Chapter 3

As I finished casting the barrier under the gaze of Prince Eric, I felt more exhausted than usual and returned home.

I wonder if my father has already heard about the engagement being broken off.

The thought of being lectured makes my head ache...

"Welcome back, Miss. You have worked hard today as the Holy Maiden."

"...Jill, did you tell Prince Philip that I was bullying you?"

When I entered the house, my sister Jill greeted me with a beaming smile.

She usually doesn't welcome me, but her good mood and approach might be because she has heard about the engagement being broken off.

"Are you saying that I have been spreading rumors about you to Prince Philip? Sniff, that's so cruel. Miss... it's too much..."

It took my sister about two seconds to start crying.

This speed is impressive. Year by year, the time it takes for her to cry has shortened, making it more troublesome.

It's really troublesome. After all, whenever this girl cries, it always leads to...

"Leia! You have insulted your sister Jill again, haven't you!? Why can't you be kind to your sister!? It's so pitiful to see her trembling in fear..."

This is my stepmother, Ekaterina...

My real mother died when I was young. Ekaterina is my stepmother.

She is Jill's real mother and has always been hostile towards me.

When I was recognized as the Holy Maiden and Jill was not, she went to the church and yelled at them.

"Mother, please forgive Miss. She is stressed because Prince Philip broke off the engagement."

She starts crying at will and still wants to be forgiven.

Even though she was partly responsible for the breakup with Philip, her way of speaking is also troublesome.

She probably genuinely believes that she has nothing to do with the engagement being broken off.

"A heartless and cold-blooded girl like you deserves to be abandoned by Prince Philip. If he had chosen Jill from the beginning, he wouldn't have had to suffer."

"...If he had chosen Jill? Then, Prince Philip would have chosen Jill..."

"Yes, of course. Prince Philip has proposed to Jill, saying he wants to protect the kind and gentle Jill. He said he would rather not have anything to do with you, who has a bad personality."

From the way Philip looked, I could tell he was infatuated with Jill.

However, breaking off the engagement and proposing to the ex-fiancée's sister on the same day is quite a lack of integrity, isn't it?

"Leia, reflect on your actions. Even if you have the qualities to become a Holy Maiden, if your character is terrible, you will never be happy. A girl without a heart like you can only marry a bad man."

She says whatever she wants, to the point of being tiresome.

However, if I argue, I will be scolded with even more words.

Furthermore, I will have to listen to my father's nagging afterward. Well, in this case, I don't really feel anything about my father's lectures.

"Really, what are you two arguing about in the entrance..."

"Father, I'm sorry. I was just... sniff... talking to Miss..."

"You, Leia has been mean to Jill again... Please say something to her!"

"Oh dear, again. Leia..."

Father, who has been dealing with this situation for over a decade, looks at me as if I were a sore spot.

To him, I probably don't matter much, whether I'm really bad or Jill is exaggerating.

The main reason our relationship has deteriorated is due to Father's indifference.

"If only Leia weren't in the house, our family would be peaceful."

"Mother, that would be unfair to Miss. But if I were the only daughter, we would smile more... I shouldn't wish for such things."

"Jill is such a kind girl..."

She was speaking her true thoughts out loud.

The two of them really believe they would be happier without me.

If that's the case, they should have married me off to Philip sooner...

"Anyway, Leia. You will go to my room—"

"Sir! Sir! Something terrible has happened!"

The servant Bob interrupted Father, who was about to call me to his study for a lecture, with a loud voice.

What could be so terrible...?

"It's noisy. What's going on?"

"The, the Crown Prince! Crown Prince Eric! He is here!"

"‘—!?’"

Our house was in an uproar.

Jill, who had been teary-eyed, quickly fixed her hair.

The Prince, who had just watched my activities as the Holy Maiden, is now at our house...?

I have no idea why...

"This, this is unexpected. If you had told us, we would have prepared a grand welcome—"

"No, it's my fault for coming suddenly. The Duke of Westeria is not to blame. I came here for a specific reason. I have a favor to ask."

In the parlor, Eric spoke to my father, who was unusually tense.

A favor from Father? What could it be...?

"Your Highness, if you have a favor to ask, please do so. I will do my best to fulfill your request, as it is your wish."

Even though Father doesn't understand the favor, he answers like this.

Of course, this is the future king.

"I appreciate your willingness. Let me tell you my favor. I want to borrow your daughter, the Holy Maiden Leia Westeria, as my guard for a while. If I like her, I will make her my wife."

"‘—!?’"

What are you saying? Me as a guard? And if you like me, you'll make me your wife—

In the midst of my confusion, I felt Jill's gaze, which was terribly cold.

She was clenching her fists, trembling with a look of utmost regret—.