Chapter 82

“The Crown Prince has requested a visitation. You do know that Cardinal Samuel is a distant relative of the Imperial family, right? Perhaps even Samuel found it difficult to refuse a request from the Crown Prince~?”

As I struggled to grasp the situation, the Pope gave me a wink, pointing his index finger at me. The sight of such an unsightly display from an old man snapped me back to my senses.

‘Don’t tell me the Crown Prince is trying to help Edelina too?’

Since the Crown Prince was well aware of the deep relationship between the protagonist and Edelina, it wasn’t strange for him to step up as a friend.

This was another variable, following the Marquis.

I suppose I should respond to a variable with another variable.

While I wasn’t certain exactly what the Crown Prince intended to do, he might turn out to be a reliable ally.

“Ah, and by the way, I’m not sure if you realize that Samuel’s… no, the entire Order’s eyes are fixed on you right now, Saintess. If you move recklessly, you’ll be caught in no time. So, be prudent when you make your move.”

I hadn’t expected the Pope to provide such meticulous advice.

‘The aftermath of the affection registration is quite significant.’

I decided I should continue to maintain a rebellious attitude moving forward.

I snapped my head away sharply and rose from my seat.

“From now on, please deliver news like this to me more quickly. Before my pride as a Saintess hits rock bottom, that is.”

The Pope stood up with a joyful expression and replied.

“Oh, of course. I’ve been far too thoughtless.”

“…Then, excuse me.”

‘The Crown Prince, huh.’

“Saintess…! What did His Holiness the Pope say?”

After leaving the Pope’s office, I silenced the annoyingly whispering Emily and pondered.

What excuse could I use to meet the Crown Prince?

According to the Pope’s advice, rather than meeting him in my form as the Saintess…

‘It would be better to take on a different appearance.’

It wasn’t like I hadn’t done it before.

“Emily.”

“Yes?”

“Do you have any wigs?”

“Huh? Why a wig?”

“Never mind. Let’s do this properly. Go call Lora for me.”

“I don’t know why the Saintess suddenly wanted to change her face but I’m finished!”

“Just for a change of pace. Thanks.”

“It was nothing! This is my job!”

Once Lora had left, Emily appeared holding a wig and the servant’s uniform of the Order of Ralphican, looking at me with an uneasy gaze.

“Um… Saintess. What exactly are you planning to do now?”

“I’m not going to cause any trouble this time.”

Despite my explanation, Emily did not pull back her suspicious look.

“Then, if I may be so bold as to ask… what is the reason for dressing up like that and disguising yourself with blonde hair?”

Without a word, I took the wig from Emily’s hands and pressed it onto my head. As I roughly tidied it up while looking in the mirror, I saw Emily’s reflection standing there with her mouth agape, pointing a finger at me.

“Uh, uh…! Blonde hair and purple eyes. Long hair reaching down to the hips and a cold impression!”

Emily cried out the answer in shock.

“Ah! Could it be that the Saintess is the one the Crown Prince has been looking for?!”

“Keep your voice down.”

“My goodness…. So there was a reason why His Highness the Crown Prince couldn’t find you all this time…”

“That’s right. I’m telling you because it’s you.”

“Then am I the only one who knows this…! What an honor!”

Emily had been registered in the affection tab as someone who felt special because of me. She likely felt a sense of satisfaction in her unique title as the maid who served and received the gratitude of the Saintess. I had been making savvy use of that point to steadily raise Emily’s affection.

“No, but how on earth did you make the Crown Prince fall in—”

Realizing her voice had grown loud with excitement, Emily cleared her throat and whispered.

“Ahem. How did you make him fall for you…?”

“Well. I’d love to tell you what happened, but.”

“But?”

“There’s no time. Every second counts.”

“Ah…”

Leaving a disappointed Emily behind, I purchased a Character Location Tracker from the shop.

Theodore Bamea von Cassus.

The Nilcaron Empire, which became the strongest power on the continent by following the will of Saint Bamea. Theodore, the sole Crown Prince of that Empire, was currently sitting in a room, rubbing his weary face.

