Chapter 106: Gift(1)
Chapter 106: Gift(1)
Lina was dreaming of a man.
For some reason, she couldn't see his face.
The man reached his hand out to her.
He was called the Ruler of Mana.
A man so powerful that even Lina had struggled against him… He must have been an important figure in her past life, yet her memory of him was unclear.
This man… who was he? I’m sure… I’m sure something happened with him…
Beside him, she could see a mage in a black robe. She remembered that mage perfectly.
But for the life of her, she couldn't recall why the man and the female mage had been together.
It felt like a crucial memory.
While she remembered most of her past life vividly, her memories of this man were hazy.
Even so, he would occasionally appear in her dreams, stoking her curiosity.
In the dream, Lina took the faceless man’s hand. They didn't seem to be lovers.
Rather, it looked as if the man was bestowing mercy upon her—the kind of mercy one shows a defeated enemy.
Just then, Lina’s eyes shot open. As she came to, she saw Kerry’s face.
“You must be tired. This is the first time I’ve seen you doze off, Lina.”
“…”
It was true she hadn’t been sleeping well lately.
She’d been under a fair amount of stress while Kerry was away.
Many things had been more draining than clearing a dungeon.
Lina and Kerry were in a shop, waiting for a guest.
That guest was the Empire’s First Princess, Beatrice. For the record, Natasha and Victoria were not with them.
Lina wanted to avoid meeting members of the imperial family if at all possible, but she couldn't refuse Kerry’s earnest request.
She had asked Natasha to contact William, the captain of the royal guard, and convey that the Hero wished to meet.
That was more than enough to entice the princess, who had once been smitten with the Hero.
“Are you certain we can recruit the Saintess into our party with just the princess’s help?”
“Of course.”
If this succeeded, the Saintess would become a devoted healer for the party.
Lina hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“If you’re that confident, Kerry, I’ll trust you. And…”
“?”
“I want to apologize. For being stubborn and asking you to recruit the Saintess, who will make things uncomfortable for you. Moreover, when I think about the negative influence she’ll have after joining the party… I can only feel sorry.”
“…”
It seemed Lina knew full well that things would go to shit if the Saintess joined the party.
The fact that she still wanted to recruit her meant the Saintess’s power was absolutely necessary.
“Don’t you worry about a thing, Lina. I’ll handle the Saintess. Besides, the only reason we can meet the princess is thanks to your popularity, isn’t it? A princess falling for the Hero. It sounds like something out of a novel.”
“I’m a woman… And my popularity is nothing compared to yours, Kerry.”
They were passing the time with idle chatter when the princess finally arrived.
Choosing a quiet café in a secluded area had been a good call.
A woman in a white cape, accompanied by knights in full armor, would have drawn an incredible amount of attention.
After confirming Lina and Kerry’s faces, William escorted the white-caped woman over.
She removed her cape, and a cascade of beautiful blonde hair flowed down.
“Hello, esteemed Heroes. I am Beatrice, the First Princess of the Empire.”
The princess spoke formally.
It seemed she was showing due respect to the Hero. Kerry was honestly surprised when he saw her face.
He had expected a ditz who chased after the Hero thinking he was a man, but she carried herself with considerable grace.
She had finely braided blonde hair and emerald-green eyes. Her light, tasteful makeup enhanced her pure and innocent beauty.
The apple of the Emperor's eye, they called her. It suits her well.
Lina rose from her seat and knelt on one knee like a knight.
The gesture was so knightly it was quite impressive.
“I am Lina Knightly, the one chosen by the oracle to be the Hero. It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”
“Haaah!”
Suddenly, the princess collapsed with a soft whoosh. What the hell? What’s wrong with this woman?
“Are you alright, Your Highness?”
Lina, startled, shot up from her kneeling position. Seriously, what is going on?
“William… William… The Hero really is a woman. I so desperately wanted to believe it wasn’t true.”
“Yes. My apologies, Your Highness.”
Are they performing some kind of comedy sketch? It looked like the princess had watched too many historical dramas.
