Chapter 44
Ah… this is bad, this is really bad. Things have taken a terrible turn.
Monsters appeared in the royal capital, so we dispatched the Third Knight Order to suppress them—but they still haven’t returned.
What’s worse, they requested reinforcements, and part of the Second Knight Order has now joined the subjugation.
And finally, we even had to summon members of the First Knight Order, who were stationed in the remote borderland of Tori, back to the capital.
Of course, Shibel is coming with them as well.
Even though monsters have appeared, Anika still refuses to use the power of the Saint at all.
To begin with, it’s said that simply having a Saint present brings peace to the land—so why are monsters appearing in the royal capital in the first place!?
Even if she hasn’t awakened her true power yet, this isn’t the same as monsters appearing in some far‑off frontier…!!
And on top of that, isn’t Anika supposed to be happy, doing whatever she likes every single day!?
They say the Saint’s power grows stronger the happier she is, so what on earth is she lacking…!?
How can I make Anika awaken the power of the Saint…!?
“Enough already, Anika! We’re counting on you as the Saint! If you’re the Saint, then use your power to pacify the monsters!!”
Because we’ve sent so many knights out to subjugate the monsters, the castle’s defenses are now thin. If monsters were to appear around the castle at this moment… there’s no telling what might happen.
That’s why I’m desperately anxious.
“…I can’t.”
“Why not!? You’re the Saint, aren’t you!?”
I’ve summoned Anika again and again and said the same thing each time, but she always just fills her eyes with tears and trembles in fear.
“I’m trying my best too…! But nothing happens at all…!”
“Why!? You’ve used the Saint’s power before, haven’t you!?”
“…Back then, it just happened naturally… I didn’t do anything in particular…”
“Then—”
“It’s because Lord Markus doesn’t love me… that’s why I can’t bring out my power…”
“What… did you say?”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing from Anika.
“I’m not happy… Being Lord Markus’s fiancée is nothing like what I imagined…”
“D‑Don’t be ridiculous! How could I love a selfish woman like you…!!”
“That’s cruel…!”
Ah—this is infuriating.
What is wrong with this self‑centered woman?
Shibel wasn’t like this.
She wasn’t charming, but she wasn’t this selfish either.
At this point, Shibel was better. And if Shibel really is the true Saint—
“Anika…!”
At last, Anika’s mother, whom I had summoned earlier, arrived.
“Lady Vias. You said you saw her use the power of the Saint, correct?”
“Yes…”
“Then explain the situation in detail.”
“Well…”
There’s no proof. That might be unavoidable. Rick said he saw Shibel use the Saint’s power too—but unless you actually witness the power being used, it’s hard to be certain.
That’s why I believed those words.
But Rick told me that Shibel wiped out a pack of wolves in an instant with the Saint’s power. Then what exactly did Anika do?
The only thing I can do now is compare their powers.
“This is an order.”
I glared at her sharply, leaving no room for refusal. Lady Vias hesitantly opened her thick lips.
“A small bird…”
“A bird?”
“Yes. When Anika took care of it… a weak, injured little bird regained its strength! That was surely the power of the Saint…! And the flowers this child raises grow very well, too. This child has a special power—”
“That’s all?”
“…Huh?”
“Did Anika heal that bird instantly?”
“Not instantly, but…”
“And that’s enough to call her the Saint?”
Wasn’t there something more concrete, something decisive?
For example, healing wounds instantly through prayer—or at the very least, emitting a holy light—
Why didn’t I confirm it properly back then…!?
When I was told that Anika was the true Saint and not Shibel, and that someone had seen Anika use the Saint’s power, I believed it far too easily.
I thought, ‘Just as I suspected.’
Because that’s what I wanted to believe.
“But Shibel has done nothing more Saint‑like than this child!! Anika is the Saint, Your Highness!! Please believe us!!”
“Then show me.”
“W‑What?”
“Monsters have appeared. Show me the power of the Saint right now!!”
My irritation reached its peak, and I shouted without thinking.
Both Anika and her mother flinched, and the tears Anika had been holding back spilled freely from her eyes.
“…I‑I can’t… I don’t know how to use it…”
“Damn it…!”
“That’s why I told you. The Saint is Shibel.”
Rick, who had been silently watching the whole time, let out an exasperated sigh and said so.
“When will the First Knight Order and Shibel arrive!?”
“Hey, calm down, Second Prince. What good will it do for you to lose your composure like this?”
“…!”
Rick spoke as if it were none of his concern, resting a hand on my shoulder—but he doesn’t understand anything.
If it becomes public knowledge that the real Saint is Shibel, and that the capital fell into this state because I exiled her…
It’s over for me…!!
Not only will I lose my claim to the throne, but I might even be disinherited and punished…!
“If you thought Shibel was the Saint, then why didn’t you bring her back with you back then?”
“Huh…? What, is this my fault now?”
“Yes! Why do you think I sent you to Tori in the first place!? You useless man!!”
I lashed out, venting my uncontrollable anger on my childhood friend—and instantly, his expression changed.
“Oh, is that so? Then why don’t you exile me too? If you keep blaming others without properly investigating anything, no one will be left, Se‑cond‑Prince‑Mar‑kus‑Your‑High‑ness.”
“Shut up!!”
I violently brushed away Rick’s hand, shouting until my voice grew hoarse—deliberately avoiding the very thing I was most afraid of hearing him say.
