Chapter 4

"Saya-sama, it seems the luncheon between the Empire's envoys and His Majesty the King has ended."

At Marie's words, I jump out of bed.

"Can we meet them somewhere?"

"Well, it seems there will be a friendly match to foster camaraderie between the Empire's knights and the Kingdom's knights."

"Let's go there."

I stand up from the bed and smooth out the wrinkles in my skirt.

Today, I've been waiting in my uniform to make contact with the Empire's envoys.

The envoys arrived in the morning, but it wasn't until after the luncheon that things finally got underway.

In this world, a uniform is bound to stand out.

Marie made a slightly awkward face, saying, "Isn't it a bit too revealing...?"

This time, standing out is important, so it's better to wear something that draws attention.

"Where do you think they are?"

"Probably at the First Knight Regiment's training ground... Earlier, the knights of the First Regiment were talking about the match."

"Okay, thank you."

I comb my hair with my fingers and leave the room with Marie.

As usual, a knight follows me.

Since the timing is about the same as my usual walk, it's probably assumed to be a routine thing.

To avoid arousing suspicion, I first go to a different place, looking around aimlessly.

The knight following me at a distance looks rather annoyed.

When I step into the courtyard and stroll around looking at the flowers, I hear cheers from a distance.

"What's that noise?"

Marie says, "T-the cheers are coming from the direction of the First Knight Regiment."

I head in that direction, drawn by the cheers.

Surprisingly, no one stops me.

When I reach the First Knight Regiment's training ground, there are many knights gathered, and it's quite crowded.

...Hmm, I can't see.

I try jumping from behind the crowd, but the people here are generally tall, so I can't see over them.

The envoys are probably on the other side.

As I'm wondering what to do, Marie turns around.

"Saya-sama, this way...!"

The usually timid Marie takes my hand and pushes through the crowd of knights.

The knights look at me with puzzled expressions but seem to want to avoid getting involved, so Marie and I can move forward.

Just as I think we've reached the front, I feel someone push me from behind.

I quickly let go of Marie's hand.

I land on my hands and knees.

...Ouch...

Behind me, I hear several muffled laughs. I immediately realize it was intentional.

...Is it fun to do such petty harassment?

"Saya-sama...!"

A mix of emotions wells up inside me.

...Why do I have to go through this?

I didn't come here willingly. I was summoned, deemed useless, and treated poorly.

I can still hear faint laughter from behind.

Embarrassment, anger, and frustration make me clench my hands.

Pain spreads from my palms and knees.

The faint laughter suddenly turns into a murmur, and a shadow falls on the ground.

"–...Are you alright?"

I look up at the low voice from above.

A young man stands there.

His short hair, which could be described as indigo or dark blue, is slightly swept back, and his narrow, red eyes look down at me.

His well-defined features give off a somewhat intimidating aura.

He is tall, and the hand he extends is large, wearing what looks like a black military uniform.

The man's brow furrows when our eyes meet.

He looks very displeased or unhappy.

...Who is he?

I didn't expect anyone other than Marie to offer me a hand, so I'm surprised.

The man kneels down, takes my hand, and gently pulls me up.

"There's blood. ...Hey, Arnaud."

The man looks at my hand and knees, then to the side.

Another man is suddenly there.

This man has soft, light brown hair and dull blue eyes, with a gentle face, and is also wearing a black military uniform.

However, the man in front of me has more badges.

Arnaud looks at me closely.

"Miss, I'm sorry to bother you."

He speaks in a relaxed tone and holds his hand over mine.

"‘Heal this one.’”

A faint light gathers on my hands and knees.

At the same time, the pain disappears.

"Here, it's healed."

"Are you okay?" the brown-haired man asks.

I have many questions, but before I can ask, a tear rolls down my cheek.

I bow my head, but more tears overflow.

...I'm not okay...

I bite my lip to stop myself from crying out.

Since I came to this world, nothing has been okay.

At the same time, I realize these people are the Empire's envoys.

The people in this castle would never be this kind to me; in fact, they despise me.

While crying, I intentionally channel magic into the large hand holding mine.

...Please, notice.

...I'm not useless.

The large hand squeezes mine tightly for a moment.

"Are you the girl who was summoned with the Holy Maiden?"

I nod at the low voice.

"Arnaud, you stay here and give instructions to the others. I'll return to the room with the guest."

"Understood."

I'm gently pulled along.

I don't know where we're going, but I feel relieved that I won't be left alone.

The Empire's envoys seem kinder than the people of the Kingdom.

I follow the large hand.

...I wanted to make contact in a different way.

* * * * *

The sound of sniffling comes from behind.

Dizak walks as slowly as possible, listening to it.

The girl, who he had been wondering how to make contact with, surprisingly came to him.

...Still, those people are unpleasant.

He knew the people in this castle didn't think highly of ordinary girls, but he didn't expect them to push her.

The black-haired girl is smaller and more delicate than he thought, with eyes that are almost black.

He didn't know her eyes were so dark, but they, along with her hair, looked like they were cut from the night.

The girl, who quickly bowed her head, had scrapes on her palms and knees, which he had Arnaud, his deputy who can use a small amount of holy magic, heal. However, she started crying.

She wasn't crying because of the pain from the injuries.

While crying, the magic that flowed from her hand surprised him.

He had been told she had no magic, but it seems that was a mistake.

