Chapter 36

"When my parents died, I was seven years old. They were traveling merchants, and it seems their carriage was attacked by monsters on the way. My brother became an adventurer at twelve to support me."

Liene speaks of what happened ten years ago. Her parents were often away, but Alek often took care of her. When they were around, he would help, and when they were away, he would look after her. She says she never saw him play.

"My brother wasn't always strong. At first, he often came back injured. I was so afraid that he might die too, and I cried almost every day."

She cried and screamed, begging him not to go. However, without completing requests, they couldn't eat. They had no relatives to rely on.

"My parents were both orphans, having lost their families to monsters. So, I had no relatives at all."

The neighbors were kind, but none of them could afford to raise someone else's child.

"Because I cried so much, my brother eventually started hiding his injuries."

Liene says this was wrong, and she should have faced the reality that their parents wouldn't return and that her brother was doing his best to protect her. Instead, she just cried and became a burden.

"Liene..."

It's understandable that Liene, who was still young, couldn't accept her parents' sudden death. It was natural for her to cry, thinking she might lose her brother too.

"I was still young. It's not surprising."

She says this to comfort herself, but she shakes her head.

"But if I had been stronger, my brother's burden would have definitely been lighter."

When Liene was ten, the incident happened. She followed her brother out of the house and got lost in an alley, where she was captured by kidnappers. Children who had lost their parents, especially Liene with her appearance, had been targeted for a while. Indeed, Liene was a beautiful girl in her childhood.

"My brother rescued me quickly, so nothing serious happened. But the neighbors advised him that it was dangerous to leave me alone at home."

The neighbors were very kind, but they had their own lives and couldn't watch over Liene all the time.

"They decided to send me to the orphanage where my parents were raised. Some people still remembered my parents and were very kind to me. But..."

Liene spent about three years there. The other orphans, who had to live on their own, didn't like her. They were jealous of the frequent visits from her brother, who brought clothes and daily necessities for her. Liene was ostracized and never made any friends.

"Looking back, it was natural. But I was really foolish and could only think about myself. I cried to my brother, begging him to come and get me soon..."

Liene talks about her past with regret, and Rane doesn't know what to say.

Seeing her sister cry every day, Alek became anxious to provide a stable life for Liene and started taking dangerous requests. One of those requests was to defeat a servant of the Demon King, which was very dangerous.

"After six years as an adventurer, he had shown great talent and determination, but it was still a reckless request."

"If he hadn't awakened as a hero, he might have died."

Alek, who was cornered, must have strongly felt that he couldn't die and leave Liene alone. As a hero, he defeated the Demon King's servant and used the vast reward to buy the mansion in the capital and bring Liene there.

Alek told her to stay in the mansion as much as possible. Sometimes she felt suffocated and went outside, but she was always brought back by the female guards.

"I was selfish. My brother was working hard for me, but I missed the sea of our hometown..."

"Alek also talked about the sea of our hometown with nostalgia. I think he understands how you feel."

Liene smiles a little when Rane says this.

"My brother never talked about our hometown in front of me. So, you must have talked to Rane."

Alek, who fought to protect his sister, now fights to protect the world.

"But I only found out he was a hero after the Demon King was defeated. He must have thought I would get anxious and cry or follow him. Even if I had the power of the Holy Maiden, it wouldn't help him; it would only be a burden."

Tears well up in Liene's eyes as she speaks.

"If we couldn't defeat the Demon King, we would have to seal him with our lives. So, everything, including the mansion and the income from his adventures, was in my name. My brother was prepared, but I was too weak to even know about it."

Liene was truly surprised when she heard that her brother had brought a woman home. It turned out to be Rane.

"At first, I thought it was just another act of kindness. When I heard her story, she had been through a lot. But..."

Her brother asked Rane to take care of his sister. Liene says she immediately knew Rane was special to him.

"I was so happy that she became my first friend. I might be selfish, but please help my brother."

"…Okay. I will."

Rane nods and hugs the bowed Liene. She doesn't think Liene was weak for crying and being afraid when she lost her parents and thought she might lose her brother too. It's understandable given her young age and the experiences she had.

But even if Liene is still weak, it's fine. When Alek isn't around, Rane will protect her. She strongly wishes to protect not only Liene but also everyone in this world, so they can live in peace without the threat of monsters. She closes her eyes, feeling a small light in her heart. It's still small and has no power, but if she nurtures it, it will grow into a great light that can cover the world. She has a feeling about it.

For a while, they continued to live peacefully under Clarence's protection. The neighboring country was in chaos due to the sudden death of the Holy Maiden, and Clarence was troubled by the lack of information.

Moreover, the king of this country is pursuing the neighboring country for the Holy Maiden's death.

"That and my brother is saying I'm also responsible. It's true that I asked the Holy Maiden to go to the neighboring country. I sent a valuable Holy Maiden to a dangerous battlefield and caused her death. I can't deny my responsibility."

Clarence, who visited their room, said this with a slightly worn-out face.

"That's... "

Liene looks at Clarence with concern. She is worried about him.

"Even if she had stayed in this country, Aki would have eventually lost her Holy Maiden powers."

"I agree."

Rane also agrees with this.

"That's true. However, the fact that Aki died in the neighboring country is undeniable. I will take responsibility and renounce my position as the crown prince."

Rane's voice trembles at the shocking words. She accepted the Holy Maiden's proposal to help Alek, which was one of the reasons the Holy Maiden left. However, Clarence firmly says Rane is not to blame.

"The Holy Maiden intended to go to the neighboring country from the beginning. If someone has to take responsibility, it should be me."

Noah, who seems to understand everything, doesn't say a word.

Clarence is fair and kind and would have been a good king. It's frustrating that he has to renounce his position due to such a baseless scandal.

"There is one problem. My brother has heard rumors about the Holy Maiden candidates and is targeting the two of you."

"What?"

Rane instinctively holds Liene's hand to protect her.

"Targeting...?"

"The next king's consort should be a Holy Maiden. That's what he thinks."

It's a delusional idea, but the problem is that he is the second prince. Both Liene and Rane are commoners, and without Alek, they have no way to protect themselves from power.

"That's why I want you to pretend to be my fiancée."

Liene, who was looking anxious, looks up at Clarence in surprise.

"Fiancée?"

"Yes. I'm still the crown prince. If I have a fiancée, neither my brother nor the neighboring country's king can easily touch her."

Rane thinks Clarence's proposal is the best. His status can protect Liene, and he is a sincere person.

"Rane too?"

When Liene asks this, everyone in the room shakes their heads.

"No, not Rane. I'm proposing to Liene. Rane has Alek. I think it's best for her to be the fiancée of the hero who saved the world."

"Wh... What?"

"That's great!"

This time, Rane is confused, and Liene agrees.

"Many people have seen Alek escorting Rane."

"Yes. More importantly, no one would allow the hero who saved the world to be taken from his fiancée. There is no safer title. What do you think?"

"Wh... What do you mean?"

Rane is not sure what to say. Without Alek's consent, it would be meaningless.

"Without Alek's consent, I can't do such a thing..."

"I think Alek would be happy."

"I don't think Alek would refuse."

"Rather, I think they are already engaged."

As Liene, Clarence, and Noah say this one after another, Rane presses her cheeks. Her face is hot, and she can feel herself blushing.

If the three people who know Alek well say this, maybe she can hope.