Chapter 20

When the Prince’s Head is Opened (1)

“To think I get to meet the legendary Saintess in person—my heart’s pounding!”

Izumi, seated in the carriage, asked with excited eyes.

He was about the same size as Cedric but behaved completely differently. Looking at the protagonist, eyes twinkling like a puppy, made me feel at ease.

‘The protagonist is adorable!’

In the original story, Izumi was righteous and upright. Even when caught in deep anguish, he always managed to find the answer in the end.

True to his role as the protagonist of a shounen manga, he had a strong sense of camaraderie. He even forgave Cedric, who once stabbed him. Once someone entered his circle, he embraced them unconditionally, no matter their past misdeeds.

Such an admirable person, and yet—

‘Right now, he’s my point dispenser.’

Hehe.

I resisted the urge to rub my hands together in glee. Facing the protagonist I needed to butter up somehow reminded me of my days in grad school.

“Professor, could you take a look at my thesis, please? Haha…”

“I trust someone like you, Yuna, can handle it on your own. Oh, I’m a bit thirsty—go grab me a coffee. Here, take my card.”

“…Yes, sir.”

Ugh.

Terrible memories resurfaced.

My time in grad school was pure PTSD. Every day in the lab felt like walking a tightrope.

All I ever wanted was to do research!

“But are we heading straight off on our journey?”

“Journey? What are you talking about?”

Cedric, who had been eyeing Izumi with clear disapproval, asked sharply.

“Uh… I mean, isn’t it kind of a rule that the hero and the saint go off on adventures together?”

“Rule? What a strange word.”

“It means like… a common principle.”

“What kind of ‘common principle’ is that? There’s no such precedent in the Holy War.”

“What?! There were no previous heroes?”

“No. Saints, yes. But not heroes.”

Watching their banter was oddly entertaining.

Most people shrank the moment they saw Cedric’s grim aura and large build, but not this guy. True to his protagonist status, Izumi showed not a shred of fear.

“But Saintess, is he a holy knight?”

“Oh dear. Does he look like one to you?”

“Hmm. No, not really.”

His honest answer made me cover my mouth and chuckle.

“Sir Cedric came from the Western Continent to escort me. He’s a very skilled swordsman.”

“…I’m not that exceptional.”

Though Cedric had been curt with Izumi, he immediately bowed his head at my compliment. The way he was only gentle with me reminded me of a shepherd obediently tied to its master.

‘He’s definitely under control.’

As long as nothing major happened, Cedric would behave himself like this.

…Probably?

“For now, we’ll head to the royal palace of Terra and formally introduce ourselves.”

“Introduce ourselves?”

“Izumi, you’re a valued citizen of Terra. Of course you need the king’s approval before leaving the country.”

The culture of the Eastern Continent was strict.

Unlike the Western Continent, where an industrial revolution was underway, the Eastern Continent still adhered to traditional medieval feudal systems.

Meaning: there was no freedom of relocation.

Thankfully, Izumi was a noble. If he’d been a serf, we would’ve had to pay his lord to buy his freedom. Human rights here were utterly shattered.

“I see.”

“Have you been to the royal palace before?”

“When I was seven, to report my birth. I went with my father, but…”

His voice trailed off.

In Terra, all noble children had to greet the king upon turning seven. But since it was held just once a year, the audience was brief, and most children simply stood beside their father without understanding what was going on.

Of course, there were rare cases where a child’s exceptional presence caught the king’s eye, but not for someone like Izumi, who had lived like a carefree noble.

“What about you, Saintess?”

“Sometimes His Majesty visits the Holy Kingdom personally. But I haven’t been inside the palace since I was twelve.”

Cedric perked up his ears.

Come to think of it, this would interest him too. He had no idea what my life had been like during the ten years we’d been apart.

“The king himself visits? That’s amazing, Saintess…”

I smiled sheepishly at Izumi’s admiration.

The fact that the original protagonist was looking at me like that—now that was flustering.

