Even if the process was a bit embarrassing, I still managed to gather plenty of valuable intelligence about the Radiant Monastery’s inner workings, thanks to my keen observation skills.
I could, for instance, deploy a special task force of stray cats to infiltrate the monastery, completely disrupting their internal logistics, given how many cat lovers seem to be among their ranks.
Or take the southwest corner of the eastern building cluster’s rooftop, where there’s a peeled-back opening—perfect for spying on the priests and holy knights in the bathhouse to see how well they’ve mastered the basic applications of holy light.
And after observing the women all afternoon, it seems the average chest size in the Radiant Monastery is among the top in the Alwyn Empire.
I couldn’t help but glance down at Syl’s chest.
If it weren’t for Triss and Satahia dragging us down, the Demon King’s Castle might actually be able to compete with the Radiant Monastery in terms of… assets.
This pink-haired girl irresponsibly mused, conveniently ignoring her own shortcomings.
They say as long as you keep moving, the path will keep extending, but with the hour growing late, Claire didn’t choose to continue dragging a certain frail girl around for more sightseeing.
Instead, we circled back to the council hall where it all began.
It was already afternoon when we arrived at the Radiant Monastery.
The meeting about the Black Prison Forest took up quite a bit of time, and the subsequent tour of the monastery stretched on unnoticed until evening.
The candles in the council hall were relit, casting a glow that, in the twilight, seemed brighter than the scene I’d witnessed earlier.
I leapt down from Syl’s arms, smoothed out my ruffled skirt, and tried my best to ignore the well-meaning but infuriating chuckles around me.
Smiling at Claire, I said, “Thank you, Sister Claire. Sophie-Lina had a wonderful time today.”
“It’s my honor,” Claire replied stiffly, clearly not versed in the delicate art of noble exchanges, her knightly upbringing showing through.
She hesitated for a moment before cautiously extending an invitation.
“Would Your Highness Sophie-Lina care to join us for dinner?”
Finally showing your true intentions, huh?
Using dinner as an excuse to build rapport, and the next step is definitely to convince me to stay the night.
Before I could fully expose her scheme in my mind, Syl spoke up, taking on the role of the “villain.”
“It’s getting late, Your Highness. We need to return to Soma Town to handle follow-up matters.”
“And I believe Your Highness might not be accustomed to the food here.”
I caught Syl’s underlying meaning immediately. My fake identity as Sophie-Lina carried plenty of risks. A dining table is like a battlefield—every tiny detail could expose a flaw.
The “not accustomed” excuse was just a cover.
While knights require hearty meals to sustain their training, their strict discipline leaves little room for pickiness about flavor.
As a result, monastery chefs often prioritize nutrition over taste.
Staying here would be like signing up for torture.
“Sorry, Sister Claire,” I said, mirroring Syl’s apologetic expression.
Claire sighed, her tone slightly downcast.
“Since Your Highness Sophie-Lina has matters to attend to, I won’t insist. It’s just a pity—I had the chefs prepare some desserts, thinking you might enjoy them.”
“Eh…”
For some reason, the knights’ whispers grew louder, loud enough for me to overhear their conversation.
“Lady Claire specially requested the dessert chef to prepare a cake for Her Highness Sophie-Lina. Looks like it’ll go to the girls instead.”
“I saw some pudding jellies, the kind noble ladies love.”
“I heard there are rare fruits too. I barely get to eat those once a year.”
Damn it, a mental attack?
That’s despicable… Gulp…
Despite my resolve, I couldn’t help but swallow hard. Syl, noticing this, stayed silent for a moment before giving in. “If Your Highness wishes, you may stay,” she said softly.
“Don’t underestimate me, Syl. It’s just a little temptation…” I bit my tongue, using the slight pain to snap out of the dessert-induced haze, and put on a serious face.
“Thank you for your kindness, Sister Claire, but my grandfather taught me that if I want to bring more blessings to this world, I mustn’t let distractions delay my duties.”
My gem-like eyes radiated determination and purity, leaving the surrounding holy knights momentarily stunned.
Such pure, untainted eyes.
Claire marveled silently. No wonder she’s a candidate for the Church’s secret saintess training. This resolve isn’t something an ordinary child could possess.
But before anyone could dwell on the moment, an ill-timed gurgle echoed through the hall.
Yes, despite my unwavering willpower, my body betrayed me, succumbing to the temptation.
“…”
“…”
The hall fell deathly silent, save for the faint sigh from the silver-haired nun beside me.
Freshly baked bread drizzled with savory meat juices, steaming butter paired with fragrant smoked meat, and tender fruits still glistening with water droplets—the dining table was a battlefield of clinking glasses and plates.
“Nom!”
After satisfying my hunger with some bread and roasted meat, I eagerly cut the pudding into small pieces, savoring the sweet, creamy texture as it slid down my throat.
They say girls have a separate stomach for desserts, and I’m starting to understand why.
But some people seemed to be exceptions.
I glanced at Syl. The silver-haired nun appeared uninterested in the lavish spread, merely sipping a glass of red wine.
Come to think of it, in my past life, I never really tried red wine. At most, I’d grab a pineapple beer to quench my thirst.
“It’s too early for Your Highness,” Syl said, noticing my gaze.
She set down her glass and used a napkin to wipe a smudge of cream from my lips. “And please, Your Highness, mind your manners.”
My cheeks flushed. I stole a glance around, only to find the holy knights behaving even more outrageously than me—chugging drinks, playing drinking games, and singing boisterously, a far cry from their usual solemn demeanor.
At first, they’d been whispering politely, upholding proper etiquette. Now, it was like a rowdy tavern gathering.
