Ch.74It’s All Your Fault. (1)

“……At night?”

“Yes. At night.”

Olivia’s eyes changed like a snake before its prey. Meeting those eyes gave me goosebumps all over my body.

Is it possible for the atmosphere to change so suddenly without any warning?

As far as Livga knew, it wasn’t.

Livga found herself stammering without realizing it.

“W-where…?”

“Good question. Where should we meet? I haven’t thought that far yet… Do you know any place with a nice atmosphere?”

Gulp.

Her Adam’s apple bobbed. Livga tried to hide her surprised expression as she looked around. There were dozens of people nearby, but not a single one was looking in their direction.

‘…Am I the only one who felt that?’

Livga was confused. The air was so menacing it was hard to breathe. It was impossible that no one else could feel this.

Unless it was artificially targeted at her alone.

“…Sister”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Isn’t it… too quiet around us?”

Instead of answering, Olivia interlaced her fingers and rested her chin on them. The corners of her eyes curved upward.

“Well, I don’t really notice anything?”

Olivia’s face looked unfamiliar. The usual dignified atmosphere was completely gone.

She seemed like a different person.

Livga swallowed hard as she stared into Olivia’s eyes.

“…You are Olivia, right?”

“Why would you suddenly ask something like that?”

One thing was certain, if nothing else.

This wasn’t the face of someone who didn’t understand what she meant.

The same voice as that time.

-■■■■■

The eyes.

The way of speaking.

Her heart pounded.

Livga lowered her head. She tried to pick up a knife casually, but her hands were trembling so much that breadcrumbs scattered everywhere.

“You’ve made a mess.”

Suddenly, Olivia reached out and caressed Livga’s chin.

“Right here.”

It was cold.

Suppressing the urge to run away immediately, Livga spoke in the most composed voice she could manage.

“What did you want to talk about when we meet?”

“Hmm… I haven’t thought about that either. Oh, there’s some here too.”

Olivia’s mouth was smiling, but her eyes were not.

The back of her neck tingled.

“Or should we think about it together now? Where to meet tonight, what to talk about. We could also decide what snacks to have.”

“I-I’m a bit busy today…”

“Why? Do you have something tonight?”

No, she didn’t.

During fasting periods, it was customary not to hold dawn prayers.

Of course, this was a custom that only clergy would know…

Olivia’s gaze wasn’t that of a stranger.

“……”

Until her back became damp with cold sweat, Livga couldn’t open her mouth.

“Livga.”

“Yes, Lady Olivia.”

“Call me sister.”

“…Yes, sister.”

Olivia asked again.

“So can you meet me tonight, or not?”

Livga’s eyes trembled like aspen leaves. The sound of her heartbeat echoed in her ears.

In her life, she had met all kinds of people. Vile murderers, kings who ruled nations… She hadn’t trembled when meeting them, but now she was shaking like a mouse before a cat.

She simply couldn’t meet her eyes.

…Why?

Livga questioned herself.

No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t understand why she was so afraid.

“I, I…”

Clank.

Just then, the sound of armor clanking came from behind. It was Franz, an elderly knight with a stylish beard.

He walked toward them holding an empty bowl.

“There you two are.”

Franz spoke to Olivia.

“Is the food to your liking?”

“F-Franz…”

Just as Livga was about to warn him, the menacing atmosphere subsided.

It felt like her airways suddenly cleared.

Taking a quick breath, Livga turned her head sharply.

There was Olivia, smiling as if nothing had happened.

That sight gave her chills in a different way.

“It’s much better than our magic tower. We only have greasy food there.”

“Ho ho. Is that so? I’m glad you like it.”

Livga couldn’t understand the current situation.

The atmosphere now was peaceful itself.

Yet just seconds ago, she had felt like she was standing on the edge of a cliff.

Was it an illusion?

That fear just now, was it an illusion?

Livga placed her hand on her chest. Her heart was beating wildly.

“O-Olivia.”

“Yes, Saintess?”

“N-nothing.”

It wasn’t an illusion.

Her manner was so gentle now that it felt completely different from before.

As if she had returned to “normal.”

