SELTP 33

Chapter 33

“Unbelievable.”

I muttered while staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling, this time for real.
It had been two days since I followed the Princess to her villa after meeting her in the forest.

In truth, I was being detained.

“Are you from Gendal?”
That day, when I encountered the thief bird, the Princess—who had appeared like a forest fairy—studied me carefully before asking.

“How did you know?”
“That outfit. It’s the uniform worn by maids who work in the Gendal Imperial Palace, isn’t it?”

I lowered my gaze to where her finger pointed.
On the left collar of my shirt was embroidered a golden eagle, the symbol of Gendal.

Damn it. No room for excuses.

With a gentle smile, the Princess asked kindly,
“So why would a maid of the Holy Empire be in my private hunting grounds?”
“Ah, um, well…”
“It’s not like you drifted here from the sea. Don’t tell me… you’re a spy?”
“N-No, I’m not!”
“I’d like to believe you, but you never know. I’ll have to take you with me.”

A spy…
I knew exactly what happened to those who infiltrated the Gendal Imperial Palace.
A future soaked in blood flashed before my eyes.

For a moment, I considered revealing that I was the Saintess—but I abandoned the idea.
Right now, I didn’t have my only proof: black hair and black eyes.
And there was no other way to prove it.

[I’m actually the Saintess!]
[Prove it.]
[I can’t.]

…Spy, or crime of impersonating the Saintess.
Either way, I’d be lucky if I didn’t lose my head.

I thought about running, but I’d already seen the Princess’s archery skills.
So I had no choice but to follow her.

“Stay here for now.”
She said she didn’t want to make a commotion by calling soldiers over something that happened in her private hunting grounds, so she gave me a room in the villa.

And then…

A bed large enough for ten adults to lie on, luxurious furniture, a private bathroom.
Freshly laundered clothes brought every morning. Three meals a day without fail. Even entertainment provided.

Isn’t this the textbook example of a rich unemployed person?

It felt like a long-forgotten dream was finally coming true.

‘This is insane.’
You’re treating someone who might be a spy like this?
Can a person really be this kind?

The Princess was definitely an angel in her previous life.

And while I was lazing around, the Princess would visit two or three times a day.

“This is a gift, Liri. I saw it and thought of you.”
“Try this too. Is it good?”
“Why don’t you just live here in Boenia from now on?”

Internet, smartphone—essential items for a shut-in.
None of that was needed here.

Just seeing the Princess’s face was already fun enough!

Your Majesty, a beauty is seducing me… sob.

“Mmm, this is nice. I guess I really was born to be unemployed.”
When was the last time I stretched out on a bed doing absolutely nothing?

As I was fully enjoying the laziness, the door opened and someone entered.
A girl with orange hair tied into twin braids.
She placed the fruit basket she brought onto the bedside table.

“Poin, you’re here?”
“……”

Poin was the girl Princess Charl assigned to watch over me.
She didn’t guard the door or anything—she just did small favors like bringing food.

Judging by appearance, Poin looked about Noel’s age.
Come to think of it, I wonder how the kids at the Niseporel Temple are doing.

Last time, I received a whole box of letters from them. Just reading them made their chirpy little voices come alive—it was unbearably adorable.
Noel’s letter was in there too.
Probably worried someone might open it, he’d sealed it inside three envelopes.

It contained thanks for the previous incident, apologies, and daily stories just like the others.
And at the very end, a sentence that looked like it had taken him a long time to write.

[Saintess, I miss you.]

Kh… I miss you too, Noel…

I turned my head slightly.
Thinking about the kids made me pay more attention to Poin.

“Hey, Poin.”
“……”
“Poin, you know—”
“……”

No response.

That’s why I had to guess her age.
Poin was quiet.

Very quiet.

“If Princess Charl hadn’t said, ‘This is Poin, I brought her to watch over Liri,’ I wouldn’t even know her name.”

Since the first day we met, Poin hadn’t spoken a single word to me.
I’d seen her quietly answer the Princess with “Yes…” before, so it wasn’t that she couldn’t speak.

Maybe she was scared to talk to someone who might be a spy.

“……”
After finishing her task, Poin hurried out of the room with quick little steps.

I tried to greet her when our eyes met at the doorknob, but she pretended not to see me and shut the door.

Maybe to Poin, I’m just an invisible person.

“Hehehe…”

Anyway. This is way too comfortable.
Spacious, clean, delicious food, good sleep, and a beautiful Princess who visits often.

