“N-Not yet,” I stammered in a high pitch.
Lord Theodore leaned in, peering at my face. My body was shaking with tension, and I was sure he felt it through our linked hands.
“Please wait a little longer. Th-Then I’ll give you my answer.”
“And how long is ‘a little longer’?”
“Um, umm... F-First I need to return to the basilica and sort things out!” I declared, my face beet red.
Lord Theodore’s eyes widened for a moment, and then...he broke into a radiant grin. “All right. I can wait.”
He really is a sweetheart, isn’t he?
Lord Theodore’s smile was gentle as always. He was gazing adoringly at me, his lips curled softly upward, and...
...I can’t take my eyes off of him...
“Lady Evelyn,” he said, still smiling. “Pardon my rudeness, but there’s something I must say.”
“Yes?” I asked, tilting my head.
He leaned in and whispered in my ear, “I’m glad you’re a spinster.”
“What?!”
And there went every last one of my fluffy thoughts. I was stunned!
“Lord Theodore! How can you say such a thing? It pains me, you know!” I protested, pouting.
He narrowed his eyes lovingly. “We wouldn’t have met otherwise.”
“...!”
I knew he spoke from the heart, so I couldn’t say anything back.
But it’s not fair for him to put it like that! I grumbled internally as I lightly smacked his chest in protest.
His smile turned brighter still.
Lord Theodore arranged a carriage for us—with nice soft seats as always—and we set out for the royal capital that afternoon. Kira sat beside me, while Lord Theodore was in the seat facing us.
As the carriage began moving, Kira, who was observing the insect cage on his lap, asked suspiciously, “What’s up with you?”
“Huh?” I mumbled. “Wh-What do you mean?”
“You’re obviously acting weird,” he pointed out bluntly.
What could I say to that? He was right, of course. I was too quiet, and it was natural for him to be suspicious. I nervously glanced around, but Lord Theodore said nothing and just stared at me intently.
So I looked away again.
“W-Wow. That beetle is magnificent!” I stammered, desperately trying to hide behind a sudden and not very legitimate interest in the bug Kira had caught.
“I guess...”
Ugh, I can’t say it! I’m too embarrassed to look at Lord Theodore’s face...!
Looking at him immediately brought to mind the events of a few hours ago. Him telling me, “I have feelings for you,” and, “I can wait,” and, “I’m glad you’re a spinster.” Just thinking of that sugary-sweet atmosphere made my heart race like crazy. How was I supposed to stay calm?
“So, did something happen?” Kira pressed.
“N-Not at all!”
Kira hummed but seemed to lose interest in pursuing it further.
Since the carriage couldn’t take us directly to our destination, we got off at the capital’s main thoroughfare and decided to walk the rest of the way to the Grand Basilica.
Just as we started walking, I nearly bumped shoulders with a man headed in the opposite direction, but Lord Theodore quickly pulled me close.
“This area is quite crowded,” he cautioned. “Please be mindful.”
“Th-Thank you very mush!” Ack! I messed that up!
Lord Theodore was graceful enough not to laugh in my embarrassed, downcast face and casually took my hand. The gesture was very smooth, but his hand felt quite hot around mine.
Is he as embarrassed about this as I am?
Oh no. I was growing flustered all over again! My face was getting all warm.
“Kira,” I mumbled, unable to bear the silence. I held out my left hand to him.
“Huh? What?”
“It...would be bad if we got separated,” I said, pleading with my eyes.
Reluctantly, wordlessly, Kira took my hand, a sullen expression on his features.
The three of us walked hand in hand toward the basilica.
“Mama! Look! Those three people holding hands are all so pretty!”
“Shh! Don’t yell! Just look!”
“Oh, what a lovely married couple! Is that their child? Or are they perhaps...a throuple?!”
Um, I feel like we’re attracting all sorts of weird attention here.
Despite my discomfort, we reached the basilica without incident. Atop the neck-hurtingly long staircase, I could see the small figures of priests standing guard at the entrance. And before them, illuminated by sunlight, was a beautiful girl with her back to us.
“Lord Theodore, look, it’s Lady Europa—” I began.
When she turned our way, the man opposite her—the high priest—opened his eyes wide, shouted, “S-Saint Evelyyyyn!” and took a step toward us.
But...
“Eeeyaaagh!”
We were aghast.
Perhaps he had forgotten about the stairs, because he’d completely missed his footing.
“Your Eminence!”
“Your Emineeence!”
“We must help him!”
“Let’s go!”
The priests came rushing out of the Grand Basilica, one after another.
“Eeeyaaagh!”
And then they all tumbled spectacularly down the stairs at tremendous speed.
I was frozen in place before the oncoming avalanche.
“Lady Evelyn, watch out! This way!” Lord Theodore said, scooping me up.
It was the right decision, to be sure, but I noticed he was incredibly calm given the situation. As we took shelter to the side of the stairs, battered priests came tumbling down one after another.
A lot of them have broken bones!
They’d all rolled down the stairs with such force that it was only natural they’d get hurt, but the sight still made my heart clench. Some seemed to be free of heavy external injuries, but their broken bones might’ve pierced their organs. Several were choking and coughing up blood.
Among the wounded, the head priest—who had bounced around the dozens of tumbling priests like a pinball before arcing his way to the ground—was in critical condition.
“S-Saint...Evelyn,” he wheezed. “I’m...so glad...I can see you...one last time...”
He’s at death’s door!
Faster than my brain could process, my hands shot up and I chanted, “R-Resurrection!”
Golden motes of light, more powerful than those produced by Rejuvenate, emerged from my hands and danced through the air before being absorbed into the priests’ wounds.
As their pain subsided, the priests slowly began to rise from the pile of bodies that extended from partway up the stairs all the way to the bottom. The high priest, too, unsteadily stood up with help from the others.
The moment our eyes met, tears welled up in his sunken eyes.
“Saint Evelyn! I-I thought I’d never see you again! W-Waaaaah!”
“Saint Evelyyyn! You’re not a hallucination! You’re the real saaaint!”
“Thank goodness you’re safe! Are you injured? Are you hungry?!”
“Your Eminence! Everyone...!” I said, unable to help the tears in my own eyes. I couldn’t recall them ever being so familiar with me. Not ever.
I ran up to the high priest, crying, and...flicked his wrinkled forehead with my finger.