Chapter 66

Volume 1 is scheduled to be released from Square Enix Novels on 8/7!

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After Ruria and the others left, the villager who had been prostrated on the ground rushed back to the village.

The attendant, who had been left to deal with the situation, asked the villager:

"Is the rain that important?"

"Of course it is. Our village cultivates wheat and vegetables, but our main product is, indeed, medicinal herbs—"

The villager spoke with a joyful and proud expression, explaining that the village's specialty was high-grade medicinal herbs.

"Our herbs are essential for the production of high-grade medicines."

"I've benefited from those medicines myself."

"Thank you."

The villager explained that while wheat and vegetables could be watered, the herbs required rain.

"Hehe, we don't really understand it ourselves, but it's said that the spirits' power is contained in the rain, hehe."

The villager, running breathlessly, had a gleam in his eyes.

It seemed that the herbs, which grew under the rain of the spirits, were particularly effective.

"Hehe, this area is blessed by the spirits," the villager said proudly.

When the attendant and the villager returned to the village, the villagers were working in the fields with all their might.

The rain, which had started, was getting stronger and was now almost a downpour, but they paid no attention to it.

After inspecting the village, the attendant returned to report.

The villagers, while praying to the spirits, continued their farm work.

(Thank you, Holy Maiden) (The youngest daughter of the duchess is the Holy Maiden!) (Thank you, Holy Maiden)

Everyone was thinking of Ruria in their hearts.

What a humble, sincere, and adorable Holy Maiden she was.

(Since the lady said not to say it, I shouldn't say it)

The villagers, who were deeply grateful to Ruria, did not speak of it.

They simply began to offer their thanks every day: "Thank you, Miss."

Who was this Miss? What had she done for them to be so grateful?

If asked by outsiders, no one would say anything.

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In the evening after the boulder was removed from the waterway.

Amalia was gently stroking Ruria and Sara, who had fallen asleep in the parlor after playing.

"How truly adorable."

The maid smiled and then said,

"Who were those goats during the day?"

"I wonder who they were."

"They were majestic, like mythical beasts from a story."

Amalia stroked Daur, who was sleeping on his back next to Ruria.

"I think you understand..."

"Yes, I understand. We must not speak of Miss Ruria, right?"

"Thank you."

Amalia smiled and thought.

She had always thought Ruria was special, but it seemed she was even more special than she had imagined.

Those goats were clearly not ordinary animals.

(Just by tracing the symbols, the boulder split and the rain started.)

This region was known for its strong spiritual power.

The village's specialty, high-grade medicinal herbs, was said to be effective thanks to the rain of the spirits.

While the truth of the spirits' rain was unknown, the herbs' healing effects were indeed potent.

(Maybe... she really is a Holy Maiden.)

In the past, a Holy Maiden was said to have been born into the royal family that once ruled the country.

The current royal family is a branch of the royal family.

Given the bloodline, it's not impossible for a Holy Maiden to be born.

As Amalia was seriously pondering this,

"...beetle? Delicious?"

Ruria muttered a terrifying dream.

"Ruria, beetles aren't delicious."

"......Not delicious? Munch."

While stroking Ruria, she thought.

Was it better to raise her carefully within the manor?

Or was it better to let her go outside little by little, as she did today?

(No matter how much I think, I can't reach a conclusion.)

Before bringing Ruria to the baron's residence, both Amalia and Graf had been considering this.

It was clear that Ruria possessed extraordinary power.

...Is this really the right way?

(Ruria has extraordinary power, but she lacks common sense.)

Ruria doesn't realize how unusual it is to tame giant goats.

That's why she does it even though there are many witnesses.

It was also unusual that she destroyed the boulder just by tracing the symbols.

However, Ruria doesn't seem to care much about it.

Since she is confined to the manor, it's understandable that she lacks common sense.

(What should I do?)

She brought Ruria to the audience to help her learn some common sense.

Unlike the nobles, the commoners have less prejudice against red hair and less potential for malice.

Additionally, because she is in isolation, the distance between her and the commoners is maintained.

She is also protected by excellent attendants.

That's why Amalia brought Sara and Ruria to the audience.

(Ruria is far more extraordinary than I had anticipated.)

Extraordinary power can bring misfortune.

Even as a parent, she can't protect Ruria forever.

Parents die before their children.

Ruria is only five years old. Normally, at this age, she should be protected under her parents' care.

Considering this, both Graf and Amalia decided not to let Ruria go outside and to protect her from malice.

(Ruria needs to learn how to protect herself... not just swordsmanship.)

It's unknown when the king, Ruria's grandfather, will bring up a marriage proposal.

In a few years, she will have to enter society as the daughter of the second prince.

Perhaps it would be better to let her gain some experience going outside little by little.

While listening to the rain pounding against the window,

(I need to discuss this with Graf.)

Amalia began to write a letter to Graf.

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The being had been there for decades, centuries, perhaps even millennia.

And it had been enduring unbearable pain all that time.

(Why do I have to suffer like this?)

It was dark, cold, painful, and lonely.

The reason for its presence there was becoming hazy in the distant past of its memory.

It felt as cold as if it had been thrown naked into a snowfield.

It hurt as if its entire body was being scraped by rough sandpaper.

Its insides were screaming. It felt a strong urge to vomit, but there was nothing to vomit. Its head ached.

In its ear, a terrible curse was being whispered, one person cursing another.

(I can't take it anymore, help me, ... someone, help me. It hurts, ... I'm so lonely.)

The noble aspirations it once had were fading with the passage of time.

The being began to curse the world.

As it pleaded for help and cursed the world,

Ruria destroyed the magical circuit carved into the boulder.

(......?)

A crack appeared in the space above the being, and something like light reached it.

It wasn't physical light, but something like the radiance of the spirits.

(Can I get out from there?)

The light was a glimmer of hope for the being.

The unbearable pain that was eroding its body seemed to ease, if only a little, just a little.

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