CHAPTER 8.5: A SAINT'S WISH

“But when that happens, you have to take responsibility.”

“Hahaha! Yes, I will!”

“…”

“Maddie?”

“K-Kuro…?”

“Maddie!”

“Kuro!”

“Hey!”

“!!!”

“Oh…did something good happen?” Lily’s voice brought Madelaine back to reality.

“Huh?” the Saint’s face blushed terribly, “Whatever you’re talking about?”

“Well, you’re all smiles this time,” the head maid explained while she prepared a cup of tea, “If I remember correctly, your face has that ‘permanent frown’ on it since you woke up.”

“Eh? Really?”

Lily nodded, “Not only that, but you’re also muttering to yourself while you paint. I was already wondering if you’re fine.”

“A-Ah…we-well, I think I’m okay…”

“Would you like some tea to calm yourself?”

“Oh…yes, please!”

At once, Lily went back to her work. Madelaine was then silent. She moved her hands as she felt her cheeks grow warm. In her mind, the conversation she had with Kuro earlier played repeatedly.

Every moment of that event…Madelaine clearly remembered and savored the scene as her brushstrokes went fast and intense.

She was aware of his doubts—his fears of getting killed or hurt in the upcoming tourney, and his uncertainty about fighting properly…

After all, Kuro is someone who came from a peaceful world, thus he seldom knows of anything related to fighting.

However, Madelaine could fully see through the otherworlder’s intentions. His resolution to stand up to those ideals he fully believed in. His attempts to gather courage, even though he knew what would surely happen to him. But most importantly…

…his feelings towards her.

Madelaine would never dream of someone else doing that for her. While, upon becoming the saint, she had seen many of her fellow humans offer their lives under her service—with some eventually dying; in retrospect, those people had ulterior motives, good and bad, such as gain her favor for various things, like giving blessing to their families, or their lands, or their descendants, to downright try to ask her hand in marriage for the sake of it.

However, Kuro is different…

For the first time in her life, Madelaine saw someone other than her family and closest friends who treated her as a person, and not some divine, ‘know-it-all-solve-it-all’ human goddess.

Madelaine couldn’t understand the reason Kuro’s doing it. Truth be told, she had always been peering into his thoughts; trying to find the motivation behind his actions. However, for most of the time, it’s been seldom that she had seen anything in him that stemmed from his selfish desires.

Well, aside from the fact that he would like to be left alone, or be on good terms with everyone.

When Madelaine summoned Kuro, instead of getting angry, she only saw the excitement in his heart…

When she tried to kill herself, instead of being annoyed because of her foolishness, she only saw genuine concern and sympathy for her…

And even when she threw a tantrum because of her figure, instead of secretly laughing at her, she saw that he took her concerns as his own…

Recalling those, Madelaine felt awkward as she realized that she only caused problems for him, and yet, he still saw her as someone dear, not because of her divinity, but he’s simply her friend.

Why is Kuro doing that for me? What does he gain from this? Is he an idiot?

“…”

Nothing else comes to mind. For all the time that Madelaine had been reading into his thoughts, only one thing stood out from all of his reasons…

“…”

Those children in strange white clothes, black pants, and checkered skirts. Those people whom he calls his ‘students’.

He’s into this because it’s what he always does for these children, even though they aren’t his own…

Though she may have had not noticed it, Madelaine let out a smile.

How I wish I can become his student…

“Uh…Maddie, are you okay?”

“Hmm? Is there any problem, Lily?”

“W-Well, how do I say this…” Lily’s face was incredibly red, “Uhm…I know that you’re great in painting…but, uh…isn’t that Mister Kuro on your canvas way too detailed?”

“…”

Madelaine was dumbfounded when her eyes saw what she had painted on the canvas. It’s Kuro alright, complete with his tan complexion, straight black hair, and sharp eyes, but Without. Anything. On. Even his usual otherworldly clothes were missing. And of course, she drew him with an ideal, well-chiseled body…far beyond the actual person himself.

“!!!”

Lily’s nose ran red with blood. Madelaine quickly covered her canvas (but carefully, of course!) and hugged it to hide the embarrassing painting.

Yep, she’s thinking of displaying it in her private room later…