Chapter 201: The Real and the Fake
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 201: The Real and the Fake
As much as I wanted to stay in bed until Annette woke up, the fact that I hadn't properly dealt with the Saintess issue yesterday weighed on my mind.
Ultimately, Loik headed toward the barracks where the knights were performing their morning maintenance.
"Commander, you're up!"
The knights, who were warming up in the middle of the square, offered their greetings.
Perel, who had been engaged in a serious conversation with Demich in a corner, hurried over to him.
"And the Saintess?"
"Actually, the aide brought a message late last night."
Perel scratched his head, explaining that he hadn't reported it sooner for fear of waking Her Highness the Consort.
"Well done."
At Loik’s praise, the knights exchanged knowing, somewhat silly glances.
Demich, who had been snickering while looking back at the aide, quickly reverted to his role as a knight captain and delivered his report.
"Just in case, I’ve stationed the 9th Knight Division Captain at the city walls."
Loik nodded. Giving her a bit of a scare before letting her in wasn't a bad idea.
"Have you heard from Tiern?"
At that question, Demich cleared his throat unnecessarily.
"Well, there’s good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?"
"Just say it."
At Loik’s urging, Demich rubbed the back of his head and spoke.
"The good news is that only ten people, including the Saintess, have crossed the wall."
When they first set out, the pilgrimage procession had numbered over fifty. If there were only ten, it would be difficult for the Saintess to act as she pleased in the North. Demich quipped that a "mad dog" was indeed the best medicine for such situations.
"And the bad news?"
"That is... it seems Tiern really managed to get under the Saintess's skin."
Demich let out a dry, awkward laugh.
"The Saintess is apparently fuming and is heading straight this way."
"What do you mean?"
Loik’s voice rose.
"The Saintess is coming to Porcelain?"
Just then, a familiar voice drifted from behind them.
"The Saintess is coming?"
Turning around, they saw Annette standing there, her eyes wide with surprise.
*
Despite the heavy atmosphere, the innkeeper of the village wore a bright smile as he set down a thick steak.
"Please, enjoy your meal."
"Thank you, we will."
I had only ordered a simple breakfast, but the table was laden with so many dishes it looked ready to collapse.
"Now, start explaining."
Loik, Perel, Demich, and even Norton. At my words, the men gathered around the table swallowed hard in unison.
"Why was I not informed about the Saintess’s visit?"
"...Annette, aren't you busy?"
When I glared at Loik, he flinched and spoke.
"I didn't want you to worry over something so trivial."
"The Saintess visiting is trivial?"
"Well, isn't it?"
Demich, lacking any sense of the mood, began slicing into his steak.
"We have the real Saintess right here, so what does it matter if a fake shows up?"
When I narrowed my eyes at him, Demich promptly shut his mouth.
"Annette, eat first, then we’ll talk," Loik said, bringing a small piece of sausage to my lips. "It won't taste good if it gets cold."
This wasn't the time for me to be eating sausages. However, the smell was far too tempting. I eventually chewed and swallowed the sausage Loik fed me.
"Don't worry too much. The Saintess won't arrive until the afternoon at the earliest," said Norton, who was chewing on a piece of bread with a look of utter boredom.
"But why would she only arrive in the afternoon? You said she crossed the wall this morning."
If they used a Gate, it would take less than half an hour to reach Porcelain.
"...Apparently, no one told the Saintess’s party that there was a Gate."
My jaw dropped in disbelief. If they didn't use the Gate, they’d have to endure a carriage ride for a full half-day.
What a bunch of cruel knights.
"I have a great idea!" Demich said, slapping his knee. "Let's use the Gate to head back just as the Saintess is about to arrive!"
What on earth was he talking about?
"That way, you don't even have to run into her, right?"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
"You are banned from speaking for the rest of the meal."
Demich silently buried his nose back into his steak plate.
"There is no need for you to force yourself to meet the Saintess," Loik added.
"But if I don't meet her, everyone will think I'm avoiding her."
I didn't want to be seen that way.
