My first meeting with that person wasn't exactly a fond memory. 'How many cigarettes do I have left?' An empty classroom. Since the other two hadn't shown up, I was the only one there. So, not paying much attention to my surroundings, I took out the Cigarette pack. There was only the last one left inside; I thought I'd need to refill it later. "Greetings, I am-" "Eek?!" I was startled. I never imagined someone would be behind me. Letting out a scream unbecoming a girl, I turned my head to see a strange man. Blonde hair and Blue eyes. Sculpted Beauty. 'He's handsome...' That thought crossed my mind for a moment. But that wasn't important. The problem was that my identity as a Smoker had been exposed. Looking back on what happened next was actually embarrassing. I tried to get through the crisis with a foolish smile. Flustered, I even asked the other person for a solution. However, that person didn't seem to particularly care. His eyes furrowed as if troubled. It seemed like he let out a shallow Sigh. Still, he didn't try to tell others about my actions or correct them. 'How Strange.' Doesn't he find it incredibly odd that the Saintess is smoking? I was always Anxious about being caught by others. 'Because it's a Bad deed.' The reason I decided I wanted to try Smoking wasn't anything special. I just felt stifled, as if I would live my whole life as a good person, only doing good deeds. -When I become an adult, I want to try smoking. That's why I had asked the Pope. I wanted to do at least one Bad deed. Thinking about the worst thing a Saintess could possibly do, Smoking seemed fitting. At my request, the Pope smiled gently. He showed neither Reproach nor Disappointment. Just softly. -Go ahead. He accepted my words. He didn't say much, but it felt like he knew everything about why I did it, which was embarrassing. My mouth needlessly asked why. -...Is it alright? I might keep smoking from now on. Once you permit it, I have no intention of stopping... -I am not worried about that. The Pope's words. I didn't quite understand them back then. -You will meet someone who makes you want to quit smoking. When you meet such a person, you will stop on your own. * Me sticking close to that person was purely for Surveillance. I was worried he might spread the fact of the Saintess's smoking. I even smoked quite openly, as if to show off. Partly because I wanted to, but also to see how that person would react. However. "..." That person remained calm. He teased me. He looked at me smoking as if dumbfounded. But beyond that, there was no particular reaction. 'Strange Person.' Yes, he was a Strange Person. But a small ripple stirred in my heart. I wanted to know more about what kind of man this was. In front of my room, I acted playfully. I didn't have any particular romantic interest in him, but. I tried making a Joke for no reason. "No. It doesn't particularly bother me." 'How Uninteresting.' How can a person be such a Wooden statue? It's embarrassing to say it myself, but I'm quite confident that I'm rather pretty. Besides, it's a chance to enter the Saintess's room. Isn't he being too indifferent, way too indifferent? After entering the room, I was quite flustered. "Could it be that smoking is your only Hobby?" It hit the Bullseye. That remark pierced right into the painful spot I was hiding, and I started Babbling incoherently. It was quite Rude behavior towards the Imperial Family, so when I realized, I was genuinely worried. 'What if he got offended and reveals my Secret?' But, once again, that person defied my expectations. "I apologize. I did not intend to offend you. Please forgive my rudeness." There wasn't a shred of hesitation in his lowered head. He genuinely felt sorry for me. That was truly a shock, how should I put it. After sending that person away that day. When I was left alone in my room, I couldn't think of anything else but him. * "Of course! The Your Highness I know wouldn't do such a thing." Was that why? When I learned about the bad Rumors circulating about him, The first thought that came to mind was disbelief. 'There's no way.' He just didn't seem like a Villain. As we talked, I kept testing him playfully. Is this okay? Can you accept me even if I'm this unsaintly, almost like a Test. Still, that person put up with me until the end. This woman is really helpless, even while holding such Emotion in his eyes. Without complaint, he didn't leave my side. 'Strange Person.' Truly strange, and also an uninteresting person. But why is being with him like this so Enjoyable? * "Care for a smoke?" For some reason, that day, I noticed a hint of Worry in his eyes. I had thought of him as a usually quite Apathetic person. So I took the initiative to probe his thoughts. "All they serve are Tasteless Pieces of bread and Vegetable soup, what makes you say it's edible!" As I lightened the mood with a Joke, that person candidly shared his Worry. Hearing his worry, I was a little surprised. 'Could he be talking about me?' It was clearly his worry. But hearing him talk about a secret being revealed, I thought he was pointing right at me. Naturally, I started thinking quite seriously too. What would be the best thing to do? 