A couple of days passed while I was staying with Micheal. He did as he promised and was spending each and every free second he had with me. I also got Jaz which stands for Jasmin with me. I never was able to remember her whole name so I just went with Jaz. Anyways, she was there for me all the time no matter what. Micheal assigned her to me because he thought I would be more comfortable around her. So I just went with it. Not that I had anything against Noel and Jasper at all. They both were fun and definitely had their own minds. Jasmine on the other hand was a bit different. She had short hair and from what I heard she was more powerful than these two and she ranked better than them in every category as well. Apparently she was also quick to notice something wrong as well. This was important especially around me which was why I had her around me all the time and why she was my personal escort knight and maid too. Maids didn't exist here in the church but the holy knights would sometimes serve their masters as one. I never really liked to be served but here and there I just found it easier to ask Jaz to get me something than for me to look around and bother with more people. Speaking of people.... There was this small party which would be held at the church today because of me and I was soo not excited.
Honestly if I could, I would dip immediately.
However that was not an option since I had to be there for our plans to move on.
"Why does it have to be an open event?"
An open event meant that I, as the new saint was about to be publicly announced in front of the citizens. Everyone was welcomed and was allowed to come to this event. Of course I would stick with a veil and that white dress I picked out since I liked the freedom of it a lot. Still, it was making me very nervous as I didn't quite know how to act in front of a crowd.
"You'll be fine. You look amazing."
"I am not worried about how I look."
"Then what else?"
"What if I act in a way that people are gonna hate me?"
"That won't be happening."
"How do you know that?"
"Because you are a lovely girl!"
"Lovely?"
"Yes. You saved our Eminence in danger ignoring whoever he is and who you are without any kind of material desire."
"It's true I saved him... but still..."
"No, I know from staying with you that you only want the best for everyone. Otherwise you wouldn't be here."
"Right..."
At this point, I just wanted to ask about it. It was on my mind for soo long already. Up until now I never really had the guts to ask Micheal about it personally but maybe Jaz would tell me what happened back then. I knew how much they liked him and cared for him but I still found Micheal at the brink of his death laying in an alley.
"Jaz, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Why was Micheal alone back then?"
"We were ambushed and separated. They were after his life and we also know by now that the pope was behind it."
"Why would he be behind it?"
"Because he fears the power that Micheal is getting day by day. He has the support of many nobles and the duke as well. He may not look at it but he really does whatever he can to help people out and even go out of his way for it."
"I understand."
"You do?"
"Yeah, he just likes this place and he doesn't wanna lose it."
I wouldn't want to lose my home too.... Like the duchy and the people there.
I am sure he feels the same with all of you knights here.
We were getting ready and were only waiting for someone to actually call us out so we would be on our way. Micheal was the one who will be on my side the whole day while a carriage was about to actually drive us through the city. The idea was for me to show my powers and for the church to gain more believers again. It was also about getting their trust back.
People don't trust the church much since they only help the nobles nowadays and the poor have to pay for it. If Micheal really gets to the top, I know he will change these things around for the better. A life shouldn't be priced as if it was an item to buy on the market after all. There should be a chance for even the weak and poor citizens to be able to get treated or buy holy water which for now was only something the royalty as well as the nobles could do.
"Do you think there will be any problems?"
"Why should there be any problems?"
"I don't know..."
"My Lady, you are thinking too much about it. Take the day as it is."
"Alright..."
The moment she said that, there was a knock at the door and we both knew it was time to go. So I stood up from the chair and started to walk to the door while quickly making sure the veil would sit on its right place. This kinda really reminded me like a dress up wedding kids like to play but this was definitely more serious and an entirely different matter as well.
Once I opened the door, I saw Micheal standing there and as always he was dressed in white. This time he had even something more fancier on than he would normally wear. I could see all kinds of patterns on the white smoking he was wearing with a long white cape and it all had some decoration with white and light blue mixed with just the slightest amount of gold in it. It looked stunning and he really looked great in it.
"Is that your official wear?"
"Yes... I wouldn't be wearing something this tight if not for the public image of the church."