I wasn’t an idiot. I knew this was Claire’s doing, ensuring I wouldn’t feel too embarrassed.
But even if it was intentional, their behavior felt genuine, as if they were used to turning dinners into boisterous wine parties. What a strange bunch.
My gaze shifted to Claire. The strangest of all has to be this one.
As the leader of the Radiant Monastery, she had peculiar quirks, like calling dim environments “habitual.”
Her knights followed her orders without hesitation, a single glance enough to make them drop their formalities in front of outsiders.
I’d be skeptical if someone said she lacked leadership or personal charm.
Yet, after a day of interaction, she didn’t carry the aloof air of someone in power. She was approachable, almost too much so.
Even though Sophie-Lina was supposedly an envoy from the Church, Claire didn’t question my plans, executed them decisively, and took care of me in every way.
Sure, the Church of Light’s influence played a role, but I doubted a mere saintess candidate’s status would warrant such lavish treatment from a leader who’d established independence from the Church and secured a foothold in the Alwyn Empire.
She must have some ulterior motive, but all the signs suggest it’s not malicious.
This only made me more curious about her true intentions.
Sensing my stare, Claire paused. “Is the food to Your Highness Sophie-Lina’s liking?”
“Yes, it’s delicious. Thank you for your hospitality, Sister Claire.” Her words reminded me of my earlier bold declaration, and the blush that hadn’t fully faded from my cheeks deepened. I lowered my head, embarrassed.
My canary-like gesture made Claire pause. She lifted her wine glass. “After dinner, I’ll personally escort Your Highness Sophie-Lina and Miss Syl back to Soma Town.”
Wait, isn’t this deviating from the script?
“Eh? I thought Sister Claire would invite me to stay the night,” I said, looking up with doe-like eyes.
Claire’s gaze flickered, slightly averted. “I assumed Your Highness didn’t like the environment here.”
Is she judging based on my earlier behavior?
I suppose I did seem a bit resistant, but that’s only because her actions felt so unusual.
Don’t make me sound like some heartless player, you jerk!
“Well, if it’s not too much trouble for everyone…” Playing the naive saintess, I said shyly.
Claire’s movements stilled, her voice low, almost as if suppressing something. “I’ll have the best room prepared for Your Highness Sophie-Lina immediately.”
Even the liveliest banquet must end. As the twilight deepened into night, I bid Claire a temporary farewell and followed her assigned guide to the southwestern building cluster.
“Um, is Sophie-Lina causing trouble for everyone?” I asked, noticing the patrolling guards.
The priestess leading the way smiled. “The patrol team’s duties already cover this area, Your Highness. No need to feel guilty.”
“I see.”
As we reached the room, I couldn’t help but add, “Thank you, big sister… Could you pass on Sophie-Lina’s thanks to the patrol team?”
As expected, she’s the kind-hearted child they all say she is.
The priestess’s expression softened, as if healed by my words. She nodded. “Of course. I’m sure they’ll be delighted. I’ll take my leave now, Your Highness. Sweet dreams.”
“Goodbye, big sister.”
The room Claire arranged was indeed the finest in the monastery.
A plush gray carpet covered the floor, warm underfoot. A soft, classic bed with fluffy bedding begged to be rolled in. Mahogany furniture and warm wall lamps created a cozy atmosphere.
It was hard to imagine such an aristocratic room in a monastery, but that wasn’t my concern.
“How’d I do, Syl? I nailed the role today, didn’t I?” I asked, rolling on the soft bed and seeking praise from Syl.
Even at the end, I didn’t forget to express gratitude, ensuring my “good girl” image was solidified with that priestess.
“Aren’t you worried about surveillance magic, Your Highness?” Syl asked, scanning the room calmly.
“With you here, I’m not worried. Besides, that Claire doesn’t seem malicious.”
Ever since I saw Syl tear through a barrier, she’s given me unshakable confidence. That’s the power to bend system rules, after all.
But Syl didn’t take the bait. “So that’s why Your Highness chose to stay the night?”
“Not exactly.” I shook my head, sharing my plan to uncover Claire’s intentions. “That’s just a bonus.”
“During dinner, I thought about it. Even though the monastery followed Claire’s orders, there’s no guarantee nothing will go wrong. Just to be safe, I think it’s better to stay and keep an eye on things.”
“But Your Highness could be in danger,” Syl said, her gaze tinged with clear concern.
“You can’t catch a wolf without risking the bait. If things get dicey, you can just whisk me away, right?”
If I weren’t so stingy about wasting Energy, I could wait a few weeks for the Grand Library to produce enough Golden Pages to cover the deficit.
But alas, a poor Demon King has to stoop to wearing humiliating outfits to cozy up to the bright faction’s enemies.
I’m so pitiful I could cry…
And what’s with this doujinshi-style nonsense? Is it C97 or C98 exclusive?
Seeing Syl’s continued silence, I hopped off the bed and threw myself into her arms, nuzzling playfully. “Are you still mad at me, Syl? For deciding without consulting you?”
“I wouldn’t dare,” she replied.
“Don’t be upset, okay? I love you the most, Syl!”
Syl looked at the clingy figure in her arms, a hint of helplessness in her eyes.
She gently smoothed my tousled blonde hair. “Alright, Your Highness, I’m not angry. Can you let go now? I need to return to my room, or they’ll get suspicious.”
“They’d gossip just because I’m getting cozy with you?” I teased, sticking out my tongue but releasing her.
Being a kid really lets you get away with a lot of tofu-eating. Of course, you also have to watch out for getting your own tofu eaten.