Chapter 7

(What could have happened for someone to die?)

Perhaps the Einveil Kingdom had a conflict with another country?

I've never heard such a story.

Even as a ceremonial saint, I can obtain some of this kind of information.

Especially matters between nations often come to my ears. Prince Sarian, who came to visit, also told me various things.

If something unusual has happened...

(Only about the saint)

The biggest unusual event in the Einveil Kingdom this year was making Aria, who was loved by the spirits, the saint.

For some reason, Aria became loved by the spirits, and the Einveil Kingdom's temple recognized her as a saint.

Since she was in this country until she came to the Rafen Kingdom, she must have had a significant impact.

Still, why did she, who used to be an ordinary girl, become loved by the spirits?

I tilted my head in my heart and remained silent.

I don't want to say something wrong and have the Duke say, "I'm uncomfortable" and kill me.

I also realized that the Duke is wary of me, even though I'm just a child.

"I'll ask you a few questions."

He asked me about the Rafen Kingdom's temple in a matter-of-fact way.

The structure of the temple. What I did every day to live, and so on.

I think he's probably trying to confirm that I am indeed a novice priest.

The structure of temples should be roughly the same in other countries. The work of a novice priest shouldn't differ much from country to country.

So, he probably thought that by hearing me speak honestly, he could judge whether I was telling the truth.

He also asked about Saint Sherry.

"What was the reason for the expulsion of the Rafen Kingdom's saint?"

"The reason was that she bewitched the royal family to obtain the position of saint and brought the country to ruin. However, the position of saint in the Rafen Kingdom is more of a ceremonial role. It's chosen by lottery from among the noble daughters... I've heard that everyone tries to avoid it because they can't get married while holding the position."

More importantly, I added,

"I heard that Lady Sherry wasn't actually chosen. Her half-sister ran away because she didn't want to be the saint, so the family had no choice but to send another daughter..."

She didn't become the saint because she wanted to.

The young knight tilted his head.

"But if the saint of the Rafen Kingdom is a noble daughter, how could she be so easily condemned?"

I couldn't help but look up at the young knight.

His puzzled expression suggested that he couldn't imagine a situation like mine. Or perhaps the noble daughters in the Einveil Kingdom are all well-protected?

Agatha must have felt the same way.

"Is the power of the nobles in the Rafen Kingdom much weaker than that of the royal family? Or do only weak noble daughters become saints?"

I answered Agatha's question.

"It's true that daughters from weaker families become saints. In addition, Lady Sherry lost her biological father and was disliked by her stepmother, so she had no support from her family..."

"Even so, if they dismiss her so easily, other nobles will lose trust in the royal family. Eventually, this will weaken the royal family's power."

To the calm Duke's words, I continued.

There was a bigger problem there.

"But the strength of the family wasn't a reason not to dismiss the saint. Saint Aria, who was Lady Sherry's half-sister and disliked her... It was probably impossible to avoid."

"...So it was personal grudges?"

I nodded to the young knight.

"That seems to be the case."

As I answered, I clenched my teeth.

She not only pushed the unpleasant role onto me by running away but also dragged me down from that role and made me a criminal.

Every time I think about it, a dark feeling wells up inside me.

"That's a plausible story. That saint was always making unreasonable demands, like complaining about the food and the servants' attitudes, and insisting that all the knights be people of her choice. In the end, she said she wanted to return to her hometown and that it would be fine if this country fell apart, and she persuaded the spirits to make her leave Einveil."

I widened my eyes.

Although Aria was supposed to be treated well after being recognized as a saint, I was puzzled about why she didn't like Einveil... but now the mystery is solved.

(She must have repeatedly made unreasonable demands, been refused, and then lashed out in anger!?)

And it seems that the Einveil Kingdom, despite making Aria the saint, handled the situation in a relatively sensible way.

They didn't fulfill all her wishes just because she was loved by the spirits... for example, they didn't agree to frame her half-sister.

Thanks to that, the story that she was exiled because she disliked her half-sister seems to have been accepted.

"Kai"

The young knight was called by the Duke, perhaps for talking too much.

He stuck out his tongue and fell silent.

"What happened to the saint herself?"

"The saint who helped me escape was captured by the soldiers near the carriage. She had drawn her sword, so I think... she probably died."

Saying that I died feels strange.

It's a lie, but it makes me feel bad.

After that, everyone was silent for a while.

I was afraid my lie would be exposed, so I kept my head down and remained silent.