I was making my morning walk across the common when I heard about the attack at House Montfort. The nuns all gathered in the prayer room to utter a special prayer of protection. We held hands, lowering our heads in silent whispers as we mourned the attack at House Montfort. I clenched my teeth. This is new.

Divine Heart failed to mention any monster attacks against the Montforts. In fact, the only times there are monster attacks are when Catalina is out on the battlefield in search of the dragon. So, why are the monsters so out of place? And specifically, why House Montfort?

We were there for a while. My legs had gone numb from kneeling the entire time. Once we were done with the prayer, the high priest called me for a sermon.

I sat at the pew, fidgeting with my dress as the high priest preached. My life recently has been quite boring. Save for the peculiar visit to the Montfort base two days ago, nothing has really happened. Since I’ve been avoiding the king’s request to go visit the castle, I’ve been stuck at the monastery living like a nun.

I wake up, pray, and then head to sermon. Once I’m done with the sermon, we have a nightly prayer and then eat supper. I’m not complaining, as being a nun is infinitely better than being shoved in an attic the whole time. The structure of the routine is a lot more comforting, because at least I know what will happen next.

So I sit for hours on end, hearing the high priest talk endlessly about forgiveness and acts of kindness. I looked around, noticing that the cathedral was filled to the brim with people. There were people even crowding at the end of the room, a line extending into the streets.

It’s like this everyday, no matter the time. I find it interesting that such multitudes of people attend the daily sermons. How do jobs work here? Are they excused to come to the sermons?

I turn my head, glancing at the woman next to me. Her wrinkles drooped as she sang along with the choir, smiling as her eyes drifted around the room. She was the very first person I’d performed a miracle on. Mrs. Cooper. Ever since that day, she’s been a devout follower of the church. She had never missed a sermon, and she always made sure to get there before it started to sit next to me. She glanced over at me, catching me staring at her. She smiled, sliding a small ball into my lap.

“What’s this?” I asked, holding it up. The ball was wrapped around in paper, sticking to my fingers through the wrapper.

“Strawberry candy,” the woman whispered with a small smile.

I stared at it, bringing it closer to my dress. It felt like I was holding a bomb in my hands, one wrong move and it’ll denote, all eyes on me. I unwrapped it carefully, dragging its ends with the utmost carefulness to make sure the wrapper didn’t grind against my fingers.

The room was deathly silent, the only sound being the voice of the priest in sermon. I fished it out the wrapper successfully, bringing up the pink ball to my lips and eating it. It was chewy, yet flavorful. It had small chunks of strawberry inside of it, which I munched on quietly.

“Thank you,” I whispered to the old woman.

“Anything for the saintess,” she replied with a smile.

For a few hours, the sermon continued on as usual. However, the priest ended it quite differently.

“In the wake of the attack on House Montfort, we have opened up confessions after today’s sermon. Please relieve yourselves of your sins, and allow us to begin anew,” the high priest said, closing the holy book. As people began to gather themselves, I gathered up a crowd of sickly people who had wished to be cured.

So, I began my work. One by one, I had healed them of all pain. A broken arm, diabetes, mental illness. Any and all ailment, thanks to the holy power I possess.

“Oh holy saintess, please heal my mother,” a boy pleaded. He was short and scrawny, maybe about eight but could be younger due to how malnourished he looked. He reminded me in a way, so beyond starved. He cradled a woman with red spots all across her skin, who coughed into her sleeve. Measles.

I clasped my hands together, lowering my head as I prayed.

Oh holy deity, cure this woman of her illness, and protect this boy from catching it.

I raised my head, glancing at the woman. The spots had disappeared from her skin, without any marks as though nothing happened. The boy smiled, hugging his mother and then me.

“I’m eternally grateful, saintess!” he cried, wiping away tears as he walked with his mother out of the church.

I’m still trying to figure my powers out. So far, I can achieve anything I pray. I haven’t experimented much. In fact, I have used the same prayer each time. So maybe it’s not everything. I’ve been waiting anxiously for another royal lesson so I can indulge in some books on my power. The imperial library has it all, afterall. Unfortunately, I’ve received no news.

Once done, I began to walk towards the exit, ready to head back to the monastery. On my way out, I spotted the high priest.

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

“Ah, Lady Catalina. I was just about to come for you,” he said, smiling as he looked at me.

That’s new.

“What can I help you with, High Priest?” I asked, glancing up at him.

