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

     Liz walked around with the Holy Dragon on her shoulder looking for the door. Today, there’s no Keefa with her. He must probably be busy with his official duties.

     The maids were talking about the disorder of Eastern Colorado region between the ethnic groups with clouded expressions. Keefa said that the conflict between them developed into civil war and the army had finally settled.

     There’s a woman called, “The saint of Colorado.” It is said that she had saved numerous people through her knowledge in medicinal herbs, healing magic, and her compassion when she nursed them.

     ‘What a great person.’

     As she walked, she met a candidate, Anna, carrying the fish in the bucket on the bank of the pond in the courtyard. It was exactly the same scenario as before, it’s just that Manon wasn’t with her.

     “Liz! I’m sorry about the other day. Did you catch a cold?”

     “I’m fine. Keefa…His Highness is also okay. Have you found the door?”

     “Not yet. There’s no progress like last time.”

     The fish is still banging its head on the bucket towards the pond. When Anna lets it out in the pond, it swims for a while then immediately returns.

     “It’s pretty much the same. I don’t know what to do anymore.” Anna smiled wryly.

     Both ladies silently gazed at the surface of the water. The courtyard is surrounded by neatly trimmed shrubs and warm sunshine. There was no wind and the Holy dragon flew around the area. The light glittered and reflected from the pond.

     “It’s like a mirror.” Liz muttered.

     There were some algae floating on the surface, but the rest of the water surface were shining with light. It’s like a water mirror that reflected both Liz and Anna.

     “Yes.” Anna muttered in reply. Suddenly, wind blew and the surface of the water rippled. The reflection of both ladies wavered. Anna hurriedly turned away.

     “What’s the matter?”

     “…it looked like my younger sister. When the wind blew, the water rippled, and my reflection was my younger sister. I thought she was looking at me.” Anna’s expression while she spoke looked like she’s in distress.

     “You don’t get along very well?”

     “We used to be good. But now…I hate it. I had a fiance that my parents decided. However, he chose my sister instead of me. They both bowed.”

     “Oh…”

     It must’ve been heavy on Anna’s heart and mind. Once she started talking, she couldn’t stop.

     “It was really hard that I thought I’d die. Moreover, that time I was chosen as a saint candidate. So I thought I could do it. It isn’t a really good reason but I want to be the next holy saint. So Liz, Why do you want to be a saint?”

     ‘It is―’

     Liz thought hard, looking at the distant trees and answered, “I promised Claire and Natalie that I’d be the next saint. Also, I’ve had quite a bad relationship with a noblewoman before, I want to show it to them.”

     “Oh, I know! Liz strangely stands out, not only the color of your hair and eyes.”

     Yes, though a little shocked, she agreed with all her might. 

     Still she slowly continued, “But I’m a commoner, so I can’t say anything back nor am I able to do anything. In the end, they just do what they want. I don’t like it nor it is unreasonable. I understand that our positions are different since the way we were raised and brought up are different. Moreover, I wanted something that can be discussed on equal footing. I wished that there was something in the world that could not be influenced by such things like one’s status or title. I thought that if I became a saint, I would be able to do something about it.”

     It’s hard for her to explain because it seemed kind of vague, but it is true.

     “Wow. That’s great.” Anna praised her. She looked behind Liz and saw a ‘priest’.

     When Liz turned, Lloyd stood up and beckoned to Liz, “May I speak to you?”

     “Sure, see you later Anna.”

     “See you later.” Anna smiled seeing Liz and Lloyd off. 

     She turned away, “Liz thinks not only herself, but also others. Unlike me…”  She felt embarrassed and quite ashamed of herself for wanting to be selected just because of a personal grudge.

     She recalled the painful memories and feelings that she has been keeping until now.

     “I’m sorry.” Her former fiance and younger sister bowed their heads in apology. Anna knew that her ex-fiance had been looking at her younger sister as she had been looking at her ex-fiance’s way from an early age. And also her sister—.

     Anna’s family are big merchants but they had no heir. Her ex-fiance was someone important chosen for her by her parents. 

     “There are things that can’t be helped.” said her parents, “We’ll find a better partner for you.” If the ex-fiance takes over the family by becoming their son-in-law, it’s either he marries Anna or her sister. Her ex-fiance and her family relatives, even business partners, and her sister…

     Anna had no one. Everything will settle if she’s patient. With that thought, that’s how she endured it. There are many unreasonable things in the world and they all come down unfairly. She looked away and ran from it and yet Liz is standing up against the unfairness and injustice. What is she trying to do?

     “Really amazing….” She covered her face with both of her hands. It felt like the feelings that she had been holding down deep inside the depths of her heart were going up into her head. 

     “Eh?”

     All of a sudden, the fish in the bucket shone. The key in her pocket also emitted light, resonating with the fish.

     “Whats this?”

     Before her eyes, the pond began to emit a bright light. Her eyes widened incredulously. There was a faint darkness at the center of the shining pond. It had a unique shape.

     “No way……?”

     So this is the “door”. The chief priest said that whoever finds their door would become the next saint.

     “It’s a lie…”

     Anna held her key with a trembling hand and went into the pond. She stopped before the keyhole and slowly inserted the key. A faint sound was heard, something unlocked—

     “What’s the matter, Lloyd?”

     They are behind a deserted barn that Lloyd brought her to while looking around, checking their surroundings.

     “Lloyd—!”

     “Hush! Don’t speak loudly.”

     “Kyu!”

     “You too!”

     Lloyd covered Liz’s mouth with his right hand and his left to the Holy Dragon.

     “The jar that you had dug out before, the one that contained a grain of sacred seed. When I delivered it to the chief priest, his expression was strange. My hunch is that he knew that it was buried there.”

     “Well if you ask me, it is quite weird.” Lloyd said

     Liz wanted him to let go. She struggled, trying to pull his hand off with both of her hands. Surprisingly, he’s unexpectedly strong.

     “Gyu!”

     “Ouch!”

     The Holy dragon angrily bit on Lloyd’s hand and at last, Liz was finally released.

     “What’s going on? Suddenly!”

     “You can’t ask this to anyone, can you? This is a temple, a place ruled by the saint and chief priests. What would you do if there was a spy?”

     A spy? Before the glaring Liz, Lloyd pointed his red hand that was bitten by the Holy dragon.

     “Speaking of which, His Royal Highness, Keefa, is not with you today?”

     “We’re not always together. He has to deal with the conflict in Colorado.”

     “Yeah, I heard. The palace is in a big mess—well even though he’s busy, he’s taking his precious time to be by Liz’s side.” Lloyd grinned.

     Liz was getting annoyed with his grin. Suddenly, they heard a priest shouting from a distance. He was running hastily and Lloyd caught him, “What’s the matter?”

     “Ah! Lloyd. Great. The candidate, Anna, has found the door!”

 Hello! sorry for not properly updating these past few weeks, that’s why I updated twice today…
And yes, the raws actually say Colorado. (コロラド)