Around noon, Lucy returned to the training grounds, looking thoroughly irritated. Her face was so sour that even Frey, who rarely paid attention to others' moods, noticed and cautiously observed her. The other three couldn't help but wonder if something unpleasant had happened, but Lucy’s next words were far from an emergency.
"The Perverted Apostle wants to see you all for a moment, so come with me."
Perverted Apostle? Joy tilted her head in confusion at the term but chose not to say anything. Usually, it was Arthur’s role to question Lucy, but today he only furrowed his brows slightly, clearly holding back.
Looks like he’s being cautious after what happened last time. Ugh, I guess that means I’ll have to ask.
"Um, Lady Allen, I apologize, but... who is the Perverted Apostle?" Joy ventured hesitantly.
"He's an utterly repulsive pervert, a disgusting creep," Lucy replied, her tone dripping with disdain.
...That’s not what I was asking!
Joy was mentally screaming, but unexpectedly, someone else provided the answer.
"You mean the Apostle of the Church of Art, right?" asked Feibi.
"Yes, that perverted bastard," Lucy confirmed.
An Apostle of the Church of Art... a pervert?
Watching Lucy’s disgusted expression, Joy couldn't help but tilt her head in confusion. The Apostle of Art she knew—Prete—wasn’t like that at all.
Prete was someone who had roamed the continent, gaining fame well before Joy was even born. Known for suppressing the actions of those who followed evil gods and elevating the reputation of the Church of Art, he was a revered figure and a trendsetting artist across the continent. If he was truly strange, there was no way he could’ve participated in the Patran Festival, which Joy had seen him attend multiple times. Joy had seen noblewomen sing praises of him enough times to be genuinely puzzled by why Lucy would call him a pervert.
“Joy?”
“Yes?”
“I understand what you’re thinking, but you’ll understand once you see him,” Feibi said, offering no further explanation.
If both Lady Allen and Feibi spoke about him this way, there was clearly something I wasn’t aware of, Joy reasoned.
“Any more questions?”
“Actually... yes, there is.”
“What? Spit it out. Don’t waste my precious time.”
“I can’t meet the Apostle of the Church of Art looking like this.”
After an intense morning of training, her hair was a mess, her clothes were drenched in sweat, and her face was smudged with dirt. There was no way she could meet Prete in such a state!
"Huh? You’re really into that pervert, aren’t you?” Lucy asked with a sly grin.
“What nonsense are you saying?!”
Yes, Prete was still an impressive figure, but Joy wasn't so crazy that she'd be interested in someone over twenty years older!
"Then what? You’re not going to stop being the clumsy Joy just because you put on a little makeup.”
“You know how much influence the Apostle of the Church of Art has in high society!”
Every word he spoke could shape the reputation of a noble family. If he mentioned somewhere that the Lady of House Patran appeared unkempt...
Imagining the rumors that would spread, Joy raised her voice, even with Lucy’s unimpressed gaze on her.
“Anyway, I’ll go wash up!”
“I’ll prepare myself too, Lady Allen.”
“Then I’ll be off as well. We can’t meet an Apostle looking like this.”
Once the three of them had gone, Lucy sighed and turned to Frey, who was still lingering awkwardly.
“Dumb swordsman.”
“...Huh?”
“Go wash up too.”
“Is that really necessary?”
“If you don’t, I’ll make you spar with me all day until you understand your place.”
“Got it. I’ll go now.”
Standing in front of the door where the Apostle was waiting, Joy inspected her appearance once again.
“Third Prince, do I look alright?”
“Joy, that’s the fourth time you’ve asked me,” Arthur replied with a sigh.
“But...”
“My answer is the same as before. Stop fussing. The Apostle of the Church of Art isn’t some idiot who’d talk badly about the Lady of House Patran.”
With that, Joy finally fell silent, realizing that her anxiety might be a bit excessive. Once the fuss had died down, Arthur sighed and opened the door.
“Welcome. I’ve been expecting you,” Prete greeted them, rising politely from his seat.
He gave Arthur a respectful greeting, mentioning the Patran Festival to Joy with a friendly tone, and expressed pure admiration to Feibi, telling her how splendid she had become.
Of course, Prete also gave Frey a compliment, but she didn’t even flinch, seemingly indifferent to praise. Sensing this, Prete shrugged and turned his attention back to Joy and Feibi.
“Lady Patran, and Lady Saint of the Church of the Goddess, I’ve been tasked with creating outfits for both of you. Is there anything in particular that you’d like?”
“...What?”
“...Pardon?”
“Oh? Didn’t you hear? I assumed Lady Allen had already informed you.”
Joy looked over her shoulder at Lucy, her face full of surprise.
Lady Allen?! What is going on?! Yes, I asked her to help me pick a dress, but this is beyond anything I imagined!
“What? Don’t want it? I wouldn’t blame you. I’d be disgusted too if I had to wear something made by this revolting pervert.”
“No! It’s not that I don’t want it, it’s just... this is... a bit overwhelming,” Joy stammered.
Wearing accessories crafted by him alone could make someone the center of attention at any social event. But a dress crafted by Prete himself? This was... too much.
It was a lot of pressure!
I never asked for anything this grand!
“Pfft, Clueless Lady, you’re making me laugh. What’s so great about something made by this pervert?”
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“...Are you serious?”
Prete is an Apostle of the Church of Art, who only provides accessories to those he deems worthy. And here he is, offering to create personalized dresses! Doesn’t she realize how incredible that is? You’re joking, right?!
“Joy, is it really so hard to understand? Lucy Allen doesn’t appreciate the Apostle’s true value at all,” Arthur commented with a shake of his head.
