The Sword And The Dress Volume 1 Chapter 1 Part6

It hurts!! d.a.m.n it!!! I forgot I'm wearing heels right now! I screamed inside my heart and hopping around in pain. Although I didn't wear pointed heels, but because of the shoes I wore is really stiff, my heel pressed on the hard shoe soles. If not for the protection from the holy power, my heel probably would be broken to pieces.

Ugh, right now I have to run away before get caught.

It would be troublesome if Cain noticed what I had done. I looked up at the opened window for a while then immediately left the small alley.

The Capital's road during the day seems quite empty. I'm still far from the main road, but I don't have a single penny so I could only open the parasol and keep walking. Duh, I also have to return to the mansion by foot. I really miss Snowy. Snowy wouldn't easily let strangers ride on him because he is a fierce pure breed holy horse. I doubt he could find another master.

Would he be fine when he heard about my death?

I feel moved thinking about how Snowy might have been waited for me to come back. I wish I could take him with me, but it would be impossible before I could prove that I'm Roel. It feels like something heavy being pressed inside my heart whenever I recalled that we got into a quarrel because he stubbornly wanted to accompany me before I went inside the Demon King's castle. My poor Snowy… I'm truly sorry for treated you badly until the end.

I staggeringly walked while thinking of my dear horse without realized there started to have many people walking around me. There could be seen a group of soldiers lining up orderly on the main street lead to the palace.

“They even have Imperial Army here. Wow, it turns out they really care about it.”

I folded up my parasol and observed my surroundings.

The audience varied from the olds and the youngters to men and women. They're roaming around at the side road, but most of them are the young n.o.ble ladies. All their faces looked gloomy and some of them could be heard sobbing while wiping away their tears with their handkerchiefs.

“I can't believe it. He's still very young…”

“Sir Roel! How could you left me behind like this?!”

“I still have a box of letters that I have yet sent to him! Sniffs!”

Hah! I already knew, but I really am popular. Indeed I'm a woman and even if I'm a man, I still couldn't get married because I'm a holy knight. Even so, the ladies gathered together to express their sorrow. Among the ladies, there're also little girls and married women. I feel uncomfortable because I saw many people sadden because of my death. Besides, I'm still alive although my body got swapped with another … I feel a little guilty.

Suddenly, someone from across the road shouted, “They're coming!”

The funeral procession? After the shout, those who were roaming around in the middle of the road, with terrifying speed, quickly got themselves into the crowd at the side road.

Aw!

Whats there to see about the funeral procession that made them squeezed in like this? I was being pushed around before finally I could reached the front. I'm sticking out my head beside the army that were organizing the audience. By doing so, I could see the funeral procession coming closer.

The Holy Knights that were wearing their white ceremonial uniform, carrying a white marble stone coffin. The Holy artifact placed onto the coffin, s.h.i.+nes brightly upon being basked in sunlight. I stared at the scene in the middle of people that were in their silence mourning.

The coffin wasn't being carried by the servants or the relatives, but the colleagues while moving the corpse, as the last honor to the deceased. By doing so, it also elevate the impression of the deceased when he's alive. Hence, some people will say that the deceased had lived a good life before dying.

Therefore I give you guys my most sincere grat.i.tude from my heart. But why …?!”

Those d.a.m.n brats…!

Why did you guys make that kind face?

Those faces that I remember clearly in my mind look gloomy and make me feel my stomach being turned upside down. I know they would be sad because being left behind by someone close to you is really painful.

Even so, I never thought that those grown up men could make that kind of face. They looked like some lost children.

And those shameful idiots are all my past that has been taken away from me by death. Now I'm just a stranger without any bit of relation to them. I'm lying inside that coffin and soon will be buried inside the soil. That's me…

My feelings are completely a mess right now…

I could easily guess how severe the wrinkle on my current face is, without checking the mirror. I shouldn't have come to my funeral procession. I shouldn't have seen the expression of those I left behind…

The coffin pa.s.sed in front of me who was bitting hard my lips. For a moment, I felt the urge to shove off the coffin. I want to laugh at those brats who looked like they had lost everything in this world, while shouted, “What are you crying over this silly sh.e.l.l?!”

In reality, my neck would get slashed by my comrades' sword before I could get closed to the coffin.

While I was busy bitting my lips with messed up feelings, the funeral procession continue to proceed, distancing itself from the real main character. Some people from the crowds followed behind the funeral procession, while the rest started to disperse one after another to continue with their lives.

At the place where the army lined up to maintain the audience, I stand there blankly for a while.

***

“Miss!”

Sofia greeted me with bright face as soon as I reached the mansion with staggering steps. The sun is almost setting. I nodded without any enthusiasm and look at her.

