“I’m afraid the seamstresses have caught a cold.”

“…”

The Duke of Jonal replied with a wry smile in the anteroom for the festival preparations.

Rishe rushed to the scene and took a slow breath to cover up her heaving. The Duke was slumped in the chair across from her.

“They must have been very anxious about the impending festival and pushed themselves.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. What are the medical conditions of the seamstresses?”

“It seems that they’re suffering a terrible fever, and they said their bodies felt heavy…”

Rishe lowered her eyes upon hearing the unfavorable news. Afterward, she looked over to Leo, who was standing in the corner of the room.

Leo stood beside his master as an errand boy and looked somewhat surly.

However, it didn’t seem to be due to the postponement of Arnold’s sword instruction.

Rishe returned her gaze and asked the Duke in the chair across from her.

“If the dress isn’t ready in time, wouldn’t Myria-sama be sad? I’d be glad to comfort her, but I’m not sure where she is.”

“Well, s-she’s…”

Immediately after the Duke spoke, the lovely girl’s voice sounded.

“――I’m fine, Rishe-sama.”

“Myria-sama?”

Myria appeared donning an air of calmness.

She looked grown-up.

She was incompatible to the girl who was on the verge of tears just this morning when her hair didn’t look the way she wanted it to.

And behind her were two men.

One was Bishop Schneider, and the other had a golden pattern embroidered on his chest, indicating a higher rank than Schneider.

Rishe stood up and bowed, thinking.

He is the current Archbishop…

The Archbishop knew in another life was the next in line.

I know neither Bishop Schneider nor this Archbishop. That means that both of them will be gone from the Grand Shrine within a few years…

“You know what, Rishe-sama?”

She looked up and saw Myria standing before with a gentle smile.

“I feel so very sorry. I pressed the seamstresses and thought only of myself.”

“Myria-sama…”

“I swore to the Goddess I’ll behave from now until the festival, so there’s no need for you to stay with me anymore.”

Rishe blinked at her words.

The Archbishop, standing beside Myria, also smiled serenely and said.

“Miss Rishe, I apologize for our church asking for your assistance. However, we cannot take up any more of the future Crown Princess of Garkhain.”

“Not at all. It was a pleasure to help Myria-sama, and I’d have loved to be there with her…”

“Thank you, Miss Rishe. But, it’s all good.”

“Myria’s innocent smile was filled with clear rejection.”

“It doesn’t have to be a pink dress, and it’s fine if it’s a rushed new dress. Our top priority is not to delay the festival schedule! Am I right, Bishop Schneider?”

“Yes, Myria-sama. You’re right.”

“…”

Rishe gently bent down and told Myria eye to eye.

“All right, Myria-sama. I’ll stop helping you with the festival.”

Myria looked somewhat relieved.

“But please know this.”

“What…?”

Thinking of the past life she had spent with her, Rishe smiled tenderly.

“I also like you very much because you are so cute and full of energy and willfulness.”

“!”

At that moment, Myria’s honey-colored eyes shook.

It might have been Rishe’s illusion that she seemed about to cry. But Myria turned her back on Rishe and looked up at the Archbishop.

“Archbishop, Bishop Schneider, we have to go to the evening prayer early. It would be disrespectful to the Goddess if we were late.”

“Sure. So, let’s go, Lord Jonal.”

As Myria and the rest were leaving the anteroom, Bishop Schneider called out to the boy standing in the corner of the room.

“What are you doing, Leo? You should join us in prayer.”

“…Got it.”

Leo, who had been quietly watching what was going on, gave a dismissive reply and began to walk away.

As he walked past Rishe, he looked up once. But once he met her gaze, he looked away.

“…”

Oliver immediately came to Rishe, who was left alone.

“Rishe-sama, Master will be here soon, so could you wait here for a moment?”

“His Highness Arnold?”

After hearing the news about the seamstress’s collapse in the courtyard, Rishe returned to the cathedral with Leo.

Arnold, on the other hand, received a report from Oliver on another matter. Has he settled that matter?

Eventually, footfalls heralded Arnold’s arrival to the anteroom.

Upon seeing Rishe’s countenance, he frowned.

“Oliver, leave your seat. Get things ready for what I ordered earlier.”

“I understand. Well, then.”

As soon as Oliver left the room, Arnold sat down across from Rishe.

Arnold held a roll of paper in his hand and asked with wrinkles between his eyebrows.