[The Saintess for You - 05]
[The Saintess for You - 05]
I had studied up on it to some extent beforehand.
Ed's hometown, the Valtus Territory, was located in the east of the country; it had plenty of forests, but it wasn't exactly a special place.
It might sound strange to say this, but the Frendisiv Family, who were just your run-of-the-mill nobles producing wheat, actually had more influence.
Unfortunately, they were on the lower end of the nobility; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were closer to commoners.
Still, being nobles, the main family had milked the system for all it was worth, and they were purged because of all the corruption they committed.
Normally, the branch family wouldn't have been able to avoid the fallout, but for some reason—perhaps the King's whim or something else—the branch family was allowed to survive by taking over the house.
Naturally, they couldn't offer any help regarding the blood and notoriety that had been buried.
Ed called it another way for the King to punish them; if they survived and revived the house, it would complete a narrative of gaining a competent talent, which wasn't bad at all. So, making the branch family do it had zero downsides for the King.
Even if they failed and the Valtus family went under, there would be no burden because of the crimes committed thus far, and the public would likely applaud, saying it served them right.
If they succeeded, the competent branch family that overcame those hardships could replace the incompetent main family.
What a slippery snake.
Ed said he'd only met the King once. From Ed's perspective, the King seemed to lack a bit of dignity on the surface and looked like a good person, but behind that goofy, smiling face, hundreds of snakes were coiled up.
It seemed he was the same type as Ed.
The type who smiles on the outside while coldly calculating on the inside—perhaps with a bit more cruelty added in.
That might be a necessary talent for a ruler. The world doesn't go according to ideals, so one has to compromise with reality to some extent.
Conversely, if you compromise too much with reality and let go of all your ideals, people can't find hope.
If you don't balance well in the middle, the country might not run properly.
Saying "This is reality" sounds cool and cold, but only the idiots who don't actually solve anything and just cause vicious cycles, or those who think sounding cold makes them look cool, sympathize with that.
"There are really a lot of trees, Master's hometown."
"The air is quite good. It's been a really long time since I visited my hometown, so it feels like a lot has changed. Humans develop especially quickly, so it seems like quite a few places have changed in just a few years."
"Does it feel awkward?"
"A little. Well, since we're already here, I think it would be best for both of you to rest comfortably. There isn't much to see compared to other places, but it has that much of nature's raw appearance. It might be a bit much to live here, but it's perfect for sightseeing."
"Well, you said you didn't plan on staying that long, Ed?"
"It depends on the situation, but I'm thinking of staying for about a week. It's been a long time since I've seen my family; if it were just a day or two, we'd spend all our time just greeting each other, and then it would be time to part ways."
I suppose so.
"Besides, it's a vacation, after all. It would be good to rest a little."
"Don't worry about me. Eris is here too, so you should just rest, Ed. I might follow you around as I please, but I'll make sure you can rest as much as possible."
"......That sincere consideration, coming out without you even realizing it, makes me quite complicated."
"Hm? I've always been sincere with you."
Ed knows me quite well.
For starters, he's perceptive, and it was none other than Ed who observed my state and chose the most correct educational method.
He must have immediately grasped the reason why I, as I am now, am pretending to be such a good Saintess and receiving good evaluations from those around me.
'At first, I thought he was worried about the age gap, but it seems subtly different.'
What could it be?
Right.
Ed and I have an age gap, and we didn't meet after I became an adult; we met when I was a child. So, I understood his resistance or hesitation regarding the public's gaze, or just because he's a bit rigid like a typical Holy Knight.
That's why I tried to reduce that sense of discomfort in any way I could.
I wanted to get rid of it entirely, but that wouldn't be easy, and in some cases, it would be impossible.
However.
Recently, I've had the thought that something isn't right.
Simply because of the large age gap.
Because we've known each other since childhood.
It didn't seem like he was reacting in such a subtle way for those reasons.
I'm no fool, so given the age gap, I had no intention of doing anything before becoming an adult.
Of course, the best way to keep Ed by my side is to suppress him with force or create a fait accompli.
But as I said, the former would likely make the Ed I value disappear, and the latter would mean Ed dies.
Socially.
At the very least, he wouldn't be able to remain a Holy Knight.
Therefore, if I wanted to have that kind of relationship in earnest, it would have to be at least after entering The Academy.
To put it more simply, it would be after my age is legally recognized as fully adult.
Until then, I intended to move to create many situations where Ed would think, "It can't be helped," psychologically.
But when I felt that sense of discomfort—that Ed's reaction wasn't just because of the age gap—I felt the urge to know about it.
'I want to avoid variables. It's a bit of a negative thought, but a crisis is an opportunity.'
The fact that Ed has a "reason for rejection" that I don't know about was negative, but in other words, it was good that the biggest reason Ed rejects me isn't the age gap.
It's very difficult to change innate aspects, but if that's not the primary reason, it makes the story a little simpler.
Because it meant that if I just solved that part, I could break down Ed's wall.
I wanted that wall to be broken, to make him completely mine, and to have him by my side for the rest of my life.
I wanted an invisible leash to bind us together.
It feels unfair if only I bind Ed, so I want Ed to bind me too, but since Ed has no intention of binding me yet, that's a problem for another time.
"Ed."
"Yes, what is it?"
"When I become an adult, you come to The Academy with me too."
"......."
"Ah, don't worry. I'm not asking for an answer right now. I know you quite well, and not being able to answer right away is exactly like you, Ed. So, you can answer later. I hope that when the time comes, you'll say 'It can't be helped' and follow me."
"There are many good people."
"That's true. There might be better people than you in the world, and perhaps someone superior in every way. But the one by my side is you, isn't it? The moment something is reflected in my eyes, it was you."
And you're the one who made it so that you'd be reflected, too.
At this point, ability or things like that don't matter.
Even if your arms and legs were cut off and you became a body that could do nothing, I wouldn't care.
Actually, I thought it would be nice if you became like that and depended on me, but if that happens, I can't call it having obtained Adrian Valtus, so that won't do.
Whether you were a woman, or a discriminated race.
Even if it were a story like that, at this point, it wouldn't matter.
Except for the fact that you are "Adrian Valtus", everything else was something that didn't matter to me.
That's why I was trying to be a good person, worrying about things that didn't matter.
Memorizing patterns for things I don't understand and giving the right answers.
Empathizing with their pain, which I have no interest in, and trying to do something about it.
The number of lives saved thanks to me is gradually increasing, and not only that, as I create ways for the poor to somehow survive, one by one, the number of people who truly consider me a "Saintess" is increasing.
Not just because my position is Saintess, but because my character is like a Saintess.
"I don't know exactly, but I know there's some other reason."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
I smiled.
"I'm more interested in you than anyone else. I've reached a level where if you hide something, I can tell right away. So, if we just solve that reason, the rest of the problems aren't that important, right?"
"It is important, though?"
So you admit there is a problem?
I've gained confirmation.
The problem Ed is agonizing over is surely a type of problem I cannot empathize with or understand.
Even if it's a worry or some kind of groundless fear, if Ed is worried about it, I have to worry about it too.
Would I be able to learn a little more if I hear about Ed from his family?
His family hasn't seen him for a long time, so maybe I know more about "the current Ed" than they do.
'It's become interesting.'
Learning about you one by one.
Obtaining you little by little.
The distance between you and me getting closer.
And eventually, surely.
"The village atmosphere is nice. They're selling something called tree bread. Is it wood bread? Can I eat it?"
"......."
"......."
As Eris said that while looking at the bread being sold beyond the window, I smiled.
"We have to go to the mansion and greet them first. ......I'll buy it for you after that, so wait."