[The Saintess, Anastasia Lacroix - 01]
[The Saintess, Anastasia Lacroix - 01]
"Goodness, I never even dreamed I'd actually get to meet the Saintess-nim!"
Annoying.
"It's my one and only younger sister's birthday, after all. I couldn't come before because I wasn't feeling well, but I've been feeling better lately, so I was able to make it."
"I see! I'm so glad to hear you've recovered!"
The position of Saintess inherently carried the weight of representing the Goddess's religion, so I often had to engage in diplomatic activities.
However, since I wasn't in a state to handle diplomacy, I used 'illness' as an excuse to avoid such activities entirely.
But since I had to do it to remain a normal Saintess, I had no choice but to endure it, even if it was annoying.
I hate troublesome things, and this was definitely troublesome, but I figured that if all these things became pieces of a puzzle that completed my image, then that was fine.
No one knows my true thoughts.
Whether I'm annoyed on the inside, thinking about wanting to kill someone, or having bad thoughts, no one knows.
Even if I don't feel sad at all when someone dies, if I say I am, I become 'someone who can empathize.'
Even if I don't have the slightest desire to congratulate someone, if I say I do, I become 'someone who offered congratulations.'
If I hear someone's story and pretend to be sad while comforting them, even if I'm not sad at all, I become 'someone who grieved with them.'
That was the mask Ed was trying to get me to wear, and I considered it reasonable.
In truth, I still didn't know why I had to live as a good person, but for the first time in my life, I met someone valuable.
I had found someone I considered special and precious, feeling a sense of value that surprised even myself.
I wanted to explore and contemplate that a bit more.
My half-rational mind analyzed my emotions and impulses, and I came to the conclusion that I wanted to be a good person to Ed.
Obsession.
Special.
Preciousness.
Various emotions were mixed together, and while those emotions might not have names yet, they would soon enough.
And I thought they could be called by any name.
"Saintess-nim, my child from our family is quite capable. I can assure you they are sufficient to stand by your side."
"It's not just because they're my child, but they are a kind and good-natured child who would suit you, Saintess-nim."
I set down my teacup and smiled.
"This is a place to celebrate my younger sister, Ellyn, so let's discuss such matters later at the Grand Cathedral."
"Ah, yes, yes......!"
It seemed they judged my words as 'not entirely impossible,' so everyone didn't seem to have any complaints. Well, I felt like they would forget about it after a few days, though.
No.
Even if I remembered, I had no intention of getting engaged or anything like that.
'As expected. I'm glad I heard about party etiquette from Ed beforehand.'
This kidnapping incident made it clear that no matter how excellent one's intuition is, 'knowledge' is necessary.
If I had known how to undo the Mana-Sealing Rope, the situation might not have escalated to this point, and I could have easily taken care of the two kidnappers by myself and brought them in.
But because I didn't know about the Mana-Sealing Rope, the situation unnecessarily blew up.
In that sense, having Ed by my side was a huge stroke of luck.
From what I could see, Ed loved accumulating knowledge and made all of it his own.
It was amazing that he didn't just tell me what was in books, but changed his teaching methods to suit the person, showing a very high level of understanding of that knowledge.
Having such a tutor by my side right now was definitely a stroke of luck.
Well, it was because it was Ed that I felt this way.
Everything happening at this party didn't deviate from my expectations. If there was anything that deviated from my expectations, it was...
I picked up my teacup again and looked toward Ed.
"Sir Adrian Valtus! I, it is an honor to meet you! I never imagined you would be in a place like this......!!"
"I, I've heard a lot about you from my father! He said you were an indomitable warrior! I'm always deeply moved to hear of your exploits on the battlefield."
"Thank you. It wasn't just my own strength, so I feel like I'm being vastly overestimated."
'He's famous beyond imagination.'
Ed was basically easygoing, and he had almost none of the arrogance typical of 'famous and strong people.'
In the first place, I thought he was a commoner at first.
Because nobles had a habit of looking down on others, whether they liked it or not.
Anyway, Ed was incredibly famous.
