Chapter 43

In the northeast of the capital, a small town lay a few days' journey upstream along the Ureli River. The town had a stagecoach station and served as a relay point for merchants heading to the capital, bustling and thriving despite its small size.

However, with the start of the rainy season, unsettling rumors began to spread through the town, little by little.

"Hey, the kids were making a fuss again, saying they saw something strange."

"Have you heard? They say a creepy animal carcass washed up on the riverbank."

"Yeah, I heard that. It smelled awful. They say the town guards collected it."

"Hey, could it be... a lich beast...?"

"No way! The Holy Knights took care of all the lich beasts, didn't they?"

"But I heard that a half-formed one appeared near the capital just the other day."

The townspeople, spreading these rumors, looked up at the sky with unease.

"Hey! Another black thing just flowed down the river!"

The children, who were looking at the river, said this innocently. As a woman who seemed to be their mother scolded them and led them back home, the townspeople's unease grew.

Watching this from a distance, the merchants who had stopped in the town also wore troubled expressions.

"Something's off... I have a bad feeling."

"Is it your merchant's intuition?"

While having a meal at a restaurant, an elderly merchant of daily goods and a fruit seller were chatting, and the other merchants nearby also joined in.

"It's almost time for the Holy Knight and the Holy Maiden's wedding celebration, right? Why are things like this happening?"

"Speaking of which, there are some strange rumors about the Holy Maiden."

"Is it that one? I heard that none of the clerics or priests who returned from the battlefield call her the Holy Maiden."

A young merchant frowned and muttered.

"My sister is a priest who went to the battlefield, so I asked her about the Holy Maiden. She said, 'She's just a novice priest.' She didn't know anything more and said the knights just called her that."

"But, isn't the Holy Maiden living in the royal castle now?"

"Come to think of it, the church is being unusually quiet. I thought they didn't like flashy things."

The merchants looked at each other.

"Thinking about it, I've only heard about the Holy Maiden through rumors..."

"But, to invite her to live in the royal castle just based on rumors... that's a bit much, isn't it?"

"Yeah, I think Duke Jemerald is her backer."

"Well, clerics and priests don't usually spread rumors, so that's understandable."

They seemed to accept this and the conversation came to a close, but some of the merchants continued to ponder.

◆◆◆

At that time, in a room in the royal castle, Emily was handed several small bottles by Marianne.

"Make holy water...?"

"Yes, it's a request from the capital church. There are rumors that some lich beasts, which were not detected in the north, have been washing up along the river. They want to prepare more holy water as a precaution and are asking for your cooperation."

Emily forced a smile at Marianne, who was still smiling.

– Yeah, I'm not good at making holy water...

But she couldn't think of an excuse to refuse, so she took the bottles filled with water. Then, to finish quickly, she tried to use purification magic, placing her fingertips on the bottle.

"Wait, Lady Marianne, isn't this water already purified...?"

"No, I received the bottles from the priest and my maid just fetched water from the castle well."

"Really...?"

Emily felt a cold sweat run down her spine upon hearing this.

Normally, before purification, the water would show a black, mist-like substance when the purification magic was activated. This is the 'impurity' or 'miasma' that is usually present in any water. Purifying it gives the water a blessing.

Emily tried again, placing her hand on the bottle.

– No way... why...?

She felt her body temperature drop rapidly. There was nothing visible in the water in the bottle, and nothing manifested in her hand.

Marianne looked at Emily, who seemed a bit off, with a puzzled expression.

"Lady Marianne, I'm sorry, but I'm not feeling well right now..."

"Oh, I apologize for not noticing. You've been busy with your lady education lately."

Marianne continued in a calm voice.

"The holy water isn't urgent. You can take a break and make it when you have time."

"Yes... Can I pray to the goddess today and rest?"

"Of course, prayer time is important."

With Marianne's cheerful agreement, Emily rushed to the chapel in the royal castle.

– Have I not been praying properly all this time?? No way, not now...

Entering the chapel with a sense of urgency, she faced the statue of the goddess, sat down, closed her eyes, and clasped her hands.

She prayed fervently for the power of blessing to return to her.