I could honestly live here forever.

It’s too good.

“Unemployed life is the best…”

***

‘She’s the Saintess.’

When Charl first found her in the hunting grounds, she laughed in disbelief.
She never expected her to walk so easily into her territory.

‘A maid from Gendal? Ridiculous.’
Did she think a simple change in coloring would make her unrecognizable?

What had entered her hunting grounds was the Saintess.

What had happened for the Saintess to be here?
And what was Delcan doing, after going through all the trouble to send her to Gendal?

There were a few things that bothered her, but they were trivial—like mayflies.
Now that the Saintess had fallen into her hands, did any of that really matter?

My prey.
Mine, inside my cage.

“‘It’s so comfortable here…’”

Recalling the cute prey’s face from the morning, Charl hummed internally.

‘I thought she’d fly away quickly since the cage wasn’t ready, but she’s staying longer than I expected.’

Though it was called a villa, it was a place she had built solely for the Saintess after returning from Gendal.
She hastily placed a barrier to prevent escape, but considering the Saintess’s power, it was weak enough that she could leave if she truly wanted.

‘Is it connected to the disappearance of the black color?’
Perhaps she could no longer use divine power.

Charl did feel a bit regretful about no longer seeing black hair and black eyes—it suited the Saintess quite well.
But this might be better.
If she couldn’t be distinguished by appearance, the Saintess could walk the streets without drawing unwanted attention.

Charl still desired the Saintess.
She wanted her.
Keeping her by her side, seeing her whenever she wished—that would bring unparalleled satisfaction.

“You look pleased.”

The King of Boenia, Ishpald Attinger, spoke to Charl.
At his suggestion, they were currently drinking tea together.

“It would have been better if you had gone to Gendal,” the King said regretfully.
The technological exchange with Gendal was something he had prepared for a long time.
Because it was so important, he had wanted Charl—whom he trusted deeply—to go.

“You should visit Gendal yourself sometime, Brother.”
“Ruide is simply too unreliable.”

The King clicked his tongue.

“Because Ruide went to Gendal, you ended up handling the pirate suppression, didn’t you?”
“Yes. We received information that they’ll appear near the Noxdam Sea soon, so I’m investigating the exact date.”

As a coastal kingdom, Boenia thrived on maritime trade.
Because of that, pirates frequently targeted merchant ships, and the Boenian royal family periodically led the royal army to eradicate them.

“You’ll handle it well, as always.”

She was a reliable daughter.
He believed she would succeed him as a respected monarch.

After gazing fondly at her, he changed the topic.

“I’ve heard you’ve been visiting the hunting grounds often lately.”
“There’s prey I want to capture.”

The King looked surprised.
It was rare for prey worthy of Charl’s interest to appear.
He recalled the mystical fur of the dawnlight wolf she had brought back before and showed interest.

“Shall I help you?”
“No.”

Charl smiled gently, drawing a clear line.

“It’s my prey, Father.”

***

“Hmmm…”

Arms crossed, I glared at the closed door.

There was no lock—just a simple D-shaped wooden handle.
I pulled it, pushed it, shoved it sideways, lifted it upward, even slammed my body against it.

Nothing.

“This must be… a divine power barrier?”

Then I was truly out of options.
I didn’t know anything about divine power.

“Ughhh… how do I get out?!”

I clutched my head.
This life was comfortable, yes—but I couldn’t stay here forever.

I was in debt.
I had a home and a job in Gendal.

And most importantly—

“I want to see His Majesty’s face…!!”

The Princess is unbelievably beautiful, but His Majesty’s face is still number one.
That face that automatically blurs out everyone else in existence!

Had there ever been a time I went this long without seeing His Majesty?

I can’t live like this…!

“Unemployed, my foot.”
This life is doomed.

Withdrawal symptoms hit hard—His Majesty’s face appeared in dreams and reality alike.

Is this heaven? No, I know it’s an illusion, so how could it be heaven?
And it’s like watching him in 144p resolution!

This is hell.

“I need… the real thing…”

With trembling hands, I grabbed the handle.

“Princess, if I want to return to Gendal—”
“Liri, are you a spy?”
“I’m not.”

Every time I mention Gendal, she suspects me.
The only way to return was to escape on my own.

Princess, I really like you.
Next time, I’ll visit you properly in Gendal as the Saintess.

“I’m going out…”