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Chronicles of an Aristocrat Reborn in Another World – the Apostle of the Gods Who Know No Self-Restraint (Web Novel) - Volume 3 Chapter 4: A Secret Meeting
Volume 3 Chapter 4: A Secret Meeting
This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml
They arrived at the place where they were to meet the Saint, awaited by Silk.
They would be staying there for the night, then heading to Silbesta the next day, so there were a lot of tents that had been put up.
The carriage came to a stop, and after everyone had lined up to greet the Saint, the captain opened the door.
An attendant got off first, the Saint disembarking after her.
The Saint was a beautiful girl, her age not much different to Cain’s, her straight, pink hair stretching all the way down to her waist, and she was wearing a pure white robe with golden embroidery. She gave off a very dignified and imposing impression, fitting well into the role of a Saint.
As Ragnaf was a deeply religious man, he was overcome with emotion at seeing the Saint with his very own eyes, from which tears had now started to flow. Normally, the highest-ranked noble would greet the Saint, but Ragnaf was obviously in no state to do so.
So, Cain gave up on Ragnaf and stepped forwards, greeting her as representative instead.
“Saint-sama, I have come to meet you from our royal capital1. I am Viscount Cain von Silford Drintor. We will be staying the night here, then heading to the town of Silbesta tomorrow. After that, I shall be your bodyguard as we go to the royal capital. It is an honour to meet you.”
The Saint stared at Cain, no expressions on her face. Then, she opened her mouth.
“I am Hinata Lyra Marineford, and I fulfil the role of being this age’s Saint. Regarding you being my bodyguard, I am thankful, and it is a pleasure to work with you.”
The Saint, bowing her head deeply, didn’t seem like a girl in her early teens at all.
The Saint and her troupe were guided to a tent, which her bodyguard knights then surrounded.
They were invited to have dinner with everyone else, but the captain refused.
“We will prepare our own food. You providing the tent is enough for us.”
They were the Saint’s bodyguards, yet they seemed really standoffish and hostile to Cain. But, they were citizens of a foreign nation, so Cain withdrew as the bodyguards started cooking their own dinner.
“Silk, they told me they’d make and eat dinner by themselves…”
“Is that so. I really wanted to talk to her while we were eating together though…”
“Well, we only just met today, so that might be why. We’ll have plenty of time to talk on our way to the royal capital, and when we get back to the town, I’ll ask Ragnaf to arrange it so we eat together with her.”
Having finally gotten to meet with the Saint, Silk wanted to get to know her better, but hearing that Cain had been turned away by the guards, she made a disappointed face.
“But, I get to eat together with you, Cain-kun, so it’s fine.”
Seeing Silk’s smile, Cain’s heart skipped a beat, which made him face away in embarrassment.
The next day came to greet them without anything having happened, and everyone was now getting ready to head off to Silbesta. The tents had already all been loaded onto the carriages, and the only thing left to do was departure.
Like the day before, they set off with Ragnaf and his knights leading the group, the Saint and her bodyguards in the middle, and Cain and the royal knights following along behind.
At Ragnaf’s signal to depart, the carriages all started moving. Cain chatted with Silk, checking with [Search] for any people following them as they went onwards.
They had left early in the morning, and had thus arrived in Silbesta before noon. The town was overflowing with people come to see the Saint with their own eyes, as news had spread fast that she would be passing through Silbesta. As the town was close to Marineford, there were a lot of devout believers among the citizens.
The local guards directed the traffic so the party’s carriages wouldn’t be obstructed, and they headed through the town without the Saint even showing a glimpse of her face.
Less than twenty minutes later, the carriages arrived in front of the guest house. As a knight had gone ahead and contacted them already, the servants were already waiting, all of them lined up in front of the guest house.
Cain and Silk also got off their carriage and took their places in the line, alongside Ragnaf.
The Marinefordean bodyguards opened the carriage’s door, and the Saint, accompanied by her attendant, disembarked.
“For today, please relax in our guest house. We will have lunch prepared shortly.”
The Saint nodded silently at Ragnaf’s explanation, and walked off to the guest house.
After having watched the Saint silently enter the guest house, Cain and Silk gathered in a guest room in the lord’s residence.
“But still, the Saint-sama didn’t seem to be feeling so well…”
“Yeah. I wonder what happened…”
Cain’s mental image of a Saint was one where she smiled a lot more often. But the actual Saint was one of few words, let alone facial expressions.
