Prologue
“DULL.”
“Unfriendly.”
“Far too serious. She’s just so boring.”
Such were the things people said about me all my life.
My parents, believing I would need to be exceptional to have any marriage prospects at all, put me through the rigors of a harsh and unforgiving education. Magic, swordplay, ancient and modern cultural refinements, etiquette—I learned it all. To top it all off, my family line was known for producing saints. I was expected to become a saint too, a perfect one at that, which meant I started training while still a child.
Getting abandoned on a snowy mountain in winter to fend for myself for a month, being buried alive in the desert, sleeping on a mountainous pile of needles… I earned my merits as a saint through grueling challenges that pushed my body and mind to the brink of breaking.
I put my heart and soul into striving for perfection. I had to be capable of anything and everything…and my hard work paid off. By the time I came of age, I was acknowledged as quite possibly the most powerful saint of all time, and engaged to His Highness Prince Julius, the second-eldest prince of our kingdom.
The day the marriage proposal was finalized was the first time my parents ever praised me. Although my family was highly regarded across the land thanks to its reputation for producing saints, it never hurt to be on closer terms with the royal family.
My parents were finally proud of me. My lifelong efforts had paid off, and happiness was within my reach…or so I thought.
One day, His Highness summoned me to the palace. “The trouble is,” he said, “you’re just too perfect. Where’s your humanity? Where’s your charm? It’s hard to care about someone so powerful. Who cares about your so-called skills? You’re a saint—all you do is pray.”
Well, I’d always known I was charmless. That was why I strove for perfection.
His Highness continued. “Your younger sister Mia is something else, though! She’s sweet, and captivating, and…how should I put it? There’s just something about her that makes you want to protect her.”
Mia was a year younger than I was, and we were as different as night and day. She was the epitome of innocence, utterly adorable, and my parents treasured her. She was quick on the uptake and a capable saint. I was proud to call her my younger sister.
“I’m sure Mia will be happy to hear that,” I said politely. “She admires Your Highness, as do we all.”
“Yes, very good! You see, I’ve decided to marry her.”
Marry Mia? What was he talking about? His Highness was already engaged to me…
“Pardon me, Your Highness. Has Mia been informed of this?”
“No, not yet. But at my last ball, she listened to me with the loveliest smile! I could tell she was taken with me. And apparently, your parents care more about Mia’s happiness than yours. They welcomed the idea of breaking off our engagement and betrothing Mia to me instead.”
Had Mia wished to marry His Highness, I would’ve stepped aside then and there. But I couldn’t accept this without hearing, from her own lips, what she wanted. I already knew my parents treasured Mia more than they had ever treasured me, but that wasn’t her fault. We’d always been close, so I wanted to do whatever would make her happy.
“There’s just one thing that bothers me,” said His Highness.
“Huh?”
“As dull as you are, Mia adores you. I hope she doesn’t try to refuse my proposal for your sake.”
Indeed, Mia wasn’t the type who’d even consider stealing someone’s fiancé. She was so pure that even if she did have feelings for His Highness, she’d keep them to herself.
“Now,” His Highness continued, “it just so happens that the only saint of the neighboring kingdom of Parnacorta suddenly passed away. Kind-hearted soul that I am, I took pity on them and offered to help them find a replacement. Surely, they could use a saint of your exceptional repute? The so-called greatest saint ever known? They said yes—and even offered resources and gold from their treasury in exchange! Turns out I’m quite the diplomat, huh?”
“Wh-what do you mean?” I’d heard of the passing of Parnacorta’s saint, but I couldn’t believe I was being bought and sold like a piece of meat.
“You sure are slow, huh? Your parents will gladly send you to another kingdom for the sake of ours. And when the masses hear how I tearfully let my fiancé go for the greater good, they’ll love the royal family like never before. Don’t sulk now—as the only saint in Parnacorta, you’re sure to be well cared for. This arrangement makes everyone happy.”
Everyone? What about me?
My own feelings aside, I didn’t want to abandon Girtonia. Sightings of monsters had been growing more frequent all across the land of late, and I had a gut feeling that trouble was afoot. Without me, Mia would be the only saint left in the kingdom. I’d be leaving her with a heavy burden to shoulder.
I brought this up to His Highness, but he dismissed me.
“Don’t be so arrogant. You think you’re the only one capable of protecting this nation? Philia Adenauer, I’m breaking off our engagement and sending you to another kingdom. This decision is final.”
And that was how I was exiled and sold to another kingdom—an inconvenient obstacle that my parents and Prince Julius had brushed aside.