Chapter 24
I earnestly pleaded my innocence. It wasn't just water—I poured expensive holy water, so there's no way she could've been hurt! If anything, even existing wounds would have healed cleanly! Anyway, her fainting isn't my fault!
Only after Michelle fainted did the priests finally rush over, belatedly noticing the commotion. The priests examined the situation—looking once at the completely burned painting, once at Michelle who had fainted from being soaked with water, and once at me—and only after Raphaela's additional explanation did they bow their heads in thanks.
Among them, an elderly man who appeared most dignified and benevolent began to sort out the situation. Then he approached me.
"Lady Rohanson, thank you truly for saving our temple's knight. We will reimburse you for the holy water used to suppress the flames."
"I'll accept that gratefully."
Thank goodness! I thought the money spent on holy water was going to be thrown into thin air. Of course, I didn't throw it away since I saved someone who was burning... Anyway, it's fortunate they'll refill it. See, people really need to live righteously!
"The other worshippers appear to be in shock, so we plan to escort them to a resting area."
What shock? These people just stood there staring blankly whether someone was burning or not. I swallowed my complaints and nodded.
The benevolent uncle seemed finished with me and now approached Raphaela. And he whispered something—so quietly I couldn't hear. Somehow he kept glancing at me? They're not talking behind my back, are they?
Surely not... Feeling anxious, I fixed my gaze on the two of them. They wouldn't talk behind my back while I'm right here!
Perhaps my staring had an effect, because Raphaela coughed loudly and changed the subject.
"Your Excellency, would you excuse us first? I think we should lay Sir Michelle down quickly. Sir Uriel must be tired as well."
I just thought he was a kind elderly man, but he was a bishop! That's quite a high position! No wonder he offered to reimburse the holy water right away. Do you know how much that costs?
"My, I didn't think of that. Leave the aftermath to me and go ahead. Lady Rohanson needs to receive the holy water, so with me..."
"Ah. I think the Lady should come with us as well. The Commander wishes to speak with her. I'll take care of the holy water before we leave. Your Excellency doesn't need to trouble yourself—just letting them know beforehand would be sufficient."
Raphaela fired off her refusal like a machine gun. Right, I need to go see Hena and Kanna too, so I nodded. The kids have probably been waiting a long time already, so we should hurry.
But shouldn't I get the holy water right now? If I try to take the holy water when the benevolent elderly man isn't there, won't I be accused of being a thief? The bishop could forget he said anything. Hmm... Worried, I looked at Jelly.
"Me?"
"Take the holy water and put it in the carriage first."
"Ah, did you really bring me along just to torment me?"
What? Who do you think I am, some thug? And why was the holy water completely depleted at home in the first place! This happened because I was treating your wounds!
"Listen before I actually torment you."
"Yeees..."
Jelly grumbled as she tucked her tail.
"I'll send my guard here."
The bishop nodded with a rather displeased expression.
"Then that's settled, right? We'll take our leave now."
At Raphaela's words, Uriel hoisted the unconscious Michelle onto his back. Seeing someone who looked so delicate easily carrying Michelle made admiration naturally rise in me. As I watched, Raphaela sidled up to me. Earlier she looked at me like I was trash, and now she's acting friendly!
"...I apologize for the late greeting. Thank you for saving Michelle. Although she lost consciousness, thanks to the holy water she has no injuries. I'm truly grateful."
Raphaela, who had been watching me, hesitated before offering her thanks. Her words were cautious enough to make me feel bad about my grumbling earlier. What's this, I'm a little moved.
"Thank you, my Lady."
Uriel also followed with words of thanks. Even with a man much larger than himself on his back, he showed no sign of difficulty as he bowed. However, the holy water dripping from Michelle's long hair soaked his back. Isn't it wet...? Uriel himself seems fine, but I'm oddly concerned.
"But is it alright to send Jelly alone?"
Why? Worried it's heavy? Is she worried that Jelly carrying the holy water would be too heavy while she has a person on her back?
"Jelly's fine."
She's not an ordinary person—she's a werewolf, practically certain to be the sub-male lead.
"My Lady, you did well to send your... guard instead. It's best not to get too close to the Bishop. Despite appearances, he has quite a nasty personality."
