CHAPTER 066
Patting someone's head like a child is probably not a good idea. I shouldn't do it again next time.
As I slowly lowered my hand, Lewis lifted the corners of his mouth into a smile.
"Thinking about it again, I think I can endure it."
"Oh, really?"
Could my patting on the head have worked?
Lewis spoke with a smile on his face.
"Yeah, go well. Think about me a lot."
"Yes... I will."
I answered in a daze.
He couldn't endure a single day, and yet suddenly this change in attitude?
Lewis's smile seemed unusually joyful.
* * *
'Have a good trip! Please make sure Bella doesn't get into any trouble!'
'Yes, Marquis!'
With the Marquis's request in mind, we left for the capital.
The place we gathered was Ayles, near the capital where Saint Raphael's tomb was located.
Of course, Charlotte was here too. She always had an interest in things like this.
"I've always wanted to visit this place at least once."
"I heard there are a lot of restrictions when you come here."
Bella spoke as if she was foreseeing the upcoming hardships.
Michael was very worried when he heard we were coming here. He said Bella wouldn't be able to stand it.
Everyone was worried about Bella, so it made me anxious too!
As we gathered in a large room with other young ladies, a middle-aged woman soon appeared.
With a strict impression, she introduced herself briefly.
"I'm Michelle Meyer, in charge of the test."
She mentioned she had been working here for 20 years, selecting the representative lady for the annual memorial ceremony.
"During your stay here, you cannot meet or contact anyone from the outside."
This was something I already knew.
No contact with outsiders, no alcohol, and so on.
There were quite a few restrictions, all to avoid trivial temptations and to experience the life of the saint who focused solely on a life of faith.
It's supposed to be a kind of mental training while staying here.
It didn't seem like it would be easy...
The first day in Ayles started with education.
"Saint Raphael was born as the second son of a Count..."
And it was an incredibly boring education!
I was getting sleepy, and my eyelids were drooping. Sitting down seemed to make it worse.
When I looked at Bella next to me, she was already dozing off.
If she kept nodding off like that, it would be noticeable. Should I wake her up?
Just as I was about to tap Bella, she suddenly lifted her head. At the same time, something flew right into her outstretched hand.
What was it? What flew in?
I looked ahead in surprise and saw the teacher in charge looking at us.
"Focus, please."
Bella had a piece of chalk in her hand.
It seemed the teacher had thrown the chalk, and Bella had caught it by reflex.
"What is this? A piece of chalk?"
The teacher threw chalk at a dozing noble lady without hesitation, but Bella's reflexes were also impressive.
"Did you just throw this? At me?"
Bella widened her eyes and glared at the teacher.
The teacher flinched. Bella looked intimidating even with just her eyes wide open...
"He did it to wake you up."
I whispered to Bella.
"Really?"
"Of course. You woke up, didn't you?"
"Well, if you say so."
Bella's fierce demeanor quickly softened.
The teacher seemed relieved, his body visibly relaxing.
It was fortunate that things went smoothly. The first day at the sanctuary passed without major incidents, though it was a close call.
The next morning, a maid from the sanctuary brought in some water.
"Did you sleep well?"
She quietly bowed and poured the water into a cup before handing it to me.
"You should drink this water as soon as you wake up."
"Water?"
"It purifies the mind and body."
Does it mean it would make me feel purified?
When I drank it, it indeed tasted different.
"Ugh!"
Why does it taste so fishy? Is it because it's healthy?
After drinking the water, I had breakfast in my room.
After getting ready and arriving at the same room as yesterday on time, I saw the young ladies gathered.
Bella and Charlotte had arrived earlier than me. Bella approached me when she saw me coming.
"Good to see you, Selina. Did you drink that water too?"
"Yes."
"How did it taste? Terrible, right?"
"Yes! So it wasn't just me?"
"I knew it!"
So, Bella found it terrible too.
But Charlotte tilted her head beside us.
"That's strange? It tasted sweet to me."
"Sweet?"
Really?
"How could it be sweet?"
I tilted my head as well.
Why would it taste sweet only to Charlotte?
A passing Host lady provided the answer.
"Maybe Yaniels lady has a problem with her taste buds, or they gave her a sweetened water."
"Only to me?"
Charlotte's eyes widened.
The Host lady continued her logical explanation.
"But there's no reason for them to give you sweet water here, so it seems like your taste buds are acting up."
"What? Oh my god."
