The Holy Maiden Realizes (2)

“…Yes, that’s right. I used to be Kana.”

“Thank goodness! I was the only one who came to a weird place and didn’t know what to do. The people here feel cold, and common sense doesn’t work at all…”

Seeing Hina’s sad smile as she said that, Cordelia gasped.

(Could she have been lonely and anxious all by herself? …Maybe so. Hina doesn’t read manga or novels, so she isn’t familiar with this kind of culture. Perhaps she’s actually been suffering all this time…!?)

In the original story, Elrina (the Holy Maiden) was certainly raised happily by kind but poor parents, but perhaps she struggled because the world itself had changed.

The moment she thought that, Cordelia felt guilty for enjoying her life without caring about Hina at all. She quickly thought she must comfort the dejected Hina—however.

“By the way Kana-chan, that way of speaking is weird. You sound like an old lady. More importantly, you’ll help restore the scenario, right? Did you know? This is the world of ‘Flowers of Lakisen.’”

The tone sounded as if it might have a (lol) at the end, and Cordelia swallowed the words she was about to say.

(It was a mistake to sympathize even for a moment… In the first place, Hina might be forgiven as a heroine and commoner girl, but this manner of speaking is normal for a noble lady!)

She wanted to assign Nanny to tutor Hina as well. Cordelia had lost count of how many times she had wanted to run away from Nanny’s terrifying personality shift, unimaginable from her usual kindness.

Imagining Hina being scolded by Nanny in her mind, Cordelia cleared her throat.

“Hina, this way of speaking is not strange at all. I certainly was ‘Kana,’ but now I live as ‘Cordelia.’ You also have the name ‘Elrina,’ do you not?”

She had intended to imply, “What happened to your name Elrina!?” but unfortunately it did not get through at all.

“I don’t get it. Kana-chan is Kana-chan, and Hina is Hina, right? More importantly, Kana-chan, tell Isaac-sama too. You know which of us would make him happier to marry, don’t you?”

Apparently irritated again, Hina spoke accusingly. Cordelia carefully chose her words and spoke cautiously.

“…Politically, marrying you would bring greater benefits. However, before that, we must respect His Highness’s feelings—”

“I respect them? That’s why I’m saying let’s go on a date. …Kana-chan, trying to keep him because you like Isaac-sama is selfish, you know. The original Cordelia was cool, right? She stepped aside herself for Isaac-sama’s sake. Did you forget?”

(…I’m getting extremely irritated. Was Hina always this unpleasant?)

At this point, how could she think Cordelia was the selfish one troubling everyone? Hina’s excessively self-centered words made the anger she had suppressed raise its head.

“There’s still time, so hurry and tell Isaac-sama you’re breaking off the engagement.”

Instead of answering, Cordelia took a deep breath as if resolved, then looked straight at Hina.

“…If you two were mutually in love, I would have gracefully withdrawn. But not only are you not mutually in love—you’ve been rejected by Prince Isaac.”

—At that moment, Hina’s face turned bright red.

Cordelia’s hands were violently shaken off, and Hina’s body trembled in anger. Then tears suddenly spilled from her large, lovely eyes.

“! I hate this already! What is this place!? No one is kind to Hina! Kana-chan changed too! This isn’t where Hina belongs!”

Hina shouted like a tantrum-throwing child. Then her voice suddenly dropped in tone, and she spoke with vacant eyes.

“…It’s fine. Hina must be dreaming. I’ll wake up soon and return to reality. If I destroy this world, will the dream end?”

Crying, Hina stepped backward. Her eyes gleamed with madness, no longer resembling a Holy Maiden at all. Yet she unquestionably possessed the Holy Maiden’s power.

Cordelia realized what Hina was about to do. She clenched her fists and focused every nerve, gathering magical power to oppose the Sacred Beast.

“…Come, Fenrir. Destroy this entire world!”

As if responding to Hina’s cry, a violent gale raged around them.