Chapter 2 Part 3
Thanks to the black robe that half-covered my face, I could move quite freely through the Grand Temple in the dark night.
While searching for Raphla for a while, I faintly heard some priests chattering not far away.
“About that new Saint candidate who came up this time…”
I was going to just pass by whatever they were talking about, but I paused at the mention of Hertiana, the female lead.
Curious, I hid behind a nearby wall for a moment and focused on their conversation.
“That woman, I heard His Eminence the Cardinal deliberately called her in early. Apparently, she was originally supposed to come a week later.”
“Honestly, isn’t it a bit ridiculous to let her stay at the temple already when it hasn’t even been decided whether she’s a Saint or not?”
“That’s what I’m saying, at this rate anyone and everyone will claim to be a Saint candidate and squat in the Grand Temple.”
The voices of young priests, clearly holding more than a few complaints about Hertiana, came through quite clearly.
From what I was hearing, it seemed there was some kind of connection between Hertiana and the Cardinal.
This is quite… interesting.
Their voices gradually grew distant as they moved while conversing.
As I was following slightly behind and listening, suddenly an eerie presence rose sharply right behind me.
“Who are you?”
The innocent voice coming from behind me felt quite awkward.
When I turned my head, Hertiana in pure white priest robes was looking at me with a tilted head.
Damn, I shouldn’t meet the female lead this early…
Meanwhile, I noticed black wings frantically fluttering behind her.
Those wings look very familiar…
Raphla…? Why are you coming out here?
Unfortunately, I had no time to feel relief about Raphla being safe.
Of all people to run into, it had to be Hertiana.
I was so distracted by the priests’ conversation that I didn’t notice someone approaching…!
Fortunately, Hertiana hadn’t noticed Raphla’s presence yet.
I quickly slipped my hand behind my back and swiftly retrieved Raphla using magic.
“Well… I got lost. The temple is quite large.”
Avoiding her kind blue eyes that awaited an answer, I pulled my robe lower and started creating distance while making any excuse.
I had found Raphla and learned that Hertiana came early at the Cardinal’s call, so there was no reason to stay at the Grand Temple anymore.
“Ah, I see. Are you looking for a particular priest? I can help you.”
How fitting for the female lead to be excessively kind…
Let’s just say anything and get out of here quickly.
“I was looking for a counseling priest… but it’s fine now.”
“Ah, wait! Counseling appointments are taken in the prayer room. I’ll go with you!”
“No, everyone seems busy, so I’ll just come back another time. I was about to leave anyway.”
She was relentless.
Hertiana’s gentle eyes wavered momentarily at my polite refusal. Just as I thought this was my chance and turned around—
“Um…! If you’d like, I can listen to your concerns!”
“You must be busy, you don’t need to do that.”
“Not at all! I actually used to work as a counseling priest at my previous temple.”
…What’s with this unexpectedly clingy behavior?
It somehow reminds me of someone at the Imperial Palace. As expected of the male lead’s partner, they act the same way.
Bewildered by this unexpected persistence, I stood silently without answering, and sadness filled Hertiana’s doe-like eyes.
“Ah, of course… you probably don’t want me. I’m not even an official priest yet…”
What’s this, why are you suddenly crying? This makes it look like I made you cry! I didn’t intend to torment the female lead in this life too…!
“…Let’s go then, I actually did need someone to listen to my concerns.”
After halfheartedly patting the sniffling Hertiana’s back a couple of times to console her, her face immediately brightened.
No choice, I’ll just humor her briefly and then slip away…
* * *
The place Hertiana led me to was a quiet consultation room set up in a corner of the Grand Temple.
Since it’s come to this, should I try probing a bit?
“I haven’t seen you at the temple before, are you new?”
“Ah, yes. I haven’t been in the capital long.”
“Are you perhaps the new Saint they’re talking about?”
At my direct question, Hertiana’s previously bright expression momentarily froze.
Seems I touched a sensitive spot.
“Saint? Not at all. I was just a low-ranking priest helping at a local temple when His Eminence the Cardinal called for me…”
As expected. Just like what the priests said earlier, the Cardinal was behind this. But why did the Cardinal choose Hertiana, a countryside priest, as a Saint candidate?
…For now, let’s move past this since her expression doesn’t look good.
“It must feel very unfamiliar, suddenly coming to the capital.”
“Yes, but His Eminence the Cardinal has been taking good care of me… Oh! I’m sorry. I was supposed to be counseling you.”
Hertiana, who had been chattering away with a clear face, showed a sheepish expression and smiled like a child.
“It’s fine, your voice is pretty so it’s nice to listen to.”
“R-really? I’m glad… Ah, I’m Hertiana Brissel! Please call me Tia.”
“Ro… no, I’m El.”
I almost said my real name without thinking.
Moreover, allowing a nickname already – Tia before her Saint awakening really is a pure country girl.
“Then, what’s troubling you, El?”
That was quite a difficult question to answer.
‘I’ve not only encountered a woman who’s my natural enemy, but ended up having a cozy chat with her alone. How should I get out of this situation?’
…I can’t say that. Be patient, Rosiel.
“I’m engaged to a man I don’t particularly like, but he won’t let me go so I can’t break it off.”
If there’s an immediate concern, it’s definitely Abel.
Though my face was hidden by the robe, I covered my mouth with one hand and pretended to look sad.
“Oh my, that must be very difficult. Is there a reason why he won’t let you go?”
“He says I’m entertaining.”
“…Pardon?”
She seemed to momentarily lose control of her expression, showing a look of disbelief.
Hmm, so she can make expressions like that too.
“Shocking, right? I think so too. It’s quite troublesome.”
“To torment someone just for entertainment – he’s truly a worthless scoundrel!”
So… the current situation is the female lead calling the male lead a worthless scoundrel?
Somehow, I could hear the sound of the original story being destroyed.
And quite spectacularly at that…
“Then, is there someone else you have feelings for, El?”
Her aqua eyes, warmly rippling, turned toward me with kind warmth.
Tia seemed to be taking my concerns more seriously than I expected.
“No, I don’t like anyone.”
Thinking I might have spoken too stiffly, I glanced at Tia’s expression, and somehow her face was lighting up.
“El, you’re someone with strong convictions… Somehow I feel you must be an incredibly beautiful person. You must be very popular.”
“Oh my, you think so? Tia is beautiful too, extremely so.”
Tia’s face quickly reddened at my response.
Despite surely having heard such honeyed words often as the female lead, she shows surprisingly innocent reactions.
“Ah, I’m sorry. It’s just that besides my parents, this is the first time someone called me pretty…”
“You’re not very good at lying. Someone as beautiful as you couldn’t possibly be hearing this for the first time.”
“El, you’re really kind. Your fiancé must have fallen for that gentleness.”
Fallen for me? Abel?
I couldn’t help but laugh at such a nonsensical idea.
The male lead Abel only falls for you, the female lead, and you alone.
He’s the guy who was so desperately in love that he brought the elite Imperial Knights to the Duke’s residence just to save you in the original story.
