* * *
Finally, they arrived at their destination.
“Welcome to Saint Grave Island.”
As they disembarked from the passenger ship, the priests of the Daiana Church greeted them. An elderly man standing at the forefront stepped forward as the representative and greeted them.
“I am High Priest Nathelion, the overseer of this island. May the blessings of the Goddess Daiana be with you.”
“Blessings be upon you!”
“May the blessings of the Goddess Daiana be with you!”
Dana flinched at the sudden chorus of voices from all directions. The people who had just stepped off the ship suddenly shouted in fervent unison.
“This island was originally reserved exclusively for the priests of the Daiana Church. However, at the request of Duke Windsor, we have made a special exception to open it to general believers.”
“We believe!”
“Blessings be upon you!”
“Oh, Daiana!”
Dana was taken aback. On the passenger ship, there hadn’t been a single trace of religious fervor among the passengers. Yet, as soon as they arrived on the island, they began shouting Daiana’s name with a crazed expression.
High Priest Nathelion spoke with a satisfied smile. “Every night, we hold worship in the temple’s underground sanctuary. We ask that all believers attend with a devout heart.”
“We believe!”
“We believe!”
At this point, Dana grew deeply suspicious. Why didn’t Brother Viego tell me in advance that all passengers were followers of Daiana Church? Did he think it wasn’t necessary to mention? Or—was it because he knew she disliked the Daiana Church?
Viego was well aware of Dana’s aversion to the Daiana Church. She had spoken negatively about them before when reporting the incidents in Kaltusa. But he only reassured her, saying, “They’re just radical fanatics. Not all followers of Daiana Church are like that.”
Still, it’s an unpleasant religion. After all, Daiana was a goddess who symbolized lust and passion.
In the Kaltusa territory, the pagan villagers had performed incredibly obscene rituals. They had even gone to great lengths to lure her and Carl into participating.
The Daiana Church encouraged people to embrace desire, considering promiscuity a virtue. It was a truly repulsive religion. But that’s just my personal feeling. Work is work. I can do my job regardless of my emotions. Still, if Viego had told her in advance, she would have been less shocked…
“Um, La-La-Lady Danae?”
Just then, someone timidly called out to her from behind.
“Y-You’ve been, t-through, s-so much, Lady Danae.”
“Lady Jane.” Dana greeted her with a smile.
The woman was Lady Jane of the Merwin Ducal family, known for being reclusive due to her stuttering. But Dana never imagined she would be a follower of the Daiana Church.
“Y-You’re, really, really…” Jane murmured with a flushed face. “Really, beautiful.”
“…Pardon?”
“E-Even after such a long, voyage, your skin is, so smooth, and your hair, so glossy, aah, you’re just too beautiful.”
A chill ran down Dana’s spine. Jane had always been like this—offering overwhelming praise every time they met. But now that Dana knew she was a Daiana worshiper, even such compliments felt unsettling.
“Aah!”
At that moment, the shawl Jane was holding flew away. It fluttered in the breeze, twisting and turning until it was caught by a large hand.
“O-Oh my.” Jane’s face turned crimson.
It was Rumie who caught her shawl. He walked over and handed it back to her.
Jane received it with trembling hands and whispered. “T-Thank you.”
“No problem,” Rumie replied smoothly with a smile. Then, he immediately turned his gaze to Dana. “Dana, let’s go inside.”
“Alright.”
After giving Jane a slight nod, Dana took Rumie’s offered arm.
“Brother Rumie.”
“Huh?”
“Are you, by any chance, also a follower of the Daiana Church?”
“Of course not.” Rumie leaned in and whispered in her ear. “This is a secret, but I’m an atheist.”
Thank goodness. If Rumie had also been a Daiana Church believer, things would have gotten really difficult. Because…
“I see.”
Dana needed to grow much closer to Rumie.
“I was just curious. I wondered if you’d attend tonight’s worship service.”
