Chapter 60 Identity

When the whole truth was finally uncovered, Eric, standing as an outsider, felt somewhat at a loss for words.

For so long, the burden weighing upon Alana's teacher, Dania, had been Gabi's resentment toward her. Regarding her younger sister's death, the person she truly could not forgive was herself.

At that moment, Eric's sympathy for Dania was even greater than that for Sister Gabi, who had endured decades of hardship at the border.

"Yet only Sister Dania has lived on in this world, allowing Grand Sister Gabi to continue hating her, isn't that so?"

Eric finally spoke up. "Until the end of her life, you retain the choice not to forgive her."

Gabi looked at him. "His Highness means?"

"Let her be stationed elsewhere, away from the Saintess's Convent," Eric said. "Any convent will do. Let her live on—you know of her while she remains unaware of you. You need not see her, and certainly need not forgive her."

Having someone to hate was still better than having only oneself to blame.

Gabi lowered her gaze, let out a silent and prolonged sigh, and bowed her head once more.

"All decisions regarding the Saintess's Convent are left to the discretion of Her Holiness the Saintess."

Eric breathed an inward sigh of relief.

Her response implied her consent.

He had belatedly realized that whether it was Gabi showing goodwill toward him or her current concession—which fell somewhat short of a complete reconciliation—it likely stemmed from the Saintess's intentions, serving both to protect Gabi and to safeguard the future of the Saintess's Convent.

"I am already tired today."

Trusting that Gabi would properly handle the remaining matters, Eric said, "Grand Sister Gabi, I leave the affairs of the convent in your hands."

Gabi bowed her head in salute. "Farewell, Your Highness."

Alana, following close behind, also offered a deep bow before hurrying to catch up with Eric.

After leaving the convent, the two strolled through other areas of the monastery before returning to the Saintess's quarters. Eric went to pay his respects to the elderly Saintess, taking Alana with him.

"I thought you would wait until I passed away before resolving this issue," the Saintess said, evidently already informed of what had transpired at the convent.

"Clearly, this was a matter you could have settled with a single word, and could have resolved long ago," Eric complained.

Alana glanced at him, her head sinking even lower, though her footsteps edged slightly closer to his side.

Instead of being offended, the Saintess offered a faint smile. "I certainly could have resolved it, but what I wished to see was you solving it in your own way."

He had only become the Candidate Saintess within the past month; Eric hardly believed this was a deliberate ordeal left by the Saintess to test him.

"Your foresight is truly profound."

Choosing to ignore his sarcasm, the Saintess looked at him and Alana, her gaze lingering a moment longer on the latter. "Aside from that, do you have any other thoughts after a whole day of this?"

"There are far too many female officials in the convent," Eric stated bluntly, speaking his mind as soon as the thought formed. "Tasks that could easily be completed by a single person are split among at least three, which only lowers efficiency."

Without expressing agreement or disapproval, the Saintess asked, "And then?"

"The only person who truly makes decisions on your behalf is Grand Sister Gabi, meaning there are far too few people here," Eric replied.

"That is because the only person I can truly trust is Gabi," the Saintess answered his second point. "Both for her loyalty and her capability."

She paused briefly before asking, "You have raised these problems—do you have your own answers?"

"Not yet," Eric shook his head. "This is my first day dealing with the affairs of the convent. At best, I have only scratched the surface and need more time."

The Saintess made a sound that was difficult to interpret as either approval or skepticism.

"However, I do not have that time," Eric continued. "Since the other lessons arranged by Her Holiness are equally important, I intend to have Alana remain at the convent—to observe, familiarize herself, study, and summarize things on my behalf."

"That is my convent," the Saintess leaned forward slightly. "You intend to have someone who is not loyal to me spend her entire day there?"

"..."

Alana parted her lips to speak, but Eric cut in first. "Alana is my person now, and I am Her Holiness's person. Where could any disloyalty possibly arise?"

"Well, well... Listen to you claim to be my person."

