It was decided that the Saintess's guardian, Lucan, would be recognized as a Holy Priest.
Moreover, he would be invited as a temporary lecturer at the Royal Academy, which meant he would be temporarily leaving Town.
Inside the cozy home, Lucan stood in the center of his room, surrounded by half-packed bags and a sense of nostalgia. His dark eyes scanned the familiar space, taking in the simple yet meaningful objects that filled it. A soft sigh escaped his lips as he folded a neatly pressed shirt, placing it carefully into his travel bag.
"Hmmm... I never expected it to turn out like this," Lucan mused. The recent turn of events had caught him off guard; after just returning from a long trip, he found himself preparing to leave again, this time for the royal capital.
While the idea of returning to his roots didn't particularly bother him, before he didn't wanted to go back at capital because he might get targeted by those who wanted to harm Maris but now that he was Kingdom Class Strong, he didn't have to worry about such things.
While he was away from town, Priest Taro will take care of things. He is already well-acquainted with the townspeople, so there shouldn't be any problems.
There were no issues with his absence.
As he packed, a soft knock on the door broke his reverie. Turning, he saw Maris, standing in the doorway with a bright smile on her face. Her long, flowing hair framed her delicate features, and her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Lucan-sama! Should I bring this?" Maris asked, holding up a book she had retrieved from his shelf. Her enthusiasm was palpable, and it was clear that she was excited.
Lucan glanced at the book and chuckled softly. "Ah... Let's leave that book behind. We can get the same one in the royal capital," he replied, his tone gentle.
"Understood!" Maris chirped, her smile widening as she carefully placed the book back on the shelf.
"Lucan-sama, here are the panties! The panties!"
"Yes, yes, please put the underwear in that bag. We don't want girls shouting 'panties' all over the place."
Maris continued to stuff the underwear she had taken from the dresser into the bag.
Her joy seemed to make her even more childlike or strange than usual.
"Oh, I'm so excited. To think that Lucan-sama will be a teacher at the academy... It feels like a dream that we can be together in the royal capital! Oh, it really feels like a dream!"
As she spoke, Maris's joy seemed to radiate from her, and Lucan couldn't help but smile in response. Since receiving the letter from the capital, Maris had been positively glowing with happiness. Her presence had an almost magical effect on their surroundings; it was as if the very air around her was infused with light and warmth.
However, as much as Lucan enjoyed seeing Maris so happy, he knew he needed to temper her expectations. "I should mention... Maris, just because we're going to the royal capital doesn't mean we'll be living together, okay?" he said, his voice calm and measured.
"Huh? Is that so?" Maris's expression faltered slightly, the light behind her dimming just a little.
"Yes, it is," Lucan confirmed, watching as Maris's shoulders slumped in disappointment. He knew how much she had been looking forward to their time together, but it was important to set boundaries, especially given their roles.
Taking a deep breath, Lucan continued, "You'll be staying at the Grand Temple, while I'll be staying in the staff dormitory at the academy. Students are not allowed in the dormitories, so we won't be able to see each other as often as we do here."
"Why not... Lucan-sama could stay at the temple too!" Maris protested, her tone tinged with a hint of desperation.
"No, living there has its rules, and we need to follow them," Lucan explained patiently. "All faculty members at the academy are required to stay in the staff dormitory. It's a measure to ensure the safety and integrity of the institution."
In the past, students and their parents had attempted to tamper with grades and steal test papers, leading to illegal entries into teachers' homes.
Royal Academy students and their parents are all nobles. Some try to exploit their status to engage in undesirable actions against teachers.
Therefore, it is mandatory for teachers to live in well-secured staff dormitories.
Maris sighed, her earlier excitement now tempered by the reality of their situation. "Ugh... There's nothing to be done about the system, I suppose..." she muttered, her tone resigned.
Despite her disappointment, Maris was not one to sulk for long. She was a person of strong character and understood the importance of following the rules.
"But... We can still be together at the academy, right?" Maris asked, her voice softening as she looked up at Lucan with hopeful eyes.
"Well, as long as we stay within our roles as student and teacher, yes," Lucan replied, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Yes, I will!" Maris exclaimed, her enthusiasm returning in full force. The halo of light behind her reappeared, and Lucan could almost imagine white lilies blooming beneath her feet as she moved.
"For lunch, let's eat together. I'll make lunch for you every day!" Maris declared, her determination evident in her voice.
"Uh, that's..."
"I'll help with your work after school too! Although there are temple duties... Well, we can manage by increasing the number of stuffed animals!" Maris continued, her mind racing with possibilities.
Lucan chuckled softly, shaking his head in amusement.
"..."
As Lucan continued to pack, he couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation building within him. The thought of returning to the capital, of reconnecting with his family and old friends, filled him with a mix of excitement.
Lucan packed everything and he and Maris set on carriages. He went to visit Wanny, the old lady, then Morbis his friend and his wife, and after he wanted to meet Rina but he got news that she went to capital, and also joined Julia's party.
It was surprising but good one.