Part One, Section Two: “Crisis Over My Homeland”
Chapter Twenty (Oswald’s POV)
“So, Reinhardt… Oswald. How is the Saintess doing?”
My father—that is, the king of this country, Eigelstein Parnacota—asked my brother and me about Miss Philia’s condition. He must have heard from someone that we visited her.
Philia Adenauer… she recently taken up the role of our country’s saint. Well, “taken up the role” sounds odd, because our nation shamefully purchased her from a neighboring kingdom with gold…
With such a background, I thought I couldn’t face Miss Philia. However, not greeting her would be truly impolite and, above all, irresponsible. If she expressed a desire to return to her homeland, I was determined to do my utmost to ensure that. With that resolve, I went to meet Miss Philia that day.
If I were to describe her in a single word, it would be “wise”. She was quick-witted and educated, and though she might not be very chatty, she had a rich range of conversation topics. No wonder she was considered the greatest saint in history. She was truly deserving of that reputation. It was rather baffling that the kingdom of Girtonia had allowed someone of her caliber to go, especially when they were not in dire financial straits…
Being suddenly told to become a saint in a neighboring country was not something a person could readily accept. Therefore, I advised Miss Philia that she should take it slowly and gradually adjust to her new life.
However, it seemed she started working right away, even going out to work early in the morning. According to my former attendants, Leonardo and Lina, her diligence in her duties surpassed that of the previous saints by more than three times.
Moreover, without being told by anyone, she swiftly learned about Parnacota’s living conditions and did her own research on how to benefit the country, including developing new medicines, drafting agriculture proposals, and more. As royalty, I could only bow my head to her.
She had already become the saint of Parnacota the very day she arrived here. This was not something just anyone could do. People had lingering attachments, inner conflicts, and all sorts of feelings. To instantly steel their resolve in a new environment required exceptional mental fortitude.
Before long, she informed us of a possibility. She told us about an impending great calamity that could engulf not just Parnacota, but all neighboring countries…
I turned to Miss Philia for advice, and she responded with the best course of action. That plan was to nail herself in place in the capital and protect the entire country with her powerful anti-demon magic. In other words, despite the possibility of her homeland facing a crisis, she prioritized Parnacota’s safety…
What a remarkable woman, I thought. Her efforts to embody the behavior of a saint were flawless, evoking not only admiration but also a sense of reverence.
Because of the way she was, I vowed to always prioritize her and act accordingly, no matter the circumstances. Hopefully, someday, I aspire to have the kind of relationship with Miss Philia where she could freely voice her wishes, even if they are selfish…
“Philia seemed to be in good spirits. She also appreciated the bouquet I prepared…”
My elder brother, Crown Prince Reinhardt, responded in his usual calm manner. As the future king, he had been educated rigorously since childhood, learning what it truly means to be a monarch. As a result of that education, he transformed into a staunch nationalist, placing the nation’s interests above everything else, including his own life.
In essence, this man contemplated marrying Miss Philia in order to definitively benefit the nation. He was a man who weighed his own life and the lives of others against the future of the country, and he was driven solely by rational thinking.
Well, there are other reasons behind his proposal to Miss Philia…
“Reinhardt, I heard you’ve proposed to Miss Philia. To a woman you’ve only met twice…”
Father must have been astonished upon hearing Reinhardt’s proposal. He spoke to him in an admonish manner.
“Yes, that’s true… It’s only natural to aspire to have her, a flawless saint, as the future queen…”
Reinhardt affirmed Father’s words without a hint of remorse. Well, of course. Brother didn’t believe he was in the wrong even in the slightest.
“Miss Philia is not Elizabeth.”
“I’m well aware.”
As expected, Father also brought up Elizabeth. Brother’s former fiancée…
Reinhardt had a fiancée. The reason for using the past tense is that she passed away.
Elizabeth was the former saint of this country. Despite her frail health, she was a hero who fought valiantly to protect our nation. Kind to everyone and a source of comfort, she shone like the sun. It was likely that Brother, for once, genuinely fell in love.
It was only after meeting her that he started saying that protecting the saint was the responsibility of someone destined to be a king…
When she passed away, Brother blamed himself. Maybe he thought that how could he be the future king if he couldn’t even protect a single person from illness…
He proposed to accept Miss Philia into this country a mere three months after that.
Reinhardt was projecting his departed fiancée onto Miss Philia, seeking to fulfill the responsibilities he couldn’t carry out back then.
I can’t tolerate such a nature in Brother, and above all, it saddened me. While he carries the burden alone, I live a carefree life… Reinhardt, you’re not alone. Miss Philia isn’t Elizabeth’s replacement… Someday, I’ll make that fool understand. It’s my duty as a brother to do so.
“Speaking of which. The Martilas family from the northern kingdom of Bolmern has requested that Miss Philia share her expertise in anti-evil magic with their fourth daughter, Grace. Upon her welcoming response to this proposal, Grace will be arriving here tomorrow. As you know, Grace is Elizabeth’s cousin. I hope you two will support both of them.”
The Martilas family was a prominent noble house from the closely connected to us kingdom of Bolmern. They had produced numerous saints, and if I recall correctly, all four of their sisters had become saints.
Being a distinguished family, it was no surprise that they had independently noticed the approaching of the Demon Realm. It seemed they had set their sights on Philia’s anti-evil magic circle, which had yielded remarkable results as a countermeasure.
I didn’t expect Elizabeth’s cousin to come here. I wonder how Reinhardt feels… and Miss Philia too…
I have a hunch that something big is about to happen.
that prince is a bit of an idiot but he means well
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