"If there’s someone you like, you have to tell me right away."

"Before you step onto a path from which there is no return."

Within the flickering candlelight, those clear eyes gazed calmly but shimmered with a certain light that Lea couldn't comprehend.

Like a lake under the veil of misty drizzle—deep, elusive.

"…I said no."

Lea froze slightly, then turned her head away with a pout and murmured, "Saintess Teacher, you're overthinking it."

"Is that so?"

The saintess loosened her hands and smiled gently:

"That's good. I was just making sure, little Lea, don't get angry~"

"I'm not angry!"

Lea puffed up her cheeks.

"Oh dear, you look like you're totally angry."

"Not at all!"

"Lea is so cute."

Lea's hamster-like angry expression made the saintess's smile even softer.

She opened her arms and gently hugged Lea.

"Take a good rest for now. Since you've made it to this point, don't overthink. Perhaps all outcomes have long been ordained by the heavens."

"Mm, thank you, Teacher."

Lea nuzzled lightly against the saintess's broad chest. The warmth soothed her, bringing some comfort.

"See you in a while."

"Wait, wait a moment…"

"Hmm? Is there something else?"

The saintess, who was preparing to leave, turned back with a smile, her gentleness completely untainted by impatience.

"Well…uh…I have one more question."

"Go ahead."

"Uh…it's just…"

Lea knelt on her bed, her fingers relentlessly tormenting the poor bedsheet. Her toes, tucked under her curvy hips, adorably clenched and relaxed as her body squirmed.

After a fierce inner struggle, she finally turned her flushed cheeks away and blurted out the question she'd been secretly keeping in her heart:

"What does it mean to like someone, Saintess Teacher?"

"..."

Silence swiftly descended.

In the shadow-filled room, the goddess's statue continued to gaze at them with benevolence.

The saintess paused briefly, her eyes fixed on the young girl who had plucked up her courage amid shyness. Something stirred in her gaze once again—an indescribable radiance.

Yet this light disappeared as quickly as it came. She once more wore the warm smile that felt like sunlight gracing the earth:

"Asking a question like this… could it be, Lea, that you really—"

"No! I mean—no way—not at all…"

Lea shook her little head so fast that it left afterimages.

"Saintess Teacher, you're totally misunderstanding. I just wanted to make sure, that's all. Yes, confirmation.

The books say there are many kinds of feelings that can be mistaken for liking—gratitude for being helped, or a racing heartbeat in moments of crisis, for example.

These emotions, though not love, can still mess with your thoughts.

And soon, the ceremony will begin. I really don’t want to get distracted.

So…so…"

At this point, Lea suddenly realized the sheer audacity of what she had said—words that considered her aspiration to serve the goddess as a saintess candidate, were utterly shameless. Blushing furiously, she buried herself under the covers.

Ah, ah, ah... What are you even saying, Lea Angel?

How could you lose your mind and ask the saintess teacher such a question?

Even if she's so gentle and wise—a perfect saintess by all standards—ultimately, she’s still someone pure and untouched in matters of emotions!

And now you’ve gone and asked her such a thing. Not to mention everything from earlier… Even if the saintess doesn't openly say anything, deep down, she must be thinking you're some kind of shameless—

"You've really grown up, Lea."

"Eh?"

Lea was startled by the unexpected response in a room that had turned silent.

She timidly peeked half her face out from under her blanket and saw the same warm, smiling, flawless face.

Even the curve of her lips hadn't shifted a bit.

"Grown up…what does that mean?"

"In this world, not even one-third of people dare to ask such questions and face their inner selves."

The saintess explained:

"The remaining two-thirds? All cowards, fools, and scoundrels."

"Is…is that so?" Lea blinked innocently, unable to understand what her teacher meant.

"As for your question, what does it mean to like someone… To be honest, I don’t really know either. I suspect no one in the world could ever explain it clearly."

"Oh."

"But if I had to try and describe it… it might sound a little like a ‘thump.’"

"A ‘thump?’"

Lea scrunched up her cute face, visibly puzzled.

"Yes, a ‘thump.’"

The saintess pointed to Lea's chest, her smile deepening. "If one day someone can make you hear a crystal-clear ‘thump,’ then you probably like them."

...

...

"Lynn."

After leaving the room, the saintess softly called out.

"I'm here."

The high nun Lynn, who had earlier guided Moen, emerged from the shadows.

"Have you met that boy?"

"I have."

"What are your impressions?" the saintess asked with a serene smile.

"Hmm..."

Lynn pondered for a moment before replying:

"He's… a very peculiar person."

"Peculiar?"

"Yes. The rumors about him, the intelligence gathered about him, and the version of him I met in reality—they feel like three completely different individuals. This sense of disconnection is strange.

...But there's one detail about him that is remarkably consistent."

"Oh?"

The saintess, intrigued, pressed further:

"What is it?"

"He’s a lecher. Fond of black stockings."

"…"

The saintess instinctively looked downward, catching a glimpse of the half-visible smooth leg wrapped in black stockings beneath Lynn’s nun attire.

"Yet, it seems you don't hate him," the saintess noted.

"Indeed, his lechery is about the average level for men. He’s always careful not to cross boundaries—no inappropriate behavior. And paired with that face of his, it’s hard to harbor dislike for him."

"You care about appearances too?"

"Everyone cares about appearances."

Lynn maintained her blank expression, as if discussing something unrelated to herself.

But whether it was entirely truthful, only Lin would know.

Still, the saintess’s lovely, almond-shaped eyes lightly narrowed. "For you to speak so favorably of him—this Moen Campbell... A vibrant young man and a maiden awakening to new feelings—no wonder."

"What are your plans next, Your Highness?" Lynn avoided deeper discussion, switching the topic.

"The confessional chamber."

"A messenger just arrived saying Miss Freya has arrived. Should we greet her?"

"Freya..."

The saintess briefly recalled the image of another student of hers before shaking her head lightly. "Forget it. I'm exhausted. You greet her on my behalf."

"Will Your Highness show favoritism?"

Lynn cast a glance at the nearby door.

Though many reasons might explain it, there was no doubt that the saintess had personally gone to greet the girl named Lea. And she’d done so in front of countless believers.

By now, the entire Holy City likely knew about it.

"Of course."

The saintess smiled gently. "I'm only human. Naturally, I’d have my preferences, right? Besides, Lea is so adorable."

"But Your Highness’s behavior—it might not be beneficial to Miss Lea."

Lynn hesitated for a second before asking thoughtfully:

"Do you believe Lea has such overwhelming advantages for the approaching ceremony?"

"Quite the opposite. Judging from every measure so far, I believe Lea is the least likely to succeed."

"Yet precisely for this reason..."

The saintess sighed softly, gazing outside at the multitude of believers under the watchful eyes of the goddess's statue:

"She’s the one I love the most."