It seemed he didn’t like that Edith was worrying about Marquis Selturode.
“Well, I admit that. No matter how much he cared about his daughter, it was something that could not be forgiven.”
“That is correct.”
“Still, I understand. If Jeron had been in the same situation, I think I would have done the same.”
“…”
At the mention of Jeron, Luzbel’s mouth shut tightly.
“You still do not understand?”
“Jeron’s situation is still a very difficult matter. But if you had been the sorcerer, Edith, I think I would have hidden it willingly.”
“What are you saying…?”
“What do you think you would have done if it had been me?”
“I am not sure. Would I not report you and then visit you in prison?”
“!!”
Luzbel’s eyes widened as if shocked.
“You would really report me…?”
“Yes. I really would.”
“But you said you would not if it were Jeron.”
“Jeron and you are different.”
“…”
As if sulking, Luzbel quietly took a step back from Edith.
At that, she burst out laughing briefly.
“Is that funny?”
His stiff expression showed he was deeply offended.
“I do not know what you are thinking, but it is not like that.”
“…Please explain.”
“Jeron is my son. That child is someone I think will leave my arms someday. He will meet someone he likes and all that. And at that time, that person will take good care of Jeron. But you, Luzbel, are someone I will keep by my side for my whole life.”
“…For your whole life… you will keep me by your side?”
“What, are you not going to live with me for life?”
“No! I will live with you for life!”
His voice, which had sounded like it was dying, instantly became full of life.
It was really funny.
When she first met him as Edith, he had been cold and frigid, yet now his thoughts showed so plainly on his face.
“Rather than getting caught later and ending up separated for life because you went to prison, just get punished quickly and come out. I will reform you properly. And if you are still the same, then I will report you again.”
“…I absolutely must not do anything bad. Because I have to live with you for my whole life.”
“Behave well.”
“Yes…”
Luzbel replied with a shy smile.
***
The good days were over.
The peaceful times of leisurely learning archery with the Duke and choosing dresses with the Duchess.
“…They announced it.”
“It’s faster than I expected.”
“Tsk.”
There was no reason for the Temple to delay announcing the Saint.
Their influence had been steadily declining.
The Imperial Family was also troubled by the flooding in the Valencia territory, so this time their interests aligned.
Without delay, they immediately announced to the people of the Empire that the Saint had been found.
Soon, the Capital fell into an uproar.
People gathered one after another, cheering and chanting Edith’s name.
Even though she hadn’t done anything yet.
It seemed to be simply because of the symbolism of the Saint, and their belief that the rain would soon stop.
Now that things had come to this, the time for Edith to leave was also approaching.
The one who was saddest was House Capanteni.
“Edith…”
The Duke and Duchess, along with her brothers, called her name with longing.
They looked reluctant to part, but the ones who stood between them were the holy knights.
“Saint, please come.”
The Temple had assigned priests and holy knights to her.
That was because she was the Saint they cherished dearly.
As soon as the fact that Edith was the Saint was announced, they came rushing over.
She had originally planned to leave anyway, but thanks to that, the schedule was moved up even more.
“You really do not have to follow me. There’s a temple in the Valencia Duchy too.”
“That would be unacceptable. The temple there has greatly declined and does not have many priests, so of course we must accompany you.”
The fact that the High Priest of the Capital personally followed as Edith’s attending priest showed just how much the Temple was doting on her.
Edith only felt burdened.
“Haa.”
She had said several times that they didn’t need to follow her, but the priests and holy knights were stubborn as stone walls.
“Serving the Saint is our joy.”
“…As you wish.”
In the end, Edith raised both hands in surrender.
“Please board the carriage.”
“Edith will ride with me.”
The Temple had prepared a separate carriage and naturally tried to escort her, but the one who cut in between them this time was Luzbel.
“…Serving the Saint is the duty of priests. Your Grace, please step aside.”
“It seems Edith is uncomfortable with you.”
“Everything is still unfamiliar to her, that is all. The more so, should she not become accustomed to it?”
The High Priest smiled faintly as he spoke and tried to draw Edith toward himself.
“Do not.”
Before he could even touch her, Luzbel cut him off.
“What do you think you are doing?”
“You should not touch her carelessly. Is she not the precious Saint?”
“No…!”
The High Priest glared at Luzbel, his anger rising.
Beside him, Jeron hurried over and stood close to Edith.
“You’ll go with us, right?”
