My eyes opened to the sight of an unfamiliar ceiling.
I looked around, then sat up. This bed was very fluffy and very unfamiliar. My bed at the Manilas mansion had been wonderfully comfortable, but this was next level. It even had a canopy.
What happened? I wondered groggily. I feel like I had a horrible nightmare...
I vaguely recalled a strange laugh, and someone’s scream growing farther and farther away, and the sound of my own teeth chattering. An absolutely chilling dream to have in a bed fit for a princess.
“You’re awake, Saint Evelyn,” came a voice from beside me, clear as a bell.
I trembled. “L-Lady Europa...”
For some unknown reason, just seeing her there made me shake uncontrollably.
Despite my rudeness, Lady Europa was cheerful as she said, “We’re at the royal palace. I’ve been by your side the entire time since you fainte—that is, since you fell asleep.”
“Huh...?”
My vision was rapidly darkening.
Wait, does that mean I can’t get married anymore?!
Lady Europa frantically waved her hands. “Please, be at ease! I absolutely... I, um, absolutely didn’t do any, er, a-a-a-anything, hee hee, anything improper!”
She couldn’t sound less honest if she tried!
But it seemed wise to not probe any further. For my own sake too.
But why are we at the palace?
We’d been at the Grand Basilica last night. I’d been watching the waterfall when someone came, and... Ngh, it was no use. I groaned, holding my head; it hurt from trying to remember.
Lady Europa clapped her hands lightly. “Now then, let’s get you ready!”
At her signal, a group of maids who must have been waiting outside filed into the room in orderly rows. Flabbergasting.
“Now, Saint Evelyn, these ladies will help you change into your ceremonial robes.”
“Huh?! What for?!” I asked.
“Why, today is the day of the Summer of Evelyn Festival!”
“Wha?” What kind of festival is that?!
I’d never heard of it. And I had a very bad feeling.
“If I may ask,” I muttered hesitantly as the maids closed around me, “what exactly is the Summer of Evelyn Festival...?”
“Ah, of course!” Lady Europa exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. “It is a festival of you, by you, and for you!”
As it turned out, the originator of this ridiculous festival was Prince Oz.
Immediately after the decision had been made that I would be stepping down as saint, the exhausted prince had told his retainers, “Saint Evelyn has served our kingdom faithfully for twenty-three years. We must celebrate her new beginning...”
“What measures do you propose, Your Highness?” a retainer had asked.
“Let’s see. First, I’d like to assuage the public’s concerns, since the fake saint incident has stirred up a good bit of anxiety. We’ll open part of the basilica to the public, then have Saint Evelyn perform one final prayer ritual before Lady Europa debuts as the new saint. We’ll make that ritual the main event of the evening. During the day, we’ll have stalls set up all throughout the capital selling sweets, paintings, and crafts related to Saint Evelyn. I’d also like to hold a parade, since she’s quite popular. And...we could use the arena and hold title matches related to Saint Evelyn as well. The foreign envoys would surely be pleased...”
“Good thinking, Your Highness! Even weakened, you are sharp of mind and tongue!”
And that was what, supposedly, had happened. Under Prince Oz’s leadership, his retainers quickly made all the necessary arrangements and set up this Evelyn festival for the next day—this morning.
It had undoubtedly taken a great deal of speed, funds, and coordinated effort.
His brothers are complete messes, but Prince Oz is beyond capable...
Perhaps it was because his older brothers were the way they were that Prince Oz had worked hard to become the responsible one in his family. It was admirable.
“Though Prince Oz pitched the idea, I came up with the name of the festival,” Lady Europa explained. “I wanted to combine your name with the season of summer.”
“But it’s spring...”
“This is the ultimate event, where worshippers can show their devotion just by chanting the festival’s name!” Lady Europa said dreamily.
“We look forward to the Summer of Evelyn Festival,” the surrounding maids said in unison.
It’ll be torture if the whole capital is like this, I thought. But...Prince Oz was so thoughtful, coming up with all this for me.
Well, it did seem the focus was more on easing the citizens’ minds and revitalizing the economy than on me personally. But I was sure I’d been an important factor too.
Naturally, I now felt more serious about it. My final duty as saint would be to pass the position on to Lady Europa tonight. While I thought about all that would entail, the maids changed me into pure-white ceremonial robes, powdered my face, and arranged my hair.
“Eek!” Lady Europa squealed. “Saint Evelyn, you’re so beautiful you could send the whole world into a tizzy!”
“Lady Europa is right! You look lovely, Saint Evelyn!”
“I could never have imagined our saint was so stunning!”
Okay, okay. Lady Europa’s compliment aside, this is all flattery! I thought, smiling awkwardly as the young maids fussed cheerfully.
Perhaps having heard that I was ready, Lord Theodore and Kira came in.
“How do I look, Kira?” I asked, immediately moving over to pester him. “Am I pretty?”
“Well...” he muttered.
“Well?!”
“The clothes are fine, I guess.”
Well, his bluntness sure hadn’t changed since our first meeting. But that was so like him! I loved it.
My gaze shifted to another familiar face, and I noticed Lord Theodore covering his mouth with his hand.
“Lord Theodore?”
“I-I beg your pardon, Lady Evelyn,” he muttered in a very small voice, flustered for some reason. What I could see of his cheeks was bright red. “Um, you’re even more radiant than usual, and...words appear to have escaped me.”
Th-This man, I swear!
He wasn’t even trying. He was just being himself! Somehow, that made him even more formidable. Also, was my face getting a bit hot? It felt like my face was getting a bit hot.
When I tried to smack my cheeks to hide the redness, the maids frantically moved to stop me.