The rehearsal for the festival that began in this way proceeded unexpectedly smoothly.

As the Archbishop led the way, Myria solemnly performed her role as the substitute Maiden Priestess.

Her walking posture from the main nave to the altar and the way she paid tribute to the Goddess were perfect.

The bishops around her looked surprised, especially when she recited the long text of the sacred poem without a hitch.

Reece smiled softly as she watched the rehearsal behind the cathedral.

Young Miss is a hard worker. She must have been practicing by herself since she was assigned as the Maiden Priestess.

The Myria of today was no longer Rishe’s master. Even so, she felt somewhat proud and supported Myria’s efforts.

A certain man walked to Rishe’s side.

“Wonderful. The preliminaries for the festival seem to be going very well.

“Bishop-sama.”

It was Schneider who spoke to her. Rishe looked up at him and smiled back.

“Please forgive me for displaying something immodest last night. I was feeling lonely when His Highness failed to return.”

“O-Oh, it’s nothing…”

Schneider looked somewhat uncomfortable, as if recalling last night.

After that, he cleared his throat and looked at Myria in front of the altar.

“I’m sorry to have dragged you into the festivities when you’re only here for the ritual.”

“No. If you’re talking about this, please don’t worry about it.”

“I can’t do that. When picking, we should have chosen a girl of a more sensible age to stand in for the Maiden Priestess… The Maiden Priestess’s family has a distinctive trait in their hair color.”

His words made her think of the mural she saw on the balcony yesterday.

“Although Myria-sama is a substitute, she was chosen because she fit the criteria, even if only a little.”

“Was it based on a verse from the sacred poem, ‘The Girl with the Floral Hair’?”

“Outstanding. That part is translated as “Spring Colored Girl” for the masses, but you grasped it well.”

“Someone taught me how to read it.”

To be on the safe side, she didn’t mention Arnold’s name.

Meanwhile, something suddenly occurred to her.

I wonder what His Highness Arnauld thought about it.

Rishe pondered while lending an ear to Schneider.

Is it possible that reading the sacred poem has given him an inkling of ‘that thing’? Impossible. We’re talking about His Highness Arnold here. It’s possible that he has known it all along. If that’s the case, I can understand why he looked at me like that.

While her thoughts were turning, Schneider looked at her.

He appeared calm, but it also made his eyes look ruthless.

“You have a very beautiful hair color.”

“…”

Rishe’s shoulders jerked at his comment.

Schneider was unaware of it. If it had been Arnold, for example, he would have guessed right away.

“With a hair color like Miss Rishe, you would have definitely been chosen as a substitute Maiden Priestess. It’s a shame that you weren’t born in the Kingdom of Domana…”

“――When it comes to rituals dedicated to God, the most important thing is faith and passion.”

“!”

Schneider was amazed at Rishe’s rebuttal.

“Don’t you think so, Bishop?”

“Th-That’s right…”

“Myria-sama is taking her role very seriously. If I can help her in any way in her efforts, I would be honored to do so.”

“Is that so?”

This time, Rishe pressed for answers on Schneider who fell silent.

“By the way, on a different note, Bishop said something strange yesterday. Why shouldn’t I marry His Highness Arnold?”

“M-Miss Rishe, we’ll talk about it another time.”

“Rishe-sama!”