The sun was halfway down the mountainside, and the orange glow of the sunset heralded the coming night.
Beyond the city limits of the royal capital, vast fields stretched out, marking the outskirts. Windmills scattered throughout the plains added to the rustic charm of the landscape.
Shilona was walking against this backdrop of golden-tinged fields and windmills.
“Is this the place?”
Shilona felt the door leading inside a windmill.
Saintess Shilona, in whom the soul of Archangel Kaniel resided. At a young age, she had become one of the nine Saintesses and a core figure of the Holy Empire.
‘I feel like my skills have become sharper because I survived a brush with death.’
Her swordsmanship was improving by the day.
In truth, her sword skills were derived from the authority of Archangel Kaniel. Unlike other Saintesses, she could not radiate a dense concentration of divine power, but thanks to Kaniel’s unique authority, she was able to reach a high level of mastery despite her youth.
“Did anyone follow you?”
“No, Your Eminence.”
“You went through a lot of trouble to come all the way to Delos.”
The figures before her had the hoods of their black cloaks pulled down low. Pendants engraved with a sun pattern glowed around their necks.
“You have been through much, Saintess.”
Ben, the Commander of the First Holy Knight Order, and his knights knelt before Shilona. They were the ones who had been forced to part ways in the capital of the Kingdom of Delos. Since the pursuit by the demons had weakened recently, the knights had been able to infiltrate Delos once again.
“You returned sooner than I expected.”
“The Pope attended the investiture of the Crown Prince of the Scania Empire. The eyes of the demons were drawn there, allowing us to enter Delos.”
“As expected. So, is the First Prince, who was passed over for the position of Crown Prince, the heretic?”
“No. Both the First Prince and the Second Prince are heretics, excluding the Emperor himself.”
“Tsk… The devil’s reach has finally swallowed the Scania Imperial Family. The Pope must be troubled, having to personally place the crown on a heretic’s head.”
Both Shilona and Ben sighed deeply. It was because the influence of the demonic forces had been growing uncontrollably of late.
“Where are you staying, Your Eminence? Are there any inconveniences in your daily life?”
“Well…”
At Vinzen’s question, Shilona thought of the members of the Portran Family.
The maids of the Portran house and Dien had welcomed her, a stranger, without prejudice. Having fought through numerous wars between light and shadow, she was currently enjoying a peaceful life in the Portran household like never before.
“Yes, I am doing well. More than I deserve…”
“That is a relief. We will attend to you from now on. You have worked hard in the meantime.”
Shilona’s eyes wavered for a long moment. Despite the growing strength of the demons, her own life had been incredibly peaceful.
In fact, she had been able to enjoy this daily life thanks to Dien. Having lived only on the battlefields against heresy, she knew that such a mundane life did not suit her, and she also knew that she had to return to her original place soon.
“Have you found any traces of the Apostle?”
“No. Since arriving in Delos, I haven’t felt the power of pure divine power even once.”
“I see.”
After infiltrating Delos, Shilona had been searching for traces of divine power while traveling through the capital.
They did not doubt that in this age where heresy prevailed, a Messenger of God would appear and enlighten the world with a brilliant light.
Therefore, Shilona and the Holy Knight Order expected the Apostle to appear before them in a form more sacred and holy than any other clergyman.
“Has the Pope sensed the power of the Apostle elsewhere?”
“No, not anywhere else besides Delos…”
Since Shilona could not find any traces of the Apostle in Delos, she was considering the possibility that the Apostle might have already left the kingdom.
“Even if his power is felt elsewhere, the Pope has ordered Your Eminence to remain in the Kingdom of Delos.”
“Hmm… Very well.”
Delos was the place where the Apostle was most likely to be. She was staying here, and other knights were stationed in cities across the continent, so there was no reason for her to move elsewhere.
“We must be able to recognize his advent immediately.”
“Yes, it is a long-term mission, so please do not be impatient.”
Vinzen offered words of comfort, noting the disappointed look on Shilona’s face.
“We have secured a hideout within the capital. You should move there now.”
“I understand.”
Shilona confirmed the location of the hideout. There was no longer any reason for her to stay at the Portran house. While it was natural for her to return to her former life, her expression grew strangely dark.
“Ah, right! This is a mission passed down from the Orthodox Church. Saintess, do you happen to know Dien Portran?”
