Chapter 54
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Marilsian Count Family
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The identity of the Saintess was, as expected, Sena.
Well, it had practically been confirmed the moment that phrase "beloved by all" got attached to her.
After all, most romance fantasy protagonists were characters adored by everyone. Of course, I'd heard trends had shifted a bit lately, with more leads resembling villainous ladies than the pure and innocent types...
Honestly, I wasn't too sure about that part, but logically speaking, it pointed to Sena. Of course, if I tried explaining this to the Emperor or Russel, they'd probably think I was spouting nonsense, ask if I was feeling ill, and ship me off to a mage or priest.
...If I'd known it would come to this, I should've listened more closely to that female clerk's ramblings about romance fantasies back in my previous life.
Back then, when my past-life self had grabbed her and she'd poured out all that story talk, I should've paid better attention. Then I might've gotten more detailed info and even prepared for future events in advance...
...So, is Sena becoming the Saintess part of the original story's flow?
Either way, this was a romance fantasy world. There were bound to be stories from this unfamiliar world I didn't know, and maybe there was a specific part where Sena gets chosen as the Saintess.
...Come to think of it, during the hunt, a white halo was swirling around her.
Back when Fenrir had her in danger, there was definitely a glow around Sena. I'd brushed it off while dealing with Fenrir at the time, but looking back, that might've been the precursor to her Saintess awakening.
...
Let me think this through properly.
Hypothesis 1: This is the proper original story flow right now, and Sena gets chosen as the Saintess here.
Hypothesis 2, on the other hand: During the hunt when Fenrir appeared, along with that white halo, Sena awakens as the Saintess.
...No matter how I look at it, Hypothesis 2 feels like the original flow.
From the moment I awakened to my past life, the original story probably started twisting. After all, regaining my past life changed my personality and the knowledge I held in meaningful ways.
Anyway, that's when the original began to deviate, and the hunt incident marked the peak.
None other than the protagonist Sena failing to awaken.
By that logic, the Northern Grand Duke's mess was because the flow got twisted too.
...Though honestly, the Northern Grand Duke just seemed like an idiot. He was probably a sub-male lead slated for elimination in the original anyway.
Whatever... Pondering it now won't change anything.
To begin with, I was originally the villain. I had no idea why I became the villain... but that clerk who talked about the original story said I was the villain.
But the current me hadn't done a single villainous thing. If anything, the Northern Grand Duke was the one acting like a villain.
A third-rate one, at that.
...Come to think of it, why did that clerk say I was the villain?
She definitely said something about getting dumped by the heroine and then... obsessing over her?
...Me?
Obsessing over Sena?
...
...Why?
"I can't fathom the reason."
All I'd gotten from her were wounds. At first, I thought she felt affection for me, but our relationship turned ice-cold as if that had never happened.
Thinking of her still plunged me into despair.
Distrust, contempt, neglect, indifference.
All things I'd received from Sena.
...So why would I obsess over a woman like that?
Ah, maybe I hated her, and that's why I obsessed? Resentment toward her twisted into obsessive feelings.
...
This... might have some plausibility.
"...Then as long as I don't act obsessively, it should be fine."
Either way, it meant I just needed to minimize contact with Sena going forward. Zero contact would be ideal, but with her being named Saintess, some involvement was likely inevitable.
In the end, he resolved to avoid Sena as much as possible and left the palace.
...But that resolve proved futile, as
"Pl-please take good care of me... all the way to the Holy Kingdom."
he ended up meeting Sena again.
And very soon at that.
The trigger for it all was nothing special.
"We believe the Empire and Holy Kingdom must advance together. What are your thoughts, Cardinal?"
"Even setting aside the Saintess, I agree we need to strengthen ties, Your Majesty."
"Very well."
After Sena was named Saintess, the Empire and Holy Kingdom began close cooperation.
They formalized prior backchannel negotiations and went further, agreeing to jointly counter Pandemonium, the blight on humanity.
"Will you permit additional dioceses in the Empire, Your Majesty?"
"That much we can allow."
"Then, what about heresy inquisitors...?"
"Hmm. Inquisitors will be permitted partially. But they must receive Our permission to act. Do you agree?"
"We agree, Your Majesty."
From the Holy Kingdom's perspective, Pandemonium were heretics denying the faith. From the Empire's, they were vermin tarnishing its pride.
With aligned interests, the two nations stationed one ambassador each in their capitals and started with a loose alliance, building slowly.
