“Sherine Staffeld, how dare you deceive the royal family and the people!”
The First Prince, Roland Starogast, who was also my fiancé, began speaking in a voice that resounded throughout the hall.
This was the graduation ceremony at the noble academy of the Starogast Kingdom. In the grand hall within the academy, not only the graduates but also current students had gathered.
There were about three hundred people. All eyes turned towards Prince Roland as he began this sudden act of condemnation.
“It’s said that most of your accomplishments as Chief Saint were actually the work of others! How arrogant and conceited of you, in a position that should serve as a role model! Have you no shame?”
He continued reading out my crimes.
Let’s go back eight years.
When I was ten years old, I touched the magic crystal at the church to measure magical attributes. It showed that I had attributes of light, water, and wind magic. The light attribute in particular was so powerful that the crystal shone so brightly that no one could keep their eyes open.
“They say you falsified the results with the power of the duke’s house.”
W-What? Really?
I remembered my parents, who weren’t here today. At that time… yes, I remember my father, Duke Staffeld, nodding calmly, and my mother smiling gently.
I was the only one who got overly excited, knowing I had the light attribute.
Even my brother, who is two years older than me, stayed calm when he heard the news. So, he knew too?
Oh no, this is so embarrassing. Was I the only one who didn’t notice?
“And then there’s your activities at the healing clinic, and your support during the monster subjugations…”
One accusation after another, and I had no way to refute any of them because they all rang true.
I didn’t remember the exact dates, but I did remember being at the places Prince Roland mentioned. I also remembered the other Saints who were with me.
Yes, I was with Elena at the healing clinic. Treating the man whose leg was shattered in a construction accident had been difficult, but that wasn’t my healing ability at work, was it? The old woman who coughed up so much blood due to lung disease, and the child who suffered from a mysterious fever—both were treated by Elena, who stood beside me.
During the monster subjugations, I provided rear support with Laura. There were so many patients coming in that I lost track of how many I had healed… but it seems I healed only half as many as Laura did. I thought I’d pushed myself to the limit every time, exhausting my magic and strength, but with such a large gap between us, it’s no wonder I was considered useless.
As Prince Roland carefully explained each incident, I recalled being with those girls during those times. But I never realized…
“I-I’m terribly sorry. I didn’t realize…”
“Sherine, I hereby strip you of your title as Chief Saint and annul our engagement. You are to remain under house arrest until a formal judgment is passed!”
If all this was true, then this punishment was only natural. I had stolen others' achievements and, without even realizing it, claimed the title of Chief Saint…
I quietly bowed and left the now-silent hall.
* * *
Oh no, no, this is so embarrassing! I can’t take it, it’s humiliating!
With my blonde ringlets bouncing, I hurriedly left the venue. I’m so glad today is the graduation ceremony. I’m being relieved of my duty as Chief Saint too, so I must escape from this embarrassing chapter of my life as soon as possible.
“I was simply doing what was expected of me as the Chief Saint.”
That’s what I used to say, wasn’t it? I’m such an idiot.
I could feel my face turning bright red.
“There’s no need to thank me. It’s what’s expected of a Saint.”
“I’m glad I could help. Seeing everyone’s smiles gives me strength too.”
“I will do my best not to disgrace the name of the Chief Saint.”
I had always tried to behave and speak like a proper Saint, and now it was all so humiliating.
I jumped into the carriage of my ducal family and headed straight back to our estate in the royal capital. I didn’t even explain much, just left with my mother.
We discussed the details in the carriage.
* * *
“So, Prince Roland said that to you?”
“I was so embarrassed, I thought my face would catch fire. I never expected such misunderstandings and falsehoods to come up.”
“Oh my, your father didn’t do anything dishonest, you know?”
“Then… could it be that my magic has gradually weakened?”
In any case, I had been told to remain under house arrest. Though our residence in the royal capital was also my home, the castle on our own land was just as much my home.
It takes two days by carriage to reach the duchy, but it’s better than staying in the royal capital.
At times like this, friends tend to worry and come to ‘visit’ you, but I don’t want to face anyone right now.