Charlotte covered her mouth in shock.
What could it be?
I looked back and forth between the staggering Charlotte and Bella, who was supporting her.
"Something so sudden... The soup I had this morning didn't taste good though."
"The soup was okay. Anyway, losing your taste buds won't kill you. Get a grip!"
In the midst of all this, I had a thought.
If Charlotte was the only one who tasted sweetness, could it be because of divine power...?
Even though nothing came up when we tested her at the temple before, things might have changed over time.
"Everyone, please take your seats."
Madame Meyer entered, and the confusion was soon settled.
We drank that strange water again the next day.
After drinking that water four times, it would be time to return home.
Ah, it's so boring. That was my impression on the third day of the sanctuary life.
With so many restrictions and nothing interesting to learn!
Bella was also accumulating a lot of complaints and grumbling.
"Learning about the scriptures is fine, but why do they make us copy them?"
"But now, the third day is almost over. Only two more nights to go!"
Let's hang in there, Bella!
Encouraging Bella, I went to the lounge where four ladies were gathered. It was after dinner, during our free time.
Since today's education was over, there was no problem spending a few hours here.
As long as we went to bed on time!
In the lounge was also the Host lady who diagnosed Charlotte's taste buds the other morning.
But what were they talking about?
Seeing Bella, the Host lady spoke to her group.
"Lady Croft might like this."
"What would I like?"
Bella asked, and the Host lady answered cheerfully.
"A scary game."
A scary game?
"Visiting Saint Raphael's tomb and circling around it!"
"At this hour? It's already nine o'clock."
I checked the time and said, but the Host lady nonchalantly replied.
"It's only nine o'clock. Staying up past nine isn't a big deal when we're at parties in the capital, right?"
"That's true, but..."
The Lady Meyer wouldn't be pleased if we did something like a courage test in the sanctuary, even if today's schedule was over!
I mentioned this, and the Host lady responded.
"It's free time now. We're not even leaving the sanctuary."
"Right!"
Other ladies nodded in agreement.
It seemed everyone wanted a little mischief. They must have been really bored...
"That sounds fun."
I knew this would happen.
The Host lady's guess was right.
Bella responded positively.
"But who will go?"
Bella asked, and the Host lady grinned.
"We'll decide by drawing lots."
Though we wanted everyone to take turns, it was decided that only one person would go.
I was shocked by the rule.
"You mean you'll draw lots to pick one person?"
"Yes. It would be fun if everyone went, but it would take too much time."
Only one person...
How can one person go to such a place!
The Host lady, not noticing my trembling, tried to persuade me.
"Lady Elsner, join us in drawing lots."
"No, thanks. I'm afraid I'll be the one picked..."
Seriously. Really! I always get picked in these situations!
But the ladies reassured and persuaded me.
"It's just one in six odds."
"Right, just don't draw the marked one."
Is that so? It sounded like the odds were in my favor...
"It's harder to get picked with six people!"
Eventually, I was swayed by their words.
"Alright, I'll try."
I just need to not get picked, right?
"Good decision!"
"I won't get picked, will I?"
"Of course not!"
But...
The paper I confidently drew had a circle drawn on it.
What does a circle mean? It means I was picked!
"Oh, Lady Elsner got picked?"
"This is unbelievable!"
As I despaired, the Host lady comforted me.
"Don't worry. It's the sanctuary, after all. Nothing will happen."
But why do you seem so happy about this...?
"Sending Selina alone."
"Want to come with me?"
I turned to Bella, who was smiling and shaking her head.
"What are you afraid of, Selina? If you meet a ghost, punch it in the chest!"
"..."
It was clear Bella had no intention of joining me.
In the end, I was the one to face the courage test alone.
"Be careful, my lady!"
"Tell us what you find there."
What if there's something? That would be a big problem...
Anyway, with the enthusiastic support of the ladies, I left the building.
It wasn't like there weren't soldiers guarding the sanctuary at this hour.
There were guards stationed around the perimeter.
They were spread around to keep outsiders from entering, but there
were no soldiers guarding the saint's tomb itself, which was strange.
Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to do this courage test.
I walked forward, relying on the lamp I held.
"Why is it so dark?"
There was no way not to be scared.
There were wall lamps spaced far apart, so even with the light, it wasn't very bright.
At least bars and party venues are brightly lit!
After walking for about 10 minutes, I finally arrived in front of the tomb.
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