Chapter 63 …
Honestly, I thought it was understandable for him to be suspicious.
Even just a short time inside, the dust, heat, and humidity of a mine could leave someone looking completely wrecked.
Even I looked far too clean to believe I had been missing for five days.
[“Wouldn’t it be better to show a miracle or something?”]
[“That would be better, right?”]
The best way to make people believe was to show them. As for why I was fine… well, I could just tell them about the spirits.
I glanced at Theodore, measuring the distance. Well, Agatha’s connection would handle the rest, so it should be fine.
“Since it seems you don’t believe I’m a saint, maybe I should at least try flying. How about it? Then you’ll believe—”
“Dorothy.”
Through the confused voices of the crowd, a familiar scent suddenly came close.
‘Ah. I shouldn’t get too close yet since I haven’t shown a miracle…!’
I thought that for only a moment.
Theodore, suddenly right in front of me, pulled me tightly into his strong arms.
“You’re alive.”
His embrace was warm. Yet somehow, his skin felt cold.
‘He’s trembling…’
Theodore’s hands were shaking. The emperor, who had been described as having a mind stronger than steel.
He was trembling.
Was it because some trauma of losing a precious sibling had been triggered?
“You… really…”
“Your Majesty, that…”
He remained silent for a moment. I didn’t know what to do, just rolling my eyes around. The surrounding area had gone quiet.
It was embarrassing to be hugging another man in front of all these people, but seeing Theodore tremble as though my trauma had triggered his own, I couldn’t move.
“Are you… really okay?”
“Yes, yes! I’m perfectly fine.”
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No, not at all!”
“…I see. That’s good.”
He let out a deep sigh.
“You… really don’t keep your promises.”
He murmured it quietly, with a voice that made me feel genuinely sorry.
“Th-That… I’m sorry.”
I hesitated with my words and ended up apologizing. That was all I could say.
Theodore finally released me from his embrace.
“Now I cannot trust your words.”
He looked at me, his face slightly thinner than usual from the past few days.
Though he smiled with relief, there was a clear anxiety in his eyes.
“I’m sorry…”
Of course. If someone disappeared in front of me, I’d probably react the same way.
I’d be haunted by a vague sense of guilt, and slowly, my life would start to feel broken by the fact that person might be dead.
I let out a deep sigh. His gruff face seemed to poke at my heart.
“My thoughts were short-sighted.”
“…I see.”
“I really am fine. Healthy! Don’t worry!”
I flailed my arms and bounced around excessively to reassure him. Theodore let out a small laugh.
“Alright. I understand.”
“So, how did you come back?”
“Oh, that! Everyone, don’t misunderstand.”
I took the opportunity to explain quickly.
There was chaos, rumors of fakery everywhere. In the midst of that, the emperor treated me as a saint without suspicion.
Thanks to that, everyone else seemed to stop doubting me. If even the emperor didn’t doubt me, who else could?
Still, some curiosity remained, so I had to explain. The spirits had conveyed something too.
“The reason I came back safely and unharmed is because I was able to meet the spirits of the Beza Mountains. They helped me and sent me back here.”
“…Spirits?”
Theodore’s eyes shifted strangely. The surroundings instantly became noisy.
“Spirits? They really exist?”
“I told you they exist! I saw them! Didn’t I say so?!”
“Ohhh… Our saint even receives the blessings of the spirits…!”
Everyone seemed even more confused. It was only natural—they had probably long debated whether the spirits truly existed.
“Spirits, huh…”
“Why do you say that?”
“No, it’s nothing. More importantly, saint, now you should rest—”
“Saint!”
Just as Theodore looked at me worriedly, a voice came from behind.
A high-ranking official with a holy-looking face was standing not far away, her expression full of emotion.
She immediately approached me.
“Oh! Councilor!”
I realized I had to match her tone for now and greeted her warmly as she came.
“Saint…! I’m so relieved. I’m so glad!”
“Councilor…”
“I was so worried… Saint, I’m so relieved you returned alive. Truly!”
The councilor embraced me passionately, her body trembling.
It felt as if she genuinely believed it was a blessing that I had returned.
“Ahh, God… thank you, thank you!”
‘Honestly, if someone didn’t know better, they’d think she really was worried.’
I silently chuckled to myself while being held.
Before being hugged, the councilor had looked perfectly fine.
Shining in contrast to Theodore’s tense face and the exhausted people from the rescue operation.
‘She must have eaten well and slept well. What’s there to worry about?’
