Chapter 57: Saintess Ione

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“But why can’t you leave? I get that you have a unique constitution, but what’s the specific reason?”

On the cathedral roof overlooking the holy city, Ian, who had just become friends with Sugar, asked her. He knew his own situation was due to his noble bloodline, but the girl in front of him didn’t have that issue.

“My mana is too pure.”

“What? What does that mean?”

“Well, um…”

“Is it a secret? Then I swear on the name of my great ancestor that I’ll keep it a secret. It’s fine, so tell me.”

Ian pressed her, curiosity growing as Sugar hesitated

Sugar wasn’t trying to keep it a secret, she just felt awkward because of the people approaching fiercely from behind.

“The holy knights are coming.”

“…What?”

Following Sugar’s gaze, Ian turned around and saw the holy knights standing there.

“Ahhh!”

“Your Highness!”

“You’re so persistent!”

“Your Highness is even more persistent! Come here quickly!”

“No! I don’t want to be locked in the tower!”

“It’s not locking you up, it’s protection!”

Amidst the commotion, Sugar quietly slipped away. There was no point in staying in the middle of it. Riley, who had been watching from behind, also hid behind a pillar.

Just as Ian was about to leap off the roof a beautiful voice echoed in his mind.

[Ian.]

“…!”

The holy knights knelt as if on cue.

‘Should I? Should I kneel too?’

Sugar awkwardly followed the adults’ lead.

[Come back.]

The voice spoke a single sentence and then fell silent.

The only child who didn’t kneel shouted at the sky, or more precisely, at the tallest tower in the holy city.

“Sis… Sister! Why do you always say the same thing? Can’t you at least explain why I can’t leave the tower? What are you thinking, locking me up like this? I heard other descendants were free to roam within the holy city! I can’t understand your intentions at all!”

[ … ]

“Please… say something, anything.”

[ … ]

“Sister!”

His cries echoed hollowly.

As always, there was no response.

Biting his lip, Ian looked at the tower with a face that seemed on the verge of tears. The holy knights carried him down from the roof as if nothing had happened, their movements showing practiced ease.

“…”

Sugar, who had been watching the scene, stood there for a long time with an unpleasant expression.

******************************

If you listened closely, you could hear sniffles.

The sound of someone unable to hold back their sorrow.

It’s the emotion of a sad person, that kind of behavior.

‘Why?’

Saintess Ione tilted her head slightly inside the high spire.

She couldn’t understand her brother, who had been trying to escape more frequently lately. She couldn’t understand why he always asked her the same questions.

Listening to his sobs, she didn’t know what to do.

Ione had never shed tears since she gained self-awareness. Watching her emotionally rich brother, she couldn’t make sense of it.

“…”

A cold atmosphere. The air was warm yet the spire, filled only with the sound of a child crying, felt cold.

If only Sir Nova was here, it would be better. But she had gone out for morning training, the priestesses in the room felt uneasy.

They wanted to calm the situation, but it was difficult to speak up to the precious and stone-like Saintess. They worried about provoking her anger. But some action was needed.

As the veiled priestesses exchanged glances, the youngest one timidly raised her hand.

Ione nodded, and the young priestess began to speak.

“Ah, there was a child with His Highness earlier… If we bring that child here, perhaps His Highness’s mood will improve…”

A bold statement.

Silence filled the room.

The tension was so thick you could hear a pin drop.

“…”

After a long pause, Ione simply moved a single finger.

Yes! The priestesses secretly clenched their fists or nodded in joy. ‘Youngest, I’ll let you skip cleaning later.’

They hurriedly left the spire to carry out the order. Relieved to escape the heavy silence, they couldn’t help but feel happy.

.

.

.

At the same time.

Sugar had come down from the cathedral roof and was lying in the grass.

She stared at the sky, deep in thought.

Feeling a presence, she rolled her eyes slightly and saw a blond boy standing there.

“Hey.”

“…”

Sugar turned her head sharply without answering. Riley sighed.

“…What’s wrong with you? You’ve been out of it since morning.”

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

“I don’t know.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re leaving this place… leaving me…!”

She tried to spit out her words but shut her mouth tightly. What’s the point of saying it? That was her attitude.

Riley, also annoyed, muttered.

“You’ll be fine without me anyway…”

Earlier, she was getting along so well with some boy she just met… He swallowed the rest of his words.

‘What’s going on? She was so down earlier. And now she’s all chummy with some high-status boy. Must be nice.’

As he grumbled internally, Sugar, irritated by his attitude, suddenly stood up.

“Yeah! I’ll be fine.”

“What?”

“I don’t need you. Go live freely as you want.”

Riley frowned. Anger and disappointment surged, but he held back.

Right, to her I’m just a close friend, a little brother, someone to tease. Nothing more, nothing less; of course she’ll be fine without me.

“…Idiot.”

“What…”

Now it was Sugar’s turn to frown. Riley’s hurt expression bothered her.

She didn’t understand.

You’re the one leaving, you’re the one walking away from me, you’re leaving me behind to do what you want.

Yet, seeing the boy make that face made her angry and strangely guilty. Not wanting to see it for any longer, Sugar sharply turned her head away.

