When I was working as a civil servant, I was found out to be a muscle-brained knight by the princess knight and got sent to the front lines - Episode 159

Episode 159

The luxurious cruise ship Queen Amentis III, having departed from the port city of Zelinia, continued smoothly down the Salal River. Jez and his group attended the welcome party on the first night, enjoying the lavish food, live music, and the beautiful night scenery. Many familiar faces among the passengers exchanged greetings with them throughout the evening.

After two or three hours at the party, Jez began to feel a bit worn out by the crowd. Slipping away quietly, he wandered up to the ship’s top outdoor deck. He walked toward the bow of the ship and leaned against the railing, gazing out over the vast river at night. The banks of the Salal River were dotted with small towns, their lights twinkling in the distance. Jez alternated between admiring the scenery and staring up at the star-filled sky. The strong wind caused by the ship’s speed added to the atmosphere. But aside from that, it was a peaceful, relaxing space.

“What do you know, you’re up here?” 

A voice called out as Jez lost himself in the night.

“…Seraphina?” 

Jez turned to see Seraphina, dressed in a pure white gown reminiscent of the Divina Church, stepping up onto the deck. She smirked mischievously, like a child who had just pulled off a prank.

“Disappointed it’s not Erin?”

“Come on, it’s nothing like that.”

“Really? Erin didn’t seem to mind your attention, though,” 

Seraphina teased as she leaned on the railing beside Jez, gazing out at the river and sky. Though she usually had a carefree demeanor, every now and then, she would show a more mature, somewhat distant expression. Right now was one of those moments.

Jez glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, keeping his gaze on the sky. 

“Something on your mind?”

Seraphina, caught off guard by Jez’s casual concern, chuckled lightly and tried to brush it off. 

“Oh, nothing serious.”

“Come on, spill it. No one’s listening, and it’s a beautiful night. I’ll listen to your complaints if that’s what you need,” 

Jez replied, still looking at the stars.

Seraphina hesitated for a moment before sighing softly. 

“You’re surprisingly perceptive at times like these… Not that I mind.” S

he shook her head slightly, then began to speak slowly.

“As you probably guessed, the party had a lot of church officials, diplomats from the Papal State, and influential members of major merchant families tied to the church. After catching up with them, I just got a bit tired of it all,” 

Seraphina explained, staring blankly at the river as she spoke. She went on to describe the situation: in the Tashman Kingdom, there was stability due to the presence of Archbishop Edelmar Solennis, who led one of the major factions. However, in the Papal State, the pope’s health was failing. It sparked a fierce power struggle for the next papal seat.

The four current saints, all of whom were aging, wielded considerable influence. Yet, none of them had taken a clear stance on the papal succession, which only added to the chaos. In this turmoil, candidates for sainthood were being pushed forward by various factions. Seraphina Lorentzi was one such candidate.

Though sainthood was supposed to be something bestowed by divine choice, not something one could aspire to become, human ambition knew no bounds. Seraphina knew she would never become a true saint, yet she was still expected to act the part. While she could ignore it at the Royal Academy, once she stepped back into the adult world, she couldn’t escape those expectations. That was why she had slipped out of the party, needing a break from the pressure. She spoke about it with a wry smile, holding the hem of her white dress—the color symbolizing sainthood. It was all so ironic. She sighed, saying she hoped a true saint would be found soon.

“…Are you sure you should be telling me all this?”

“Hmm, probably not. But you did say you’d listen to my complaints, didn’t you?” 

Seraphina replied with her dark expression lifting as she returned to her usual carefree self.

“I also trust you as a person. We’ve known each other since the academy. And even though it hasn’t been that long, I know you’re not the kind of person who talks carelessly.” 

She winked at Jez with a playful glint in her eye. Jez shrugged in response.

“…Besides, I think you carry your own share of burdens and fate. I feel like you might understand me, too, Singularity-kun.” 

The last part was mumbled softly, her words lost to the wind before they could reach Jez. 

With a sigh, Seraphina straightened up and said, 

“Well then, I suppose I should head back to the party.” 

She turned to leave, muttering how troublesome it was. But just as she was about to descend from the deck, Jez called out to her.

“Seraphina!”

She stopped and turned around with a puzzled expression. Jez looked at her seriously.

“If you ever need help, I’ll be there for you. You can always count on me.”

Seraphina’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, but then she smiled warmly.

“Alright, I’ll hold you to that. Thanks, Jez.” 

She waved playfully as she descended the stairs, leaving the deck.