MPBAGS Chapter 24

I earnestly protested my innocence. It wasn't just water—it was expensive holy water, so he couldn't possibly be hurt! If anything, existing wounds should be completely healed! Anyway, the fainting is not my fault!

Only after Michel fainted did the priests belatedly notice the commotion and come rushing. The priests looked at the completely burned painting, at Michel who'd fainted soaking wet, and at me in turn, assessing the situation. After Raphaela's supplementary explanation ended, they bowed their heads in gratitude.

Among them, the most serious and benevolent-looking elder began organizing the situation. Then he approached me.

"Lady Rohanson, we are truly grateful that you saved our temple's knight. We will compensate you for the holy water you used to extinguish the fire."

"I'll gratefully accept."

What a relief! I thought I'd thrown away the money I spent on holy water. Of course, I saved someone from burning, so it wasn't wasted, but... anyway, I'm glad they'll refill it. People really should live virtuously, see?

"The other believers seem to have received a shock, so we plan to escort them to a resting area."

Shocked, my foot. These were people who just stood there gawking whether someone burned or not. I swallowed my complaint and nodded.

The benevolent gentleman finished his business with me and now approached Raphaela. He whispered something, but spoke too quietly for me to hear. Did he just glance at me? They're not talking behind my back, are they?

Surely not... Anxiously, I stared at the two men intently. They wouldn't gossip about me when I'm right here!

My staring must have had an effect, because Raphaela cleared his throat and changed the subject.

"Your Excellency, may we be excused first? I think it would be best to get Sir Michel lying down quickly. Sir Uriel must be tired as well."

So the benevolent old man was a bishop! That's a very high position! No wonder he casually offered to compensate for the holy water. That stuff is expensive!

"Oh my. I didn't think of that. Leave the cleanup to me and go on ahead. Since Lady Rohanson needs to receive the holy water, perhaps she could come with me..."

"Ah. I think the Lady should come with us as well. The Commander has something to discuss with her. I'll prepare the holy water before she leaves. You needn't trouble yourself, Your Excellency—if you could just inform them in advance, we'd be grateful."

Raphaela rapid-fired his refusal. Right, I need to go see Henna and Kanna too, so I nodded. My girls have been waiting long enough already. I should hurry.

But wouldn't it be better to get the holy water now? If I try to take holy water when the benevolent old man isn't around, won't I be accused of theft? The bishop might forget to mention it. Hmm... After pondering, I looked at Jelly.

"Me?"

"Go collect the holy water and take it to the carriage first."

"Ah, you really did bring me along just to torment me, didn't you?"

What? Who do you think I am, some thug? Why is the house out of holy water in the first place! It's because we used it all treating your wounds!

"Before I actually torment you, listen up."

"Yes..."

Jelly grumbled and tucked his tail.

"I'll send this attendant of mine."

The bishop made an extremely sour face and nodded.

"Then that's settled? I'll be going now."

When Raphaela spoke, Uriel hoisted the collapsed Michel up. I was impressed watching him easily carry Michel despite his slender build. As I watched, Raphaela quietly approached. After looking at me like garbage earlier, now he's acting friendly!

"...My apologies for the delayed greeting. Thank you for saving Michel. He lost consciousness, but thanks to the holy water, he has no injuries. We're truly grateful."

Raphaela, who'd been reading my mood, hesitated before expressing his thanks. The words were so careful they made me regret grumbling just moments before. What's this? I'm kind of moved.

"Thank you, my lady."

Uriel also offered his thanks. Even while carrying a man much larger than himself on his back, he bowed without showing any sign of strain. Except the holy water dripping from Michel's long hair soaked his back. Isn't that uncomfortable...? Uriel himself seems fine, but I can't help worrying.

"But is it all right to send Sir Jelly alone?"

Why? Is it too heavy? Is he worried about Jelly carrying holy water while he's got a person on his back?

"Jelly's fine."

He's not exactly ordinary—he's a werewolf, definitely a sub-male-lead.

"My lady, you did well to send Jel—your attendant instead. It's best not to get too close to the bishop. Despite how he looks, he's quite a nasty person."

