Raising the Princess to Overcome Death Chapter 119

119. Childhood Friend – Cardinal Mihael

At Daniel's exclamation, Lena and Veronion also stood up quickly to show their respect.

Their posture when addressing a cardinal didn’t differ much from how they would address a priest; a simple sign of the cross and a polite greeting would suffice. However, Cardinal Mihael waved them off with a gentle smile.

"That's enough. I was just eavesdropping because your conversation sounded so interesting. It's more than enough that you didn't get angry at an old eavesdropper."

He wore a simple, undecorated white priest's robe. He didn’t wear the purple shawl that symbolized a cardinal, so recognizing him required familiarity with the church’s administration, like Daniel had. Fortunately, two crusaders stood behind him, signaling to others that he was a high-ranking priest.

Lena observed him quietly.

Despite his wrinkled hands and face, Cardinal Mihael’s hair remained jet-black, making him seem less aged. However, anyone learning his actual age would be shocked. He was the oldest of the four cardinals at the Cathedral and among the ten across the continent.

Veronion, a bit uneasy about the eavesdropping, glanced nervously, but the cardinal reassured him with understanding.

"Don't worry. I’m not upset. It was a very interesting and constructive debate. It's a great blessing for the church to have such diligent young students."

Cardinal Mihael smiled kindly again.

"Well… I heard enough to catch the term 'top of the bureaucracy,' describing cardinals like me. You were so engrossed in your debate that you didn’t even notice me. Haha… no blame there. Yes, I’m the cardinal at the top of that bureaucracy, right under the Saintess. Since I got to enjoy your interesting discussion… is there anything you’d like to ask?"

Veronion’s eyes sparkled. He had countless questions! Rejoicing once more for being at the Cathedral, Veronion asked,

"Then… I’d like to ask about what you mentioned earlier. You said the Saintess doesn’t often answer questions about 'The Yoke of Creation' and 'The Responsibility of Creation.' Why is that?"

"In fact, she doesn’t avoid answering entirely. She does answer, sometimes."

Cardinal Mihael sat down.

He seemed to have been on his way out of the library, carrying two books. Lena, always curious, noticed they were about agriculture and livestock, and the cardinal asked his guards to bring four glasses of water.

"Hmm, how to explain this… perhaps it's best to relay the Saintess’s words directly?"

He spoke as if recalling a distant memory.

+ + +

"Saintess, has the Divine predetermined our fate, or has He granted us free will?"

It was the moment to decide whether he would become a priest or a monk. A novice with just three tassels approached the Saintess and posed his question.

The Saintess, a very elderly woman, was far older than typical Saintesses, who usually maintained a youthful appearance for decades, then aged rapidly in their final few years.

Saintesses generally did not live long, usually passing away around the age of fifty.

"Oh? Aren’t you curious whether you’ll become a priest or a monk?"

"I am curious. But I feared that if I became a monk, I wouldn’t have the chance to ask you this question. That frightened me more."

"You could still ask as a monk, though you might have fewer opportunities to meet me here at the Cathedral."

"…I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I don’t think I could bear the anguish of not being chosen by the Divine."

Finally, the young novice’s true feelings surfaced, and the Saintess smiled.

"Oh dear, understood. I’ll answer you. But remember, not being able to accept divine power efficiently doesn’t mean you weren’t chosen by God. Don’t forget that."

"…I’ll keep that in mind."

The aged Saintess hesitated momentarily, pondering how to respond.

It was unprecedented for a novice to ask such a question right before the ritual, but she had promised to answer, and Mihael’s question was indeed difficult to explain.

"It’s hard to pinpoint an exact answer. But… it’s more accurate to say that fate is predetermined."

"Why is that? I don’t mean to complain or be sarcastic, but are we merely pawns of the Divine?"

"No, not at all. The Divine has given us countless opportunities. What you choose at those moments is entirely up to you."

"But isn’t it predetermined what kind of choices I will make? According to 'The Yoke of Creation'…"

"Yes, that’s correct. That’s why I said it’s more accurate to view it as predetermined. But don’t think that’s the whole story. It’s actually more nuanced… Oh, wait a moment."

She paused, rolling her eyes upward as if 'listening' to something, then smiled softly.

"Haha, it seems I'm not the only one interested in you. Vinar, the God, says, 'Humans can make different choices even in the same moment.' Since the Divine has spoken, there’s no need for me to elaborate."

Young Mihael was breathless. The Divine had responded to his question! With newfound confidence in his future, he asked,

"…I’m profoundly grateful, but it’s hard to understand. How can one make different choices in the same moment? Does 'same moment' mean similar circumstances?"

"Who knows?"