She would have been anxious if I disappeared, of course. But she’d also be thinking how useful I could be now that I had returned.
“Saint, are you hurt anywhere?”
The councilor finally let me go and asked.
“Eh? Ah, I’m fine—oh. Councilor, are you crying?”
I looked into her eyes while she held my shoulder. Tears streamed down her face.
“The old get sentimental, I suppose. I’m just too happy…”
Wow. That’s some acting.
If I hadn’t known the councilor’s true nature, I might have been shaken.
“You and the saint really are close, huh.”
“Indeed… I didn’t know she was so cherished.”
“Ah… even I’m tearing up…”
I heard some unpleasant remarks but forced a smile.
“I’m really okay. Thank you, councilor. I’m sorry for causing worry. See? I’m completely fine, right?”
“Yes. Saint… to be able to return so healthy…”
I tried to keep my tone bright. The councilor wiped her tears.
“You said the spirits helped you, right?”
Her gaze shifted slightly, asking more intensely.
‘What’s this?’
There was a glimmer in her eyes. She usually hid her emotions well, so perhaps it was my imagination.
But clearly…
It seemed faintly visible. As if she desired something, or was looking for something.
“Yes, councilor. The spirits took care of me.”
“The saint truly is a precious being. Even receiving the spirits’ blessings…!”
“Oh, haha. Uh, it was… just by chance. Thankfully, they showed me mercy.”
Praise for a saint like this, in front of everyone? What does she want?
I nudged Theodore, who was standing beside me out of sight, signaling him to step back about 10 meters.
“…Hmm.”
He grumbled quietly but took a few steps back.
“Your Majesty? Where are you going?”
“Just a moment, come this way. Isaac.”
“Oh, yes.”
Isaac knew Theodore disliked the councilor, so he didn’t question the sudden movement.
[Agatha, are you there?]
[The councilor’s all lies. She doesn’t care about Dorothy at all. She didn’t care if I disappeared, but now that I’m back, she thinks I’m convenient!]
Agatha’s words poured out as soon as we connected. She sounded genuinely irritated.
‘Of course…’
She was someone who used me efficiently but also harbored jealousy and resentment. She might have been anxious I disappeared, but these tears weren’t genuine.
“What did the spirits say to you while helping you? I’m very curious.”
She looked at me slyly, now holding my hand after letting go of my shoulder.
“The spirits… they helped me and said something, but…”
I rolled my eyes and asked Agatha.
[Agatha, is the councilor aiming for something?]
[Um… she seems curious about the spirits… wants to know something… but the reason is…]
“If legendary spirits appeared before humans, they probably had something important to say.”
The councilor held my hand even tighter.
[…Dorothy, is there a problem now? Ah, why is the councilor holding your hand again?]
Agatha said something strange again.
Perhaps it’s related.
The councilor’s question was about the spirits and the one mentioned by them.
Thinking that far, I improvised immediately.
“I can’t remember the details… councilor. Maybe after some rest, it’ll come back…”
“Think carefully, Dorothy, okay?”
“They seemed to say something very important.”
“Really?”
The councilor pulled me sharply toward her.
“Yes… but right now… councilor, my head really hurts.”
I frowned and acted it out. She looked at me sympathetically.
I would pretend not to remember while staying by her side to uncover her intentions.
Last night, the most certain way was to have those sent by Theodore to the councilor find the forbidden books.
‘I doubt the councilor didn’t prepare for such contingencies.’
“But Dorothy… you really did hear something from the spirits, right? You did meet them, right?”
She asked gently, almost soothingly.
[Even if the councilor doesn’t know your heart, she seems to suspect you’re not faking it.]
She was sharp…
Even if she guessed wrong, she realized I was hiding something.
In such a case, I’d have to give her at least one hint, something that could help me.
“Yes. Uh, um… oh… my head… They… were about the size of children, yellow with wings… Ah, my head hurts too much, councilor…”
I swayed as if dizzy while speaking.
“So that’s what the spirits looked like.”
“Yes. Ah! They said they didn’t like going too deep. Human voices are too noisy… I remember that.”
“I see.”
The councilor nodded.
“Ugh… but… my head hurts, councilor.”
“Ah, my apologies, saint. I overdid it. Shall we return to the village first?”
“Yes, I’d like that.”
Though she looked sympathetic, for a brief moment, her face seemed to show a flash of joy.
‘The councilor… is struggling to hide her emotions.’
She usually hid expressions well, but now they were slowly showing.
It meant her emotions had surged enough to break her composure.