“I was wondering if you could come and handle confessions. I’ve been summoned elsewhere,” he said, looking back towards the room.

I wanted nothing more than to leave and head back home to the monastery. I sighed, realizing that I didn’t have much of a choice.

“Of course. Where do I start?”

He smiled, leading me down the hallway and into a room. The room was small, almost like a closet. It was dimly lit, with only a candle on a table as a light. There was a small window on the wall, covered with a silk curtain.

“Here, you will sit and listen. A sinner will come to the other side and tell you their sins,” he said, nodding towards the other side of the wall.

“When they're done, perform a prayer of forgiveness,” he began to walk out, slowly shutting the door before stopping.

“Whatever you hear in there must not come out. You may not speak to anyone about what you’ve heard, no matter what you hear. Am I clear?” he spoke, his tone suddenly becoming harsh.

“Yes, high priest,” I nodded.

“Good. Then I’ll leave you to it,” he smiled, shutting the door behind him.

I settled into the chair, letting the silence hang for a minute. I felt a strand of my hair brush my face. I tucked it back, pulling on the edge of my coif and obscuring it. A soft rustle on the other side caught my attention. A round shadow illuminated through the candle light settled in next to me.

“Holy father, I have sinned,” the voice spoke.

I sat there quietly, waiting for him to carry on.

“I have committed adultery. I slept with my brother’s wife,” he spoke solemnly, his shadow hunched over.

“I don’t know what came over me then, but now I can only ask for your forgiveness.”

I paused, wondering for a minute how to phrase the words which I was about to say in that moment. The situation he spoke of reminded me all too much of a similar occurrence before I had entered the novel.

The memories flooded me right then at that moment. The light of the candles reflecting in my eyes, the cheers after I blew them out. I sliced the cake, passing out to my friends with a smile. I looked around the crowd, searching for his face. With a piece of cake in my hand, I trudged my way up the steps to my room. I could hear their murmurs, her squeals of joy. He didn’t even bother closing the door, and through that crack I could see it fresh as day. I saw how his hands trailed down his back, her hands tangled in her hair. All I could do was watch.

“Repent. You have seeked forgiveness from the goddess, but your wife is unaware of your feelings. Beg for her forgiveness, and only once she forgives you, the Goddess will follow.”

There was an uneasy quiet in the chamber, only the creaking of the wood as the man stood up.

“I will not fail you. Thank you,” he spoke, and the door was shut. I sighed, eyes glued to my feet as I clenched my fist.

The door creaked again, and the rustling of someone new settling in took its place. I unclenched my fist, seeing the shadow of a woman through the curtain.

“Forgive me father, for I have sinned,” she started, her voice soft and eloquent.

“I have deceived an empire. I am accused of being a fraud, and I have dishonored my family.”

I stiffened, that story sounded familiar. Could it be?

She paused, her shadow still.

“I don’t understand your punishment, holy goddess. My only crime was being your devout follower. I truly did believe I was supposed to do you good,” she paused again, letting her words hang in the air.

It must be her. There was no one else in the empire accused of being a fraud to the church but Carla Santos, my stepsister, and the fake saintess. I thought she must have been aware of the deception, but it seems that Duke Santos was cruel enough to let her believe his lies. Poor Carla, she had lived her life as a pawn on someone else’s board.

“I’m here now to seek your forgiveness. For deceiving the crown, the people of Lumina, and myself. For bringing dishonor to the Santos name, who are your direct descendants and were expected to honor your teachings. But I also ask for your blessing. I seek a new life away from the Santos name, and I can only hope you’d be kind enough to grace me with luck, even if I am undeserving.”

I couldn’t bring myself to speak. I felt immobilized, like I’d been kicked out of my body and could only lay lifeless like a puppet tossed aside after a show. There was a slight creaking from the other end, and I catched a small glimpse of her flowing hair as she left the chamber. I was left there, even more speechless than before.

A knock came on my door, which snapped me out of my trance. “Lady Catalina, may I come inside?” A familiar voice called. I breathed deeply for a moment, clenching and unclenching my fists before responding.

“You may.”

The door creaked open, the high priest staring down at me.

“The hour of confession is over. Thank you for filling in for me, lady,” he bowed, extending his hand out to me. I raised a shaking hand to his palm, using it as support as I stood up.

“I'm sure you've guided some souls today,” the high priest said, a light smile on his face.

“I hope I have,” was all I said in response.