Chapter 487

Thanks to Agnes’s treatment, Lacey barely managed to wake up. As soon as she sat up, she shoved her face into my chest, as if staring hard enough would make the Holy Mark disappear.

Unfortunately for Lacey… no matter how hard she glared, the already engraved Holy Mark wasn’t going anywhere.

Eventually, with the expression of a strangled cat, she leaned back against the bed and had no choice but to accept the unbelievable reality that I now bore a Holy Mark.

—

“Explain.”

After drawing a Holy Sign and praying to Elpinel, Lacey, finally a bit calmer, spoke up.

“I want to hear an explanation.”

Her voice sounded as tired as someone who had been running for three days straight. Her eyes were as small as dots. Her expression was as chilling as a woman showing up at her cheating lover’s house with an axe.

“The descendant of the Twelve Knights abandoning Elpinel and choosing Astraea… This requires an explanation.”

…I never abandoned or chose anyone.

From the start, I never served Elpinel, so saying I “abandoned” her was off. And Astraea wasn’t a choice I made—it was forced upon me.

“Well, you see…”

As I rewrapped the bandages around my chest, I told her the whole story. From the moment I discovered the Holy Mark, to resolving everything, and finally leaving Arad with Seilon.

I left out the part about receiving a direct revelation from Astraea, but everything else was the truth.

The fact that I had the Holy Mark but no faith to manifest Divine Light, or the desperate measures I took to keep Seilon by my side without revealing the Holy Mark—I laid it all out.

Lacey’s expression kept shifting, but she patiently listened to the end without interrupting.

After the explanation, she looked up at the sky, trembling as she drew a Holy Sign.

“Elpinel… is this really the right thing…?”

It was a historic moment—the first time she ever expressed doubt toward the divine.

—

“Anyway… congratulations… I suppose congratulations are in order. After all, receiving a Holy Mark is a great blessing, no matter how you look at it.”

“Uh… thanks?”

Her awkward congratulations didn’t really hit home.

“It must mean that Astraea values Count Median’s convictions and actions. Enough to go this far.”

Lacey forced a smile and offered another compliment.

Though it might be because I could no longer remain a paladin of the Elpinel Church Order, her way of addressing me had shifted from “Sir Median” to “Count Median.”

I shrugged and silently smiled back. Deep down, I was convinced Astraea must’ve lost her mind.

Lacey sighed, as if to steady herself, then glanced toward the closed door, as if remembering Seilon was on the other side.

Then, lowering her voice, she spoke again.

“…I never imagined the Goddess of Justice would steal a knight from Elpinel.”

“Haha…”

She seemed to reluctantly accept it, but her dissatisfaction was clear. Lacey had always been eyeing me to become the Elpinel Church Order’s representative paladin.

She probably envisioned a happy future where the descendant of the Twelve Knights and I would wipe out all the demi-humans.

Unlike me, who only wanted to eliminate demi-humans that posed a threat to humans, Lacey saw all demi-humans as potential threats—those who showed their fangs and those who hid their claws.

Either way, she believed they were destined to harm humans and should be exterminated before they could act… or something along those lines.

In fact, it seemed like this ideology was part of the Elpinel Church Order’s secret doctrine—an extreme form of human-centrism.

Anyway, Lacey had been relying on me for this, but… even she couldn’t embrace someone bearing another church’s Holy Mark as a paladin of the Elpinel Church Order.

So much for the grand title of “Radiant Light.”

From Lacey’s perspective, it must’ve felt like a treasured possession had been snatched away by the neighbor.

“A Holy Mark… I still can’t believe it. You weren’t secretly worshipping Goddess Astraea, were you?”

“Of course not. The only one I believe in is myself.”

I chuckled, tapping the hilt of my sword.

A secret faith? The Astraea Church Order isn’t some cult. Why would I do something like that? It’s not like I’m a cheating husband sneaking around behind my wife’s back.

“Hey, sis…? What about me…?!”

What now?

Rana’s arm clung to my side, squeezing tightly as if interrogating me. Not that a girl’s strength could leave a mark on a steel pillar.

“Of course, I believe in you, Rana. You’re my little sister, aren’t you?”

“Hehe, right?”

I patted Rana’s head, ruffling her hair to soothe her.

…She’s getting more dependent by the day. Is this what sisterhood is like? I wouldn’t know—I’ve never had a younger sister.

Not that I could ask anyone else if this was normal… I didn’t have anyone trustworthy to ask. Not a single person.

Among my acquaintances, the only ones with sisters were a lunatic who regressed her older sister into an infant and another lunatic who tore apart her younger sister’s maid and then complained about why she was disliked.

