CHAPTER 68………………………………….
Fabivan rested both arms on the table, propping up his chin as he tilted his head.
“What does Your Highness Harold think this time?”
At Fabivan’s question, Harold glanced at me from the corner of his eye and adjusted his monocle.
“If it is the Bandola Empire, it has deep ties with Melissa as well, so it does not seem like a bad choice.”
“Oh ho. Saintess, His Highness Harold thinks so—what about you?”
What was his intention?
Did he know about the relationship between Harold and me? Or was he acting this way because things had gone according to Harold’s suggestion at the last meeting? I couldn’t tell.
With a faint smile, I replied,
“Since that is everyone’s opinion, we shall go to the Bandola Empire.”
Fabivan and the other cardinals smiled as though pleased.
“Hoho. Then we must notify the Bandola Empire in advance.”
“There isn’t much time left until the banquet. We should hurry.”
Satisfied laughter mingled across the table. Of course, not everyone shared the same thoughts.
But no one spoke up to oppose what already seemed decided.
As if it had just occurred to him, Fabivan asked,
“Ah. On your way back from the Bandola Empire to the temple, how about stopping by another country?”
It was exactly what he had said in the past.
Back then, believing I was fulfilling my duty as Saintess, I had readily agreed.
And now, I intended to give the same answer.
There was no particular reason to refuse. I needed to see him collecting the holy relics.
I also had to confirm what he was doing with the relics he had acquired. Pretending ignorance, I asked,
“On the way back?”
“Yes. It would be more convenient than returning to the temple first and then leaving again.”
Other cardinals chimed in, reinforcing his suggestion.
Steadying my lips before they could stiffen, I answered,
“Yes, I will. Where would be a good place to stop?”
“The kingdoms beneath the Bandola Empire would be suitable.”
As if already arranged, the cardinals naturally recommended other locations.
“Still, please do not worry. Each nation will treat you with the utmost care.”
“That’s right. We will make sure to speak to them properly.”
After responding with a smile, I turned my gaze to Fabivan.
“Temple Lord.”
“Yes, Saintess.”
“Who will be accompanying me this time?”
Fabivan slightly lifted his chin and looked toward the cardinals.
Before he could speak, several of his men raised their hands with smiles. Among them was someone who had accompanied me on the second pilgrimage in my previous life.
“If it is acceptable, we would like to accompany the Saintess on her pilgrimage.”
They spoke their hypocrisy so naturally. I returned their words with a gentle smile.
“I would only be grateful.”
As the meeting neared its end, one of the cardinals who had raised his hand earlier glanced around and cautiously spoke.
“The papal seat of Melissa is vacant. Should we not begin to fill that position?”
I had wondered when that would come up.
After briefly observing the cardinals—excluding those I was certain were Fabivan’s men—I turned my gaze to Harold.
Harold watched Fabivan’s reaction before turning to me.
Everyone alternated their gazes between Fabivan and me. Before their performance could begin, I lowered my eyes slightly.
“The wave of mourning is still strong. There are those who cannot accept His Holiness’s death and many who grieve deeply. How can we erase his presence already?”
I felt Fabivan’s gaze, but I smiled bitterly.
“Should we not give them time to grieve fully? If they are allowed to pour out their emotions, perhaps they will be able to accept the next Pope. What do the others think?”
“Melissa is the grand temple. It cannot remain vacant.”
“That’s right. Once the seat is filled, the believers’ sorrow will soon subside.”
“I believe the Saintess is correct. If the Saintess were not in Melissa right now, then of course we would need to fill the vacancy quickly—but is there truly a need?”
He was not one of Fabivan’s men.
At the meeting for the second pilgrimage, they had also voted against the country Fabivan had chosen.
It must have been the same in my past life. Back then, neither Harold nor I had intervened, so their voices likely carried no weight.
The man beside him nodded in agreement.
“With the Saintess, the Daughter and Representative of God, present, let us give many people time to bid farewell to His Holiness on their own.”
“In truth, is this not a matter we must deliberate more carefully? We held meetings while His Holiness was bedridden, yet reached no conclusion.”
I had not attended those meetings, but I could roughly grasp what they must have discussed.
As his time in bed grew longer, they must have debated who was qualified to become the next Pope.
It was easy to guess that no clear answer had emerged because of those who did not follow Fabivan.
Whether they had opposed the Pope himself, I did not know. But it was clear they were wary of Fabivan.
Just as I felt a strange sense of déjà vu, Fabivan looked over the increasingly heated discussion and chuckled.
“Now, now. Let us all calm down.”
The meeting room fell silent in an instant, and Harold’s voice rang out.
“Temple Lord, what do you think? Are the Saintess’s words not reasonable?”
Everyone swallowed nervously. My eyes turned toward those who opposed Fabivan.
They were all fixed on Harold.
It was the second time he had moved to interfere in Melissa’s affairs. To them, I was not hope—Harold was.
A Saintess could not replace the Pope, and at present, only Harold could stand against Fabivan.
It was only natural. They needed someone who would remain here, not a Saintess who would step down once her divine power was spent.
I had chosen Harold for the very same reason.
Fabivan leaned back in his chair, lifting one corner of his lips. The air seemed to turn chilling in that moment.
“So Your Highness thinks so as well.”
“Yes. The mourning is at its height. It would cause confusion.”
After staring at Harold, he turned his head toward me.
“Our Saintess is truly wise.”
Under Fabivan’s gaze, I unconsciously pressed my palm harder, my nails leaving crescent marks.
When I lifted the corners of my lips and met his eyes, he smiled with his long eyes curved.
“I, too, agree with the Saintess.”
“T-Temple Lord!”
A few cardinals called out urgently, but he quickly concluded,
“While I respect the opinions of others, it would be best to postpone this matter as the Saintess suggested.”
Harold would increasingly interfere with Fabivan’s decisions. And he intended to gather those wary of Fabivan as his own, expanding his influence.
It was an active move.
There would be pressure from Fabivan, of course—but that was something I could share the burden of.
As soon as the meeting ended, Fabivan’s faction rose and left.
“Saintess.”
The Temple Lord, now standing, looked down at me.
“Yes, Temple Lord.”
When I tilted my head slightly, he smiled benevolently.
“With you here, Melissa is truly secure. I look forward to your continued guidance.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
After a brief bow, he turned and left the meeting hall.
Only when Fabivan was out of sight did I finally release the breath I had been holding.
“Ha…”
“You did well, Saintess.”
At Harold’s voice, I smiled faintly.
“I will work harder to ensure there is nothing for you to worry about while you are on your pilgrimage.”
I had not expected him to say that. I lifted my heavy eyelids.
Since the day he saw the prison, Harold had changed.
For a fleeting moment, I saw hope.
