Chapter 49: The Former Saintess’s New Convent

‘Hmm…’

Once the attendant at the door had closed it, Vivian turned around, a hint of annoyance clouding her expression. She then spoke to Jennelle in a cold voice.

“What exactly is it this time? All you ever do is cause me trouble and waste my time…”

“Ah…”

In response to Vivian’s interrogation, Jennelle was initially somewhat dazed. Her gaze was fixed on the fleeing blacksmith, her mind still replaying the word she had just heard from Vivian’s lips.

‘Indulgences?’

‘Uh… this…’

‘The Holy See hasn’t issued anything like that recently, has it? Is Her Holiness doing this privately…’

‘Ahem, never mind!’

After a moment, Jennelle shook her head. There was no point in her worrying about such matters; whether the Saintess was overstepping her authority was for the Bishop to decide.

However, securing Vivian’s favor and seizing this new opportunity to become a trusted confidante to a powerful figure was of utmost importance to Jennelle.

“I’m talking to you! How dare you space out?!”

“No… I wouldn’t dare! This subordinate deserves death, this subordinate deserves death!”

Startled by Vivian’s shout, Jennelle immediately knelt before the blonde loli, who was significantly shorter than herself. She quickly produced the paper she had been waving and presented it to Vivian with both hands, explaining at once.

“Your Holiness, on my way back, I suddenly encountered someone distributing these flyers in the city center. I rushed here in a panic to inform you.”

“What kind of flyer could be so urgent…? It’s not some anti-Holy See propaganda, is it? Who would dare distribute such things in the city center? Are they tired of living?”

Vivian listened, utterly bewildered and somewhat dismissive, thinking it would be simple enough to just arrest whoever was handing them out. Yet, the moment she actually took the flyer and read it carefully, her proud and triumphant expression instantly froze.

Moments later, she blinked in disbelief. Her hand, clutching the paper, began to tremble slightly. After another pause, Vivian’s face turned ashen, and she lowered her head, trembling throughout her entire body. Then, her eyes wide, she articulated each word through gritted teeth, seething with anger.

“Al-ly-rose Con-vent?! Jennelle… you’re not joking with me, are you?!”

“Absolutely… absolutely not! Lady Vivian, I personally investigated after receiving the flyer. A new convent truly has been built in that location, and its name is indeed displayed on the signboard at the entrance. Moreover… moreover, the most crucial thing is that the person who gave me the flyer was the silver-haired young man we previously saw at Allyrose’s home!”

“Silver-haired young man…”

At Jennelle’s words, Vivian did recall him. He was Allyrose’s male servant, wasn’t he? Quite handsome, and Allyrose had even brought him to school. His name was something like… Luo Jia?

However… that wasn’t important!

After a moment, Vivian shook her head, momentarily setting aside who distributed the flyers. Regardless, the matter of Allyrose opening a new convent seemed to be confirmed!

‘Hmph, that woman!’

As this thought crossed her mind, Vivian clenched her teeth, a tremendous sense of pressure erupting from within her. Along with it came a deep wave of fear and fury.

‘Allyrose, that wretch, truly has a malicious heart. I am the true Saintess; that girl’s status has already been revoked! How dare she still involve herself in religious matters now!’

‘What is she trying to do? Hasn’t she stolen enough of my fifteen years as Saintess?!’

‘I actually thought she had finally settled down, seeing her act so submissive lately. But who would have thought that ever since I went to her house and was turned away, she would dare to defy me?!’

‘It’s always me suffering at Allyrose’s hands… how many times has that girl made me lose face by now?!’

‘This time, I… I must reclaim my dignity!’

‘Hmph, what a joke. I am the Saintess, and that lowly wench…’

‘One day, I will tear her to pieces!’

Lost in these furious thoughts, Vivian silently gritted her teeth, then let out a cold snort. She spoke to Jennelle in an ill-tempered tone.

“Let’s go. Call… call Tok. We’re going to see the ‘former’ Saintess’s new church! Let’s go—!”

“Yes… yes…!”

Hearing Vivian’s gritted teeth, her deliberate emphasis on the word ‘former,’ and her resentful, sarcastic tone, Jennelle immediately understood.

‘This is likely another fierce battle in the making!’

****

In the bright, yet somewhat minimalist, white convent hall, still incomplete, Miss Allyrose sat on a bench. Her hair was down, and she wore the classic black and white nun’s habit, quietly listening to someone’s woes.

‘Oh… it’s an emotional problem, is it?’

‘Ahem… this isn’t my area of expertise. After all… although I have a fiancé, the original owner’s fiancé is clearly too much of a scoundrel to be a suitable subject for studying emotional issues. And as for other past relationships… including in my previous life…’

‘I don’t seem to have any!’

‘No… however, it’s actually fine. Allyrose was confident she could soothe the emotions of the supplicant before her.

Simply because…

The little boy sitting beside her at this moment… was literally small. Ahem, of course, by ‘small,’ she meant young.

The little fellow in front of her looked about six or seven years old. His adorable big eyes blinked at the black-haired girl, and his pre-pubescent voice sounded tender, making him look like a perfectly cute little shota.

‘Oh…’

‘To come to me with emotional troubles at this age, this…’

‘Although this isn’t modern society anymore, Allyrose still wanted to complain. Isn’t this a bit wrong?’

‘Even in a world of magic, this age should still fall under the category of puppy love, right? This, this, this…’

‘Is this right?’

After a moment, Allyrose coughed softly, thinking it was probably just children playing around. So, she asked again.

“Little brother, what’s the name of the girl you like, and how old is she?”

“Um… she, she’s Nana-chan. She’s a little younger than me, also six years old… I, I like Sister Nana the most! But… um, she only plays with my childhood friend now…”

“Oh… well, this is quite something…” Allyrose scratched her chin, surprised that there was even a ‘NTR’ situation here. But after a moment, her eyes lit up. She earnestly pointed to Luo Jia, who was observing the scene beside her, then mischievously whispered to the little shota.

“Actually, little Jimmy, Sister thinks you could try liking someone else~ A mature older sister is much better than a little loli who hasn’t even grown all her hair~ For example… look, this silver-haired big brother next to you, he loves being bullied by Sister~”

‘Huh?!’