Reti curled up tightly inside the pocket.
‘I can’t exactly bolt and run with Dike standing right in front of me…….’
Elsez, for no particular reason, pulled her outerwear tighter and greeted Dike.
“Hello, Saintess.”
“I wanted to talk to you alone, Elsez, but it’s been hard to find the time. I’m sorry it took so long to meet.”
“It’s fine. You’re a very busy person, after all.”
Dike asked Elsez with her usual gentle smile.
“How’s life at the temple? Is there anything bothering you?”
“No. Thanks to everything being so well prepared.”
“That’s a relief.”
Elsez glanced at the smiling Dike.
‘I know Dike is an immortal being, but……’
They had first met six years ago.
It felt oddly strange to see her looking exactly the same after all that time—long if long, short if short.
Dike stared at Elsez’s shoulder and outerwear. She seemed to be looking for something.
“Where’s Elsez’s little friend? I wanted to have a chat.”
Feeling Reti flinch in her pocket, Elsez replied,
“Sorry, I don’t think that’s possible. My friend is really shy.”
“I understand. We all have different powers, so it’s only natural to be afraid. Just as we fear them, they fear us.”
As expected, Dike stepped back without pressing.
When she suggested a short walk, the two began walking together.
Dike was the first to speak.
“Why do we fear and reject powers different from our own? I’m not talking about the monsters that harm humans, but the friendly ones, like your friend.”
Elsez wasn’t sure what Dike was getting at, so she gave a vague answer and kept listening.
“Hmm, that’s true.”
“From a less human-centered perspective, no one is at fault—they were just born that way.”
“It’s probably due to the prejudice built up over a long time. Like how light is seen as good and darkness as evil.”
“……Why can’t people understand that light exists because there is darkness.”
Dike muttered with a bitter smile.
“They’re all precious lives created with clear purpose by the divine.”
Elsez looked at Dike with slight surprise.
It was a very Dike-like thought, kind and loving toward all, but it didn’t quite fit the image of a saint who fought against demonic beings.
“As long as they mean to harm humans, we have to fight them…… but sometimes, I think maybe it’s because of them that we humans can cooperate and live like this.”
Yet those gentle words didn’t feel simply warm—they felt strangely off, like something was misaligned.
“Just like how you and I got to meet, Elsez.”
As she spoke, Dike reached out as if to take Elsez’s hand.
Just as their hands were about to touch—
“Saintess.”
The familiar voice came from behind. It was Astaire.
“I heard you were looking for me. So here you are.”
“I was looking for you?”
“Weren’t you?”
“Hmm, seems like there’s been a misunderstanding.”
Dike tilted her head with an awkward smile.
At that moment, the bell rang, signaling six o’clock.
Only then did Dike seem to remember something and spoke to Elsez with an apologetic expression.
“It’s already dinner time. You must be hungry. I’m sorry for keeping you.”
“Oh, not at all. I enjoyed talking with you.”
“Then I’ll see you next time, Elsez.”
Dike walked away, leaving the two behind.
As Elsez watched her retreating figure, she suddenly became aware of Astaire’s presence beside her and glanced up at him.
‘Come to think of it, this is the first time we’ve been alone since his confession.’
The atmosphere suddenly felt awkward, even the air around them.
But since she had pretended not to understand his confession, she decided she had to act like nothing happened this time too.
Glancing at him, Elsez met Astaire’s gaze as he looked down at her. She forced a smile and spoke first.
“Have you eaten yet, Your Grace?”
“No, not yet. Shall we eat together?”
Astaire asked with a gentle smile.
Unlike his downcast mood yesterday, he seemed back to his usual self today.
‘He’s back to the Astaire I know. That’s a relief.’
Seeing that made her feel at ease. Elsez smiled brightly and answered,
“Sure.”
She walked ahead with light steps and looked back at him with a grin.
“But didn’t we see each other just yesterday? Why does it feel like it’s been so long?”
“Then should we meet more often? I’d love to see you more.”
Astaire tilted his head slightly and smiled with his eyes.
Seeing that made Elsez’s heart thump.
‘Before, I would’ve just thought he was being sweet…….’
But now that she knew how he felt about her, she couldn’t just smile like it was nothing……
Elsez gave an awkward smile and subtly changed the subject.
“Aren’t you busy?”
“If you want to see me, I’ll make time. Even if it’s just during meals.”
Elsez didn’t know exactly what a cardinal did, but she knew it was a demanding position.
And yet, he was making time for her. What woman wouldn’t feel swayed by that?
After a moment of thought, Elsez nodded.
“I’d like that.”
‘He’s going that far, I can’t just flat-out reject him.’
A meal together—nothing wrong with that.
‘At the very least, Koreans never let others go hungry.’
As Elsez tried to justify her actions, Astaire asked,
“By the way, where were you last night?”
“How did you know?”
“Ah. I saw you leaving while I was out walking.”
Astaire hesitated slightly before answering, but Elsez didn’t notice.
“Reti couldn’t sleep well in the temple—maybe it’s the energy. She gets especially anxious at night…… So I took her to the guild so she could rest a bit more comfortably.”
It wasn’t something to hide, so Elsez answered honestly.
Astaire listened with a slightly unreadable expression, then quickly returned to his usual demeanor.
“Should I get you a hotel, then? Sleeping at the guild can’t be comfortable. …There are a lot of men, too.”
But Elsez misunderstood his concern as simply about comfort and refused the offer.
“It’s okay. Our guild has a lot of money, so the rooms are pretty nice.”
It was true that Cassian spared no expense when it came to guild members’ welfare.
Though still looking dissatisfied, Astaire didn’t press the matter.
“Anyway, I wonder what’s on the menu today?”
The two of them headed toward the dining hall, guessing what today’s meal might be.
Not far off, someone was watching them.
It was Rashiel.
****
“I accepted it without thinking, but… is it really okay for me to have this?”
After dinner, Elsez stepped out of the temple and looked at the necklace she had taken off from around her neck.
The necklace, which had a small white bead that looked like a pearl, was a gift from Astaire just moments ago.
‘What’s this?’
‘Hmm, a gift to celebrate you becoming a hero?’
Astaire had said as he put the necklace on her.
‘Now that you’re a hero, you’ll face more danger than before. I hope this necklace will protect you.’
Hmm.
Even under the dim evening sky, the necklace glimmered softly. Elsez stared at it closely.
‘It is pretty, though.’
Just then, the cookie bag Elsez was holding rustled, and Reti, having finished all the cookies, popped out.
As Reti tried to perch on Elsez’s shoulder, she caught sight of the necklace in Elsez’s hand and gasped, recoiling in fear.
“That necklace… it has an evil aura.”
“…Holy power?”
“Yeah. A whole lot.”
Only then did Elsez realize that Astaire had imbued his holy power into the necklace.
‘So that’s what he meant when he said it would protect me.’
But…
‘Does it even matter for someone like me, who isn’t affected by healing magic?’
Not to mention, Reti was terrified of it.
Elsez looked at Reti, who was warily eyeing the necklace, and asked,
“Should I give it back, then?”
Reti glanced between the necklace and Elsez.
The energy radiating from it was ominous, but it suited Elsez well.
Feeling bad about asking her to give up something nice just because of herself, Reti shook her head.
“N-no need to go that far. If you wear it, it might help conceal your power a bit.”
Elsez’s eyes widened at the unexpected function.
“Really? Then I guess I should wear it all the time, huh?”
Astaire probably hadn’t given it with that intention, but regardless, Elsez had no reason to refuse.
She promptly put the necklace back on and stepped into the guild.
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