Erin looked down at Ophel Aichel with a very satisfied smile and performed a simple ceremony to appoint her as a Holy Knight.
She gently touched Ophel Aichel’s head and shoulders with her hands, then took out the holy book she always carried and placed it against Ophel Aichel’s forehead.
“This body of mine, solely for the sake of our Lord Igogodon.”
“The will of God is my will. It is the path I must take.”
“Even if it’s the lowest position among the honored Holy Knights, I will accept it with glory.”
After that, the ceremony concluded with Ophel Aichel reciting an abbreviated version of the ‘Holy Knight’s Oath.’ Erin, with a radiant smile like sunshine, spoke.
“You’ll likely have to leave this place soon. Once you are ready, please come to the square in front of Igogodon Cathedral.”
“I believe I’ve seen the cathedral in passing. You mean the building with the tallest spire, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct. Though, it’s now in past tense….”
[Smile!]
Wearing a fresh smile on her face, one that seemed it could burst at a mere touch—
“It has collapsed.”
“It collapsed…?!”
“Yes, by the will of God.”
Erin said so, bowing her head in prayer.
“Everything is according to God’s will.”
For a perfectly intact cathedral to collapse by divine will.
It was a situation worthy of suspicion, yet Ophel Aichel neither showed surprise nor asked further questions.
Instead, she bowed her head and expressed her respects.
She had lived her life without overthinking anything that was deemed the ‘will of God.’
‘If God thinks so, then that must be it.’ That was her motto.
“Understood. I will head there soon to escort the Saintess. Take care on your way.”
“Indeed. Until we meet again, Ophel Aichel. Then, farewell.”
***
After Saintess Erin had departed—
“My Lady!!”
The maids who had been standing behind Ophel Aichel, her usual attendants, approached her.
“My Lady Ophel Aichel! You’ve finally achieved what you always dreamed of—a Holy Knight! Congratulations!”
“Mm, thank you.”
“You even turned down the offer from the Erdurf family not long ago. We were so worried that you might end up quitting knighthood altogether.”
“Honestly! Why would our lady, who rejected offers from the Imperial Knights and the Nightheart family, go somewhere like the Erdurf family?”
“It’s truly fortunate that the Saintess appeared….”
After some light chatter, one of the maids, with a concerned expression, asked.
“You won’t be returning to the estate for a while, will you?”
“Probably not. It’ll be a long trip… no, not just a trip, but more like leaving the house entirely… a pilgrimage?”
“My Lady, do you mean you’re leaving to join the Holy Order?”
“Yes, that. It seems it will be a lengthy one.”
Although it wasn’t typical to discuss the length of such a departure, the maids seemed used to this kind of conversation and did not object.
“I feel a bit sad. Without you, My Lady, the absence will be so noticeable….”
“But it can’t be helped.”
Ophel Aichel said this, clasping her hands together in prayer, before declaring with unwavering devotion.
“I have dedicated this body of mine to serve God for my entire life.”
Her golden eyes, filled with sincerity, shone brilliantly.
The maids, watching Ophel Aichel’s devout expression, felt a deep sense of reverence.
Ophel Aichel Transrente.
Born as the sole daughter of the renowned Transrente family, she had shown exceptional talent as a ‘genius knight’ from a young age.
Despite her young age of 23, she had reached a certain ‘level,’ earning countless offers from nobles and even an invitation from the Imperial Knights.
However, Ophel Aichel had refused all such offers, including the Imperial family’s, with the simple reply, “I need more time.”
The reason for her refusals was straightforward—’I want to live a life serving Lord Igogodon.’
Of course, serving God ultimately meant becoming a Holy Knight.
She had been waiting for the day the Saintess would appear so she could fulfill her aspiration of becoming a Holy Knight.
It would be unfortunate if she couldn’t become a Holy Knight, but during her youth, she intended to wait for God’s words as long as possible.
Her upright personality and devoutness were remarkable.
It was no surprise that countless knights admired her.
This admiration extended to her employees as well.
Although there was a clear social gap between employer and employee, Ophel Aichel interacted with the maids without hesitation.
They deeply respected and followed Ophel Aichel, who treated them with courtesy despite their differing statuses.
