Chapter 105
Early morning, when the sky was dyed blue, Franz opened his eyes at his usual time. He didn’t exactly have anything like an alarm clock, but since the same daily routine repeated every day, it had become a habit.
Needless to say, even even after drinking, he woke up not late.
“Oh, I feel somewhat refreshed?”
Stretching, Franz was surprised by the unexpected crispness.
You know, there are days like that. Days when, even though you clearly slept the same amount of time as usual, your body miraculously feels light and refreshed. It was something that happened once or twice a year at most, but it seemed today was that day.
Getting straight out of bed, Franz did some uncharacteristic stretching. As he did, various parts of his body stretched, and his body, which had been resting all night, slowly began to wake up.
“I feel like something good is going to happen today.”
There wasn’t exactly any basis for it. It was just a feeling. It was probably what people commonly call “just a feeling”.
Still, how great was that. Being able to start the morning in a good mood was already no different from a stroke of great luck.
However, Franz’s happiness did not last very long, because as soon as he finished getting ready for work and came outside, he immediately saw someone.
“Good morning, Franz.”
“Good morning, Magic Tower master.”
Yusti-ah and Arian offered their greetings at the same time, almost like sisters. And then they sharply glared at each other, as if they had some sort of grievance.
At that, Franz couldn’t say a word and just stared at them blankly.
Arian was fine, since he saw her all the time as usual, but that wasn’t the case for Yusti-ah. Her sudden appearance couldn’t help but be bewildering.
“What has Yusti-ah been doing here since morning…?”
Franz, who felt puzzled for a moment, soon recalled a memory he had forgotten.
It was the memory of receiving the Goddess’s grace at the Saint Seraphia Cathedral while countless Followers watched.
That was definitely the reason Yusti-ah had come looking for him.
“I thought it would take at least a few days…”
Weren’t the banquet and the title conferment ceremony right tomorrow? If possible, he had hoped she would visit after that. Because it would just be a headache if various things overlapped all at once.
Anyway, why were these two bickering again since morning? They seemed quite close in the North, but it appeared that wasn’t entirely the case.
In this incredibly confusing situation, Franz let out a sigh and sat on the sofa.
And he offered a slightly delayed morning greeting.
“Good morning to you both.”
At those words, both of their gazes turned to Franz in unison.
Arian spoke.
“Magic Tower lord, would you like a cup of tea?”
“Yeah, I’ll have some.”
Hearing Franz’s answer, Arian immediately stood up from her seat. She took one step, two steps, to go brew the tea.
Suddenly looking back, she said.
“Ah, right. The saintess was here, wasn’t she? I almost forgot. Will you be having tea as well, saintess?”
Saying she almost forgot when they had been making eye contact just a moment ago was, of course, utter nonsense.
The intent was truly blatant, but Yusti-ah did not waver. After all, it was clear who held the upper hand in the first place.
At least for today, it was Yusti-ah’s day.
“I absolutely must drink it. It’s tea brewed personally by the ducal daughter, no less.”
“…Yes, I will brew it very deliciously for you.”
Arian’s expression was clearly smiling, but her voice was so cold it even felt eerie.
As someone who wanted the two to get along, Franz found it truly frustrating, but he didn’t want to intervene between them either, because if he made a mistake, he felt like he would end up seeing blood for no reason.
Well, he wouldn’t actually see blood, but it meant things were that cutthroat.
As Arian briefly left her seat to brew the tea, Franz and Yusti-ah began their conversation in earnest.
The first to speak was Yusti-ah.
“I’m here, but you don’t seem very surprised?”
“I was surprised. It’s just that I quickly figured out why you came.”
“If you know, then this will be quick. To get straight to the point, the Goddess Church has decided to acknowledge you as a saint. It’s only natural since you showed such a display at the cathedral.”
So it ended up like that…
He had expected it to some extent, but he had hoped it wouldn’t be the case if possible.
Of course, it would be a very honorable thing for the Followers of the Goddess Church. There would be those who would offer everything if they could only become a saint. But the problem was that the person in question, Franz, was not a follower of the Goddess Church.
Besides, couldn’t one tell just by looking at the life of the saintess, Yusti-ah? Whether it was a saintess or a saint, the higher up you became in the Goddess Church, the more it was full of bothersome things.