He was playing with his neck and it was clear that he hated it for sure. Though he was also exaggerating a bit since he looked good and not that uncomfortable in it as well. The neck part might just be annoying but that would be about it.
"Can we?"
"Yeah..."
"What's wrong?"
"I am a bit nervous."
Micheal started to escort me slowly through the hallways where now every single person working in the church was gathered to see us off. Of course the pope was not here. He himself was waiting outside of the church and it was only after we left the building that I was thinking that he was missing. There was no way that the pope would miss such an opportunity. I was a child and he might try to even control me with his powers since I was a Saintess.
"Don't be nervous or afraid. We have enough measurements in place."
What that was supposed to mean left a huge question mark in my mind. I knew that it was safe to walk around since there was no one in their right mind to actually attack someone like the next leader of the church, Micheal, and the new Saintess in brought daylight, including in front of a massive amount of people. Yeah... only a lunatic would do something like that. Plus there should be knights around as well.
As we got out of the church, we finally were met with that disgusting pig of a pope. He came towards us with a smile that was already telling everything. This man wanted to scam us if he didn't even have some kind of bad intentions as well.
"Ah, Saintess. It is nice to meet you on such a beautiful day."
Was I supposed to answer back?
I wasn't sure what to do! In fact, I didn't want to actually say anything and just get this day over with. Needless to say that a threatening thought crossed my mind.
Oh god!
Don't tell me, I am supposed to be with this asshole the whole time!
NAH-AH!
I won't be standing this!
He is so disgusting!
Thankfully Micheal stepped in and went in front of me to shield me from the pope himself and took the initiative to talk and get the attention away from me.
"You're eminence, citizens around us should be waiting for you already."
"Ah yes! YES! Of course! How could I forget this? Let's go now."
I was quite puzzled about what he meant with the statement he said but I also didn't really care and was just glad to get to the carriage and sit in there with Micheal together. The pope was riding another one in front of us. These carriages were somehow different. The window space was a lot larger and there were no currents. It was clear that these were created so that people could see us but at the same time also protect us from any kind of weather.
"What did you mean earlier?"
"Hm?"
"I mean what you said to the pope about the people waiting?"
"Ah... Well he likes to be in front of people and show off, so I thought he would react to it and let go."
"I see. Quick thinking. Thanks!"
"No problems. I got your back."
"Does the plan still stand?"
"Yes."
The plan we created was simple. The reason why I had my debut as Saint on the same day when the money would be sent over to the crown, was because we needed some kind of alibi. The knights will be supposed to be at the party and everyone can see them there until I will go to rest for a bit or make a bit of a commotion which should last for an hour at least. It was a short time span but it should be enough for the knights to actually attack and come back or that was what Micheal and Jaz said. They were confident in this as well.
Anyways, first was this public ceremony while we would go around to the central plaza and then be there for half the day. The other half is just us riding around so that everyone sees us and there is even supposed to be a part where I should be presented to the king but that would not happen due to the king declining for this. He was a fool to deny us access to his place. It was the same as refusing the appearance of a saint which the people will not see positive at all once we spread the words. Oh well it was helping us in another way so we would surely not complain at all.
"How do you plan on taking the attention of all the guests at once?"
"I don't know yet but I at least know the timing."
"How about fainting?"
"And you think there will be no doctor around?"
"Ah true..."
"Micheal, how about we dance and take their eyes away from the scene?"
"You think a simple dance will do it?"
"I think it will if we make it look good."
"Alright but if not we will spontaneously need to think about something else."
"I know if worse comes to worse, I'll just say, I send them on an errand."
"Errand?"
"Mh! I told Jaz to bring me something when they return. Just as a backup if they get in trouble."
"Okay. May I ask what it is?"
"Nope! It is a present for you and our guests."
"Guests?"
"The duke should come and the magic tower too since this is a pretty big event, isn't it?"
"You really anticipated a lot."
"Can't help it."
"Are you really younger than me?"
"Do I look older?"
"No.... but sometimes it's hard to believe that you are younger than me."