Seijo ni Narunode Nidoume no Jinsei wa Katte ni Sasetemoraimasu ~Outaihi wa, Zensei de Watashi wo Fu

     Liz’s ” sacred sprouts” were growing smoothly, getting bigger and better. It was too good to be true. The buds, which were at first as high as her waist, are now almost over her head.

 

     The flowerpot had broken. So she poured water into a bucket that she received, and placed the sprouts in it. It didn’t have any soil, she thought that it might not need any water since it stood firmly on its taut roots.

 

     Then came Priest Lloyd, “From now on, we will gather in the hall together with the sacred sprouts…Wow!.. It’s been a while since I’ve seen it, it has grown quite fast.” his eyes grew wide. He put out a hand into the air, comparing the height between Liz and the plant. “‘It’s the same height.'” he muttered.

 

     Liz ignored him and tried to lift up the sacred plant with a bucket, but it was too heavy. “Please help me carry it, Sir Lloyd.”

 

     “It’s heavy, I don’t want to.”

 

     She became even more irritated with him. Suddenly she heard a voice say, “I will hold it.”

 

     ‘Who?’

 

     Liz turned around surprised. Prince Keefa stood before the door, his arms folded. He went in front of them and lifted the plant up. Liz became stiff.

 

     “Come on, let’s go.” 

 

     “Wait a minute—please! I can’t let the Crown Prince do that.” she exclaimed.

 

     “Don’t worry. I had swore to pay you back and be your strength, helping you. This is the first step.”

 

     “Is this what it was about? No, it’s really fine. I told you that you don’t have to make up for it. ”

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     “Please don’t use honorifics, you can call me Keefa. Otherwise, I’d call you Liz-sama.” 

 

     

 

     “No-” Suddenly, Liz’s heart wavered. Keefa who normally had a serious expression was smiling happily. 

 

     “Fine.” Her serious facade broke down and gave out an exasperated tone. It’s her first time seeing Keefa’s smiling face, she was taken aback and for a moment, she inwardly cursed herself .

 

 

     Keefa happily walked away with her sacred bud as she hurriedly followed behind him.

 

     She didn’t know. Keeffa had this kind of character.

 

     When she heard his part of the story from their previous life, she realized how strong-minded and serious he is now.

 

     He’s different from the Eugene she knew after all.

 

     Liz knows the former Eugene, not Prince Keefa. She knew and understood that he’s a different person from her past lover whom she really loved, but she couldn’t help but feel a bit lonely.

 

     Compared to Keefa, she’s still the same person as of now. She who was the past Cecil who was calm and quiet yet modest is now Liz.

 

     The priest, Lloyd, who caught up to them, seemed astonished that the Crown Prince had offered to carry such a heavy object on his own will. He smiled, then grinned as if his expression earlier hadn’t shown. 

 

     “I understand. I must’ve thought of something ridiculous” Lloyd inwardly thought. 

 

     “Liz, how long have you been――” Lloyd started.

 

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     “If you don’t keep your mouth shut, I’ll seriously get 

 

angry.” Liz threatened. 

 

     Lloyd saw her red eyes glare at him coldly. “Yes” he replied, turning his head facing front then closing his mouth shut.

 

     The hall doors were open, the noise and murmurs of the people from within can be heard. They all seemed to have almost gathered around. Before they have reached, Liz hurriedly went to Keefa at the last minute.

 

     “Thank you. I can handle this from here now.” she told him. If people were to see the Crown Prince carrying her heavy plant―just the thought of it scared her. 

 

     The moment she placed her hands on the bucket, their fingers both touched. Heart-wrenching warmth and nostalgia spread throughout her chest, it tightened and shook her.

 

     The same thing had happened in her previous life.

 

     When she was in love with Eugene.Their fingers touched like that time when she handed him a bag containing home-made baked goods, Eugene liked sweets. Cecil, startled, tried to wriggle her fingers off from his, but it was soon grabbed by Eugene.

 

     They both silently strolled through the streets hand in hand, the sun has already fallen. It felt like she was alone but when she looked at Eugene next to her, he looked very nervous, his mouth was tightly shut, and his ears were red.

 

     She became bashful but she laughed, she felt so much happiness surging from the bottom of her heart.

 

 

     How nostalgic…

 

     It was a happy memory, but it made her sad that she felt like crying. She smiled, biting away the loneliness she felt, and raised her head, her eyes meeting with Keefa.

 

     “…!?” They turned away from each other, embarrassed. 

 

     For a moment when their eyes met each other, Liz saw his expression earlier. It seemed that he, too, remembered. Awkward, she was struck by the urge to tear her hair.

 

     “…Is there something wrong?” The priest, Lloyd asked them. The two who seemed strangely suspicious collected themselves. 

 

     Liz, who suddenly came back to herself, turned to him. “It’s nothing.”

     “Liz, your face, isn’t it red?”

     “It is not.”

     “No, it is red” 

     Throughout Liz and Lloyd’s bicker, Keefa was staring at Liz, “You seem to be  on good terms with each other.” he muttered in a low voice, looking down.

 

     As soon as they entered the hall, the ten of the holy candidates and priests had already gathered. 

 

     “Lloyd you’re late— Lord Keefa! What happened? Rather, why are you carrying the sprouts?” Why was he carrying such a heavy thing! The priests’ shrieks rang through the hall, everyone’s eyes were focused on Liz.

 

     Oh no, she got distracted by memories of their past life that she has completely forgotten.

 

     “Why did you have his highness carry it all the way here! What’s the connection between the commoner and the royal family?” only one of the candidates exclaimed and retorted.

 

     She’s for sure……

 

     One of those three girls who had been bullying Liz. It seems that the other two have been eliminated out of the selection and came alone.

 

     Although the three of them would always be together, it seemed kind of lonely, they stuck close to that high ranking nobleman’s daughter, who was their central figure, always surrounding her.

 

     That high-ranking lady approached them and Liz. “It’s been a while, your Highness.” She greeted, her bearing, smile, and her dress were elegant.

 

     “It’s been a long time, Grace. The other day I met your father at the Palace.” Keefa replied.

     “Oh, is that so.”

     “You probably know each other since you’re both saint candidates. But let me introduce you to Liz Stefan. Liz, this is Grace, the eldest daughter of Duke Igner.” As Liz bowed her head, Grace just smiled, she didn’t speak as if she has nothing to say to her.

 

     “It is as lively as ever.” The chief priest approached them with a smile. “Your Highness Keefa, Is this the scared sprout of Liz Stephan? Oh! it has grown bigger again.” The chief priest was surprised. The sprouts of the other candidates weren’t completely different in size from their first selection. It was only Liz’s that has doubled in size.

 

     ‘I wonder, is it quite amusing?’

 

     Liz thoughtlessly looked at the other candidate’s cute little sprouts. While the other candidates, too, looked at Liz’s sprout. However their reactions became even more intense due to the chief priest’s next statements, 

 

     “I have gathered everyone here today to observe your progress. No one’s sprout has yet bloomed, it may probably be a good thing at first. But some would soon. There are some things that you should pay attention to by then, blooming is not limited to the plant itself but it is also dependent on the person. What would bloom may not necessarily be a flower, it may be some “thing” that may harm you or eat you. I want you to be very careful.”