I’m Not A Saint Though?

chapter 10

As the lion and I were scheming, the speeding carriage gradually slowed down and then came to a complete stop.

“We’re here.”

I gave the lion a heads-up and quickly adjusted my clothes.

A Saintess imposter checking her appearance before entering the temple.

I scoffed at myself.  Just then, the knight’s voice came from outside the carriage.

“We’ve arrived at the Grand Temple, Lady. May I open the door?”

“Go ahead.”

I replied readily.

But inside, I was burning with tension.

After all, I had to deceive the Pope.

Even though I had the lion’s help, I couldn’t be at ease.

I took several deep breaths to shake off the tension.

But such efforts were futile in the face of someone’s appearance.

“Y-Your Holiness.”

I gaped, facing the Pope standing at the main entrance.

‘Why did the Pope come all the way out here?’

He hadn’t appeared in public for 13 years since the death of the 28th Saintess.

It was to the extent that rumors spread about him having an incurable disease, being cursed by the Goddess and having his face disfigured, and even dying with the Saintess.

‘But to personally come out to greet me?’

I wasn’t the only one dumbfounded. The Emperor, who had arrived in a separate carriage, rushed over with wide eyes.

“Your Holiness, you came all the way out here!”

But the Pope, as if the Emperor was beneath his notice, only looked at me with trembling eyes.

“Welcome, Lady Veloce.”

“It’s been a while, Your Holiness. I heard rumors about your ill health, are you feeling alright?”

“It’s only natural for an old body to have some minor problems. I’m fine.”

He smiled kindly and asked cautiously, “But… you received a revelation from Goddess Hedel?”

“Yes.”

I heard the lion snort at my unhesitating answer, but I maintained my smile.

‘Yeah. Conscience? I don’t have such a thing.’

Unaware of my thoughts, the Pope seemed simply moved.

“Oh, a woman who received the Goddess’s revelation after 13 long years. I thought this would never happen again…”

‘Thought this would never happen again?’

I tilted my head.

The Saintess was a venerable existence that had continued for over two thousand years since the founding of Catalon.

Although there had been a recent vacancy, no one thought the lineage of Saintesses would end completely.

So why did he think that way?

Was it simply because he was shocked by the 13-year absence, or did he receive some kind of prophecy as a clergyman?

As I was pondering, the Pope, clutching my hand and tearing up, noticed the lion beside me and widened his eyes, which was rare for him.

“Is this perhaps…”

“Yes, the Goddess’s Representative.”

“Oh, I’ve heard a lot about you, but this is the first time I’ve seen you in person.”

Perhaps feeling proud of the Pope’s awestruck gaze, the lion lifted its chin arrogantly.

‘Such a show-off.’

I found it amusing, knowing full well how simple-minded and pathetic the creature hidden beneath that fearsome exterior was.

As I was scoffing, the Pope cautiously spoke, “It’s certainly a blessing that you have returned with the Goddess’s messenger. But as you know, Lady, verification is required to ascend to the position of Saintess.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Please don’t be offended, as it’s a set procedure.”

“Of course, Your Holiness.”

I smiled as if nothing was wrong.

Although I was trembling with anxiety inside, I couldn’t show such weakness now, on the verge of a grand deception, as it would surely arouse suspicion.

Reassured by my appearance, the Pope nodded a couple of times and then led me into the temple.

Upon arriving at the chapel, the Pope gave instructions with a solemn expression.

“Saintess candidate, show your respect to Goddess Hedel.”

Wearing a white veil, I knelt before the altar.

The Emperor and dozens of clergymen stood in rows on both sides.

In the midst of the reverent atmosphere, the Pope, standing before me with a tense face, sprinkled holy water from the chalice and muttered, “Oh revered Goddess, this old servant welcomes the woman who carries your will. Please accept this woman as your daughter and save Catalon and its people, who are suffering from disaster.”

As the Pope finished speaking, I discreetly nudged the lion sitting beside me.

And at that moment, a transparent white light enveloped my body.

At the same time, a low voice escaped the Pope’s lips.

“Ah…”

A reaction that sounded like both admiration and lament filled me with a sense of unease.

‘What, did the mark not appear? I thought it was successful since the light emanated.’

I wanted to check for myself, but the mark was supposed to appear on my forehead.

