a pack that moisturizes the skin.”

“Thank you.”

“Anyway, Ludwig is truly remarkable. We grew up together, but he became an official priest at just 14. From your perspective, being close to him, isn’t his holy power truly astonishing?”

“What? ……Yes……”

“Oh my, judging by your expression, you didn’t know. I suppose he hid himself so the little saintess wouldn’t feel pressured?”

“……”

“When he said he had taken on a disciple, everyone was curious about what kind of person you might be. We wondered what incredible holy power you must possess to become his disciple.”

Florencia was grateful that the thick steam concealed her expression. Otherwise, she really wouldn’t have been able to maintain her composure.

I seem to sense holy energy from you similar to Ludwig’s. Am I right? Elisabeth’s words seemed to come from far away. Today, Florencia didn’t want to think about anything anymore.

* * *

The atmosphere on the second day, which was also the last day of the conference, was better than yesterday. Today’s meeting was conducted only with those who had attended the secondary meeting yesterday, so the accompanying apprentice priests and saintesses could rest freely. Florencia sat with others, watching the meeting progress through the glass window.

“Saintess Florencia, please have some of this.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Her head ached slightly, perhaps because she hadn’t slept properly all night. A pretty glass bottle filled with fruit juice was held out in front of her as she sat dazed in her chair.

“You look more tired than yesterday, I think you didn’t sleep well because of the unfamiliar bed.”

He was Pablo, a 19-year-old assistant priest who had recently been ordained. Hadn’t he come with the elderly priest Gregoric, the one with a graying beard? Though they had only briefly greeted each other yesterday, the kind-hearted young man had been taking care of Florencia all morning.

“I think so. Thank you for your concern, Father Pablo.”

She stared at the clear, pinkish liquid for a moment before accepting it and taking a sip. Her white, slender chin tilted back as the cool liquid went down her throat. The sweet and refreshing juice made her head feel clearer.

“I feel much better now, thank you so much.”

Florencia smiled brightly at him, expressing her sincere gratitude.

Her honest, girlish smile was lovely. Pablo momentarily forgot his priestly duties and felt his heart flutter, so he quickly recited a prayer in his mind.

For some reason, he felt as if Father Ludwig was watching them from far away through the glass window, but that must be his imagination?

After parting at the conference hall last evening, she hadn’t exchanged a single word with Ludwig. In truth, this was because Florencia had been deliberately avoiding him. She had pretended to feel unwell, skipped breakfast, and after only informing the innkeeper, had left early and walked alone to the conference hall.

Somehow, Florencia couldn’t bring herself to face Ludwig. She hated herself for not being able to take his education simply as education and for constantly having other thoughts. She wanted to run away from those inexplicable feelings—her heart fluttering at his kisses and smiles, wanting to become something more special to him, her heart trembling whenever he touched her, feeling embarrassed, and finally those strange feelings that overwhelmed her.

“Have you and Father Gregoric been close since childhood, Father Pablo?”