Chapter 2

On that day, I, who was working as a decorative position known as the Holy Maiden in the neighboring country of Raphen, was suddenly thrown into a cell.

-- Called a "fake Holy Maiden."

The cause of it all was my younger sister, Aria.

Though we are called sisters, we only share half of our blood. That's why Aria has black hair, while I have hair tinged with cherry blossom pink.

Two years ago, my half-sister Aria was chosen as the Holy Maiden by a lottery.

The reason for the lottery was that becoming the Holy Maiden meant you couldn't get married for the next ten years.

All the noble daughters disliked this.

Aria, who was supposed to become the Holy Maiden, ran away with the butler's son, who had a crush on her, and disappeared.

As a result, I had no choice but to become the Holy Maiden in her place.

...Well, that's fine.

"I didn't intend to get married, and life in the temple wasn't so bad."

My stepmother hated me.

My meals were reduced, and the servants, who fawned over my stepmother, sometimes refused to do the laundry or cleaning. Life in the temple was easier than living in such a household.

The only thing I regret is that I had to give up on my dream of becoming an alchemist.

But that life ended after two years.

A few months ago, I heard a rumor that Aria had become the Holy Maiden in the neighboring country. I had a bad feeling about it.

However, since it was in a neighboring country, I thought Aria would be satisfied with the life of being praised as the Holy Maiden and wouldn't return.

One day, the kings of this country brought Aria back to this country.

Moreover, they used the excuse of a "national crisis" to justify taking the Holy Maiden from another country.

Naturally, I was made the scapegoat.

In the form of "driving out the fake Holy Maiden in the Kingdom of Raphen to save the kingdom."

The high priests, whom I thought had built a peaceful relationship with, all turned their backs on me and did nothing to help as I was dragged to the cell.

And when I saw Aria in the audience chamber... she was genuinely attracting spirits.

There was a light like fireflies around Aria, and it was clear at a glance that she possessed special powers.

"People who are loved by spirits can suppress disasters and increase the bounty of the land... The country must have wanted such a person so badly that they would give their right hand for it."

For that reason, I was made the villain.

As a result, I was decided to be exiled from the country as a criminal.

I can't forget the words Aria whispered to me when I was tied up.

"I've always been bothered by the fact that you were a noble's daughter. Even though I was much prettier, your mother couldn't become the official wife because she was a mistress. I was so frustrated by that."

Her eyes were filled with hatred.

"If you hadn't been chosen as the Holy Maiden, I could have seen you grovel more. I was bitter even when you ran away..."

Aria smiled with a twisted grin.

"I'm satisfied now that I've seen you as a criminal."

Don't just have an inferiority complex and hate me for no reason!?

Becoming a mistress was your mother's problem, not mine!

I wanted to shout, but if I did, I might have been killed on the spot, so I had to endure it.

I didn't want to make the cute second prince, Serian, who was my friend and like a younger brother, sad...

So, the place of exile was decided to be the Kingdom of Einveil, where Aria was first recognized as the Holy Maiden.

The transfer was immediately decided, and I was put on a carriage.

"I might be killed..."

In the simple carriage, I clenched my hands tightly and trembled with fear.

The Kingdom of Einveil must hate the Kingdom of Raphen.

Not only did they take the Holy Maiden,

but Aria also made the spirits leave the kingdom because she felt the Kingdom of Einveil didn't treat her well.

It's highly likely that they think the Kingdom of Raphen incited Aria to do this. If so, they must hate the people of the Kingdom of Raphen.

If they find out I'm the Holy Maiden who was used as an excuse to bring Aria back, I will definitely be killed... As I was thinking this, the carriage suddenly stopped.

"?"

Have we already arrived at the Kingdom of Einveil?

I can't even guess by looking out the window because I've never been outside the country.

But I have a really bad feeling...

I moved closer to the door and listened carefully.

Then I heard the sound of swords being drawn from their sheaths.

There were no sounds of bandits, so it must mean the soldiers guarding the carriage have drawn their swords.

-- Am I going to be killed!? They can't just exile me and feel safe; they want to get rid of me quickly?

After thinking for three seconds, I took action.

The carriage door was knocked and opened from the outside.

"Hey, get out--whoa!"

I jumped out of the carriage and ran down the road.

I determined the direction to go based on the orientation of the carriage and charged forward.

My goal was the border of the Kingdom of Einveil.

(Once I leave the country, they can't touch me! I'll have to think about what to do next later.)

If I enter the neighboring country, they won't chase me.

That's what I thought as I ran.

"Stop!"

A soldier on horseback caught up to me from the side of the road, and I had no choice but to veer off the road.

(If I keep this up...!)

At that moment, I slipped.

It seemed to be a small cliff, and I fell down.

Thanks to that, the soldiers lost sight of me.

I huddled in a depression at the bottom of the cliff and took out a small bottle from my pocket.

It was a metal bottle with intricate red copper decorations, small enough to fit in my hand.

I was wearing a plain white dress with no pockets because I was a criminal, but I had a waist tie, so I could hide it in my pocket.

This was given to me by the only royal family member I was close to, the second prince, Serian.

At 12 years old, he couldn't go against his father's wishes and help me escape, but he secretly delivered this to me, using magic to hide my presence and taking a great risk.

-- The secret potion of the Demon King.