“That’s impossible.”
“Lady Patran, please, calm yourself. Lady Allen’s perspective isn’t entirely wrong,” Prete said, gently stopping Joy from continuing.
“Now then, is there anything you’d like to request?”
Refusing at this point would only be rude.
Doing her best to appear calm, Joy shook her head.
“I’ll leave it to you, Apostle.”
“The same goes for me. Please, do as you see fit, Apostle.”
“Very well. I’ll take some time to think on it.”
No matter how Lady Allen views it, this is an enormous debt.
This isn’t something that can be casually exchanged as a gift between friends.
What would I even need to do to repay this?
As Joy was fretting over this, Prete stood up and approached Lucy.
“In the meantime, everyone, please wait here. I’m going to prepare Lady Allen, and I’d appreciate it if you could provide your honest feedback afterward.”
“I don’t trust this pervert’s judgment, so I’m relying on you. Even if your taste is awful, it has to be better than this disgusting creep’s.”
“Haha. As you can see, Lady Allen doesn’t trust me much. Please wait here; it won’t take long.”
As they left, Arthur let out an exasperated laugh.
“Lucy Allen... What’s her connection with Prete?”
“Indeed,” Joy murmured.
The Apostle of the Church of Art, who even the king’s requests couldn’t sway, was willingly crafting dresses for her and Feibi.
What kind of relationship could they possibly have?
“Oh, Feibi, do you know something?” Joy asked.
Feibi seemed to understand Lucy’s use of “Perverted Apostle” without hesitation, suggesting she knew something about their connection.
Under the curious gazes of Arthur and Joy, Feibi offered a nervous smile.
“...I do know a bit, but... it’s not something I can really explain.”
Joy’s eyes widened.
For someone as composed as Feibi to hesitate...
What kind of connection could they possibly have?
...Wait, could it be?!
“Are Lady Allen and Prete... close?”
“Joy! That’s a huge insult to both of them!” Feibi scolded, raising her voice.
“I-I’m sorry, Feibi,” Joy stammered.
So that’s not it?
Then what is it?
What could Feibi know that makes her unwilling to explain?
While Joy was mulling over various possibilities, a sudden sound of the door opening caught her attention. She looked up, and all thoughts vanished, leaving her mind blank.
The first word that came to mind as she took in the scene was noble.
Those piercing red eyes, seemingly indifferent to the world.
The tightly closed lips, the smooth hair cascading past a partially exposed collarbone.
The white dress, pristine as freshly fallen snow, matched her radiant skin with an almost divine clarity.
Everything about her was so noble, so pure, that Joy saw a vision of wings spreading behind her.
W-What is this?
Am I dreaming?
That has to be it.
Otherwise, how could an angel appear before me?
...Wait, why is this angel walking toward me?
Did I do something wrong? Did I mess something up again?!
“...Can you hear me?”
“Huh?!”
Sigh “Seriously. You keep acting like this, which is why I call you Clueless. You’re such a clueless, clueless girl.”
“Lady... Allen?” Joy stammered.
“You an idiot? Like there could be two people in this world who look this pretty and adorable.”
...Right. The only one who’d talk to me like this is Lady Allen.
Oh, now that I look at it, this dress does seem familiar.
Did I choose it?
But it didn’t look like this before.
Yet, this design is definitely the one I picked.
“W-Wait, what?!”
Is it really Lady Allen?!
Is this what she looks like when she’s properly dressed up?!
“Enough with your silly noises. How does it look through those clueless eyes of yours?”
“You look truly noble...”
“Pfft. Aren’t you lacking in vocabulary for a duchess, Clueless Lady?”
Lucy, clearly pleased, let out a laugh before heading toward the others, who were still in shock.
Wow... I’m honestly at a loss for words.
Every time I look at her, I lose my vocabulary, and all I can think of is noble.
Judging by everyone else’s reactions, I’m not the only one.
The Third Prince looks like he’s about to explode, unable to say anything.
Feibi can’t even bring herself to look at her directly, just sneaking glances.
And Lady Kent has lost her voice, unable to tear her eyes away from Lady Allen.
So this is what happens when Apostle Prete dresses up the already beautiful Lady Allen.
...Maybe I should ask him to do the same for me.
Even if he declines, it’d be worth trying.
“Lady Allen?”
“Hm? What is it, Clueless?”
“Where is Prete?”
“Why do you care about that pervert?”
“I have a question I’d like to ask him.”
“He’s in the next room, but you won’t be able to talk to him. That filthy pervert has abandoned all semblance of humanity.”
...Abandoned humanity? What does that even mean?
What could he possibly look like to make Lady Allen sound so disgusted?
Driven by curiosity, Joy slowly rose and slipped into the next room.
The moment she saw Prete’s state, Joy understood Lucy’s disdain.
Blood streaming from his nose.
A face filled with bliss, as if he had no regrets left.
A grotesque smile on his lips.
“Oh, Goddess... I have met another goddess here today. I’ve been blessed with a kick to the face, a divine mercy. I wish I could live the rest of my life without ever washing...”
And his sickening voice, spewing disturbing words.
There was no Apostle of the Church of Art in that room.
All that remained was a perverted bastard who belonged in a cell.
Unable to bear the sight any longer, Joy quietly closed the door and returned to the room, embracing Lucy.
“Clueless, why are you suddenly...?”
“You’ve been through so much, Lady Allen.”
“...Huh?”
“You really, really have. Thank you for everything, Lady Allen.”
“Oh, um, sure.”
...Now I finally understand how Feibi feels.
How could anyone explain that the Apostle of the Church of Art is such a lunatic pervert? I couldn’t have either.