Chapter 9
“You claim you did nothing, yet only Iderion knows the truth.”
Matron spoke with a grave seriousness.
“Sometimes, the circumstances carry more weight in judgment than evidence itself. Conversely, can it be proven that the Saintess did not kill the temple knights?”
“Matron… do you really think I would kill someone without reason? And with the sacred power granted by Iderion, no less?”
Lassel countered, letting her eyes droop in a seemingly sorrowful expression.
“I don’t understand why I’m being accused of murder. Let me tell you what actually happened. I was asleep in my room at night when I was kidnapped by some intruder. I tried to protect myself, but someone must have spiked my food with a sleeping potion, because I couldn’t use my divine power.”
A ripple of stunned murmurs spread through the crowd.
They drugged the Saintess?
If true, this was a massive scandal—one that the Saintess’s opponents would have had to stay silent about for at least ten years.
“So when I woke up, I found myself at the arena. I was tied up with no way to move, and it was Prince Martin Reviers who rescued me.”
“There’s a contradiction in your statement,” Matron suddenly said. Lassel looked up at him.
“A contradiction?”
“First, your testimony that you were helpless because of the sleeping potion is plausible. Without focus, one cannot manifest their abilities. But when you woke up in the arena, the effect of the potion must have worn off. Yet you took no action and simply waited for someone to come rescue you?”
Lassel opened her mouth to explain that she had been restrained by sorcery, but Matron quickly interrupted.
“If you had lost your divine power, you must have done something to earn Iderion’s great wrath. For example… harming two innocent and faithful knights…”
“That’s horrifying! How could I ever do such a thing—!”
“That’s something only you can know, isn’t it?”
Matron answered coldly, dismissing Lassel’s protests.
“What happened can be investigated later. For now, we must determine what actually occurred. Or, do you have another valid reason and evidence for why your divine power could not be used?”
Lassel gritted her teeth. The markings of sorcery that had been on her arm were long absorbed and gone. There was no evidence left. Could the person who had kidnapped her under sorcery testify? But what if their mouth was sealed by magic?
“Stop it!”
A child’s shrill voice cut through the tension.
Bella pushed through the crowd and stood between Lassel and Matron, theatrically spreading her arms in an exaggerated gesture to block Lassel.
What is she doing?
Lassel was momentarily dumbfounded.
Bella shouted with a tearful voice,
“Now that everything’s been said, Lassel—no, Saintess, you must have understood! Don’t pressure the Saintess so much! What if she makes the wrong choice?”
Is she implying I’m going to hurt myself?
Lassel couldn’t help but feel incredulous.
There was no way Bella was stepping in for her sake. Bella was clearly trying to use the situation and Lassel to earn points and push her further into a corner.
Then Bella turned to Lassel and desperately grabbed her hand.
Lassel felt a surge of annoyance and tried to pull her hand back, but Bella’s grip was too strong.
“Saintess, speak honestly and ask for everyone’s forgiveness. It’s okay—I’ll be with you. Iderion, and everyone else, will forgive you too.”
Tears glimmered at the corners of Bella’s eyes as she smiled.
“It’s okay. Even if everyone criticizes you, it’s nothing compared to what you’ve been through. I’ll pray for you until all the criticism ends.”
Lassel wanted to push her away, but managed only to coldly shake off Bella’s hand, gathering all her self-control.
What nonsense… I want to, but…
She wanted to express her frustration, to shout and argue—but that was exactly what Bella wanted.
To think I’d be manipulated like a fool just because she wanted me to.
Lassel suppressed all her emotions and clenched her fists in secret. Then she smiled gently.
“You like stepping forward, don’t you? At your age, you can’t be an official temple attendant. What qualifications give you the right to be here?”
“I’m Saintess’s friend—”
“I’ve told you before we were never friends. Why do you pretend to defend me while ignoring my words, trying to make it seem like I did kill someone? You’re a frightening child.”
Lassel removed the smile and furrowed her brow seriously.
“Lying is a serious sin. Slandering someone is a grave sin. You are committing a sin. What do you gain by slandering me?”
“-I didn’t slander you, Saintess!”
