While the three of us were enjoying a leisurely tea, my brother was busy coordinating with the butler, attendants, and our father, who serves as the Chancellor in the royal capital, sending out instructions left and right.
The three of us departed for our journey from the duchy in a fairly large group. With guards, attendants, and luggage, we had more than ten carriages in total. Around fifty knights also accompanied us.
It felt like a lot, but with three women traveling, it was better to have more than fewer.
As we passed through various territories, we greeted the locals and spent money in the towns we passed.
Because of my activities as the Chief Saint, there were some who recognized me.
Although the “Chief Saint misunderstanding incident” was a black mark on my history, I decided that trying to hide it would only make it more embarrassing, so I spoke about it honestly without holding back.
Before, I had styled my hair in long blonde ringlets with a large ribbon to make myself easy to recognize. But from now on, I think I’ll stop wearing this hairstyle.
When we reached the border, a greeting party from the Duke of Lueberik’s family was already there. A cavalry unit of a hundred men had come to meet us.
After a month-long journey, we finally arrived safely at the Lueberik Duchy.
“We are grateful to Lady Sherine for all her help.”
The captain of the cavalry said, and the other soldiers nodded in agreement.
“When we were attacked by monsters along the way, I was nervous, but your defensive barriers and healing magic were remarkable.”
“Your healing magic every three days was a tremendous help.”
“I’m glad I could be of service. Thank you for escorting us this far.”
I didn’t use healing magic to be thanked, but if I could be helpful, then I’d like to continue working as a healer, even if not as a Saint.
Once my house arrest is lifted, they might tell me to return to my duties as a Saint, but honestly, I’m too embarrassed. I’ll do my best to stay in the Weimar Kingdom for as long as I can.
After Sherine and the others departed for the Weimar Kingdom, Duke Staffeld submitted his resignation as Chancellor to the King.
He had already begun reducing the number of servants both in the royal capital and on his estate by either writing them letters of recommendation or paying them retirement bonuses. Of course, he couldn’t abandon the administration of the duchy immediately, but his son had already begun handing over management to the estate’s overseers and officers. He planned to check in two or three times a year to ensure things were running smoothly.
“Your Majesty, while I regret that my daughter was not the true Chief Saint, how could you allow her, a duke’s daughter, to be publicly humiliated like that?”
“Well, about that…”
“However, it’s also true that my daughter’s abilities were lacking. Therefore, the entire Staffeld family wishes to enter a period of self-reflection.”
“Wait, no, that’s not really…”
“No, Your Majesty, we must respectfully decline any leniency. The entire family will enter seclusion. Good day!”
Without giving the King a chance to respond, he exited the audience chamber, ignoring the King’s calls to stop, and rushed to the family’s carriage.
The Staffeld family would take responsibility, but why should he continue to work himself to death, forcing his beloved daughter to marry an idiotic prince? Why should his capable son serve as an aide to that worthless prince at the palace?
Fortunately, the country was stable and there were no wars. If someone targeted their duchy, he would simply renounce his title and hand over the land to the kingdom, then seek refuge in his wife’s homeland.
He had worked hard, and this was the result.
Well then, he decided. He would stop working altogether and become the most irresponsible man in the kingdom.
And he would spend his days leisurely with his lovely wife and children.
＊＊＊
While the King was struggling with the loss of such a valuable talent, Roland was also in turmoil.
His beloved fiancée, Sherine, had left for the Weimar Kingdom. This meant he couldn’t easily summon her back.
How did it come to this?
He knew the reason all too well without needing to think.
He had been manipulated by the sons of rival factions and the other Saints who were jealous of Sherine’s success.
“She’s getting too full of herself as the Chief Saint.”
“You need to show her who’s in charge right from the start.”
“Everyone praises Sherine, and that woman doesn’t even bother to honor you, Your Highness.”
They convinced him that if he married Sherine, she would end up taking control of their relationship.
When he asked what to do, they proposed a plan. At first, he thought it was absurd, but somehow, it began to seem like a good idea.
First, push her away, telling her not to get arrogant and to reflect on her behavior. Then, once she was sufficiently humbled, dangle the prospect of marriage before her as a reward: “If you’ve truly reflected, I might consider marrying you.”
There isn’t a single woman who wouldn’t want to marry a prince.
And it made sense to him. He was aware that he was reasonably handsome, tall, and while his academic performance wasn’t the best—Sherine was top of their class, after all—he was still ranked around 30th out of a hundred.
