In truth, Edith’s statement about being a ‘Saint’ didn’t actually answer how she knew Deikan’s profession.
If Monet had been given more time to think, he likely would have realized it quickly.
But he seemed too shocked and flustered to think that far.
If he asked later, she planned to vaguely explain it as the power of a Saint.
In Korea, wasn’t a Saint basically similar to a shaman anyway?
After thinking for a moment, Monet muttered,
“I understand that your position is exhausting, my Lady. Even so, I hope you will help our territory as a Saint. You must.”
“…I expected that.”
Like Luzbel, Monet was someone who deeply cherished the Valencia Duchy.
It was inevitable that the territory was more important to him than Edith’s personal situation.
After all, Edith was the one who would suffer, not him.
And this disaster wasn’t limited to Valencia alone.
The regions suffering from constant rain were gradually expanding.
“But there is no need to reveal to everyone that you are a Saint, is there?”
“Pardon?”
“We can help you avoid exhausting circumstances.”
“How?”
“I have heard that Saints usually receive a mark from the divine. Once that happens, the priests can sense the existence of a Saint.”
“…That is right.”
“Lord Reminus must have tried to grant you the mark, but since you refused, you have remained unnoticed until now, correct?”
“That is also true.”
It was surprising how much he had inferred from just her single statement that she didn’t want to become a Saint.
“But even without the mark, the rain stopped.”
“…Huh?”
That was… true?
Edith felt as if she had been struck on the back of the head by something she hadn’t even considered.
She had been told that she could only use the powers of a Saint after receiving the mark, but she hadn’t done anything—she had only come here, and yet the rain had stopped.
“Please remain here.”
“Pardon?”
“The rumors of remarriage that we barely managed to suppress may resurface, but it would be less exhausting than becoming a Saint, would it not?”
Monet said this with a sly smile.
“Of course, we must inform His Grace of this matter. Otherwise, you would not be able to stay. If His Grace learns this truth, he would never force you to do something you do not want. He desires the restoration of this territory as much as I do.”
It wasn’t a bad idea.
Edith wanted to delay receiving the mark as much as possible, and she also wanted to stay by Jeron’s side.
And perhaps, if she stayed close to Luzbel, she might finally understand why her heart kept racing.
The problem was…
“I do not think my parents would allow it…”
“Then will you receive the mark?”
“No!”
“More people will know the secret, but you can trust your family, can you not? The Ducal House Capanteni would never send you here without a very good reason, Lady Edith…”
“Why do you not just spread the rumor everywhere while you are at it?”
“Shall I?”
“Do you think you can?”
When Edith grumbled with a sulky expression, Monet let out a small laugh and shrugged, saying there was no helping it.
He added that it was still better for only a handful of people to know than for the entire Empire to find out.
“…You will do it anyway, even if I refuse.”
“That is correct. There is no way I would let the Saint who descended upon our territory go!”
Monet answered with a bright smile.
***
The next day.
After the conversation yesterday, Edith told Jeron the conclusion she had reached.
Of course, she didn’t tell him that she was being held back because she was a Saint.
She simply told him that she wouldn’t be leaving for now.
Jeron, who had come to find her with a gloomy face, thinking she would leave today, brightened instantly.
“You’re not leaving?”
“Yes. I’m planning to stay for a while.”
“Why?”
“Because you were really disappointed yesterday, Jeron. And honestly, I felt the same too.”
Unable to hide the corners of his lips lifting, Jeron threw himself into Edith’s arms.
“I’m happy!”
“You’re happy?”
“Yes. Since you are here, Edith, it feels like the rain isn’t falling, and everything is just good.”
During the two days she had stayed, the rain had stopped on the first day, and it hadn’t rained since.
It was said that Valencia had never experienced two consecutive days of bright sunshine before.
Because of that, Luzbel had become busy without understanding why, but that would likely end today.
By now, Monet must have told him everything.
“Lady Edith. His Grace is looking for you.”
As expected.
A servant came to escort Edith, looking confused.
Jeron blinked and looked back and forth between the servant and Edith.
“Why is His Grace looking for Edith?”
“I do not know either, but Young Master Jeron, you will need to wait here for a moment.”
“…You’re saying I shouldn’t follow?”
“…Yes.”
Jeron lifted his head sharply and looked at Edith, as if demanding an explanation.
Edith smiled awkwardly and said she would talk with him and come back with an answer.
Jeron, sensing that something was going on, let her go without resistance.
