“Brilliant! Yes, a year ago, the clown prick broke off his engagement with you!”
“Y-Yes, he did.”
“It was a blessing! All the hexes and death curses I cast over the years finally worked!”
She did what?!
Such a risky declaration could easily get her arrested for treason. The knights tending to Prince Igna were getting visibly uncomfortable, but Lady Europa paid them no mind.
“Therefore, I must take responsibility for not finishing off the clown prick sooner!”
Such dedication to the art of assassination!
“Ahem!” Worried she’d be clapped in irons if she continued talking, I broke into a theatrical coughing fit. “Ah-hem! Ah-heeem!”
“My, what a lovely cough,” Lady Europa said. “How I wish my alarm clock would wake me with those dulcet tones.”
“A-Anyway. I was thinking of maybe stopping by the Grand Basilica. Just once.”
Everyone seemed surprised.
“But why, Lady Evelyn?” Lord Theodore asked, his expression dark. “The crown prince and your sister both plotted against you...”
I shook my head gently. “Even so, I do believe Prince Alex was correct about my powers growing weaker. My exile from the basilica—terrible delivery method aside—was likely inevitable.”
Truth be told, I couldn’t be sure whether my powers had actually dwindled. I could still use healing magic for hours on end, and I’d had no trouble at all clearing the miasma from the town of Semme.
But the saint must protect the whole country, not just one town.
It was true that, during ceremonial prayers, I’d grown unsteady and begun to feel severely exhausted. So, I’d left the Grand Basilica as Prince Alex and Mary had commanded. But...even if the exile had been unavoidable, I’d come to think that as the previous saint, I’d acted too rashly.
“Lady Europa, are your family lands not plagued by miasma?” I asked.
Lady Europa quietly lowered her gaze. “It is true that part of the reason I came here was out of concern for the recent outbreak of miasma. I knew I couldn’t get an audience with you at the Grand Basilica, but I was beside myself with worry. I thought something might’ve happened to you.”
“Huh? I thought you’d come to Semme to heal me,” Lord Theodore said.
“That was the perfect excuse to get father’s leave to come here. It was excellent timing on your part to get injured when you did, in fact.”
Lord Theodore fell silent, his expression hinting at mixed feelings. It made sense, of course, since his near death had been used as a convenient pretext.
I looked around at everyone. “My sister Mary was supposed to take over as saint. She can use healing magic, but the most she can treat are hangnails and such.”
“W-Well, I was happy when you healed my hangnail, Ms. Saint!”
“Thank you, Karin. But the saint has to be able to heal more than just hangnails.”
Karin’s eyes grew moist. “But...even being able to heal a hangnail is so cool...!”
I smiled at his—er, her—kindness. “Hangnails can be pretty painful if left alone.”
“So, Lady Evelyn, you’re concerned about the miasma all over the country?” Lord Theodore asked.
I nodded. “Yes. So, I’ll return to the capital and—”
“Absolutely not,” Lord Theodore said sharply.
“Huh?!” I had thought he’d agree!
Even Kira crossed his arms and turned his face away with a huff. “I’m against it too.”
“You too?! Why?”
“Who cares about those people?” he asked coldly. “They kicked you out, right? Let them suffer a bit.”
“Aw, thank you, Kira. You’re upset for my sake, right?”
“No, I’m not,” he muttered, turning his face even further away from me.
I was very happy that they all had such strong feelings about this, but there was a reason I had to go back.
None of them deserve what’s coming. Well...almost none of them deserve what’s coming!
If Mary didn’t fulfill her role as saint, the miasma problem would only grow worse. Then more people would be attacked by newly born demons, like Lord Theodore had been. Already, there were probably other victims out there somewhere.
“In that case, Saint Evelyn, how about I go to the capital and evaluate the situation?” offered Lady Europa, who had been uncharacteristically quiet.
I was surprised.
“I’m the fiancée of that good-for-nothing lump of a prince over there. I doubt I can get into the Grand Basilica, but I should be able to scope out the situation within the capital and relay the information back to you.”
“Lady Europa...”
“I can determine whether it’s safe for you to return to the royal capital. Surely Lord Theodore and Kira understand that this country needs your power?”
Lord Theodore groaned. Kira thought for a moment. But eventually, the two seemed to recognize the truth of what I said, and Lord Theodore gently placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Lady Evelyn, should I judge that there’s any danger to you, I’ll protect you. Even if it means confining you to this mansion.”
“You’re exaggerating,” I said.
“No, I’m very serious.”
I feel like that’d actually be more dangerous, I thought. But Lord Theodore’s concern for my safety was clearly sincere.
“Do what you want,” Kira muttered.
“Thank you, Kira!”
“Hey! Back off! Pest!” he snapped, pushing me away with both hands as I moved to hug him. Dang it.
“Then it’s settled,” Lady Europa said, grinding her teeth and clasping her hands. “Prince Igna and I will go to the capital, investigate the situation, and report back to Saint Evelyn. And we will look for an opportunity to dispose of the clown prick! Should it arise, we will annihilate him immediately.”
Wait, was that second half part of the strategy? I didn’t seem to recall anything like that. Regardless, I bowed my head in gratitude. Really, I couldn’t thank her enough.
“My deepest thanks, Lady Europa!” I said, smiling as wide as I could to convey my feelings.
“H-Hnnnnngh!”
Having let out a strange cry, Lady Europa fell backward with great force.
“Lady Europa?!”
“From close up, I gazed... Upon your radiant, holy smile... A heavenly sight... Brings such joy into my heart... I am filled with delight...”
Lady Europa fainted in 5-7-5-7-7 syllables (give or take a few).
Prince Igna regained consciousness immediately after. “I woke up to Europa sleeping next to me! W-We did the deed...!”
The excitement quickly knocked him back out with another nosebleed.