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Chapter 17
‘Aaaah—this is absolutely terrifying!!’
The wind howled violently.
I’d already been hit by a truck once, so surviving a brush with death twice should be easy, right?
Bullshit.
If something is hard to do once, it’s just as hard the second time.
Gravity seized us at a frightening speed, as if it had been waiting for us to hang in midair.
I didn’t have the courage to look down and squeezed my eyes shut. So this is it for me now…….
I believe.
“Shin Ari!”
Your Majesty only.
Even through my panic, I heard His Majesty’s wonderful shout, and then my falling body came to an abrupt stop with a dull impact.
“Ugh.”
“Hng.”
“Uh…….”
Groans burst out one after another from His Majesty, me, and Noel.
As the shock subsided, Captain Henkel came over and took Noel—who had lost consciousness—from my arms.
Captain…… Can’t you see that I’m in His Majesty’s arms right now…… Help me.
The top of my head stings.
With my eyes barely open, I cautiously glanced upward and swallowed my breath.
“……Gasp.”
“Saintess.”
Did I die just now? A handsome grim reaper is smiling right in front of me.
The ominous black shadow cast over His Majesty’s face was clearly just because of the backlighting.
Right. Of course it is.
“You do know that the building you jumped from was six stories high, correct?”
“Uh…… um…… well…… once my headache eased, I heard Your Majesty’s voice, so…….”
I couldn’t very well say, ‘So I trusted your monstrous physical abilities and jumped.’
His beautifully curved eyes were smiling, but not his pupils at all.
My heart trembled.
I didn’t know whether it was because I was scared of an angry His Majesty, or because I was only now realizing that I was cradled against his chest…….
It’s the latter. I’m doomed.
‘What is this position? What is his arm wrapped around my shoulder? Am I sitting on His Majesty’s thigh right now?! This is insane. Get down right now!’
……As if that’s possible.
My entire body is frozen stiff. I have to be absurdly careful even just to breathe. Ah, I’m out of breath.
His Majesty let out a low sigh.
And is it for real that his bangs are slightly disheveled right now? He’s giving off this decadent vibe.
“Saintess.”
“……?”
Perhaps because he was mindful of the surrounding knights, His Majesty forced down whatever he wanted to say and smiled.
“……It seems we’ll have a lot to talk about in the carriage on the way back.”
Heh heh heh. Even when I tried to mimic Priest Raul’s benevolent smile, I couldn’t regain my inner calm.
I’m in big trouble. Really big trouble now.
Fortunately, just before we left the temple, we received word that Noel had regained consciousness.
Saying I had something to discuss with him alone, I went by myself to the infirmary.
“Noel! That’s such a relief. You’re awake. Are you feeling any better?”
“……Saintess.”
Noel was sitting on the infirmary bed with a thoroughly frightened expression.
“I’m sorry……. I’m so sorry……. Because of me, Saintess, you…….”
His small hands clutching the blanket trembled finely.
I placed my hand over his.
Then I met his eyes and smiled playfully, as if it were no big deal.
“I’m totally fine. Not a scratch on me.”
“But…….”
“We both survived. You remember the promise we made before jumping, right?”
Noel pressed his lips together and gave a small nod.
But there was still something unsettled in his expression.
“Do you know why I came today?”
“To see us……?”
“No, to celebrate your birthday.”
Noel’s eyes went wide.
You didn’t know, did you? Neither did I.
It’s a secret from Noel, but honestly, I only found out not long ago myself.
“Noel gets depressed every year on his birthday. So we wanted him to spend this one smiling, and asked His Majesty to invite the Saintess,” Sonya whispered to me in her grown-up way.
That’s how I found out.
“Me?”
“You’re the person we wanted to see the most, Saintess. Everyone said their wish was to meet you. Saintess…… we really like you.”
I couldn’t properly hear the rest of her hurried words because they were drowned out by the surrounding noise, but shy Sonya’s face struck my heart hard.
After that, I thought how glad I was that I’d ditched the helmet for once, and how grateful I was to Siana and the maids for dressing me up like a proper person.
Then suddenly, I noticed the ribbon I’d been clutching in my hand ever since before we fell.
‘Ah!’
So it was gift wrapping…….
Should I be relieved that it wasn’t just him showing off his charm?
Or should I cry over His Majesty’s thoroughness, which ended up surprising even me?
“Everyone’s happy about the day you were born, Noel.”
“Really……?”
“I heard it myself. Truly.”
“……But I’m scared that my brothers and sisters will be disappointed when they find out what I did today. And the teachers, and Grandpa too…….”
Noel’s voice, which had briefly held hope, quickly darkened.
I placed the neatly folded ribbon into Noel’s hand.
“It’s okay. Everyone knows it was an accident. But if you’re still scared, take this. As proof that I’m on your side.”
“But this is something more precious to you than your own life, Saintess.”
Noel said in surprise.
