“A few days ago, there was a theft of sacred artifacts inside the Grand Temple, so we are conducting inspections out of necessity.”

The gatekeeper explained the reason for the inspection while looking at me closely.

‘Surely, he won’t recognize me.’

His gaze suggested I looked suspicious with my robe pulled low, covering my face.

“These are my daughter and granddaughter. Is there a problem?”

“Ah, I see. No, there isn’t.”

“My granddaughter is a bit shy about showing her face. I hope we’re done with the inspection. Will you scrutinize me this thoroughly every time I come to make a donation to the Grand Temple?”

When Earl Boston spoke in a stern voice, the gatekeeper bowed.

“I, I apologize. You may pass through.”

As the carriage passed, sighs of relief overlapped.

“Larien. This time too, you’ll be able to protect Blanche. Who else could do it if not you?”

I deeply engraved Earl Boston’s advice.

‘Who else would protect Blanche besides me.’

…Jade did come to mind, but he had long since become an exception.

“Jade must have already married the Winst Count’s daughter, right?”

It had been years since I heard about their engagement, enough time to have held a wedding.

“Viscount Rowe is still engaged to the Winst Count’s daughter.”

“Hasn’t it been a long time since they got engaged?”

“Indeed. Noble engagements don’t usually drag on, I wonder what they’re thinking.”

I found it strange that Jade hadn’t married yet.

“Larien, I have some business to attend to, so let’s meet at the central stairs.”

“Yes, Uncle.”

I parted ways with Earl Boston at the central stairs and encountered a passing priest as I entered.

“May I ask the purpose of your visit to the Grand Temple?”

“My daughter’s sacred power is depleted, so I’d like to seek help.”

“I see. Would it be alright if I check your child’s sacred power?”

“Yes, please do.”

The priest emitted a pure white light towards Blanche.

“…It’s depleting so rapidly that if it were to go berserk, there wouldn’t be enough sacred power to absorb and stop it, making it a dangerous state.”

“Da-dangerous, you say?”

As the priest’s calm expression hardened, I became suddenly anxious.

“I’ll take you to where His Holiness the Pope is right away.”

Following the priest into the prayer room, I saw the Pope kneeling in prayer.

“He’ll be finished soon, please wait here for a moment.”

The priest informed me in a soft voice.

Not long after, the Pope rose from the floor and walked towards us.

“Priest Michael. What’s the matter?”

“Viscountess Diane Boston’s child is currently in a severely depleted state of sacred power.”

After hearing the priest’s explanation, the Pope made the sign of the cross with a voice of regret.

“…I see. You may leave now.”

“Understood, Your Holiness.”

I placed my hand on my chest and greeted the Pope respectfully.

“I greet Your Holiness the Pope, the first servant of Stella.”

At first glance, he appeared benevolent, but in the original work, the Pope did not help calm Prince Serendio’s rampage.

It was because he was the child of Oscar, who had endlessly opposed the Grand Temple.

There were circumstances where Oscar had weakened the Pope’s influence and caused the Grand Temple to stagger financially.

Nevertheless, the Pope was of a merciless nature that led Prince Serendio to his death.

‘The Pope favored those who served God and were courteous to him.’

“Blanche, greet His Holiness the Pope.”

“…Shuchu greets Your Holiness the Pope, the first servant of Stella.”

Blanche followed my words and executed perfect etiquette.

“May Stella’s grace reach both of you.”

Fortunately, the Pope received it with a satisfied expression.

“How old is your child?”

“Shuchu is 4 years old…”

The Pope looked fondly at Blanche, who timidly held out her fingers.

“Children are often clumsy at controlling sacred power, so it frequently becomes depleted. Don’t worry too much.”

The Pope reassured me that the depletion of sacred power was a common occurrence.

“…Thank you, Your Holiness. Could you bestow a blessing upon Blanche?”

“First, let’s see what kind of mark Stella has given.”

After checking the mark that had appeared on Blanche’s shoulder, the Pope’s smile faded.

“Vines tangled in a messy form… Viscountess. This form means it’s all but stopped just before going berserk.”

“If the rampage continues…”

A rampage that even the Pope couldn’t stop, where life couldn’t be guaranteed.

‘What if something really happens to Blanche…’

I was disheartened by the vast amount of sacred power, far from being minimal, that might even go berserk.

The Pope infused sacred power into Blanche’s body.