I glanced back and saw Bishop Javaniya watching Raphaela with a fierce expression. There was no trace of the benevolent appearance from earlier. Why suddenly? Even replaying the earlier conversation, nothing seemed strange... Could it be? There is one thing that comes to mind.
It's because Raphaela left before him. The higher the position, the more obsessed they are with such formalities. I didn't see the Bishop that way, but he was a Confucian old fogey.
***
People rushed over only after the commotion subsided. Apparently one priest who assessed the situation ran to fetch the Bishop. It was Bishop Javaniya who came with priests carrying water buckets.
Usually he wouldn't bother with such trifling matters whether people died or the temple collapsed, yet he deliberately came all the way here—truly an old man with good instincts.
"Raphaela... what is this?"
Look at him pretending not to know when he must have heard the situation clearly. Bishop Javaniya wore that benevolent face but possessed quite a vicious temperament. Because of his kindly outer skin, misunderstandings were common, but he was a thoroughly selfish and cold-hearted specimen.
Uriel said Raphaela and Javaniya had many similarities, calling it same-species disgust. Not entirely wrong. Still, that fox over there wouldn't care if people got hurt or not and would have arrived late, so it's almost insulting to compare them. That one has neither conscience nor guilt.
Unfortunately, Gabriel, the commander of the knight order Raphaela belonged to, had also fallen victim to Bishop Javaniya's clutches as a child and was still being worked hard.
The Commander claimed he was simply repaying a debt to the Bishop for past kindness... But in Raphaela's view, the Bishop was merely using the Commander as a chess piece. And the supposed kindness from the past that she'd heard about from the Commander was nothing special either.
"The painting caught fire. Lady Rohanson poured holy water to extinguish the flames. Sir Michelle was burned but thanks to the holy water is safe with no injuries."
"Oh, Rahel be praised."
"If we were a moment later, we might have lost the life of a precious knight. I have no face to show."
"Not at all, Your Excellency. You took time to draw water, didn't you?"
What an old fox. At the benevolent words, the surrounding priests gazed at the Bishop with adoration as if he were an avatar of God Rahel.
'What? Delayed because of drawing water?'
Raphaela could bet both her wrists and even the unconscious Michelle on the fact that the Bishop deliberately arrived late. Since Raphaela also wished the painting would burn, Bishop Javaniya must have thought the same and intentionally appeared only after enough time had passed for the painting to burn completely.
If Bishop Javaniya were truly a merciful person, he would have drawn water from the fountain flowing with holy water closest to this location. Saying he would cover the cost later. Just as Evangeline Rohanson had extinguished the fire with holy water... For a moment, Raphaela felt appalled at herself for thinking Evangeline righteous.
The fact that Bishop Javaniya deliberately went out to the garden to draw water from an ordinary fountain meant he had no intention of coming early. Seeing that no one around questioned this showed how thoroughly tamed they were to his hypocritical behavior.
Truly, if he became an enemy, he'd be troublesome to deal with. The only fortunate thing was that regarding this Danube painting, they held the same opinion. Because the person representative of those praising the painting happened to be someone who had always opposed Bishop Javaniya.
"Now then, since we arrived late, we should help with the cleanup."
"Yes, Your Excelliciency."
At Bishop Javaniya's words, the priests set down their buckets and began to clean up. Some swept and wiped the ash from the floor while others dealt with the people.
"Worshipper, wouldn't it be best for you to return now?"
"That's right. A fire broke out—isn't it too dangerous?"
"Are you injured anywhere?"
Of course, no answers came. Most were of noble status and couldn't be treated carelessly, so the one-sided invitations without response just continued.
"I said let's go! Are you going to stay here your whole life?"
One priest with poor patience couldn't hold back and shouted. After saying it, he seemed to realize his mistake and covered his mouth, but fortunately the other party didn't take offense.
"No, the painting has burned away, so what are you staying here to see?"
As the priest lamented, finally a response came. The noble lady he was dealing with pointed at Evangeline Rohanson with reddened cheeks.
"We're watching that Lady."
The priest looked around. The people's gazes were all directed at that pale, lovely Lady—to an extent that made him wonder how he hadn't noticed before.