“Of course not. Why?” Rumie asked, looking at Dana’s arm gently wrapped around his as if he were admiring it. “Want to hang out with me?”
“Shall I?”
“…What?”
“Let’s have some wine. It’s been a while, like old times.”
Rumie narrowed his eyes. “What are you up to this time?” Instead of easily giving in, he made it clear. “Dana, there’s no crown prince here. Why are you pretending to be close to me?”
“It has nothing to do with His Highness.”
“Really?” Rumie didn’t seem convinced. He tilted his head slightly. “Whatever your intentions, as I told you before, I have no intention of playing the role of your kind brother.”
“…”
“Too bad, isn’t it?” He said it with a smile, yet his words were chilling.
Even so, Rumie didn’t withdraw his arm from Dana. And she didn’t let go either.
To be honest, Dana needed Rumie. No, rather than needing him— I have to drive a wedge between Carl and Rumie. That’s why she deliberately didn’t tell anyone but Rumie about the threatening letter she received.
If Carl realizes I rely more on Rumie, he’ll feel threatened. After all, she could always change her guardian to Rumie. Or—since they were potential marriage candidates, it could lead to something more. Either way, she hoped Carl would let his imagination run wild.
At first, Dana had only wanted to break Carl’s spirit and take the deputy head’s ring easily. But now… I just want that man to be completely alone. Strangely, she now hated Carl much more than Raios. Perhaps it was because Carl kept pretending he still cared about her. That pretense was disgusting.
“So, what do you want to do?”
At Dana’s question, Rumie smiled deeply. He looked genuinely curious.
“If I tell you what I want to do, will you do it?”
“…”
By then, Dana had a rough idea of what he meant. But Rumie was always fond of mischievous jokes. He’s made jokes like this from time to time before. Asking for a lap pillow, inviting her to his bed—he had often made playful remarks. So she couldn’t tell if he was joking or being serious now.
Better to pretend I don’t understand. She tilted her head innocently, and Rumie chuckled as if he had expected her reaction.
It was strange. Rumie could always see through lies, yet he readily believed her innocent act. Was it because, just as Ignis had once said, she looked overly gentle?
“Anyway, don’t come to my room tonight, Dana,” Rumie whispered, his face darkening slightly. “If you do, I’ll do what I want.”
* * *
That day passed quickly. After meeting the Daiana priests, touring the temple, and visiting the tombs of ancient priests, night had fallen. Dana was utterly exhausted. So the moment she lay in bed, she fell into a deep sleep.
So noisy…
But she soon woke up. The sound of a pipe organ, someone’s booming voice, and the Daiana worshippers’ service were incredibly loud.
Dana pulled the covers over her head. I’ll just ignore it and sleep.
However…
What kind of worship is this loud? Her eyes snapped open.
It wasn’t the kind of debauched ritual she had witnessed in the pagan village before—the sound was different. Besides, Viego personally selected these believers so they wouldn’t dare do something improper.
…Right. Followers personally selected by Viego. That meant— If these believers were up to something suspicious, that could be Viego’s weakness.
Dana immediately sat up in bed. Brother Viego’s weakness? Having one of those wouldn’t be a bad idea. If all her plans to obtain the holy relic failed, she needed a contingency plan.
She put on her shoes, draped a shawl over her shoulders, and picked up a lantern. Attending the service was voluntary. There was no harm in seeing what was going on.
Better bring a gun, just in case. After tucking a pistol into her thigh holster, she headed toward the chapel.
Despite the late hour, the chapel was brightly lit. A hymn-like melody was being played…
“We gained a new life after believing in Daiana!”
Someone was passionately testifying before a large number of believers.
“And tonight, here, we will obtain an even better life!”
“We believe!”
“Stronger, healthier bodies!”
“We believe!”
“More beautiful bodies!”
“We believe!”
Dana’s eyes widened.
The person shouting on the podium, rallying the believers—It was a familiar face. A face she knew all too well. But that person should never be here.
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