***
When she followed the servant, Monet and Luzbel were in the office, arguing under the pretense of a conversation.
“I have brought her.”
“You may leave.”
Only after confirming Edith’s arrival did he close his mouth and dismiss the servant.
The servant glanced back, curious about the situation, but left quietly.
“Please sit.”
Monet stood up, and Luzbel gestured toward the seat across from him.
The moment Edith sat down, he immediately got to the point.
“You are a Saint?”
“Yes.”
His eyes clearly showed he didn’t believe her at all, which made Edith shrink slightly, but since she wasn’t lying, she straightened her shoulders confidently.
“How am I supposed to believe that?”
As expected.
His tone had grown harsher, and his gaze had turned cold, as if he would throw her out immediately if she made even the slightest mistake.
“Do I need to make you believe me?”
“…”
“Are you not the one in a hurry, Your Grace?”
“…This is not a joke.”
Luzbel replied in a low, subdued voice, but Edith didn’t back down at all.
“I am not joking either.”
Only Monet watched nervously as the two suddenly clashed in a silent battle of wills.
“I heard you knew Deikan’s identity, even though no one introduced him to you.”
Unlike Monet, Luzbel seemed to have immediately grasped what was strange about that point.
But just as she had planned yesterday, Edith answered shamelessly.
“He told me. God did.”
“As far as I know, Saints do not have such powers.”
“Your Grace, are you a Saint?”
At the sudden question, Monet barely suppressed his laughter, and Luzbel’s eyebrow twitched.
“If you are not a Saint, how can you be so certain? I am the Saint personally acknowledged by Lord Reminus.”
As she lifted her chin confidently and spoke, Luzbel stared at her for a long moment, as if wondering what kind of woman she was.
“How am I supposed to believe you without the mark? The rain stopping could be a coincidence.”
“A coincidence? Has the rain ever stopped even once until now?”
“…”
“Or should I leave? Are you not curious what would happen then?”
In truth, Edith didn’t know anything for certain.
But the fact remained that the rain had stopped while she was here, so she was boldly staking everything on that.
Monet had wavered slightly at her words, but Luzbel did not.
“I will not be swayed by empty words.”
Not easy.
Seeing this, Monet seemed to think Luzbel couldn’t be persuaded like this and asked,
“My Lady, c-could you show some other proof? It does not have to be the mark.”
“Hmm…”
Edith thought for a moment about how she could make them believe her.
At this rate, it seemed Luzbel would never allow her to see Jeron again, so she had to convince him somehow.
She couldn’t show them Reminus—
“…Huh?”
Then suddenly, a thought struck her.
Why not show them the real Reminus?
“There is, is there not? You do have proof, do you not?”
Monet, sensing that there really was something, brightened and exclaimed eagerly.
“I will show you.”
“Show what?”
“Lord Reminus. Since I do not have the mark, the only way is for you to see him directly, is it not?”
Luzbel’s eyes, which had been filled with disbelief the entire time, widened for the first time.
“How do you intend to show him?”
But it didn’t seem like his suspicion had completely disappeared.
“We have to go to the temple.”
“…Then you are saying we can see the divine?”
“Yes. He appears when I go to the prayer hall.”
“Very well. Let us go.”
At the mention of meeting the divine, Monet raised his hand eagerly and asked if he could come too, but Luzbel cut him off immediately.
“You stay here.”
“I want to meet him too!”
Who wouldn’t react that way to the chance of meeting a God?
Monet even offered to verify whether it was truth or lies himself by meeting him, but Luzbel, whose distrust of others ran deep, wouldn’t believe anything he hadn’t seen with his own eyes.
It was clear he intended to confirm it personally.
“If all of this is a lie, House Capanteni will be held accountable.”
His complete disbelief in the situation irritated Edith.
Of course, she knew it wasn’t something that could be easily believed, nor should it be, given his position.
But would Luzbel have reacted this way if she were still in Aisha’s body?
Thinking that made her feel hurt and disappointed.
“You will hold House Capanteni accountable…”
“So if this is a lie, then say it here—”
Edith suddenly raised her hand and cut him off.
“…What will you do if what I say is the truth?”
“…”
“I am already quite upset.”
“I will apologize.”
‘You think an apology is enough?’
Edith scoffed.
“Do not be ridiculous. If what I say is true, grant me one wish.”
“…Very well. Of course, I will also apologize.”
“Deal!”
She would make sure he regretted agreeing so easily.
Edith smiled dangerously.
