“Holy Maiden!”

“Holy Maiden Belladonna!”

As I exited the portal and entered the papal palace, I saw priests running towards the carriage with welcoming faces.

Belladonna smiled and waved her hand at them.

The smile that rose on her face felt as natural as if she were wearing a mask.

“Holy Maiden, welcome.”

As the carriage stopped and the door opened, the priests lined up and greeted her. Belladonna rose and stepped down from the carriage.

Ah, wait a moment…

At that moment, dizziness came over her and everything went black before her eyes.

Not wanting to show a disheveled appearance in front of Cardinal Nicholas, she had held onto her senses tightly while the carriage passed through the portal, but it seemed that had drained her body instead.

“Holy Maiden…!”

The priests surrounding her reached out their hands in surprise.

The fastest hand among them caught Belladonna as she was about to collapse to the ground.

“Are you alright, Holy Maiden?”

Belladonna looked up at the one who had caught her, struggling to properly open her heavy eyelids.

Ah, thank you… Huh?

Belladonna’s eyes widened as she recognized the priest supporting her.

The priest holding her tightly to prevent her from falling was none other than the very priest who had received luggage from Cindy when departing from Griblata.

This person surely would have been on a carriage that departed later than mine, so when did he get here? He’s very quick on his feet? He seems to be good at his job too, stepping in at the right place and time…

As she was inwardly marveling, he spoke while properly steadying her.

“I’ll call for a doctor.”

Ah, no, it’s not that serious! I take back what I said about him being good at his job!

She didn’t want to make a fuss by calling for a doctor as soon as she arrived in Astana because of a mere momentary spell of anemia.

Belladonna firmly grasped his arm as he was about to turn away.

“Ah, I understand.”

Fortunately, the priest seemed to be quick-witted, immediately stopping his attempt to turn around.

“Huh? Has something happened to the Holy Maiden?”

Nicholas, who was getting off behind Belladonna, asked with a puzzled look. The priests surrounding her spoke up.

“It seems she felt dizzy for a moment.”

“The journey from Griblata to Astana must not have been easy, after all.”

“Oh dear, Holy Maiden. Will you be alright to go see the Pope right away?”

Nicholas asked, his face suddenly becoming full of compassion.

Belladonna shuddered slightly as she recalled his behavior inside the carriage.

That complete hypocrite…!

But Belladonna never had a choice to begin with.

She lifted the corners of her mouth as usual, giving a gentle smile.

“Very well then. I’ll leave the cleanup to you all. The Holy Maiden and I will head straight to the Pope’s office.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Understood, Your Eminence!”

Belladonna watched as the priests moved to unload luggage from the carriage, then turned to follow Nicholas.

Sigh, I have to go… to where Pope Provenance is…

“Just a moment, Holy Maiden.”

At that moment, someone blocked her path.

Hm? Who’s in front of me…

As she lifted her head, she saw the priest who had supported her earlier looking down at her with a worried expression.

“Your complexion doesn’t look good. Perhaps you should sit in a chair for a moment and rest in the fresh air before…”

“Priest Timothy. What are you doing?”

Nicholas, irritated by the constantly delayed schedule, turned back and snapped.

Timothy? So his name was Timothy. Now that I think about it, it does sound familiar.

Belladonna quietly looked up at him, silently repeating the name of the compassionate priest in her mind.

“But her face has turned so pale. If she goes like this…”

“It’s not your place to worry about such things! Don’t overstep your bounds! Besides, Holy Maiden Belladonna’s face has always been pale!”

Nicholas sharply retorted, then looked at Belladonna with an urging gaze.

Belladonna reached out to Timothy, who still wore a worried expression, and gently patted his shoulder.

Right, Astana wasn’t only filled with people like the Pope or Cardinal Nicholas.

Belladonna thought to herself.

While the way Pope Provenance and Cardinal Nicholas treated her remained unchanged, she remembered that there were certainly people like Priest Timothy who pitied her.

She gave Timothy, with his warm heart, a sincere smile.

Thank you for thinking of me like this.

Timothy’s face flushed slightly upon seeing her heartfelt smile.

“Ahem…! Holy Maiden, this is not the time. The Pope has been anxiously waiting for us since morning…”

Belladonna started walking before Nicholas could finish speaking.

Alright, I’m going! I was going to go even without you adding more words!

Still, having received someone’s concern made her feel a little more encouraged.

Belladonna walked towards the Pope’s office with much improved spirits and steps compared to earlier.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Belladonna, you’ve finally arrived.”

Belladonna bowed her head in greeting to Pope Provenance, who smiled at her.

At first glance, he seemed to be wearing an extremely benevolent smile, but Belladonna could easily detect the hidden discomfort behind it.

