Chapter 15
At Amy’s words, my lips fell open helplessly.
“…What?”
Ignoring the look of shock on my face, she spoke even louder than before.
“Th-that Grand Duke—the one who danced with you, Saintess!”
“Why… why would he come—”
As my words trailed off, Amy poked my arm repeatedly and laughed.
“Well, isn’t it obvious? He came to see you, Saintess!”
“Where is he?”
“Oh! I saw him at the main gate of the Temple. I ran straight here as soon as I saw him, so—”
From the sound of it, Amy must have mistaken things and come running to me immediately after seeing him.
My mind filled with one thought after another—
Why did he come?
There was no reason I could imagine.
Why would someone who didn’t even believe in God come to this place?
“Saintess?”
“Ah.”
I snapped out of my thoughts and stood up, leaving the conference room that had been packed with cardinals.
My steps felt heavy. Just a little.
Amy followed closely beside me and spoke again.
“Saintess! Aren’t you going to see the Grand Duke?”
“His Highness likely came to the Temple on business.”
“Pfft. Still, don’t you think he came to see you?”
I patted her head, forcing myself to steady my trembling lips as I replied.
“We haven’t even asked him yet. Oh—and Amy.”
“Yes?”
“Could you prepare some holy water?”
“For prayer?”
“Yes.”
“Okay! I’ll get it ready!”
Nodding vigorously, Amy ran off down a side path after declaring that she’d handle it.
I gave her something to do on purpose—
because I needed to be alone.
As I walked along the path lined with white pillars, my heart felt like it might burst.
Just knowing that he was in the same space as me was enough.
It wasn’t unusual for nobles to visit the Temple.
But the Kardin I knew was different.
I walked with my gaze lowered, afraid my head might turn on its own.
afraid my eyes would desperately search for him.
Even knowing he was here, I didn’t feel ready to see him.
Because my feelings for him hadn’t changed at all.
I didn’t even know how to forget him, yet I’d tried so hard—
and I was afraid that seeing him would undo every fragile resolve I’d made.
“I see you’re here.”
I was afraid.
Yet a voice reached me from the far end of the sunlit corridor.
Men’s shoes entered my field of view.
Biting my lip tightly, I slowly raised my head.
Was it the sunlight?
Or was it my imagination?
Black eyes looking down at me, haloed in light.
“…This can’t be real.”
The tension in my lips melted away uselessly.
I almost laughed again like a fool, just from seeing him.
“Ah… I shouldn’t smile.”
Just seeing his face felt like a cool breeze washing through my cluttered thoughts.
“Am I not allowed to smile this time?”
At Kardin’s voice, I shook my head vigorously, took a deep breath, and asked,
“Ah—sorry. What brings you to the Melissa Temple, Grand Duke Ferdian?”
“I was curious.”
The man I knew never sought out temples.
For a fleeting moment, I wondered if he had come to see me—and immediately felt foolish for expecting it after claiming I was trying to forget him.
Smiling as if nothing was wrong, I raised my arm and pointed the opposite way.
“Um… nobles usually use the prayer hall over there.”
He followed the direction of my finger, then turned back to me.
“I didn’t come to pray.”
My heart skipped.
What if he really had come to see me?
Unable to respond, I stood frozen as he spoke again.
“Do you have time?”
His question was so sweet that my resolve crumbled, and I nodded before I realized it.
He stared at me for a moment, then turned his head.
“It’s my first time at the Temple.”
“I see.”
I smiled faintly and began walking.
Matching my pace, Kardin walked slowly beside me.
I bit my lip hard to keep myself from smiling too brightly at his quiet consideration.
Perhaps, upon hearing that he was here, I had secretly hoped to meet him—even by chance.
“It’s very quiet. Peaceful.”
“Thankfully, there aren’t many people today.”
At my reply, he turned to me.
“And that’s a good thing?”
Stopping, I looked up at him and answered,
“Because I can personally show you around the Temple…”
Only after the words left my mouth did I realize what I’d said.
My voice trailed off.
Kardin cleared his throat and looked away first.
Biting my lip, I forced an awkward smile.
“Um… What brought you to the temple today?”
It was my second time asking.
After a brief silence, he answered,
“I said it briefly before… I was curious. And I’ve never been here.”
I nodded slowly and resumed walking.
Pointing to one of the prayer halls, I explained,
“Most visitors to the Melissa Temple offer their prayers here.”
“If one prays here, do they meet the Saintess?”
Shaking my head, I replied,
“Not necessarily. People simply come here to pray. I only appear on special occasions.”
“Then how does one meet the Saintess?”
His question made me stop once again.
“Perhaps… like today—on unexpected days like this.”
“So coming here doesn’t guarantee receiving the Saintess’s blessing.”
“No. I don’t give blessings to just anyone.”
It wasn’t a very Saint-like thing to say.
Lowering my head, unsure how he might see me, I continued walking.
Before long, we reached the edge of the temple grounds, where the forest began.
As I gazed down the forest path, my eyes stopped on the back of his hand.
“You protected your territory again.”
When the icy winds eased, wild beasts sometimes descended from the mountains to the Ferdian lands.
But they never reached the villages.
Because of Kardin and his knights.
Noticing a small cut on his hand, I took it gently in both of mine.
He flinched.
As I moved to heal it, he spoke.
“Didn’t you say you were a merciless saintess?”
“Yes. A merciless one.”
“Am I worthy of that mercy?”
“…I just wanted to give it.”
A brief silence passed.
He stared at me, lost in thought.
“Shallen.”
Hearing my name from his lips sent a sharp chill through my chest.
“Is that your real name, Saintess?”
It felt as though winter descended within me, my vision blurring helplessly.
Kardin bent down, frowning slightly as he wiped my cheeks with a dark blue handkerchief.
“Are you alright?”
A tear fell, and our gazes met at the same level.
Placing my hand over his, I spoke.
“…You really are a kind person.”
Only after saying it did I realize it again.
You’ve always been the same.
“That’s the first time I’ve heard that.”
Only then did his voice fully reach my ears.
Flustered, I lowered my head and wiped away the remaining tears clinging to my lashes with his handkerchief.
“I’m sorry. Anyone would think I have some tragic story.”
He said nothing—only waited.
I looked up, smiled, and continued.
“Yes. Shallen is my real name.”
“May I ask why you cried?”
“… It’s been a long time since I heard it.”
As he continued to watch me silently, I rubbed the back of my neck and added,
“After becoming a saintess, no one really calls me by my name anymore. I guess I missed it.”
Lowering my gaze, I looked at the handkerchief he’d returned to me.
“The handkerchief—”
“When we meet again next time, I’ll take it back then.”
I had planned to return it with the letter.
Since he spoke first, I only nodded.
“Do you come here often?”
“…What?”
When I looked up, he was gazing toward the forest path.
“How did you know?”
“Your steps seem familiar.”
So observant.
A side of him I hadn’t noticed before revealed itself in this life.
“Do you like walking?”
“I’m not sure I’d say I like it… but when my thoughts grow heavy, I find myself walking without realizing it.”
“Then… may I ask you to guide me here as well?”
I couldn’t refuse.
I truly couldn’t.
Because it was a request from you.
“Of course.”