“The Young Lord Dien?”
“Yes.”
Shilona looked at him in surprise at Vinzen’s words.
“A while ago, the director of a monastery under Duke Bronin sent a letter. He claimed that there is divine power within the body of a man named Dien Portran. I was also given the task of verifying this before I arrived.”
“Hahaha! Divine power in Young Lord Dien’s body? Commander, Young Lord Dien hasn’t even been baptized. Furthermore, he is close to being an atheist who doesn’t even attend services. It must be incorrect information. He is someone completely far removed from the Panthera Church.”
Shilona thought of Dien. He was a man of unbelievable talent in swordsmanship and intellect, but other than that, he was just an ordinary noble youth.
One could know without even checking that Dien, who was not a priest, could not manifest holy and spiritual divine power. Moreover, Dien’s usual demeanor was far from the word ‘holy.’
“Yes, I understand. False reports from local monasteries happen every day. But how does Your Eminence know about Dien Portran…?”
“Ah… The place where I am staying temporarily is the Portran house. By necessity, I laundered my identity as a maid of the Portran Family.”
“Good heavens! Your Eminence, a maid?!”
At Shilona’s words, every single member of the Holy Knight Order clutched their heads and fell to their knees.
“Please kill us… It is our sin for failing to serve Your Eminence properly…”
“Haha… Please do not worry. I have been doing well.”
Despite Shilona’s words, the reaction of the knights was unanimously firm.
“Leave that place immediately. We will serve you with all our hearts.”
“I understand.”
The knights repeatedly requested that she move to the prepared residence. Shilona answered them briefly.
Living with the knights would be physically comfortable… but she really liked the warm affection she felt at the Portran house.
“I will move my residence once night falls.”
“Yes, we shall wait for Your Eminence.”
After parting with the knights and receiving their salutations, Shilona suddenly let out a sigh. It was because a feeling of wistfulness, something she had never felt before, welled up within her. Shilona returned to the Portran house with heavy steps.
“Shilona, why are you so late!”
Nue had been looking at her with worried eyes since Shilona, who had left early in the morning, had not returned even after lunchtime had passed.
“I had some business to attend to.”
“Oh, my! Baron Oren sent some mutton from the palace for the family to eat. We started eating while waiting for you… Come here quickly.”
Nue called Shilona over with a smile and sat her down. The maids of the Portran house personally prepared food for her. They were sincerely worried that Shilona might have missed a meal.
“It’s just one missed meal…”
Shilona sat at the table with her head bowed.
“Shilona, please eat. It must be a gift from Count Cherbil, because it tastes wonderful!”
Shilona looked at the servants bringing the food to the table.
“Please, join me.”
“We’ve already eaten. You just need to eat, Shilona.”
Normally, nobles do not share a table with commoners. However, the Portran Family did not particularly care for such formalities. Not only Oren, but Dien also did not hesitate to eat with the servants.
Because the head of the Portran house and the Young Lord referred to all the servants as family, Shilona had become quite close to them in such an atmosphere.
“Shilona, do you have anything to do after you finish your meal?”
“No, not really…”
“Baron Oren said it seemed like you wear the same clothes every day, and he told us to go to the Central Plaza together.”
“Baron Oren did?”
“Yes! Let’s go out together once you’re done eating!”
When she first came to the Portran house, she had been met with Oren’s wary gaze. However, that look had long since vanished. Oren was grateful that she had become Dien’s swordsmanship mentor, and he was providing her with as much convenience as he could in his own way.
“Indeed… Thank you. Everyone…”
Shilona sighed as she cut into the mutton. She had been holding a sword since before she could remember, and even her childhood memories were only of herself washing blood-stained clothes in a flowing river.
“Hey, Nue…”
Shilona called out to Nue, who was getting ready to head out.
“Yes!”
“I’m going to step out for a moment! Don’t wait for me…”
“Hey, you should at least finish your meal!”
Shilona bit her lip firmly and stood up abruptly from the table.
‘Yes… it’s better to go now…’
She went to her room and packed her sword. As she hurried to leave the room, the clothes she had received as a gift from Dien caught her eye.
‘I never even got to wear it…’
Shilona touched the clothes for a moment. She seemed lost in memories, but soon she shook her head vigorously and stepped out of the room.
***
“Shilona!”
