“I—I deeply apologize for disappointing you!”
Callista bowed her head and shut his eyes tightly.
Sitting in the chair in front of him was someone with their robe pulled low over their face. Callista stammered.
“They were even more insane than the rumors said—no, worse than the rumors! They dared to point blades at the necks of the temple priests and claimed the sacred relic as their own…!”
“…”
“I-I tried my best to handle it, but they threatened to take my life, so I…”
His voice gradually faded away.
Callista’s hands trembled as a cold silence pressed on his chest like a weight.
Not only had he failed to retrieve the sacred relic, but he had also humiliated the temple.
But he had no other choice. He couldn’t let himself die in vain at the Tigris estate.
Shaking with unease, he added in a pleading voice,
“B-But I made sure to warn them! I told them that one day we would take the relic back! I made that perfectly clear…!”
“Yes, it must have been a difficult situation for you, High Priest. Calm yourself.”
Callista flinched.
The reply was so gentle, as if the speaker wasn’t angry at all.
Daring to lift his head slightly in disbelief, he saw a faint smile on the lips beneath the deep hood.
‘He… understands me…!’
Callista’s throat tightened as he fought back tears of relief.
“N-No, I’m just ashamed I couldn’t bring back the relic… I truly don’t know what to say…”
“Don’t say that. It’s my fault for asking the High Priest to take on such a burdensome task.”
Tears welled up in Callista’s eyes. He cried out, his face contorted with emotion.
“No…! It was all my own inadequacy! For some reason, Lady Tigris seems to believe that the temple is behind Mayer Roose…!”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, I tried to tell her otherwise, that it was a misunderstanding, but it was useless. She seemed entirely convinced…”
“Tsk…”
A sympathetic sigh escaped from under the robe.
Callista, now flat on the floor, wiped the sweat trickling down his temples.
Just then, a shadow fell across him.
‘That person’ had risen from the chair and was now standing before him.
Callista, startled, looked up at the eyes barely visible beneath the hood.
The same kind voice asked,
“Then tell me, High Priest—do you also believe that the temple is behind Mayer Roose?”
“…Pardon?”
“I asked whether you, too, think the temple is backing Mayer Roose.”
Something in the tone was chilling. Callista swallowed hard and quickly shook his head.
“N-No! Why would the temple do such a thing? I mean, yes, arrogant Tigris has been a thorn in our side, but there’s no reason to go that far…”
“Hahaha…!”
A low, dark laugh echoed through the room. Callista shut his mouth immediately and bowed his head.
His confused gaze turned toward the shadow flickering on the floor.
“You’re both right and wrong, High Priest.”
Callista could hardly believe his ears. The long hem of the robe swirled as the figure turned back to the chair.
As he sat back down, his tone took on a completely different air.
“They were right. I gave the order.”
“…!!”
“I gave the relic to Mayer Roose. I told them to brainwash Lady Tigris—to make her hate her father and loathe the daughter of Duke Rohan.”
Callista’s eyes widened in disbelief. His mouth hung open, unable to comprehend what he was hearing.
But the speaker continued on, completely unfazed.
“It was quite a while ago. I thought everything had gone well, but now, in the final stages, it’s falling apart. It’s a pity.”
“W-What are you saying…?”
“Still, I had some hope for you. The relic was too valuable to lose so easily.”
Footsteps echoed ominously through the room. Callista instinctively turned his head toward the sound.
Several figures with black robes concealing their faces approached him.
“You’ve done well, High Priest. Even though you didn’t meet my expectations, your story was quite entertaining.”
Callista’s expression froze in shock as strong hands roughly pulled him to his feet. His voice trembled.
“W-What is this? Please explain! I-I must’ve done something wrong, but…!”
But the robed figures were too strong. Callista couldn’t resist as he was dragged toward the door.
“P-Please spare me!! I beg you! Please, have mercy!!”
His voice cracked with terror.
But that person did not respond. They simply sat calmly in the chair, watching with amused interest.
“Please! Spare me!!”
Callista’s screams were cut off as the door slammed shut.
A cold voice murmured in the room.
“That girl’s become quite bold, hasn’t she?”
The candle flame flickered unsteadily.