Even if there were better-paying positions elsewhere, most of the employees of the Transrente family stayed for at least three years or more.
To her, under God, all humans were equal.
Charisma.
Among the three ‘dishes of Holy Knights,’ Ophel Aichel was undoubtedly the one with the greatest charisma.
“My Lady… We will miss you greatly.”
“Even while accompanying the Saintess, I will have ample opportunity to return here, so you need not be too saddened. I will gladly make time to come and visit you all again.”
At that moment, one of the maids approached her and whispered cautiously.
“My Lady, I only say this out of concern, but…”
“Hm?”
“I don’t know much about the knight Luca Heavenishian, but the rumors about Princess Linnea von Einsberg are not very favorable. My Lady, you are exceptionally kind-hearted, but not everyone is as good as you are, so please—”
“Belluna.”
Ophel Aichel interrupted the maid who was offering her advice.
“Apologies for cutting you off, but I have no desire to hear gossip about my future fellow Holy Knight. How could I brand a colleague I have yet to meet based solely on rumors?”
“My apologies.”
The maids then withdrew.
Finally left alone, Ophel Aichel once again began to pray.
Talking with God through prayer to calm her mind when alone was a habit she had developed since childhood.
‘Lord Igogodon, I am deeply grateful for Your boundless grace in appointing me as a Holy Knight. Please bestow upon me Your divine…’
‘God’s… what was it again?’
‘Devotion…?’
She couldn’t recall the word that came after.
Despite her diligent memorization, it still escaped her mind.
‘I lack training.’
Ophel Aichel sighed briefly.
However, just because she couldn’t remember didn’t mean she could avoid God.
‘I pray You bestow upon me Your divine “whatever it may be.” I will gladly accept it into my being and fill myself with it.’
With that short but heartfelt prayer, she was about to move when—
-Thud!
The circlet fell to the ground with a loud clatter as Ophel Aichel tripped and fell.
Her ears burned bright red for a moment… but fortunately, no one was around.
Quickly getting up, she dusted herself off with her hands.
‘Falling because I couldn’t tread the right path—this too is a trial from God. I shall overcome this trial without fail.’
‘What harm is there in falling?’
You simply dust yourself off and move forward.
Thinking of this as training made it all the more gratifying, ‘didn’t it?’
With that thought, Ophel Aichel slowly began her journey as a Holy Knight.
***
What did ‘a dish of Holy Knights’ mean? It referred to three Holy Knights.
Another female knight had received the Saintess Erin’s message.
However, her reaction differed slightly from Ophel Aichel.
If Ophel Aichel’s reaction could be described as reverence toward God, this knight’s emotion was distinctly different—confusion.
“A dish of Holy Knights, you said…?”
“Yes. Three Holy Knights together form one dish… That is God’s will.”
“Does that mean there are two other Holy Knights besides me?”
“Indeed.”
With long golden hair reminiscent of sunflowers and deep blue eyes like a royal emblem, the female knight raised her eyebrows in disbelief before cautiously asking.
“Then, all three candidates are…?”
“Yes. Based on God’s words and the scriptures, three Holy Knights have been selected.”
Princess Linnea von Einsberg, the royal candidate for Holy Knight, pondered briefly before nodding.
In any case, refusing was not an option, so there was no need to dwell on it.
“Understood. I accept the position as part of the Holy Knight dish.”
After a brief oath with Erin, the meeting concluded with Erin’s instructions to come to the under-reconstruction Igogodon Cathedral once preparations were complete.
Once Erin left, Linea’s expression turned cautious as she fell into thought.
‘How should I take this?’
The royal family’s desire for a Holy Knight had been simple.
Before the Saintess appeared, strengthening the faith and raising the Pope’s authority, they wanted to quickly establish a connection with the Church.
However, this plan required a single Holy Knight—a royal member, no less.
With three Holy Knights, the royal family lost the ability to leverage one as a bargaining chip.
Sure, they claimed it was based on scripture, but if they were displeased, they could always dismiss one under the pretext of “God’s will.”
In such a scenario, Linnea, with the weakest faith, was the most likely to be targeted.
‘I must discuss this with Mother.’
Linnea swiftly headed toward the audience chamber in Igogodon’s royal castle.
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