The Case of the Washed-Up F-Rank Adventurer Who Maxed Out His Agility by Relying on His Worthless ‘Flee’ Skill and Accidentally Became the Strongest in the World. He Can’t, However, Escape from the Yandere Beauties. - Chapter 26 Interlude 3
Chapter 26: Interlude – Saint Alicia’s Canonization Ceremony 3
After the parade in the Royal Capital, Alicia was in her room at the church’s dormitories.
The private chamber she was given was modestly furnished, but she was a Saint, after all.
The room was reasonably spacious, and its amenities were well-appointed.
And, of course, just like a noble, she had handmaidens to see to her needs.
The handmaiden, Lily, was one of them.
It had been decided several months ago that Alicia would become a Saint, and Lily had been serving as her handmaiden ever since.
At first, Lily had been somewhat afraid of Alicia.
After all, Alicia was a former S-Rank adventurer.
Lily, of course, knew of the Moon Maidens and Alicia through rumors.
Because of that, she looked up to her with the admiration one woman has for another.
However, admiring someone from afar and actually serving them up close were two different matters entirely.
Inevitably, the messiness of human relationships comes into play.
She’s so famous, strong, and beautiful on top of it all. She must be arrogant and difficult to deal with.
That was the vague idea Lily had formed.
In fact, most of the people Lily had served until now had been exactly like that.
The power a person held and their arrogance were perfectly proportional.
But after she began serving at Alicia’s side, Lily realized that, for Alicia alone, this was not the case.
Alicia was a kind woman, full of compassion—a person truly befitting the title of Saint.
Even with a handmaiden like Lily, Alicia treated her as an equal, as a fellow human being.
Over these past few months, Lily had even come to respect Alicia.
And in turn, Lily served Alicia with true devotion.
Alicia must have sensed this from Lily’s conduct.
She came to place her trust in Lily more than any of the other handmaidens.
And that was how Lily became the handmaiden closest to Alicia.
So now, here in Alicia’s private room after the canonization ceremony, Lily was attending to her.
Alicia had changed out of the vestments she had worn for the ceremony and was now in a simple, single robe.
“Phew… Still, today was exhausting.”
Alicia spoke to Lily through the mirror as she sat in a chair before a large, full-length looking glass.
Lily stood behind Alicia, combing through her long, brilliant blonde hair.
She glanced at Alicia’s reflection in the mirror.
Her hair, her casual posture, her expression—even to Lily, a woman herself, she was so beautiful it was breathtaking.
But… the divine aura from before was gone now.
Here was not Saint Alicia, but a single woman.
Lady Alicia trusts me enough to show me her true self like this…
The thought made Lily uncontrollably happy.
“Even an S-Rank adventurer like you gets tired, Lady Alicia?”
Perhaps because it was just the two of them, Lily let such a lighthearted comment slip.
“You have a point. To be honest, I think facing a dragon as an adventurer might be easier for me than performing my duties as a Saint,” Alicia said with a completely straight face.
“I will keep those words confined to this room. It would affect your image if everyone knew, Lady Alicia.”
“Fufu… You’re right. I’m counting on you. By the way, Lily, have the plans for the upcoming pilgrimage within the kingdom been decided yet?”
“Yes. Tentatively… this is the schedule. The plan is to start with the frontier towns, which are normally difficult to visit, but—”
Alicia looked intently at the parchment Lily handed her.
But… soon, Alicia’s expression changed.
“Lady Alicia… is something troubling you?”
“No… it’s just that… going to this frontier town seems a bit… It’s a little far, for one.”
“I… see. You’re right… Huh? But now that I think about it, didn’t you work as an adventurer in this town before you came to the Royal Capital, Lady Alicia?”
“Y-Yes… I did. But seeing Sensei… I mean, seeing people who knew me back then would be so embarrassing…”
“I understand… I suppose that makes sense.”
Lily nodded, but she felt a sense of unease.
Alicia was the woman of the hour, having become an S-Rank adventurer and now a Saint.
To the people she knew from her past, her current self must be an object of admiration.
There seemed to be no reason at all for Alicia to be embarrassed.
More than anything, there was a shadow on Alicia’s face now, one that was incredibly rare for her.
It was almost unbelievable for the Alicia who always wore a gentle, cheerful smile.
Come to think of it… Lily suddenly remembered something.
In the several months she had served Alicia, Alicia had told her many stories about her time as an adventurer.
Stories of thrilling and dangerous adventures, of her reliable comrades… but all of them were from after she had come to the Royal Capital.
She never once spoke of the time when she first became an adventurer… her days in that frontier town.
Perhaps… Alicia doesn’t have very good memories of that town.
“I understand. I will inform the church officials to remove this town from the current pilgrimage.”
“Thank you so much. I hope it isn’t too much trouble for you…”
As she spoke, Alicia wore a deeply apologetic look.
To think she would worry about a handmaiden like me over such a trivial matter…
Lady Alicia truly is a kind person.
And so, wanting to repay that kindness even a little, Lily ended up saying more than she should have.
“No, it’s no trouble at all! Your wishes are what’s most important, Lady Alicia… Besides, I actually know an influential person in that town… the Guild Master. So I’ll just have a word with him and—”
In that instant, Lily’s words caught in her throat.
Because Alicia was making an expression she had never seen before.
