“Ah, Saint Evelyn. There you are,” Lady Europa said with the loveliest smile known to man.
The Grand Basilica had several special places for the current saint to relax and recuperate, since saints typically spent many years cooped up in the building. That night, after my discussion with Oz, I’d been resting in one such place—a balcony overlooking a small waterfall behind the basilica.
“The high priest and the others all start crying whenever they’re around me,” I explained. “I figured I should be alone for a bit.”
“Oh? I think you should let them cry as much as they need,” she said with a shrug.
Lady Europa and the high priest had both participated in my discussions with Prince Oz, and everyone was in agreement that she would succeed me as the 18th Saint of the Holy Kingdom of Snasile.
I could tell she was talented from the moment we met...
I’d only noticed Kira’s true nature through my Diagnose spell, which had let me peek into his memories. Lady Europa, however, had recognized that he was a demon with just a single glance. That was proof that she had very sharp senses for demons—and, by proxy, the presence of miasma.
She may become a much better saint than I ever was.
Though the high priest had opposed the idea initially, he had to have noticed Lady Europa’s talent as well. Ultimately, after much persuasion from Lady Europa herself, he’d given in. In fact, no sooner had I said I wanted to quit than she had volunteered to take over the role.
“Why did you offer to be the next saint, Lady Europa?” I asked as I listened to the distant sounds of the waterfall.
I’d found that decision puzzling.
Being the saint isn’t just fun and games,after all.
Much of each day had to be devoted to prayer rituals, and there was very little personal freedom. Lady Europa had been raised as the daughter of a duke—surely the role would bring her more trials than joy. I was worried about imposing that burden on her.
Lady Europa rested both hands on the railing and looked at me for a few moments, then brought her index finger to her shapely chin and tilted her head. “Let’s see. There are two main reasons.”
She held up one pale finger.
“One, you can only ever have one successor.”
“Yes, that’s...right,” I said.
“And that one person will be me! To receive a direct handoff from my idol... Why, that will be the ultimate honor and privilege as the leader of your fan club! I would be an utter fool to miss this chance!”
“I see...”
I don’t, actually.
“Two—and this is just a bonus—becoming the saint lets me postpone my marriage to Prince Igna. I believe the phrase is ‘lucky break.’ Now, if he dies of blood loss in the meantime? Why, that would be a lucky burst!”
Oh, poor guy...!
I couldn’t help but cry for him. He was tactless and boorish, but this was truly uncalled for.
Lady Europa’s expression shifted from rapture to something much darker. “But I must confess, I’m actually anxious.”
“Huh?”
“You and your predecessors were all such admirable women. Can someone like me truly take up that mantle...?”
She rubbed her delicate shoulders with both hands and sniffled softly. Seeing her like that, I belatedly remembered—
Right! Lady Europa says and does crazy stuff, but she’s only sixteen!
That made her twelve years my junior. She was acting the same as always, but the sudden prospect of taking over as saint had to be nerve-racking.
“It’s all right, Lady Europa,” I said, gently placing a hand on her shoulder.
“Saint Evelyn...?”
“I’ll ask the high priest if I could be allowed to visit the Grand Basilica once a month!”
Honestly, Lady Europa was a bit scary, but she seemed to like me. I figured this might reassure her a little, but...her expression didn’t brighten at all.
“I... But to have the guidance of the great (former) Saint Evelyn only once a month?” she said, her eyes adorably teary. “Why, I don’t know that I won’t be crushed under the weight of responsibility...”
My heart skipped a beat at how cute she looked. Oh, Lady Europa! I’ve had you all wrong!
What awful misconceptions I’d had about her. She was just a fragile girl, and here I’d been, thinking of her as scary, gross, and abnormal. I had to be more considerate.
“I understand! Perhaps I could do it a few—”
“What was that?”
“U-Um, five...times a month?”
“I can’t hear you!”
“Twice...a...week?”
“You can do better!”
“Every...day?” I ventured timidly.
“Aaaaaaaw yeeeeeeeeeeeeah!!!” Lady Europa roared in a very unladylike manner, violently headbanging. “I did it. I did it!!! I’ve waited my entire life for thiiis!!!”
Eek!
Faced with the true form of the monster before me, I felt my legs give out. Lady Europa’s bloodshot eyes glowed brightly even in the dark of night, leering at me like I was her prey.
I was shaking violently. Mother Goddess preserve!
It was then that Lord Theodore made his gallant appearance at the balcony.
“Stop it, Europa!” he shouted. “I heard everything! You’re just trying to trick Lady Evelyn into promising—”
Lady Europa shoved Lord Theodore aside.
“Waugh!”
He crashed over the balcony and fell headfirst into the darkness.
Lady Europa ignored the big splash echoing from below and crawled on all fours toward my collapsed form. Peeking out from her disheveled long hair was her terrifyingly beautiful face, with her tongue sticking out, licking at her cheek.
“Lady Eeevelyn...”
“Ee, eee...”
“We’ll be together...forever and ever and ever.” She paused ominously. “Won’t we?”
Kira! Save me, Kiraaa!
As I screamed my reliable companion’s name internally, I was overcome with terror and passed out right then and there.