“That saint—”
“Was you, of course, Fiona.”
Linus nodded slowly. She felt almost cocooned by his gentle gaze.
“Now I’m the crown prince, and with you being twenty, you’re an adult like you always wanted to be. Plus, everyone knows you’re a saint, and you have the achievements of one. Last but not least, I already made my intention to marry you public, so there are no more obstacles.”
“B-But… But I’m not sure about a so-called Saint of Cost Performance being your consort…”
She had a mountain of things she wanted to ask and say, but in her confusion, she didn’t know where to start.
“Fiona, you should know better than anyone that the Saint of Cost Performance is a ploy.”
Yes. She should. Considering she had come up with the lie, no matter how well-intentioned, herself. She was supposed to be an impostor, but Linus’ earnest expression told her he spoke the truth, which deepened her confusion.
“All right. Let’s suppose I am the Saint of Sea Bounty. I don’t have any power related to the marine industry.”
Though she had never even thought about praying for a big catch, at the very least, she’d never heard anyone mention good fishing hauls because of her presence.
“I think some kind of accident happened. That’s probably why you appeared outside where the summoning rite was being held and had no memories. Because Slava’s Saint of Abundance was summoned in the right place with all her memories intact.”
In short, even if Fiona was a saint, she wasn’t the Saint of Sea Bounty. Just like she’d read in the book some time ago, black hair was the sign of a saint. While it wasn’t clear what her particular brand of magic was, she had to acknowledge the high possibility she was a saint.
“Oh…no wonder you kept going on and on about our engagement and me being your consort. Because you thought of me as a saint.”
Linus had said it was the people of this world’s responsibility to make sure the saint was as happy as possible, cut off so completely from her old world as she was. Realizing his older brother would never be able to do that, he had set to work creating the best environment for her. She felt touched by his kindness, but at the same time, she couldn’t deny there was sadness, too.
Something was wrong with her lately. Fiona made a mental note to be examined by a physician soon.
“No. You’re wrong.”
Panicked, he shook his head, and she didn’t know why.
“Then is it because I have black hair?”
“Why would you even think that?”
“Because you like black hair, Your Highness.”
She knew because she’d seen more than enough of his passion for black hair over the last decade. Her confident answer only made him groan with laughter, which made his silver hair ripple and sparkle as he shook with mirth.
“I know I’ve said this to you countless times, but I guess it bears repeating. Not anyone with black hair will do. In fact, black hair isn’t even necessary. I wanted to touch your hair, Fiona… I just wanted to touch you.”
He picked up a lock of her hair and pressed it to his lips. She should be used to this by now, but for whatever reason, she couldn’t look away.
“I became the crown prince to make you, who would eventually be revealed as a saint, my future queen.”
His words meant he took action to achieve that goal. Ten years ago, there was already a crown prince, and Linus had acted to overthrow him.
“Oh my goodness… Is that what you meant by your dearest wish, the one you’ve had for so many years?”
“Yes. It wasn’t becoming the crown prince but you, Fiona.”
His stunning revelation left her speechless. If someone looked up the word “speechless” in a dictionary, they would see an image of her as she sat there now.
“You were always so insistent that you would become an adult once you turned twenty years old. And I became the crown prince to make you my wife. So Charles made me promise I wouldn’t pursue you seriously until you reached that age. Of course, that didn’t stop us from keeping the insects away and you far from any hint of romance. Though I suppose we may have been too overprotective, considering how you turned out… But you don’t hate me, do you, Fiona?”
Smiling, he tilted his head inquiringly, and the sensuality of his gesture made her heart leap.
“I don’t…hate you. Because you’ve always been by my side. You saved me, and you’re important to me.”
“I appreciate that. But I know there’s more. Feelings different from the ones you have for Charles.”
Perhaps the biggest difference between Charles and Linus was their positions. The crown prince was destined to wed the saint. Which didn’t necessarily mean it had to be Fiona.
“When talk rose of exchanging saints and the Saint of Abundance becoming your wife, I…my chest hurt at the thought.”
He narrowed his eyes so slowly at her honest remark that someone might have mistaken the gesture for drowsiness.
“That’s called jealousy, Fiona.”
“Jealousy.”
Her heart ached at the thought of him marrying Manaka but leapt when he said he wanted to marry her. If both of these things could be attributed to jealousy, it meant she had strong feelings for him, which begged the question.
Did Fiona love Linus?
A riot of emotions exploded in her chest. The realization embarrassed her, but it also felt right. To her, he’d always been a constant presence, the kind older brother. Yet before she knew it, he had become much, much more.
Heat blossomed in her face at the sudden epiphany, and she pressed her hands to her cheeks, hoping to cool herself down. As soon as she did, large hands covered hers.
“So. Be my wife.”
His glittering gem-like eyes stared unflinchingly into hers. They had done exactly this countless times over the past ten years. But now that she understood he saw her as a woman and not a younger sister to be protected, every trace of composure abandoned her. Her cheeks grew hotter, the right words refused to surface in her mind, and all she could do was open and close her mouth like a fish. Perhaps Fiona was the Saint of Fish then.