Chapter 1 part 6

It hurts!! Damn it!!! I forgot I'm wearing heels right now! Hopping around in pain, I screamed inside my heart. I wasn't wearing pointed heels, but the shoes I wore were really stiff, so my heel pressed on the hard shoe soles. If not for the protection from the holy power, my heel probably would be broken to pieces.

Ugh, right now I have to run away before I get caught.

It would be troublesome if Cain noticed what I had done. I looked up at the opened window for a while then immediately left the small alley.

The Capital's road during the day seems quite empty. I'm still far from the main road, but I don't have a single penny so I could only open the parasol and keep walking. Duh, I also have to return to the mansion on foot. I really miss Snowy. Snowy wouldn't easily let strangers ride him because he is a fierce purebred holy horse. I doubt he could find another master.

Was he fine when he heard about my death?

I feel moved thinking about how Snowy might have been waiting for me to come back. I wish I could take him with me, but it would be impossible before I could prove that I'm Roel. It felt like something heavy was being pressed inside my heart whenever I recall that we got into a quarrel because he stubbornly wanted to accompany me before I went inside the Demon King's castle. My poor Snowy… I'm truly sorry for treating you badly until the end.

I walked staggeringly while thinking of my dear horse before realizing that more and more people were walking around me. There could be seen a group of soldiers olderly lining up on the main street leading to the palace.

"They even have Imperial Army here. Wow, it turns out they really care about it."

I folded up my parasol and observed my surroundings.

The audience varied from the olderly to the youngsters, and from men to women. They were roaming around at the side road, but the majority of them were young noble ladies. All their faces looked gloomy and some of them could be heard sobbing while wiping away their tears with their handkerchiefs.

"I can't believe it. He was still very young…"

"Sir Roel! How could you leave me behind like this?!"

"I still have a box of letters that I had yet to send to him! Sniffs!"

Hah! I already knew, but I really am popular. Indeed, I'm a woman, but even if I'm a man, I still couldn't get married because I'm a holy knight. Even so, the ladies gathered together to express their sorrow. Among the ladies, there are also little girls and married women. I feel uncomfortable because I saw many people saddened by my death. Besides, I'm still alive, although my body got swapped with another … I feel a little guilty.

Suddenly, someone from across the road shouted, "They're coming!"

The funeral procession? After the shout, those who were roaming around in the middle of the road, with terrifying speed, quickly joined into the crowd at the side road.

Aw!

Whats there to see about the funeral procession that made them squeeze in like this? I was being pushed around before I could finally reach the front. I stuck out my head beside the army that were organizing the audience. By doing so, I could see the funeral procession coming closer.

The Holy Knights that were wearing their white ceremonial uniform, were carrying a white marble stone coffin. The Holy artifact placed onto the coffin, shone brightly upon being basked in sunlight. I stared at the scene in the middle of people that were in their silent mourning.

The coffin wasn't being carried by servants or relatives, but by colleagues, as the last honor to the deceased. By doing so, it also elevated the impression of the deceased when he's alive. Hence, some people will say that the deceased had lived a good life before dying.

Therefore I give you guys my most sincere gratitude from my heart. But why …?!

Those damn brats…!

Why are you guys making that kind face?

Those faces that I remember clearly in my mind look gloomy and make me feel like my stomach is being turned upside down. I knew they would be sad because being left behind by someone close to you is really painful.

Even so, I never thought that those grown up men could make that kind of face. They looked like some lost children.

And those shameful idiots are all my past that has been taken away from me by death. Now I'm just a stranger without any bit of relation to them. I'm lying inside that coffin and soon will be buried inside the soil. That's me…

My feelings are completely a mess right now…

I could easily guess how severe the wrinkle on my current face is, without checking in the mirror. I shouldn't have come to my funeral procession. I shouldn't have seen the expression of those I left behind…

The coffin passed in front of me who was biting hard on my lips. For a moment, I felt the urge to shove off the coffin. I want to laugh at those brats who looked like they had lost everything in this world, while shouting, "Why are you crying over this silly shell?!"

In reality, my neck would get slashed by my comrades' sword before I could get close to the coffin.

While I was busy biting my lips with messed up feelings, the funeral procession continued to proceed, distancing itself from the real main character. Some people from the crowds followed behind the funeral procession, while the rest started to disperse one after another to continue with their lives.

At the place where the army lined up to maintain order, I stood there blankly for a while.

***

"Miss!"

Sofia greeted me with bright face as soon as I reached the mansion with staggering steps. The sun is almost setting. I nodded without any enthusiasm and look at her.