Compared to Prince Roland being seen at the theater with Countess Elena, or flirting with commoner Laura at the academy, or spending time with four or five other noble ladies on a rotating basis, this kind of ‘visit’ is on a whole different level.
When I thought about marrying into royalty, I was prepared for four or five concubines and maybe twenty or thirty mistresses. But this time, it was about falsifying my abilities as a Saint.
And I didn’t even realize it.
Even though I told my friends, “I could never do something that would disgrace the name of the Chief Saint,” my abilities had been far from enough.
This is as embarrassing as being caught cheating on a test.
Of course, I’ve never cheated on a test, but that’s how shameful this feels.
As the daughter of a duke, as a high-ranking noble, and as a Saint, I always tried to live with integrity, to be pure, honest, and straightforward.
But I had gotten comfortable, relying on others, and before I knew it… I had strayed from the path.
As I slumped my shoulders in defeat, my mother cheerfully said,
“If you’re under house arrest, doesn’t my family’s home count as well?”
My mother is the daughter of Duke Lueberik of the neighboring Weimar Kingdom. My father fell in love with her at first sight while studying abroad and managed to marry her. Since it’s a friendly nation, we have diplomatic relations.
“You’re right, Mother. Even though you married into this family, it’s still your home!”
Now that I’ve graduated from the academy and my engagement with Prince Roland has been annulled, I’m free to go anywhere.
My brother, who was in the Staffeld Duchy, was quite surprised by my sudden return. However, after I explained the situation, he gave a wry smile and said, “It can’t be helped.”
“In that case, both of you should head to the Weimar Kingdom as soon as possible. Father and I will take care of everything else.”
“Brother, I’m so sorry... I was completely useless as the Chief Saint, and I caused you and everyone else so much trouble with all my busy schedules.”
“You don’t need to worry about that. Sherine, you worked hard and did your best, didn’t you? I’m proud of you for that.”
His kind words brought tears to my eyes.
“By the way, if you’re going to the Weimar Kingdom, take Tina with you as well.”
“Sister-in-law Tina too? Is that really okay?”
“She hasn’t traveled anywhere since the honeymoon. Besides, Tina doesn’t have a home to return to. It would be more fun for you to travel together, just the three of you, don’t you think?”
My sister-in-law Tina comes from a marquis family where the emphasis on male superiority is incredibly strong. Once married, she was expected to serve her new family, obey her husband, never defy him, and consider her real family as non-existent. I haven’t heard the full details, but apparently, her father, the head of the family, often yelled at and even hit her.
How terrifying. When I think about it… even though I was overconfident in my abilities, it still doesn’t excuse Prince Roland publicly humiliating me in front of everyone.
If only he had quietly informed me earlier, I wouldn’t have acted so arrogantly with the attitude of “I’m the Chief Saint, after all.” The Chief Saint is expected to participate in nearly every task related to the saint’s duties. Doing that while managing my studies and queen training simultaneously was incredibly tough.
If I had been the fifth-ranked saint, I would’ve only needed to assist occasionally at the healing clinic.
But it’s no use complaining about things that are already over.
Now that I’m free, I’ll just enjoy the trip.
* * *
“Oh my, back to your mother’s homeland? Of course, I’ll go.”
“It’ll be fun with you too, Sister-in-law Tina.”
“I’ve already sent a letter to the Duke of Lueberik’s family, so someone will come to greet us along the way.”
It seemed the servants had already started preparing for the trip, and we’d be ready to leave in two days.
“Still… Prince Roland isn’t just a womanizer, but violent too. He’s exactly the type I hate the most.”
“When I was being condemned, I was so embarrassed I almost cried, but now that I’ve had time to calm down, I realize he didn’t need to say it in front of everyone.”
“Exactly. Shouting at you in public like that was the worst.”
“The engagement was originally a political arrangement, a noble’s duty, so I feel incredibly relieved now. Besides, Father and Brother both married for love, didn’t they? I want to marry someone I love too.”
Mother and Sister-in-law Tina both chuckled softly.
“Maybe you’ll meet someone wonderful in the Weimar Kingdom?”
“Oh, stop it, will I really?”
, After All — Part 1){kind=link}
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