Chapter 10
While Evelrea was casually looking through the artworks without much interest, something suddenly caught her eye. Unlike the others, a porcelain piece had a ruby embedded right in its center, glittering brightly.
Is that a ruby? Why is it shining like that?
Out of pure curiosity, Evelrea lightly touched the ruby—and the moment her fingertip made contact, the gem’s brilliant glow vanished as if it had never shone at all.
What?
No sooner had that thought crossed her mind than—
Crash!
The porcelain shattered into pieces.
There stood Evelrea, beside the scattered fragments.
No matter how much she insisted she had only touched it lightly and not broken it, who would believe her? Though she felt wronged, she had no money to compensate for it. Not even a single coin.
Of course, she could have boldly demanded that the Kalin ducal house cover it, but that would mean her father would find out she had caused trouble. He would pay it, of course—but the real problem came after that. He would undoubtedly scold her harshly, saying she had caused such disgrace even in front of Grand Duke Aethos, whom he was eyeing as her potential husband. And worse, if things went badly with the Grand Duke after her father had already taken interest in him as a son-in-law candidate, he would bring it up again and scold her even more.
He doesn’t even know that man already belongs to someone else!
Evelrea sighed in disbelief at her own injustice. Today, she absolutely had to resolve this financial problem herself.
But she had no money.
Her golden eyes naturally landed on the broad back of the man walking ahead of her. The very man who had promised to lend her money earlier. He was her only hope.
Before long, they reached near the prayer hall. Evelrea slowly sidled up beside Calypso.
“Your Grace… could I go into the prayer hall with you?”
She whispered softly, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. Calypso’s gaze turned toward her.
“With you, young lady?”
“Yes. I’m… a little cowardly. When I’m alone, I break out in hives and everything.”
Evelrea tried to look serious, but a faint smile formed at the corner of Calypso’s lips. Her intentions were obvious.
“That sounds serious.”
But Evelrea, too focused on speaking, didn’t notice the smile.
“Yes. Look at this. Just thinking about being alone made hives appear on my arm.”
She dramatically rolled up her sleeve and put on a performance—but of course, there wasn’t even a trace of a rash anywhere. Still, she shamelessly insisted.
Before Calypso could respond, a startled voice cut between them.
“Hives?”
Both Calypso and Evelrea turned toward the voice. Paysley looked at them with widened eyes, clearly surprised.
“My lady, you have hives? Shall I take a look?”
As Paysley hurried over, Evelrea quickly pulled her sleeve back down.
“N-no, I’m fine, Saint.”
“Are you really sure?”
Paysley asked with round, worried eyes.
“Yes! Of course.”
“Oh, that’s a relief.”
Paysley let out a soft “phew,” placing a hand over her chest before smiling brightly at Evelrea. It was an innocent, harmless smile.
“If you feel uncomfortable at all, please let me know. I’ll help you.”
“…Yes, I will.”
Evelrea agreed, but internally she was puzzled.
Doesn’t she not have healing abilities right now?
Then what exactly could she help with?
It was commonly known that a saint possessed two divine powers: healing and punishment. However, Paysley currently could only use punishment. Since the day she awakened five years ago, she had only demonstrated that ability—instantly killing human traffickers inside a building.
Of course, as in the original story, she would eventually awaken healing power before the spring baptism ceremony—but not yet.
“Our saint truly has a kind heart, doesn’t she?”
The high priest Philip spoke warmly, his eyes filled with satisfaction.
Evelrea wasn’t sure how making empty promises with no ability counted as kindness, but she nodded anyway.
“That’s true.”
Right now, that wasn’t what mattered to her. Whether Paysley was kind or not, Evelrea’s own situation was urgent. She once again covered her mouth and whispered.
“Your Grace… you’ll go into the prayer hall with me, right?”
She mouthed silently: Yes? Yes?
Calypso looked down at her, amused. He found her desperate behavior somewhat cute, which made him want to agree—but at the same time, he felt like refusing. He was debating whether it would be more entertaining to see her happy, or to see her rejected.
“Your Grace. I’ll just go in with you—”
“Ah, um… young lady!”
Evelrea and Calypso both turned toward the voice.
Paysley was fidgeting.
“Me? Are you calling me?”
“Yes. If it’s alright with you, would you like me to go into the prayer hall with you?”
“Pardon?”
“I overheard you saying you were afraid of being alone. Please don’t misunderstand—I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I just happened to hear it.”
Evelrea intended to refuse this unwanted kindness.
“Thank you for your offer, Saint—”
“That works out well.”
Evelrea snapped her head toward Calypso. Her golden eyes shook violently.
W-what? He’s abandoning me? I’m broke right now!
No, wait?
But Calypso betrayed even that faint hope. A small smile curled on his lips.
“Better than risking rumors by going in with me, isn’t it? Isn’t that right, young lady?”
Then he leaned slightly closer and whispered so only she could hear:
“You’re unmarried. I’m unmarried.”
“…Ah.”
I’ve heard that line somewhere before.
—
Evelrea was extremely flustered.
So flustered that her eyes darted around aimlessly like she was lost.
“Waaahhh… young lady… sob…”
She struggled to steady her gaze and looked down at the woman crying loudly in her arms.
Golden hair that shimmered softly. Gentle green eyes.
It was Paysley—the same person who had offered her unwanted kindness.
Ever since they were left alone in the prayer hall, Paysley had been like this. The moment the door closed, she clung to Evelrea and cried nonstop.
Evelrea was beyond confused.
She’s crying? Right now? Why?
Her confusion was soon resolved by Paysley’s words.
“I… after that day… when I heard you hadn’t woken up… sob… I was so worried…”
“P-Peluna heard my prayers… sob…”
Evelrea felt slightly bewildered.
Were we that close?
Honestly, it didn’t feel like a relationship worthy of this level of emotion—but she decided the girl must simply be very sensitive.
In truth, in the original story, Paysley had visited her while she was asleep and prayed while holding her hand. That memory remained strangely vivid.
But that was that, and Evelrea’s arm was another matter. It was going numb.
“Saint, I’m fine. If I weren’t, would I even be out right now?”
She swallowed the rest of what she wanted to say and instead tried to soothe her.
Thankfully, Paysley finally pulled herself away after a long while, still teary-eyed.
“I’m so glad, my lady.”
“Thank you, Saint.”
Evelrea gave a perfunctory reply and sat down anywhere nearby. She figured she should at least pretend to pray.
If she had been alone, she would have just lain down and passed the time—but she wasn’t alone now.
So she reluctantly clasped her hands and closed her eyes.
Paysley sat down beside her, glancing at her before mimicking her posture.
Tick—tock—the crackling of firewood filled the prayer hall.
Maybe because it’s been a while since I prayed… I feel kind of calm…
“Um, my lady.”
The whisper was meant to be quiet, but in the silent hall it sounded loud.
Evelrea opened her eyes and glanced sideways in response.
“What is it?”
Paysley smiled brightly.
“I really feel it now. That I’m talking to you like this… it must be Peluna answering my prayers. I prayed every single day, you know? I asked for you to wake up. I’m so, so happy!”
Her face was glowing with pure joy.
“Thank you, Saint.”
Evelrea replied absently and tried to close her eyes again.
But—
“Oh right! My lady, you’re going to the spring baptism ceremony soon, right?
