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Side Story 9
The carriage carrying Isel and Rahan passed through the enormous walls protecting the Holy State.
Even without showing their identification, the Holy Knights recognized the carriage bearing the crest of the Kanox Grand Duchy and immediately opened the gates to welcome them.
One of the Holy Knights standing guard hurried off to inform the Grand Temple of their arrival.
The carriage rolled forward slowly before coming to a complete stop in front of the Grand Temple.
With Rahan’s help, Isel carefully stepped down onto the ground. The moment her feet touched the soil of the Holy State, she felt as though a solemn yet tranquil presence surrounded her.
Waiting before the majestic Grand Temple were priests and Holy Knights who had already come out to greet them.
The unfamiliar priest, apparently having rushed over in haste, caught his breath before respectfully bowing his head.
Startled, Isel instinctively bowed in return, causing the priest to lower his head even further in embarrassment.
His attitude was as cautious and reverent as though he were receiving the Pope himself.
With an apologetic expression, he addressed Isel.
“I shall escort you directly to His Holiness.”
Isel nodded almost absentmindedly.
As Isel and Rahan entered the temple under the escort of the Holy Knights, countless gazes immediately fell upon them.
Though Isel herself barely realized it, her reputation throughout the Holy State had been steadily growing.
The believers recognized her face and began whispering among themselves.
Some gathered the courage to approach her, only to retreat in fright the moment Rahan’s cold gaze settled upon them.
With every step Isel took, the gathered crowds naturally parted, opening a clear path toward the papal office.
It felt as though an invisible carpet was being laid before her.
The office doors opened, and Liante rose from her chair to welcome Isel and Rahan.
“It has been a long time, Isel.”
“Your Holiness.”
Liante maintained her usual composed expression, but it was obvious that she was genuinely delighted by Isel’s visit.
Her blue eyes seemed much clearer than before.
As she looked at Isel, something suddenly caught her attention, causing a flicker of surprise to pass through her eyes. However, she quickly concealed it and invited the two of them to sit.
The moment they settled onto the plush sofa, an attendant promptly served them warm tea.
The rich aroma soon filled the office.
Sitting across from them, Liante carefully studied Isel’s expression.
“May I ask… what brings you here today?”
Isel gently placed the item she had been holding protectively in her lap onto the table.
“I brought back a small gift while I was traveling.”
“…!”
“It isn’t anything extraordinary, but I hoped it might be of some help to Your Holiness.”
For a moment, Liante simply stared with widened eyes, speechless, before cautiously reaching out.
“May I open it?”
“Of course.”
Receiving Isel’s cheerful permission, Liante untied the ribbon around the wrapping.
The soft silk cloth unfolded, revealing what lay inside.
It was a bracelet intricately woven with silver thread.
A gentle fragrance drifted from it.
Suspended from the center was a tiny glass bead containing dried pink herbs.
The soothing scent seemed to emanate from within it.
Liante immediately recognized the herb.
It was Haedam Grass, known for calming the mind and relieving stress.
Because it could not grow in warm climates, it was impossible to cultivate in the capital and extremely difficult to obtain.
Receiving gifts was hardly unfamiliar to Liante.
High-ranking nobles from every nation frequently sent extravagant presents in hopes of earning favor with the Holy See.
Naturally, Liante never even touched them, returning every single one.
She might have been more flexible, but on this matter she remained absolutely unwavering.
This gift, however, was different.
Liante felt she could understand why Isel had chosen it specifically for her.
Ever since ascending to the position of Pope, she had lived carrying the expectations and desires of countless people.
The admiring gazes directed toward her often became such a burden that she suffered from severe headaches.
She had never even spoken of it to the priests closest to her.
Unable to speak for a moment, Liante simply felt a warm emotion welling up deep within her heart.
Watching her silently gaze at the bracelet, Isel hesitantly spoke.
“Is it… too insignificant of a gift?”
Liante hurriedly shook her head.
“Not at all!”
Her denial was so forceful that it broke away from her usual gentle tone.
“Thank you very much, Isel.”
For this bracelet…
And for everything else as well.
As she quietly added those words, Isel smiled brightly.
When Isel mentioned that she intended to stop by the temple from time to time in the future, Liante’s expression became even more touched.
As their conversation continued, Liante suddenly fell silent.
“Your Holiness?”
“The truth is…”
After studying Isel’s face for quite some time, carefully choosing her words, Liante finally spoke.
“I have an impertinent favor I wish to ask of you, Isel.”
“A favor…?”
Isel tilted her head slightly, while Rahan’s expression hardened.
He had no idea what Liante was about to request.
“We intend to build a new temple beside the Grand Temple.”
Both Isel and Rahan looked surprised at the mention of a new temple.
As if expecting their reaction, Liante continued immediately.
“I want to create a place where not only the god Enix, but every god may be honored.”
