Saint, You Should Quit Smoking

“Want a smoke?”
After the unforgettable drinking session with the Sage.
After having a meal prepared at the chapel with Rinet, I was spending time with her in the garden.
I had accommodated her principle that an after-meal cigarette should never be skipped.
Of course, I also had something to tell her.
In any case, the sudden offer to smoke was quite peculiar.
“That’s sudden.”
“When you have a lot on your mind, having a smoke makes it all better.”
Inhale, haaa- Rinet continued speaking as she exhaled cigarette smoke.
I tilted my head at her words.
“Do I look like I have a lot on my mind?”
“Yes.”
A straightforward answer.
Rinet spoke to me with an attitude suggesting it was obvious.
“It’s written all over your face.”
“…”
“Prince, usually when I look at you, you seem like someone who wouldn’t bleed a drop even if stabbed with a knife. You’re like a stone itself.”
So if it’s showing, it must be a serious concern, right?
Rinet concluded with those words.
‘Hmm.’
Only then did I touch and feel around my mouth.
Had I been so preoccupied that even I didn’t notice?
As she said, considering my life where I rarely show emotions on the surface unless it’s something truly significant, this was exceptional.
It was because the incident with the Sage had left such a deep impression on my mind.
The imperial family’s top secret.
The truth behind the rumor that the Third Prince of the Empire, Loran von Welert, had lost his power.
It was inevitable that I would be concerned about Adela, who had seen through it.
I sighed and answered.
“I apologize. I’ve made you worry.”
“Not at all. I’m not concerned. People have such moments sometimes.”
Unexpectedly, Rinet responded that she didn’t mind it much.
Instead, she offered a joke as if trying to lighten my mood.
“I thought it was because our Order’s food was bad.”
“Wasn’t it edible?”
“Edible? As if!”
Burst-
Rinet exploded at my words. As if forgetting to be cautious of nearby believers.
“When all they serve is tasteless bread chunks and vegetable soup, how can you call that edible!”
“Isn’t that natural for followers of the Sun God?”
“I wonder if you’d still say that after eating it morning, noon, and night, 365 days a year.”
“…”
Indeed, considering she had grown up in the Order since childhood, her diet probably hadn’t changed. Thinking about it made me feel a bit sorry for her.
“Hmph. Says the one who grew up eating royal feasts in the imperial palace…”
Though Rinet continued to grumble as if still upset, I didn’t say much since I knew her exaggerated reaction was meant to lighten my mood.
Perhaps because of this, I decided to share my concerns with her. This was rare for my character, as I don’t often share personal thoughts with others.
Perhaps it was due to Rinet’s nature? I felt a bit moved.
“Saint.”
“Yes?”
Rinet answered while burning her cigarette with holy fire. The cigarette butt disappeared without even leaving ashes, scattering in the wind.
“Let’s say someone knows a secret you must hide.”
“Yes.”
“You can’t easily touch that person, but if you’re determined, there’s nothing stopping you from doing as you wish. If you can’t persuade them through conversation to keep the secret, would you use force?”
“Hmm.”
Rinet made a nasal sound upon hearing my words.
The words I confided in her. That was precisely what I was concerned about.
The Sage Adela is so powerful in both background and strength that it’s difficult to forcibly ensure her secrecy. However, if I, as a prince, were to push myself, I could break her.
That’s why I was troubled. If I couldn’t make Adela keep quiet through words, I would have to use force, but would that be a good decision?
Rinet, having heard my concern, tilted her head and.
“Hmm- Hmmmm-”
She crossed her arms and closed her eyes. And as she lingered on her words and fell into thought.
She came up with an unexpected answer that wasn’t among the options.
“Do you have to either persuade or use force?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Why not make that person want to keep the secret themselves?”
Refreshingly.
Rinet suggested a third answer, neither dialogue nor force.
It was such a fresh statement that I felt as if my vision had cleared. I unconsciously asked like a fool.
“By what means?”
“By becoming friends!”
“…You mean becoming close?”
“Yes!”
Rinet emphasized as if it were obvious.
“If that person is my friend, would they readily share my secret with others?”
“Hmm.”
“If persuasion is difficult and coercion is hard, what remains is voluntary action. If you make them want to keep the secret, the problem is solved!”
“…”
‘I see.’
Indeed, I hadn’t thought of that method.
How could I persuade the Sage with words when we’ve met less than a week ago, and how cumbersome would it be to subjugate her with force?
Rather, there might not be a better approach than building a friendship with the Sage so she would keep the secret of her own accord.
At this unexpected brilliant move, I bowed to Rinet. It was a thanks for providing a sincere and excellent solution to my concern.
Let me convey my honest feelings to her.