Livga’s pupils trembled faintly.

“Excuse me, may I join your conversation for a moment?”

“I don’t mind at all.”

Franz turned his head to look at Livga. He was asking for her permission.

“O-of course. Franz. Please do.”

“Thank you.”

Franz sat down next to Livga. Normally it would have been quite burdensome, but at this moment, it was nothing but reassuring.

A brief silence fell.

Franz was the first to speak.

“Lady Olivia. How long do you plan to stay in the Holy Kingdom?”

“I don’t have definite plans, but… I’ll probably leave before the end of this year.”

“It’s January now, isn’t it?”

Olivia nodded as if she knew.

“That means I want to get that close to the Saintess.”

The brooch pinned to Olivia’s chest gleamed golden. It was the pentagram, symbol of the Grandmaster.

It was a statement.

That someone of her stature becoming close to the Saintess would benefit the Holy Kingdom.

“Of course, I understand your concerns.”

Franz was a member of the Four Knights, the highest-ranking holy knights. Having someone of his caliber serve as the Saintess’s escort for months was clearly a waste of military power.

“I’m glad you understand. Then our conversation will be quicker.”

Franz spoke in the most humble tone possible.

“I would like you to set specific times for meeting with the Saintess from now on.”

Maintain the number of meetings, but adjust the timing.

This was already a big concession from the Holy Kingdom.

But his opponent was Olivia.

“That’s problematic.”

“What do you mean?”

“I can’t be satisfied with just thirty minutes a day with the Saintess. Instead, let me make a better proposal.”

“What kind of proposal?”

Olivia looked at Livga with subtle eyes.

“I’ve heard the Saintess has a very special ability. The ability to distinguish lies. Is that correct?”

“……”

“Saintess?”

“…Yes, that’s right.”

Livga indeed had such an ability. But using it was proof that she didn’t trust the other person, so she didn’t use it unless in special circumstances.

“I’ll make a vow. That I will never harm the Saintess. You can determine right here whether this vow is true or false.”

“That’s not enough.”

It was Franz.

“If that were sufficient, we would have proposed it first.”

“You’re saying truth alone isn’t enough to trust?”

“Regrettably, yes.”

It was a clear rejection, but Olivia didn’t seem to mind.

“Then I’ll swear on mana.”

“…Pardon?”

Before Franz could properly respond, Olivia made her vow to mana.

[I, Olivia, swear that I will not harm Livga in any way.]

Blue energy rippled in the air, then transformed into shackles that bound Olivia’s heart.

“Is that enough?”

“…Huh.”

Olivia grinned.

“Go tell His Holiness the Pope. The Empire’s Grandmaster Olivia can never touch the Saintess from this day forward.”

Franz looked like he had been outmaneuvered.

The weight of a mana vow.

It was greater than the devotion holy knights had when serving God.

One might not be punished for neglecting God, but breaking a mana vow meant losing everything.

Now that Olivia had gone this far, they had no grounds to refuse meetings between Livga and Olivia.

Franz stared at Olivia for a moment, then nodded and stood up.

“…I understand for now. Thank you for your time.”

Though he said that, it was already a foregone conclusion that Livga’s escort would be changed to someone else.

Someone of lower rank than the Four Knights.

Once again, only the two of them remained at the table.

Livga hesitated before abruptly standing up.

“I-I should go too. Enjoy your meal.”

Instead of stopping Livga, Olivia spoke in a subtle voice to her back.

“Come to the cathedral backyard at midnight tonight.”

Livga stopped, took a short breath, and quickly walked away.

‘I won’t go.’

She didn’t need to hear any more.

She needed time to sort out her thoughts. Whether Olivia was playing a prank on her or whatever it was.

To be honest, she was a little scared.

Because that day’s memories kept overlapping with Olivia.

Livga wanted to get out of the hall as quickly as possible.

But in the next moment, a menacing aura flowed from Olivia’s entire body.

“If you don’t come… you’ll lose something again, like last time?”

Those words froze Livga in place. She could ignore everything else, but that statement was impossible to overlook.

“What did you just…!”

But when Livga turned her head, Olivia was already gone.