Let’s Have a Talk

Ellie heard the sound of Falk turning the prayer beads.

As a priest, aside from the cross given to the visitor, there was also one hanging around his own neck.

Earlier, Ellie had clearly seen the string of beads on the cross around Falk’s neck, and now he was fiddling with them, making a clattering sound.

…Falk’s heart was in turmoil.

The present Falk was not someone who needed to maintain a stern image in front of others.

So he could freely indulge in these small movements, and because of that, Ellie caught hold of his little tell.

“Do you hate that person.”

Ellie’s voice drifted lightly into Falk’s ears, as if her slender fingers were gently plucking at his heartstrings.

“……”

“I hate them.”

Falk fell silent without answering.

Those two words were spoken by Ellie.

She sounded as though she were merely expressing her own emotions.

But at the same time, wasn’t she also speaking those two words — forbidden against divine purity — on Falk’s behalf?

“I hate those who hurt my friends and my family.”

She voiced emotions on Falk’s behalf.

As for whether she herself truly felt that way — who knew?

After all, she had committed plenty of bad deeds.

She herself was likely someone deeply hated by others.

“…Miss, some things shouldn’t be taken so seriously, like walking into a dead end…”

The sound of beads rattling grew louder, like Falk’s tangled heart.

Yet he still maintained his professional ethics.

No matter what, he would not project those dark words or emotions onto the visitor on the other side.

“Have you ever thought about the lives of those bandits? For them, killing might be as simple as breathing. They kill ordinary passersby, treating them like little white rabbits ready to be cooked at any moment. They also kill escorts and mercenaries guarding goods. Those poor mercenaries don’t carry much money on them. They’re just trying to earn a living, raise a child, and barely manage to get a decent job in these chaotic times — only to be targeted by bandits and turned into food on a platter.”

As Ellie spoke, she tested Falk’s reaction, deliberately bringing up mercenaries, intentionally listening for his breathing.

And sure enough, it was obvious.

Falk’s breathing sank heavily for a brief moment.

He even lowered his head, curling forward on the confessional chair.

The rustling of fabric echoed softly, and the beads on the cross chimed along with it.

Painful, isn’t it?

Sad, isn’t it?

All those words like “it will pass” are lies.

A life for a life, a debt repaid in kind.

When Falk’s father died, he had still been a child.

At that age, a child would easily carve the image of a father’s death deep into their mind.

Coming to the church now was probably just to seek a sense of peace.

He was a good man.

In her previous life, he had worked for her to build a warless utopia.

In this life, without the Nightingale House, he entered the church, using prayers — even knowing they might be meaningless — to try to make the future a little happier for everyone.

But compared to shouting idealistic phrases like “Lord, please forgive,” wouldn’t personally killing one’s enemy be far more satisfying?

“Ha… sorry, Father. Lately, I’ve been plagued by these nightmares, so my emotions got a little out of control. I understand that everyone has it hard. But I still believe that evildoers should receive retribution, and those who hurt one’s family should be avenged personally…”

Seeing that Falk had already sunk into the emotions she guided him toward, Ellie decided that this was enough for today.

Continuing to provoke him would only raise suspicion.

Some words were enough when left implied.

With that, she tapped on the small wooden window, opened it, and returned the cross Falk had handed her earlier.

In the corner of her vision, through the opening, she saw part of the scene inside.

She saw Falk’s clenched fists, trembling slightly, as if his nails were about to dig into his palms.

“May the gods show mercy.”

Ellie finally spoke these words.

They were a commonly used blessing in the church.

In her previous life, Blue Sparrow, who had infiltrated the church as a nun, often said this phrase.

Ellie had heard it so much she could say it herself.

Here, it sounded like a polite farewell.

Yet the words “show mercy” felt almost like mockery.

No one knew whether the gods truly existed.

No one knew what they had ever shown mercy toward.

But today, this was enough.

She was a gentle, kind, and understanding princess, after all.

How could she push someone into such suffering?

After leaving the confessional, Ellie deliberately lingered near the door for a short while.

It was as if she wanted to hear sounds from inside.

But after a few seconds with no reaction, she turned and left.

She glanced at the clock hanging in the corridor, thinking that Firth, who was responsible for the routine inspection, should be arriving soon.

She walked out from the corner corridor, unhurriedly heading toward the church hall, ready to “coincidentally” run into Firth.

Ellie strolled along leisurely.

She casually admired the oil paintings lining the church corridors.

She listened to the sounds coming from the main hall.

After a few minutes — after looking at paintings depicting God’s creation, the various benevolent deeds of the gods saving humanity, and finishing her tour of all those boastful deities — she heard the welcoming voices from the hall.

Even in the church, everyone spoke quietly.

It wasn’t like a noisy restaurant filled with loud greetings.

But in this environment where everyone prayed in silence, even hushed discussions sounded especially clear.

She could distinctly hear Firth’s voice, the same tone she remembered so well.

That familiar coldness.

She knew it far too well.

However, when Firth first entered, Ellie didn’t rush to find him.

After all, he was here on official duty.

As a considerate princess, she wouldn’t disturb someone at work.

Meeting too early might result in being brushed off with “next time” due to work.

So it was better not to meet too early.

After all, this was supposed to be a “chance encounter.”

Relying on her memory of the church’s layout, she skillfully avoided Firth’s inspection route.

Such routine inspections never took long.

A few knights walked around upstairs and downstairs, exchanged a few words, and that was it.

Ellie wandered into the orphanage in the back courtyard.

Seeing a proper, genuine orphanage like this made her feel a little unaccustomed.

She hadn’t prepared any gifts for the children.

So she only watched from afar.

When she felt the timing was right, she turned and left.

Instead of entering the church through the side door, she exited through the back courtyard gate, circled around to the main road, and at the exact moment she stepped onto the red carpet before the church entrance, she lifted her head and saw Firth just walking out.

“Ah, are you Mr. Firth?”

Everything went exactly as she had planned.

The timing was perfect.

“Hm? Your—”

“Shh.”

Seeing Firth about to say “Your Highness” in public, Ellie immediately tiptoed, raised her head, and placed a finger before her lips in a shushing gesture.

“I just came out for a walk. If you call me by title, people around will come over to greet me. Let’s not disturb them.”

“Mm, that’s fine.”

Firth was considerate.

Or rather, he couldn’t be bothered with unnecessary trouble.

On trivial matters, he went along with whatever was said.

That was a good thing.

“By the way, since we happened to meet, and I also have something I’d like to talk to you about — would it be convenient to step aside and chat in the carriage?”

“With me?”

“Yes, with you.”

Ellie smiled brightly.

Her cute, harmless appearance made her look utterly non-threatening.

“It’ll only take a little time.

Let’s have a talk.”