The elderly woman attempted to look displeased, but ended up laughing despite herself.

"Ah... that smooth tongue of yours truly makes me worry what the future Saintess's Convent will turn into."

"When Yella created all things, she undoubtedly hoped this world would be diverse and vibrant. Change is the very expectation of the gods. Yet no matter how things change, your will shall remain here, along with those as pious as you and blessed by the divines," Eric replied.

Particularly satisfied with this response, the Saintess smiled and said nothing further about Alana pursuing her "studies" at the convent, though she had never truly intended to object in the first place.

As Eric prepared to leave, the Saintess pointed at Alana and remarked, "The convent has its rules; you must give her a clear and proper title."

Eric pondered for a moment. "How does 'Instructor to the Candidate Saintess' sound to Your Highness?"

The Saintess frowned. "Could you not find a title that is somewhat more concise and pleasant to the ear?"

"Our identities were bestowed upon us by Your Holiness," Eric countered.

The Saintess simply waved a hand, dismissing him.

Upon returning to the annex, Eric felt genuinely exhausted and went straight to his room to lie down. Alana followed him inside. "Your Highness, would you care for a bath?"

"Let's wait a while," Eric said, his eyes closed.

"Understood." Alana did not leave.

Amidst the darkness, he felt a pair of hands reach for his collar, gently undoing the intricate bindings woven from embroidery, lace, and gemstones, allowing him to draw a free breath.

Eric opened his eyes. Alana had stopped after merely loosening his collar slightly; she had only wanted to make him more comfortable while he rested.

"You should go get some rest," Eric said.

"I will hang up Your Highness's garments first." Alana held a fold of his clothing, gazing at him without a hint of reluctance.

Reluctantly rising, Eric took off his outer ceremonial robe and handed it to her. "Must I wear this formal attire? Her Holiness usually wears nothing more than a simple nun's habit."

"That is because Her Holiness has lived here for over sixty years," Alana said as she neatly folded the garment. "No matter what she wears, she remains the mistress of this place."

"So my identity is conferred by this outfit after all," Eric observed.

Alana immediately glanced at him. Perceiving no negative emotions, only a faint, teasing smile, she relaxed visibly. "Your Highness does not need this attire to maintain your standing, but the others in the monastery are still unaccustomed to you. They require this superficial ornamentation to establish your authority."

The smile on Eric's face faded slightly. "Yet I will not be staying here for very long."

Alana stared at him. "Your Highness..."

"Mind you, I only mean relative to the current Saintess, who has lived here continuously for sixty years," Eric clarified. "At the very least, I cannot leave this monastery for the next year or two."

Hesitating for a moment, Alana asked, "Why is Your Highness so insistent on leaving?"

"To begin with, spending an entire lifetime confined to a single place is suffocating, wouldn't you say?" Eric countered, noticing a flicker of incomprehension cross her face before she quickly masked it.

Ah, right. To people of this world, remaining in one place for a lifetime was the norm, while roaming from place to place was generally a choice born of necessity.

Those so-called adventurers who wandered the continent were the minority deviating from societal mainstream. Just as the Saintess's evaluation of his uncle Edgar—she favored not his renowned exploits across the continent, but his resolute decision to return to his family.

"In any case, I will leave this place sooner or later."

Glancing toward the doorway, Eric leaned in close to Alana's ear. "However, the Saintess must not catch wind of this."

Although her holiness was well aware of it on his very first day as the Candidate Saintess, bringing it up again in the near future would undoubtedly invite trouble.

"Of course..." Alana processed the information before adding, "I am Your Highness's person."

Eric looked at her, noting the profound determination shining in her eyes.

Very well, it seemed she meant it in terms of loyalty—just as he had previously told the Saintess.

"I think I'll go take that bath after all."

Watching Eric walk out of the room, and then gazing down at the ceremonial robe draped over her arm, Alana stood in a daze for a moment before hanging the garment up.