Arc 3 - Chapter 21: Cardinal of Virgo (1/3)

She was grateful that the incident that had brought the whole cathedral to its feet last night and worried everyone had ended without anything bad happening.

Sivina knew that Yu Valarfin had an illness, but she didn't know the details and didn't realize how serious it was.

This was more than a disease. The disgusting substance that had covered part of Yu's body was still fresh in Sivina's mind, and what she had seen had frightened her so much that it would probably remain fresh for many years and sometimes haunt her nightmares.

"I don't remember anything. I'm fine, I'm fine."

When the sun came up and Yu woke up safe and sound, he was sincerely glad that his friend was okay, but Sivina was annoyed by the way he dodged questions and ignored the people around him who were worried about him.

Everyone was worried about him and he had to at least tell them what had happened to him, she didn't like Yu's mysterious side.

But right now she couldn't deny that there was something impressive about Yu acting as if nothing had happened. He was a good actor.

Sivina wondered if Yu didn't share his problems with others and seek solutions because he couldn't swallow his pride.

Sometimes everyone wants to keep their troubles to themselves, but Yu seemed like the kind of person who would do that all the time. Yu was withdrawn than any man the she had ever seen.

If Yu had wanted to, Sivina would have listened to his troubles. Even if Yu didn't want to, Sivina would share his troubles. She could even share his feelings.

A person could not live like that. The only person Yu kept close to him was Yurine, whom he adopted in Rolderhelm. Sivina knew that Yu didn't consider anyone else close to him except Yurine and she didn't think it was fair.

"It's unfair for him to behave like this when we consider him a friend."

As she squinted her eyes at Yu, she let out a small scream as a girl took her arm.

"Why are you following Mr. Valarfin? You'll make me jealous."

"Uh..."

Sivina was a brave girl, but if someone suddenly came up behind her, she might be afraid too. She was relieved to see it was Ana.

But her cheeks were also pink because Ana was so close to her. Ever since they had finished their mission in Rolderhelm, Ana had been acting in public as if they were lovers and Sivina was embarrassed.

It wasn't that she didn't like Ana, but was it appropriate for two girls to be like this? Of course it wasn't.

"I was thinking about last night."

"He said there was no problem."

"But there's a problem, Ana. We all know there is a problem."

Yu Valarfin looked as handsome as ever in his black butler's outfit. He already looked good in all the clothes he wore.

He combed his brown hair and his face was the most beautiful Sivina had ever seen in a man. Maybe Yu could make her heart flutter if he tried.

Yu had his bad points, of course, but apart from those bad points, he was the kind of person Sivina liked, handsome, intelligent, diligent, and in need of protection.

Noticing his gaze, Yu turned to Sivina, smiled and started walking towards her. Unsurprisingly, Yurine was at his side and Kigaro and Dimen accompanied them as bodyguards.

"I still don't understand why we're waiting," Yu said. He was acting as if last night had never happened.

Sivina had learned that traditional dress was worn at the cardinalate ceremonies, but as the only female cardinal before Yurine was her mother, there was no traditional dress for girls yet.

That's why Yurine was wearing an outfit designed by Yu. It was white and loose, with sleeves that covered half of Yurine's hands. It was sewn in one piece and tied around her waist with a gold-colored sash. The cloak on her back and the white dress had red flowers on it. On top of her black stockings, she had chosen white boots that matched her outfit.

It was an outfit that looked good on Yurine, made of white, gold and red. She was sure it would have looked cool on an adult, but on Yurine it only made her look cuter.

"Yu, I'm really going to be angry. They're crossing their limits by keeping me waiting. What do they think they're doing?" Yurine asked.

"The pontifex is not here yet," Ana said.

"Uh, maybe he's still coming down the stairs."

Even though Yu was just making fun of an old man, the chances that the pontifex was still descending the stairs were too high for him to ignore. When she had met the pontifex, she had seen that he was old enough to be called 'forgotten by the Nefaera' as her vagabond brother had once said for some people. It was a miracle he was even standing.

After the funeral in the morning, Sivina's day was spent constantly behind Yurine and Yu, like a rehearsal for the days to come.

Yu was running around to take care of things that Yurine was too small to take care of, Yurine was following him, and Sivina and Ana were also following them as part of their duties.

Sivina took it as an insult that they were holding a funeral for the former Virgo Cardinal six months after her death, but Yurine remained calm throughout the ceremony.

Sivina had only been to the El Island and Rolderhelm in her lifetime, where funerals were not expected for six months and the deceased's family would get angry if they were delayed.

"But there was an extraordinary situation."

Sivina learned that Rie, Yurine's mother, had died shortly before they met.

Yurine was calm throughout the ceremony, but it was clear that she was upset. She had lost the person closest to her and Sivina, who had never lost a relative, could not understand her pain.

When she saw a little girl struggling with a pain she had never experienced, she began to respect her. Sivina didn't even want to think about the effects of the pain she would feel if she were in her shoes.

"Sivina, do you see there?"

"Yes."

Yu pointed with his finger at the statue behind the Star Altar, the Morning Knight. Sivina, like almost everyone else, knew the stories about him or them.

"Do you want to try to draw the sword?"

"Mr. Valarfin!" Ana raised her voice slightly towards Yu. "We talked about this, I want Sivina to remain Sivina."

"I'm sorry, but I couldn't resist asking."

Whoever was worthy to draw that sword left behind the name his family had given him and became simply the Morning Knight.

Sivina had tried to draw the sword earlier, but the guards of the Andromeda Church wouldn't let her. Then Ana said it was better and used the same words she had just used against Yu.

"Maybe..." She looked into Ana's eyes. It was not certain that Sivina would draw the sword, but Ana still wanted her to stay away from it.

But the sword was on Sivina's mind and she wanted to at least try to draw the sword she had grown up listening to the legends of since childhood.

"Maybe, one day... But only maybe," she said. She didn't want to give an answer that would reject them both outright, but her heart was with the sword.

It was not a good thing to lose its name, but the thing they were talking about was called the Morning Sword.

"Is that so? If you were the Morning Knight, it would be a great advertisement for the Virgo Cathedral."

"Mr. Valarfin, please stop using me as an advertising face."

It was enough for her, even too much, to have her face painted on the walls in Redchapel. She couldn't explain how embarrassed she was to see her face when she walked the streets of the town and how uncomfortable it was when people pointed their fingers at her.

"You have a beautiful and charismatic face and you are a knight. Of course, I could be the face of advertising, but it wouldn't be fair to put all the spotlight on me. Besides, I am a source of light in my own right."

"Don't try to hit her, Yu."

When Yurine grabbed Yu's hand and pulled him to her quickly, Yu had to bend down involuntarily. Since they were talking face to face, if Sivina hadn't taken a step back, Yu's head would have been between Sivina's two breasts.

"The heir to Libra is coming, make way!"

Virgo Cathedral was small and the Cardinalate of Virgo was a minor title. So Sivina could not understand why it was so crowded.

But now she knew why: her little lady was not the only one to be made a cardinal here today. A much more popular cathedral would have a new cardinal today.

Even though they were an insignificant group, they still represented a sect, so they were given a special place in the hall from which they had a commanding view of the area.

Four men entered first, carrying banners with scales engraved on them, followed by eight guards in blue armor but disarmed, and the one who came after the eight guards...