I’m Not A Saint Though?

chapter 11

While I was almost certain, the lion, having reached the table, gulped at the mountain of cookies piled on the plate.

“Are these the high-quality cookies you were talking about?”

“Yes, try them. They’re on a completely different level from the ones in the carriage.”

I casually picked up a cookie and tossed it towards the lion, and it landed perfectly in its mouth.

“Hey, couldn’t you hand it to me nicely? Even if I’m not a divine beast, I’ve lived for over a thousand years… *gasp*!”

The lion, grumbling about my behavior, suddenly opened its mouth wide.

“Wh-What is this taste? Sweet, nutty… Huh, it melts in my mouth!”

Chewing the cookie with a dazed expression, the lion then buried its face in the plate and started devouring the cookies.

Seriously… who would think this creature was a half-divine beast?

‘I’m not even surprised anymore.’

Watching the lion eat with an indifferent expression, I plopped down on the sofa.

‘Ah, so warm.’

As the maid had boasted, the sunlight pouring in through the numerous windows was quite cozy.

With the addition of the spring breeze carrying the scent of flowers, the tension that had been weighing on my shoulders all day seemed to melt away.

It had been so long since I had enjoyed such leisure without doing anything.

It was something I couldn’t even imagine when I was at the Dukedom.

I was called a Lady and the heir, but thanks to that incompetent trash of a father, I had to handle all the Duke’s duties.

I had to address the concerns of the territory’s residents and clean up after the trash, so I couldn’t even sleep for five hours a day.

‘If I had known this would happen, I would have just lazed around.’

Why did I work so hard and live such a bloody life?

Scoffing at my past self, who had struggled every day, I savored this rare moment of leisure.

But it seemed leisure wasn’t in my fate.

“But about that man from earlier…”

The lion, pausing mid-chew, suddenly asked as if something had come to mind.

“What man?”

“You know, the one who claimed you weren’t the Saintess and said you should be punished. Your father.”

“Ugh, why are you bringing up that trash when I’m finally relaxing!”

I scowled and growled, and the lion flinched and hiccuped.

‘Seriously, a lion, the king of beasts, gets startled so easily.’

I was sure its heart was as small as a pea.

Clicking my tongue, I poured water into an empty plate next to me and pushed it towards the lion.

After gulping down the water, the lion finally seemed to calm down and asked cautiously, glancing at me, “Is that man really your father?”

“Yes, he is. He’s trash who hasn’t done anything for me my whole life, only causing trouble, and even tried to kill me in the end, but I can’t deny that we’re blood-related.”

As I turned my head with a disgusted expression, the lion let out a hollow laugh.

“Huh, a father trying to kill his own child.  Even we beasts protect our young.”

“Yes, he’s worse than a beast.”

I gritted my teeth as anger surged within me again.

‘How should I deal with them?’

The Emperor had said he would investigate separately, but even if he searched thoroughly, there would be no evidence.

It was a story I had fabricated in the first place.

Initially, I had planned to push forward with the Saintess status, but after careful consideration, it didn’t seem like a good idea.

If I, who had almost been killed by my father who cherished his illegitimate child, demanded his punishment without evidence, it could lead to public misunderstanding.

‘Then what should I do…’

As I pondered, tapping the armrest of the sofa with my index finger, a thought suddenly occurred to me, and I looked at the lion.

Flustered by my meaningful gaze, the lion stammered, “…Wh-Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Come to think of it, we haven’t even introduced ourselves. We’re partners in fate now. Mr. Lion, what’s your name?”

“M-My name? It’s Delton…”

“Aha, Delton. That’s a nice name. I’m Shaen Veloce.”

“Oh, okay… I see.”

The lion’s expression was quite awkward, as if it was bewildered by the sudden exchange of names at this point.

Smiling at him, I scooted closer to the lion.

“Delton, you remember that I got you out of that tomb-like cave, right?”

“Hmm?”

“I got you out, Delton, who was trapped for five years longer than your contract period because you were scammed by the Goddess.”

“…That’s true, but didn’t you say it wasn’t your doing?”

