“Ahem… Today doesn’t seem to be a good day. I’ll assume it’s because you’re busy preparing for the birthday celebration.”

The nobleman spat out in a displeased voice.

Belladonna tilted her head, forcing a smile.

As she gave her most beautiful smile with all her might, she could see the nobleman’s terribly crumpled face relax slightly.

“No matter how busy you are, please think of us believers too. Since you got married, we haven’t had a chance for confession with the Saint.”

“…”

“Then I’ll come again next time.”

The nobleman stood up from the chair with a creaking sound.

Belladonna nodded and saw him off with a seemingly relaxed expression. Though her heart was far from it.

Ah, I need to pull myself together… If the believers’ complaints reach the Pope’s ears…!

If that happened, there was a high chance she wouldn’t even be able to enjoy the little freedom she had now.

As the nobleman left, a priest poked his head through the open door.

“Saint, the next believer is waiting right away. Shall I tell them to come in?”

Belladonna straightened her posture and nodded.

She clenched and unclenched her fists repeatedly as she received the next believer.

[This is the timeline separator]

On her way back to her room after finishing her schedule, Belladonna walked with slumped shoulders.

I’m tired…

The nobles of the Ellinerus Empire seemed to have so many worries and secrets that they often exceeded the allotted time and had to be dragged away by priests, and many came for several days in a row.

And they all showed disappointment if Belladonna didn’t seem to remember them properly.

‘But how am I supposed to remember all those believers…!’

Belladonna kicked at the pebbles scattered on the ground as she walked, feeling unjustly treated.

As she was moving along, complaining inwardly, she heard priests talking in low voices not far away.

“Oh my, who gave this?”

“The magician! You know, that incredibly old magician? The one with the beard grown down to here…”

Belladonna suddenly lifted her head, which had been bowed. An elderly magician? With a beard grown to his thighs?

Could it be… Are they talking about Fabion?

Turning her gaze to where the conversation was coming from, she saw priests gathered under a large tree, looking down at something.

“Really? He’s capable in many ways, isn’t he? Should I ask him to make one for me too?”

“Me too, me too! It’s so pretty…”

What, what is it…?

What did Fabion make for them?

Belladonna slowly moved her steps towards them. Let me see too!

“It won’t be easy, you know? He appears like the wind and disappears like the wind. He only shows up at the Papal Office occasionally, and since he doesn’t stay here, I don’t even know where he resides.”

“That’s true… But still, if he appears next time, ask him about mine too! I want one too.”

“Alright, I’ll ask him next time we meet… Oh, Saint?”

At that moment, one of the gathered priests noticed Belladonna approaching and greeted her.

Belladonna smiled brightly and approached them even closer.

“Did you have a good day today, Saint?”

“Are you returning to your room now? You must be tired!”

The priests greeted her with various pleasantries, smiling.

Belladonna nodded to them casually and then subtly pointed at what they were looking at.

So what is that…?

“Ah! Saint, would you like to see this? It’s something a magician who occasionally visits the Papal Office made for us. It’s a bracelet that can be tied and worn on the wrist. He said he put a light luck spell on it.”

A luck spell? Belladonna looked down at the thin thread bracelet the priest was holding out.

“He said he usually sells these for money, but when we gather some of the food we priests eat and serve it to him, he makes these for us in return.”

“That person, being a wandering magician, doesn’t eat regular meals. And he’s quite old too… We feel uneasy about it, so we try to take care of him like that.”

Belladonna smiled again, as if to say they did well.

The priests, praised by her, tilted their heads with proud expressions.

“Hehe…”

Hmm, so even these priests don’t know where Fabion stays? Does this mean I’ll have to wait for when he visits the Papal Office to meet him…?

“Ah! Could he be staying at the Gaia Hotel?”

At that moment, one of the priests looking at the thread bracelet clapped his hands and blurted out.

“Gaia Hotel? Well, that place is quite expensive. The magician didn’t seem to have much money…”

“No, why, the owner of that hotel is very favorable to magicians. It’s no exaggeration to say that almost all magicians visiting Astanya stay there. He might be giving these magic items instead of room rent there too.”

“I see…”

Gaia Hotel?

Belladonna perked up her ears and focused on the priests’ conversation.

‘If it’s the Gaia Hotel…’

She knew the general location of that place, having seen it briefly in her previous life.

If only I could go out for a moment and find that place… Wait, what’s my schedule for tomorrow?

Belladonna furrowed her brow and began to recall her schedule.

