The Holy Maiden Becomes Unstable (1)

Right after entering, Hina’s sparkling black eyes shone brightly. But the moment she noticed Isaac and Cordelia tightly holding hands, her face twisted into something demon-like.

“…Isaac-sama? What are you doing?”

Her voice was lower and colder than ever before, like a lawful wife catching her husband cheating.

(But I’m the fiancée, so there’s no reason to blame me!?)

In her previous life Hina had always held the higher position—and even now she outranked her as the Holy Maiden—so Cordelia couldn’t act boldly. Still, she hadn’t done anything wrong… probably.

“Holy Maiden-dono…”

Murmuring softly so only Cordelia heard, Isaac stood and stepped between them as if shielding her.

“Isaac-sama. You said you would annul your engagement with this person, didn’t you?”

Hina’s face twitched.

“Holy Maiden-dono… I’m sorry, but I cannot lie to my feelings. I will not annul my engagement with her.”

“No! Why!?”

Hina shouted in agitation, then suddenly fell silent, staring at him with damp eyes.

“…Even if the kingdom is destroyed? I told you before—if you won’t marry me, I can ask the Sacred Beast to destroy the country. Then you’ll be the cause.”

“The one destroying it would not be me. Even if I’m the cause, you would carry it out, Holy Maiden-dono.”

Isaac’s eyes were calm like still water. Hina’s face stiffened.

“Please calm yourself. Destroying the kingdom benefits you nothing. You would be treated as a calamity and rejected by all. I do not want that for you.”

He was trying persuasion. Cordelia watched silently—she knew interfering would only provoke things.

“Why… why would you say that!? If you marry me, everyone would be happy!”

Her polite speech vanished, proof of true irritation.

“…Your feelings please me, but I wish to walk with her.”

Hina glared at Cordelia—eyes filled with jealousy.

(That look… I know it.)

In her previous life, other girls often looked at Hina that way.

—The gaze of jealousy.

(But Hina was always the envied one…)

She lived a life where smiles brought everything, even after bullying she gained better things the next day. Yet now she glared with envy and hatred.

(Maybe she isn’t the Hina I knew anymore.)

Cordelia lived this life, not Kana. Hina too might now be Elrina.

Soon Hina looked away and smiled sadly.

“…It’s okay. If the Holy Maiden wishes it, Isaac-sama will come to me eventually. I know that.”

She must mean the original scenario—she had no intention of accepting this.

“Watch, Isaac-sama. You’ll realize it’s not me who needs to calm down, but you.”

She left, her eyes seeming both angry and tearful.