Estelle glanced at herself before opening the door.

She wanted to look good in front of Natalie and her friends.

The simple dress that she wore didn’t need any extra fixing, except for the ribbon attached to her collar since it got untied.

However, the moment she tried to knock on the door with a shaky breath,

“Natalie, are you sure the real Saintess is going to come?”

“I’m sure she’s coming. Please wait a little longer.”

“I heard about how that woman would never come to a place like this. She hates nobles.”

“If that’s true, she would hate me just the same. Otherwise, why would she follow me around if not because she likes me?”

A girl giggled and laughed at Natalie’s confident words.

“I know right. I saw earlier that she seemed to like you very much. Both of you really looked like close sisters, don’t you think so?”

Estelle’s ears turned red when she thought her feelings for Natalie were so obvious. But the words that followed were enough to make Estelle’s pounding chest turn ice-cold.

“Are you crazy?”

Natalie let out a snort while smirking.

“The only reason why I’ve done what I did for her is because my mom and dad made me do it. What if I get sick again? I’ll need the Saint’s power when that happens, so I’m letting her follow me around as if we’re close.”

“So that’s why you try so hard to talk to her.”

“I did that to look good in front of her. I said lots of things because I was afraid that I’d run out of topics. In fact, I hate to even look at her dress. She really doesn’t know any shame.”

“As expected, the Saintess is a person who hates luxury and loves poverty.”

The girls burst into laughter as if they heard a funny joke.

“But Natalie, are you sure you can talk like that? What if the Saint is at the door?”

“That’s not possible. If she were here, the maid that guided her would inform me first. Well, even if that’s the case, it doesn’t matter. She is the benevolent and loving Saint after all.”

It was outright sarcasm, ridicule, and betrayal.

It wasn’t the first time Estelle had heard aristocrats say negative things about her in this way.

Each time, Estelle would comfort herself.

People who have ruled others since the moment they were born could make her look like a commoner, so it’s not a big deal.

She has always been treated like a commoner by the people above her ever since she was born, so this was nothing.

But…

‘Why can’t I calm down as I’ve always done?’

It felt like a fire pit in her heart and unpleasant emotions slowly rose like they were tangled in hot threads.

Estelle then realized the true nature of this feeling.

It was an emotion that she didn’t know she had. It was anger.

After all, she’s still a human being.

There was no way she wouldn’t feel as such.

So far, she had always tried to silently endure, to just forget everything.

Click.

Estelle opened the door with all her might and entered the room.

The moment she appeared, the faces of the young ladies who were laughing earlier turned pale.

Estelle walked past them with still eyes and walked over to Natalie.

“Sa-Saintess…”

Estelle, unable to even say anything, slapped Natalie’s trembling cheek.

Smack!

That was not enough to relieve her anger, so she also slapped the other cheek.

Smack!

Estelle shouted at Natalie, who was in tears.

“Is it fun to play with people? You’re such a despicable Lady!”

Estelle blinked, as none of it actually happened. It was only her imagination.

In reality, she was still standing by the door. The young ladies were still bursting in laughter, unaware of her presence just outside.

However, her anger that had erupted in a brief moment was by no means fictional.

‘Let’s go inside and say what I need to say.’

The one who deceived and ridiculed her was in the wrong. It wouldn’t be enough with just a slap on the cheek and thus it was only normal if she would release her anger at them.

She could….She actually could, but…

She couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Unlike her heart, which was pounding with rage, rational reasons were constantly shouting at her not to do anything unnecessary.

‘What difference does it make anyway? It will only worsen my situation with the noble ladies. If this causes rumors to spread, the aristocrats will have more insults to throw at me.’

‘Will the priests be disappointed in me? What would they do if they found out that the Saint got angry at some young ladies for a trivial matter and was swayed by such emotions?’ 

‘Stop it, Estelle.’

Anger is not beautiful.

The Saintess shouldn’t be angry.

It’s a feeling she was not allowed to have.

But nonetheless, Estelle’s face distorted as if she was about to burst into tears.

After a while, she then opened the door.

