Two Faced
The saint gasps as she whispers, “A divine miracle.”
Kneeling down on the ground, the Saint answers, “My deepest apologies, heavenly mother, I have no idea what got into my knight.”
“I know. Do not lay a hand on this one again.”
“Of course not! It was never my intention for them to get hurt or attacked in the first place!”
“I know.”
After the person behind me disappears again everyone is left stunned for a bit.
The saintess then suddenly gets close to me and, with tears streaming down her face, kneels down in front of me and pleads, “I’m so sorry for my knight's behavior! You could have been seriously injured if the heavenly mother did not intervene. Will you please forgive us?”
“Ehm su-”
“No she’s not!” Scarlet says firmly. “As her employer it is your job, to discipline your knight. If you’re going around touching random people you should have trained your knight on how to react when someone doesn’t want to be touched by you.”
“I…Yes, you’re right, it’s just…I never had a person not want me to touch them before so a reaction like this didn’t even occur to me. I sincerely apologize. I swear something like this will not happen again.”
“And what guarantee do we have besides your word? It’s not like you intended this to happen in the first place and still my dear comrade, Thoma Ahad was attacked.”
“I…How about I send my knight escort back to the White City for the trip?”
“Hmm…Sure, that sounds like a good enough commitment to me. I believe Thoma Ahad can accept your sincerity like this.”
“In that case, Lady Jolene, please return to the White City.”
“Your Holiness, you can’t! Who will protect you during the journey!?” the knight yells.
“These good people of course. Isn’t that why we hired them in the first place?”
Looking down at the ground the knight answers, “I see…Yes, fare ye well your Holiness. May the Gods bless your journey and the rest of your life.”
“There is no need to be so dramatic Lady Jolene, we’ll see each other again in two months.”
Avoiding her eyes she answers, ”Yes, hopefully. But be not too sad if you won’t find me when you return. The White City is busy after all. A Holy Knight can’t just sit idly by when people are in danger.”
“I understand, I’ll wait for you if that happens!”
“Thank you…You are truly kind, your Holiness. I shall return to the White City as you asked. Goodbye.”
“Good bye. May the Gods be ever with you!”
“And with you, your Holiness.”
Walking back to me, the saintess asks, “Can you accept my apology now Mr. Thoma Ahad?”
“Uhm…Yes?”
“I’m glad!” She says and walks back to the front where she bows her head, “I’m sorry for causing this commotion, my life is in your competent hands from now.”
Things then get a bit hectic as the priest tries to figure out how to deal with the whole quest now but eventually it is decided, after the saintess insisted, that we go on as planned. The priest decided that our wagon will lead, behind us will be the wagon with the ore followed by the saintess’ carriage and at the rear will be the Bloodhounds. Sher Aka and John are currently driving, trying to get in formation, while Rayla and Scarlet are doting on me.
“Are you sure you didn’t get hurt anywhere, Rose?”
“Yeah, no pain at all.”
“Were you scared at all, oko?”
“Not really. It just happened really quickly and I didn’t even get hurt so I feel fine…”
“That’s good…Scarlet, do you think the saintess came here because of you?”
“It’s definitely possible. Though I’m not sure what her scheme is, from the knowledge we have so far it makes no sense why she would appear with only one knight and agree to send her away. It’s like she’s toying with us. Perhaps she’s trying to say that she doesn’t even see us as a threat.”
“Hmm…So, you mean like a veiled threat?”
“Exactly.”
I then ask, “What if she just made a mistake? She seemed pretty genuine when she apologized. I mean she even cried…”
Scarlet starts to cry, “You mean...Sob You mean like this?”
“Eh!? Are you okay, manya!? I’m sorry if I said anything bad! I’ll-”
Putting her finger over my mouth she smiles and says, “I was just acting, Rose.”
“Eh!? What? How did you do that!? Are you an actress, manya?”
“Pfft, No, Rose. It’s a skill most girls learn growing up.”
“R-really? Why?”
“Because it’s an easy way to get something. People are often really sympathetic when it comes to crying girls and women. Especially when they’re pretty.”
“But that seems…Wrong. That’s basically lying to people and making them feel bad.”
“Yeah, that’s exactly what it is. It’s one of the many weapons you learn to wield as a woman. But as with all weapons you need to wield it responsibly!”
“Huh…Can you do that too, ane?”
Rayla with tears flowing down her face answers, “Eh? Don’t tell me you thought I can’t do that! I thought…I thought you trusted me…Sob”
“I’m sorry, ane! I didn’t want to hurt you! I just wanted to know if you can-”
Smiling, Rayla gives me a wink and says, “Rose, I’m acting.”
“R-really?”
“Yes, really.”
“This really is a scary weapon…”
“Which is why you should always take a girl’s tears with a grain of salt, oko.”
“Especially when she has something to gain from crying.”
“I see…I think I understand. I didn’t think women would have such a strong secret weapon…Do you think I’ll learn that too?”
“Pfft Who knows. You might be one of the few girls I can actually imagine never doing it out of principle,” Rayla chuckles.
John interrupts us from the coach seat, “Seems like there is some problem. The Saintess has requested Thoma Ahad personally.”
“Eh!? Why me?”
“No idea, she didn’t clarify.”
“Okay…I’m going to talk to her.”
“Just don’t forget, oko. She is probably scheming something.”
“Don’t trust anything she says at face value.”
“Okay.”
Leaving the wagon, I walk towards the Saintess’ carriage where she seems to be already waiting for me.
“You asked for me?”
“Yes! Mr. Thoma Ahad, it seems I miscalculated a bit. I forgot that without my knight I don’t have anyone steering the carriage, so as an apology to what happened before I thought I’d let you do that work for me.”
“How is giving me more work an apology?”
She cogs her head, “What? Are you not overjoyed to be able to work for me?”
“Of course not, don’t be so arrogant.”
She seems shocked, “A-arrogant? I wasn’t trying to be! Usually people fight over who gets to serve me so I thought it would be a reward.”
“Well, it’s not a reward to me. Just get someone from the church or a Bloodhound member to do it for you.”
“I…Uhm…Okay.”
“Is that everything? If so, I'm going back to my group.”
“Y-yeah that’s everything…But do you not wish to spend more time with me?”
“No?”
“Is it because you’re shy? Is that why you wear the mask?”
“No it’s not. Can I go now?”
“Wait! Before you do…Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Is-Is it possible that you don’t like me?”
“That’s correct.”
“Is it because of what happened before? If so, I really am sorry! Or is it because I said I mistook you for a demon?”
“No, I dislike you because of the horrible things your church does to people.”
“What? But we help people?”
“How is preaching to imprison or kill gay people helping anyone? Or what about teaching that non-Humans are lesser than Humans? How is that helping people?”
“It’s because gay people are evil, it’s to protect the public. As for Demihumans, it’s just the natural hierarchy of the world. Just how I don’t resent the cow I kill to eat I also don’t resent Demihumans or treat them badly but they are obviously lesser than Humans.”
Clenching my teeth I say to her, “So you really were evil after all. Don’t talk to me again without good reason you monster.”
“M-monster? Me? Why? Why would you think I’m evil?”
Ignoring her I leave her behind and return to our wagon.