Upon hearing the news about Edelina, Theodore had moved in his own way, thinking he had to do something. As a result, he had just managed to secure a brief meeting with Edelina through Cardinal Samuel. He had tried to invite Hereis as well, but Cardinal Samuel had attached the condition that it must be the two of them alone.

Although it was a rather unpleasant experience for a mere distant relative to dare act as an equal, he had no choice but to endure it. With the Order’s power currently piercing the heavens, even the Crown Prince could not intervene in the Order’s affairs without a proper justification, so he was grateful just to have secured the interview.

It was absolutely ridiculous how Samuel used that fact to arrogantly toy with him.

“Edelina Peyers is a dangerous heretic that our Order is watching closely! You know that a request for release is impossible, even for Your Highness, right?”

“Ah, well, a meeting is fine. I’m sure Your Highness wouldn’t dare do anything sinister… Normally this wouldn’t be allowed, but I’m granting it because Your Highness requested it! Is blood not thicker than water?”

“So, I hope Your Highness won’t forget this favor in the future…”

‘Thinking about it again, he’s such a piece of work.’

He felt like his ears were rotting just listening to that bottom-feeder’s sophistry.

‘If there’s no other way, I’ll just have to break her out secretly and run.’

If all else failed, he intended to use this time to devise an escape plan.

Of course, that would truly be a last resort.

Theodore rested his throbbing head against the back of the sofa and closed his eyes.
Some might ask why he was going to such lengths, but to him, it was important in its own way.

Edelina Peyers and Hereis Rubel. Was their relationship anything ordinary?

They had maintained a bond since they were toddlers, and now they were close enough for marriage talks to be exchanged!

Even though those marriage talks seemed to have gone down the drain now that the Saintess was holding her ground.

Theodore could easily imagine how devastated Hereis would be if something happened to Edelina.

Theodore knew better than anyone else that while Hereis had grown into the very epitome of a stern and solid knight, a tender heart still lay hidden within him.

Ever since they were very young.

Theodore recalled a certain winter day. Those immature days when he first met Hereis.

“This is boring.”

Staring out at the bleak, snowy landscape, the young Theodore muttered, unable to contain himself.

In the past, the two members of the Imperial family had to flee and take refuge for a while to escape the ominous energy swirling around the Imperial Palace. Because it was dangerous for them to be together, the Princess went to the House of Count Lukstard, while the Prince went to the Rubel Duchy. The Duchy, where he had traveled with only his wet nurse and escort knights, was a cold and barren land.

“Oh dear, Prince. I understand you are bored, but they say fearsome magic beasts have been frequently coming down to the villages from the northern mountains of the Duchy lately, causing quite a headache. Please wait just until the Knights’ subjugation is over.”

The wet nurse thought these words would frighten the young Prince, but unfortunately, this is how it sounded to Theodore.

‘A monster subjugation! Something fun is finally happening!’

Theodore, who had completely lost his sense of fear, formed a grand plan to secretly follow the subjugation knights.

He used the excuse of reading quietly alone in the study to make his wet nurse and guards let their guard down. The moment he was stealthily climbing over the window frame—

“H-hello!”

Startled by the voice coming from behind, Theodore spun around to find a young blonde boy staring at him.

‘What’s with this brat?’

Theodore thought to himself.

Never mind the fact that he was also just a seven-year-old brat.

“Who the hell are you all of a sudden!”

Fuming at the fact that he had been interrupted, Theodore threw a fit. The interloper muttered in a small, receding voice.

“I’m the grandson of this house…”

“The grandson?”

It suddenly occurred to Theodore that the Duke had mentioned having a grandson around his age.

He also remembered being told the boy was coming to the mansion specifically to keep the lonely Prince company.

Was this rude fellow that person?

“I-I formally greet you, Your Imperial Highness. My name is Hereis Rubel.”

Hereis greeted Theodore with refined movements. Seeing the flawless, clean etiquette, it seemed the child before him truly was the Duke’s grandson. However, that didn’t matter to Theodore.

“Nice to meet you, but I’m a bit busy right now.”

Theodore gave a half-hearted response to Hereis, who had looked up with a bewildered expression, and placed his foot back on the window sill. Then, he turned back and gave a firm warning.

