A month had slipped by since my visit to console the Current Lady. The days blurred together, each marked by quiet contemplation and the weight of what had transpired.
It took me two full days to wake up after that incident. When I opened my eyes, five faces leaned over me—it nearly stopped my heart. Waking up like that is terrible for one's nerves. Still, I caused everyone so much worry that I could only keep apologizing.
Father banned me from entering the church for a year and asked for a detailed report. Mother claimed tea party priority for six months. Brother Cain demanded my help with his research, while Alex and Fret forgave me in exchange for three promised outings each.
They told me I collapsed from holy power depletion and exhaustion. Normally, a sacred stone isn't created in a single day—it takes time to gather power and let it crystallize. What happened inside that Sanctuary wasn't supposed to be possible. When I secretly tried praying the same way again, only fine, glittering dust shimmered in my palms.
It must have been the holy water I drank and bathed in before meeting the Current Lady. Or perhaps... she lent me her strength.
I spent the rest of the territorial stay resting in bed or within the lord's manor until we returned early to the Imperial Capital. Father, too worried, wanted to teleport us home immediately—but under fifteen can't perform long-range teleportation, and travel from Emmental to the capital allows only five people per day before the holy power quota runs out. We traveled with the household knights, so that limit ended that plan quickly.
While we were busy preparing to leave, Father told me the Cardinal himself requested a sudden visit—specifically, to see me.
That day, I greeted His Holiness wearing a lemon-yellow dress—the closest shade to the Current Lady's holy power. We met in the Southern Summer Garden, where the late-summer wind carried the scent of mint. Mint tea and almond florentines accompanied our meeting.
After exchanging seasonal greetings and taking a bite for poison tasting, I sipped the tea. The sweets carried a subtle spice, different from those in the Imperial Capital—foreign, almost nostalgic. The mint cooled the lingering summer heat, easing my heart along with the breeze.
After I tasted both, His Holiness took a sip and began to speak.
"Thank you for saving the Current Lady. I heard you'll be departing soon, so I came to express my gratitude."
"Please, raise your head, Your Holiness. I only did what anyone should. I hadn't intended to aid the Current Lady that day—it simply turned out that way. Still, if my power helped her, and through her, the country, then I'm truly glad."
That was my honest feeling. His Holiness lowered his brows and smiled with gentle sadness.
"Then allow me to speak not as the Cardinal, but as a father. Think of this as an old man's rambling."
He took another sip of tea before continuing.
"My daughter has slept for about two years under a sacred vow. Lately, her strength has waned, and I feared the end was near. I told myself I'd accepted it long ago, but... one never truly does."
His gaze drifted toward the blooming flowers.
"Strange, isn't it? Each day I thought could be her last, yet those days kept continuing. That alone feels like a miracle. Had you not come that day, she might not have seen another year. Before she slept, she told me, 'Please forgive me for going first. I'm only doing what I can. Father, take your time following.' As a priest, I could only watch her fulfill her duty and lament my own helplessness."
His voice trembled with emotion. He looked at me as if seeing someone else, his expression a mix of grief and fragile peace.
"As a father, I thank you. You saved her life, and her dream. Truly, thank you."
I didn't know how to respond. Though he never said it directly, it was clear—His Holiness was her father. I had only acted by instinct, without thought of consequence. Did I truly help? The question knotted in my chest.
"I accept your gratitude," I said. "But any help I gave was guided by the divine. My brother hopes to study what happened. If his research progresses, perhaps the Current Lady's reign will continue—and Your Holiness's worries will fade."
He chuckled softly.
"The church would prefer to keep such mysteries hidden, but I'll lend what help I can. For my dear daughter's sake. Still, young lady, how should I repay you?"
He agreed to assist my brother's research. When he asked how else to thank me, I thought for a moment before answering.
"Then, may I send you letters and small gifts from time to time?"
He looked utterly puzzled.
"Letters and gifts? To me? Why?"
"Father banned me from the church for a while, so I can't greet the Current Lady in person. I wish to write my gratitude and offer it in prayer. Would you, Your Holiness, deliver them for me?"
His eyes widened in surprise. I couldn't help but smile—a little mischief never hurts.
I explained that once I completed another sacred stone, I'd send it to him to present to the Current Lady. He understood. Covering his eyes, he whispered his thanks again and again.
From then until I came of age, we exchanged letters several times a year. The first year, I couldn't send a sacred stone. By the second, I managed one no larger than a pebble.
My power remained small, and after my brother's research confirmed it, even more so. Still, I kept doing all I could.
Notes:
• Alex - Second step-brother, seven years older. Suffers from the rare Monaza Disease, which robs both sight and holy power, but shines as a gifted musician and artist.
• Cain - Eldest step-brother, eight years older. A magical genius, often traveling between home and the national academy. The heir.
• Fret - Third step-brother, five years older. Energetic, sword-loving, and determined to become a knight.