When I returned to the family estate, my parents smiled at me as they never had before. They couldn’t have been more pleased with the deal they’d made.
“Well done, Philia. You know, I always thought of you as hopelessly charmless and dull, but it turns out you’re worth something after all.”
“Who’d have thought Parnacorta would pay such a fortune for you? The education we put you through paid off, though I suppose you put in some of the work, too. Now we’re rising through the ranks! The future of the Adenauer family is secure.”
Thirty percent of the price paid by Parnacorta would go to my family, and my father would receive the title of marquess. In exchange for selling me off, the Adenauer family would ascend from the lower ranks of the aristocracy to nobility. And with Mia joining the royal family in my place, my parents’ social standing would only rise even higher.
To my parents, it was as if, by some strange alchemy, their unwanted child had been transmuted into a great deal of money and a powerful title. No wonder they looked delighted. Not once did either of my parents mention that we might never see one another again. At this point, it was clear that they’d completely abandoned me.
I’d always worked relentlessly because I wanted my parents to love me, even if it would never be as much as they loved Mia. But now, that tiny flicker of hope was completely extinguished.
“I’m sure His Highness told you this,” said my mother, “but keep all this from Mia. She’s too kind for her own good. It’d be a shame if that poor girl were to waste her life worrying about you.”
“Of course,” I replied. “I want Mia to be happy. But I’m concerned about abandoning her to serve as the kingdom’s sole saint.”
If it would make Mia happy, I’d gladly go to Parnacorta. But my absence would add to her burdens as a saint. I worried about how she would manage without me if monster attacks increased or unforeseen disasters struck. After years of casting protective barriers and weakening demonic forces, I knew how hard it could be.
My parents reacted with disdain.
“Watch your mouth! How dare you underestimate Mia? You’ve always been a slow learner, but that girl is a natural genius. You may have fooled some people in this kingdom into overvaluing your abilities, but don’t let it give you a fat head!”
“That’s right! Besides, the royal family has pledged to give Saint Mia their full support. The people will unite as one to protect her. There’s just something about her that sets her apart from you. She’s simply on a different level.”
I couldn’t argue. Mia was clever and talented, and far better than me at capturing people’s attention. Even so, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of foreboding…
But if our kingdom truly did rally behind Mia, my worries might turn out to be unfounded. I could sense there was no point in arguing further. All that remained for me to do was to shut up and leave my kingdom.
Mia, I prayed to myself, please be safe.
“Philia, what’s wrong? Why the long face?” Mia put down her book and peered into my eyes.
I hadn’t expected her to be waiting for me in my room. What could I say? Looking at her angelic, guileless face, all I could do was desperately swallow my words.
“I’m fine. I was just thinking about something.” I stroked her silver hair, one of the few features that marked us as sisters, as I downplayed her worries. It didn’t feel right to hide the truth from her, but it wasn’t entirely a lie. I was fine.
Mia wrapped her arms around me. “Hey, don’t hold back! I’m pretty capable, you know, and I adore my big sister more than anything in this world. Whatever’s troubling you, I’ll take care of it.”
Mia…you’re the reason I made it this far.
I was so grateful to have her in my life. If I could be a good older sister in her eyes, that was enough for me. She had no idea about the harsh education my parents put me through. They knew she’d be horrified, so they kept the reality from her and forced me to stay quiet.
Goodbye, my beloved little sister. I love you so much. Please always be well.
And so, without my sister’s knowledge, I stealthily left my homeland, Girtonia, for the kingdom of Parnacorta. I didn’t know what to expect, but Parnacorta had bought me, so I braced myself to endure whatever came my way.
A saint’s most common duties include healing the wounded and creating protective barriers, but our powers can be used for countless other things, such as purifying villages after a monster attack. I was particularly skilled at barrier spells and rituals for warding off evil. Through intense training to amplify the power of my prayers, I’d learned to create a Pillar of Light in record time. According to those who study such matters, no saint in history had attained such power.
And yet, I’d been sold off to a neighboring kingdom, most likely due to my lack of charisma. Life in Parnacorta must be hard for a saint—now more than ever.
I have to prepare myself…
Little did I know my life in that kingdom would turn out to be the complete opposite of what I imagined…