ABSCS 11

Chapter 11

 The Black Death (6)

Lilliana, First Princess of the Empire of Jik.

Today again, she gazed out the royal garden window toward her mother’s room.

“Princess, you can’t go to Her Majesty the Queen’s chambers.”

“Why not?”

“Her Majesty is very ill. But please don’t worry too much. She’ll recover soon.”

Her mother hadn’t stepped outside her chambers in over two months.

Even when she asked the palace maids, they only said she was sick. No one told her the exact name of the illness or the symptoms.

But that didn’t mean she would just give up.

When access to the Queen’s quarters was blocked, Lilliana began using the garden pathway instead. The royal gardens were all interconnected, and there were plenty of places to hide, so it wasn’t difficult.

That’s when she saw it.

“M-Mother?”

Her mother’s skin had turned black, and she was dying.

The shock from that moment was indescribable. And the mood in the palace had only grown graver by the day.

“I heard Her Majesty might pass away soon.”

“Even the most renowned doctors say there’s nothing they can do.”

“What a shame. She’s such a good person.”

The whispers she overheard from the servants solidified her fears.

‘Mother…’

She cried in hiding for days.

Her once-healthy mother was now on the brink of death.

She didn’t want to believe it, but every day, her mother—seen only through the window—looked weaker and weaker. Now, she’d even lost the color in her face.

But today felt different.

“They brought in some commoner girl?”

“Healing? As if that’s going to work.”

Overhearing the servants chatter again, Lilliana climbed a tree in the garden like usual to peek into her mother’s room.

‘What’s that?’

Unlike before, the room was crowded. Lilliana frowned at the sight of nobles packed into the space.

Then it happened.

“…Huh?”

A girl her age with white hair held her mother’s hand—and a burst of white light erupted.

It was a sight so holy it sent chills through her heart.

As if that wasn’t shocking enough…

“…Mother?”

Bathed in light, her mother looked completely healed, as though she’d been purified.

Even the blackened, agonizing patches of skin had disappeared.

Lilliana’s hand lost strength on the tree branch. She immediately jumped down and ran toward her mother’s room.

Around the same time, in the Holy Kingdom of Aegis.

“A Saint?”

“That’s correct, Your Holiness.”

Pope Zephyros rubbed the pen he was holding as he listened to the priest’s report.

“I’ve heard rumors myself. It’s not something we can ignore easily on our side.”

“…According to reports, white light emanated from her body, and the sick were healed instantly. As if…”

“A miracle.”

At Zephyros’s word, the priest fell silent.

A miracle.

In the past, saints occasionally performed them. But that was no longer the case.

People were slowly losing faith in religion. Outside the Holy Kingdom, most people didn’t even know the teachings of the Goddess.

As a result, the Holy Kingdom’s influence had drastically waned. Kings no longer needed “divine legitimacy” to rule.

And now, a miracle had occurred.

By a girl with white hair and blue eyes—just like the Goddess herself.

“You said it was in the Kingdom of Terra?”

He didn’t know the full situation.

But if it could be used, he would use it. That was his principle.

“I must meet this girl.”

“What do you intend to do once you meet her?”

In response to the priest’s question, Zephyros gave a sly smile and said,

“If the rumors are true, she’s the first chosen of Lady Aether in centuries. Naturally, we must honor and serve her here in our Holy Kingdom.”

I turned down all of the king’s generous offers. Instead, I made a single request.

“I want to continue healing patients who need help. Could I borrow a horse to travel faster?”

Be recognized as a Saint by 100,000 people.

That lofty, arduous goal left no time for rest.

The king and his ministers seemed deeply moved by my decision. There wasn’t a trace of the suspicion they had shown at the start.

“If that is your wish, then we shall prepare a carriage and servants to assist you.”

Given my image and poor horseback riding skills, the carriage was a better idea anyway, so I accepted the king’s help.

But I declined the servants. I planned to travel with Mars for the time being anyway.

‘At least until the Holy Kingdom comes to fetch me.’

The Holy Kingdom of Aegis, true to its name, was ruled by priests, bishops, and the pope. It was also where the protagonist is recognized as a Hero in the very first chapter of the original story.

‘If I’m going to pose as a Saint, contact with the Holy Kingdom is a must.’

What if they don’t come for me?

That’s not possible.

“May the blessings of the Lord be upon you.”

“The Lord is always watching over us.”

“Don’t thank me—thank Lady Aether. I’m just a faithful servant of Hers.”

When I made my rounds treating plague victims, I deliberately said things like this to lay the groundwork.

There’s a reason people started calling me the Saint and the Daughter of the Divine.

‘The rumors are bound to spread.’

A miracle that saves a dying person with a single prayer?

They’ll have no choice but to come find me.

Just as I was preparing to leave the palace with all my plans in place, an unexpected encounter occurred.

“You’re… the one who healed Her Majesty the Queen?”

I quickly scanned the girl in front of me.

Blonde hair and red eyes.

She wore modest clothes, but her mature expression and restrained demeanor were far from childlike.

It was obvious who she was.

“Yes.”

Lilliana Louise Terrario.

The First Princess of the Terra royal family and a future top-tier mage.

On top of that, she possessed perfect memory.

But I couldn’t act like I knew her.

“And who are you?”

Anyone with sight could tell she resembled the king, but “Eustinas” had no way of knowing that.

Startled by my innocent question, Lilliana studied my face before replying,

“I’m… Lily.”

‘Straight to the nickname?’

It seemed she didn’t want to reveal her identity as a princess.

Who knows why.

“What’s your name?”

“I’m Eustinas.”

“Eustinas…”

She mouthed my name a few times, then asked seriously,

“I heard His Majesty promised you a vast fortune and a noble title. Why did you refuse it?”

That’s what you were curious about?

Well, it made sense.

Lilliana had a strong sense of royal pride. In the early parts of the story, she often clashed with Cedric, who came from the slums, because of it.

Someone like her probably couldn’t understand why I turned down the chance to become nobility.

My answer was already decided.

I smiled gently.

“The teachings of the Lord say we must always do good from the humblest place. I’m simply following that.”

“The teachings… of the Lord?”

Lilliana’s pupils trembled. Her expression was like a tired office worker suddenly being approached by a street preacher.

But what can I do when the quest tells me to be a Saint? She should just listen as payback for saving her mom.

I looked at the still-stunned Lilliana and gave her a warm smile.

“Well then, I’ll be going.”

“Wait!”

What now?

Feeling a bit annoyed, I turned around—only for her to declare with determined eyes,

“I’ll never forget your name.”

And at that moment—

[You have changed the life of Lilliana Louise Terrario.]

[Good Deed Points +100,000]

A status window appeared before my eyes.

Hiding my shock, I calmly responded,

“It’s an honor, Lady Lily.”

But the moment I turned my back, my face nearly split in half with glee. I struggled to keep my lips from curling up.

‘This is huge! Massive!’

I already felt it with Cedric, but the second time really drove it home:

‘Changing the life of a main character earns you a massive point bonus.’

Which could only mean one thing:

‘I’m on the right path.’

My plan is working.