Thus, a Holy Kingdom delegation was naturally coming to the Empire, and likewise, before sending an ambassador, the Empire would dispatch one to the Holy Kingdom.
...
...Everything was fine up to there.
Perfectly fine, right up to that point.
"...May I ask why I must accompany the delegation?"
"Because you are the one We trust most at present, Marquis."
Yujin was now inescapably headed to the Holy Kingdom. Not just with the delegation, but as escort to the Saintess Sena herself.
The Holy Kingdom offered to send Holy Knights for her protection, but even as allies, the Empire had no intention of allowing a military order onto its soil.
For the Emperor, this was a matter of pride.
Yujin understood that.
I get it.
He understood, but...
Why did it have to be him?
He'd be separated from Lucia and Irene, and on top of that, stuck with Sena, the epicenter of (presumed) incidents.
"...Isn't the Arkabella Duke available?"
"The Arkabella Duke is busy. You know that. He has his daughter's engagement to prepare, and purifying the demonic energy in the lands granted to you—that falls to him too."
"...I see."
Fair enough.
Upon becoming a duke—no, wait, he was still Marquis, but anyway—upon his promotion, Yujin received another territory. A vast northern one, larger than his existing lands.
The problem: It was the Northern Grand Duke's former territory, now infested with demonic energy. Purifying it required an ordinary priest's holy power, but...
That's what my father-in-law is handling.
Was this father-in-law love?
Upon hearing the news, the Arkabella Duke had stepped in with magic to handle the restoration.
"Departure for the Holy Kingdom is in one week. Prepare accordingly."
"...Yes, Your Majesty."
And so, Yujin's trip to the Holy Kingdom in one week was confirmed, and soon the news reached his ladies.
And even Sena, who would be going with him.
"...Yujin is coming along too?"
The maid who had come to inform Sena paused briefly at her use of his given name, then nodded.
"Yes, Saintess. His Excellency the Marquis will accompany you to the Holy Kingdom."
Few didn't know they were former fiancés. The maid figured there must be some backstory she wasn't privy to.
No point prying into nobles' affairs, so she stuck to her duties.
"In addition, a small contingent of Imperial Guards and His Excellency's personal Black Lotus Knights will escort you to the Holy Kingdom."
...I see. Yujin really is coming along.
Then... maybe this time, she could apologize.
For all the mistakes she'd made, could she apologize to the hurt Yujin?
"...Understood."
With her task done, the maid bowed and moved to leave quietly. But Sena stopped her.
"Is there something else you need...?"
"Um, before going to the Holy Kingdom, may I visit my family home...?"
She wasn't sure when she'd return to the Empire.
"Your family home... You mean the Marilsian Count Family?"
Nod.
"Yes..."
"I'll report it to my superiors."
At that moment, the Marilsian Count Family was abuzz with excitement.
"Darling! Did you hear? Our Sena's been named Saintess...!"
"Of course! Who could've imagined...!"
The Count leaped from his seat, clenching his fist, unable to hide his overflowing joy.
"A blessing for the family! A blessing...! To think a Saintess would come from our house...!"
"I always knew that girl would achieve something great. From childhood, she was so lovable and pure..."
"Heh. Of course she was—who's her father?"
The Countess dabbed tears from her eyes with her fingertips.
Honestly, when the family had teetered on financial ruin, she'd feared Sena's path wouldn't be smooth. They'd had to betroth her to a bastard-born and bend to the Banus Marquis Family's influence.
But the war between the Empire and Eastern Union changed everything. The finances stabilized, and their daughter's life freed from the unwanted engagement.
...
...Of course, not all problems vanished.
The unilateral breakup stemmed from believing the fiancé Yujin would die on the battlefield. But he survived.
Survived and became a duke—no, Marquis, but rose spectacularly. From then on, the Count and Countess lived in fear.
Would that power which beheaded the Northern Grand Duke turn on them?
They'd only decided out of concern for their daughter's future—would it all crumble as retribution?
Why was the world so unfair?
But—
"...This means we're safe from that duke, right?"
"Of course, dear. With a Saintess as our daughter, who would dare touch us? You can rest easy now."
Sena becoming Saintess solved everything.
Or so they believed.
Then a servant burst into the study without knocking.
"What insolence is this!"
"F-forgive me! But the young lady is coming to the estate now!"
"What? Sena?"
"Y-yes...!"
The Count and Countess thrilled at the news, eager to welcome their pride and joy.
Unaware it would lead to catastrophe.