Chapter 40: Three Years, and Revelation

Renee sighed, tapping her fingers on the table. She'd been in the Holy Kingdom for three years and a month now, and her relationship with Vera hadn't gone anywhere.

"Is there a problem?" Hela asked.

"No," Renee replied, her chin resting on the table. She thought about her goal of getting closer to Vera.

She had been holding his hand for ages. He had only called her "Renee" once, and then went right back to calling her "Saint" the next day. They still walked around the flower garden for an hour or two every day, having the same conversations.

It wasn't her fault, she told herself. The problem was the Holy Kingdom. It was too peaceful. There were no dramatic events to push their relationship forward.

Renee's expression hardened. She needed to do something to change their routine.

If Theresa were there, she would have shaken her head. The real problem was that Renee was looking for an external cause instead of realizing she was the one holding them back. It's a common mistake for those with no relationship experience—the belief that you need a grand, dramatic event to make progress. Renee was still so ignorant.

But Theresa was still away on a mission, and there was no one to correct Renee’s misguided view on love.

"Saint, you're all set," Hela said, finishing up Renee's dressing.

"Thank you," Renee replied, grabbing her cane. "Where's Vera?"

"He's waiting at the door."

"Good. See you later."

"Yes."

Tap. Renee's cane hit the ground. She was used to the layout of the palace by now, and she walked to the door, opening it herself.

"Good morning, Saint," Vera's deep voice said.

Renee's heart still fluttered at the sound of his voice. She held out her hand, trembling slightly. His warm hand covered hers, and she held on to the feeling, smiling gently. "Shall we go?"

"Yes, Saint." His voice was as formal as ever.

Tap. The cane hit the ground again, followed by the sound of his footsteps. Renee took his hand, and they walked down the long hall.

Today was Renee's eighteenth birthday.

---

This was her fourth birthday in the Holy Kingdom. Just like the last three years, she was celebrating with the Apostles and her closest friends in a small room outside the Grand Hall.

"Happy birthday, Lady Saint! You're a young lady now!" Rohan said loudly.

"Watch your mouth. That's disrespectful," Vera's sharp voice responded.

"Huh? I just called her a lady. What's wrong with that?"

"It's disrespectful coming from you. So just be quiet."

"Heh." Rohan smirked at Vera's words, and Renee giggled. She used to panic when they argued, but now she found it amusing.

"Happy birthday, Lady Saint. It's an honor to celebrate with you," a voice said nearby.

"Congratulations. I'm good at congratulating people, too," another voice said.

"Thank you, Sir Krek and Sir Marek."

"That's me, Krek."

"She knows Marek's name, too."

The twin Apostles loved Renee, as she was the only one in the Holy Kingdom who could tell them apart. They always tried to expose Vera’s true nature to her, but he was always at her side. The twins, who hated pain, never succeeded.

"Congratulations, Saint," Trevor said, joining them. He glanced at Renee's arm, but Vera caught him and dragged him and Rohan to a corner. Renee sipped her tea, smiling at the sound of Vera's footsteps fading and two distant screams.

A cool breeze rustled her hair, and the scent of tea filled the air. She felt a sense of peace. These people had become her friends, her family. The Holy Kingdom was finally starting to feel like home.

Though her relationship with Vera was stagnant, her own life and mindset had changed for the better. She was no longer angry at the Gods, and she had accepted her title as Saint.

Of course, some things still hadn't changed.

"Saint."

Renee's heart thumped at Vera's voice. She put her tea cup down, grabbed her cane, and replied. "Yes."

"The Holy Emperor is coming."

"Oh, okay."

She went to stand up, but Vera spoke again. "No need to stand."

"How can I do that?"

"He will understand."

"Vera," she said sternly, making him freeze. "Again?"

He closed his mouth. She smirked. "I'm just kidding. But it's good manners to stand. Are you treating me like a child?"

Her tone was playful but also a little annoyed. She was frustrated that he still saw her as a little girl, unable to see her as a woman.

Vera swallowed his thoughts. He wanted to say, 'You're still a minor,' but he knew it would upset her. At eighteen, she was a year away from being an adult on the continent, and he still saw her as a naive child. Her beauty had blossomed, but he didn't see it that way.

He knew she would be heartbroken if he pointed out that she was still a minor, especially now that she was so focused on being mature. So, without realizing he was the cause of her frustration, he just bowed his head.

"… I will rectify."

"What are you rectifying? You keep picking up strange habits." She grumbled, then turned to face the Holy Emperor, Vargo.

"Congratulations, Lady Saint. You're eighteen now, aren't you?" Vargo said.

Renee nodded. Vargo grinned, looking at her long, white hair and her youthful face, which was starting to lose its baby fat. "You're growing up so fast. Just one more year, and you'll be an adult."

"I'm still lacking."

"Lacking in what? There's no one lacking in this Holy Kingdom, except for that gloomy little kid."

Vera frowned at the insult. "… I'm ashamed," he said with a hint of sarcasm, though he kept his tone polite for Renee's sake.

He looked at Vargo, who was smiling playfully at him. Vera's long-held assumption had now become a certainty. Vargo didn't die of natural causes. Over the past three years, Vera had grown stronger, and he could now sense Vargo's power. The divinity coming from Vargo was getting denser, strong enough to sustain him for more than a decade.

So, why did he die?

The only thing that came to mind was the Demon King, but the timing didn't line up. The Demon King appeared years after Vargo’s death. As Vera's mind reeled, Renee spoke up.

"Holy Emperor, I have something to tell you."

"Yes?"

She fiddled with her teacup, thinking for a moment. Ever since she arrived, she had been wondering what to do.

"I-It's time for me to receive the revelation."

Silence fell over the crowd. All eyes turned to Renee. Vera stared at her, his eyes wide.

"…Saint."

"It's fine. I thought about it a lot, and I've made my decision."

A smile touched her lips. She wasn't foolish. She knew how much everyone here cared for her. She knew they were all aware that the rules of the Holy Kingdom required her to receive a divine revelation. She knew they were all avoiding the topic for her sake.

"I'm ready now." She chose to say this on her birthday, in front of everyone. "You've all been so considerate of me. I wanted to express my gratitude."

Her smile grew. She still didn’t have faith in the Gods, but she was ready to accept her role as Saint. She wanted to show her appreciation for everyone's kindness.

"Thank you all so much," she said.

With that resolve, Renee finally found the courage to receive the revelation.

She felt Vera's presence beside her and smiled to herself. 'And while I'm at it…'

'Shouldn't we change our daily lives a bit?'

Renee, a novice in love, still believed that dramatic events were essential for a relationship to grow.