Certainly, she was a dignified and gorgeous girl, but it seemed like that was all there was to her. Lime had told him to help save her, but Cain was worried about how to get in touch with her after this.
A maid came to tell them lunch was ready, and they headed to the dining hall. There was now a third head seat at the table, with Ragnaf having left the central one open for the Saint to occupy. Cain followed his example and sat down on the other side of the middle seat. Silk might have been the daughter of a duke, but she was not the head of a family, so she didn’t get a seat at the head of the table.
After everyone had sat down, including the Saint, who took her offered position at the very head of the table, Ragnaf made sure everyone was indeed there, then gave a greeting as the lord of the territory.
“Welcome to the Kingdom of Esfort. You might only be staying here for a single day, but please enjoy yourselves. Being able to have the Saint as a guest is something I, Ragnaf, will treasure my whole life. Cheers!”
“““Cheers!!!”””
The Saint raised her glass without saying anything.
Ragnaf tried talking to the Saint, saying it was the honour of a lifetime to be able to have a meal with the Saint, but her responses were lacking. She didn’t respond with anything other than a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
While Cain was looking at the Saint from opposite Ragnaf, she suddenly turned around and glanced at him.
She then reached out under the table and placed a small piece of paper on Cain’s thigh.
Although he was surprised at her actions, Cain made sure nobody was paying attention to him, then peeked at the text on the paper.
There was only a single sentence written on it.
{There is something I have to talk to you about in private.}
When Cain looked back up at the Saint, their gazes intersected for a moment again.
Not saying anything, Cain nodded almost imperceptibly, to which the Saint gave an equally miniscule smile.
Cain was shocked, as she normally had no facial expressions, but now she had smiled, even if only slightly.
After an unhurried meal, the Saint returned to the guest house.
Cain returned to his room, and checked the note he had been given once again. All she had written was ‘I want to talk’, and nothing about ‘where’ or ‘when’, so Cain was at a loss.
“I’ve no choice but to go in the night… That captain of her bodyguards would just get in my way during the daytime.”
Cain smiled bitterly, thinking about that captain who would keep him away no matter what. Naturally, he had refused when he had been asked to eat together with nobles and the Saint, saying it was not his place, but still, him and his men had been waiting in the hall just outside. They might even have been listening in to the conversations inside.
Cain thought that perhaps they were keeping tabs on the Saint; who she spoke with, and what was said.
They were supposed to have dinner with the Saint as well, but one of her bodyguards came over to the lord’s residence.
“The Saint-sama said she was tired out and would be taking a rest. As such, she won’t be dining together with everyone, but eating in her room.”
Ragnaf, while disappointed that he wouldn’t be able to have another meal with the Saint, arranged for food to be sent to her room. Supper took place with only Ragnaf, his family, Cain, and Silk present.
“Ah, what I wouldn’t give to be able to accompany you to the royal capital tomorrow…”
“Sir Ragnaf, when we’re returning from the royal capital, we will stop by here again. We will meet again then.”
Thinking over Cain’s words, Ragnaf’s smile returned.
“Right you are, Sir Cain. The Saint-sama will stop by here again on her way back.”
Cain nodded, chuckling at Ragnaf’s complete change in attitude. Next to him, Silk giggled as well.
The depressed atmosphere from earlier now gone, the meal continued harmoniously.
Midnight.
When everyone else was fast asleep, Cain got up from his bed.
He changed clothes and prepared to use [Transfer]. As he had been through all the rooms in the guest house earlier just in case, he could [Transfer] to any of them without any problems.
He wanted to visit her the normal way, but as the captain would definitely send him away, Cain had decided on using [Transfer].
As the Saint was watched over by the goddess of life, Lime, Cain thought that he would use [Transfer], then ask her to stay silent.
[Transfer]
His field of vision changed in an instant to that of the room where the Saint was staying.
The Saint, whom he had expected to be sleeping in her bed, was sitting in a chair, waiting for him.
“Silford-sama, you did come after all.”
Cain was surprised at her words, but then bowed lightly.
“I am terribly sorry for coming this late at night. However, I had judged that this was the only method available to my use that would allow us to speak in private, so I had no other choice but to use it. Please, pardon my rudeness.”
