“Give me your hand. Don’t move. Just stroke it quietly. You have to be slow, be gentle…”
“Hailey, isn’t this a bit too intimate? It’s not that I hate it… but if you’re going to be this assertive…”
Hailey gently took her hand and slowly guided it to Idledra’s chest.
She pressed the palm softly against the girl’s slightly trembling heart.
‘Is Hailey being this bold for her first time? I’m not used to being controlled like this, yet there’s an inexplicable sense of pleasure…’
“Alright, keep one hand gently on your chest, and then use the other hand to hold the person in front of you… offer a prayer of blessing to her.”
‘I’m just teaching her a common blessing gesture. Why is she so excited?’
Hailey wondered.
‘Is it because it’s her first time doing this? What an innocent child. Any task becomes dull once it turns into work.’
Hailey remembered how, right after she had woken up and before she could even get some sleep, people from the Holy See had whisked her away to The Church to offer blessings.
She had been so flustered that she nearly knocked someone’s hat off.
As for why it hadn’t caused a commotion, she had come up with a lie on the spot, claiming she was “flipping over” the man’s bad luck.
He had actually thanked her for it.
Seeing Idledra’s slightly disappointed expression, Hailey assumed the girl simply didn’t like the task.
Her tone softened.
“Now, hold me with one hand, press the other hand to your chest, and recite with me…”
Hailey lifted Idledra’s hand and closed her eyes, whispering the blessing she had memorized long ago.
To her surprise, Idledra recited the words with ease — she was even more familiar with them than Hailey was.
“Actually, Hailey, I studied these blessings before. I just never used them.”
As a member of the Holy See, these were required courses.
Even the high-and-mighty Idledra had been exposed to them, though she rarely had the chance to put them into practice.
“Then how did you pray before? Without your little magic spells?”
“Um… I would just use Holy Magic to heal wounds or perform exorcisms. Anything else… didn’t seem necessary.”
‘Tsk, I almost forgot I’m the useless one with no magic. What a show-off…’
Still, it was only natural for a Saintess to have Holy Magic for healing.
From that perspective, Hailey felt like she was the one with the problem, since she only provided “emotional value.”
“Hailey? You seem a bit upset.”
“It’s nothing. I’m just wallowing in my own inferiority…”
Just as Hailey was grumbling about why the Holy See hadn’t given her some attack power back then, a pair of hands suddenly gripped hers.
“May the Goddess’s blessing always be by your side. May the luck of the dawn surround you in its embrace. I bless you, my dear one.”
As Idledra held her hand and whispered the soft words, golden specks of light gathered around her like dancing sprites.
Hailey felt an unprecedented sense of warmth and peace.
‘Yes, this is it! This is exactly the feeling a Saintess should give! Divine, gentle, untouchable, yet incredibly kind!’
“Idledra, I think I’ve finally found the right image for you! Yes, exactly like that! Just like what you did for me!”
Since Idledra couldn’t be “approachable” in the same way Hailey was, she might as well use magic to look “cool.”
She could be a mysterious, elegant type of Saintess.
Idledra hesitated, her words catching in her throat.
She didn’t want to dampen Hailey’s excitement, but she didn’t quite agree with the idea.
After all, Hailey wasn’t them, and they weren’t Hailey…
Right up until lunch, Idledra found it difficult to speak up.
She really didn’t want to discourage such a happy Hailey, but she truly felt a bit…
“It’s a pity you still can’t see clearly, otherwise I could take you out to try it. Oh well, I’ll just have to be your believer for now.”
At the dining table, Hailey spoke with a hint of regret and anticipation.
After all, despite giving so many blessings as a Saintess, this was the first time she had been on the receiving end.
As for Idledra, her mouth was full of the pudding Hailey had specially made.
She didn’t say anything, merely nodding along.
‘Hailey’s desserts are the best. Wait, did Hailey say something else just now?’
***
“Hailey, do we really have to do this? I feel… so embarrassed.”
After lunch, Hailey gently led Idledra to the small garden behind the villa.
Small flowers were planted here, and there was an exquisite Goddess Statue Fountain.
It was the perfect environment — divine and serene.
Idledra was dressed in standard, elegant Saintess Attire.
A snow-white veil was paired with a simple eye patch, creating a sense of mysterious, ethereal beauty.
She wore a pure white, wide-sleeved robe, a divine style similar to the Pope’s, but with more youthful decorations and tailoring.
“Hailey… did you really usually wear this outfit out?”
Even though she couldn’t see, Idledra felt a chill on the soles of her feet.
“Her hemline felt quite light and airy… was this really common attire for a Saintess?”
“Ahem, of course. This is exactly what a Saintess wears… Trust me, it really suits you!”
Hailey’s answer was, of course, a lie.
For her, having just transmigrated back then, there was no way she would have accepted such a cute and beautiful outfit.
She absolutely refused to become a “pretty girl” the moment she arrived!
So, she had usually worn a different set of ritual robes borrowed from the Holy See — the kind worn by the Grand Priest or a Bishop.
She could never tell Idledra that, though.
Idledra looked so good in this.
Just because Hailey had been unwilling to wear the exquisite clothes didn’t mean she didn’t enjoy seeing another beautiful girl in them.
“Alright, if you think it looks good, Hailey… But do I really have to be barefoot? It feels a bit cold.”
Yes, this was Hailey’s “innovation.”
Since Idledra was blind and needed Hailey to accompany and support her, they might as well make the most of the aesthetic…
In truth, Hailey felt this outfit had a spiritual vibe, like an elf in the forest…
‘And elves definitely have more charm when they’re barefoot.’
Just as Hailey was feeling satisfied with her design, someone who sensed a conspiracy brewing had already tiptoed behind her.
‘As I thought, Hailey must be up to some mischief again. As the Saintess, I should give this naughty child a little punishment…’
“Hailey, don’t move!”
With a soft “thud”, Idledra jumped onto Hailey’s back.
Her arms draped over Hailey’s shoulders, and her two small feet naturally rested on Hailey’s arms.
Her smooth toes gently poked at the soft flesh of Hailey’s waist.
“Wait, wait! Why did you jump up so suddenly? And your feet… pfft, haha, that tickles!”
“Hailey, my feet are sore from walking in the garden. As a believer of the Goddess, I command you to rub my feet. This is the Goddess’s will.”
‘Wait, is this part of your blessing too?’
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