Who knew a person could collapse with such theatrical flair?
Her appearance was certainly befitting of a princess, but her personality was definitely that of a ditz. William seemed to have his hands full.
Once she had composed herself, the princess sat down.
“Why have you summoned me here, Hero?”
Lina, after meeting Kerry’s eyes, began to explain.
She told a story about an unfortunate misunderstanding with the Saintess and how they needed the princess’s help to resolve it.
“…So, all I need to do is arrange a meeting with the Saintess?”
“Yes, that’s right. We just need you to be present with us, Your Highness.”
“But I have a question, Hero.”
“Please, ask away, Your Highness.”
The princess looked at Kerry with eyes full of expectation.
“Is the… gentleman next to you perhaps a companion of the Hero?”
“Yes, he is.”
The princess shot up from her seat, overjoyed.
“I’m… I’m saved! William, you should have told me sooner if the Hero had a male companion!”
“What? Your Highness… but… Sir Kerry is…”
“Is your name Kerry? Ah, from your aura, you must be the son of a renowned noble family. I’m sorry, but could you please tell me your family name?”
“…”
Why is she so worked up? Kerry was a bit flustered and couldn't get a word out.
The princess paid it no mind and began chattering away on her own.
“Finally… I can finally break off my engagement to that pig of a prince with the rotten personality. If the Hero’s companion is a man as dignified as Sir Kerry, His Majesty the Emperor will surely nullify my engagement!”
“…”
Now he was starting to get the picture.
He didn't know who the prince was, but it seemed she hated her engagement so much that she’d been chasing after the Hero, hoping to propose.
What a naive princess. Though she does have a great body.
Just then, William, standing beside her, whispered something urgently.
He must have told her that I’m a commoner.
“Wha… What? There’s no way such a dignified man could be a commoner! William, you’re lying to me again, aren’t you? How… how could you…”
“Your Highness, I’m afraid I am indeed a commoner.”
When Kerry delivered the final blow, the princess swayed again with the grace of a historical drama character.
William was there to catch her. They really are quite the pair.
“Even if you are the Hero’s companion, His Majesty would never permit a marriage to a commoner. Sob. Sniffle. You’re so… so perfect… why must you be a commoner?”
Sorry for being a commoner, I guess. In any case, he really couldn't stand this absurd other world.
“Still, you never know. Shall we go together and ask His Majesty for his permission for our marriage?”
Since when did it become ‘our marriage’?
Just then, Lina cried out.
“That is not acceptable!”
“What? Why would the Hero say no? This is a matter between Sir Kerry and me… Ah. Could it be that you and Sir Kerry are… in that kind of relationship?”
“N-No, it’s not like that…”
Lina’s face turned beet red as she began to ramble excuses.
She launched into a long-winded speech about how Kerry was an indispensable asset to the party. The ever-stoic Lina has been acting far too suspicious these days.
With her marriage to Kerry now impossible, the princess began to weep sorrowfully. She must really hate her fiancé.
“…Has the heavens truly abandoned me? Sob… sniffle.”
Lina and Kerry had to wait until the princess stopped crying and regained her composure.
Only then could they get back to business.
“Would it be possible to ask for your help regarding the Saintess?” Lina asked cautiously.
She had said that if the princess would just build the bridge, Kerry would bring the Saintess over.
“…”
The princess seemed to ponder for a moment before speaking.
“To be honest, I’m not very close with her either. I was only with her today because of His Majesty’s orders. There’s something about the Saintess that feels… unsettling.”
She must have sensed the mask. The Saintess was surely pretending to be kind in front of the princess.
“But if it’s a request from the Hero, I can grant it. I’m sure it’s for a good cause that will help the world, right? In the name of Elena, I shall assist the Hero.”
The stage was perfectly set.
*
At that very moment, the Saintess was in such a rage she was tearing her room apart. Days had passed, but her anger hadn't subsided.
She hurled every expensive piece of art she had bought to decorate her room, smashing them to bits.