“Cardinal Nicholas, thank you for your hard work in bringing Belladonna here.”

“It’s nothing, Your Holiness. The Holy Maiden’s determination to return before the birth celebration was strong, so I was able to bring her back smoothly.”

“What of Lord Diete?”

“He couldn’t leave his territory unattended, so he wasn’t able to accompany us.”

“Well, that man probably doesn’t understand how important and noble the birth celebration is.”

At the Pope’s brief words, the sound of Nicholas chuckling could be heard.

Belladonna unconsciously frowned at their behavior, which seemed to be dismissive of Escalion.

“Belladonna, have a seat.”

The Pope said, pointing to an empty sofa.

He crossed over to the opposite sofa and made himself comfortable.

As Belladonna sat down without relaxing her rigid posture, he glanced at Nicholas, who was standing blankly, and blurted out.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you leaving yet?”

“Ah, ah…! Ah, yes, that’s right. I, I’ll be taking my leave now.”

The sound of a flustered Nicholas turning and hurriedly leaving the office could be heard.

As the foolish figure disappeared, Pope Provenance completely removed even the smile he had been wearing on his face.

“Belladonna, was everything alright?”

Even though he knows I can’t speak…

This was like a habit of the Pope’s.

Knowing there would be no answer, having already decided the answer himself, he would abruptly throw questions at her.

“It seems you enjoyed life in Griblata more than expected.”

“……”

“I think you returned to Astana not because of Nicholas’s excellent abilities, but because of the letter I sent. What do you think?”

The Pope leaned forward and continued speaking.

“Perhaps you’re even resentful towards me. Thinking that if I had just left you alone, you would have sorted everything out on your own and returned to Astana, that I unnecessarily stirred up trouble.”

“……”

“But marriage, divorce… That’s just how these things are, Belladonna.”

Pope Provenance smiled as he picked up the teapot placed between them.

He poured warm tea halfway into small cups and spoke in a calm voice.

“No matter how secret the contract that formed the marriage, no matter what separate thoughts each party might be harboring inside, it’s not easy to sever the bond of marriage so smoothly.”

“……”

“So you must have kept opening your heart to your husband.”

“…!”

Belladonna frowned unconsciously and clenched the fist resting on her knee.

What is he saying? Is he testing me?

If not that, could it be…

Did he plant a spy in Griblata?

“I had hoped you wouldn’t become too happy, but if you smile so sincerely, wouldn’t I, waiting in Astana, feel quite uneasy?”

The Pope pushed a cup towards her with a splendid smile that didn’t match the content of what he was saying at all.

“I know Lord Diete prepared divorce papers. Once you sign them at the end, you’ll be free again. You’ll return as Astana’s perfect Holy Maiden.”

Free?

Belladonna took a small breath.

How can you say returning to Astana is becoming free? To me, this place is rather…!

“Now, take out those papers and sign at the bottom in front of me.”

Provenance looked at her with dull eyes that suddenly lit up.

His gaze seemed gentle at first glance, but it was extremely coercive and forceful.

Belladonna forcibly lifted the corners of her trembling lips.

Soon, she picked up the pen placed on the table and began to write on the paper next to it.

[I haven’t finished packing yet. I was so excited about returning to Astana that I didn’t even think about divorce papers. I’ll go back to my room and look for where they might be.]

After confirming Belladonna’s writing, Provenance sat silently for a long time.

After a few minutes that felt like hours, he nodded with a broad smile, lifting the corners of his mouth.

“I see, that can happen. I must have rushed my daughter who just returned too much. Hahaha, as I get older, I only become more impatient.”

“……”

“How about holding a modest banquet this evening? We’ll bring out the wine I’ve been storing in the cellar. It should be quite enjoyable after a long time. If only your husband had come too! He’d never taste such wine in a backwater like Griblata.”

Belladonna looked at the smiling Pope with anxious eyes.

His mouth was spread wider than anyone’s, but his eyes weren’t smiling at all.

Soon, Pope Provenance stood up and opened the door to his office.

It was a clear signal to get out of his sight.

Belladonna swallowed dryly and stood up.

“I’ll see you this evening.”

A dirty voice settled in her ear.

Belladonna nodded, trying not to harden her expression.

Behind her, the sound of the office door slamming shut was heard.

Belladonna, who had come out into the hallway, staggered and leaned against the wall. Although they had only faced each other briefly, it had been more difficult than expected.

For some reason I’m not sure of, it feels like my body is afraid of something…

Ever since she had opened her eyes anew in the body of Holy Maiden Belladonna, she had found the Pope uncomfortable and frightening.

Ah, I’m tired. I should hurry back and rest…

“Holy Maiden, are you alright?”

At that moment, someone called out to her from across the hallway and approached.

Belladonna lifted her head. You again…?