Chapter 12
They say it’s darkest right under the lamp.
The rope that would save me was right beside me.
“Ha ha. I’m Raul, a priest.”
“Greetings, Saintess! I’m Hupperson Duman. I assist Priest Raul and am in charge of managing the Imperial Chapel.”
“I’m Shin Ari. I’ll be working at the Imperial Chapel starting today. Please take good care of me!”
Though we already knew each other’s faces and names, we formally introduced ourselves again.
After all, today was my first day reporting to the Imperial Chapel. Greetings were important.
“To think that, in my lifetime, I would have the honor of working with the Saintess. This will be a great pride passed down through the Duman family for generations.”
“For generations….”
At Hupperson’s overly excited attitude, I broke out in a cold sweat inside.
Those sparkling eyes were uncomfortable.
I’m really not as amazing a person as you think….
I’d better be careful around Hupperson.
He was definitely seeing me as a Saintess overflowing with divine power.
“Hupperson, that’s enough. Do you think the Saintess will be able to work comfortably if you keep that up?”
“Ah! I’m sorry. I got carried away in my joy and was rude.”
“Oh, no. Not at all. It wasn’t rude.”
I straightened Hupperson’s back, which was bent at a ninety-degree angle, and turned my head to the side.
“Priest Raul, then what should I do?”
The Prime Minister had told me to go to the chapel starting today, but he hadn’t told me what I’d actually be doing.
In response to my question, Priest Raul pulled out a long broom from behind his back.
“Cleaning.”
“Oh.”
Cleaning.
“What did you say?!”
I’d thought, That’s not bad, but Hupperson cried out in shock.
“P-Priest Raul. How could that possibly be appropriate? You’re having the Saintess do cleaning?”
“Is that wrong?”
“Very wrong! The Saintess should be doing something far more noble—”
“Noble?”
“Like healing patients with divine power, or praying with divine power for the peace of Jendal—”
Gasp. Just as I thought—someone to watch out for.
I needed to stop Hupperson’s mouth.
Listening to their exchange, I grabbed the handle of the broom Priest Raul was holding and hurriedly spoke up.
“Cleaning! Come to think of it, in the world I came from, cleaning was considered very important! Our homeroom—no, our teacher—always said to keep our space clean. Don’t just go home when the bell rings; clean up first. That’s what they taught us.”
“Oh?”
Priest Raul let out an impressed sound.
Not really knowing what I was saying anymore, I just kept babbling whatever came to mind.
“And Saint Seikan said the same thing, didn’t he? That cleanliness is the most important thing, and that we must never neglect cleaning when we come down here…!”
“Saint Seikan said that….”
My cleaning theory ended up invoking even the one and only god of this world—whom I had never even seen.
At last, Hupperson knelt down with a deeply moved expression and bowed to me, broom in hand.
“I was foolish.”
Ah, thank goodness His Majesty didn’t see this.
I swallowed back tears inwardly.
Clap, clap, clap.
Priest Raul applauded at a leisurely pace.
It was applause completely devoid of soul.
“How moving.”
“Indeed! Priest Raul, then how about we do a thorough cleaning of the chapel today?”
“Ha ha. Hupperson, didn’t we already do a deep clean just last week?”
“No. We cannot let this realization simply pass by. The words of Saint Seikan delivered to us by the Saintess! Should we not put them into action?”
“Ha ha….”
Even Priest Raul’s intervention couldn’t stop Hupperson’s enthusiasm.
After that, Hupperson ran all over the chapel as if determined not to leave a single speck of dust behind.
Unable to find a chance to intervene, I swept around Priest Raul, who was sorting bundles of documents.
“I’m sorry. Because of me.”
“You needn’t worry, Saintess. Hupperson will take care of everything on his own anyway.”
Priest Raul gestured toward the platform.
Behind the altar, I could see Hupperson crouched down, diligently polishing the stained glass.
Then my gaze stopped at the empty altar.
“Come to think of it, I don’t see the divine power measuring device?”
The Idmanta measuring device, which had been treated like a sacred relic, was nowhere to be seen.
It hadn’t been there last time I came with the Prime Minister either, had it?
“It broke, so we put it away to have it repaired.”
“Even though it’s a mineral bestowed by the god, I guess it can still break.”
“Technology belongs to humans, so its problems are human ones. Ha ha. It’s gotten about as old as I am, so I suppose it’s starting to need repairs here and there. By the way, Saintess.”
“Yes?”
Priest Raul stopped even his hands, which had been tying scroll strings, and asked me with a face full of curiosity.
“What do you plan to do with the money you earn?”
“Rather than planning to do something… it’s just nice to have, you know?”
I couldn’t exactly say that I was working because I was afraid His Majesty might kick me out.
Right. Money. It’s good to have.
I thought it was a fairly satisfactory answer, but Priest Raul didn’t seem to understand.
“Then wouldn’t it be better to simply tell His Majesty the Emperor that you need money?”
“To His Majesty?”
“The chapel’s salary isn’t particularly high. If you told the Emperor, he could easily provide that much.”
Was he saying, Why go through the trouble?
“Hmm….”
As I was thinking of a plausible reason, an incredibly handsome face flashed through my mind.
“I—I have something I want to do with the money I earn. And I want to keep it a secret from His Majesty.”
“Oh?”
Priest Raul said it wasn’t a lot of money, but even so, he mentioned that the Imperial Chapel’s pay for palace maids was quite decent compared to other places.
So,
“I’m thinking of commissioning a statue!”
“Of Saint Seikan?”
“No, of His Majesty!”
