After finalizing the countermeasures for the Lecty Kidnapping Plan, the conversation shifted to Holy Maiden Rosalie and the Divine Blessing Church.
“I expected it, but I can’t help but feel sympathy for Holy Maiden Rosalie…”
Lily frowned as I recounted the details I had seen and heard from my visit to Rosalie this morning. In the carriage on the way here, we had only shared basic information, and I hadn’t mentioned Cardinal Malicious’s behavior towards Rosalie and Cicely-san.
“Cardinal Malicious is the Archbishop who manages Reese Cathedral. In other words, he’s the top of the church’s power in the Royal Capital. …However, he shouldn’t have the authority to force the Holy Maiden to obey him. In the Divine Blessing Church, the Holy Maiden is a position outside the hierarchy, with the Pope at the top.”
“…Cardinal Malicious was making Rosalie obey him through words. He was preaching doctrine, and it was as if he was holding the people seeking treatment hostage…”
“I see, so it’s persuasion rather than orders. He seems to know Holy Maiden Rosalie’s personality well. He might even be an acquaintance from before she was appointed as the Holy Maiden.”
That possibility is high. I’ve seen Rosalie call Cardinal Malicious “Grandfather” several times. Whether they are actually related by blood is uncertain, but I can sense that Rosalie is fond of Cardinal Malicious.
…If that’s the case, it’s even more puzzling.
“What exactly does Cardinal Malicious want…? He should know perfectly well that Rosalie’s Skill doesn’t have the power to heal diseases. Yet, he’s not only forcing Rosalie to treat the sick, but also, if you trace it back, he even proposed to Prince Slay, through Marquis Hortness, that he treat His Majesty the King… Wait, what?”
As I put Cardinal Malicious’s actions into words, I was struck by a sense of incongruity.
“Isn’t the timing too good…? How did Cardinal Malicious find out about His Majesty the King’s deteriorating health?”
“Now that you mention it… Prince Lucas, the number of people who knew about His Majesty the King’s deteriorating health was limited, wasn’t it…?”
“That’s right. As far as I know, it’s unlikely that the information would have reached Cardinal Malicious. Unless someone intentionally leaked the information. However, after his health deteriorated, Father stopped all his public duties, so a perceptive person might have noticed that his condition was bad.”
“I see…”
Or, could it be that Cardinal Malicious knew about His Majesty the King’s health from before…? But that’s probably too much of a leap in logic.
“Let’s get back to the topic. From what Hugh has told us, it seems that Cardinal Malicious has some special feelings towards the existence of the Holy Maiden itself. He even called Lady Lecty’s Holy Maiden Skill a fake.”
“Does the Divine Blessing Church denounce the Holy Maiden Skill from fairy tales as fake?”
“No, they haven’t issued an official statement. Fairy tales are just fairy tales. Normally, people don’t confuse reality with fiction.”
“Could it be that Cardinal Malicious is panicking because the Holy Maiden Skill that was supposed to be fiction has appeared in reality…? After seeing Lecty actually treat His Majesty the King…”
“That’s possible…”
Cardinal Malicious seemed unable to accept that the real Holy Maiden was inferior to the fake Holy Maiden Skill. It was as if he believed from the bottom of his heart that what the fake could do, the real one should be able to do as well…
“Cardinal Malicious said that Rosalie couldn’t heal the sick because her faith in God was insufficient. But, can Skills be affected by faith…?”
“I don’t think faith is related, but do you know of one case where a Skill granted at the age of 15 changed into another Skill?”
“Ah, there is a case…? If that’s the case, then what Cardinal Malicious is saying isn’t entirely wrong—”
“Hugh. The case Prince Lucas is talking about is you, isn’t it?”
“Huh?”
When I looked at their faces after Lily pointed it out, both Lily and Prince Lucas were wearing wry smiles.
Ah… now that you mention it, that’s certainly true. I haven’t been using the Brainwashing Skill directly lately, so I had completely forgotten about it.
“Well, I think your case is truly special, though? In the sense that the things you can do with your Skill have increased, I’ve heard that Job Skills can also awaken new inherent powers as you use them. Cardinal Malicious might have been talking about that.”
“If Rosalie’s Skill is a Job Skill, then it’s not entirely impossible…”
Depending on what kind of Job Skill it is, if the Skill level increases by continuing to use Heal, then Cardinal Malicious’s policy of having Rosalie constantly treat the sick might eventually bear fruit.
However, in all likelihood, Rosalie’s mental state would reach its limit before that. More than anything, it’s not certain whether Rosalie’s Skill is a Job Skill or not…
“…Currently, there are few actions we can take regarding Holy Maiden Rosalie. Direct action would be met with strong opposition as interference with the church, and it could even lead to a situation that harms the national interest.”
“Are you saying we should abandon Rosalie…?”
“Conversely, Hugh, why do you want to help Holy Maiden Rosalie? Are you and Holy Maiden Rosalie close?”
“That is…”
In terms of closeness, Rouge and Lecty are much closer than I am.
Including today, I’ve only exchanged words with her a handful of times. I think we’re friends, but she’s not someone I want to help at all costs like Lily was.
It’s true that I’m being sympathetic because I’m projecting my past self onto Rosalie’s situation.
…But, it’s not just that.
The reason I want to help Rosalie is much simpler.
“…Rouge made a promise with Rosalie. To talk together again. If things continue like this, that promise might not be fulfilled. Rouge might lose a friend she just made. I can’t allow that…!”
“Fufu. I see, that certainly makes sense for you.”
“It’s so like you, or should I say, thank you for the meal…”
Upon hearing my answer, Prince Lucas burst out laughing, and Lily put her hand to her forehead and sighed in exasperation.
“Well then, it’s a request from my cute little sister and my brother-in-law. From here on, let’s think specifically about how to help Holy Maiden Rosalie… Although, there’s actually one quick way to do it.”
“A quick way…?”
“Yes, it’s simple.”
Prince Lucas said with a smile curving at the corners of his mouth.
“–We just have to publicly announce that neither the Holy Maiden nor the Holy Maiden Skill have the power to heal diseases.”