Chapter 09
The first part of the daily routine was waking up.
However, Seinne, still affected by the aftermath of yesterday’s baptism, couldn’t get up even with Sera’s persistent attempts to wake her.
Her whole body felt heavy and limp. It was unbearably hard to move.
All she wanted was to lie in bed and rest the entire day.
She didn’t have the strength to do anything.
“I’m sick… I don’t think I can do this.”
Seinne spoke desperately, half sincere, half exaggerated.
Her voice was still hoarse from sleep.
“Y-You’re sick? Where does it hurt?”
At the words of the Saintess being ill, Sera’s expression turned serious.
She placed a hand on Seinne’s forehead just in case, but fortunately, she didn’t have a fever.
Still, judging by her voice and condition, she looked quite unwell, and Sera didn’t know what to do.
In the end, Sera went to find the High Priest.
Shortly after hearing from Sera, the High Priest came to check on Seinne’s condition.
After a brief examination, he concluded there was nothing to worry about.
What Seinne was feeling was simply the aftermath of the baptism.
It was something every Saintess experienced.
“You must get up, Saintess.”
“…No, I really can’t get up.”
“You must rise and go to pray.”
“No, praying is impossible.”
If she tried to kneel and pray for a long time in this state, she would definitely pass out.
“You will feel better once you pray.”
“No, I won’t.”
She wasn’t saying this just because she didn’t want to pray.
Her body felt completely drained and weak—there was no way she could manage it.
“Saintess, please rise. Everyone goes through this.”
As a Saintess, even in more difficult situations, it was only natural to be aware of one’s position and pray for the god.
This level of fatigue from baptism was not a valid reason to skip prayer.
At the High Priest’s words, Seinne felt irritated.
The person whose body it was was clearly saying she couldn’t pray—why was he talking so much?
Just because everyone went through it didn’t mean it was nothing.
And even if people went through the same thing, what they felt and how it affected them could differ.
Yet he spoke like that.
She wanted to snap back, “Why don’t you try being in my position and say that again?”
Of course, knowing the High Priest, such words wouldn’t work.
‘I shouldn’t have become a Saintess…’
She hadn’t expected it to be this exhausting from the very first day.
“Still, I can’t go.”
“Saintess.”
The High Priest called her in a stern voice, but Seinne didn’t move from the bed.
“If you really want me to go pray, then carry me to the prayer hall yourself.”
She didn’t mean it literally.
She just wanted to emphasize how exhausted she was.
“Praying is a duty that must be upheld by anyone who serves the god.”
“Then carry me to the prayer hall. It’s not like there’s a rule saying I have to walk there myself, right?”
Even with strict rules, she doubted something like that would be specified.
“…Very well. Since you are having a hard time today, I will make an exception.”
“Oh…!”
Yes!
That meant she could skip prayer today, right?
But unfortunately, that wasn’t what he meant.
“After you wash up, I will have a holy knight escort you to the prayer hall.”
‘Of course.’
She had hoped he would give in, but that was too much to expect.
Still, she wasn’t going to back down.
“Instead of a holy knight, I’d prefer it if you carried me yourself, High Priest.”
If she had to suffer, then he should too.
At her bold request, the High Priest looked taken aback.
“Well, if you don’t want to, that’s fine.”
She truly hoped he would refuse.
“Skipping prayer is absolutely not allowed.”
“Then I’ll just pray here.”
Lying comfortably on the bed seemed manageable.
“Saintess, prayers must be offered in the designated place.”
Praying in the bedroom was out of the question.
“What matters is the prayer, not the place. I really don’t have the strength to walk.”
She deliberately raised her trembling hand for him to see.
The High Priest sighed heavily.
Seeing her attitude, it was clear she wouldn’t go on her own.
“Very well. I will personally carry you to the prayer hall.”
This was a one-time exception.
Seinne seemed especially affected compared to previous Saintesses.
But it wouldn’t happen again.
Being carried was not fitting for a Saintess’s dignity.
‘Tch.’
She had hoped he would give up entirely.
“Please wash up first.”
—
A short while later, Seinne finished washing with Sera’s help.
“You’re still here?”
“Did you not ask to be taken to the prayer hall?”
“Well… I did.”
Not that she meant it seriously.
“Then excuse me.”
The High Priest carefully lifted her into his arms.
‘Tch.’
He could have refused on principle.
That would’ve made things easier for both of them.
But instead—
Seinne was carried comfortably to the prayer hall.
“I will take my leave now.”
Even just carrying her had clearly drained him.
Seinne inwardly smirked.
She had deliberately relaxed her body completely to make it harder for him—and it worked.
“Yes, goodbye.”
She replied casually and entered the prayer hall.
‘Dear God… I’m sure you’ll understand.’
At least out of courtesy, she said that—
—and then immediately flopped onto the floor.
Normally, she should kneel and pray properly.
But today, that was impossible.
‘Prayer is what matters anyway.’
It was the sincerity that counted.
‘Lying down feels much better.’
The rug and cushions softened the floor enough.
‘Alright, let’s pray.’
She closed her eyes—
—and was instantly pulled into sleep.
—
Several hours later, the prayer time ended.
Sera, who had been waiting outside, grew worried when Seinne didn’t come out.
But she couldn’t bring herself to interrupt.
More hours passed.
Breakfast had long passed—it was now lunchtime.
Still, no sign of Seinne.
Finally, Sera knocked gently.
But there was no response.
She knocked again, louder—still nothing.
Just then, the High Priest arrived after hearing she had skipped breakfast.
“What is the matter?”
“She… hasn’t responded. Perhaps she’s deeply focused in prayer…”
‘At least that’s a relief.’
He assumed she was praying diligently.
Despite her fatigue, she must be devoted.
Still, he knocked—
No response.
A sense of unease crept in.
Carefully, he opened the door.
And then—
Seinne was lying on the floor, fast asleep.
She was even lightly snoring.
“Huh…”
The High Priest was speechless.
Sera was equally shocked.
If only she had checked earlier.
Meanwhile, Seinne remained in deep sleep.
Even the noise didn’t wake her.
The High Priest approached with a hardened expression.
Sleeping in the prayer hall—
Unheard of.
Prayer was sacred.
Even for a Saintess, this could not be overlooked.
‘What would the god think of this…?’
He had held some hope after seeing her immense divine power.
But now—
“Saintess.”
He called in a low, firm voice.
No response.
“Saint. Ess.”
Still nothing.
Then—
“Ah, seriously! I told you not to call me Saintess!”