“…?”
“I considered a portrait too, but I think something with real three-dimensional presence would be better! How about a marble statue? Ah, since we’re on the topic, Priest—do you know who the most skilled sculptor in Jendal is? It has to be someone capable of fully capturing that heavenly beauty. Do you think that’s possible? Someone like that would be expensive, right? Then how much salary would I need to save?”
“Please… calm down.”
“Ah, haha.”
I’d revved up without realizing it.
I tried to smooth things over with a laugh as if nothing had happened, but Priest Raul was wearing a surprisingly pleased smile.
“You are truly devoted to His Majesty the Emperor, Saintess. To even have plans like that.”
“Of course.”
Still carried along by my own momentum, I nodded readily.
Of course. If nothing else, that world-heritage-level appearance needs to be preserved for humanity, even if just one more time.
That was when Priest Raul suddenly struck.
“Forgive my impertinence, but… do you perhaps harbor romantic feelings for His Majesty the Emperor?”
“Eek.”
That was ridiculous.
Still, thinking I might have reacted too strongly, I composed my expression, imitating someone with a natural talent for acting.
“Come on.”
I waved my hand in the air.
“That’s not even a joke.”
“You do suit each other, though.”
The end goal of my devotion is His Majesty’s happiness and well-being.
His Majesty marrying someone he loves, having children who resemble him, building a happy family—and me watching from afar.
“Priest Raul. His Majesty, you see!”
I puffed out my chest proudly and clenched my fist.
This was one thing I could say with absolute confidence.
“He and I would never work!”
“What wouldn’t work?”
“Hngh.”
My heart nearly dropped to the floor.
That sweet voice that could melt eardrums was—
I instinctively raised the broom like a shield and turned around.
“Y-Your… Your Majesty?”
Why do you seem upset…?
“…The weather is very clear.”
“It will be, after it rains.”
“Right…?”
Beyond the glass ceiling of the greenhouse garden, the sky was heavy with dark clouds.
Just like my situation.
The perfectly grilled steak in front of me was hard to even cut and put into my mouth.
Someone please save me….
Priest Raul had fled, taking Hupperson with him under the excuse of a lunch appointment.
To think they’d abandon the junior on her very first day of work.
I’d trusted the wrong people.
Of all times for His Majesty to walk in. Why didn’t my hearing work then?
My hearing and eyesight were both excellent—but the problem was that I couldn’t keep them active twenty-four hours a day.
After about ten minutes, my body would become so exhausted it felt like waterlogged cotton, unable to move at all.
“……”
I kept my eyes fixed on my plate, to the point where I felt like lifting my head would kill me.
I didn’t have the confidence to face His Majesty’s beauty head-on, and the current His Majesty gave off an aura like a final boss in a demon king’s castle.
In that case, I’m on His Majesty’s side. Whether it’s conquering the universe or destroying the world, I’ll assist with all my heart.
But now wasn’t the time for such fantasies.
I poked at my salad with my fork and cautiously glanced at His Majesty sitting across from me.
“Your Majesty.”
Better to get it over with sooner rather than later.
His Majesty’s clear, refreshing blue eyes turned toward me.
Perhaps because we were in a greenhouse, his sunlit blond hair sparkled even more than usual.
What is this automatic visual enhancement.
I focused my eyes sharply.
I needed to put sincerity into what I was about to say, and that face would only distract me.
I’m sure of it. His Majesty is displeased about being associated with me.
Still, I had something to say about this.
“U-um, you were a bit displeased earlier, right? Don’t worry. I absolutely don’t have any ulterior motives toward Your Majesty!”
Well, I do adore Your Majesty’s looks, and my motives there are very impure—but still.
“Like Priest Raul said, it’s not as though I harbor romantic feelings for Your Majesty or anything. I don’t see you as a member of the opposite sex.”
Not even that—I basically see you as a different species.
So I’m completely innocent.
“……”
Silence settled over the table.
When His Majesty moved the hand holding his knife, I flinched slightly.
Fortunately, the knife’s destination was the plate, not my neck.
“Please make sure it stays that way.”
His Majesty twisted one corner of his mouth lightly.
Thank goodness. The usual ill-tempered His Majesty.
“As you said, it’s not even a joking matter.”
“Of course.”
I nodded resolutely.
I didn’t know if His Majesty’s mood had improved, but thinking the misunderstanding had been cleared, my mind quickly turned into a field of flowers.
With my heart lighter, my mouth grew lighter too.
“Your Majesty, why did you come to the chapel today?”
“I heard that the Saintess found employment.”
“The Prime Minister told you?”
I’d wondered why His Majesty—who supposedly never visited the chapel—had come. Had he heard it from the Prime Minister?
At this point, it didn’t really matter if His Majesty knew.
I had a job now.
“Even without hearing it from Ebon, I can know about personnel appointments within the palace.”
“…Ugh. So there really are no secrets in the imperial palace that Your Majesty doesn’t know?”
“That’s right.”
So impressive. Truly.
Truly impressive….
“…By the way, have you decided to just speak casually now? Well, there’s no one else listening right now. For me, it’s actually easier to tell the difference from your ‘kind mode,’ so I don’t mind.”
“Saintess.”
“Ah. Was that rude of me? I didn’t mean it that way.”
I got carried away because of the casual speech.
Your Majesty, please—just speak casually to me for the rest of your life.
His Majesty stared straight at me.
Just as I was wondering whether he was contemplating some new method of assassination that would make my blood rush to my face, His Majesty asked,
“Have you grown tired of living off leisure?”
“Huh?”