His eyes clearly wished for them to go together. Even if he hadn’t asked, she had intended to go together anyway.
“High Priest.”
“Yes, Saint.”
It seemed this issue would drag on endlessly unless she decided it herself, so Edith spoke.
At that, the High Priest’s expression changed instantly, and he replied respectfully.
“I will go with His Grace.”
“That cannot…!”
He looked deeply shocked.
“Are we truly making you uncomfortable?”
“…No, it is not like that, so please do not worry.”
“Yes…”
He didn’t look convinced, but since Edith said she would go with Luzbel, he stepped back.
“Ha, then it is settled now, right?”
“Yes…”
And so the High Priest and the holy knights withdrew.
“…I will be going now.”
“If you need anything, tell us anytime. And if you’re in danger, you must tell us as well.”
“I understand.”
She turned to say her farewell to her family.
“Edith. Even after you leave… always be careful.”
“Of course.”
“Ahem.”
The Duke glanced sideways at Luzbel, clearly displeased.
It seemed he had something to say, so Luzbel, standing behind, carefully asked,
“If you have something to say, please feel free to say it.”
“Ahem.”
But the Duke only kept clearing his throat.
“…I will take good care of Edith. You will have nothing to worry about.”
Luzbel answered tactfully.
At that, the Duke briefly averted his gaze and muttered in a small voice,
“I will entrust her to you…”
‘Oh?’
Edith looked at him in surprise.
“Yes…!”
Luzbel, who hadn’t expected to hear such words, immediately brightened and answered like a disciplined soldier.
After exchanging their final goodbyes, the carriage carrying Edith departed.
After her family, who had been watching her leave with deep reluctance, finally turned away—
A black figure that had been silently watching Edith leave slowly revealed itself.
“It seems they are heading to the Valencia Duchy.”
And from the shadows, it reported this to someone.
***
Inside the silent carriage,
Jeron was nestled in Edith’s arms, staring only out the window.
Edith could feel that Luzbel was sending her a look, but she pretended not to notice.
Unable to endure the pressure, he spoke first to Jeron.
“It has been a while since you returned to the duchy. How does it feel?”
“I do not have any particular thoughts.”
“Um…”
“Yes.”
“…Would you sit beside me once?”
“No.”
“…”
There was no way he would leave the seat beside Edith and go sit next to Luzbel unless he had lost his mind.
“Ahem. Shall we look outside together and see what’s there?”
The moment Luzbel spoke, Jeron’s gaze turned back inside the carriage.
“What will you do once we return to the ducal estate?”
“I will do whatever, I guess.”
“…Is there no one you wish to see?”
“No. Not really.”
The servants who usually took care of him were already attending to him even now.
At most, there was Monet, but he wasn’t that close to Monet.
Monet was Luzbel’s responsibility.
And he didn’t think Luzbel would particularly want to see Monet either.
He believed Luzbel was that kind of person.
“When we return, would you sometimes go for walks… no, would you play with me?”
“I am busy.”
Luzbel tried in his own way to continue the conversation, but Jeron cut him off mercilessly.
It was a suffocating standoff, yet Edith wore an unconcerned expression.
It seemed that simply seeing him make the effort was enough for her.
“It is awkward, so please stop talking to me now.”
Even that effort was completely crushed by Jeron’s firm rejection.
“…I’m sorry.”
In the end, the short conversation ended with Luzbel’s apology.
***
Even Edith was starting to feel a little conscious of the atmosphere.
Jeron, who had completely shut his mouth so Luzbel wouldn’t speak to him, was radiating an aura that said not to approach him.
And so, in that suffocating coexistence, the carriage ran and ran, and eventually came to a stop.
Knock, knock.
At the sound of someone knocking on the carriage door, they opened it, and a knight spoke.
“We cannot go any farther. The sun is setting, so it would be best to rest here for now.”
“Alright.”
“Yes. We will find an inn, so please wait a moment.”
The place they had entered was a small village.
After a while, the knights who had gone into the village returned, saying they had secured an inn.
Perhaps because it was located in a remote area, there didn’t seem to be any outsiders.
As they entered the old inn, the owner greeted them.
“Welcome!”
Creak.
“Hm?”
However, Edith, who had been quietly waiting behind them, tilted her head without realizing it.
It wasn’t just the creaking of the old door, but from the moment she entered, she had felt it.
This village.
Somehow, the atmosphere was subtly strange.
