Ted trailed off.

Even as a holy knight, he didn’t know how to speak to a child who received God’s love and could be chosen by the Pope.

Gabrielle furrowed her brow.

“Was it Sien of House Mirmod?”

“…Yes, that’s her.”

At Ted’s honest answer, Gabrielle snorted.

“I’ve heard she’s a child who’s been rolling around in the dirt somewhere.”

Then, she whispered elegantly.

“That child and I are as different as fake pearls and real ones.”

Gabrielle thought by now Ted would curb his arrogant attitude and yield to her.

However, Ted narrowed his eyes and retorted at Gabrielle’s words.

“Lady Sien is not that kind of person.”

“…What?”

Gabrielle’s incredulous gaze was fixed on Ted. But Ted’s expression was as solemn as a mountain. What’s with that attitude, as if he had chosen Sien as the lady he would protect?

“What did you just say?”

“I said Lady Sien is not that kind of person.”

A resolute yet gentle holy knight.

At that sight, Gabrielle’s face turned bright red.

Until now, not a single person had opposed her opinion. But why… how dare a holy knight…

Gabrielle bit her lip.

She felt displeasure, anger, and humiliation all at once.

“Then, Sir, are you saying that I’m lying?”

She was quite confident.

She thought he wouldn’t dare to refute even this statement.

For a little over ten years of her life so far, Gabrielle had grown up arrogantly. It was possible because she was in a position where she could afford to be haughty.

Her holy power was at a level unparalleled not only in the Senoa Temple but in all temples. She was the most favored by the Pope among all the priests here.

But…

“Yes. Lady Sien is a good person.”

…She was refuted once again.

Gabrielle was dumbfounded. Until now, no one had ever spoken to her so firmly, not even once…!

“Don’t ever defend that child in front of me again!”

She got angry, but her anger was not directed at Ted.

Gabrielle’s sharp anger was directed towards Sien.

‘This is all because of Sien, that strange girl. Originally, Ted was almost certainly designated to become my knight…!’

Until Sien appeared, the Senoa Temple was peaceful. It was a place that revolved solely around Gabrielle.

Gabrielle would go around the temple, offering prayers to God. Not only that, she would benevolently heal visitors using her holy power, performing many good deeds.

But…

With Sien’s appearance, the order of the Senoa Temple was shattered.

Just because she provoked Sien Mirmod a little, the children lost their chance to become priests. Gabrielle, too, lost the children who had been her hands and feet.

‘That child is ruining everything.’

Gabrielle’s expression turned vicious, unlike a child’s.

She wanted to eliminate that annoying girl who was trying to take away the knight she had chosen.

A pale energy spread from her fingertips.

‘…Ted is mine. The Senoa Temple, and people’s affection, are all mine.’

Gabrielle’s holy power often manifested as a weak ability of foresight.

The anxiety that she might lose everything, starting with Ted, began to flood her heart.

Watching this, Ted rubbed his face wearily.

Strangely, the more Gabrielle showed possessiveness towards him, the more he missed Acid and Sien.

***

Meanwhile, I was facing Acid, who had entered my room.

“S-so…”

Where did all the spirit go that he had when he knocked and came in?

Acid opened his mouth carefully.

His expression was somewhat intimidated, probably because the maid sisters and my father were here. Still, he had become quite brave compared to before.

At times like this, I should encourage him!

Before my father could stop me, I quickly jumped down from his knee. Then I tottered towards Acid, who was still standing at the doorway.

“Yeah, what is it? I wanna hear!”

“Y-yes?”

Had no one properly listened to Acid’s somewhat clumsy words until now? Acid’s eyelashes fluttered delicately.

I patiently looked up into his eyes. Acid carefully opened his mouth at last.

“Um…”

“Yeah, baby.”

“I… want to meet my brother.”

“…Huh?”

I carefully gazed at Acid.

I understood his desire to become stronger, but the emotion of wanting to meet his brother felt a bit sudden.

“I-I’m not saying I’ll forgive my brother.”

There was still a faint anger in his voice.

Then why?

I tilted my head and grasped Acid’s arm tightly. He was clearly nervous, trembling slightly.

I patted his arm gently and said,

“Baby, I’m listening. You can tell me.”

“…Yes.”

Acid carefully continued his next words.

“I want to… see how much h-holy power I have…”

His voice was clearly shrinking, but it was still audible enough.

“Can I do that?”

I stared at Acid intently.

This seemed to be Acid scraping the very bottom of his courage, which was quite something for him.

Such courage deserves a reward, of course.

“…Yeah. Baby, you did well.”

Acid added in a puzzled tone.

“I… haven’t done anything…”

“No, you have. You said you wanted to get stronger, and you’re looking for ways to do it.”

I patted Acid gently, as if praising a puppy. Come to think of it, his round eyes were just like a puppy’s…

“R-really…”

This hesitant and stuttering appearance somehow reminded me of a small country puppy. I parted my lips slightly and let out a shallow sigh.

‘C-cute.’

Although his actual age is older than mine, he’s still like a baby.

I patted Acid’s shoulder gently and said emphatically once more.

“You were brave, well done!”

“…”

Acid’s face turned red, seemingly embarrassed by the unexpected praise.

“That’s enough.”