Most of the people who talked to me, Ellyn, or the people of the Frendisiv Family did so for formal reasons, to try to get their children engaged to us, or...... anyway, most of them talked for political reasons or for social life.
But the people around Ed were looking at him with eyes that seemed to show genuine respect.
I knew Ed was famous because people had been recognizing him lately, but I never imagined nobles would look at him with such respect.
No, looking at them, they seemed like people who trained, so they must have respected Ed as a warrior.
"Could we hear directly about your battle with the Battle Ogre, in particular?"
"Haha, that Battle Ogre in particular, I really just happened to defeat it by chance...... It wasn't a feat I accomplished alone, so I don't know if it will be the story you're expecting."
"S-still, please!"
"My goodness, to think I'd hear the story of the Battle Ogre subjugation from Adrian Valtus. My father is going to be jealous."
I don't know the details either, but the demon called the Battle Ogre, Armadin, must have been truly strong.
It was strong enough to push back human territories within months of appearing and turn the tide of the war in an instant; it was, quite literally, monster-like strength.
Ed had been assigned to the team to hunt down such a monster, and it was said that they succeeded in hunting it as a result.
I didn't know, but it seemed the Battle Ogre Armadin was a demon that posed that much of a threat to humanity.
In the first place, the fact that a monster has a 'name' is something to be wary of, or so they say.
According to Ed's explanation, even a simple goblin, if it has a name, has strength equivalent to hundreds of goblins.
Hearing that, it seemed having a name held special significance for monsters.
'He's unnecessarily famous.'
There was a part of me that didn't like the fact that Ed was famous and earned the favor of others.
Specialness.
Preciousness.
I was only becoming more convinced that the man named Adrian Valtus was valuable to me.
I wanted to keep Ed by my side somehow, but once he became an adult, Ed would be completely free.
Since he had no obligation to be with me beyond that, I wanted to give him an obligation.
How could I tie Ed down?
Money?
He hears people call him a hero like that, so he must be rolling in it. He was originally from a noble family, to begin with.
Honor?
If we're talking about honor, Ed has much more than I do right now.
Women?
Rejected.
Just thinking about another woman clinging to Ed made me angry for no reason.
'There is almost nothing I can give Ed right now, and even if there were, there's nothing to keep him tied to me. Therefore, I must win Ed's favor.'
I have to win Ed's heart somehow and make him remain as my aide even after I become the Saintess.
To do that, I needed to work hard at pretending to be the Saintess, just as Ed wanted.
Because I wanted Ed himself to like working by my side.
"Saintess-nim?"
"Ah, I apologize. I haven't fully recovered yet. I'd like to rest alone on the balcony for a moment."
"Ah, I see. I failed to be considerate."
Making a suitable excuse, I walked out toward the balcony and let out a small breath.
Troublesome.
But I was somewhat satisfied with my own acting skills.
Ed said I was doing surprisingly well, so I thought it would be best to assume that my acting wouldn't be seen through easily.
It might be a bit awkward at first, but it was obvious that as time passed, people would just accept it as me 'maturing.'
"Sister."
"Ellyn? Is it okay for you, the protagonist, to slip away from the party?"
"It's a political gathering anyway. After a certain amount of time passes, I'm not that important. I've already received congratulations, received gifts, and received marriage proposals, so my job is done."
I thought Ellyn was a sharp and good child for her age, considering it was Ed.
She even said something that didn't need to be said, that she seemed more mature than me.
"Thank you for getting along with the family and for attending the party like this, Sister."
"I've wanted to be like this for a long time, so I'm happy it turned out this way."
Ellyn looked at me with a smile.
"Lie."
"......."
I was slightly startled.
I could feel my mask wavering, enough for me to notice it myself.
Ellyn's expression was full of conviction, saying that I was lying right now. I continued to look at Ellyn without erasing my good-natured smile.
"No. Rather than a lie."
Ellyn chose her words for a moment and then spoke to me again.
"Liar."
Isn't that the same thing?
It didn't seem necessary to correct her.