Chapter 58
The next morning, people came to the Vesta Temple.
They were brought by a couple who realized their daughter had disappeared.
“I clearly sent my daughter to the Vesta Temple! But she hasn’t come back!”
I, who was playing ball in the temple courtyard, peeked in their direction.
“No one came?”
“Huh?”
“Really. I was here playing last night too. No one came.”
They were suspicious but dared not contradict me, the successor of Ignitus.
“But why would someone come here so late at night?”
“I-I received a letter! Lord Ignitus sent a message to my daughter, asking her to meet here…!”
“You mean someone from our family sent a letter asking to meet here? There’s no one who would do that.”
I pretended to think deeply and quietly giggled.
“A letter! Let me show you the letter!”
“Please believe me, Miss! There’s definitely a letter with Lord Ignitus’ seal…”
The couple frantically rummaged through their belongings and soon fell into despair.
“I sent it via Io…”
I put on a sympathetic expression.
“Oh dear, what can we do? Find the letter and contact us again, alright?”
Success.
A few days later, still half asleep, I stepped outside and could hardly believe my eyes.
A young girl was kneeling in the hall where the head of the household and their close aides had gathered.
Her light green hair was unmistakable.
“Iolante!”
I almost shouted her name but managed to restrain myself, pretending not to notice.
“Why on earth did she come here? What if her family finds out…!”
Iolante didn’t answer any of the aides’ questions and only repeated that she wanted to work in this house.
“Well, this is a first.”
“She seems mentally unstable. Why did you let her in?”
“She probably thought she was a noble child.”
The servants were utterly bewildered.
When Iolante still refused to speak, the head of the household eventually ordered her to be taken out and have her identity investigated.
Iolante’s face went pale.
“You idiot! Why did you come back? Of course they’d think you’re suspicious!”
She was quietly led away by the servants. But the moment she raised her head, her eyes met mine as I stomped my feet.
“…!”
At that moment, Iolante’s face lit up as if a lamp had been turned on beneath her chin.
It was a reaction so transparent that anyone could suspect the nature of our relationship.
Of course, she didn’t say anything to me, but—
“…What is this about?”
“…It seems she smiled when she saw you, Miss.”
The hall had already grown tense.
“Calidora.”
The head of the household called me in a cold voice.
Just then, Ankus, who had been out, walked inside.
“Did something happen?”
He immediately recognized Iolante.
“She’s the girl you saved, Miss. Why is she here?”
“Ankus, explain.”
Perhaps the most humiliating moment in my life was happening right then.
“‘Forgive my rudeness… Three days ago, near the Forum, I encountered my destined partner.’”
I hung my head as Gordio read aloud the letter I had written in front of the family.
“‘But… ahem. I am on the brink of death. Just one last time, I wish to see her face… ahem. That is all.’”
My face felt ready to burst from embarrassment, but Iolante’s eyes shone brightly, as if moved.
“So, you orchestrated this because you felt sorry for her?”
“Yes, Head of the Household.”
“This letter…”
“That too, I wrote it… I copied it from various books…”
The head of the household covered his face with one hand, staying silent for a long while.
‘Oh no. I’m going to be scolded terribly.’
I trembled, waiting for my punishment.
Even the household aides watching us held their breaths.
Meanwhile, Gordio, oblivious, added,
“Oh, there’s a P.S. — Please keep all of this a secret.”
Laughter erupted somewhere in the hall.
“Khuhuh!”
Someone hastily covered their mouth, the sound muffled.
“…”
“…”
After that, no one spoke.
I glanced around at the people, noticing all their faces were flushed red.
After more than twenty minutes of silence, the head of the household finally spoke, as if he had calmed himself.
“Calidora, to avoid an unwanted marriage, you may choose the path of becoming a priestess at the temple.”
“Th-That…!”
I looked at Ankus, who was wiping tears with his sleeve.
“So what I did was…”
“A foolish act, or rather, a charming one.”
“….”
I lowered my head, sniffling.
The head of the household let out a long sigh, clearly disappointed.
“Calidora, return to your room.”
“Sir? But…”
“Hurry.”
He was firm.
Later, was he going to scold me?
As I trudged to my room, I heard him give an order from behind:
“She will be sent to the Vesta Temple.”
A few days passed.
Since I hadn’t been punished yet, I curiously asked Ankus first.
“Anku, am I not going to get scolded?”
“About what, exactly?”
“For writing a letter on my own and putting the family in an awkward position.”
“Well, it didn’t really cause any trouble… and technically it wasn’t a lie. Right? For the young Lady Ignitus whose name cannot be spoken.”
“Ankuu!”
“It seems the head of the household has something to tell you soon. But aren’t you more curious about how that girl is doing?”
“Iolante?”
“Yes. She’s doing well at the Vesta Temple. She’ll be happy to see you if you visit.”
And so I went to the Vesta Temple again.
Iolante was standing among the women in priestess robes, smiling brightly.
“Miss!”
She called out when she saw me.
I hadn’t realized from seeing her sad moments, but she was incredibly cheerful.
“How have you been, Iolante?”
“Please call me Io, Miss.”
Iolante smiled.
We began walking near the temple and talking.
“You surprised me by coming suddenly.”
“I thought I wanted to work in Ignitus. I need to earn money anyway…”
Makes sense.
“Um, Miss… I know it’s bold, but I’m curious about something.”
“Yes?”
“Why did you save me?”
“Hmm…”
I paused to think.
There wasn’t any particular reason.
Io fidgeted with her fingertips, clearly anxious.
“I want to repay you, Miss. Whatever you ask, I will do it…!”
I chuckled at her spirited words.
“Miss…?”
It felt like looking at a brave little sister. Io had no idea I was thinking this.
“Io, back when we met at the Temple of Goddess Yuno, what would you have done if you hadn’t been caught?”
“I didn’t have anything planned. I would have just wandered into a countryside clinic or… I still don’t know. This was the first time I tried living alone.”
“Why a clinic?”
“Ah, I know a bit of healing. My family was blessed by Apollo.”
Io looked around, seeing if there was anyone who needed healing.
Seeing no obvious injuries, she knelt by the dying grass.
Soon, light glimmered at her fingertips, and the yellowed grass returned to green.
“Wow!”
Healing magic is rare, so it’s seldom seen.
Even in Ignitus, healers were called only for patients near death.
I kept marveling, and Io smiled shyly.
