Chapter 10 – The Feelings I Hold Toward This Woman
“Saintess!”
Anne burst through the altar doors with Nina and Chloe close behind her.
The doors slammed open—and all three froze.
Winter lay collapsed on the cold stone floor before the statue, her back facing them.
Nina’s face went pale as she covered her mouth. Chloe staggered forward, but Anne quickly raised an arm to stop her.
“Saintess…!”
“Quiet. If we cause a scene, Sir Kyle might come in.”
Chloe hesitated, then nodded.
“I—I understand.”
“I’ll check her.”
Anne forced herself to breathe steadily and walked forward.
The closer she got, the harder it became to stay calm.
Her heart pounded violently. Dark thoughts crowded her mind.
Are we too late?
Should I have been stricter?
If I had stopped her… would she have needed to use that much holy power?
The scene in the camellia forest had looked like divine punishment.
If she had used that much power—
How much time did she have left?
Guilt churned in Anne’s stomach.
With trembling fingers, she touched Winter’s neck.
A pulse.
Anne exhaled the breath she had been holding. Tears nearly spilled.
She was only thirteen.
Too much had happened in a single day.
After confirming her pulse, Anne gently turned Winter’s body and checked the rosary around her neck.
It wasn’t broken.
The Saintess’s rosary was linked to her life. If it shattered, so would she.
Relief flooded Anne’s face.
“Chloe, Nina! Come help me.”
“Yes!”
The girls hurried over, hope lighting their eyes.
“I’ll carry her. Open the door.”
Anne lifted Winter onto her back. Nina emitted a soft white glow of holy power to steady her consciousness while Chloe ran ahead to open doors.
They laid Winter on her bed.
Nina pressed her forehead gently to Winter’s.
Winter’s lips were pale. Her forehead burned with fever.
“Saintess…”
“…Mm…”
A cracked whisper escaped Winter’s lips.
A single tear slipped from the corner of her eye.
“…Mother…”
None of the girls spoke.
Anne lowered her gaze.
Where had Winter come from?
They knew she had been raised in a monastery in Saint Road, but nothing more.
The Holy Nation had only instructed them to assist and train under the Saintess.
But that also meant watching her.
Was it right to watch someone who had so little time left?
Why did she never speak about herself?
The more Anne thought, the heavier her guilt grew.
She straightened.
“Nina. How is she?”
“She’ll regain consciousness soon.”
Nina’s holy power eased pain and fever.
Anne nodded and headed for the door.
“I’ll get a wet cloth.”
The door creaked open.
A shadow shifted in the hallway.
Anne turned sharply.
Kyle stood in the darkness, blue eyes glowing faintly.
“…There are no more signs of demons nearby.”
His voice was cold.
He stepped forward.
“Explain. The Saintess is said to have the blessing of immortality. Why is she like this?”
“I… I don’t know.”
Even as she said it, Anne felt helpless.
Kyle didn’t seem surprised.
“…Fine. I’ll ask her directly.”
“W-wait, Sir Kyle—!”
Before Anne could stop him, the door opened again.
Chloe peeked out.
“It was noisy… What are you all doing here?”
“I’m seeing the Saintess.”
“Well…”
Anne sighed and lowered her hand.
A quiet voice came from inside the room.
“Kyle.”
The calmness of it startled them.
She was already awake.
“Come in,” Winter said softly. “You have questions.”
Kyle ran a hand through his hair.
From the forest until now, he had felt as though he were dancing in the palm of her hand.
Anne stepped back.
“…It seems you may go in.”
Nina and Chloe left the room. Their eyes were filled with unease.
The door closed.
Moonlight streamed in, illuminating Winter’s veiled figure.
Kyle clicked his tongue.
“You look terrible. There’s no need for the veil anymore. I’ve already seen your face.”
Winter smiled faintly.
“And you look any better?”
“I’m not injured.”
“But the familiars earlier… Even for you, that was dangerous.”
Kyle frowned.
She was right.
Alone, perhaps he could have escaped.
But protecting three panicked children?
Someone would have died.
Even familiars were stronger than humans.
Without divine intervention, that situation had been hopeless.
“…Yes,” he admitted.
He approached her, blue eyes burning.
“I understand now why you never stood on the battlefield.”
Her power alone was explanation enough.
With that kind of strength, no one would dare touch her.
If she chose to misuse it—
No one could stop her.
“People might fear you. Call you a monster.”
His voice trembled with restrained anger.
“But did you ever think—”
Why stay here?
Why waste that power in this remote place?
While lives were snuffed out like candles?
The war had ended a year ago.
But Kyle’s heart was still trapped there.
“If you had stood on the front lines, so many wouldn’t have—!”
A memory flashed.
A battlefield.
His lieutenant, two fingers missing, gripping his hand.
‘Silver Knight… give them hope.’
Kyle staggered back.
The war was over.
But he had never left it.
This wasn’t what I meant to say.
The feelings I hold toward this woman…
Winter answered with silence.
Kyle dragged a hand down his face.
“…I took my anger out in the wrong place.”
He turned toward the door.
“Rest. You look unwell.”
“No.”
Her voice was calm but firm.
Kyle stopped.
Winter slowly removed her veil.
Her crimson lips caught the moonlight.
“Will you listen?”
She placed a hand over her chest.
Her heartbeat was faint.
“I use holy power by shortening my lifespan.”
