Chapter 4

"What, you're just a fake saintess."

As soon as Rishel entered the prince's office to speak with Prince Galsa, he cast a disdainful glance at her.

Prince Galsa's gaze towards Rishel remained as cold as ever.

He and his entourage of nobles glared at her.

However, this was not the time to be intimidated.

Rishel steeled herself.

It was unacceptable to let the country's finances be dictated by the saintess.

If left unchecked, the country would collapse.

"Your Highness, about the finances—"

"Surely you're not asking to stop the revenue again?

It's embarrassing to see you acting this way just because you're not the saintess."

He dismissed her with those words.

"Your Highness, please—"

Just as Rishel was about to speak,

Splash.

It took a few seconds for Rishel to realize she had been doused with water, along with the cold sensation.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Lady. I stumbled."

One of the prince's entourage, still holding a glass, smiled thinly and apologized to Rishel.

It was like a child's prank, not the kind of harassment a noble would do.

Rishel felt dizzy at the thought that such low-level people held the country's power.

"No, it's fine, don't worry—"

Just as Rishel was about to respond,

"Your Highness!!! It's terrible!!!

A rebellion has broken out in the Ranjana region!!!!"

A soldier rushed in, clearly flustered.

□■□

It was an inevitable outcome.

Saintess Maria had focused on beautifying the capital, amassing wealth there while neglecting the impoverished regions outside the capital.

Sooner or later, this would have happened.

Rishel watched the princes' agitation over the rebellion with a calm eye, thinking it was a result of their own doing.

"What's your complaint!!! After all we've done for you!!!"

The prince ground his teeth and glared fiercely at Rishel.

Smack.

With a dull sound.

Before she knew it, her body was flying.

For a moment, Rishel was dazed, not understanding what had happened.

"It's your job to allocate the budget so that other regions don't have grievances!!!

What have you been doing!!!"

It took Rishel a moment to realize she had been slapped by the prince's scolding.

The taste of blood in her mouth made her dazed, and the prince came at her again.

The nobles in his entourage must have realized this was going too far and tried to stop him.

"Anyway, this isn't the time for this!!!

Suppress the rebellion before Maria finds out!!!"

The prince glanced at Rishel and left the room.

Watching the princes leave, Rishel touched her cheek.

If she didn't cool it down, it would surely swell—.

Some part of her remained calm.

Tears welled up in her eyes from the pain.

This wasn't the first time she had been hit by the prince, yet the humiliation still brought tears to her eyes.

What am I doing?

I was separated from my fiancé because I was the saintess.

But the saintess's revelation was wrong, and I'm called a fake saintess.

No matter how much I speak my mind, it's all dismissed as jealousy, and all the responsibility is pushed onto me.

The environment around me is abnormal; no matter how right I am, I'm criticized with illogical arguments.

This country is abnormal.

At least, it wasn't like this before Maria came.

I want to go back.

To that person—.

Rishel couldn't stop the tears streaming down her face.

She huddled on the floor.