The furniture met the same fate.
She destroyed everything until it was hard to find a single undamaged item.
“Aaaargh! The Hero! Kerry! How dare those bastards ignore me! And at my own social gathering!”
The maids cowered in a corner, trembling at the sight of the screaming Saintess.
They were a mess from being the targets of her rage.
They wanted nothing more than to quit their posts, but they knew all too well what kind of retaliation awaited any woman who tried to run away.
The maids could only tremble like rabbits caught in a trap.
“Hnngh! I can’t calm down! To quench this rage, even chewing those bastards to pieces wouldn’t be enough… Grind.”
Just then, a maid approached the Saintess, maintaining her composure as best she could.
“Your Holiness. Princess Beatrice has come to see you.”
“The princess? Why has she come so suddenly without any notice? Is she trying to disrespect me too?”
In her anger, the Saintess found even the princess displeasing.
But she had to calm down. It was better to maintain as friendly a relationship with the princess as possible.
“And the man from the social gathering is with her. His name was… Sir Kerry, I believe.”
“Ke… rry?”
In that instant, the Saintess grabbed a nearby vase and threw it.
“Kyaaah!”
CRASH!
The vase hit the maid squarely in the face. Her face was covered in blood from the sharp shards of glass.
Even then, the maid begged for her life. The Saintess looked down at her and thought calmly.
What is the relationship between the princess and Kerry? For them to come together… how close are they?
Could he have tattled to the princess about what happened?
“…What the hell are they planning, coming here?”
Then, another maid spoke up.
“Sir Kerry was holding a gift box in his hands.”
“A gift box? A gift… a gift… Pfft. Hahahaha! Now I get it. That man came with a gift to kiss my ass. He even roped in the princess using his title as the Hero’s companion. Hahahaha. This is why you can’t help but laugh at the stupidity of commoners.”
Of course, a mere commoner wouldn't dare disrespect the spokesperson of Elena.
The Hero was a separate matter, of course.
“Now, how should I punish him?”
The Saintess recalled the image of Lina yelling at her.
That look had been filled with a personal emotion that went beyond that of a mere colleague. Should I seduce Kerry and then dump him right in front of the Hero’s eyes?
The thought of such a satisfying revenge began to lift her spirits.
“Alright. I’ll meet them. While I’m gone, you all will clean my room spotless.”
““Yes, Your Holiness.””
As she was about to pass the maids, the Saintess turned back. She used Heal to mend their wounds.
She always made sure to heal them when distinguished guests were visiting.
Kerry, a commoner, was no distinguished guest, but the princess was certainly someone worth the effort.
“Alright. Shall we go meet them now?”
The Saintess walked down the corridor of her vast mansion, a hallway decorated with beautiful statues at every turn.
She walked its length and opened the door to the reception room where the princess and Kerry were waiting.
“Your Highness. To what do I owe this unexpected visit? I was under the impression you were returning to the imperial palace after finishing your schedule for the day.”
The Saintess spoke with a fake, bright smile.
The princess bowed her head slightly in response.
“My apologies, Your Holiness. That was indeed the plan, but I unexpectedly ran into Sir Kerry. I was told there is a matter the two of you wish to resolve.”
A matter to resolve. To the Saintess, it sounded like the princess didn't know the full details.
It seemed Kerry had handled things well to get on her good side.
“Was there such a matter between Sir Kerry and myself? I don’t seem to recall… But we shouldn't stand here. Let’s discuss it over some refreshments. Sir Kerry… it’s a pleasure to see you as well. Please, come this way.”
The Saintess glanced at the box Kerry was holding.
It wasn't very large.
It was an elegant-looking box that could be held in one hand.
Is the gift an accessory?
She didn't know how much money a commoner could have, but as the Hero’s companion and an acquaintance of the princess, he might have prepared something decent.
‘Now that I take a closer look… this man has incredible luck with women. A man who can move both the Hero and the Princess to his will… he might be more useful than I thought.’
The Saintess smirked as she looked at Kerry.