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

 

     As Liz was having her breakfast, she remembered the combination of Manon, the daughter of the Court Magician, fearlessly laughing, and the stunning black leopard, who stood still with his fierce eyes.

     Then a voice at her side said,”Good morning, Liz.” She looked up and saw Manon.

     “—good morning.”

     “Gyu!” On the table, the Holy dragon, who was gnawing on an apple, its hairs stood up and chirped sharply at the holy beast in Manon’s arms.

     The Black Leopard yesterday was big, but now it’s enough to fit into Manon’s arms. With its supple coat, its big golden eyes stared at the Holy Dragon, then it turned away, yawning and curling its back. Perhaps the dragon was angry at its rival, “Kyuu, kyuu!” it said, throwing the vegetables on the plate.

     ‘It can also get small like Shiro. But—’

     “It looks more like a cat when it’s this small.” Manon said, saying out loud what was actually on Liz’s mind.

     Liz nodded, “Yes, a black cat.”

     Manon laughed and sat next to her, she looked at Liz curiously with an interested expression, “Well, why is it that Liz so close to Prince Keefa? But the crown prince and commoners aren’t as different as heaven and earth. Liz came from a rural village far from the royal capital, right? I believe it’s unlikely that  you’ve come into contact with each other at all, though it seems as if you have known each other for a long time.”

     Liz was surprised, she almost choked on the bread that she had been eating, but has managed to restrain it. She shouldn’t let herself be affected.

     “I don’t know him, we’re not friends… I’m an albino, it’s rare to be able to talk to anyone.”

     “But when the sacred plant was still budding, the prince had carried your flower pot in the hall, didn’t he? I saw you and Duke Igner in front of the first tower, talking. And Prince Keefa without hesitation rushed over and covered you.

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     Besides, His highness has been visiting your room quite often. From a distance he’d look around and rush

     I think he’s trying to make sure that no ones able to see it, but he takes his time to collect himself and knock on the door with a serious yet nervous face. Even though he’s the crown prince, he looks like he’d die if he gets shunned. It’s quite interesting.

     But it doesn’t seem that you and His highness are in love, nor suffering from a different type of love. That’s why I’m quite confused with the relationship between the two of you.”  Manon smiled at Liz as if ridiculing her.

     Liz was speechless.

     “I’ve seen a lot of things.”

     “A lot—”

     “That’s right, but isn’t it better for you not to get too close to Prince Keefa? If you’re the next saint, but that’s not the case, you’re still one of the candidates. If you fall out of the selection, then you’ll just be a country girl,  right?”

     Liz looked at Manon seriously. Previously, Natalie has told her the same thing. Even more, it’s something that Grace would have said. Still, she knew what Manon had meant. And yet—

     

     ‘—What is it? It feels like there’s something different.’

     Liz, who had been silent, was just holding her bread in her hand. Manon smiled thinly, the black leopard in her arms, “see you later.” she said.

     Liz then called out to her.     

     “What?”

     “Are you here to become the next saint?”

     Manon smiled again at Liz’s inexplicable question, “That’s right. What other reason would there be?”

     “Somehow, it feels like you don’t like it.”

     Manon paused. Her eyes widened, the teasing in her jet-black eyes seemed to have faded, “…Yes? Is it not just your imagination?” she said in a hoarse voice. As if she was upset, she quickly left the dining area.

 

     “Kyu! Kyu!” The holy dragon kept on throwing the vegetables in the plate as if hitting the back of Manon and the black leopard to chase them away. Of course, the meat and fish are gone. What’s left are only the carrots and onions.

     Liz silently gathered the vegetables scattered on the table and placed it back on the holy dragon’s plate.

     “Kyu…” the holy dragon’s eyes widened as if it had been exposed.

     

     Then, another rare occurrence, the chief priest came again.

     “Good morning.. I heard that the Holy Beast was born this time. “

     ” They just left the dining area.”

     “I see…” He missed the chance for them to pass by each other. His shoulder slightly drops in disappointment.

     “I told the priests, and we have decided to have the third selection on the day after tomorrow. The condition for passing is having grown the sacred fruit. Among the eleven, Natalie and Grace are already out of the selection, so nine candidates remain. Well, for you and Manon Noiza, you both already had your sacred fruits and now they are a holy dragon and beast.”

 

　* * * * *

 

     In the Igner house. The library facing the front yard had bookshelves lined up around like a wall. Some books are so old that they are worn out, the letters are faded and unreadable, but they are valuable and the duke liked them, especially whenever he drinks wine there alone.

     But today —

     ‘…Not good’

     He frowned. Although he’s drinking the finest wine, his mood wasn’t good. His daughter, Grace, had made such a huge blunder during the selection. He even befriended Priest Toma and made him his ally with the power of money, also to have him investigate Liz’s life in her hometown.

     He was so irritated that he roughly placed back the wine glass on his desk. Droplets of wine splattered over his mahogany desk. It infuriated him more.

     Instead of Grace being able to marry Prince Keefa, she’s been caught as a criminal. The duke had done his all. With his power as Duke Igner, it would’ve been easy to erase Grace’s sins and bury those involved in the dark. However, this time it’s different.

     It happened in the temple. Despite the temple is under the protection of the palace, they have the knowledge, and have independent authority having the saint as their head. But he did not think that his power couldn’t reach that point.

     The duke himself went out and presented them good conditions, but the priest who had dealt with it just nodded without a smile.

     He felt irritated and bitter. The chief priest suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

     “Don’t worry duke, this is the holy temple of the saint. The only criterion of judgement is based on one’s conduct and behavior regardless of their status and rank. Grace is no exception.Please rest assured, the truth will be judged as it is, the judgment will be made fairly and the charges will be determined properly.”

     ‘Sarcasm?’ 

     The chief priest spoke with a kind smile. When he thought of him, his blood started to boil.

     ‘—but, well, We still have another thing in our hands. The girl is doing quite well.’

     He was about to ring the bell on the library wall to call the servant. There was a knock on the door and a servant entered. A quiet man with good eyes and ears, someone useful. 

     ” I thought it would be better for me to tell it to you personally, Master. It’s about His Highness Keefa.”

     “What?”

     ” It seems that he has made an inquiry about the relation between master and the House of the Howard family, who was the royal capital about 500 years ago.”

     He was so surprised that he felt that heaven and earth had turned over.

     “I also learned that he has been keeping an eye on the Howard family since his childhood. Ten years ago, the head of the family was scammed by an acquaintance, he secretly gave them a helping hand.”

     The duke covered his mouth with a trembling hand. He thought it was possible before, he remembered Keefa having memories of Eugene at an early age.

     Has he realized that he’s the butler in their previous life? No. There should’ve been more movement about it. The previous life— he’s not aware, but he also doesn’t know what’s wrong with it.

     ‘Why? How did you notice?’

     His heartbeat resonated through his head like bells. No matter how much he had thought of it, he knew that he hadn’t made any mistakes.

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     However, he’s the crown prince. If his deeds and lies as the butler of their previous life were discovered, then how would he have the position to manage the Igner family.

     In his previous life, Eugene was a foolish young man and did as he wanted to do.

     He lifted his head towards the man and ordered him, “Find out more about Prince Keefa and Liz Stefan, who he favors. Proceed as soon as possible, surely but secretly.”