“Ah, I finally feel alive again.”
I let out a relaxed sigh as I collapsed onto the bed. Then, catching a delicious smell wafting through the room, I turned my head.
On a small table in the corner of the room, a bowl of steaming soup and some bread had been placed.
“…Did a maid stop by?”
I murmured softly and quickly walked over to the table.
The golden-brown bread was studded with raisins, and the soup had small chunks of bacon in it.
Smiling uncontrollably, I grabbed a spoon and took a big bite of soup.
Warmth spread down my throat and throughout my whole body. I shivered with delight, eyes closed in satisfaction.
Today marked the fifth day since I entered the northern region of the Tigris estate—also, the first day I stayed at an inn.
Which meant, up until now, I had either curled up in a carriage or camped outdoors.
For someone used to soft beds, it was unbearable.
Somehow, I had become too accustomed to comfortable sleeping arrangements. The hard ground made it impossible to fall asleep.
Of course, when I had complained about the discomfort, Father had said:
“If you want, I can arrange for you to stay at an inn anytime.”
But I couldn’t bring myself to accept that offer—because everyone else was sleeping just fine under the stars.
Some knights even laid down on grass and used rocks as pillows. Were they forest people or something?
Anyway, given the situation, I couldn’t just blurt out, “I’ll sleep at an inn by myself.”
‘Still, we’re past the mountains now.’
It wasn’t like we’d been sleeping in forests the whole time.
In the earlier days, we passed several inns and enjoyed decent accommodations.
But once we entered the north, things changed.
Though fertile, the Tigris territory’s northern region was a different story.
The north was dense with forests and treacherous mountains—largely untouched by humans.
The only notable settlement was the rural village of Plaou, beyond which lay the Cursed Land, home to dangerous monsters.
We were currently in a small village just beneath Plaou.
‘Which means, after today, we’ll reach Plaou.’
Once we arrived in Plaou, I planned to find a new place to stay and remain there for five to seven days.
During that time, Father would lead the knights into the Cursed Land to eliminate the monsters that had multiplied over the winter.
And I…
‘I need to find the prince within five days.’
Ruvell—the male lead of the original novel, Estelline’s lover, and the strongest knight in the world.
He was a handsome boy with blazing black hair and mysterious golden eyes.
Despite his pretty face, he possessed terrifying power—some even called him a monster.
The original novel’s plot was fairly typical.
One day, Ruvell was attacked by a mysterious figure, severely wounded, and fled to the back alleys of the capital.
There, he was found by Estelline, who used her healing powers to treat him.
Naturally, the two fell in love.
Ruvell later reemerged in high society and the political scene, supported by Estelline.
He steadily rose in influence while serving faithfully as her protector.
Of course, I died before finishing the novel, so I never read to the end.
But once I saw Ruvell’s physical description, I was sure of one thing:
‘He’s the missing prince!’
And I wasn’t the only one who thought so.
The novel repeatedly mentioned the “missing prince” and the imperial symbol: golden eyes.
Ruvell, with his black hair and golden eyes, was obviously the lost prince—and the male lead.
In fact, every chapter featuring Ruvell was flooded with similar comments:
“No need to argue—he’s definitely the prince.”
“As a 10-year veteran of romance fantasy, I guarantee it. Even if I read this on a plane, I’d still know Ruvell is the prince. No objections.”
— [How the Saintess Saved the Empire, Ep. 23]♡ 83
“OMG, black hair and golden eyes?? Delicious already.”
“Right? He totally gives off ‘big loyal dog’ vibes. Can’t wait!”
“Estelline ♥ Ruvell—cheering for our couple~ ^^ Fighting!”
I had been one of the many readers leaving those kinds of comments.
“…Alright. I’ll find him within five days, no matter what.”
I muttered with determination and took a big bite of bread.
I remembered a key conversation from the novel, when Estelline and Ruvell first grew closer:
‘Ruvell. Where did you come from?’
‘…From Plaou. A small village in the north of the Tigris estate.’
Plaou.
The very place I was heading.
I planned to use him—the lost prince—to check both the temple and the imperial family.
Because I had to stop the destruction of Tigris that was soon to come.
