Episode 19
“What… just happened?”
Could it be…?
Reina slowly reached out and touched the foot of the bronze Saintess statue again. As soon as her skin touched it, a soft light began to glow.
When she pulled her hand away, the light disappeared.
When she touched it again, the light came back.
It was like her body had become a switch. The light turned on and off every time she touched the statue.
“Ohhh! It’s the Saintess’s blessing…!”
“Dear God…!”
People nearby saw Reina glowing and began making the sign of the cross and bowing their heads.
Seeing that, Reina froze stiff—just like the statue.
‘I don’t remember the Saintess’s power working like this in the novel!’
Reina stared at the people bowing to her for a long moment. Then she came to her senses and quickly pulled her hood down further to hide her face.
‘If they recognize my face, it’s all over!!’
While Reina was panicking, more and more people started to kneel on the floor.
Out of deep respect, their knees bent naturally.
When some people lowered their heads all the way to the ground, others followed.
Soon, a wave of people were bowing down like ripples spreading on a lake.
“Saintess Adelaide!!”
“Ohh… Saintess Adelaide!”
People whispered her name with tears in their eyes, full of joy.
They offered their prayers with all their hearts to the god they believed in.
Time passed like that—
Until some people, while bowing, began to sense something strange.
A few peeked up from the ground to check the altar.
The area was still full of people kneeling and praying, but…
The glowing woman was gone.
“Huh? Where did she go?”
“She was just here…”
Instead of the golden light, there was now only an empty space.
Some people pinched their cheeks, thinking maybe they had imagined it.
“…Did I just see a mirage…?”
The crowd’s whispers grew louder.
* * *
“Huff, huff! My lady, please… stop running!!”
Amy collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.
“Why is your stamina… so bad…? Huff, huff…!!”
Reina was also barely able to breathe.
While everyone was distracted with prayers, Reina had bolted out of the temple like lightning.
The way she moved—zigzagging between people, dragging a frozen Amy behind her—was almost inhuman.
“Let’s just… rest for a second…”
Amy lay on the grass in a corner of the garden near the temple, catching her breath.
After making sure no one had followed them, Reina also bent over and tried to breathe.
But her mind was racing.
‘Why did my body glow like that?’
Why? WHY?!
‘That never happened in the novel!’
It seemed the Holy Grail wasn’t the only thing that could detect the Saintess.
Reina dragged her palm down her face in despair.
This was basically an announcement to the world that she was the Saintess.
And the timing couldn’t be worse.
Rumors were already spreading that a new Saintess had appeared in the capital.
‘If today’s event becomes part of that rumor… I’m doomed!!’
“Damn it. Damn it!!”
She stomped the grass in frustration.
Just then, Amy, who had caught her breath, approached her.
“Um… my lady… what just happened…?”
Amy looked both confused and happy.
She had seen it all up close.
She had clearly seen light come from Reina’s body the moment she touched the statue.
Anyone could tell it wasn’t normal.
Amy immediately remembered the rumor about the Saintess.
A Saintess was someone with the strongest divine power among believers.
Amy’s heart swelled with emotion as she asked,
“My lady… are you the Saintess from the rumors?”
Reina’s face turned serious.
“Amy, you mustn’t tell anyone about what just happened.”
“What?”
“Please. I’m begging you. Promise you won’t tell anyone.”
Reina looked truly desperate. Amy tilted her head in confusion.
“But… why?! This is something to celebrate! People will admire you!”
From Amy’s view, a Saintess was a faraway, godlike person.
Chosen by God. Loved and respected. With powers that saved lives.
And now, her own lady was that kind of person.
What could be more wonderful?
But Reina didn’t think so.
“You think this is something to celebrate?”
Reina gave a small, bitter laugh.
“This is not a blessing, Amy.”
Amy still didn’t get it.
“Do you think a Saintess’s life is happy?”
“Well… of course! Just look at Saintess Adelaide. She had special powers and was loved by everyone!”
Saintess Adelaide—the last known Saintess, from 500 years ago.
She had been a great person.
She saved many lives with divine power and cared for even the lowest people.
Carlhail had explained it to her before, and Reina had studied Adelaide on her own, too.
She truly was an amazing woman.
Her actions were admirable.
But was that the kind of life Reina wanted? Could she really do all that?
Reina sighed.
Even without Blair in her life, she still didn’t believe she could handle that role.
“Amy… I’m not like that.”
She shook her head firmly.
“I don’t need that kind of honor or love.”
“What…? Why not?”
“Because I’m not someone amazing like Saintess Adelaide.”
Amy’s eyes went wide.
“What do you mean?!”
“I just want to live quietly and protect myself. I’m not someone who can devote her whole life to others like Adelaide did.”
“My lady…”
“People love and respect Saintess Adelaide because she earned it. I’m not that kind of person.”
“…”
“I can’t travel around poor lands, healing the sick and fighting against corrupt power. That’s not who I am.”
Reina couldn’t even escape Blair properly. She was just trying to survive.
People who do great things are on TV and in books—but that’s not her.
She was just a regular person.
Someone who felt happy eating a crispy croquette and a slice of cake.
Someone who liked a cozy bed and finishing the day in peace.
If a real Saintess were chosen, it should’ve been someone like Adelaide—someone who gave up everything for the people.
It would’ve been better if someone like that had gotten the blessing.
But not her.
Besides, unlike Adelaide’s time, this world had Blair—the crown prince who would use her for his own gain.
‘If they find out I’m the Saintess, I’ll just be used by Blair.’
“Please, Amy. I don’t want anyone to know. Keep it a secret.”
Amy stood frozen for a moment, then gave a firm nod.
“…Okay, my lady.”
They had grown up together. Amy had served Reina her whole life.
Even if she didn’t understand, she would protect what Reina asked for.
“If that’s what you want… I’ll keep the secret. Thinking about it… Saintess Adelaide’s life must’ve been hard too. I wouldn’t want you to suffer like that either.”
Seeing Amy’s serious face, Reina finally relaxed.
“Thank you.”
Reina smiled at last.
“But what should we do now? So many people saw you…”
The altar was a bit far from the waiting line, but still—there were too many witnesses.
Reina’s face turned gloomy again.
“I don’t know…”
“For now, let’s just hurry back home. Thankfully, I don’t think any nobles were there today. They wouldn’t recognize you.”
It was true. That temple was popular among commoners who couldn’t visit the main temple.
Nobles usually went to the big official temple, not a small shrine like this.
“Also, look at our clothes. No one would guess you’re a noble lady. Let’s just go back and pretend nothing happened!”
Amy’s hopeful words made Reina nod.
Maybe everything would be fine.
She wanted to believe that.
“You’re right. Let’s go.”
The two of them avoided the crowd and slipped out of the temple grounds.
After walking a long distance, they finally found a carriage and returned to Count Phelan’s mansion.
They used the back entrance for servants, so no one inside the house noticed Reina had even gone out.
Back home, Reina and Amy tried their best to act normal and return to their daily life.
* * *
At the same time, at the Grand Temple of Piereno—
The High Priest Laugustus was struggling with the growing rumors about the Saintess’s appearance…
Fingers crossed!