The saintess shrugged her shoulders irresponsibly. As she aged and neared death, she had shrugged off the dignity expected of a saintess.

“Vinar told me to relay this to you. It's different from my thoughts, so I find it hard to understand too. Vinar is always like this. He speaks more than other deities, but... Ah! I understand. I'm sorry. I'll stop now. Ahem... Now that I've given you the answer, shall we proceed with the ritual?”

The saintess, who had momentarily rambled, gently placed her hand on Mihael's head with a sweet smile. This happened seventy years ago.

+ + +

“That’s how it was.”

“...Is that all? A human can make different choices at the same moment?”

“Yes. I still don't understand it. And I have served three saintesses, including the current Saintess Meriel. I asked them too, but they always said, ‘You have already received your answer,’ and would not elaborate further.”

Veronian, who had asked the question, and Daniel, who was sitting politely beside him, wore puzzled expressions.

Only Lena seemed to have an idea, her face stiffening.

- You can make different choices at the same moment.

This was an answer Lena could accept. When she posed the question to Rev, she experienced the delicate divergence in choices.

Perhaps if that night the bonfire had been warmer, or if Rev had not been holding the burnt meat piece while trembling, things might have turned out differently.

However, she did not share this. It was too trivial to explain, so Lena remained silent while Veronian spoke.

“Then I have another question. Why does the deity...”

“Ho ho, I’m sorry, but I don’t have the time to answer at length now. One question per person. Don’t be disappointed. You still have two questions left, don’t you?”

Daniel and Lena exchanged glances.

“I’d like to ask about the current goals of our Holy ChurChapter I’ve heard we are nearly done with expelling the barbarians who worship false gods.”

Eventually, Daniel was the first to ask, his question being quite practical.

Although he barely missed the ritual this year, he was sure to become a priest by next fall.

“Haha, that’s a difficult question. How should I answer... It’s not officially decided yet, so it’s awkward to respond,”

Cardinal Mihael clasped his hands tightly.

“I think our next goal will be to build cities and villages dedicated solely to the deity. Not just constructing churches...”

“And not serving the king?” Veronian interjected.

Although only one question per person was allowed, his question was sharp enough for Cardinal Mihael to ask his name.

“Veronian, a good question. But it’s too early to answer that. It’s still my personal thought, and it needs discussion with other cardinals.”

Daniel envied Veronian for being asked his name and pondered what question to ask to catch the cardinal's interest.

A question that would appeal to him... ‘Won’t the cardinal’s opinion be accepted anyway? Didn’t you pass the resolution to expel the barbarians who worship false gods thirty years ago?’ ─ Such a question came to mind, but Daniel swallowed it.

It was not a meaningful question, just a display of his knowledge, so he found it easy to suppress.

The cardinal’s eyes finally turned to Lena. She hesitated a bit before asking,

“Is there a way for a priest to marry without breaking the church’s rules?”

Oh dear-

Veronian and Daniel clicked their tongues unconsciously. To think someone would ask such a question to the cardinal was astonishing.

But Lena was serious. It was something she desperately wanted to know, and the person who could give her a clear answer was right in front of her.

Is there really no way for me to marry Rev? Other than becoming a monk and returning to my hometown...

That wasn’t bad, but becoming a priest was her long-held dream, and since she left, she had vowed to return as a priest, so she wanted to achieve her dream and return.

Cardinal Mihael looked at Lena with a somewhat perplexed expression.

It was such a ridiculous question that he was about to reply with a simple “No.”, but her earnest eyes made him reconsider.

“...If there’s a logic strong enough to change the rules, there might be an exception. Now, I must be going. It was nice meeting you. May the deity guide your paths.”

The cardinal stood up abruptly.

His good mood was somewhat disrupted by the absurd question, but meeting the apprentice Veronian made it a worthwhile time.

‘Such an apprentice should become a priest. That woman...’

She must have left a lover in her hometown, but can someone whose heart is elsewhere be chosen by the deity?

Ridiculous.

Such a woman is sufficient as a monk. ─ Cardinal Mihael thought as he hurried to the conference room, with Lena, burning with determination, following behind.

‘If there’s a logic strong enough to change the rules?’

She interpreted the cardinal’s cautious negation as a conditional requirement.

Dreams and love, Lena did not want to give up either.

If she had to choose, it would undoubtedly be becoming a priest as Rev hoped...

‘Rev, I hope you’re well? Wait for me. I will...’

Clenching her fist, Lena resolutely headed to the library. She needed to start with the ancient minutes that prohibited priests from marrying.

And at that time, Rev was walking along the Nevis wall.

Wearing a thick robe with a hood and grinning maniacally, he was no longer the kind young man from Demos village that Lena knew.