Chapter 99: A New Medium

“Parents, huh.”

Arthur was intrigued by this fresh proposal.

The quick-witted Rosetta, seeing Arthur’s positive response, quickly revealed her intention.

“I don’t want to be shamed as an orphan at the wedding.”

“And?”

“Could you perhaps send word separately to the Cornwell family?”

“Cornwell?”

“The Grahams are quite wealthy, aren’t they?”

Her black eyes curved gently as she smiled.

Yes, this is just like Rosetta. Arthur’s eyes sparkled.

“After getting your name listed in a branch of the Graham family, you’ve come up with quite a clever idea.”

It was an excellent proposal that would certainly provoke Yuria Graham. Arthur’s heart fluttered.

*

During the unsettled tea time, Albert came to the terrace to announce that Rexton had returned.

Xavier hesitated for a moment before hurriedly heading to his office, saying ‘We must have an important conversation later, just the two of us.’ It was understandable, as Rexton, who had been tracking Margaret’s whereabouts, had returned.

Thanks to that, I could remain alone in the room.

As for Rosetta, I could meet her at the wedding, and occasionally as a duchess, so we could talk then.

“What’s urgent now is this.”

On the table, the tears that were collected from onions sat in a flask labeled ‘anger.’ The flasks labeled joy, sadness, and pleasure that Daniel had asked me to fill were naturally empty.

‘Sigh, how am I supposed to collect all that.’

This wouldn’t do.

I need something big. Isn’t there a more reliable medium than tears?

First, I sat at the table and pulled out a quill pen. I started jotting down my thoughts on white paper.

‘A part of the Saintess’s body serves as both a vessel and medium for holy power.’

‘It exhibits abilities specialized in dealing with beastmen’s curses.’

‘It can extract the holy power they’ve consumed.’

Just look at the case of the Mole Baronet who carried out the museum terror attack. My holy power seems to exist almost specifically for curses.

“What about general healing?”

I thought about when I healed Maya’s finger and Lucas’s head injury.

‘Immediate healing is possible through contact between the Saintess and the injured. However, only one-on-one treatment is possible. That’s true even for the Saintess herself.’

Tch, totally fifth-rate efficiency.

Come to think of it, what was that being that spoke in my head at the museum?

From saying ‘This is my limit,’ it seemed there were some restrictions.

It doesn’t seem like it was the book. Since I’m a Saintess, could it be a goddess?

“No way.”

What if it really is a goddess?

Well, what then?

“Just let me meet them. They’re all dead.”

If you’re going to give abilities, give them properly, why this trickle?

I grumbled while scratching the stiff paper with my quill pen. The paper tore along where I scratched.

“What, the ink dried again.”

I stuck the quill back in its holder and tore off the unsightly torn paper.

“Ouch.”

A red line appeared where the paper cut my finger.

The cut seemed deeper than it looked as blood beaded on the wound. I habitually started to put my finger in my mouth but stopped.

As the blood spread, I felt the wound healing. Golden light began to scatter throughout the room.

“Huh.”

I took a handkerchief and carefully wiped my finger. The blood remained, but the wound had healed and the pain was gone.

Come to think of it, when I was injured by the lizard beastman in the square and bled, the wound had disappeared by the time I got home.

During the Founding Festival, when I was chased by thugs, my nails broke and my heel was torn and bleeding. When tears accidentally fell on my toenails then, golden light appeared and the wounds healed cleanly, and my feet no longer hurt when walking.

What about my heel?

I lowered my head to look at the back of my slipper. My heel was smooth and fair, with a healthy glow.

“I never shed tears here though.”

As mentioned before, my holy power was different from that of regular priests who could release it. A Saintess’s holy power can heal anything, but only one treatment per contact.

Goddess Maha, was it? What a foolish deity.

Anyway, my heel had never been touched by tears, yet the bloody wound had healed cleanly, which means my holy power had worked on the wound.

“Could it be… because of this?”

I clicked my tongue while looking down at the red spots dotted on the handkerchief.

“Genius? More like I’m an idiot.”

So that’s how the thugs managed to find my location in those confusing back alleys, following the drops of blood on the ground.

No wonder they followed so relentlessly without rest!

Then, what about Xavier?

I hurriedly stood up from my chair and left the room.

*

“Good work, Rexton.”

As soon as the blackened Rexton entered the office, he saluted Xavier, who was seated in the main spot on the sofa.

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

At Xavier’s gesture to rest, Rexton lowered his arm and sat properly on the sofa. Xavier asked about the bag Rexton had placed beside the sofa.

