HELT was raised in an orphanage. Contrary to what some might assume, however, life in the orphanage wasn’t unpleasant. He could even declare that, other than the fact that he hadn’t been able to eat to his heart’s content, he had been a satisfied child.
His best friend in the orphanage had been a girl called Johanna. With ashen hair and emerald eyes, she had insistently acted as his big sister, often treating him like a child because she was a year older, saying that he wasn’t dependable.
Vexed by her demeanor, Helt announced to her at every opportunity, “One day, I’ll grow up into a dependable adult man and make you eat your words!”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever you say.” She shrugged. “I’ll wait, but I won’t keep my hopes up.”
They repeated that exchange time and time again as they went about their lives, until one day, an adoption offer abruptly and unexpectedly landed in Helt’s lap. He readily agreed and became a member of a viscount’s household.
Under the encouraging gazes of his kindhearted family, he took his first step onto the path of knighthood. Soon after becoming an established knight, he was offered the role of the Saint’s guardian knight. Apparently, the Saint was going to be welcomed into the royal court as one of the king’s consorts, and his duty would be guarding her within her dedicated palace.
Helt had dreamed of serving and protecting the king as a royal knight, and at first, he’d attempted to turn it down, but he hadn’t had the final say in this matter. Without any other choice, he headed to a greeting session alongside a handful of other knights—when in reality, it was a job interview—and to his astonishment, the person who appeared before him was none other than Johanna, whom he hadn’t seen since their farewell at the orphanage.
As Johanna looked over the lined-up knights, her eyes landed on Helt and widened. A conflicted smile curled her lips. “So, yeah. I somehow ended up becoming the Saint.”
Helt gazed at her ashen hair and her green eyes. These colors should have been familiar to him, but oddly enough, they seemed distant. Was it because she was adorned in a beautiful dress he’d never seen in the orphanage before? Or was it due to her sacred status as a Saint?
For some reason he couldn’t explain, Helt wasn’t eager to leave her safety in the hands of other knights, and so, he took on this new role.
After her marriage, Johanna promptly gave birth to a princess, but she became prone to illness since that day. She was sent get-well gifts like flowers, fruit, confectionery, and books—but the king rarely visited her in person.
When Helt happened to have some privacy with her once, he grumbled, “Fifth Consort, you are technically one of his partners. Surely he could afford to come and visit you once in a while.”
Johanna, sitting in a chair while cradling her baby in her arms, gave him a troubled smile. “The king has a total of five consorts. Not to mention that I’m a former orphan that was only tacked onto the list because I’m a Saint. We haven’t got ardent, passionate love between us, but it’s not like he’s treating me coldly, and it’s only natural for him to prioritize his official business. Not to mention that I’m a happy woman because my girl is with me.”
With that, Johanna affectionately stroked Amelia’s head. Her smile was peaceful—Helt couldn’t make sense of it.
Unable to conceal his displeasure, Helt creased his forehead. “I…can’t say I understand.”
Johanna chuckled for a long time after seeing his frown. “Well, a little kid wouldn’t understand, that’s true.”
“Please don’t treat me like a child.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever you say. Our resident toddler doesn’t like it when he’s being coddled, hmm? You’re quite a handful, Sir Knight. Right, Amelia?” Smilingly, she caressed Amelia’s cheeks, and the baby squealed in delight before laughing merrily.
Unfortunately, Johanna’s health only spiraled downward as the years went by. By the time Amelia turned nine, she was practically a prisoner in her own bed.
When Johanna sat up in bed, Amelia held out strawberries that were enough to fill both hands. “Mother, I was able to make strawberries.”
Possibly because she took after Johanna, who wielded the most peculiar magic of summoning watermelons, Amelia had the ability to summon strawberries. Though Helt didn’t have a good understanding of the inner workings and systems within magic, this mother and daughter were likely extraordinary.
Logic and theory aside, the servants felt all warm and fuzzy inside when they watched Amelia putting forward every effort she could for her mother’s sake.
Regrettably, Johanna was not long for this world. It was plain as day, even if no one said it out loud. Helt could tell that even the young Amelia could sense her mother’s life declining.
“You made lots and lots. You’re amazing, Amelia,” Johanna marveled. “I shall have some later.” The pile of strawberries was transferred onto a plate, which was placed on Johanna’s bedside table.
Amelia smiled blissfully and adorably as her mother stroked her head. Though everyone would love for life in the palace to go on forever and ever like this, Johanna herself seemed to know best about how difficult that wish was.
