DADM 11

“Did you bring ‘that item’?”

In the temple’s modest guest room, two men were facing each other. Arthur and his adjutant, Simon.

Arthur leaned far back in a rough wooden chair, legs crossed.

The large man in a black cloak standing before him carefully searched inside his coat.

“Yes, here it is.”

What Simon handed over was a small velvet pouch.

Arthur took it and pulled open the string. After checking inside, he smiled in satisfaction.

“Good work. Then go and find out when the Saintess finishes her bath.”

“Y-Your Grace, please withdraw that order.”

Despite his large build, Simon clasped his hands together and his face turned red.

At the unexpected resistance, Arthur’s expression twisted.

“Simon, did I tell you to barge into where the Saintess is bathing?”

“No, sir!”

“Then did I tell you to wrap the Saintess in a blanket and bring her to me?”

“No, sir!”

“Then?”

Arthur uncrossed his long legs and stood up.

As he approached, Simon fidgeted nervously.

Arthur lowered his head and brought his face close to Simon’s.

“What exactly is the problem?”

Unable to meet his eyes, Simon lowered his head again.

“But still… how can you tell me to spy on the Saintess while she’s bathing?”

Arthur let out a sigh.

His loyal adjutant was good in every way—except for this. He was excessively naive.

“…I didn’t tell you to spy on the bathroom. I’m curious about when the Saintess returns to her room. You could guard the bathroom door or ask a maid, couldn’t you?”

“Ah, yes! But…”

“What now?”

“If it’s a maid, she’s a woman… and I, I feel a bit… uncomfortable asking such a thing…”

“Simon. This is an order.”

“Sir?”

“Within this week, speak with ten women and write down the contents of your conversations.”

Simon’s face turned as red as a ripe tomato. Even so, he shouted firmly:

“Yes! Understood, sir!”

If he argued one more time, his master might act like a beautiful devil.

He might make him walk a lap around the plaza in a duck-walk with a pile of manure on his head. Or suddenly inspect the knights’ armory and nitpick over a speck of rust the size of a grain.

Simon wanted to avoid that at all costs.

“Now, go find out when the Saintess finishes her bath.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Simon, about to dash off like a loyal guard dog, hesitated.

As if he had something more to say, he spoke carefully.

“Um… Your Grace, are you truly fine with the Saintess being excommunicated on suspicion of murder?”

Arthur’s expression turned mischievous.

“What, are you afraid she’ll strangle me while passing on holy power?”

He continued in a confident tone.

“Even if the Saintess is a monster returned from hell, I don’t care. As long as she eases this cursed pain.”

Dim candles flickered in the marble bath chamber. In the wooden tub at the center, Sienna was soaking in rosewater.

“Wow, I really, really wanted to wash up.”

For the first time since coming to this world, Sienna felt comfort.

“Being a Saintess isn’t so bad.”

She lifted her toes above the water. Rosewater slid smoothly down her ankles. A pleasant fragrance rose from her slightly flushed skin.

After glancing around to make sure no one was there, Sienna quickly grabbed a hand mirror from the small table beside her.

‘Time to admire my beauty.’

Wasn’t checking your looks and being amazed the standard rule after transmigrating?

Yesterday, when she had been a beggar, she couldn’t even find something resembling a mirror. But now it was different.

Suppressing her excitement, Sienna wiped the fog off the mirror with the side of her hand.

“This is better than I expected.”

Two shining blue eyes gazed back from a small, glossy face.

Her hair, slightly darker from being wet, was clearly a bright pink originally. Her small, delicate nose was lovely, and her cheeks were flushed from the heat.

Even while sitting still, the corners of her lips kept lifting.

Sienna glanced downward. Though submerged, even her body lines were perfect.

…And that impressive chest.

‘This alone is worth at least ten million won. It’d be a waste to die according to the original story.’

She once again resolved to survive.