'Ah.' For some reason, an Idea suddenly popped into my mind. "You just have to make that person keep the secret themselves, right? Just become friends with them!" That was a way to solve his worry, but. 'It's the opposite.' It was also the way I treated him. His Expression looked quite satisfied, feeling like I'd resolved something made me feel Proud too. "I see you in a new light, Saintess. I had my doubts, but you truly are a Saintess." If only he hadn't added that last remark. Seriously, what an uninteresting person. * "Your Highness. You don't actually have any friends, do you?" At his request, we set off for a faraway place. There was a major incident on the way. A girl named Sophie was threatened by a magical beast, and he stepped forward to protect her. After that, as we headed to the village. Learning about the girl named Sophie, my heart ached. "But, I was just so bored!" A life repeating every day, days where I always had to endure. I was so tired of it that I committed an act of Deviation. 'How embarrassing.' It felt as if she were talking about me. It was understandable that I was Speechless, the one who spoke up for me, flustered as I was, was him. He looked truly Dependable, soothing Sophie's heart with a gentle tone. 'He's a little cool...' No, maybe not just a little, but quite a lot cool. Realizing that thought, I was startled. 'I must be crazy...!' How could I possibly think something like this?! "Think how upset the older sister next to you must be!" It was because of that I reacted excessively to Sophie's words. Lest my feelings be discovered, I denied it vehemently. I couldn't help but deny it, fearing this feeling might become Truth. But. That person instead made a request of me. To be considerate of Sophie's feelings. '...Strange Person.' Even if it means doing something this embarrassing. Does he want to make that child feel comfortable? "Don’t misunderstand. I have absolutely no desire to be your lover" ...Honestly, hearing those words made me feel a little annoyed. No, quite annoyed. 'Hmph.' There's no need to go that far. Am I not even a woman to you? In the end, I ended up playing the role of his Girlfriend. At first, it was really Embarrassing. I had never even imagined becoming someone's Lover in my life. But. '...It's surprisingly okay.' To be honest. It wasn't just okay, it felt good. It felt like I had committed the worst possible deed forbidden to a Saintess, and I ended up getting Excited. 'Am, am I this kind of woman...?!' What exactly is this Thrill I feel from doing something bad? I felt embarrassed all by myself for no reason. * Night. The conversation with Sophie had dropped a stone into my heart with a plop. So, without realizing it, I ended up consulting with him. "Is this because of Sophie?" That person seemed to know without me saying, hitting the core matter. 'This person, he knows my heart completely.' Is he always watching me? My heart softened, and my mouth confessed the Saintess's Secret. 'Bad deed.' The story of a Bad Saintess who had fallen into the act of deviation. After pouring out all the emotions inside. Realizing I had done something embarrassing in the middle of the night. I tried to conclude the conversation and go to sleep. No. 'I'm scared.' Actually, I didn't want to hear the truth about what he thought of me. So I tried to stop the story there, but. "Do not blame yourself." This time too. As if he had seen right through my heart. He said exactly what I wanted to hear. Warm words soothed my heart, gently stroking away the self-loathing of being unsaintly. "Let's keep it a secret, just between you and me, Saintess." A warm Smile. That felt so good that. "Maybe being Your Highness's girlfriend wouldn't be so bad after all." I was so Happy I didn't even care if the words I uttered were Sincere or not. * We talked while heading towards the Demon Sealing Stone. My heart was greatly Flushed from what happened last night. 'Strange... What is this?' Why does my Heart pound like this when I see him? 'No...' Actually, I knew. I had received education at the Order. And I had secretly read Novels containing Love stories. 'That's why I can't.' A Saintess should not Dare to harbor such feelings. I mustn't let these Emotions grow any further. "The type I like is, a considerate man." Thus, the words that came out of my mouth were. Firmly suppressing my feelings for him, emphasizing the Image of a man with completely opposite characteristics. 'It's true, though.' Compared to the Prince I usually dreamed of, he had many different aspects. Uninteresting. Like a Wooden statue. "Haha. Saintess, you don't know yet. The person who best fits the description of the man you just mentioned is none other than the Third Prince." So. Listening to the Knight tell the story of his past. "...W-What did I say? Stays by a woman’s side when she’s struggling... Listens to her worries... Doesn’t gossip carelessly... ...Gasp!" Fearing I might accidentally let slip the emotions in my heart, I had no choice but to quickly suppress them. 'No, no...' This shouldn't be happening. I shouldn't dare to harbor this emotion. However. 