Chapter 76 ….
If only they had the miracle flower mentioned in the Book of Prophecy, even a dragon whose strength had withered could be restored. But the flower’s name, its characteristics, and even whether it truly existed were all unclear, so the Holy Kingdom had practically given up searching for it.
So when I said that I had found the flower, Seriel couldn’t help widening her eyes.
“…You found it?”
Seriel didn’t even know its name and simply referred to it as that, but when I combined the clues I knew, it became clear that the miracle flower was Abenrise.
I nodded.
“That’s amazing. Even after mobilizing all the Holy Kingdom’s intelligence networks, we still couldn’t find it… And you know even the confidential details about the Last Dragon as if it were nothing. I suppose I should finally accept that you’re not an ordinary person.”
“I’m ordinary, Saintess.”
Words like miracle or extraordinary seemed better suited to someone like her—someone who saved people.
It wasn’t as if I lacked pride as a magician, but when I saw Wilhelm collapsed before my eyes, honestly, the only thing I felt was helplessness.
As I stared at the floor with sad eyes, Seriel continued the conversation.
“Heroes may save the world, but the people who make up the world are ordinary people.”
Her words carried a warm healing power that soothed the heart. Despite being exploited by the temple, Seriel had never lost her concern for others. Perhaps that steadfast spirit was what united the Apostles of Light.
I suddenly understood why Shadow respected the saintess so much.
And I too.
The fondness I had once felt for Seriel as a reader had now developed into trust.
Choosing to seek her out had definitely been the right decision.
I stood up and extended my hand to her.
“Then please accept my proposal and help create a world without suffering.”
Even if the Last Dragon recovered, it wouldn’t change the course of the war. The dragon’s first target to purge would be the Demon King, and while those two transcendent beings clashed, Rosinante and Seriel would establish peace.
There was no need for me to interfere beyond that.
Resolving the resentment between the Imperial family and the dragon—that’s Rosinante’s responsibility as a member of the royal bloodline.
Even if I didn’t step forward, Rosinante would move when the time came.
This doesn’t even count as twisting the original story.
I wasn’t trying to save the world.
I only wanted to protect someone precious to me.
In other words, this negotiation was nothing more than a plan to save Wilhelm without affecting the flow of fate.
How the battle between the dragon and the Demon King would end was something that happened far in the future—something the original story never even reached. Compared to that, my desperate attempt to deal with Wilhelm’s worsening health right now was a very realistic action.
Still, criticism would be unavoidable.
Just imagining the elders whispering behind my back already made my head ache, but there was no turning back now.
Because the moment Seriel grasped my hand, the negotiation was sealed.
“I’ll carry that wish with me.”
* * *
“If you accept my invitation, I’ll believe you when you say you’re perfectly fine.”
“You seem to have quite the talent for negotiation. But honestly, if it’s an invitation from you, there’s no reason for me to refuse.”
I had provoked him with those words, but Wilhelm agreeing so readily made him no less easygoing. It would be a problem if the opposite happened, but things going smoothly wasn’t an issue.
Still, Wilhelm seemed to trust me a little too much. Maybe I should just let that slide.
On a bright and clear day, a carriage carrying Duke Grimroar raced through the streets.
Wilhelm, who had been casually glancing at the signboards outside the window, finally broke the stiff silence.
“I didn’t expect to travel this far. Did you choose this place so I could enjoy the sea breeze?”
The sparkling sea reflecting the sunlight and the peaceful plaza scenery drifted past the window like a painting.
It was obvious at a glance that this place was not the Grimroar duchy.
The Principality of Bostor, located between the Empire and the Holy Kingdom.
Bostor was a maritime nation that maintained strict political neutrality—a sacred, inviolable territory free from interference by any country.
Perhaps because of that, soldiers wearing uniforms marked with Bostor’s emblem guarded the bridge at the entrance heavily, and thorough identity checks were conducted when passing through the gate.
Even the head of the Grimroar family was no exception in Bostor.
“Yes. You’ve been exhausted from overwork, so take this chance to look at the sea and breathe some fresh air.”
“Ha ha. Yes. If it’s Bostor, I suppose I can set aside complicated thoughts for a while.”
Wilhelm smiled kindly.
Even if he smacked my shoulder with his thick, large hand, I’d gladly accept it—if only he could recover his health and laugh heartily again.
I’ll make it happen.
In Bostor, followers of the Holy Kingdom and citizens of the Empire were all merely foreigners. Combat was strictly forbidden here.
Even an imperial duke would be restrained by that rule.
If I formally requested a meeting through the Imperial court, it would be rejected. And if I told him honestly, Wilhelm would refuse. This was the only way left.
Even if a backlash came later, saving him first was what mattered.
Wilhelm was peacefully enjoying the scenery outside, but I couldn’t relax.
At any moment, it wouldn’t be strange if he started coughing up blood again.
Knock, knock.
I tapped the carriage roof with the back of my hand as a signal, and the coachman brought the carriage to a stop.
Wilhelm and I stepped down and stood in front of a chapel located in the center of the Principality of Bostor.
“We’ve arrived.”
The white marble building shone brilliantly in the sunlight, and ivy climbing along its walls looked lively and green.
I stepped ahead and opened the door.
Inside, a gentle fragrance and a sacred aura filled the air.
The only person guarding the empty prayer hall was the saintess Seriel, her face covered with a white veil.
“You’ve arrived. I’ve been waiting.”
Her voice was calm, but the strength within it was powerful.
As Seriel slowly walked toward us, Wilhelm turned to me as if demanding an explanation.
“Healing—”
“I heard you desire healing.”
Seriel’s words overlapped and completed mine.
“If my humble power can be of help, would you entrust that task to me?”
“…So you brought me here with this plan from the beginning.”
Even with the veil covering her face, there was no way an Imperial general wouldn’t recognize the saintess of an enemy nation.
But this place was a neutral territory where combat was strictly forbidden.
And inside the chapel, even names and titles lost their meaning.
The saintess who delivered prophecy and possessed unprecedented divine power.
The warrior who swept across battlefields as one of the Empire’s pillars.
Yet here and now, they existed simply as a healer and an old worker.
I bowed my head in apology for deceiving Wilhelm.
“I’m sorry for making this such a big matter. But there was no other way to save you.”
“Do you realize what you’ve done? Do you understand the consequences your choice will bring?”
“You mean that a distinguished servant of the Empire received help from the enemy? Yes, I know. If it’s a crime, I’ll accept the punishment. Even if I’m locked in prison for life and never see the sun again.”
“That’s not what I was trying to say—”
“But Lord Duke… even if it’s shameless of me, could you please live?”
“…”
His eyes trembled like leaves struck by the wind.
Please let my sincerity reach him.
I wished and wished—and my wish came true.
Wilhelm hesitated for a moment, but then he sighed as if he had made his decision.
“Haah. My own son, Kaulen, has already started talking about inheritance, and yet you’re doing this… With an offer like this, how could I possibly refuse? It seems you really do have a talent for negotiation.”
“I’m sorry.”
“That’s enough. I suppose if you live long enough, you encounter things like this.”
Wilhelm’s large hand moved toward my head.
Instinctively, I squeezed my eyes shut in fear.
“…?”
But instead of pain, I only felt a gentle hand patting my head.
When I cautiously opened my eyes, Wilhelm was looking at me with a satisfied expression.
“Thank you.”
That’s what I should be saying…
But somehow my throat tightened, and the words wouldn’t come out.
While I hesitated, Wilhelm stood facing Seriel. After exchanging only a few brief words with her, he immediately began receiving her healing magic.
