I’m Not A Saint Though?

chapter 25

I tormented the two women using every petty method I could think of. Perhaps weakened by their excessive life of luxury, they were bedridden after only three days.

Seeing them groaning in a small room, I couldn’t help but sigh.

“How are you two feeling?”

“S-Saintess!”

“What are you doing here…!”

They scrambled up in bed, their eyes wide with fear.

‘Why is she here?’

‘Is she going to make us work even when we’re sick?  Is she trying to kill us?’

So cruel, so cruel.  Their eyes seemed to say so.

But I wasn’t as evil as they thought.

“Stay in bed. You have a bad fever.”

“R-Really? But we have so much to do…”

“That’s right, we still have fifty-six Goddess statues to polish, three hundred and fifty pillars to wipe, and all the furniture in your room to disassemble and scrub, including the screws…”

They stared at me in disbelief. After all that torment, I was letting them rest for a mere fever?

But I was sincere.

“Work isn’t important when you’re sick. Rest.”

“Saintess…”

They looked at me with teary eyes, and I smiled.

‘See? I’m not that bad.’

Why are you so scared?  Shrugging, I tucked them in.

“You can do it tomorrow. It’ll be double the work, but rest is more important now.”

“…”

“…”

“You’re temple property. We can’t have you wasting away. You’ve vowed to serve the Goddess until you die, so take care of yourselves.”

I smiled kindly and left the room, carefully closing their gaping mouths.

“Aaaaaah!”

“Shaen, that crazy bitch!  That evil witch! I’ll kill her!”

Their curses echoed through the closed door, but I didn’t care.

‘I have another toy.’

Humming, I went in search of my next victim.

***

“Damn it, this is heavy! What the hell is in this box?” the Duke cursed, dropping the heavy wooden crate. “Why does this temple buy so much crap?”

Three days ago, he had fallen from Duke to lowly servant, toiling in the temple loading dock.  Moving and organizing endless supplies, his back ached constantly.

“How did a noble like me end up like this…!”

He kicked the crate in frustration, and a yell erupted.

“Hey, Musikan! Do you have any idea what that is?  Those are precious donations bought with the believers’ offerings!  They’re worth more than you!”

“Nonsense… How can these vegetables and potatoes be more valuable than a person?”

“You still don’t understand, do you? You’re a slave! You’re not even fit to be compared to food!  You’re not even good enough to be soup ingredients!”

“Hah!” The Duke scoffed. Even as a slave, how could he be worth less than food?

But the worker’s aura, built from a lifetime of hard labor, was intimidating. He couldn’t bring himself to argue and stayed silent, his pride stinging.  He just had to endure it.

But then,

“What are you standing around for, idiot?  Move the next crate!” Another worker kicked him in the rear, sending him sprawling.

“Y-You lowlife…!” He glared at the worker, humiliated. This was a new low. He wanted to retaliate, but…

“What? You gonna do something?  Bring it on!”

“…”  He couldn’t muster the courage.

‘How did I, who lived in unimaginable luxury, commanding everyone at will, end up like this…’

Just as he was swallowing his tears,

“Hello.” A gentle voice reached him, a welcome sound after days of gruff male voices. He turned eagerly, hoping for a savior, but…

‘Damn it.’  He cursed inwardly. It was Shaen.

‘What’s she doing here?’  Seeing her pristine appearance while he toiled, his resentment flared.

But the other workers greeted her warmly.

“Saintess! What brings you to this lowly place…?”

“The weather is so lovely, and I was thinking of all of you working for the Goddess.”

“Oh, this is our job!”

“Don’t you worry about us!”

Shaen smiled at the fawning workers and continued, “I received some desserts from the Imperial pastry chef.  I thought it would be nice to share, so how about a little tea party?”

“Desserts from the Imperial pastry chef?”  The workers’ eyes widened.

“That’s very kind, but are we worthy of such treats…?”

“Don’t say that.  We’re all children of Goddess Hedel.”  Shaen gently took the worker’s hand, her face full of concern.  “Come on, everyone.  Let’s enjoy them on the lawn in this lovely sunshine.”

“Saintess…” The workers were moved to tears by her kindness.

Except for the Duke.

‘What a performance.  Since when was she such an angel?’  He grumbled inwardly, but he couldn’t contain his excitement. He was starving. The temple food was meager – vegetable soup and rye bread. He, accustomed to gourmet meals, was famished.

Desserts!  The rich aroma of butter made his head spin.  He hurried after Shaen and the workers.

In the garden, Shaen spread a white cloth on the lawn and placed a large basket in the center.

“Wow, look at those!”

“As expected of the Imperial pastry chef!”

“Thanks to the Saintess, even we get to enjoy such treats.”

The workers eagerly grabbed the desserts.  Pushed and shoved, the Duke finally reached the basket.  There were still plenty left.

‘Let’s see…’ Madeleines, financiers, cannelés, cookies, apple pie, and a cake piled high with whipped cream.  He was salivating.  After much deliberation, he reached for a slice of fruit-topped cake, when…

“Oh, what’s that?” Shaen exclaimed.

He turned, puzzled, and saw a white object on the lawn. A crumpled piece of paper.

“Trash in the temple of the Goddess… how unsightly.”  Shaen clicked her tongue.

“Oh dear!  Who did this?”

“I’ll get it!”  Several workers started to get up.

But Shaen stopped them.  “No, you’re enjoying your desserts.  I don’t want to interrupt. I’ll get it.”

“No, you can’t!  A noble Saintess like you… We’ll do it!”

The Duke stared at the frantic workers, scoffing. ‘What a fuss over a piece of trash.’

He was about to reach for the cake again when,

“How about someone who hasn’t had dessert yet gets it? That would solve the problem.”

All eyes turned to the Duke.

“M-Me?  You want *me* to get it?”  His face fell.  What did dessert have to do with picking up trash?

‘She’s messing with me again!’ He was furious, but what could he do with everyone staring?

‘Well?  Are you going or not?’

He glanced longingly at the desserts and then shook his head.  ‘There’s plenty left.’ He could get it later.

He hurried off.  But as always, things didn’t go as planned.

“Oh, there’s more over there!”

“And over there!”

“Oh my, and there!” Shaen kept calling out.

‘Where is all this trash coming from? It was clean just now!’  Furious, he looked around for the culprit.

And then he saw it.  A white furry lump perched on a windowsill, spitting something out.  The lion, the Goddess’s Representative.

“That bastard!  Hey, you! Why are you throwing trash?!”  He raged, but the lion continued.

*Spit.*

*Run, run.*

*Spit.*

*Run, run.*

This went on for a while.  Finally, the lion, seemingly bored, disappeared.  But by then…

“Alright!  Now that everyone’s enjoyed the desserts, let’s get back to work!”  The break was over.

“…”  The Duke stared at the empty basket, defeated.