Watching the Saint of Diligence busily moving about, appearing as if she were hard at work building a nest, Aililan’s most frequent reaction was to scratch her head with a complicated expression.
She was a lover, yet she also felt like she was being kept.
The most terrifying part was that she was the Saint of Chastity. Despite that, she was having an affair with the Saint of Diligence, and she was even plundering the wealth of the Sacred Treasury to facilitate it.
If Aililan had a phone, she would probably post a question online:
‘I am the Saint of Chastity. My Virtue is supposed to be pure and flawless, yet I am having an affair with another woman, and it is someone right next to me. Is this normal?’
Yarandale, the Head Maid, approached. She watched the Saint of Diligence, who had just departed, with a look of hesitation.
“Your relationship with the Saint of Diligence is truly excellent, Saintess.”
Aililan chuckled. “Among Saintesses, when are our relationships ever anything but good?”
Yarandale nodded before mentioning another matter.
“News has come from the Temple. The Saint of Temperance wants you to prepare for a meeting with several individuals from the Fifth Wing Region.”
Aililan was somewhat surprised. “They have arrived already? Since when?”
“The Saint of Temperance said you could head over this afternoon,” Yarandale replied.
Aililan waved her hand dismissively. “No need to wait for the afternoon. I will go now.”
She was already prepared to negotiate with the high-ranking officials of the Fifth Wing regarding the power and resources she required. With that, she moved to head out.
However, Yarandale suddenly grew anxious. “Saintess, please wait a moment.”
“What is it? Is there something else?”
Yarandale stammered slightly. “I… I should tidy your appearance for you. After all, it is an important meeting. We cannot allow your image to be affected.”
Aililan snorted coldly. “Do they even deserve for me to make a special effort with my appearance?”
Yarandale’s gaze, however, drifted toward Aililan’s collarbone. There was a small red mark there. It looked like… a strawberry.
Despair instantly filled her heart. She had discovered a massive secret, but she did not dare speak of it. After all, she was just a mere Head Maid.
Was she supposed to say, “The Saint of Diligence has been coming to the manor every day lately, and after she leaves, my Saintess has a strange mark on her collarbone”?
It was hard being a person, but it was even harder being a Head Maid.
Seeing that Aililan was already walking out, Yarandale became truly desperate. She hurried to catch up.
“Saintess, please wait. I recently learned a new Healing Art. Please allow me to demonstrate it for your guidance.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she cast the Healing Art directly onto Aililan. A faint light flashed, and the mark on her collarbone vanished instantly.
“Yarandale, you…”
Aililan’s tone immediately became stern. She felt her Head Maid was being far too undisciplined today. But in the next second, Yarandale was already kneeling on the ground with a wronged expression, begging for punishment.
Aililan suddenly realized what had happened. Cold sweat instantly broke out across her body. If Yarandale had not reminded her, and she had gone to meet the other Saintesses with that mark…
That would have been a total disaster.
“You…” Aililan fell silent for a moment, her tone softening. “Your Healing Art is already very good. Besides, I have always kept a close eye on your abilities. Yarandale, you are a good maid. I am very satisfied with you.”
She thought for a moment. “I recall there is an Imperial Maid Academy. Next year, I will do my best to secure a spot for you.”
Yarandale was completely stunned. After Aililan left, she began to tremble with excitement. A spot at the Imperial Maid Academy was practically a guarantee of becoming a core squire by the Saintess’s side in the future—a position similar to a private secretary.
Then, her expression turned solemn. She immediately summoned all the maids in the manor.
“The Saint of Chastity and the Saint of Diligence were discussing top-secret Church business within this manor,” she said severely. “You had best act as though the Saint of Diligence never came here. If any rumors appear outside, I will personally tear out the tongue of whoever spoke them.”
The maids nodded hurriedly. No one dared to talk back.
They knew that six months ago, the Head Maid had not been Yarandale. That previous Head Maid had met a miserable end for disobeying the Saintess. Others did not know the reason, but Yarandale did. That woman had been privately passing messages and gifts for Fina Nisi, dealing with outsiders behind the Saintess’s back. A Head Maid like that deserved to die.
Yarandale thought for a while and added, “I will go to the maid quarters later to pick a few more people. Those currently in the manor will follow the Saintess to Atester in the future.”
The best way to keep a secret was not through threats, but by keeping everyone who knew the truth by one’s side. That way, the secret would never leak.
“This time when I go to the maid quarters, I should select some maids who understand management and commerce,” Yarandale whispered to herself. “The Saintess’s private assets and the Wine Estate also need people to manage them.”
***
Meanwhile, Aililan had arrived at the Central Temple. She recalled the information on the people from the Fifth Wing in her mind. The high-ranking officials summoned this time included one Archbishop, six Bishops, six City Lords, six Chairmen of the council, and over twenty military and political leaders.
At the entrance of the meeting hall, the Saint of Diligence and the Saint of Gentleness were standing there waiting for her.
“The two of you?”
The Saint of Diligence smiled. “We came to help you preside over the meeting.”
Aililan nodded. “Thanks.”
Diligence leaned in close and whispered, “Why are you being so polite with me?”
Aililan suddenly felt a bit nervous. “Um… Diligence, Sister Gentleness is watching.”
Diligence did not care at all. “What is there to fear? We haven’t done anything we should feel guilty about.”
The Saint of Gentleness looked puzzled. “What are you two talking about? I can’t understand a single word.”
On the other side, in a room within the Temple, Isiphlan—one of the Seven Regents—along with the Saintesses of Temperance, Generosity, Humility, and Tolerance, were observing the hall through a crystal ball. They had originally intended to observe the people from the Fifth Wing and help Aililan screen them.
Suddenly, the normally serious Isiphlan burst into laughter.
“Haha…”
Her laughter was light, but clearly very joyful. The Saintess of Generosity and the Saint of Temperance were both stunned.
“You… haven’t laughed like that in a long time,” the Saintess of Generosity said in surprise.
The Saint of Temperance quickly tried to explain, “Diligence and Chastity are usually a bit naughty. Please do not take offense.”
Isiphlan waved her hand, a smile still lingering on her lips. “No. I simply like the child, Chastity, very much. After all, she is the Saint of Chastity.”
The Saint of Humility looked confused. “What about the Saint of Chastity?”
Isiphlan just smiled. “Nothing. You will all understand later.”
Humility continued to press her. “Understand what?”
Isiphlan narrowed her eyes and said with a smile, “Naturally, I mean the Traditional Skill of the Chastity Saintess.”
The other Saintesses were filled with questions. ‘What does that mean? What traditional skill?’
Isiphlan offered no further explanation. She simply watched the image in the crystal ball, smiling without a word. She had seen through it long ago.
As for the Saint of Chastity—how could one ever not steal a forbidden taste?