“Shuchu’s body feels lighter!”

Blanche jumped up, excited that her body felt lighter.

“I’ve infused my sacred power to fill her, but I can’t guarantee she won’t go berserk at all.”

The Pope put the bracelet he was wearing on Blanche’s wrist.

“This bracelet contains my sacred power, it will help prevent your child’s sacred power from leaking out.”

“Th-thank you, Your Holiness.”

I placed my hand on my chest towards the Pope. Giving an item containing sacred power was a great favor.

“Viscountess. I have something to discuss separately regarding how to calm her if she goes berserk, would you mind sending your child out for a moment?”

“…Blanche?”

“It might be a bit heavy for your child to hear.”

I hesitated for a moment, worried about being apart from Blanche.

But the idea of a way to calm Blanche’s rampage was tempting.

‘…Uncle will be at the central stairs, so it should be fine.’

If I knew how to manage it, Blanche wouldn’t be in danger.

“Blanche, Grandfather is at the central stairs, so go straight there.”

“Okay, Mommy!”

As Blanche left the prayer room, the Pope offered me a seat.

“This isn’t something to discuss standing, would you like to sit down?”

“…Yes, please speak freely, Your Holiness.”

“Viscountess. I would like to nominate your child as a saint. If you accept, I will teach you how to calm her rampage.”

Saint.

A being who resides in the Grand Temple until death, conveying the voice of God.

It was a safe life under the protection of the Grand Temple, but one surrounded by constraints and lacking freedom at every moment.

It wasn’t a suitable position for Blanche, who liked to express her own opinions.

“Your Holiness. My daughter and I have no intention of staying in Langrangsha.”

“Viscountess. Don’t you know that if the rampage progresses, your child’s life cannot be guaranteed?”

It was more of a threat than a proposal, saying to quietly send her if I wanted to save Blanche.

I wanted Blanche to live freely, but the Pope’s help was the only way to prevent the unpredictable rampage.

‘To maintain relations with the Grand Temple while keeping Blanche from being bound as a saint…’

I came up with an idea for Blanche.

“…Then, would you treat my daughter only as a saint candidate?”

“A saint candidate?”

“If she really becomes a saint, she’ll have to stay at the Grand Temple away from me constantly, but she’s still young, so I’m worried.”

This way, she could learn how to calm the rampage, but being just a candidate, she could leave anytime.

“Your Holiness, please consider her as a candidate and assess her potential.”

“…Very well. For now, I’ll consider her only as a saint candidate. Since the Grand Temple needs to prepare as well, let’s start the education from the coming spring.”

The Pope reluctantly agreed after much consideration.

‘If it’s spring… We’ll have to stay in Langrangsha for a while.’

Hiding my perplexity at the thwarted plan to return to Rukah, I left the prayer room.

Earl Boston was waiting alone at the central stairs.

“It took longer than expected, Larien.”

“I received an unexpected proposal from the Pope. Blanche… Uncle, where’s Blanche?”

Blanche, who should have been by his side, was missing.

“Blanche? Didn’t she go with you?”

“The Pope said he had something to tell me, so I sent Blanche out for a moment and told her to go to you. I told her to go straight to the central stairs…!”

I turned pale, horrified at the thought of losing Blanche.

“She’s still inside the Grand Temple. We should be able to find her quickly, let’s go look again.”

Earl Boston spoke calmly, comforting me.

“I’ll go look over there.”

I split up with Earl Boston and searched for Blanche in different directions.

“Viscountess?”

The priest I had seen earlier called out to me from behind.

“What’s the matter?”

“Ah, my child is missing. Have you seen her by any chance?”

“I haven’t, but…”

I grew more anxious at the priest’s words, who had been walking around the Grand Temple, saying he hadn’t seen Blanche.

“I’d like to help, but Viscount Rowe is expected to visit the Grand Temple soon, so I’m sorry.”

“Viscount Rowe? There’s no need to apologize. Please go ahead.”

My heart raced at the words ‘Viscount Rowe’ coming from the apologetic priest’s mouth.

‘Jade is visiting the Grand Temple soon?’

I hid my surprise and calmly addressed the priest.

“The Grand Temple is safe, so don’t worry too much. You should be able to find your child soon.”

As I distanced myself from the priest, I pulled my robe lower.

‘I need to find Blanche and leave before Jade arrives.’

I couldn’t risk encountering Jade.