Then she paused briefly, as though time itself had stopped.
“And I would like you to sculpt the statues that will adorn it.”
“…Pardon?”
Before Isel could even process what she had heard, Liante gestured toward the High Priest standing behind her.
The High Priest hurriedly withdrew a document from the wide sleeve of his robe.
It was an official notice seeking a sculptor for the temple statues.
The scale of the project and construction schedule were detailed within.
Beneath that was the enormous reward being offered to the sculptor.
The staggering figure made Isel’s eyes widen like a startled rabbit’s.
“Um…”
As Isel flusteredly set the paper back down, Liante hurried to add,
“Of course, you are free to refuse.”
Hearing that, Isel turned to look at Rahan beside her.
He simply met her eyes with his steady, unwavering gaze.
As their eyes met, her racing heart gradually calmed.
Isel told Liante that she would like some time to think about it.
Without pressuring her in the slightest, Liante calmly nodded.
She added that construction would take around three months, so Isel had plenty of time to consider her decision before then.
Isel and Rahan rose from their seats.
As they were about to leave the office, Liante suddenly called out.
“Isel.”
Liante extended her hand toward her.
It was as white as the snowfields Isel had seen in the Kanox Grand Duchy.
For some reason, Isel thought it resembled a beautifully carved marble sculpture.
The Pope asked softly,
“May I borrow your hand for a moment?”
Blinking in confusion, Isel slowly placed her hand into Liante’s open palm.
Liante gently enclosed Isel’s hand within both of hers and quietly closed her eyes.
Her lips began moving ever so slightly.
Words like whispers carried on the wind slipped from between them.
At the same time, a faint tingling sensation traveled through Isel’s hand, causing her body to stiffen.
Standing beside her, Rahan immediately sensed something strange and reached to knock Liante’s hand away.
But before he could, Liante had already released Isel’s hand.
Isel stood there with wide eyes.
The sensation that had felt like soft feathers brushing against her skin gradually transformed into warmth.
It spread gently through her entire body, like drinking a cup of hot tea.
It was a strange feeling she had never experienced before.
Yet she did not dislike it.
On the contrary, it felt so deeply familiar that she almost wanted to reach out and hold Liante’s hand once more.
The instant Liante let go, Rahan pulled Isel behind him protectively.
Staring sharply at the Pope, he demanded,
“What did you do to her?”
Liante simply smiled, showing no offense whatsoever.
“I merely bestowed a little of my holy power upon her.”
“Holy power?”
Ignoring Rahan’s questioning tone, Liante looked kindly at Isel.
“Isel, whenever you sleep, be sure to keep one of your own sculptures beside you.”
Isel wore a puzzled expression, unable to understand the Pope’s advice.
“What do you mean?”
However, Liante merely smiled kindly.
“You will naturally understand before long.”
She gave no further explanation.
Seeing the firmness in her closed lips, Isel realized there would be no use asking again.
She told Liante she would visit again someday and gently tugged on Rahan’s arm as they left the office.
Even as the massive marble doors slowly closed, Rahan’s fierce gaze remained fixed upon Liante.
He truly treasured Isel above all else.
Considering what Liante had done to Isel in the past, his reaction was hardly surprising.
Liante slowly returned to her seat and leaned back into the sofa.
Using such powerful holy power after so long left her slightly dizzy.
She took several deep breaths.
Standing quietly beside her, the High Priest, Lus, kept glancing toward the Pope with obvious confusion.
Like Rahan and Isel, he had no idea what had just happened.
If he had heard correctly, the prayer Liante had just recited had been one of protection and blessing.
It was the very prayer priests recited—not a healing prayer—but one reserved for those suffering from incurable illnesses.
His expression darkened with concern as he carefully asked,
“Your Holiness… what exactly was that just now?”
“With my holy power, it can only serve as a temporary measure. Even so, I hope it offered at least a little help.”
Lus gasped.
“…Is that truly so?”
His voice trembled so badly it was almost pitiful.
“What do you mean?”
“Do you truly mean that Lady Isel is suffering from an incurable illness?”
At those words, Liante frowned immediately and scolded him.
“What a blasphemous thing to say, High Priest!”
Lus’s eyes widened in shock.
Then what exactly had that prayer been for?
“But the prayer you just recited was…”
Realizing the misunderstanding at once, Liante clicked her tongue softly.
“It is not only the sick who require the Goddess’s protection and blessing.”
“…Pardon?”
Liante lifted her teacup and took a quiet sip.
“It is equally necessary… for the little life that has yet to see the light of this world.”
Protection.
Blessing.
A little life.
The confusion clouding Lus’s face slowly gave way to stunned realization.
“Surely… you don’t mean…?”
Seeing that he had already found the answer himself, Liante simply gave a slow nod instead of speaking outright.
“Before long… joyful news will come from the House of Kanox.”