“Then are you saying I am a murderer?”
Bella hesitated at that.
“I never said that.”
“Shall I repeat what you said? ‘Speak honestly and ask for everyone’s forgiveness.’ That’s what you said. What forgiveness am I asking for? You’re saying it’s wrong that I was taken from my bed?”
When Lassel pressed her seriously, Bella awkwardly avoided eye contact.
“I didn’t say it like that.”
“Really? Then step aside. This isn’t your place.”
Outwardly, it seemed Lassel had driven Bella off, but neither thought that way.
This was Bella’s maneuver.
Now Lassel had to prove she had done nothing wrong. To do so, she had to break Matron’s claims. She had to use her divine power.
If it’s sorcery, I can counter it with holy law. Only someone like Matron could wield that level of law… I have to meet Helga as it is.
Of course, no one would make it easy to meet Helga.
“This is far too messy.”
Matron frowned, alternating his gaze between Lassel and Bella.
“I did not come here to watch children bicker. Saintess, show your divine power and clear your name. Others should reveal the corpses.”
He proclaimed as if he were a judge, confident that Lassel could never use her power.
So he’s in league with Bella too.
Lassel realized this, but had no proof to turn the situation around.
“What are you waiting for? Use your divine power! Unless Iderion has taken it from you, you can use it!”
Matron shouted, almost gleeful. Lassel could do nothing.
“Why are you just standing there? I said use it immediately!”
As sweat gathered in her palms, a boy’s cold voice cut sharply through the tension.
“The Matron, shouting like an excited pig… how utterly annoying.”
The boy, Martin, stepped through the crowd, glaring at Matron with fearless eyes, then smirked.
“Is something good happening here?”
“-This is no place for the Grand Prince. Step aside.”
“I can’t. I won’t hear that the person I saved is a murderer.”
Martin lightly placed his hand on Lassel’s shoulder.
“Saintess, use your divine power as they wish.”
Lassel looked up at Martin, flustered. He didn’t know the full situation, but for her, it was awkward and difficult.
Whispering into her ear, Martin said,
“It’s okay. Your power isn’t that weak.”
…As if he knew everything. His voice, though still cold, was strangely reassuring.
Lassel calmed and closed her eyes, focusing.
My power isn’t that weak? My power… I…
In her past life, she didn’t even know the strength of her abilities. Every ounce had been taken by Bella. And now, again. Twice, taken by Bella.
I didn’t come back to go through this. Why must I endure this? Just sit there and take it until Bella is satisfied?
Ridiculous. She would never be a sacrifice for someone else again.
Her will focused on that point. It was determination, a vow, a resolution.
Flare!
A blaze rose from Lassel’s body as she closed her eyes.
Matron’s impassive face remained, but his eyes betrayed his shock. Bella glared at her as if she would devour her.
“The Saintess… with holy fire—!”
“Then she truly was not the culprit…?”
The crowd murmured.
Lassel opened her eyes slowly, surveying the surroundings, then fixed her gaze on Matron.
“Iderion has taken nothing from me. I did nothing wrong.”
Her voice radiated unwavering, deep-rooted confidence.
Matron fell silent for a long moment, then snorted dismissively.
“Then why not reveal the bodies?”
“I think I know the reason.”
Martin crossed his arms, tilting his head.
“It’s not even time for the families to know yet. Checking the remains that even the families haven’t verified, just to accuse the Saintess, is despicable.”
“The Grand Prince has interfered too much in temple affairs—”
“I agree with the Grand Prince.”
Lassel stepped forward to support Martin.
“Should we dig through bodies without letting families confirm and mourn? This is a sad incident where people we knew died unjustly. It’s not some puzzle to solve.”
Her plain logic stirred murmurs of agreement among the surrounding priests and people.
Continuing to force the issue now would only undermine Matron’s authority.
With a scowl, he spun on his heel and walked back the way he came without another word.
“Ah, Matron!”
His attendants scrambled to follow.
As Matron’s group disappeared into the distance, the priests and knights of Helga’s side blocking the temple entrance, and Lassel, all exhaled deeply, letting their shoulders relax.