There was no way to visually confirm it without a mirror.

‘And I can’t just ask directly.  This is driving me crazy.’

Just as I was anxiously picking at the skin under my fingernails, the Emperor, who had been observing the situation from a few steps away, asked in an impatient voice, “How is it, Your Holiness? Is Lady Veloce truly the returned Saintess?”

He was being quite helpful today in many ways.

As I marveled at the Emperor’s newfound usefulness, the Pope, with trembling lips, nodded.

“It’s the Goddess’s mark.”

“Th-Then…”

“Yes, she is the woman sent by Goddess Hedel.  The Saintess.”

“Ah!”

“After 13 long years, 13 years!”

“Finally, the Goddess has bestowed upon us a Saintess.”

Exclamations of admiration erupted from all around.

“I knew it. I always felt something extraordinary about the Lady, and there was a reason!”

The Emperor, almost weeping, approached me.

“Thank you, Goddess. Thank you for embracing Catalon once again.”

The Pope knelt before the statue of the Goddess and repeatedly bowed his head.

And I…

“Good job.  It was worth eating only moss in a cave for a thousand years.”

“Yeah, you also worked hard putting on a brave face.”

The lion and I quietly celebrated the success of our first scam.

***

After the Saintess verification, I headed straight to the room assigned to me.

The Emperor and the Pope, excited about the long-awaited appearance of the Saintess, suggested a luncheon, but I declined.

‘Is it because I almost died, or because I’ve become a Saintess against my will? I’m incredibly tired today.’

As I walked down the hallway, massaging my stiff neck, the temple maid who was leading me stopped abruptly in front of a door.

“This is the room you’ll be using, Saintess.  Previous Saintesses have also used this room.”

She opened the door with a very confident look.

‘I wonder how great this room is.’

Curious, I peeked inside…

‘…It’s white.’

The wallpaper, the floor, the furniture, the bedding, and even the curtains were all white; it was a room that could drive a sane person mad.

‘Even if white is the color that comes to mind when you think of a Saintess, is it necessary to make the entire room like this?’

Unaware of my thoughts, the maid continued speaking with a confident expression, “It’s a very sunny room.  There are no drafts in the winter. The furniture and bedding are all top-quality. I’m sure you’ll be satisfied, but if there’s anything inconvenient, please let me know. I’ll correct it immediately…”

“First, please change the wallpaper and tiles, and replace the furniture with unpainted wood. The wooden candle holders are a fire hazard, so please change them to brass. I’d like another single-seater sofa here. And also…”

“P-Please wait, Saintess. You have so many complaints…!”

The maid hurriedly rushed to the desk, grabbed some paper, and started frantically writing down my words.

It took over ten minutes for her dictation to finish.

“Huff, huff. Are you done now, Saintess?”

“Yes, well. I think that’s enough for now.”

Actually, there were still a few things I wanted to change, but since I wouldn’t be living here long, I decided to stop there.

“It’s a room with great natural lighting, as you said. I really like it.”

“Ah, yes… Is that so?”

The maid nodded with a dubious expression at my words, accompanied by a bright smile.

‘After asking me to change everything!’

I could clearly see what she was thinking, but what could she do?

She was the one who told me to let her know if there was anything inconvenient.

The maid, looking slightly spooked by my smile, clapped her hands as if she had just remembered something.

“Ah, the desserts you requested, Saintess, are already prepared on the table.”

“Thank you. You’ve worked hard.”

“Not at all. It’s an honor… to serve you, Saintess.”

Was she being sincere?

She seemed to hesitate a bit when she said it was an honor.

Her expression seemed to foresee a bumpy road ahead, but I didn’t bother pointing it out.

“Yes, I look forward to working with you.”

“Yes, Saintess. Then I’ll come back to escort you to dinner.”

As soon as she bowed and left the room,

*Thump! Thump!*

A loud noise echoed.

‘Wh-What’s that?’

I quickly turned my head, thinking something had collapsed, and burst out laughing.

The lion, unable to wait any longer, was rushing towards the table with the desserts.

Staring blankly at its desperately hurrying figure, I seriously wondered, ‘…Could this lion be the reason the Goddess disappeared?’

Perhaps she had hidden herself, unable to bear the thought of making this scatterbrained lion a divine beast.

It seemed like a plausible theory, no matter how much I thought about it.