Chapter 34

After finishing the sword training with the spirits,

"Fun!" "Let's do it again!" "Hee hee!"

The spirits were so excited, thinking they were just playing.

I was glad that the spirits were happy, but

"I couldn't... finish it in the end."

That was a disappointment.

"Hee hee!"

"Of course, spirits are fast, so you can't cut them. It's impossible for a five-year-old."

"That's not true. A five-year-old should be able to cut them."

Tomorrow, I'll definitely cut them. I strongly believe that.

"My stomach... is empty."

Moving around makes you hungry.

"Let's go get a snack."

"Woof!" "Kyuu kyuu" "Koh koh"

When I was still young.

Out of habit from my previous life, I once tried to eat something nearby when I was hungry. But my mother told me to stop because it would upset my stomach, so I did.

Actually, in my previous life, I often had an upset stomach, so my mother was right.

"When you're hungry, have a snack~"

My mother always says, "When you're hungry, I'll give you a proper snack, okay? I really mean it."

So, to get a snack, I walked to the dining room with Darc, Caro, and Korko, and

"Oh, Miss Lulia, you're all sweaty. Let's take a bath."

One of the maids caught me.

At the same time, Crow and the spirits quickly hid nearby.

It wasn't that the maid was scary, but she was trying to prevent me from accidentally talking to the spirits in front of others. Children who talk to invisible things are often considered creepy.

"Lulia, I'm hungry, so I'm going to the dining room."

"Yes, that's right. Then, let's have a proper snack later."

"Later? Can we have a snack first?"

"No, you have to take a bath first, then have a snack. You might catch a cold."

"Okay."

When we got to the room, the maid quickly prepared the bath.

While the maid washed my body, I asked about something that had been on my mind recently.

"Hmm~. Who is the most important person in the Church of the One God?"

"Why do you suddenly ask that?"

The maid seemed a bit surprised. It's understandable to be surprised when a five-year-old suddenly asks such a question.

Earlier, while talking with Crow, the topic of curse power came up.

In my previous life, the Church of the One God must have had the technology to utilize curse power.

If the Church of the One God still has that technology, it's a serious situation.

And if the Church of the One God is more powerful than the royal family, it's the worst-case scenario.

"Well, the most important person in the church is the Pope."

"Which is more important, the Emperor or the Pope?"

"Um, I'm not very knowledgeable, but... probably the Emperor."

"Is that so~"

The maid didn't say it definitively.

So, the relationship between the king and the pope might be delicate. That's what I felt.

What I really want to know is the current state of the Church of the One God.

Whether the Church of the One God is still trying to capture spirits.

If they are trying to capture them, do they have the technology?

I need to know this.

However, that would be a secret of the Church of the One God. Even my father might not know.

Before that, I need to learn about the relationship and power dynamics between the royal family and the Church of the One God.

"Maybe I should study history~"

"Close your eyes while I wash your hair. ...It would be good to consult with your father and mother."

"Good idea!"

"Don't open your eyes yet... Miss Lulia is so studious."

"Am I?"

While having my head washed, I thought of Marion.

The important wet nurse who left the mansion when I was three.

Marion often washed my body like this.

"...Is Marion doing well?"

"!"

For some reason, the maid gasped.

"What's wrong?"

"No, nothing. You can open your eyes now."

When I opened my eyes, the maid had a gentle smile on her face.

"Miss Lulia, please raise your hands. Yes, that's it."

"...Do you know how Marion is doing?"

Until I was about four, she would sometimes come to play, and I often received letters from her.

I also wrote back with my clumsy handwriting.

But she hasn't come to play for about half a year, and I haven't received any letters for the past three months.

Even when I sent letters, I didn't get any replies.

"...I'm not sure."

"Is that so~. Maybe Marion is busy too."

"Yes."

"Maybe I'll write a letter next time."

"I'm sure she'll be very happy."

The maid smiled, but she looked a bit sad.

I'll ask my father about Marion later. That's what I thought.