It’s impressive that he even remembers something I said in that situation.
……Wait, come to think of it, Noel probably remembers people’s faces really well too, doesn’t he?
That’s kind of enviable.
“You can have it.”
Because even without it, I feel like I’m already in big trouble.
The carriage interrogation is terrifying.
“……Thank you.”
Noel stared at the ribbon he’d received and then cautiously spoke.
“Saintess, could you come again next time?”
Now that I think about it, Noel won’t be able to leave the temple until he turns ten.
So what. I’ll come.
If I hand His Majesty a wish coupon or something, it’ll work out somehow.
“Of course. I’ll come again.”
“Really?”
“We’ve been through life and death together, haven’t we?”
Ah. Maybe “life and death” wasn’t the best word choice.
Sensing the mood sinking, I quickly cupped Noel’s cheeks and said with a smile,
“Noel, happy birthday.”
Only then did Noel smile brightly for the first time that day.
Look at this kid—what a face. Not quite on par with His Majesty, but once he grows up, he’ll definitely drive people crazy.
The future of Jendal looks bright. I’m very pleased.
By the time Marquis Randet arrived home, it was late evening.
Ordering that warm wine be brought, he sank deeply into the sofa.
“Did you have a safe trip to the Duchy of Derarch?”
The old butler asked after him.
He’d been worrying ever since the marquis left the estate.
“The Grand Duke agreed to sponsor one ship to be sent to Doitam next month. If this trade concludes successfully, he promised continued support for our family’s business.”
“That’s wonderful news. I’ll make sure all preparations regarding Doitam are handled thoroughly.”
The old butler’s face brightened.
A sponsor willing to fund an entire ship was rare.
And on top of that, support from the Grand Duke of Derarch.
It was an occasion worthy of throwing a party at once, but Marquis Randet showed no sign of joy.
Looking utterly drained, he merely lifted the cup of warmed wine.
“Has the Grand Duke of Derarch recovered much of his health?”
“He was seated in a wheelchair, but he seemed quite vigorous.”
“That’s a relief.”
The Grand Duke of Derarch was the lord who had produced the current emperor.
Once a man who lived by employing tenant farmers, he was rewarded with vast lands and the title of count for sending Alrend Leodius to the Temple of Nisephoreel.
From a certain point onward, his influence grew explosively, like a dam bursting.
His growth truly took wing five years ago, the year after Leodius became emperor.
Derarch was granted the title of grand duke and declared his territory a duchy.
It was the customary path for a lord who produced an emperor in Jendal.
With the establishment of the duchy, Derarch’s power continued to swell, and at its peak, the Grand Duke of Derarch came to wield influence second only to the emperor himself.
But starting the year before last, the Grand Duke of Derarch had secluded himself in his ducal residence, citing poor health.
“You look tired.”
Marquis Randet flicked his hand slightly.
As the butler said, the marquis was tired.
Perhaps from maintaining tension the entire time before the Grand Duke of Derarch.
He took a cigarette from his breast pocket.
“Was there anything out of the ordinary while I was away?”
“A message arrived from the Temple of Nisephoreel.”
“Hazel must have been pressing for goods again. Tsk. He knows we’ll send them once the ship reaches port.”
“No, sir. It’s just that…… they said there had been an accident involving the young master…….”
“An accident?”
Marquis Randet froze mid-motion as he was about to light the cigarette and sat up straight.
Afraid the marquis might grow angry, the butler hurriedly added,
“But the young master was unharmed and is safe. They said the Saintess was with him. It is the blessing of the god Seikan.”
“Ah. Yes. Of course. It has to be. There must be divine blessing.”
Reassured, the marquis collapsed back into his seat and leaned heavily against the sofa.
The oracle marked him as a special child.
The child’s life itself proved it.
The surroundings around his grandson were always noisy, but the grandson himself was always unharmed.
“Noel, that child is…….”
Marquis Randet let Noel’s secret—something he had never even told the butler—slip out mixed with smoke.
The oracle he received when the child turned one year old.
In this world where both his son and daughter-in-law were dead, only the marquis knew the contents of that oracle now.
‘A child who will become emperor.’
“Your Majesty, do you know what people say when a cow climbs the palace stairs?”
“…….”
“Creepy.”
Seriously creepy. This atmosphere.
At my joke, His Majesty didn’t so much as twitch an eyebrow and spoke to me as I stood in front of the desk in his study.
“……You came here at dawn—what exactly are you doing? Have you finally stopped sneaking around to spy?”
Look at that dismissive gaze.
I’m the one standing, His Majesty is the one sitting, and yet I still feel looked down on.
Damn. I could just lie down right here.
‘No, that’s not it.’
I slapped my eyelids lightly a few times and opened my eyes.
The slight blur in my vision is perfect.
There’s a reason I aimed for the early-morning hours when His Majesty is alone.
“Your Majesty, I beg of you.”