Natalie and the girls’ faces were filled with astonishment at Estelle’s sudden appearance.

Trying to hide her bewildered expression, Natalie said, “W- welcome, Saintess. Why are you alone? Didn’t a maid guide you to this room?”

“Yes. I didn’t ask for help because everyone seemed to be busy with the guests. I’ve been to Lady Natalie’s room a few times, so I know the place very well.”

Estelle answered with a gentle smile.

Natalie’s face relaxed from seeing her smile.

Estelle politely greeted the other young ladies who were making awkward faces.

“Nice to meet you. I am Saint Estelle.”

She put on a bright smile.

It was difficult to suppress her emotions on the verge of bursting out of her heart.

───── 〔✿〕─────

Since then, Estelle has met many people.

She healed those who struggled in pain, brought warm food to the poor, and comforted those who had plenty of things but were lonely.

They all held Estelle’s hand and sobbed.

“Thank you, Saintess.”

It was rewarding and nice to help those in need.

But on the other side of her heart, an indelible feeling remained.

‘You thank me now, but you will resent me if I don’t heal you next time. Not too long ago, you looked at me and mocked me for being of low status.’

Nevertheless Estelle had to smile at them.

Because she was a Saint who should be loved by everyone.

She buried the crude feelings deep within her heart, overlaid it with a smile and devotion over and over again.

And whenever her deep dark feelings tried to escape, she would go to an even more impoverished place and help the people there.

After so many years, Estelle had forgotten that she had hidden those feelings in her heart.

Until Pernia, Lucian’s fiance, said this.

“Just because you hear it everyday doesn’t mean you aren’t hurt by it. You just have a lot of patience for them.”

She continued with a sullen face.

“So don’t put up with it and screw up all the things that irritate you.”

Those words touched Estelle’s heart more than any doctrine she had faithfully read hundreds of times every morning.

At that moment, something that had been building up inside Estelle broke.

A beautiful cat-like woman with blue-violet hair seemed to whisper to her.

‘You don’t have to put up with it anymore.’

‘You don’t have to try to be loved by everyone.’

‘Do whatever you want, Estelle’

It was said that the moment a person receives a revelation from God, that person’s destiny changes.

Then, to Estelle, Pernia’s words were similar to a revelation from God.

‘I don’t need to be chained down by these deceitful praises anymore. I’m just going to be Estelle.”

Estelle was determined to change.

For the first time in her life.

───── 〔✿〕─────

The day of the Prince’s birthday banquet. Seeing the dress Estelle was wearing, the priest furrowed his eyebrows.

“Are you really going to wear that dress to the banquet?”

Estelle replied calmly.

“Yes, I had this dress tailored for this very occasion.”

The priest spoke persuasively at Estelle with a frown on his face.

“Think again. That dress is too glamorous and extravagant for a Saint who serves God. The people will talk about this.”

However, Estelle, who would normally nod her head obediently, did not listen.

Because she knew how this dress was made.

The shabby dress shop she went to with Pernia. From the moment they said that they would make a dress for free, she felt that something was strange.

The most crucial factor was how the finished dress looked.

Despite being made for free in a small shop, the dress was too beautiful.

Even Estelle, who doesn’t know much about dresses, can feel the difference.

She asked Chanel and came to know how the dress was made.

How Pernia must have really wanted her to wear this dress.

Of course, Estelle at the moment did not have a romance for dresses unlike when she was a child. But she still wanted to wear it.

‘Because it’s the clothes she worked hard to prepare for me.’

Estelle spoke to the priest in a soft yet firm voice.

“I am willing to be criticized, so don’t worry too much.

“But, Saintess….”

“Shh.”

Estelle put her finger over her lips.

The priest couldn’t say anything more. It was because he noticed the determined will in Estelle’s blue eyes.

At times like this, no matter what he says, Estelle will not back down.

Eventually, the priest chewed on his lips and kept his mouth shut.

Estelle took a step forward.

Dozens of jewels and luxurious laces on the dress were incomparable to the clothes she usually wore.

Even so, as if something that had been weighing on her had disappeared, her steps were light.

Side Story Fin.