"Why does Miss return alone… without the horse carriage? Eh, it's impossible for Miss to return without horse carriage, right? Miss went together with Viscount Schwart afterall."

"Mhm… well," I answered awkwardly. I remembered Viscount Schwart after having completely erased him from my memory. I wonder… how does he end up after all that happened? Most likely, that bastard Cain will take care of him and return him to his home. Hearing my dispirited voice, Sofia turned panicky and immediately held my hand to support me.

"My goodness, what happened to you Miss? Let's go inside!"

"I'm fine."

"What do you mean by you're fine?! Miss looks really pale right now! Miss's face has become as white as blank paper."

Is it really that bad huh? This is really embarrassing. Damn it! As a holy knight who always participated in eradicating the Demon King, this is truly humiliating. Death always haunted down our every step and that made us, who were under the guidance of the Goddess, forget those fears. Death is something I have always faced, but why… just why did I suddenly become agitated and depressed? Isn't my soul still alive and well?

"It's okay. I'm really fine. I'm just tired. There's nothing to worry about."

The one who is in misfortune is Viscount Schwart, not me. My answer that sounded a bit cheerful made Sofia relieved.

"Let's quickly go inside and take a rest! I've prepared the bath for Miss. Oh right, did Miss manage to watch the funeral procession smoothly?"

"Yeah… it was really crowded."

"Thats for sure. Many young ladies adored Sir Roel after all. People said that even Her Highness Princess Evellyn fainted when she heard about Sir Roel's death."

That little princess? The memories of that cute little princess come to my mind. The twelve years old princess who always insisted she would marry me after she became an adult, made me feel emotional and melancholic again. I've done nothing wrong, but why do I feel like I'm the bad guy here? Damn it!

After taking a bath and having my dinner, I have come to a decision.

I must return!

How could I think about starting a new life after seeing those brats' sad faces! There's nothing wrong with living as a holy knight once more. Truthfully, to be a holy knight is a very respected and honorable job and also, I've got many comrades who were always there listening to all my stories and complaints. That's more than enough.

"That being said, first I have to meet with the High Priest, but…"

I muttered softly while staring blankly at the room ceiling with my body lying down on the bed. The High Priest who can communicate with the Goddess would be able to recognize my soul. That being said, unless you're someone with high authority within the Church, it would be almost impossible to meet the High Priest as a mere Count's daughter. Except for a very special case.

I have to find an opportunity on the Holy Blessings Day.

Holy Blessings Day is a day to commemorate the time when the Goddess arrived in the mortal realm. On that day, those who serve the Goddess gather inside the main hall of the Central Church and are blessed by the High Priest. It goes without saying that any normal citizens can't get inside, and only the priests and holy knights are permitted inside.

In other words, I need to become a clergy. It's not difficult to be a clergy, anyone can be one as long as they possess holy power.

The High Priest might not be able to recognize me if our distance is too far.

It's obvious that new clergies would be placed in the corner most area. Forget my soul, probably my face couldn't be seen either. There must be another, more efficient way, to meet the High Priest, other than finding an opportunity on the Holy Blessings Day.

Its none other than the Inauguration Ceremony of the Holy Knights.

The inauguration for the holy knights and the priests would be done by the High Priest. However, even if you're a genius, you need to spend at least one year as a probationary period to officially become a holy knight. On average, the probation usually goes for 4-5 years and it can't be done if your ability is lacking.

In conclusion, 1 year. I have to spend another 1 year of probation period… Unconsciously I clutched my head.

"I feel like giving up…"

Probationary Knight has the word 'knight' in it and sounds cool, but in reality, they aren't any different from servants. That means that I have to serve my subordinates for at least a year!! Furthermore, with the unique traits of my holy power, I might not even be able to become the lowest clergy. Urghh, it's really complicated.

Damn! Rather than doing it all over again, it would be better if I punished the Count who cooperated with the Demon King and inherited all the Count's wealth. Then I'll donate all of it to the Church.

I could easily reach my goal if only I could say, "I want to donate a large sum of money and get a blessings from the High Priest!" Although being blessed by the Goddess, in the end we are still mere humans. We need money to fill our stomachs!

I still have three months until the Holy Blessings Day and I would just need to enter the Church at any cost… so let's take over the Count's household!

By doing so, I can avenge Silla Epheria, donate to the Church, and prove my identity. Kill three birds with one stone! That's really a perfect plan. I praised myself and buried my face into the pillow.