‘Still, he’s cute.’

He had always been my favorite character…

People called Izumi a clueless pushover, but I liked him for being exactly that.

There were too many bad people in the world.

When everyone calculates their moves in their heads before dealing with others, a person who approaches sincerely is incredibly rare.

…Well.

For now, he’s my bus driver.

‘No time for sentiment.’

Emotions have no place in a mission.

Clear plans. Perfect execution.

For the past year, I hadn’t taken a single day off as I worked to shape the raw gem that was Eustinas. All so I could return home.

For that goal, I had to become a piece on the chessboard too.

And my position?

The queen, perhaps.

“Going to the palace makes me nervous!”

Izumi was the king.

If the protagonist died, it would be all over.

“Kings aren’t so special. Once they die, they’re just slabs of meat.”

Cedric was… what?

‘A bishop? Knight? Pawn?’

I narrowed my eyes, evaluating his value. Then I looked outside as the carriage rolled deeper into the city.

The palace appeared in the distance.

Within those walls, the protagonist would face his first trial.

Along with a reward.

“I’ll never forget your name.”

I smiled at the thought of Lilliana.

In the original story, she lost her mother, suffered under a tyrant father, and endured a tormented childhood due to her brother being brainwashed by demons.

But now, things were different.

The queen was alive. The king hadn’t gone mad.

So what kind of child would Lilliana have grown up to be?

‘Hmm…’

I was a little excited to find out.

Just wait, original main heroine.

And my bishop.

***

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince’s behavior has grown increasingly out of control. The palace maids are suffering terribly.”

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has dismissed every tutor we’ve assigned him.”

“The Crown Prince kidnapped and assaulted a noblewoman’s maid.”

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince—”

“Enough!”

Unable to bear the constant complaints any longer, King Edwin shouted.

“So, what is it you want? Are you trying to pressure me into dethroning Diorld?”

“N-No, Your Majesty!”

At the mention of dethronement, the nobles turned pale.

Though it had been a while since blood was shed, every noble currently in office remembered how Prince Edwin had ascended the throne.

The man who cut down even his own family.

He was not afraid to spill blood.

And he deeply cherished his only wife and children.

That was the first reason why Diorld, who was promiscuous, ignorant, and violent, still remained crown prince.

“…Sigh.”

After stepping down from the royal audience chamber, Edwin removed his ceremonial robes. He’d heard enough complaints about his son to last a lifetime.

‘As if I don’t know.’

Diorld was not fit to be king.

Loving and caring for his son was a separate matter. Honestly, looking at his behavior, it was obvious the moment he inherited the throne, the kingdom would collapse.

‘But what choice do I have?’

The second reason Diorld hadn’t been dethroned—

Terra lacked royal heirs.

As the fifth prince, Edwin had slaughtered all his siblings to reach the throne.

Now, there were only four legitimate royals left: the king, queen, prince, and princess.

If the crown prince were dethroned, the only option would be to marry off the princess and have her husband inherit the throne. That would harm the monarchy’s legitimacy and authority.

And most importantly—

‘I don’t want Lilliana forced into a marriage she doesn’t want.’

Unlike his son, his daughter Lilliana was wise and intelligent.

Sometimes he wished their genders had been swapped.

‘If only my daughter were the troublemaker—I’d just let her be.’

He clutched his head and sighed. His worries ran deep.

It was then—

“Your Majesty, we’ve received a communication from the Holy Kingdom.”

Edwin raised his head sharply.

“What is it?”

“The Saintess wishes to visit the royal palace for a short while—”

“Grant her request immediately.”

He didn’t even let the report finish before giving his command, and the attendant bowed his head. Edwin muttered in disbelief.

“The Saintess… is coming?”

The Saintess rarely left the Holy Kingdom. Since he couldn’t easily leave the country either, it had been nearly three years since he’d last seen her.

With a heart full of anticipation, he shouted,

“Prepare a grand banquet! Make it as splendid and formal as possible!”