[This is the timeline separator]

The next day, as soon as Belladonna got up, she sought out Rosie.

Rosie, summoned without knowing why, looked down at the note Belladonna had prepared in advance and then raised her head with a puzzled expression.

“Sudden outing? For about half a day?”

Nod, nod.

At Belladonna’s nod, Rosie seemed to ponder for a moment.

“You don’t have any schedule today for once, but leaving so suddenly right before a big event probably won’t be allowed…”

At that moment, Belladonna grasped her hand tightly and looked up at her with desperate eyes.

Rosie, please…

“Sa-Saint… Th-then I’ll quickly ask the Pope and come back! Will you wait for a moment?”

At Rosie’s words, who was looking down at her with a pitiful face, Belladonna quickly turned her head, grabbed a pen, and started writing something at the bottom of the paper.

[No. I’d like to keep it a secret from Father until the end. As you said, I don’t want to cause unnecessary worry before the big event.]

“But… Do you really have to go out yourself, Saint? If you tell me what it is, I can go instead! How about that?”

That won’t do! Belladonna shook her head.

[Actually, I want to buy a gift for Father. As you know, I’m married, and after the event, I’ll have to return to Griblata, right? I think Father will feel very lonely when I go back to Griblata… I want to give him a gift that can replace me when I leave.]

“Oh my, I see…”

Rosie covered her mouth with one hand after confirming the contents of the paper.

Belladonna already knew that Rosie was living alone with her widowed father.

She would often get an outing permit from the Papal Office to go out and visit her father in the city.

I’m sorry to Rosie, but I have to exploit her weak point…!

After pondering for a moment, Rosie opened her mouth.

“H-how long do you think it will take? How about moving together with me instead?”

No! That’s not possible! The father’s gift is just an excuse, I need to go meet Fabion!

Belladonna shook her head with a face that said she couldn’t possibly ask for such trouble.

“I-I’m fine! If I’m with you, it will be much easier for you to get an outing permit! And actually…”

At that moment, Rosie, who had been watching Belladonna’s expression, carefully opened her mouth.

“I-I also want to go out to see my father… Actually, I’ve used up all the outing permits I can get this month. But if I’m with you, Saint… I think I might be able to go out one more time…”

Belladonna looked at Rosie, who was trailing off. Wait, so…

Rosie wanted to use her as an excuse to go see her father.

If that’s the case… It’s beneficial for both of us, isn’t it?

It seemed that Rosie was planning to part ways with her and go meet her father as soon as they left the Papal Office.

After thinking for a moment, she grasped Rosie’s hands and smiled.

Alright! Then please, Rosie! Let’s use each other!

[This is the timeline separator]

“Half a day will be enough?”

“Yes, you know how busy our Saint is! We’ll be back soon.”

“Hmm… I know Priest Rosie has used up her outings for this month, can’t you go with another priest?”

“Ah, well, that…”

They thought it would be easy to go out, but the knights guarding the Papal Office were not so easy.

Rosie blinked her eyes with a noticeably flustered face, not having expected this obstacle.

Belladonna, watching Rosie’s side profile, reached out her hand towards the knight standing at the front.

“Yes? Sa-Saint…”

The knight flinched as he looked down at her.

Belladonna grasped the knight’s arm tightly with a bright smile. Please, nameless knight…

The knight’s face could be seen gradually reddening as he confirmed her smile.

“…Alright. Open the gate for them right now!”

Soon, the red-faced knight turned around.

Belladonna gave him one more grateful smile and then moved her steps through the gate they opened for her.

Rosie quickly followed behind her, scurrying out.

“Phew, it’s all thanks to you, Saint!”

Not at all! It’s all thanks to you. Belladonna shook her head at Rosie, who was grinning broadly.

As they walked straight out of the Papal Office and reached a fork in the road, Rosie glanced back and opened her mouth.

“Um, Saint. Th-then… Sh-shall we meet here after you’re done with your business…? I’ll only need a very short time!”

Of course! I’d be even happier if you let me go this quickly!

Belladonna nodded her head greatly.

With Belladonna’s permission, Rosie’s face brightened even more.

“Then I’ll see you later, Saint!”

She bowed deeply to Belladonna, then quickly turned and ran off.

She had mentioned that her father wasn’t well recently, so it seemed she was quite worried.

After watching her retreating figure for a moment, Belladonna pulled the hood of her robe deep over her face to hide it and moved in the opposite direction.

Gaia Hotel…

If her memory was correct, she needed to move her steps quickly from now on to reach that building.