After finishing sword training with the spirits,
“That was fun!” “Do it again!” “Yay yay!”
The spirits, thinking it was playtime, were squealing with joy.
It was nice to see them happy, but…
“I still couldn’t… cut them in the end.”
That was a lingering frustration.
“Yay yay!”
“Of course, spirits are fast. It’s impossible for a five-year-old to cut them,” one of them teased.
“That’s not true. Even a five-year-old should be able to cut them.”
Tomorrow, I’ll definitely cut them. That’s what I firmly resolved.
“My tummy… is hungry,” I muttered. All that movement made me hungry.
“Let’s go get some snacks.”
“Woof!” “Squeak squeak!” “Kuu-kuu!”
Back when I was still very young, I used to eat whatever was lying around whenever I got hungry, a habit from my previous life.
But my mother had told me, “Stop doing that, or you’ll upset your stomach,” so I obeyed.
In truth, I often had stomach troubles in my past life, so she was absolutely right.
“When I’m hungry, I’ll have snacks~.”
Mother had also said, “If you’re hungry, I’ll make sure you get proper snacks, so please, I beg you.”
So, as I walked toward the dining hall to get snacks with Daru, Carro , and Koruko, one of the maids spotted me.
“My, Lady Luria, you’re drenched in sweat. Let’s get you into the bath.”
At the same time, Kuro and the spirits who had been nearby quickly hid. They weren’t scared of the maid, but they were trying to help me avoid speaking to the spirits in front of others.
After all, a child talking to invisible beings would seem creepy to most people.
“Luria, I’m hungry, so I’m going to the dining hall.”
“Yes, of course. But let’s make sure you eat your snack after your bath.”
“After? Can’t I have the snack first?”
“No, the bath comes first, then the snack. Otherwise, you’ll catch a cold.”
“Okay.”
When we reached the room, the maid quickly prepared the bath. As she washed my body, I asked her something that had been on my mind.
“Hmm~. Who’s the most important person in the Church of the One God?”
“Why do you ask all of a sudden?”
The maid seemed a little surprised. It was understandable—having a five-year-old ask such a question would catch anyone off guard.
Earlier, in my conversation with Kuro, the topic of cursed power had come up. The Church of the One God likely had techniques for utilizing cursed power in my past life.
If the Church still had such techniques, it would be a serious matter. And if their power surpassed that of the royal family, it could spell disaster.
“Well, the most important person in the Church would be His Holiness, the Pope.”
“Between the Pope and the King, who’s more powerful?”
“Um, I’m not very knowledgeable, but… I’d assume the King.”
“I see.”
The maid didn’t give a definitive answer. Which meant the power dynamic between the King and the Pope might be ambiguous. That’s how it seemed to me.
What I wanted to know most was the current state of the Church of the One God. Are they still trying to capture spirits? And if they are, do they still have the technology to do so?
I need to know.
However, this information is likely a well-guarded secret of the Church. Even my father might not know.
As a first step, I need to study the history of the relationship and power balance between the royal family and the Church.
“Maybe I should study history.”
“Close your eyes; I’m washing your hair… It might be a good idea to discuss this with your father and mother.”
“Yeah, that’s true!”
“And keep your eyes closed, Lady Luria. You’re so diligent about studying.”
“Am I?”
As we continued chatting while my hair was being washed, I suddenly thought of Marion.
She was my beloved nanny, who had left the estate when I was three.
Marion used to bathe me just like this.
“…I wonder if Marion is doing well.”
“…”
For some reason, the maid gasped slightly.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing. You can open your eyes now.”
When I opened my eyes, the maid had a gentle smile on her face.
“Lady Luria, please raise your hands. Yes, just like that.”
“…Do you know how Marion is doing?”
Up until I was about four, she would occasionally visit and often sent letters. I would write clumsy replies in return.
But she hasn’t visited in the past six months, and for the past three months, I haven’t even received a letter.
Even when I write to her, there’s no reply.
“I’m afraid I don’t know.”
“I see… Maybe Marion’s just busy.”
“That’s probably it.”
“Maybe I’ll send her another letter.”
“I’m sure she’d be delighted.”
The maid smiled, but her expression also seemed a little sad.
I decided that I would ask my father about Marion later.