“…”

“…”

This is how relationships are. They can fall apart even with the slightest misalignment.

Misunderstandings breed more misunderstandings, and wounds pile up.

Children who find each other’s hearts incomprehensible.

At that moment.

A group of women surrounded the two children, veiled priestesses.

Riley immediately stepped in front of Sugar. Sugar watched with a puzzled expression.

“…What’s the matter?”

“The Saintess is calling for you.”

“Who?”

“…”

‘—The girl? The white-haired girl? What about the boy? No? Yes? Should we bring them both? His Highness might be happier with more friends.’

They whispered among themselves before one of them spoke up.

“Both of you, come with us.”

Confused, the priestesses practically dragged the two children to the tower.

In the middle of their argument, they were suddenly caught up in this. The two children were filled with question marks as they arrived before a large door. One of the priestesses knocked, a voice echoed from inside telling them to enter.

“Go in.”

“Wait, what’s going on—”

“It’s the Saintess’s order.”

They were pushed inside.

A pentagonal-shaped, pure white room. Large windows on each wall offering a panoramic view of the holy city.

As they gaped at the unusual sight, a woman who had been sitting like a stone in the center stood up. Platinum blonde hair reaching her waist, a figure seemingly both youthful and mature. A white robe embroidered with gold thread, far more intricate than the priestesses’ attire.

The two children immediately bowed their heads at the sight.

“Rise.”

They slowly looked up to see the woman standing before them, looking down at them. Her face veiled, expression inscrutable.

A slender, white finger pointed at Sugar.

“Purity.”

Then, she pointed at Riley.

“Book.”

As if those were their names she instead called them by their defining traits.

Sugar quickly stepped in front of Riley.

“Wait a moment, Saintess. There’s a reason for this—”

Thinking that the grimoire, which should never have been discovered, had been found by the worst possible person Sugar began to ramble even more than the owner of the book. Ione raised her index finger.

Immediately, Sugar’s mouth shut as if someone had forcibly sealed it.

She could resist if she wanted to, but it seemed pointless, so reluctantly Sugar stepped back to Riley’s side as Ione desired. Riley’s gaze at her was strange.

“Command.”

The Saintess uttered a single word as if it were nothing, expressing it as seemingly an order.

It was followed shortly by something even more bemusing.

“Comfort my brother.”

While Riley made a face that said, “What the…”, Sugar calmly raised her hand. A gesture asking if she could speak.

Ione nodded.

“By ‘brother,’ do you mean His Highness, the Prince?”

She had been hearing faint sobs since earlier. It must have been Ian, who had been taken away earlier, crying.

“Then there’s a better way than us comforting him. May I speak?”

Sugar recalled the earlier incident.

This woman’s extremely high-handed attitude. No matter how much her brother begged for answers or sought emotional comfort, she remained silent, statuesque.

Feeling troubled by this, Sugar asked for permission to speak in response Ione moved her finger. The bold girl opened her mouth as if she had been waiting for this.

“Your Grace, you should comfort him yourself.”

“…”

Is it okay to let her keep talking? Riley flinched. But she’s the one who overlooked the forbidden book, so maybe it’s fine? But she’s the descendant of the legendary Saint, isn’t she?

Riley’s mind was a mess, but he let it go. Sugar’s mouth was already open so what could he do?

Then Sugar bowed her head and continued.

“His Highness… is feeling hurt by you, Your Grace. That’s something no one else can resolve. You might stop his tears for now, but the emotions bottled up inside won’t go away. No one else can resolve them it’s something only you can do.”

It was an extremely reasonable argument.

What would Ione’s reaction be?

“…”

Holding their breath, the others watched as Ione stood still for a long time.

With her face veiled and silent, it was impossible to tell what she was thinking. It seemed Ian’s earlier outburst wasn’t without reason.

In the long silence.

Finally, Ione’s mouth opened.

“How?”

A somewhat deflating question. Sugar smiled faintly and answered.

“Go to him and apologize directly, or give him a gift… there are many ways.”

“A gift?”

“Your Grace, you should personally choose a gift that His Highness would like.”

Ione’s head, her entire body, tilted slightly to the side.

Then quickly, as if it never happened, returned to its original position.

With a snap of her fingers, Ione instantly transformed into a black-haired woman in plain, dull clothes. Her face was still hidden under a hood, but in any case, no one would think she was the Saintess.

‘Her execution is incredible…’

She was an unpredictable person. As Sugar was still stunned by the suggestion she had made and the immediate action taken, Ione turned to the two children as she headed for the door.

“Accompany me.”

“Uh, Your Grace… just to be clear, I’ve only met His Highness yesterday…”

“I’ve never even met him.”

It seemed she had mistaken them for being close to Ian and wanted them to come along to help choose a gift.

So when Sugar and Riley explained their situations, the Saintess tilted her head.

“Even so! I’ll go anyway.”

There’s no harm in building a relationship with someone of high status. Refusing here wouldn’t do any good.

In the midst of this sudden, strange situation, Sugar couldn’t help but smile awkwardly. When she glanced to the side, she saw Riley, equally baffled, forcing a laugh.

The two of them laughed for a moment, but when their eyes met their expressions stiffened and they quickly turned their heads away.