* * *
“……”
Well, this was unexpected.
The visitor from Count Kiris turned out to be one of his retainers.
Since he was a titled noble, I assumed he would have been escorted straight to my reception room.
But when I heard he was still standing at the temple gates, I went to see what was going on and was greeted by…
“Hic, h-hic… I-I’m sorry…”
A weeping apprentice priestess kneeling on the ground, surrounded protectively by several holy knights.
And standing before them was a man dressed impeccably from head to toe.
His blue eyes, magnified by a monocle, radiated undisguised contempt.
One look at the red, swollen cheek of the apprentice told me everything—the maid who had delivered the message wasn’t trembling just because of me.
“What exactly is going on here?”
As I stepped toward them and asked, the gathered crowd flinched and stepped back.
The man, who had been grumbling under his breath in annoyance, scowled deeply when he saw me.
“You’ve finally arrived, Lady Kiris.”
Lady Kiris?
It was the first time since I’d possessed this body that anyone had called me that, and it made the corner of my mouth twitch.
“It seems the temple doesn’t know how to discipline its inferiors properly, so I took it upon myself to educate them.”
“Educate?”
“She left me standing here without recognizing the greatness of Count Kiris. In this Grand Temple—barely surviving thanks to the Count’s generosity, no less!”
The man’s insolent tone cast a chill over everyone present.
Even if the temple was barely scraping by with the Count’s donations, this was still the holy domain of the Sun God.
That remark was absolutely over the line.
“Lady Kiris, what do you think the Count would say if he heard of this? Starting today, make sure you educate your people properly.”
He lifted his chin, declaring this as if issuing a royal decree.
Irik and Seth had just arrived, and their faces immediately hardened.
But the man didn’t flinch, even in the presence of both the High Priest and the Captain of the Holy Knights.
He looked me dead in the eyes, as if to say, What are you going to do about it?
“Well then, lead me inside. I’m tired of standing here.”
“That bastard…”
Victoria, standing behind me, gripped the hilt of her sword. Her bloodlust was palpable—one word from me, and she looked ready to behead him on the spot.
Instead of giving the order, I calmly stepped forward.
“Well, aren’t you full of yourself. So…”
“…”
“So… who the hell are you again?”
Damn. I wanted to say something cool, but I couldn’t remember his name.
I mean, sure, main characters like Irik or Seth could identify people on sight, but how was I supposed to remember every random Kiris lapdog?
“What was your name again?”
No choice but to ask and suffer the embarrassment. Somewhere behind me, someone barely stifled a laugh—pffft!
Irik had grabbed Seth’s shoulder and was shaking, his face buried in one hand.
Seth’s teeth were clenched tight as well.
The man’s face flushed crimson, clearly humiliated by the two main leads snickering at his expense.
Yeah… even I had to admit that was pretty brutal.
“How can you not know the name of a close aide to the Count?!”
“You think I remember every single person like that?”
“E-every single—?!”
“How expensive is your name that you keep shouting without saying it? Who the hell are you?”
“I-it’s Baron William Gale!”
The one who finally provided the answer was the still-kneeling apprentice priestess.
“Oh, thank you for that. By the way, you definitely look like you got slapped. Are you okay? Someone take her for treatment.”
At my words, a female priestess rushed over and helped the apprentice to her feet.
And she looked so young, too. This bastard… he hit a kid? Is he out of his mind?
“Striking a child like that in the Grand Temple… I’m not sure who really needs educating here. So, Baron Greyl, was it?”
“It’s Gale! I came here on Count Kiris’s orders! She had the audacity to stop me and demand permission!”
“So you hit her for doing her job?”
I feigned confusion. “Wow, Korail Baron’s character is something else.”
“It’s Gale! And how is that her job?!”
“If someone barges in uninvited, of course we stop them.”
Gale flinched. Clearly, he hadn’t expected me to say that.
It was almost funny.
“I don’t care who you are or who sent you. If you want to enter, you need permission from me, the High Priest, or the Captain. That’s your place in this Grand Temple.”
“…”
“Understood, Baron Gain?”
He twitched again but didn’t bother correcting me this time.
Good. He was starting to get the message.
That I had no intention of dignifying a thug like him by getting his name right.
“I’d love to kick you out right now… but you seem to have something to say. I’ll give you the choice. Go home, or come inside quietly. I won’t stop you either way.”
I turned and walked off without waiting for an answer.
Irik and Seth didn’t follow. They remained rooted where they stood, staring at Gale in cold silence.
Their smiles were completely gone.
I left them there and returned to my room with Victoria.
After all, Gale’s decision was already made.
* * *
As expected, he didn’t leave.
Victoria told me Irik and Seth were now with him.
And what was I doing in the meantime?
“Ahh, I feel refreshed! Nothing beats a bath after a good sweat.”
After a morning workout, a bath was a must!
Thanks to the underground spring, we had an unlimited water supply—which was a lifesaver for someone like me with no money.
“A shame I couldn’t give you your usual massage. That intruder ruined everything,” Victoria sighed as she gently dried my wet hair.
It had been about three days now.
After opening up to me, Victoria had begun giving me massages after my post-workout baths.
As expected of a knight, her skills were fantastic. Every day felt like luxury.
“I’m disappointed too. But since High Priest and Captain are stuck entertaining the Baron, I guess I’d better get this over with.”
Clad once more in my Saintess robes, I stepped into the reception room connected to my bedroom.
And immediately burst out laughing.
Gone was the arrogant man from this morning.
Gale, now seated opposite Irik and Seth, was visibly deflated under their crushing presence.
“Looks like you weren’t lonely with such charming company.”
He shot me a look of pure resentment, but I ignored it and took the seat of honor.
“You two may go.”
As planned, I slipped the cue we’d prepared days ago.
Now they just needed to protest a little before reluctantly exiting…
“No, Saintess. That rude man may try to harm you.”
“I agree. I can’t leave you alone with someone who uses violence so freely. Absolutely not.”
…Okay, that was more intense than expected.
Not that I minded. Judging by the bright red shade of Gale’s face, neither did he.
The two of them made a few more remarks that clearly poked at Gale’s temper before letting out long sighs and “reluctantly” stepping outside.
I hadn’t expected even straight-laced Seth to act that well.
“Ordell Kiris. Are you insane?”
As soon as we were alone, Gale dropped all pretense.
He didn’t even bother with “Lady Kiris” this time.
Sure, Irik and Seth had divine power that frightened him—but I clearly wasn’t a threat, right?
“What do you think Count Kiris will say when he hears how you behaved?”
“He’ll be pissed.”
“W-what?!”
“But you’ll be the one dealing with that rage, not me. I’m not leaving this place.”
I smirked straight at him.
“You thought name-dropping the Count would make me kneel and beg? Dream on. That’ll never happen.”
“Ordell Kiris!”
“You know, I’ve realized something. I’ve been playing the pushover for way too long. But there’s no reason for that. I’m the Saintess, remember?”
Gale slammed his fist on the table.
It made a sound, sure—but not one that frightened me.
“Don’t forget! You only became Saintess thanks to the Count’s grace! You’re nothing but a fake! How dare you—!”
“Yup. I’m a fake. But that’s a secret.”
The “fake Saintess.”
If that got out, who would be hurt more—me, or Count Kiris?
“If people find out I’m a fake, sure, I’ll be embarrassed. But Count Kiris—who adopted a fake daughter just to gain power—would he get off with just some public shame?”
I leaned in, speaking slowly so he wouldn’t miss a word.
“Baron Gale. The one holding the short end of the stick in this situation isn’t me. It’s Count Kiris.”
“The one with something to hide… is you.”