She had seemed as soft and gentle as a spring breeze, but now that her expression was gone, she looked downright cold.
Was it really something that shocking to warrant such a drastic change?
“……You’re saying, you want to quit being the Saintess.”
I nodded deeply.
Then I began rattling off the excuses I had prepared on the way here.
“After returning from my family’s estate, I had a lot on my mind. I realized this position doesn’t suit me.”
“……”
“Trying to force myself into a role that doesn’t fit me has been incredibly stressful, and I’ve been getting angry often. Because of that, I ended up being rude to you and everyone at the temple.”
I brought my hands together and bowed my head toward Eirich.
“I apologize for everything I’ve done until now. If that’s not enough, I’ll apologize to each person individually.”
It wasn’t actually my fault, but if apologizing meant a smoother escape from the original storyline, I could do it as many times as necessary.
Compared to bowing my head to the station chief who cared only about his performance and treated his subordinates like dirt, this was nothing.
“……It’s such a sudden declaration. I’m a bit taken aback.”
“I didn’t expect myself to say this either. Still, I won’t change my mind again, so I hope you’ll understand my decision.”
“I’m sorry, but I cannot accept your request. Please take back your words.”
I hadn’t expected him to agree right away, but his response was even more firm than I thought.
“I’m not even the real Saintess anyway. I’m not of much use, am I?”
“Saintess.”
“Ah, is it because of the donations from the Kyris family?”
Ever since the Sun God’s power weakened, the number of believers dwindled, and naturally, so did the donors.
Currently, the temple relied almost entirely on donations from House Kyris.
If I stepped down as Saintess, the donations would stop too—of course they wouldn’t be happy.
“But don’t worry. We can keep it a secret that I left. I won’t be going back to the family estate for a while anyway.”
“It’s not just about the donations. Besides, that would be deceiving House Kyris.”
Why is he worried about that?
“Aren’t we deceiving the people who believe I’m the real Saintess too?”
Eirich’s face hardened.
As if I had stabbed his heart with a sharp awl.
“Rather than continuing to deceive good people because of me, wouldn’t it be better to deceive House Kyris, who put a fake Saintess up there for their own gain?”
“……”
“With my help, it’s entirely doable. So please reconsider, High Priest.”
Despite my earnest plea, Eirich stayed silent for a long time.
“Even so, it’s not possible.”
His lips moved several times before he finally gave an unwelcome answer.
“Don’t say such strange things. The place you belong is right here.”
He stood and, wearing a stiff expression, walked out with the empty dishes.
Is he angry? Did I strike too close to the truth and offend him?
But I wasn’t wrong.
“I figured the biggest issue would be the donation money, and once I solved that, they’d let me go easily.”
Wouldn’t it be better to kick out a useless fake Saintess who only causes trouble, and just take the money and live peacefully?
In the novel, Eirich was flexible. I thought he’d accept my proposal without hesitation. I never expected a rejection.
“But I’m not the type to give up.”
Who do you think I am? I’m a detective from the serious crimes division—someone who’d go undercover without hesitation to catch a criminal.
Let’s see who wins this one.
Eirich left the Saintess’s chambers and headed toward the dining hall.
But before he had walked very far, his face twisted, and he leaned against the wall.
His gaze fell on the tray in his hands, complicated beyond words.
This was never something he was supposed to do.
But because the maids and the sīdong—the young attendants working at the temple—were so afraid of Ordel, the small chores naturally fell to him.
Since he had been the one to accept the fake Saintess in the first place, Eirich always tended to her needs without complaint.
Perhaps liking that obedient behavior, Ordel often treated him like a servant with a satisfied grin.
But today…
Today was different.
There was no contempt in her gaze as she looked at him.
No unease, like she was afraid she’d be cast out unless she stepped on others.
On the contrary, her eyes were filled with a confidence he had never seen before.
“What happened to her?”
It had only been a few days.
When she had left the temple, she’d climbed into the carriage with a face full of disgust like she couldn’t stand the place.
Now, only a few days later, she was a completely different person.
Did Count Kyris order this?
There was only one person who could change Ordel that way.
Count Kyris.
Could this possibly be part of the Count’s plan to test the Temple?
“High Priest!”
Eirich, deep in thought, looked up at the voice calling him.
Approaching him was Dietrich Warren, his confidant and a high-ranking priest in the temple.
His normally sly, snakelike expression was stiff. He must’ve heard that Ordel had returned earlier than expected.
“Why are you doing this again… I’ll take it.”
Dietrich snatched the tray from Eirich’s hands.
He was one of those who detested how Ordel treated the High Priest like a servant.
Well, it’s not like anyone in the temple actually liked Ordel.
“High Priest, what happened to your clothes?”
Dietrich’s face hardened as he noticed Eirich’s wrinkled garments, which should’ve been kept pristine.
“Don’t tell me… did she grab you by the collar?!”
It was a reasonable misunderstanding.
“She collapsed as soon as she arrived. I wrinkled my clothes trying to support her.”
To be more accurate, Ordel had clung to him and refused to let go. But there had been no malice.
Only a desperate will to survive.
Yes, that’s how he had to see it.
Eirich forcefully pushed away the memory of her touch that kept resurfacing.
“……What? She collapsed……?”
Dietrich’s eyes widened. His sea-colored pupils trembled as if he couldn’t believe it.
“She seemed especially hungry today.”
Only then did Dietrich realize that all the dishes on the tray he had taken were empty.
It was the first time Ordel had ever cleaned her plate without complaining about the temple’s food.
“She’s not feeling well, so she’ll be more sensitive than usual. Make sure no attendants go near the Saintess’s chamber for a while.”
Dietrich nodded vigorously at the instruction to protect the young servants from Ordel.
“And one more thing. Keep an eye on the Saintess’s actions for the time being.”
Surprised by the unexpected order, Dietrich’s eyes widened.
Eirich had always left Ordel alone, even when she spent the temple’s funds at will.
“I’m not saying to stop her. Just watch what she does. She’s not exactly the perceptive type, so you won’t get caught.”
“Ah, yes. Understood.”
Though puzzled, Dietrich didn’t refuse.
It was basically an order to spy on someone, but since it was Ordel, whom he didn’t like anyway, it didn’t bother him.
As Eirich watched Dietrich, he turned his gaze out the window.
The sun they worshipped was scattering its brilliant light across the land as always.
He had accepted the existence of a fake Saintess in the name of preserving the temple.
How must the god he served be seeing him now?
Even if divine punishment came, he would accept it.
“Rather than continuing to deceive good people because of me, wouldn’t it be better to deceive House Kyris, who put a fake Saintess up there for their own gain?”
Those words Ordel had spoken pierced his chest like a thorn.
He was tormented with guilt.
So much so that he wished the god would punish him—then maybe he wouldn’t feel this pain anymore.
As soon as Eirich left, I sprang into action.
I had no intention of sitting around and waiting for him to approve.
Today’s mission was clear.
Find Ordel’s secret stash of money!
I searched every corner of the room.
Under the bed, in the desk drawers, even checked for double drawers just in case…
How long had I been searching?
While I didn’t find the secret funds, I did come to one clear conclusion.
“This room is ridiculously luxurious.”
Not a speck of dust anywhere. Lavish decorations adorned with jewels.
A bed big enough for five adults to sleep on, and furniture that screamed “expensive” at first glance.
This room, far too spacious for one person, looked like something out of a rich noble’s mansion.
“But the Temple of the Sun God is supposed to be broke…”
Remembering the novel’s setup, I looked around the room, troubled.