“Don’t you dare tell my guard outside. Tell him I’m reading and not to disturb me!”

“…….”

Just as Theodore was about to step out, Hereis grabbed him.

“Are you c-crazy? Let go of me!”

As Theodore struggled while having both arms ungracefully pinned, a desperate voice reached his back.

“N-no, you can’t!”

“I told you to let go!”

“You’re trying to follow the subjugation, aren’t you! I understand. It’s dull and boring here! I like the Capital better too!”

“Wh-what… how did you know…?”

Hereis tried to haul Theodore back with surprising strength. In his desperation, Theodore instinctively shouted.

“Wait! You come with me too!”

“What? I can’t do something so dangerous…”

“Are you even a man of the Empire acting like that?”

While Hereis wavered, Theodore hurriedly continued.

“What does that have to do with…?”

“You’re going to miss the chance to be part of a monster subjugation? Are you a coward?”

Whether he was genuinely shocked, Hereis’s large eyes widened between his doll-like thick eyelashes. Hereis groaned as he searched for a rebuttal, but failing that, he grew dejected.

Unfortunately, Hereis was a pure and kind child who fell for even the most obvious tricks. No matter how young he was, he was no match for Theodore, who had survived the Imperial Palace where all sorts of schemes and machinations were rampant.

“Ah~ To think the grandson Duke Rubel praised so much is a scaredy-cat~. The future of the Duchy is so dark!”

“S-scaredy-cat…”

“You don’t want to be a scaredy-cat, do you? Then, come with me!”

It was a hassle, but if he left Hereis behind, his escape would be discovered immediately.
Theodore, who was exceptionally skilled at getting under people’s skin, used his silver tongue to lead the dazed Hereis quickly out of the mansion.

An unexpected companion had joined him, but the feeling wasn’t half bad.

Didn’t every adventure in books start with meeting a comrade?

Feeling like the protagonist of a novel, Theodore climbed the mountain with a vigorous stride.

And then…

“Hereis! What do you think you’re doing!”

“Father…”

“Climbing that dangerous mountain with the Crown Prince? You’ve truly lost your mind!”

Wasn’t that a bit too harsh for a young child?

Theodore felt frustrated for Hereis, who remained tight-lipped. However, Theodore also had no excuse even if he had a hundred mouths. This was because, if Hereis’s father, Robert Rubel, and the knights hadn’t saved them just in time, they would have nearly been killed by the punch of a terrifying gorilla-type monster. Holding a sword dripping with warm monster blood, Robert scolded Hereis.

“I thought you weren’t the type to cause trouble, yet you pull a stunt like this! What is Rachel doing, not even watching the child?”

“I-I’m sorry. M-mother did nothing wrong…”

Tears streaming down his face, Hereis begged for forgiveness. Theodore was about to say something about the excessive discipline when it happened. A young man with blonde hair slightly brighter than Hereis’s dismounted and lightly patted the back of the agitated Robert.

“Brother! That’s enough~ Hereis probably just wanted to see you working. It’s all because you don’t play with him like a proper father should.”

“Jeffrey! So are you saying this is all my fault?”

“Isn’t that better than blaming a kid?”

“You! Sigh, fine…”

When Hereis flinched, the young man criticized Robert for sighing in front of a child.
Then, he took a clean handkerchief from his coat and delicately wiped Hereis’s face before playfully nudging the two boys along.

“Alright, you little brats! Your uncle will take you home~ Let’s go quickly and leave this scary mister behind!”

Thus, the short adventure of the sheltered children came to a hollow end. After making a pinky-promise never to do such a thing again, they were able to return to the mansion. The Imperial Palace was settled faster than expected, so Theodore returned soon after, but the memories of the Duchy were quite precious to him.

It was the first place he had stayed outside the Imperial family circle, and the first time he had made a real friend.

And then…

Knock, knock!

A polite knock was heard. Thinking it was surely Lady Peyers, Theodore stopped his reminiscing and leisurely lifted his eyelids. However, the person who appeared as the door opened was…

…!!

An entirely unexpected individual.