"Pardon? No, it's not like that."
"It's okay to be honest."
It felt like Isadora would actually make Lara a saintess if she told her honestly. Only after Lara said no three times was she able to get through Isadora.
"That's a relief."
Isadora let out a sigh of relief. Then she subtly twisted the corners of her lips and said.
"It's better not to do such troublesome work. Now that so many people are cheering for the saintess, it seems like a position that has a lot of power and influence… But in a little while, they will also realize."
"Realize what?"
"If the saintess in question grants someone's wish, other people will also cling to her and ask her to grant their wishes too. If she listens to someone's request, other people will get mad. Later on, when she saves someone, she will get resentment from the whole world."
I see.
"That's what a saintess is."
Lara slowly lowered her big eyes. Isadora's calm voice and the cheering crowd outside the window were strangely mixed.
"Not only will the saintess be politically used between the royal family and the temple, but she will also have to take the lead in dangerous and hard work."
Why does it remind me of my past the more I listen to it?
"God is the almighty so it's enough for him to just be a witness up there, but a saintess is a human so it will be painful all the time."
"Living for others…while ending up losing herself."
"Don't worry too much. Princess Sonnet is not a saintess. I'm sure the royal family already knows about that."
It was not Sonnet that she was worried about, but herself. However, Lara just nodded.
"What in the world is the temple doing?"
Isadora, who was grumbling, held the knife and accidentally scratched the plate. It was a surprisingly sharp sound. She slipped down the steak she had been cutting and took a sip of wine. Then, she rolled her eyes with a haughty face and looked at Lara.
Lara looked out of the window, pretending not to hear anything, with a nonchalant face for her mother. Isadora said to Lara.
"Lara."
"Yes?"
"Do you still have pocket money left?"
She still had a lot of pocket money. Lara was going to say that mother did not have to give any pocket money to her because she still had enough. Then, she found her mother looking at her with an anticipated face. She closed her mouth once and opened it again. Then she said with a slight smile.
"Mother, please give me some pocket money."
Isadora's face has become noticeably brighter.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
A few more days later, public opinion leaned toward the farmer's wife. The nobleman with his daughter also tried hard, but he could not overcome the story of someone who had already experienced miracles. Furthermore, as people began to testify how arrogant and debauched the daughter of the nobleman usually was, it triggered a huge backlash from some people.
By the time rumors of the fake saintess' ugly past spread out of control, people had called on the temple to investigate them. Not only the daughter of the nobleman but also the farmer's wife. Some bold people also said that Princess Sonnet, who was hiding in the royal family, should also be brought to the temple for investigation.
Their argument seemed reasonable at first glance. The saintess was an existence that we would believe and follow, so she needed to prove that her past was clean.
It was ridiculous─For those who put on the mask of a saintess even though they were not one, and those who said such and such about the saintess' qualification even though they were not God. It was no wonder that Lara's attitude as she watched them became more cynical.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
It was late at night. Lara was walking along the riverside trail in front of the manor with Demian. As if there had been no typhoon, the river flowed quietly. Except for the height of the water, nothing had changed.
She had a lot on her mind.
'Am I a saintess or not?'
A few hours ago, Lara took a letter opener without Konny knowing and made a small wound on the back of her hand.
It was a very small, shallow wound. A bit of blood came out, but the wound healed before the pain could properly be felt. Unless God had done wonders, it could not be explained the reason she had returned to 10 years ago and acquired a body with a horrifying healing power.
She wanted to ask.
'Why me?'
She wanted to ask the great existence if there was a standard for choosing people, what was so special about her that she was chosen. To be honest, she did not want to be a saintess again. Everything her mother said was right. It was so hard even when she was a fake, it might be unbearable if she became a real saintess. On the other hand, she had this thought.
'I don't want to know.'
It did not seem bad to live comfortably without knowing anything. Being loved by her mother, enjoying a party with her friends every day, and dating a man like Demian.
How should I live my life?
No.
'How do I want to live?'
Lara, who was walking slowly along the white sand shore, stopped walking when she reached an out-of-the-way corner. When Lara stopped walking, Demian, who was walking in stride beside her, had also stopped walking.
"Demian."
"Yeah."
"If you find out who the real saintess is, are you going to take her to the Empire?"
"I should."
"What if she says no?"
"I have to convince her."
"But if she still says no, what are you going to do then?"
Demian, who thought about it for a while, grinned and said.
"I will have to think about it then."
"Then… what if the current situation, where we don't know who the saintess is, keeps on going?"
"I'm sure Acerus will give me another order."
Demian looked at Lara's face after giving his answer. Then, he said with a smirk.
"I won't go if you tell me not to."
"What?"
"If you tell me not to go, I won't go anywhere. I can just send the saintess alone. Even if Acerus orders me to come back, he can't do anything if I decline."
"Aren't you his subordinate?"
"Subordinate, my foot."
Demian let out a low sneer. Come to think of it, this man is the savior of the Crown Prince of Tarragon who saved him on the battlefield. It meant that the two were very close. Lara did not know that before, so she was very surprised when she found out about that.
"Why does the Crown Prince need the saintess? Is it something you can tell me?"
"There's no reason why I can't. Some people already know about it."
Demian came closer to Lara. Then, he spoke in a heavier voice than usual.
"It's because of the war against the demons."
"Ah…"
"Acerus is gathering military strength to prepare for war. Hautean is not included because this country is too weak. If it's a country that can be overturned by just a few black sorcerers, when the real demon shows up, far from giving help, this country will only get in the way."
"You take the saintess because she's helpful, and then throw the rest away."
Her mouth was bitter. Her heart ached as if she had swallowed a bitter pill. Demian's voice sounded colder than usual.
"What the demons want is the domination of this continent. If it's taken away, not only Hautean, but the entire continent will be their breeding ground. Humans will be treated as their livestock and will then go extinct."
"I understand."
Lara, of all people, could understand that. She had experience witnessing a demon who appeared in Hautean before she died in her past. She heard he was a high-ranked demon even in the demon realm and was classified in the level of the demon lord. The demon burned half the western part of the Kingdom in just one day. With only two of those things, this country would disappear from the map without even getting to scream.
"It's such an important thing. How can you not go even if I tell you not to? Shouldn't you go and protect the Crown Prince?"
"It has nothing to do with me."
"Are you allowed to say that?"
"Lara, you better not expect loyalty from me. Although I'm doing this mission because Acerus asked me to do it… But even if I decline, he won't punish me."
"I'm not expecting loyalty from you."
Lara, who hesitated a little, glanced at Demian and said.
"You still have your comrades back in the Empire. The people who would never stop waiting for you to come back."