“I’ve reconsidered, and I think it was. Otherwise, how could you have so easily escaped the cave you tried so hard to get out of for five years?  It must have been my influence. Right?”

As I pressed for an answer with a confident look, Delton finally nodded.

“Yes. Well, it does seem that way, but why are you suddenly bringing this up…?”

“No reason. I just want to give you a chance to repay your debt to me.”

“Debt?”

“Yes, Delton, you’re destined to become a great divine beast. And a being that shouldn’t live with debts. Right?”

“Huh?  It’s not like I can’t live with debts.  There are times when we all need help…”

“You can’t. Absolutely.”

“Uh…”

As I emphasized again with wide eyes, Delton, rolling its eyes, sighed deeply and nodded.

“Fine, let’s say that’s true. What’s the reason you’re suddenly bringing this up? You must have a reason.”

“I told you I want to give you a chance to repay your debt. It’s nothing much, just a small favor.”

“…Another favor?”

Delton made a clearly annoyed expression.

‘Well, it must be annoying, since it was planning to freeload and live comfortably, but instead, it’s working.’

I understood.

But I had no intention of letting it slack off.

“It’s nothing much. Compared to making the mark appear on my forehead, it’s a trivial matter. Of course, I’ll compensate you.”

“Compensate? With what?”

Delton tilted its head, and I grinned and pushed another plate next to the cookie plate towards it.

A cake with a generous layer of white, fluffy cream and topped with whole, bright red strawberries.

The maid had prepared it along with the cookies, but Delton seemed to have missed it, being preoccupied with the cookies.

“Here, this should be enough compensation…”

There was no need to ask.

*Nod. Nod. Nod. Nod. Nod.*

Delton, having discovered the cake, was nodding vigorously, its nose twitching.

‘So… cheap, cheap.’

***

A while later.

The Emperor, the Pope, and I sat together at a long table, having dinner.

“It’s been so long since I’ve dined with Your Holiness.”

“Indeed.”

“It’s all thanks to you, Lady. No, I should call you Saintess now.”

The Emperor chuckled, correcting his address, and praised my contribution, piling all sorts of delicacies onto my plate.

“Eat a lot. You must be exhausted after returning from the brink of death. You’re a precious person now, so we must take good care of you. You’ll have to perform the sacred rites in front of the citizens soon.”

Being served food by the Emperor himself, I would have been too overwhelmed to even lift my head in the past.

But now…

‘This guy knew the Beloved system was a death sentence.’

Although I knew he hadn’t acted out of true faith, hearing it directly made me seethe with anger.

As I glared at him, the Emperor, perhaps realizing his slip of the tongue, flinched in surprise and subtly changed the subject.

“Ah, I’ve received reports from all over the country. The disasters have stopped in many regions. It seems the disasters were indeed due to the absence of the Saintess. Don’t you agree, Your Holiness?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. That’s also my opinion. The Saintess is the one who protects the Empire in place of the Goddess.  It’s only natural that all sorts of misfortunes would befall us with her absence.”

“Haha, isn’t that right? Then we can rest easy now. Now that the Saintess has returned, the disasters will completely cease.”

The Emperor burst into hearty laughter.

Who wouldn’t be relieved by the end of the endless disasters, but he must have been particularly distressed.

Because the Emperor was the one who bore the responsibility.

But I had no intention of letting his joy last.

First, I didn’t want to see the man who had sent me to my death, knowing full well it was a death sentence, rejoicing.

Second, although I didn’t know why the disasters across the country had stopped, I knew it wasn’t because of me, so I had to lay the groundwork.

And third, I still had a goal to accomplish.

“I don’t want to interrupt Your Majesty’s joy, but I can’t be certain that the disasters have completely ceased yet.”

“Can’t be certain? What do you mean?”

The Emperor asked in a puzzled tone, and the Pope also looked at me with a questioning expression.

I continued with a somber expression, “The reason why the Goddess, who has bestowed infinite grace for two thousand years, abandoned this Empire for 13 years.  That reason still remains.”