Side Story Episodes 1–4
Yuriana let out a sigh as she watched the three men silently glaring at each other.
They’re all so pathetic.
Even after Leila resigned, she hadn’t expected them to act like this.
Not that it mattered. Leila was stubborn as a steel rod, so none of this would work anyway. Still, they would probably stay like this until the wedding was officially over.
Shaking her head, Yuriana turned her gaze toward the person involved.
“Leila, did you hear the news on the way here?”
“Yes.”
Leila nodded and crossed her arms.
The imperial family was planning to use her to secure a reduced sentence for Roxana.
And the perfect opportunity was right around the corner.
“They’ll reveal it at my inauguration. There’ll be so many people that I won’t be able to escape.”
Lumiere, the priest who had just finished wiping away tears, asked carefully,
“Will you really be all right, Saintess…?”
She knew how capable and diligent Leila had been since her days in the Black Spoon Department.
But that was when she was just an ordinary employee.
Wouldn’t it hurt to be attacked as the head of the temple? Wouldn’t the pressure be overwhelming?
“We’ll protect you no matter what, so please don’t worry!”
“Ah, thank you. But you don’t need to worry either.”
Leila waved her hand casually.
“I already thought about what kind of image I want to show when I take office. I’ll handle things accordingly.”
“An image? What kind of image would that be…?”
“Oh, nothing special.”
Leila tilted her head slightly and smiled.
“An innocent-but-crazy Saintess.”
* * *
Bang! Paaang!
Colorful smoke exploded again and again across the clear sky.
It made sense—after all, a Saintess whose lineage had vanished three hundred years ago had returned.
“Lady Leila! Please look this way!”
“The Horn of Justice!”
Everyone who remembered her past achievements was ecstatic.
Wearing a white dress and a translucent veil, the Saintess looked mysterious even from afar.
For the record, both her upper and lower garments had automatic stain protection, so they remained dazzling white even after hours.
The Prime Minister was the first to step forward, smiling politely.
“May glory follow the return of the Saintess.”
“Thank you, Prime Minister Halifax.”
“…And whenever you wish to return to your former post—”
“Hahaha! I shall grant you the blessings of the gods!”
Before he could say anything frightening, Leila hurriedly bestowed a blessing.
Then it was the Emperor’s turn.
“May the blessings of the gods be with you forever, Saintess.”
“Thank you for Your Majesty’s prayers.”
So far, so good.
Both men wore the pleasant smiles befitting those in power.
But then the Emperor launched his ambitious strike.
“…And on this joyous day, you have made such a difficult decision. As a father, I offer my deepest thanks.”
“Oh my, whatever do you mean?”
“You have agreed to embrace my unworthy daughter, Roxana.”
People around them began to watch the Saintess and the Emperor carefully.
Such an uncoordinated statement coming from the Emperor?
In the distance, the Prime Minister clenched his teeth—but there were too many eyes watching.
No matter how foolish the Emperor was being, he couldn’t publicly embarrass him.
“You even offered to support her sentence reduction and keep her by your side to teach her. I am deeply grateful.”
“….”
The air grew sharp with tension.
But the Emperor pressed his lips together.
At the very least, she’ll treat Roxana like a maid, right?
After all, a Saintess must be kind.
Saintess Leila stayed silent for a moment.
Then she smiled brightly.
“Indeed. As one who serves the gods, I must show mercy even to a sinner.”
“Haha, as expected of the Saintess.”
Good, good. Everything was fine.
She’s going along with it.
It meant she wouldn’t openly oppose the imperial family.
But then Leila suddenly spun toward the crowd.
“Everyone! You heard that, riiight?!”
Her voice jumped more than two octaves.
The entire venue fell silent at once.
Still smiling brightly, the Saintess shouted,
“Our Roxanaaaa will serve the temple for her entire life as an unpaid employeeee!”
“S-Saintess?! What are you saying?!”
The Emperor stammered in shock.
This was completely different from the noble arrangement he had imagined.
Leila widened her eyes and tilted her head.
“Huh? What’s the problem?”
“An unpaid employee? When you said you’d teach her, that usually means—!”
She was a woman of the imperial family! At the very least, she should have been a maid or a female priest.
Neither role was glamorous, but both allowed a comfortable life.
But an employee?
Leila tilted her head the other way.
“But you said you’d have her by your side to receive instruction…?”
“Well, yes, but—”
“Your Majesty, as a bureaucratic Saintess, the only thing I know how to do is work.”
“…!”
Only then did the Emperor realize his mistake.
But it was already too late.
Leila spread her arms toward the sky and cried out,
“Ohhh! May the blessings of the gods descend upon the Arfelt Imperial Family! They have offered their precious daughter as our unpaid employee! This is true noblesse oblige!”
“Saintess!”
“Oh gods! Grant young Roxana the chance to learn the sacred value of labor and wages with her own skin and nerves! Twist her very genes!”
At that, the priests erupted in thunderous cheers.
“Oh gods, grant it!”
“Grant it! Grant it!”
An organization without a leader always struggles to recruit people.
Even if priests were plentiful, administrative staff were always in short supply.
A newcomer!
The returned Saintess had recruited staff!
The priests’ excitement spread like wildfire.
Even those who might have missed the Emperor’s words heard everything—thanks to Leila’s piercing voice.
“Oh my, how kind she is…”
“She spared that sinner’s life and even teaches her personally.”
However, the former bureaucrats watching the scene wore distant expressions.
Especially Team Leader Merlot and the classmates from the 218th cohort who had attended workshops together.
Of course.
The Emperor probably assumed that since he was older, the young woman would feel pressured and back down.
But Lowell… she was insane even back at the workshops.
Leila Lowell had worn a mask of sincerity back then too—while being elegantly insane.
She was the type who would shamelessly do anything to get what she wanted.
An Emperor who’s been out of practice for years is no match for her.
This was the madness of someone who had survived on the front lines.
* * *
Have you ever seen company executives speak, only for absolute nonsense to come pouring out?
Have you ever had to watch them make impossible promises to the public, while sweating buckets inside?
Each time, the stock price swings wildly!
The working staff get ground to dust!
The office fills with killing intent.
Ah… to think I’d be the one doing that.
But there was one big difference between me and those executives.
At least I was running my mouth for the boundless benefit of my organization.
“So, Roxana, that’s how things turned out.”
“…This is… unbelievable…”
Roxana stood before me, utterly dazed.
Instead of a dress, she had been issued a uniform for temple administrative staff.
She must have planned to endure a lighter position after a reduced sentence, waiting for her chance to become Empress.
Until the world forgot her crimes.
Yeah, no way.
Still, the Emperor couldn’t curse me.
Why? Because thanks to this, Roxana could walk freely outside!
Even if only within the temple grounds!
I gently but firmly grabbed Roxana’s shoulder.
“Roxana, don’t worry too much. It won’t hurt.”
“L-let go—!”
“Corporate life can change you down to your very genes. I’ll completely purify that rotten mindset of yours…!”
Come to think of it, had I ever told her my nickname from my past life?
They used to call me ‘Deputy Javiris.’