“Why does Miss return alone… without horse carriage? Eh, it's impossible for Miss to return without horse carriage, right? Miss went together with Viscount Schwart afterall.”

“Mhm… well,” I answered awkwardly. I recalled about Viscount Schwart that have been completely forgotten in my memory. I wonder… how does he end up after all that happened? Most likely, that b.a.s.t.a.r.d Cain would took care of him and returned him to his home. Hearing my dispirited voice, Sofia turned panic and immediately held my hand to support me.

“My G.o.dnesses, what happened to you Miss? Lets go inside!”

“I'm fine.”

“What do you mean by you're fine?! Miss looks really pale right now! Miss' face has become as white as blank paper.”

Is it really that bad huh? This is really embarra.s.sing. d.a.m.n it! As a holy knight who always partic.i.p.ated to eradicate the Demon King, this is trully humiliating. Death always haunted down on every our steps and that made us who were under the guidance of the G.o.ddess, forgot those fear. Death is something I have always faced, but why… just why did I suddenly become agitated and depressed? Isn't my soul still alive and well?

“It's okay. I'm really fine. I'm just tired. There's nothing to worry about.”

The one who were in misfortune is Viscount Schwart, not me. My answer that sounded a bit cheerful made Sofia relieved.

“Let's quickly go inside and take a rest! I've prepared the bath for Miss. Oh right, did Miss manage to watch the funeral procession smoothly?”

“Yeah… it was really crowded.”

“Thats for sure. Many young ladies adored Sir Roel after all. People said that even Her Highness Princess Evellyn fainted when she heard about Sir Roel's death.”

That little princess? The memories of that cute little princess come to my mind. The twelve years old princess who always insisted to be married to me after she becomes an adult, made me feel emotional and melancholic again. I've done nothing wrong, but why do I feel like I'm the bad guy here? d.a.m.n it!

After I took a bath and had my dinner, I come to a decision.

I must return!

How could I thought about starting a new life after saw those brats' sad faces! There'a nothing wrong to live as a holy knight once more. Truthfully, to be a holy knight is a very respected and honorable job and also I've got many comrades who were always there listening to all my stories and complains. Thats more than enough.

“That being said, first I have to meet with the High Priest, but…”

I muttered softly while staring blankly at the room ceiling with my body lied down on the bed. The High Priest who can communicate with the G.o.ddess would be able to recognize my soul. That being said, unless you're someone with high authorities within the church, it's almost impossible to meet the High Priest as a mere Count's daughter. Except for a very special case.

I have to find an opportunity on the Holy Blessings Day.

Holy Blessings Day is a day to commemorate the time when the G.o.ddess arrived on the mortal realm. On that day, those who served the G.o.ddess would gather inside the main hall of the Central Church and would be blessed by the High Priest. It goes without saying that any normal citizens couldn't get inside, and only the priests and holy knights are permitted inside.

In other words, I need to become a clergy. Its not difficult to be a clergy, anyone can be one as long as they possess holy power.

The High Priest might not be able to recognize me if our distance is too far.

It's obvious that new clergies would be placed in the most corner area. Let alone my soul, probably my face couldn't be seen either. There's another more efficient way to meet the High Priest other than finding an opportunity on the Holy Blessings Day.

Its none other than the Inauguration Ceremony of the Holy Knights.

The inauguration for the holy knights and the priests would be done by the High Priest. However, even if you're a genius, you need to pa.s.sed one year of probation period to officially become a holy knight. In average, the probation period usually goes for 4-5 years and it coudn't be done if your ability is lacking.

In conclusion, 1 year, another 1 year of probation period… unconsciously I clutched my head.

“I feel like giving up…”

Probationary knights has the word ‘knight' in it and sounds cool, but in reality, they aren't any different with servants. That means that I have to serve my subordinates at least for a year!! Nonetheless, with the unique traits of my holy power, I might not be able to even become a lowest clergy. Urghh, it's really complicated.

d.a.m.n! Rather than doing it all over again, it would be better if I punished the Count who cooperated with the Demon King and inherited all the Count's wealth then I'll donate all of them to the church.

I could easily reach my goal if only I could say, “I want to donate a large sum of money and get a blessings from the High Priest!” Although being blessed by the G.o.ddess, in the end we are still mere humans. We need money to fill our stomachs!

I still have three months until the Holy Blessings Day and I would just need to enter the church at any costs … so lets take over the Count's household!

By doing so, I can avenge Silla Epheria, donate to the church, and prove my ident.i.ty. Kill three birds with one stone! That's really a perfect plan. I praised myself and buried my face onto the pillow.