“Ah…”

Fidgeting with his hands, Acid bowed his head towards me.

“Th-thank you…”

Seeing his very red face and constantly fidgeting fingers, it seems that was the peak of Acid’s courage.

Thinking he had received too much praise, Acid, whose face had turned into a burning radish, bowed his head at a 90-degree angle.

He carefully said, ‘Th-then, when you have t-time, l-let’s go to the S-Senoa Temple t-together,’ and left.

After the brave Acid departed, I was left alone at the doorway.

Having heard all of my conversation with Acid, the maid sisters and my father were staring at me intently.

‘How embarrassing!’

The maid sisters’ eyes were extremely hazy, and their lips were slightly parted. That appearance was somewhat…

‘The maid sisters seem to be really overreacting!’

Feeling newly burdened by their attitude, I scurried towards my father.

“Daddy, Acid did well, right? Isn’t he cool?”

Father scooped me up around the waist and gazed at me intently. Father’s clear eyes captured my gaze.

“…Yes, he did well.”

“Hehe.”

“Our daughter did well too.”

Father gently comforted me.

I smiled brightly at Father. Then Father lowered his eyes quietly, as if at a loss for words.

“Our daughter has grown up so much already.”

Here we go again.

Our father gets teary-eyed like that whenever I speak even a little bit like an adult.

I shrugged my shoulders and said nonchalantly.

“Yeah, I’m a grown-up!”

The conversation with Father was roughly finished, and…

‘More importantly, the muscle maid sisters are acting strange. They’ve looked dumbfounded since earlier…’

No matter how I looked at it, these maid sisters seemed shocked, glancing at Father.

It shouldn’t be surprising that our father is emotionally sensitive, so why are they acting like that?

Is it a side effect of protein…?

‘Let’s think positive thoughts! Ted and Acid will meet, and Acid will get his holy power tested!’

Anyway, it was really fortunate.

I thought as I tightly held Father’s large hand with my tiny one.

Our family and friends were gradually getting closer to happiness.

***

At the same time, inside the Senoa Temple.

As soon as the visit of House Mirmod was announced, the atmosphere in the temple was turned upside down.

It was no wonder, as the temple and House Mirmod were in a perfect state of confrontation.

It was the Senoa Temple on the outskirts, not even the splendid temple located in the center of the empire. And it was a one-sided visit appointment at that.

Of course, due to the temple’s characteristic of “embracing all people,” they couldn’t officially restrict it.

“Why is Sien, that girl, visiting the temple again?”

“I heard that Ted has a younger sibling. That sibling is currently serving as a servant in House Mirmod. It seems to be because of that child.”

Why of all times…! Unaware of Gabrielle’s distorted face, the priest earnestly continued his words.

“They requested a holy power test at the temple, saying Ted’s sibling might also have holy power. The main reason is the holy power test, and it seems they want to meet Ted before and after the test.”

The sibling was clearly just a superficial reason, and that little devil Sien Mirmod was surely coming to steal Ted away.

She must be planning to use her villain father to torment Ted and then take him away from the temple.

Of course, holy knights didn’t necessarily have to serve in the temple.

But just as a pine caterpillar lives on pine needles, wasn’t it the primary principle that those with holy power should serve in the temple?

Sien Mirmod was clearly a devil who appeared to bewitch Ted. Ted must be falling for that devil’s temptation!

‘How can I overcome this crisis?’

Gabrielle brushed her hair back, lost in thought. It was surely an elegant gesture befitting a saint. But the thoughts in her heart were wicked.

I will never let someone like you see Ted. Ted is the knight who will protect me.

I will never lose to a devil’s daughter like you.

Because I am a holy maiden full of holy power.

Gabrielle’s elegant face became completely distorted.

“I will take Ted with me.”

“What? But Lady Gabrielle…”

“It’s my wish.”

Gabrielle, the girl deeply loved by the Pope, was essentially the ruler of the Senoa Temple. No one could object to her words.

Sure enough, the young priest, who was twice Gabrielle’s age, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, flustered.

“House Mirmod has also sent a message to Ted.”

“…To Ted as well?”

“Yes. They asked him to stay at the temple that day because his sibling is coming.”

Gabrielle’s eyes sharpened.

“Hmm, is that so?”

Gabrielle’s mind worked quickly.

“Did Ted receive that message directly?”

“Ted is currently in fasting training, so he probably hasn’t heard the news yet.”

“Is that so?”

“It’s good news, finding his sibling.”

What’s so important about that sibling?

To be honest, even if he heard the news about his sibling coming, he would think protecting her was more important.

But you never know.

Ted was a knight with a lot of affection. He might care a little for his stupid commoner sibling.

Surely not as much as he loves Gabrielle herself, whom he has cherished all this time.

“Then let’s hide it. Ted shouldn’t know that his sibling is coming.”

“…Pardon?”

The dim-witted priest wore a bewildered expression.

Perhaps Sien Mirmod might use Ted’s stupid beggar sibling to blackmail Ted and covet him as her guard knight.

She had to prevent such a thing from happening.

But there was no need to tell that priest.

Gabrielle stood up.

“I don’t like things getting unnecessarily messy. That day, I’ll take Ted and stay outside the temple all day.”

Those words were essentially a formal declaration of hostility towards Sien Mirmod.