Even though her identity as the Saintess had been revealed, she could just leave secretly. That was the reason she had obediently followed them to the bath.

‘I’m going to run away anyway, so I might as well relax in the bath first.’

In a good mood, she even hummed.

“Sienna-♪ is someone who transmigrated to be loved-♪♬”

As she tapped the bathwater to the rhythm, droplets splashed toward the bracelet adorned with “Dawn’s Tears.” That bracelet brought Sienna great comfort.

‘If I sell this bracelet, I’ll be able to live comfortably.’

At a glance, it looked just as valuable as the Grand Duke’s dagger.

‘But is it okay to take this? It belongs to the temple, after all.’

She hesitated for a moment.

A fierce battle broke out between conscience and practicality.

In the end, the winner was…

‘If it belongs to the temple, then it belongs to the Goddess. And if that Goddess is middle-school Iroha, then that means this bracelet is mine, right?’

In an instant, Sienna neatly rationalized everything.

Just then, she heard movement outside.

“Saintess, I have come to assist you with your bath.”

Startled while admiring the gem, Sienna shrank back slightly.

“May I… come in?”

The girl’s voice was cautious.

Composing her voice, Sienna replied:

“Come in.”

Through the steam rising from the hot water, a small-framed girl entered.

She looked about Sienna’s age or younger. Her dull brown hair lacked any shine, as if she rarely ate properly.

She wore a rough apron and a small glass bottle hung from a leather cord around her neck. In her arms, she carried a small wooden bucket containing dried lemon peel, brown sugar, and a soft brush.

“I will soften your skin with brown sugar and lemon peel.”

Even though she stood close enough to meet her gaze, the girl could barely look Sienna in the eyes.

The girl’s fingers lightly tapped Sienna’s back like playing a piano. The fatigue seemed to melt away.

Feeling better, Sienna asked,

“What is your name?”

The girl flinched, then answered in a barely audible voice.

“…Anna.”

“Thank you, Anna.”

At hearing her name, Anna’s fingertips seemed to tremble slightly.

Sienna wanted to say more, but she kept her mouth shut, afraid she might reveal that she had transmigrated. Anna, too, silently continued scrubbing her back.

“I will now… dry you…”

There was moisture in the girl’s voice.

From behind Sienna’s back came the sound of droplets falling—plop, plop.

‘Is this child… crying?’

It bothered her greatly.

‘Did something bad happen? Or did I do something wrong?’

The urge to ask rose to her throat.

But Sienna held back. She was leaving tonight anyway. If she grew attached for no reason, they would only hurt each other.

After finishing dressing, Sienna stepped into the garden. She had just refused Anna’s request to escort her to the bedroom.

She had been troubled enough during the entire process of dressing after her bath. If they walked together, she might end up chatting without meaning to.

‘Get a grip, Iroha. No, Sienna! Tonight, focus only on running away.’

To reach her room, she had to cross a long courtyard.

Trees with leaves torn like ragged cloth and plants cascading like spilling hair captivated her heart.

‘Wow, I’ll only get to see this garden today. Maybe I should look around a bit?’

If she wanted to run quickly, she needed to know the layout anyway.

Sienna had become a master of rationalization.

Walking lightly between the trees, she felt refreshed.

Then something with a sweet scent caught her eye. A red, appetizing apple had fallen beneath a tree.

Only then did she realize how hungry she was. Carefully, she looked around.

‘What if someone sees me picking up an apple and says I can’t shake my beggar habits?’

Even if she would disappear tomorrow, she didn’t want to be called a beggar, even for a moment.

After confirming no one was nearby, Sienna picked up the apple from the ground. She polished it with her sleeve until it gleamed.

“Looks delicious!”

Just as she was about to take a big bite, two young girls who looked about ten years old appeared in front of her.

They wore the same rough aprons as Anna and had small glass bottles hanging from their necks like necklaces.

But…

‘Why are their faces so expressionless?’