Chapter 7

During the day, I fulfilled my duties as a saint beside Eric, and at night, I watched him work in his office while we enjoyed tea together. This peculiar life had been going on for about a week.

I had heard that there were many assassins, but their numbers were beyond what I could have imagined. The reason was clear. Most of the work in the office involved gathering evidence to expose corrupt officials and nobles.

It seemed that powerful figures, who were afraid of losing their current positions if exposed, had conspired to eliminate Eric.

"Eric, I thought this area was barren and useless, but can you really restore the soil with healing magic?"

"I only recently gained the ability to do so. I thought I might be able to do something while setting up the barrier. The land near the habitats of monsters is often desolate, so I've been gradually restoring it."

Eric praised the soil-restoring healing magic that I had been secretly researching. Although it's still on a small scale and the effects are limited, so I've only been using it experimentally, I'm glad he liked it.

"This is groundbreaking. You should be more proud. No, it's like you to be humble, and that might be your charm."

"I don't quite understand, but I'm honored to receive your praise."

While having such a conversation, I used magic, and Eric used his sword to defeat the occasional monsters and the rare assassins that appeared. Watching Eric's sword skills, it's clear why he boasts that he doesn't need a guard. Even the sad truth that he doesn't fully trust his guards is evident.

Seeing him wipe the blue blood of the monsters, I couldn't help but worry that Eric might one day break.

"Hey! Prince Eric! Lea!"

Just as I thought we were about to finish setting up the barrier, a voice called out to us. This voice belongs to Philip. Why is he here...?

"Huff, huff, Your Highness... It's been a while. Lea, now that I look at you, you're as beautiful as Jill..."

"It hasn't been that long, but what brings you here, out of breath?"

"That's unusual. For you to say such things to me, Philip."

Philip, with a desperate look, ran over to us, and Eric looked puzzled. This man complimented my appearance? It's really unsettling. What brings him here...?

"Lea, I've broken off my engagement with Jill!"

"―What!?"

"Jill was a troublesome woman. She was spreading lies about you bullying her, trying to confuse me with her low-quality behavior. So, I broke it off with her."

What a quick engagement break-up.

Did you break off your engagement with me and then break off your engagement with your sister in just a week? It seems like you're trying to set some kind of record...

"I see, that's unfortunate. It seems the Westeria and Gilbert families have no connection now..."

"What are you saying! We still have a connection!"

"―? No, you've broken off your engagement with both me and your sister, so it's reasonable to say we have no connection."

"I'm going to re-engage with you! With me and Lea! After all, we were supposed to do that a week ago, so let's go back to the way it was, forget everything, and everything will be fine!"

Philip, with a very good expression, is saying something ridiculous, asking to re-engage with me. Isn't this too convenient? You didn't listen to me when I asked you to believe me.

"Your Highness, our connection ended on that day. An engagement is a kind of contract, and to break it unilaterally and then ask to re-engage is somewhat dishonorable, isn't it?"

"Well, that might be true, but I was deceived. I was a victim of your sister. I hope you can understand that."

I don't care if you were deceived or not. You were easily deceived and engaged to your sister that same day. Then, you broke it off and immediately tried to re-engage—this whole sequence of events is simply unpleasant.

"Upon reflection, I realized that you, who are quiet and unlikely to cause trouble, are better. Being a saint is also a high status. Prince Eric, please persuade her. You know the flow of the story since you've been advising me, right?"

Philip, with a tearful expression, proposes to me again. However, no matter how desperate he is, it doesn't resonate with me and is frankly unpleasant. He's even asking Eric for support. I remember that Eric spoke to me on that day because Philip had consulted him.

"Despicable..."

"Huh...?"

"Philip, to be honest, I have lost respect for you. I was willing to accept that you misjudged people when you believed Jill and told me that Lea lacked the qualities of a saint."

Eric looks at Philip with a colder expression than I've ever seen. His tone is calm and admonishing, but it carries anger, and Philip is visibly intimidated.

"But to not reflect on your rashness—worse, to propose to Lea without apologizing to her? Do you have no sense of morality as a human being? I never thought the Duke of Gilbert would fail to teach his heir about humanity."

"Well, that... I was also deceived and was upset. I intended to apologize to Lea."

"That's selfish. First, your shallow desire to satisfy your own needs. Then, your shameless proposal to someone you've already broken off with. You are despicable. You have strayed from the path of humanity, to the point where you can be called a beast."

As Philip is criticized for his actions, he starts to turn pale and tremble, perhaps because he feels Eric's anger.

This is why Eric is known for his strong sense of justice and why he tends to make enemies.

"In the future, I will reconsider my relationship with the Gilbert family. I will inform your father about your actions—"

"Your Highness! No way! I thought we were friends! —Ah!?"

Eric says he will inform the Duke of Gilbert about Philip's actions and, as Philip tries to protest, he points his sword at Philip's neck.

"You know there are many monsters around here. ...Also, as a friend, I will tell you when you are wrong. If you think that being in warm water and agreeing with everything is friendship, then there was never such a thing between us."

A saber panther with bared fangs is impaled on the sword, and Philip, with his mouth open, sits down.

He then runs away with tears in his eyes.

"Phew, I've shown my unpleasant side. I've lost another friend."

"Then, shall I become your friend?"

"―What!? Hahaha, ahahaha!"

When I offer to be his friend, Eric, who looked lonely, starts laughing loudly. I didn't mean to say something so funny...

"You never joke. This is the first time I've been so amused in a long time."

"I didn't mean to joke—"

"Is that so? I thought you were trying to make me laugh by saying you'd be my friend with such a serious face, but you were serious."

I didn't expect that offering to be friends would sound like a joke. I'm not the type to make jokes, and I was being serious, as I am with Eric.

"But I want to become closer to you. This is the first time I've been so interested in someone—"

"Eric...?"

Before I knew it, Eric had put his arm around my shoulder. I always thought he looked lonely and might enjoy solitude, but now I realize he's just awkward and can only move forward in a straightforward manner.

Yes, I want to know more about Eric too.

From the moment he took me out of that house—