"That’s nonsense! Why would Your Highness avoid the Saintess?" Demich grumbled. "If anything, the Saintess should be the one avoiding you."
He turned to me with a triumphant expression.
"Just trust me! When she arrives, I’ll harass her so thoroughly she’ll be gone within three days."
In the end, everyone fell silent. To be honest, I was a bit uneasy since I didn't know what kind of person Constine was. The protagonist couldn't be a bad person, could she?
But it’s also strange for the protagonist to be a fake Saintess.
Regardless, I decided it was definitely not a good idea to make an enemy of the protagonist. They said the Saintess wanted a greeting from the Grand Ducal couple, a welcoming crowd, and a ceremony. If we greeted her in Porcelain and mobilized the villagers to form a crowd, at least two of those demands would be met.
"I need to get my clothes."
"Your clothes?"
Loik tilted his head at my words.
"I can't greet the Saintess looking like this."
"You look beautiful as you are."
"Do you want me to look shabby in front of her?"
Loik immediately called for Perel.
"Contact the Grand Duke's Castle and tell them to bring every single dress from the dressing room immediately."
"Jewelry, too—all of it. No, just call all the maids here."
A short while later, the maids from the castle arrived in Porcelain one after another, carrying a mountain of dresses and accessories.
*
"Saintess, welcome to Blenheim."
I offered a polite courtesy as I watched Constine step down from the carriage.
With pale purple hair and grey eyes, Constine was a lady who exuded such a mysterious aura that anyone would be compelled to call her a Saintess. Dressed in white garments adorned with exquisite embroidery and sparkling hair ornaments, she was truly beautiful.
The protagonist really is on another level.
Behind Loik and me stood the residents of Porcelain and Sablang, along with the servants rushed over from the castle, all gathered to welcome the Saintess.
"You must be exhausted after such a long journey."
I took a step forward with a friendly smile. It was then that Constine looked toward the Grand Duke and gave a slight, graceful bow.
"Thank you for such a warm welcome."
Did she just completely ignore me?
Is it because she’s nervous?
"I understood the Saintess’s destination to be the Pogen Temple," Loik said bluntly, without even a hint of pleasantry.
"Still, since I have set foot in Blenheim, I must pay my respects to the Lord of the land."
Constine wore a gentle, saintly smile.
"I expected to see you at the Grand Duke's Castle, but the Goddess has guided me here instead."
Constine very elegantly spun the fact that the doors hadn't been opened for her.
"Had we heard the news sooner, we wouldn't have left the castle empty," I said, showing a hint of apology. "Was the journey difficult?"
Once again, Constine glanced at me and then turned her head as if she hadn't heard a word.
Huh?
Constine was definitely ignoring me on purpose. Seeing this, Loik’s expression turned ice-cold.
"Saintess."
"Yes, Your Grace."
"The Grand Duchess just asked if your journey was difficult."
It seemed she hadn't expected Loik to call her out so directly.
"...Oh dear, please forgive me, Your Highness."
Startled for a moment, Constine reluctantly acknowledged me.
"I was a bit disoriented from the fatigue of the long journey."
"If you are that fatigued, it would be best if we left so you can rest."
Loik’s eyes hardened sharply as he reached for my hand.
"I'm fine enough for this."
Constine suddenly snatched my hand as if grabbing it.
"I haven't even had a chance to properly greet Her Highness the Consort yet."
I was startled by the sudden contact. Constine raised her voice, ensuring everyone around could hear.
"The Frais family has such deep ties with the Imperial Grand Temple; I have been very eager to meet you."
To go as far as bringing up the Frais family...
How petty.
Meisel had said something similar when we first met—that she had really wanted to meet me...
Do they all get trained at the same place?
But words like that didn't bother me at all.
"I feel the same way," I said, giving Constine a bright smile. "It is a great honor to meet someone in the North who is so difficult to see even in the capital."
Constine let out a short laugh that was laced with a hint of mockery.
"How strange. It’s not as if we were avoiding each other, so why is it that we never once met in the capital?"