“It’s fine. I was expecting you to come here late at night. Thank you for actually even coming.”
Cain was surprised at the smiling Saint, who was completely different than how she had been during the day.
“What’s so amusing? That I’m so different? During the day, that guard captain’s always there to stop me from talking. Sit down, then we’ll talk.”
Prompted by the Saint, Cain sat down in a chair opposite her.
“The truth is– –”
She began explaining about goings-on until then.
He already knew that her life was being aimed at by the pope’s faction, but apparently both the captain of her bodyguards, as well as a number of the knights themselves had all been dispatched by the pope’s faction. They were aiming to kill her within the borders of the Kingdom of Esfort, because if she died in Esfort, the pope could push all the blame on the kingdom.
She couldn’t speak as she liked, as she doubted the possibility of anyone else knowing about the situation, her asking for help would just cause others trouble.
“I thought so…”
Cain was now convinced that what Lime had said was correct.
And thus, a question arose.
“But then… why me?”
This town had Ragnaf, who was quite the zealot. There was Silk too, who was also a girl, just like the Saint herself. And while Cain had been the one to greet her, revealing all these secrets to him just because of that didn’t add up at all.
“Silford-sama… or should I call you Cain-sama? Cain-sama, you’re an apostle, right? I knew as soon as I saw you. I’m not called the Saint for nothing, after all. And then… I received a divine commandment. ‘If anything happens, you can rely on Cain von Silford. He will surely help you out.’ Although never would I have thought that you would be around my age.”
The Saint giggled. Her smile was just as beautiful as Telestia’s or Silk’s.
Hearing the contents of the divine commandment, Cain smiled bitterly.
“Did the god really say that…”
“Yes, I was even told I could have children with you, Cain-sama.”
“Wha–”
Cain exhaled violently at her shocking words.
He had been told that Lime would give her a divine commandment, but he was not expecting her to go as far as to say ‘It’s fine if you have children with him’.
“When I received the divine commandment, I too was wondering what was up with that, but now that we’ve met in the flesh – – I wouldn’t mind at all.”
“Wa-wait just a minute. I’m in a bind here with you saying such shocking things. The gods too, just what the heck are they saying…”
Hearing the Saint’s out-of-control words, Cain glared up at the ceiling, sure of the fact that the gods were currently watching him.
“First off, Saint-sama, please understand that protecting you is the most important thing at the mome– –”
“Please just call me Hinata.”
“But…”
“Only at times when it’s just the two of us, though.”
“Yes…”
Hinata had a huge smile on her face at the fact that Cain had accepted. Her smile was so divinely beautiful, it was no wonder she was called a saint.
After that, the two of them continued chatting. Then, Cain took out a necklace from his [Item Box] and laid it down on the table.
While on a whole, the necklace was simple, it was adorned with a single magic stone, shining a beautiful crimson.
“This is…”
“This necklace will definitely protect you, Hinata-sama. If you hold this magic stone tightly and pour some of your magic power into it, I will be notified no matter how far away I am. Then, I will definitely come protect you.”
Hinata picked up the necklace and placed it on the palm of her hand, her eyes glittering.
“Thank you very much, Cain-sama. I will keep it close to me at all times. And… could you please put it on me?”
Cain nodded, took the necklace back from her, and, moving behind her, connected the metal fittings.
“Thank you.”
Hinata bowed to Cain with a happy face.
“If they knew, you, as an apostle, would be way more revered than I am, so I really am sorry for having you help me…”
“Me being an apostle is a secret, okay… Only a very limited number of people within the kingdom know about it. If everyone knew, it would be really troublesome…”
“Yes, it’s Cain-sama’s and my secret.”
A bit unnerved by how different she was compared to the daytime, Cain nodded.
“Then, please take care of me from tomorrow.”
“Yes, I will do my best as your bodyguard.”
While Hinata had a satisfied smile, Cain mentally decided to complain to the gods later.
And thus, the secret meeting between the two of them ended.
1btw, he didn’t use “our royal capital”, he just said “royal capital”, which made me think that perhaps “royal capital” in this novel is like “Kyoto” (which literally means ‘capital city’)? Any thoughts? Should I change “royal capital” to “Outou/Outo”? Or an English equivalent (DeepL always translated it as ‘King’s Landing’, for example)?
also: ‘Only at times when it’s just the two of us, though’, eh?