I glanced back to see Bishop Jabaniya glaring at Raphaela with a truly vicious expression. None of his earlier benevolence could be found. Why suddenly? I replayed the conversation but couldn't find anything strange... Could it be? One thing does come to mind.

It's because Raphaela left before he did. People in high positions are usually obsessed with such formalities. I didn't take the bishop for that type, but turns out he's a Confucian old fogey.

Only after the commotion subsided did people come flooding in. It seemed a priest had run to fetch the bishop. Bishop Jabaniya arrived with priests carrying water buckets.

Usually he wouldn't spare a glance at such trivial matters—whether people died or the temple crumbled—yet here he came. Still sharp as ever, that old man.

"Raphaela... what's this?"

Look at him pretending not to know when he clearly heard everything. Bishop Jabaniya wore that benevolent face while possessing quite a vicious temperament. That kind exterior made him easy to misjudge, but he was considerably selfish and ruthless.

Uriel said Jabaniya resembled Raphaela in many ways and that Raphaela suffered from similar-species hatred—not entirely wrong. Still, that fox would have arrived leisurely regardless of whether people were hurt or not, so it's almost unfair to compare them. That one has neither conscience nor guilt.

Unfortunately, Gabriel, the commander of the knight order Raphaela belonged to, had also fallen into Bishop Jabaniya's clutches as a child and was still being worked to the bone.

The Commander said he was merely repaying the bishop for past kindness, but... as far as Raphaela could see, the bishop just used the Commander as a chess piece. And according to what he'd heard from the Commander, the past "kindness" the bishop had shown was nothing special.

"The painting caught fire. Lady Rohanson extinguished it by pouring holy water. Sir Michel sustained burns, but thanks to the holy water, he's unharmed."

"Oh, Rahel above."

"I arrived one step too late—we nearly lost the life of a precious knight. I'm ashamed."

"Not at all, Your Excellency. You were delayed fetching water, were you not?"

You old fox. At his benevolent words, the surrounding priests gazed at the bishop with adoration, as if he were Rahel's very incarnation.

'What? Delayed fetching water?'

Raphaela could bet both wrists—and even the unconscious Michel—that the bishop had deliberately arrived late. Raphaela had also thought it would be good if the painting burned, so Bishop Jabaniya must have thought the same and deliberately appeared late enough for the painting to burn completely.

If Bishop Jabaniya were truly merciful, he would have drawn water from the fountain of holy water closest to this location. Saying he'd pay for it later. Just like Evangeline Rohanson had extinguished the fire with holy water... Raphaela was briefly appalled at himself for thinking Evangeline righteous.

The fact that Bishop Jabaniya had gone all the way to the garden to draw water from an ordinary fountain showed he'd had no intention of arriving early. Seeing that no one around him questioned it revealed how well they'd been trained by that hypocritical behavior.

Truly, he'd be exhausting as an enemy. The fortunate thing was that they held the same opinion regarding Donau's painting. The representative figure of those who viewed the painting with praise had always been at odds with Bishop Jabaniya.

"Now, now. Since we arrived late, we must help clean up."

"Yes, Your Excellency."

At Bishop Jabaniya's words, the priests set down their buckets and began tidying up. Some swept and wiped the ash, cleaning the floor, while the rest dealt with the people.

"Sir, wouldn't it be best if you returned now?"

"That's right. With the fire and all, isn't it too dangerous?"

"You're not injured anywhere, are you?"

Of course, no answers came back. Most were nobility of high standing, so the priests couldn't treat them roughly—only endless unanswered suggestions continued.

"Please go! Are you going to stay here forever?"

One priest with poor patience couldn't contain his frustration and shouted. He seemed to regret it immediately and covered his mouth, but fortunately the other party paid no attention.

"The painting's burned away completely now, so what are you even looking at?"

When the priest lamented, a response finally came. The noble lady he'd been addressing pointed at Evangeline Rohanson, her cheeks flushed red.

"We're looking at that lady."

"You're looking at that lady?"

The priest looked around. Why hadn't he noticed until now? Every single person's gaze was directed at that pale, refined lady.