Chapter 22: Part (3): Almsgiving

Through the bulletproof glass, Mili saw that people had already begun gathering along both sides of the street, heading in the same direction as them.

As the vehicle entered the outer district, the surrounding buildings grew denser, and the streets more crowded…

But unlike the slums she had visited before, this area was at least reasonably clean.

The houses were simple, but all were maintained properly.

“By the way,” the woman stopped singing, “when we meet the people later, just follow what we practiced. Remember these key points—”

“First, keep smiling, but don’t overdo it.”

“Second, speak softly, but loud enough for everyone to hear.”

“Third, show compassion and care, but don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

Kaya spoke while adjusting the equipment at her waist.

She drew a short, curved dagger of unusual design from her belt and twirled it in her hand:

“Haha~ I’m a top-tier bodyguard in the merchant trade!”

“A trivial problem? Totally—handled!”

Mili stared at the gleaming blade, almost as long as her forearm, and swallowed nervously.

“I… I’ve never practiced…”

“Wha—what?!” The woman stopped and widened her eyes.

“Really?”

“—Seraphina didn’t have you practice?”

Mili shook her head slightly. “Practice… she said… just go read the script… um. Do I… need to practice?”

“Huh?”

Kaya frowned and scratched her head, the tiny beads in her braid tinkling softly:

“Forget it, last-minute cramming it is.”

“When we see the people later, just do as I say.”

“Really, it’s simple! Just don’t scold them… hmm? Actually, maybe scolding is fine?”

“Ahem! Wrong direction.”

“In short!”

“Smile;”

“Nod;”

“Express… oh no.”

“—comfort!”

“Yes, comfort.”

“Done~”

Mili looked at Kaya’s unreliable demeanor and felt even more unsure of herself.

The vehicle finally stopped at a cleared square in the outer district.

The place was already packed with people.

In the center of the square, a temporary square platform about half a meter high had been set up with wooden boards and metal frames, surrounded by several large speakers…

Behind the platform, a huge Eisenberg emblem hung.

Around them, rows of fully armed soldiers had cordoned off a safe area, keeping the eagerly waiting citizens outside…

Through the window, Mili saw the dense crowd stretching to the end of the street…

How many people were there?

The faces, etched with fatigue and numbness, now shone with the same light—anticipation, hope…

Mixed with awe and curiosity.

The car door opened, letting in the cold air and the noisy roar of the crowd.

The girl looked, dazed, at the dense yet so-close sea of people…

“Don’t be afraid,” Kaya’s voice sounded in her ear. “Follow me.”

The woman got out first, her strong presence forcing the surrounding soldiers to automatically clear a path.

Mili took a deep breath, lifted her skirt, and followed.

The moment she appeared, the noise of the square seemed to pause.

Thousands of eyes focused on her at once.

“The Saint!”

“She’s the real Saint!”

“Thanks to Her Majesty the Queen’s grace!”

Soon, the shouts surged like waves again, mixed with chaotic applause and whistles that roared like thunder…

Evelyn, the deputy officer, was already waiting at the foot of the stage.

Still in her neat military uniform, she looked cold and austere.

The deputy quickly approached Mili, pressing a black folder into her hands.

“Your Highness, the Saint, you’re a bit late… we have to go on soon,” Evelyn said in a low voice that carried over the outside noise.

“This is the schedule, and the content you need to read.”

“First, express concern for the people, then announce some public welfare policies…”

“Just read what’s written.”

Mili lowered her head and glanced at the folder—

Inside were several neatly printed sheets of white paper with black text.

The first sheet, the schedule, was fairly simple, but the rest were filled with empty, formal platitudes.

She skimmed them, her small face tight with discomfort.

“May the Holy Light protect our citizens…”

“Thanks to Her Majesty the Queen’s mercy…”

Huh?

How could it sound so hollow and pompous?

The keywords were small, scattered like ants across the page…

“Could… this be simplified a bit?” the girl asked quietly.

“It’s too late,” Evelyn glanced at her military watch. “Just read the script, it’ll be fine.”

After the instructions, Evelyn looked up and shot an extremely displeased glance at Kaya.

The latter shrugged indifferently, pouting slightly, as if it didn’t concern her.

She even took a nut from her waist pouch and began munching on it.

“Tch… thanks for your help, Ms. Kaya,” Evelyn said, extremely formal but icy.

“Professional courtesy, no need to thank me~”

Kaya waved casually, amber eyes twinkling with mischief.

Then she winked and pointed her thumb at Mili: “Want one too?”

“No need.”

“Really! Nuts are very nutritious!”

Evelyn’s forehead veins throbbed, and she ignored her, signaling Mili to go on stage.

“Time’s up, please go on.”

Mili gripped the black folder tightly and stepped onto the stage, each step making her heartbeat faster…

Being watched by countless eyes from below made her want to run…

But it seemed she had no choice…

Kaya, standing by the stairs, gave her a gentle push from behind.

“Go on, little Saint,” the merchant woman’s voice was full of mischievous amusement. “They’re going to adore you.”

“….”

Mili took a deep breath, stiff-faced, and stepped onto the final stair.

The moment she reached the stage, the crowd erupted with even louder applause and cheers.

“Your Highness, the Saint!”

“Our hope!”

“May the Saint bless us!”

Standing in the center of the stage, Mili placed the folder on the podium and scanned the hopeful faces below, her palms already soaked in sweat…

Her throat tightened, and her legs trembled inside her skirt.

She could clearly see everyone’s movements…

Some looking down, some up, some shouting as if their mouths were trumpets, some perched on their parents’ shoulders holding little flags…

Each and every one of them was a living person.

At the fence, a middle-aged man in patched work clothes leaned on the barrier with one hand and protected someone beside him with the other…

His rough, darkened palms showed he likely did heavy factory work…

Beside him stood a timid little girl, clinging to her father’s coat, eyes full of curiosity and fear as she looked at the stage…

In a corner, a thin elderly woman leaned on her son’s arm, squinting through cloudy eyes at the center of the stage…

Her son looked to be in his thirties, a prominent scar on his forehead, likely from some past accident…

Among the crowd were young mothers holding infants…

One gently rocked a crying baby, dark circles under her eyes, yet she still tiptoed, trying to see better…

Further away, a child of only a few years old rode on an adult’s shoulders, waving their small hands excitedly…

They didn’t understand what a Saint was.

They only felt today was lively and fun…

Each of these people had their own names, stories, and daily worries about food and livelihood…

They stayed awake at night worrying about a child’s cough…

Frowned when rations ran short…

Worried late at night about work tomorrow…

And now, tens of thousands of living, breathing people, all looked at her with anticipation—a girl who couldn’t even properly take care of herself, who had stuttered nervously at interviews and office year-end events in her previous life.

Mili had never imagined she would speak in front of so many people…

Her knuckles pressed hard against the edge of the folder, her nails almost cutting into her palms, hearing only the frantic thump of her heart, blood rushing to her head…

This was far scarier than she had imagined.

Her mind was blank.

All the preparation, all the repeated reminders…

Useless.

All useless.

Only confusion remained.

A speech to fifty thousand people is exciting; a genius orator facing a fervent crowd can stir up hatred and public opinion with eloquence, and the audience responds like a roaring wave…

But standing here herself, she realized how terrifying this situation truly was…

Being the focus of everyone’s attention could burn a person alive.

She was neither a hidden screen viewer spreading messages, nor a keyboard warrior commenting online…

She had to face real human beings and speak words she herself didn’t even believe.