Gloria von Caldwell's Condemnation and Revenge - Episode 45: Please, I Beg You

“It’s problematic that she arbitrarily claims to be the Saintess, but it’s also a problem that the students of the academy believe it.”

Abram, who looked genuinely confused, crossed his arms and grunted.

“I thought it was widely known that you can’t be recognized as the Saintess without going through the Saintess Identification Ceremony, and that there are frauds out there pretending to be the Saintess to make money.”

Was there somewhere along the line where public awareness efforts were neglected? Abram tilted his head, and Gloria suddenly realized something.

She and A-ko had thought that the recognition of “Melody = Saintess” was a result of the game’s coercion, but perhaps that wasn’t the case after all.

Could it be that Gloria’s recognition as a Guide by the church, being of the same age, was a part of why the students now believed Melody to be the Saintess?

Both the Saintess and the Guide were, by nature, figures of legend.

And yet, a Guide was attending the same academy. It’s not surprising that some students might truly believe Melody could be the Saintess.

“Of course, there are students who find it suspicious.”

Those students would come to check with Gloria, the Guide in purple. When she told them, “She hasn’t gone through the Saintess Identification Ceremony,” they would nod in understanding and never again speak of Melody being the Saintess.

The reason Melody’s story hadn’t yet reached the church may be that even among the students who believed in her, there was some lingering doubt.

If they spread it outside the academy and the church declared, “Melody von Salisbury is not the Saintess,” it would mean they had unwittingly been complicit in a Saintess fraud.

If the rumors stayed confined within the academy, then they could just say it was a mere nickname.

Of course, giving a nickname like that to an ordinary female student is disrespectful and would attract the church’s attention. But it would likely end there.

Impersonating a Saintess is a serious crime, and false Saintesses are often sentenced to death. In some cases, even those who supported them may face execution.

It’s only natural to be wary.

“Before this causes any more trouble, I would like to request that she be summoned to the church for the ceremony.”

If she truly is the Saintess, it would be a joyous occasion, and if not, it would at least help quell the confusion at the academy.

It would also save many students from potentially losing their futures due to the actions of a fraud.

Having said that, Abram nodded with a stern expression.

“As a Guide, and as a believer, I cannot forgive those who use God to satisfy their desire for approval.”

Gloria’s words were reasonable.

And from the church’s perspective, when a Guide says something like that, they have no choice but to investigate thoroughly.

“Please be sure to tell Cedric,” Gloria said, before leaving the church.

Abram, with a strained expression, deeply bowed and saw her off.

Those words must have been painful for the Hatleston family. Their second son had caused Gloria significant trouble and loss.

To make amends, they would likely approach the matter with seriousness.

With that, the Saintess would now be scrutinized both by the church and the aristocrats aligned with it.