…Speaking of which, when is Hersela going to wake up?

It’s been quite some time since the Grimnir Church Order incident, and she still shows no signs of waking. Is she hibernating like the half-beast she is?

I used to wish she’d just shut up, but now that she’s quiet, I kind of miss her.

—

What was harder than convincing Lacey about the Holy Mark was persuading her about my fake relationship with Seilon.

Lacey was furious, calling it blasphemous, but I kept emphasizing the practical benefits I’d gain from it. After all, spreading a little rumor could bring quite a lot of advantages.

Securing a loyal, hero-level paladin.

A rumor of being lovers was far better than being treated like a prostitute.

And it would block the meddling nobles who’d inevitably come knocking about succession issues for the Marquisate and the Twelve Knights’ bloodline.

It’s quiet now, but as I grow older and become the head of two families, these problems would definitely surface.

“Sigh… But what kind of stunt is this…? And since it’s been officially recognized by the Cardinal, there’s no taking it back now…”

In the end, Lacey nodded, massaging her temples. She didn’t really have the right to interfere with my personal choices, so she had no choice but to accept it.

“I should’ve gone with you…”

She sighed again, lamenting.

—

After all the explanations, Lacey sent everyone else away, leaving only me and Agnes.

She said the Saint Candidates had matters to discuss among themselves, so she told the others to go downstairs, inform Damien, and bond with Seilon.

“So, what did you want to talk about that you sent everyone else away?”

As soon as the sound of footsteps descending the stairs faded, Agnes asked, looking at Lacey.

“Well… I suppose it’s about the future of the Holy Kingdom?”

Lacey trailed off, brushing the hair that had fallen over her cheek.

…This is going to be a long one.

I rummaged through my pocket and pulled out a cigarette case.

After all the commotion, I felt completely drained, so I thought I’d light one up to calm my mind.

“Count Median.”

Lacey called out to me, using that still unfamiliar title.

…Is she going to call me that forever?

“…Just call me like you usually do. Don’t make it feel so distant.”

“If it makes you uncomfortable, I won’t.”

I shook my head and opened the cigarette case, pulling out the last cigarette. The empty case felt unusually light.

“Then… Sir Median.”

Lacey nodded and pointed to my left hand with an outstretched finger.

“Could you give me one of those?”

“Huh?”

One of what? Surely not this cigarette…?

I nearly dropped the last cigarette I was holding. It was that shocking.

I wouldn’t have been more surprised if I’d seen an orc ballerina.

“Archbishop Elmain…?”

Agnes, sharing my sentiment, looked at Lacey with a slightly bewildered expression.

Lacey smoking a cigarette.

That was a phrase as world-shaking as a generous Leopold, a kind Isabella, or a popular Freide.

It was something you’d only see in nightmares, not reality. Like Santa Claus.

Anyway, with trembling eyes, I alternated between looking at the cigarette in my hand and Lacey, who was reaching out to me.

“Lacey, have you ever smoked a magical cigarette before?”

Even though cigarettes in this world aren’t as vilified as in the old one, is it really okay for a Saint Candidate to do something like that?

“Who knows? Just give me one. And lend me a light.”

“Uh, sure… Here.”

In a daze, I handed her the cigarette I was about to smoke and lit it for her.

“Thanks. Then…”

Lacey, with a calm expression, took a deep drag…

“Cough! Hack! Keh! Cough! Elpinel… cough! Elpinel, what is this…?!”

Her face turned red as she coughed violently.

First time smoking? Yeah, right. It’s obvious she’s never done this before.

I bent over and lightly patted Lacey’s back as she coughed, then snatched the cigarette from her hand.

“Ugh, cough…! How do you even smoke this? It’s more toxic than the smoke from an execution pyre…!”

“Why are you even comparing it to that…? Everyone coughs the first time. You’re inhaling burnt plant smoke—of course it’s toxic.”

Why did you even ask for it if you can’t handle it?

Look at Agnes sitting next to you. She’s staring at you like you’re an idiot.

I chuckled and brought the cigarette to my lips.

Habits ingrained in your body come out naturally.

With a lit cigarette in my hand, smoking it was second nature to me.

“Ah, no, why are you…!”

“Huh? What, you want to try again? You should quit while you’re ahead. Your body’s already worn out.”

As if she still had lingering regrets about her failed attempt, Lacey reached out to me, her face red, as if trying to snatch the cigarette back.

Sorry, Lacey, but once it’s back in my hand, it’s mine now.

I leaned back, teasing her, and exhaled a deep puff of smoke.

The white peppermint smoke rose like a Christmas chimney.

Ah, sweet, so sweet.