As Shilona hurriedly opened the main gate of the Portran house, she happened to run into Dien.
“Where are you going in such a hurry?”
Flustered, Shilona could not give any answer to Dien’s question.
“Ah! I heard you’ve read almost all the books in the house lately. If there’s a field you’re interested in, let me know. I’ll borrow some books from the royal library.”
“Why aren’t you saying anything? By the way, did you try the mutton from the Cherbil Family? I know you don’t like cheap food, so I told them to season it lightly…”
As Dien continued to speak, Shilona ignored his words and began to run down the road.
‘Since when did he know I don’t like cheap food?’
Shilona stopped running once the Portran mansion was out of sight.
“Yes… this is right.”
She kept whispering the same words repeatedly. Soon, she was passing near the Central Plaza where the knights’ hideout was located.
“Fur gloves… Nue’s fur gloves were all worn out…”
She stopped for a moment at a stall set up by peddlers. Thoughts of the Portran family members would not leave her mind.
“What am I doing! Let’s just go… Wait… but…”
In the moment she was hurrying her steps after steeling her heart, Shilona eventually had to admit her true feelings.
“I don’t want to leave…”
The moment she admitted those feelings, Shilona’s mind began to work busily.
‘Isn’t it harder for the seeds of the devil to find the knights if they are scattered all over Delos? Even if one person is discovered, it won’t matter…’
Her thoughts began to flow in a different direction.
‘I’ve perfectly laundered my identity, so there’s no reason for me to be with the knights, right? Even if I think about it for the Great Cause…’
Was it a rational thought, or was it an excuse reflecting her own desire to stay at the Portran house longer?
While it weighed on her heart to be enjoying a happy daily life behind the Holy See’s back while the demonic forces were growing stronger, Shilona did not want to give up this daily life.
‘Also, the knights might be uncomfortable if I, their superior, am with them! Right, that’s it! I’m sure the knights will find it uncomfortable if I’m there!’
Having constructed the perfect excuse, she arrived at the knights’ temporary hideout.
“It’s for the Great Cause! In times like this, it’s much better to move as a cell!”
She finally clenched her fist in front of the residence.
“You have arrived.”
When she opened the door, all the knights knelt as one to welcome Shilona. Shilona looked at them with a dumbfounded expression.
“Everyone!”
“Yes, Your Eminence.”
“You’re uncomfortable because I’m here, right? Having to kneel and greet me every time!”
“Huh?”
“It’s true. You’re uncomfortable!”
At the nonsensical statement, the knights were flustered and waved their hands in denial. However, Shilona’s reaction became even more peculiar at their response.
“Ah… No. That couldn’t be!”
“No! Look at the Commander’s face! He looks incredibly uncomfortable! Ha… This is… I feel uncomfortable seeing the Commander’s face too… And wouldn’t it be better to move as a cell for the Great Cause?”
“But for Your Eminence to remain as a maid of the Portran house is absolutely…”
“Think only of the Great Cause! Only the Great Cause! It can’t be helped… I have to go back to the Portran house. Now that I’ve safely laundered my identity, I don’t think it’s a good idea to move!”
“What? To that extent…?”
“Uh-huh! Don’t worry about me, just think about the Great Cause!”
Shilona’s attitude was firm. At her exaggerated words and actions, the knights wore bewildered expressions.
“I shall return to the Portran house. Let’s make the rendezvous on the night of the last day of every week, at the place we were just at. If something special happens, send word toward the chimney of the Portran mansion, by the second-floor window!”
“Wait, no. First…”
“I know how you all feel! You want to spend time comfortably among yourselves!”
The knights’ faces turned red. Shilona felt good, thinking her words had hit the mark.
“Let’s be honest! I’ll go back to the Portran house for the sake of the Great Cause and for all of you!”
“If you think so…”
Vinzen conceded, his voice trembling. At Vinzen’s agreement, the corners of Shilona’s mouth rose as if they were ascending to heaven.
“As expected, I like the Commander because he’s honest!”
“Hahaha.”
“Well, I’m off then.”
Shilona left the temporary hideout like a flash.
“It’s all for the Great Cause!”
Shilona began to smirk. With a much more spirited step than when she had left the Portran house, she headed back toward the mansion.
‘Nue must be waiting. Surely they haven’t cleared away that mutton yet?’
Thus, the day that had been serious only to her was passing by.
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