A considerable amount of magic flowed in, indicating a high magic capacity.

She must have a reason for hiding her magic.

But, thinking about it, it's understandable.

Suddenly summoned to a different world, treated roughly because she's not the Holy Maiden, and mocked by everyone around her—she couldn't possibly trust anyone.

Dizak's subordinates and a timid maid follow the girl, who is walking silently behind him.

A Kingdom knight follows them.

They must be the maid and knight mentioned in the report.

When they reach the VIP room prepared for Dizak and his team, Dizak turns around.

"The Kingdom's maid and knight, wait here."

The maid looks at the girl, who nods, and steps back.

But the knight doesn't budge.

"I am responsible for her protection and cannot leave her."

Dizak narrows his eyes and glares at the knight.

"Is a knight who does nothing when the person they're supposed to protect is pushed even a knight? I have no use for a knight who fails to fulfill their duty."

His subordinates make the knight step back.

Another subordinate opens the door.

Dizak leads the girl into the room.

Two of his guards enter and close the door.

"Now there's no surveillance."

As he says this, the girl's shoulders relax slightly.

He seats her on a sofa and sits across from her, with his subordinates standing behind him.

"I should introduce myself. I am Dizak Christhardt Weilshtrass, the younger brother of the Emperor of the Weil Empire."

"...Emperor?"

The voice that comes out is surprisingly calm.

"It means the younger brother of His Majesty the Emperor."

Her black eyes, still moist, look at him.

Most people either fawn over him or avoid him when they learn he's the Emperor's brother, but the girl just looks at him.

"My name is Shinoyama Saya. Shinoyama is my family name, and Saya is my given name. ...Please call me Saya."

"Understood. So, Saya, you have magic, don't you?"

"Yes."

Saya nods firmly.

"The report said you had no magic. Were you hiding it?"

"The people here think I'm useless and mock me. If they found out I had magic, I didn't know how they would use me... I'm not the Holy Maiden..."

I see.

Even if she had magic, the Kingdom would have used her up.

They wouldn't have treated her differently just because she had magic.

Given the rough treatment she's received, Saya must have felt a lot.

"I want to go to the Empire."

Saya raises her right hand.

Instantly, a flame appears in her palm.

His subordinates draw their swords, but he stops them with a hand.

"...I'm sorry for startling you. But I can cast magic without incantations. I think I have a considerable amount of magic."

Indeed, Saya didn't use an incantation just now.

To Dizak's knowledge, no one can handle magic without incantations.

...Saya is not the Holy Maiden, as reported...

Even if she's not the Holy Maiden, the ability to cast magic without incantations and a high magic capacity means she has the potential to become an excellent mage.

"I beg you. Please take me to the Empire."

Saya extinguishes the flame and bows.

"I don't want to stay here. Even if I tell them I can use magic, I don't think my treatment will improve."

"Would you be willing to be used by the Empire?"

"At least I don't want to do anything that benefits the Kingdom. They despise me."

Saya's request is beneficial for the Empire.

Not only does she have the potential to become an excellent mage, but her black hair and eyes are also important.

Thinking of the Kingdom's knights earlier, Saya would only suffer if she stayed here.

The fineness of the hand he held is still in his palm.

"The Empire feels some responsibility for your situation."

"My situation?"

"Yes, the summoning magic should not have been used so casually. Instead of helping, we should have worked with neighboring countries to send a new Holy Maiden or find another path. ...We didn't expect an ordinary person to be involved."

The summoning magic is supposed to bring forth only a Holy Maiden or a Saint.

The Kingdom said as much, but perhaps there were such individuals in the past, just not recorded in history.

Thinking that there might have been people like Saya who were oppressed and lived their lives in misery, the Empire's decision to lend mages was a mistake.

"We should have been more cautious about the summoning."

Saya blinks and then smiles.

"I want the people of this country to drink the dregs of your fingernails."

The meaning was unclear, but her face showed no dark shadows.

"The Empire is willing to accept Saya. However, officially, you are still under the Kingdom's custody. We need to discuss this."

"The people here will be happy to get rid of me."

"Are you sure? If the Empire says it wants you, they might be suspicious and hesitate to hand you over."

Dizak falls silent for a moment.

He knows his brother's strategy is the surest way.

When he looks at Saya, she looks back curiously.

"There is one sure way to bring you back with us."

But it requires Saya's consent.

"What is it?"

Dizak hesitates a bit.

Saya looks to be in her mid-teens.

She is not yet an adult.

Dizak, at twenty-two, is an adult.

The simplest and most reliable way for a man to bring a woman from another country to his own.

"To become my fiancée."

Saya looks bewildered.

After a moment, her black eyes widen in surprise.

"Wait, a fiancée means a promise to get married!?"

"Yes. I can say that I have taken a liking to Saya and want to bring her back to the Empire. Fortunately, I am not married and have no fiancée, so I won't be suspected."

Saya's eyes blink rapidly.

"Do I really need to go that far...?"

Saya's confusion is understandable.

However, the Empire wants Saya, who has black hair and eyes, so this is a good condition for both parties.

"I can't explain the reason here, but our country desires those who have black. Saya has black hair and eyes. For the Empire, your coming here is a blessing."

Saya falls silent, thinking.

Then, with a determined look, she raises her head.

"I understand. I will become your fiancée."

So, please take me to the Empire.

Dizak nods deeply at Saya's words.