'It's too late...' I had already realized it was irreversible now. Because the Romantic Feelings, once sprouted, were growing rapidly. * The demon encountered while adjusting the Seal was powerful. The demon became Snake's eyes and tempted me. It seemed to know the Darkness in my heart. I cut off that temptation with a strong heart, yet. Indeed, it was heavy. The devil Attacked me in another way. -Oh, my goodness. You wench, you hold a Man in your Heart. Don't you? 'No...!' That must not be revealed. I wanted him to never learn of my feelings. Only then could I Suppress this Love. Moreover, for it to be revealed like this, forcibly revealing my inner thoughts. After fainting from exhaustion. Due to the two shocks whispered to me by the demon. I ended up relying on him again like an ordinary girl, and I had become weak. "But... sometimes it’s so heavy I can’t bear it. I feel like running away from my life." My mouth spilled out my inner thoughts. Feelings I had never revealed to anyone, the truth I had hidden carefully, afraid of being deemed unsaintly if revealed to others. The person who quietly listened to my words. This time too. Truly, this time too. "You may be proud of yourself." As if he knew my heart completely. He told me the words I most wanted to hear. That's when I realized. 'Ah.' I can't stop, I thought. My heart was heading towards him. This passionate feeling. Pretending not to know was impossible. Not even the Sun God could ignore it. My body naturally leaned towards him. "Your Highness... what do you think of me?" What kind of Face I was making then. I couldn't see myself, but. However, the face reflected in his ocean-like eyes was. A girl who had fallen in Love. Exactly that. * Regrettably, I didn't get to hear the Answer. News of an attack came, and we hastily went outside. There was a man called the Knight Hunter. "Please. Grant me peace. If you do so, you may take this life." The Knight Hunter suddenly pleaded with me. Then, he showed his Mental Image. The memories filling my vision were too terrible. So painful it made one wonder how someone could live like that. And. "I couldn't remember what I liked. Not even a single hobby. Even staying up all night trying to recall, nothing came to mind. Only then did I realize." The conversation I had with him in my room flashed into my mind. -Could it be that smoking is your only Hobby? There was nothing in my room, since my life after becoming a Saintess was always filled only with duty. The things I like. The things I want to do. I recalled the bleak room where not a single one remained. I wanted to grant it, to accept his plea for Healing, but. 'It's impossible.' Such a miracle, even a Saintess couldn't perform. In the end, the Battle couldn't be stopped; the Knight Hunter tried to Destroy the Demon Sealing Stone as ordered by the Voice. During the Knife Fight, I ended up leaning on him again. "Am I... not worthy of being a Saintess...?" It hurt. Someone who had only been forced to do what must be done. Because I couldn't save someone just like myself, my Heart ached terribly. But. I knew now. "Your wish. I shall grant it." That he would understand my heart. And although I didn't know what Method he used. The Knight Hunter's mental image returned to normal, and he had bestowed Peace upon him. The person who lost consciousness due to his Wounds was moved to the Treatment room. I never left his Side. Continuously stroking his injured Hand. I waited for him to Wake up. * "How did you even think of fixing that person's Mental Image?" At my words, he explained the Method. An Imperial Household top secret: Using the Dragon's Blood allows one to Interfere with another's Mana and the Mana of the World. It was a surprising fact. But it wasn't a Topic I was particularly interested in. "Why did you do it?" He could have lost the use of his hand forever. Why, by such a Reckless act, Did he give Peace to the Knight Hunter? "...It was because I met a certain girl." Hearing the answer, I knew immediately. Who that certain girl was. For whom he had taken the risk. Seeing his face, laughing awkwardly as he said he wanted to help carry my Burdens. "..." I lowered my head. My face felt like it would burst; my Cheeks flushed Bright red, burning hot. No, more than that, my Heart felt like it would explode, beating so fast it Hurt. 'I see.' So this is Affection. 'I.' So this is Romantic Feelings. 'This person.' So this, is Love. 'I love him.' When I lifted my head again, I had made my Resolve. 'It's your fault.' Daring to Awaken the emotion called Love in a Saintess. 'If you made me awaken to these bad emotions, it's only natural you take responsibility, isn't it?' Yes, I am a Bad Saintess. The Smoking Saintess; truly, the World would be shocked if they knew. 'So.' Since I've already gone this far, isn't it okay to become even worse? "You don't have to answer." Even if you don't answer me, I don't care. "It doesn't matter anymore." Even if you deny it, I won't deny this feeling. "I, I love you." Laurent Von Wellert. I, Saintess Linette Michaela. Love you.

The Smoking Saintess (24)