'Why couldn’t it be an honorary follower…'
Since the future was obvious even without Franz having to experience it, a long sigh flowed from Franz’s mouth.
“More importantly, do you know how much of a headache I suffered yesterday because of you? I had to meet and converse with His Holiness the Pope, and you have no idea how rowdy the Followers were…”
“Sorry, I didn’t intend for it either.”
To be honest, the one who felt the most wronged was Franz himself, because he would continue to suffer from now on, having been seated in the position of a saint that he hadn’t even wished for.
However, it was also true that Yusti-ah had a hard time, so he apologized nonetheless. Plus, it was kind of funny to grumble about becoming a saint in front of her, the saintess.
“Still, well, it’s fine. At least I won’t have to suffer alone, right?”
Yusti-ah said that and showed a smile.
Was a saintess okay to be like this, smiling at another’s suffering? Even as he thought that, he didn’t really have anything to say, so only a sigh escaped him.
“So about that. I think you’ll need to receive some education for the time being.”
“Education…?”
Franz’s expression naturally stiffened, because to him, who had rotted in an institution called school for over 12 years, it was a more unpleasant word than anything else.
At that, Yusti-ah flusteredly continued her words.
“I-it’s not a bad thing like that. It’s simply learning a bit about the Goddess Church. It’s a bit much if a saint is ignorant, you know.”
He already hated education, but to be told to learn about a religion he didn’t even believe in…
Franz’s expression darkened even further.
“I’ll teach you. It’s not that difficult either. You just need to know a bit about the ideology and doctrines…”
It was the moment Yusti-ah tried urgently to persuade Franz.
Clack-.
A teacup was placed on the table.
Arian was wearing a smug smile, reflected in the eyes of Yusti-ah, who slowly raised her head.
“Oh my, saintess. It seems things aren’t working out well for you?”
“It has nothing to do with you, does it…?!”
“I am someone who serves the Magic Tower lord, you know? Of course it has something to do with me.”
Saying so, Arian poured tea into the teacup with elegant movements. A red liquid exuding a subtle fragrance filled the teacup.
It was truly the exact opposite situation from just before, because just before, Yusti-ah had been relaxed, and Arian had been anxious.
As the two began their war of nerves like that, it wasn’t long before Franz made a decision.
Taking a sip of the tea, he carefully set down the teacup and spoke.
“I’ll take that education thing.”
First of all, he had to take responsibility for what had happened. Even if he felt wronged, he had, in fact, become a saint.
Instead, he would have to receive an apology for this matter directly from the Goddess.
There should be a limit to how much you work a person. This was too much.
At Franz’s answer, Yusti-ah and Arian spat out words at the same time.
“Really?!”
“Why?!”
A smile spread across Yusti-ah’s face, and shock spread across Arian’s face. Franz’s decision brought forth the joys and sorrows of the two.
Franz did not answer their questions and continued speaking.
“Instead, I have a condition. It has to fit my schedule. As you know, I have more than one or two things to do.”
“That much is fine. If it’s difficult for you to come to the cathedral, I’ll come here myself.”
“That’s why I’m saying this, but tomorrow is a no-go for now.”
“Tomorrow? Is something happening tomorrow…?”
Yusti-ah tilted her head as if she didn’t understand.
Come to think of it, Yusti-ah only knew that he was becoming a duke, but she didn’t know about the detailed schedule.
It wasn’t exactly a secret, so it should be fine to tell her.
“There’s going to be a title conferment ceremony tomorrow. I’ll make time somehow starting the day after tomorrow, so just hold on for one day.”
“That’s tomorrow? Why are you only telling me this now?!”
Yusti-ah asked back, her eyes wide.
Franz was just bewildered by her reaction.
Since she wouldn’t be able to come anyway because she was busy with the Goddess Church’s affairs, he wondered if there was a reason he had to tell her.
It was also a bit funny for a saintess to enjoy a banquet.
“It’s definitely tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah, but why? Are you coming?”
“A saint is participating in such an event, so of course I have to go.”
Is that how it works…?
He didn’t really know, but since Yusti-ah said so, it was probably fine.
Franz decided to just let it go, because it would only be bothersome if he delved too deeply into it.