Chapter 35: Ties with the Church

La Ruota Della Church—

A church dedicated to the Sister Goddesses, built at the same time the kingdom was founded.
Located at the southern edge of the royal capital, it is surrounded by nature and filled with clean, refreshing air.
From inside the carriage, Faustina gazed at the many flowers cultivated by the church staff, then alighted when her father, Citrin, called to her.
The carriage had stopped at the nobles-only carriage stand, where several other carriages besides the Vitkenshtein family’s were parked.
At the church entrance visible from the main gate, a great many commoners had gathered.

“I guess there are lots of people with birthdays besides me today.”

When Faustina said this while walking behind her parents, Citrin replied, “Some are here for birthdays, and others are here to pray.”

“I wonder what kinds of things they’re praying for.”

“That depends on the individual.”

Some pray for success in business, others come to wish for love.
When the word “love” crossed her mind, Faustina had an idea.
It would mean relying on the goddesses, but she could pray for Bernhard and Elvira’s love to be fulfilled.
There was a tradition that when receiving a blessing, the goddesses would hear the wish held in one’s heart.
Because there were people whose wishes had truly come true, the tradition was considered highly credible.

She pictured Bernhard and Elvira as they once were.
The two whom everyone praised as “fated lovers.”
There had been no space for Faustina to wedge herself between them, and yet she had done countless foolish things just to make Bernhard look her way.

(Ugh… I feel like crying…)

She had told Aeria that she had no intention of becoming Crown Princess.
But she had also said this.
That feelings she had held for eleven years would not disappear so easily.
Even if Faustina struggled to bring Bernhard and Elvira together, the feelings deep in her heart would never vanish, pricking her little by little.

Like a small fish bone stuck in her throat.
No matter how much she told herself it was just a fish bone, it would not go away.

When they reached the front, Citrin spoke to a priest standing near the entrance.
After exchanging a few words, the three of them entered the church with the priest leading the way.
Commoners without titles used the lower sanctuary, while nobles and royalty used the upper sanctuary.

Upon entering, a glossy sky-blue ceiling caught Faustina’s eye.
The upper sanctuary lay at the top of a staircase deeper within the lower sanctuary.
The gazes of the commoners flickered toward Faustina and her family.
Seeing nobles was a rare occurrence, after all.
Especially Faustina, with the same hair and eye color as the Sister Goddesses, drew many stares.

They proceeded deeper and ascended the staircase on the left.
Beautiful stained glass that was not present in the lower sanctuary welcomed them.
The stained glass depicted the story of the kingdom’s founding.
Faustina, who retained memories from before, clearly remembered which scene each panel represented.

Because other noble carriages had arrived as well, they needed to wait their turn.
They were guided to a waiting room to the right of the sanctuary.

“We will come to call you when it is your turn.”

“Thank you.”

After the priest brewed tea for the three of them and departed, Citrin and Ludmilla sat side by side, with Faustina seated across from them.
A wide variety of sweets had been prepared on the table.

“Ah,” Faustina said aloud.
A label on the teapot read “House of Vitkenshtein.”

Noticing her gaze, Citrin explained.

“The church researches in advance which families will be receiving birthday blessings each day and prepares tea in the waiting rooms accordingly.”

“I see. I didn’t know that.”

“It’s not widely known outside of church circles.”

“Then why do you know so much about it, Father?”

“Our house has had various ties with the church since long ago.”
“I only know because of those connections.”

Ties.
Faustina nodded in understanding.
Their family was one in which reincarnations of the goddesses were born generation after generation.
It would not be strange for them to have ties to a church that worshipped the Sister Goddesses.

She lifted her teacup and drank her tea.
While waiting for their turn, Faustina decided to enjoy both the tea and the sweets.

She curiously examined a bird-shaped cookie and took a bite.
It had likely been prepared for nobles, as it was no different from the cookies she usually ate.
As Faustina cheerfully ate, Citrin quietly spoke to Ludmilla.

“After Faustina’s blessing is finished, could you wait a little longer?”
“I have something to discuss with the head priest.”

“I understand.”
“…But is it about that?”

“Yes… probably.”

“Wasn’t the church supposed to have promised not to involve itself with Faustina when she was born?”

“That’s right.”
“But that was only because our house and the royal family forced the issue.”
“The church never gave up on Faustina.”
“Because of Arva, the church cannot press the royal family too hard.”
“In that respect, our house is the same.”

…

Every year on Faustina’s birthday, the name Arva inevitably came up between the couple.
Ludmilla watched Faustina, smiling as she ate a crescent-shaped cookie, with worried eyes.

—After some time had passed, a priest appeared in the waiting room.
Faustina followed him to the innermost part of the upper sanctuary.
Her parents watched from a short distance away.

At the very back stood a priest with a gentle smile, silver hair, and blue eyes.
He looked quite young, not much different in age from her parents.
When Faustina approached, he bowed slowly, and she mirrored the gesture.

“Faustina-sama turns eight years old this year, do you not?”

“Yes.”

This exchange, too, was her second time.
After completing the prescribed ritual dialogue, the priest spoke the words of blessing.
Faustina knelt, closed her eyes, and clasped her hands before her chest as she listened, then slowly opened her eyes.

“May happiness be upon you throughout this coming year…”

She made her wish clearly to the Sister Goddesses.
That Bernhard and Elvira would be brought together.
That she herself could quickly have the engagement dissolved.
As she prayed, the pricking pain in her heart grew stronger, but she pretended not to notice.

Straightening her posture, Faustina looked up at the priest.
When her eyes met his gentle blue ones, he smiled softly.

“Priest-sama, has she finished?”

Timing it just so, Citrin stepped forward to the innermost area.
For some reason, his tone sounded slightly different than usual.
When Faustina looked at him curiously, he noticed her gaze and gave a wry smile.

“Ah, sorry, Fana.”

“? No, it’s fine.”

“I’m sorry, but I have something to discuss with the priest.”
“Could you wait in the earlier waiting room with Ludmilla?”

“Understood.”

Thinking it was just her imagination, Faustina pushed the thought aside and returned to the waiting room with Ludmilla.

Left behind, Citrin turned to the priest with a grim expression.

“Please don’t make that face, Duke.”
“Even if you are dissatisfied with the decision made by the royal family and your house, I have no intention of doing anything now.”

“Does that dissatisfaction ever fade?”

“It never will.”

The royal family and the ducal house had committed acts grave enough for that.
The priest was clearly implying as much, and Citrin had no words to offer in reply.