The Saint and Maria – 2

“Nothing more to say?”

The woman with her hair neatly braided looks at me.

What is there to say, when her heart has already left?

Actually, there was a part of me that wanted to hold on.

But, is there love left in that action? Or is it just the anxiety of being alone that’s trying to move me?

Whatever it was, if I held onto her, something would definitely crumble.

A tower built by barely piecing together shattered self-esteem.

Yeah, let her go.

“Okay, goodbye.”

I swallowed once and said with a relieved face.

Let’s end this vicious cycle of emotions.

Even if a long, long time comes when I don’t know if another relationship will come to me, it’s right to let her go.

She left without looking back.

I also turned my back and walked down the street.

I didn’t do anything so pathetic as to look back.

And, I made a resolution again.

That I would never beg for love again, that I would receive love instead of giving it.

I naturally opened my eyes with the sensation of something heavy rising in my body.

And the figure of a person comes into view at a very close distance.

Blonde hair and green eyes.

Who was it… Ah, Maria.

Maria, my attendant. Maria Loehn.

But, why are you like that?

It’s a similar posture to when Master wakes me up in the morning.

Looking at her expression, it doesn’t seem like she hugged me.

My arm is holding her… Did I pull her in my sleep? That’s a plausible situation…

But, I’m Saint.

Isn’t this a problem? On my side.

A Saint who should be more virtuous and pure than anyone else, is a guy who holds a woman in his arms?

Immediate burning at the stake.

…This kind of crisis must be overcome with the teachings of our ancestors.

“Aaaargh!!!! A rapist!!!”

First strike is a sure win.

Maria was startled by my scream and fell off the bed.

Then she lay flat on the floor, trembling.

“I, I’m sorry! Saint! I never intended to do that. I just went close to Saint to wake you up. Absolutely! I never intended to defile Saint’s sacred body!!”

Seeing Maria trembling like an aspen, I felt sorry.

Seeing her react more than I thought, I realized that I shouldn’t drag this situation out for too long.

I just woke up, so the ‘Saint act’ is not ready yet.

“Si, Sister Maria. Get up. It seems there was a misunderstanding.”

I quickly changed my face to a benevolent one and raised Maria up.

“No! I am the sinner. I shouldn’t have gotten close to Saint….”

Maria is almost crying. I got out of bed and lifted her up directly, like last time.

Even as she got up, she kept her eyes on the floor and didn’t look at me.

“Si, Sister Maria. I’m okay. So you can look at me.”

I scratched the back of my head and said to her again.

“Re, really okay….”

Maria mumbled in a voice as small as an ant, and I nodded vigorously.

“Yes, yes. I think I was talking nonsense because I was still asleep.”

“I, is that so? I wonder if you’re lying to me….”

“Saint does not lie.”

I reassure her, making the most gentle expression possible.

Maria saw my sincere expression and muttered, ‘Does not lie….’

Phew, it seems like the situation has calmed down a bit now.

“Anyway, you came to see me because I woke up late, right? What’s on the schedule for today?”

“Yes… There’s a morning service.”

Ah… There’s a service.

Is this every day? That’s not good.

“Actually, we’re a little late.”

Maria fidgeted and fiddled with her hands.

“Uh… Has the service started?”

“No, there’s about 30 minutes left.”

Glancing, her gaze turned towards the wall.

30 minutes?

“Isn’t the service held at the Grand Cathedral?”

“That’s right.”

As she nodded, her golden bangs fluttered.

Grand Cathedral… It’s not that far from here, right?

“I think we can attend in 30 minutes.”

“But… You haven’t had breakfast yet, and you need to wash….”

She folded her fingers one by one and listed what needed to be done.

Hmm?

“That’s enough.”

“Yes?”

She looks at me blankly.

I look in the mirror. My hair is a little sticking out, but I don’t think I need to wash it.

I have some sleep in my eyes, so I should wash my face, and I should brush my teeth.

“Please wait a moment.”

You’re giving a company employee 30 minutes to get ready for work?

5 minutes is enough.

Exactly 5 minutes after Saint spoke.

I am heading to the Grand Cathedral with Saint, who is neatly dressed in his uniform.

Saint quickly washed his face and brushed his teeth, and tidied his hair.

He ran his wet hands through his hair a few times, and his disheveled hair came back to life.

[Breakfast….]

[It’s not like you’re going to die if you skip one meal. Lunch is good, so you can eat lunch.]

Saint smiled like sunshine.

When I look at Saint’s smile, I feel strangely warm.

A pure and untainted smile, free from all the impure things of the world.

A model figure who prioritizes service even when the situation is urgent….

Of course, it’s natural for a Saint, but it will be a good example for the novice priests who have just started walking the path of light.

Even for me, I sometimes hesitate to attend service when I have a fever or a stomach ache.

[Saint, what about perfume and accessories….]

As I held out the accessories that high-ranking clergy usually wear and the perfume that is circulating like a trend in the Order headquarters these days, Saint jumped up and waved his hands.

[Service is important. Attendance is more important than these things.]

I was ashamed of my hand holding the accessories.

How much had I been trapped in formalities?

“……..”

I look at Saint’s profile as we head to the Grand Cathedral.

A confident stride, a sharp nose, warm chestnut hair, and mysterious blue eyes that seem to contain the sea.

Suddenly, I remember the situation earlier.

The moment I was embraced in Saint’s chest.

My face suddenly gets hot.

No. Having such impious thoughts is blasphemy.

Harboring such impure feelings for Saint is immediate execution.

I shake my head to try to shake off the unnecessary thoughts.

But the thoughts lead to more thoughts, becoming a solid chain that wraps around my head.

“……”

To calm my mind, I recite a prayer in my heart.

Oh, sublime light, help me not to fall into temptation.

Just as you have destroyed the evil from the outside, condemn the temptation from within.

Under the strict law of light, may your servant exist solely as a servant.

So that I may finally….

“Ah, Sister Maria.”

Saint, who was walking forward, turned his head and looked at me.

“Hiccup!”

A vulgar hiccup comes out.

What will Saint think of me if he sees me like this?

“Come to think of it, I didn’t say this.”

“Please take care of me from today. Sister Maria.”

Behind Saint, who is smiling brightly, comes the blessing of the brilliant sun.

It’s dazzling.

And strangely, my heart is pounding.

I feel like my faith is being filled.