Erin looked down at Ophelia and, with a very satisfied smile, conducted a simple ceremony to appoint her as a holy knight.
She touched Ophelia's head and shoulders in turn, then took out the Bible she always carried and placed it against her forehead.
"For this one body, solely for Lord Iggokden."
"The will of God is my will. It is the path I must follow."
"The honored position of one platter of holy knights, even if it's the lowest seat, I will gladly accept."
After that, Ophelia recited the abbreviated version of the 'Holy Knight's Oath,' concluding the ceremony.
With a smile as bright as sunshine, Erin said:
"You'll probably have to leave this place, so come to the square in front of the Iggokden Cathedral once you're ready."
"I've seen the cathedral before when passing by. You mean the building with the tallest spire, right?"
"Yes, that's correct. Though it's in the past tense now..."
"..."
With a cheerful smile that seemed like it might burst if poked-
"It collapsed."
"Did it collapse...?"
"Yes. By the will of God."
Saying this, Erin bowed her head in prayer.
"Everything is according to God's will."
For a cathedral to collapse by the will of God was certainly a situation worthy of questioning, yet Ophelia, instead of showing surprise or asking questions, bowed respectfully.
She had lived without deep thought before the 'will of God.'
If God thinks so, then so be it - that was her motto.
"I understand. I will come to escort you, Saint, as soon as possible. Take care."
"Yes. Let's meet again, Lady Ophelia. Then."
After Saint Erin left.
"Miss!!"
The maids who usually accompanied Ophelia approached her from behind.
"Miss Ophelia! You've finally become the holy knight you've always dreamed of! Congratulations!"
"Hmm, thank you."
"You even rejected the offer from the Erduf family not long ago. I was so worried you might have to give up being a knight."
"Oh, come on. Our lady here kicked away offers from the Imperial Knights and the Knighthardt family. Why would she settle for the Erduf family?"
"It's such a relief that the Saintess appeared..."
After this light conversation, one of the maids asked with a worried look:
"Are you not planning to return to the mansion for a while?"
"I suppose so. A long outing... no, not an outing, but leaving home entirely... for service...?"
"Miss, are you talking about leaving for good?"
"Yes. Departure. It seems it will be a long one."
Normally, one wouldn't discuss the length of departure in the context of leaving home, but the maids were accustomed to this kind of conversation, so no one objected.
"It feels a bit sad. It'll be so noticeable without you here. The empty space will be much more apparent..."
"It can't be helped."
Ophelia said this, then folded her hands in prayer, solemnly:
"I have dedicated my entire life to serving God."
She said, her golden eyes shining with devotion.
The emotion the maids felt seeing Ophelia like this - awe.
Ophelia Translante.
Born as the only daughter of the prestigious Translante family, she had shown remarkable talent as a 'prodigy knight' from a young age.
Despite being only 23, she had reached a certain 'level' and received scouting offers from numerous nobles, even from the Imperial Knights, making her an unparalleled knight.
However, Ophelia rejected all offers, including from the royal family, with one simple request, 'Give me more time.'
The reason for her rejection was singular - 'I want to live a life in service to Lord Iggokden.' Of course, serving God ultimately meant becoming a holy knight.
When a saint appeared, her reason was to become a holy knight.
If becoming a holy knight was not possible, she would have no choice, but her firm character and devotion meant she would wait for God's word in her youth.
It was only natural for countless knights to admire her.
The same was true for her servants.
Employer and employees, despite a clear class divide, Ophelia mingled freely with the maids.
They all respected and followed Ophelia, who treated them with courtesy beyond class differences.
Even if there were places offering higher wages, they wouldn't change jobs, so most of the Translante family's employees had at least three years of service.
At least, in her mind, all humans were equal under God.
Popularity.
At least among the three in 'one platter of holy knights,' Ophelia was the most popular.
"Miss... I'll miss you so much."
"Even while serving the Saintess, I'll find opportunities to visit here, so there's no need to be too sad. I will gladly make time to come see you all."
At that moment, one maid approached and whispered:
"Miss. I say this out of concern..."
"Hmm?"
"I honestly don't know much about the knight named Luka Hevnisian, but the rumors about Princess Linea von Ainsberg are not good. You're such a kind person, but not everyone is like you, so please-"
"Veluna."
Ophelia cut off the maid giving her advice.
"I apologize for interrupting, but I don't want to hear gossip about my future colleagues in 'one platter of holy knights.' How can we label someone we haven't even met based on rumors?"
"...I apologize."
After all the maids had left, Ophelia was finally alone and prayed again.
Praying alone to converse with God and clear her mind was a habit she had since childhood.
'Lord Iggokden. Thank you for the boundless grace of appointing me as a holy knight. Please grant me Your... what was it again?'
What was it...?
'Deep...?'
She couldn't remember the word that followed either.
Even though she had memorized it many times, it still wasn't sticking in her mind.
'My training is lacking.'
Ophelia sighed briefly.
However, not remembering doesn't mean you should avoid God.
'Please grant me Your deep 'that'. I will gladly accept and fill myself with it.'
With that, she offered a brief, heartfelt prayer and was about to take a step when-
―Crash!
The sound of her circlet loudly hitting the floor accompanied her stumbling and falling with a thud.
Her ears turned bright red for a moment, but fortunately, no one was around.
Ophelia quickly got up and brushed off the dust.
'Failing to tread the path and falling, this too is a trial from God. I will surely overcome this trial.'
So what if she fell?
She just needs to dust off and move forward.
Isn't this also part of the training to be joyful?
With these thoughts, Ophelia slowly took her first steps towards becoming 'one dish of holy knights.'
***
What 'one platter of holy knights' means - three holy knights.
Another female knight was listening to Saintess Erin's message, but her reaction was slightly different from Ophelia's.
If Ophelia's response could be summarized as reverence for God, what was felt here was distinctly different - confusion.
"Did you say 'one platter of holy knights'...?"
"Yes. Three holy knights gathered to form one platter... that is God's will."
"So, you're saying there are two other holy knights besides me?"
"That's right."
The female knight with long, straight golden hair reminiscent of a sunflower, and deep blue eyes like those of the royal family, moved her eyebrows in disbelief before cautiously asking:
"Then, all three candidates...?"
"Yes. Based on the word of God and the scriptures, we have newly selected one platter of holy knights."
Linea von Ainsberg, a candidate for the royal family's holy knight, pondered for a moment before nodding.
There was no option to refuse, so there was no need to deliberate long.
"...I understand. I will accept the position of one platter of holy knights."
After a brief oath with Erin, the meeting concluded with the instruction to come to the rebuilding Iggokden Cathedral once she was ready.
After Erin left, Linea fell into careful thought with a cautious expression.
'How should I take this...?'
The reason the royal family wanted to secure a holy knight position.
To quickly establish a connection with the royal family just before the Saint's appearance would strengthen the church's influence and the Pope's authority.
However, that was only possible if one of the holy knights was from the royal family.
With three holy knights, it becomes impossible to use a holy knight as leverage for control.
Now they've selected three based on scripture, but if they're unhappy, they could easily dismiss one under the pretext of God's will, right?
In that case, Linea, with the least faith, would be in the most danger.
'I should discuss this with my mother.'
Linea quickly made her way to the audience chamber of the Iggokden royal palace.