“Did you find anything?”

“She’s quite skilled at escaping, so tracking her wasn’t easy.”

“Oh? But she’s alive then?”

“Yes, that’s certain. We obtained several testimonies of seeing a girl with brown eyes wearing a robe near the duchy.”

“Impressive. So she had already secured an escape route?”

“Yes. It seems she had thoroughly prepared even before coming to the ducal residence. She escaped the Pins region, crossing the duchy in just one night.”

“Her destination?”

“It appears to be the Imperial Capital.”

“The Imperial Capital? Not Berg?”

“Yes. I find it strange too. She must know that the Crown Prince and Count Willem tried to poison her, yet her last known whereabouts were on the road to the Imperial Capital.”

In this world, Berg was the most peaceful neutral city and a haven for all fugitives.

Strange. Why head to the Imperial Capital instead of Berg?

Xavier decided to make the best choice for now.

“Send people to the Imperial Capital and track her until the end.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“You’ve worked hard. Get some good rest today.”

“Yes!”

Knock knock knock.

After exactly three knocks, the door burst open.

*

Ah. In my eagerness to ask Xavier, I barged right in.

They said Rexton was back.

Xavier uncrossed his long legs on the sofa, while Rexton stood awkwardly with his pack on his back.

“Oh, Sir Rexton? It’s been a while.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Rexton, looking noticeably more gaunt than before, gave a silent bow.

After briefly acknowledging his greeting, I stared at Xavier and asked directly.

“Xavier, about that day. The first day of the Founding Festival.”

“The first day?”

“The day we wore masks. How did you find me? In that vast Imperial Capital, in those maze-like back alleys?”

Xavier lowered his gaze for a moment before looking at me and speaking.

“Well, golden light was flashing here and there at intervals. Others thought it was some festival effect, but I knew what it was. When I saw the thugs following it, I was certain.”

“So that’s what happened.”

I was too busy running to notice then. Golden light had burst from my back as my bleeding heel and broken nails repeatedly healed.

Because I saw my tears accidentally fall and heal my toes, I hadn’t realized.

Watching me deep in thought, Xavier added an explanation.

“When the thugs were going the other way but turned back after seeing the golden light, I dealt with them and left.”

“Dealt with them?”

“Broke about five places.”

“What?”

Five places?

There are four limbs, so where’s the fifth?

“That’s just how it is. Don’t ask for more details.”

Xavier quickly averted his gaze from my goldfish-like gaping and dismissed Rexton.

As always, Rexton quietly closed the office door and left, and Xavier looked at me seriously.

“Have you discovered something remarkable again?”

“Yes, that’s right. How did you know?”

“Your expression gives it away. It’s exactly like when you were excited about tears being a medium.”

“Hehe, was it that obvious?”

I sat down on the sofa right next to where Xavier was sitting, with an embarrassed smile.

“I found a more reliable medium than tears. We might be able to extract more at once, and it might work better.”

“Extract what?”

Xavier’s eyes slowly moved to my abundant golden hair. I pushed out my lips and put both hands on my head.

“As I said before, this is absolutely off-limits.”

“I’ve never imagined having a bald wife either.”

“What, you don’t like the idea of a saintess with her hair pulled out?”

Why am I getting worked up about this? This isn’t what I came to talk about.

But then Xavier said something unexpected.

“I’d like you even if you were bald.”

A gentle smile without any hint of humor lingered on his lips.

“That’s not funny at all.”

“The words might sound silly, but I’m serious.”

I bit my lip, having no response.

What kind of absurd statement is that, saying he’d like me even if I were bald? I like my thick, glossy golden hair.

He’s not even teasing.

After staring at me for a while, Xavier furrowed his brow, clenched his fist, and spoke.

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m saying I like you.”

“What?”

What did I just hear?

Ah, he means he likes me because I’m the saintess.

“You like me because I’m the saintess? Oh, I see.”

“……”

Xavier’s face turned bright red. I’ve never seen him make such a face before. Is he sick?

“My wife is quite dense.”

“What?”

“Did you catch it from Maya? I didn’t know such things were contagious.”

“That’s extremely rude!”

“I’ve always thought this, but don’t our conversations seem to miss each other somehow?”

“What?”

Xavier heaved deep sighs and waved his hand while shaking his head.

“We’ll talk seriously next time. So, what did you discover?”

I glared at him once before sitting up straight and starting to say what I had meant to.

“Tears are hard to collect, right? There’s a limit to forcing yourself to cry. But what about blood? Blood can be drawn and used. What do you think? Isn’t it amazing?”