“I see you in a new light, Saint. I had my suspicions, but you truly are a saint.”
“Is that a compliment?”
*
On my way back after leaving the chapel, I recalled the conversation I had with Rinet before we parted.
The original purpose of my visit to her wasn’t for advice.
It was to inform her that we needed to achieve results for the graduation of the Special Class, which both the Saint and I belonged to.
And to invite her to participate in the tasks I, as the class representative, would propose.
The reason for making such a proposal to Rinet was simple.
‘There’s nothing to gain from acting alone.’
Even the Saint is smoking, and the Sage is residing in a bar. How could I trust and let such troublemakers act freely on their own?
Rather, it would be better for me to gather them together and keep them within a predictable range, even if it meant more work.
Rinet, upon hearing my words, responded that she had no particular objections, but she presented one condition.
-If possible, make it something outside the Academy and something that would take a long time.
-What’s the reason? Wouldn’t that be inconvenient?
When I expressed a reasonable question to Rinet’s request to engage in long-term activities outside the Academy.
She provided a very clear reason.
-That way I can leave this tedious chapel!
-….
-I’m tired of eating the same tasteless food every day and doing paperwork in my room all day! I want to get out now!
-Ah. Yes.
Anyway, now I had three immediate goals.
First. Find a suitable task that meets the graduation requirements for the Special Class.
I need to set something that considers our capabilities, neither too easy nor too difficult.
Second. Find out where the Sword Star is.
Since it’s most ideal for all members of the Special Class to move together, discovering the Sword Star’s whereabouts is also important.
Third. Build a relationship with the Sage.
Originally, I had no intention of neglecting relationships with any of the Special Class members for their successful graduation.
But as per Rinet’s suggestion, if I want to make Adela keep quiet through friendship, I need to focus more on her.
“I should handle the third one first.”
The first goal is unlikely to be achieved immediately. It will require more time.
For the second goal, it’s not even clear if it’s possible even with time invested. It was extremely puzzling where the Sword Star was and what she was doing.
Therefore, it would be better to start with Adela, whose location is known and who is easy to meet.
Yes, the priority now is to open Adela’s heart and make her feel closer to me. Let’s focus on that.
With thoughts of visiting Bardishe Bar again in the near future, I returned to the imperial dormitory, but.
Contrary to expectations, there was someone waiting in front of my door.
“…”
That person wasn’t wearing the hood I had seen before, with hair like the night sky flipped back, and obsidian-like eyes that sparkled in the light.
It was a reunion with the Sage, Adela Ciadelia.
“Ah, Your Highness. Have you been well?”
Adela, spotting me, turned her body and greeted me. It still sounded like honey dripping.
But the fact that her voice wasn’t trembling at all.
‘Is she not embarrassed at all?’
What happened that night would be considered extremely shameful for some people.
The fact that she could face me so normally even after such an undignified display was, in a way, awe-inspiring.
As expected of a Sage. That serene calm like a vast lake. Her mind control was unrivaled.
I also approached her and answered.
“Yes. I hope the Sage has been well too.”
“Of course. I’m always the same.”
“Is that so?”
Adela was greeting me with quite a bright smile. As if she wasn’t concerned at all about the disgrace she had shown last time.
Of course, it wasn’t uncommon for someone who had been drunk to act brazenly afterward, so it wasn’t incomprehensible.
In any case, it was a good thing for me. It would have been more problematic if Adela had become wary of me because of her drunken behavior.
‘Let’s not bring it up.’
Remember, Loran. The important thing is to build a friendship. For that, you must never make the other person uncomfortable.
In other words, you should absolutely avoid breaking the relationship.
I too opened my mouth, trying my best not to mention what happened the previous night.
“So, what brings you here?”
“Ah, yes. I haven’t told you that yet.”
Adela continued with a gentle smile. Her beautiful smile was pleasing to see, but.
The words that followed chilled my spine.
“Your Highness.”
“Yes.”
“Do you perhaps remember when you were drinking with me at Bardishe Bar previously?”
“…”
A suddenly honest, straight-to-the-point question.
Unlike my attempt to avoid the topic, the other party brought it up unexpectedly, momentarily leaving me speechless.
As I was contemplating how to respond, Adela continued.
“If you do remember, I’m sorry. If that’s the case…”
Adela smiled brightly, just like that night, as if a flower was in full bloom.
She might have appeared as if she didn’t have any worries at all, but.
Compared to that smile.
“This maiden would like to bid farewell to this world.”
The words coming from her mouth were dripping with such intense shame.
Only then could I understand.
Sage or whatever, there’s no defense against self-loathing.
“…”
The third goal, a crisis from its very first step.