He didn’t think of himself as mediocre in any way.
Anyway, the idea was to strike hard initially.
But now he understood… For someone as noble, pure, and genuinely high-born as Sherine, it would have been much better to treat her gently and kindly. His mother, the Queen, had slapped him multiple times while scolding him about this.
When Sherine returned, he would sincerely apologize and ask her to reconcile.
Pride didn’t matter anymore.
However… a year later, Sherine’s engagement to the Crown Prince of the Weimar Kingdom was announced, and Roland’s faint hope was utterly crushed.
With this announcement, Prince Roland’s place in the line of succession was dropped below that of the second and third princes, and he was subjected to reeducation as a mere vassal.
＊＊＊
The Saints who had lightly conspired to bring Sherine down were now facing hardship themselves.
None of them had grasped just how much work Sherine had been doing—without complaint—thanks to her superior abilities. This led to chaos: long lines at the healing clinic, confusion at the monster subjugation sites where shouting and disorder reigned, and the tasks of purifying land and performing service at the church took far longer than usual.
The church officials, understanding the situation, immediately detained the Saints who had participated in condemning Sherine and forced them to work without question. Even with them working twice the hours, they couldn’t fill the gap left by Sherine’s departure.
Although the church was a charitable organization, it wasn’t completely volunteer-based. If they couldn’t generate income, they wouldn’t survive, so they made sure the Saints worked as hard as possible.
The church, which had made good use of Sherine, was far more efficient than these crafty young women, who were given no opportunity to escape. Their rest and sleep were strictly monitored.
What they had done lightly had led to disastrous consequences.
Had Sherine heard about their plight, she might have felt sorry for them and returned as a Saint. However, now that she was engaged to the Crown Prince of a neighboring country, it was all too late.
＊＊＊
After arriving in the Weimar Kingdom, I spent about a month relaxing at my mother’s family estate. During that time, I learned about the Weimar Kingdom and considered how best to use my healing abilities.
The healing clinic seemed like the most suitable place.
In the Starogast Kingdom, as the fiancée of the First Prince, my name and face… and my distinctive blonde ringlets meant no one dared approach me. But here, I was just another noble lady from a foreign country. There were men, both mercenaries and knights, who would tease young women like me.
The real issue arose after monster subjugations. People let their guard down, and when alcohol was involved, men tended to become bolder, forgetting to be courteous to noblewomen.
However, at the healing clinic, I could manage with just one female bodyguard.
First, I needed to work, learn about the Weimar Kingdom, and find a way to settle here permanently… and, of course, find a wonderful husband.
And then, while visiting the healing clinic in disguise, I met the Crown Prince and fell in love.
He was such a gentleman, so kind.
“Even if you were a commoner… I would still want to marry you. But someone as noble and beautiful as you could never be just a commoner.”
Oh no, how embarrassing.
“To think… you were the Chief Saint of the Starogast Kingdom.”
“Well, actually, it’s a bit different. It’s quite embarrassing, but I had misunderstood the situation.”
I had believed, despite my ordinary talents, that I possessed abilities far beyond anyone else’s.
“That’s impossible. Your healing abilities have been praised by numerous healers and mages. They’re genuine.”
“But… it’s true. Even though I worked as the Chief Saint, no one praised me except my family, and in the end… the evaluation of my abilities was rather disappointing.”
The patients were grateful, but the other healers were strict with me. I had done less than half the work of the other Saints, so the way I was treated was justified.
“I see… Then I will make sure to cherish, encourage, and spoil you, Sherine.”
He spread his arms wide and pulled me into a warm embrace.
“Sherine, you’re such a lovely, hardworking, and beautiful person.”
T-This is embarrassing, but… it’s not so bad.
It feels so pleasant and comforting.
Although she was a noble lady from another country, and had received queenly education, Sherine quickly learned the customs, history, and other details of the Weimar Kingdom.
Even after becoming the prince’s wife, she continued her visits to the healing clinic. However, she stubbornly refused to be called a “Saint.”
Those who knew her situation thought, “The memories of being mistreated must still be painful for her,” and pitied her, thinking, “How unfortunate.”
But in Sherine’s mind, it was more like, “That embarrassing chapter of my life when I was under a misunderstanding is such a black mark. I wonder if they’ll keep calling me this for the rest of my life.”
She secretly blushed in embarrassment and squirmed at the thought.
[The End]
, After All — Part 2){kind=link}
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