She requested the other servants leave until only Helt and herself were in the room and stared steadily at her knight. “It’s probably best for you to step down from your position of guardian knight and return to a normal knight.”
A moment of silence. “May I ask why?” Though he’d already expected her statement to some extent, he couldn’t just nod and go along with it.
“She may be a princess, but Amelia’s in a vulnerable position because she lacks a powerful backer,” Johanna explained. “You have a better chance at a successful career as a normal knight. If you make that change right now, I can also give you my support as a Saint.”
Johanna picked up one of Amelia’s strawberries and admired it. The glossy fruit, overflowing with vitality, glittered dazzlingly as it reflected the light.
Helt shook his head. “I have been blessed with a younger brother and the viscount household, so my family isn’t troubled for an heir. Since I have accepted this role, I fully intend to carry out my duty to the end as your guardian knight.”
“You will? Even if I try to persuade you in every way I can?”
Helt nodded.
With a sigh, Johanna put the strawberry back on the plate. “Just so you know, I’m accumulating mana within an orison stone.” She fumbled for the chain around her neck before pulling it up to display a shining, deep, verdant gem with a banded pattern. “The Saint is permitted to keep a single orison stone with her. That’s why I’m going to infuse this thing with as much magic as I can. So that…it can protect Amelia even if I’m not with her.”
After grasping the gem tightly, Johanna tucked it into her clothes again. “If I could have it my way, I would stay by her side forever. I want to watch her grow up. I want to protect her. But well…it looks like life isn’t very nice to me.” She cast her eyes downward.
A moment later, she raised her face and stared squarely into Helt’s eyes. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from the gleam of her emerald orbs.
In a shaky voice, she pleaded, “Take care of Amelia for me.” Her eyes were just a little misty.
For a long while, he watched her. Eventually, he let out a small sigh. “Well. This is the first time you have ever turned to me for help.”
“That’s true. I was the one who looked after you back in the orphanage.”
That statement earned a grin from Johanna, and tears trickled down her cheeks with the movement.
Helt offered her a handkerchief. “I understand, my lady. I shall take on that responsibility. No matter what might be waiting for me down the line, I will always stay by my princess’s side and defend her.”
Relief must have washed over Johanna, because even more tears spilled out. “Thanks, Helt.”
Deliberately putting on a pompous smile, Helt declared, “I am a dependable adult man, after all. It is only natural that I agree.”
Johanna widened her eyes with a mix of exasperation and astonishment. “You still remember that?”
It was a phrase they’d tossed between each other countless times back in the orphanage, but it had been quite a while ago.
Helt cast down his eyes briefly. “One’s first love during their childhood, as it turns out, influences them quite a lot.”
He didn’t know whether Johanna had grasped the meaning behind his words. But after a brief pause, her sigh resounded within the room. “It…does?”
“It does,” the knight replied without a shred of hesitation.
Johanna tightened her grip on the handkerchief. “Hey… Could you call me by my name? You’ve been calling me the fifth consort since our reunion.”
“That is only natural. You are undeniably the fifth consort. Furthermore, you are a Saint and my mistress—it is preposterous for a mere guardian knight to address you by your name.”
“…Please. Come on, I’ll give you a watermelon.”
As soon as those words left her lips, a watermelon appeared out of thin air in Johanna’s hands, but it could easily be held with one hand. Considering how she used to manifest watermelons as large as a human head, it was evident that Johanna’s health was deteriorating.
With a stifled sigh, Helt relented. “I can see how serious you are, so please don’t summon any more watermelons. It will exhaust your energy.”
“But if I have watermelons, you’ll be more willing to listen to me, right?”
She made her case earnestly, but Helt couldn’t understand her logic at all. This woman had gained the ability to summon watermelons and the title of Saint without his knowledge, and she’d apparently also gained an inexplicable faith in this fruit.
“Lady Johanna—”
She firmly cut him off. “Don’t go ‘lady’ on me.”
Helt hesitated. “Johanna.”
He hadn’t called her name this plainly, without any decorations, since their time in the orphanage. At that thought, his entire life vividly flashed through his mind, and his chest felt somewhat tight.
“Sorry, Helt. And thank you.” While she smiled, tears slid down Johanna’s cheeks. “I’m so glad that you’re here with me.”
“Those words…are all the reward I ever needed,” Helt replied with a clumsy smile of his own.
Johanna nodded in silence.
Soon after his promise, the year Amelia turned ten, Johanna peacefully ascended to heaven.
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