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

     “Sheena Blyde, eighteen years old. You are an abandoned child and have no parents.You grew up in a monastery of Blyde in the southern part of the Zac region. A pious nun, benevolent, gentle,  honest, and merciful.”

     The duke spoke in a detached, matter-of-fact tone as if he were reading a document. It was later revealed that the lord who had made a great contribution to the monastery was a nobleman under the duke.

     “Until I say that it’s good, You and I are strangers. We’ve never met. Alright?”

     Emilia nodded.

     After a while, as the Duke had said, in the neighboring Colorado region, ethnic rivalries broke out. It was like a fast spread of burning fire, getting bigger and bigger in a matter of seconds.

     Emilia can’t help but be stunned.The duke possessed no magic power, but he seemed to be using magic.

     “I’ll leave you to this man from now on. Act as said and treat the injured as a gentle and merciful goddess.”

     As the duke’s men obeyed him, a dispute arose near him, just as she was told by the duke. Too many battles were waged, causing so many casualties.

     Emilia worked hard. When she heard that there was a wounded man over there, she ran to him and when she heard that there was a sick man there, she’d jump and rush at his bedside to take care of him.

     She was desperate.

     There was neither day nor night in the midst of the war. 

     However, she had no wonder and fear. It was partly because she was too busy, she had a purpose in getting closer to Liz. Above all, she knew that she could not go back again. She had her face changed, even her name. No one would ever believe her if she said that she’s Emilia Kafen.

     There is no place to go back. She could only just push forward.

     As she continued on her act, Emilia eventually was called “the saint of Colorado”. Although it was the duke who probably called it so.

     Emilia was actually aiming to be a saint of Astoria. She’s called a “saint” there, though not a saint in such a remote region.

     She laughed at the irony.

     “Don’t meet with Prince Keefa yet,” the duke said, “You’ll feel your destiny come when you meet him in the temple.” 

     Rumors about Keefa had been around since his childhood. Most of the women in the country admire him. Still, she can’t even approach him even when she was a baroness. If she ever gets to meet him and marry Keefa, she’d be envied by all the women in this country. Isn’t it the best?

     “At last, you’ll have an audience with the king in the royal palace. If ever the king asks what you want, say that you want to go to the temple.

     I already have it arranged. Some of my men will be among you.”

　The time has finally come. She could not help but tremble with shock and excitement. 

     “You really worked hard. It’s more than what I expected. Eventually, I thought of adopting you. You will be Sheena, the daughter of the Igner family.”

     She felt like she has been recognized for her hard work so far. She almost bursted into tears.

     Then, at the temple, she met Keefa for the first time.

     “Nice to meet you, Your Highness, Prince Keefa. We are finally able to meet.”

     It’s all right. Really, finally.

     Emilia smiled with admiration at Keefa, who turned pale as if he had seen a ghost.

     It was raining outside. The hallway in front of the dining area is full of priests and candidates, all of them looking at each other with a stunned expression. 

     “Who are you…?” Keefa said in a faint, husky voice. He was awfully stiff.

     Still, she could see the bitter sadness and love in his dark brown eyes that were staring eagerly at Emilia—Sheena’s face.

     ‘That’s great!’ Emilia marveled. Just as the duke said, The prince always loved this face, was true.

     She glanced at Liz and saw that she was also in a state of shock. She felt a deep sense of joy. Keefa, who’s supposed to like Liz, is attracted to Emilia. It would be the biggest insult and humiliation for Liz.

     ‘I’ll show you more.’  She stepped forward, thrilled, looking at him.

     “Liz! I need to talk to you.” Keefa said to Liz, taking her with him.

     ‘I won’t let you escape!‘

     Emilia ran to the end of the hall, chasing him, but somehow Keefa managed to leave Liz, in his arms, behind as if he were protecting her from Emilia.

     ‘It’s not a joke.’ Emilia got more and more excited.

     The next day, she ambushed Keefa in the hallway.

     “Your Highness.” she called out to him in a whisper. Keefa froze.

     When Emilia takes a step closer, Keefa takes a step back. However, he seems to lack some strength.

     She realized that he was trying to suppress her honest feelings with reason.

     ‘You just have to follow your instincts.’

     Emilia ticked her tongue in her heart, she never showed it on the surface. She continued to go closer quietly.     

     The duke told her to be modest. She’ll be quiet and passive without attacking aggressively. It’s His Royal Highness.

     Keefa’s back clung to the wall, he can’t run away anymore. Emilia smiled and gloated in her heart. How fun this is! What a universal feeling! The Prince can’t move at his own will.

     “Your Highness……”

     She stood wanting to place her hands on his broad breast, but I stopped at the last moment, as if she could touch it, but they’re not touching each other. 

     I’ll look up at him. Keefa’s eyes were on her, his shoulders stiff, trying to run away. He’s not bound by ropes. If he wants to escape, he can easily leave immediately, but by all means, he could not.

     Keefa shut his eyes and turned away from Emilia. He thought that it’s a good idea not to look at her, it was a desperate measure. However, she won’t let it happen.

     When he moved, Emilia moved a little closer and her chest faintly touched Keefa’s. Keefa shivered. What a nice body! It’s a dream come true.

     “Your Highness Keefa—” she shouted in a dignified manner. 

     Keefa momentarily directed his eyes at Emilia and love seemed to have reflected on it. Emilia did not miss it, she smiled. It was an embarrassed, poor and tender smile completely different from the original Emilia.

     However, the effect was very impressive. Keefa’s face immediately distorted as if to the point of tears. Keefa’s eyes are red, his back against the wall. He held his head with both hands, imploring her to stop. But Emilia had no intention of letting go. There is no escape now. Let’s end this. 

     Emilia looked downcast and lonely,  “Actually, Liz seems to hate me. Even if I say  hello, I’m Ignored. If someone else — especially a man — is with me, she’ll talk to me with a smile, but if alone, she’ll have a completely different attitude, blunt and unfriendly. I’m really sad…” she whispered in a faint voice.

     She had to make Liz look suspicious, engraving her in Keefa’s mind that Liz is not the kind of woman that he loves. 

     “Liz?” she was pleased that she heard Keefa’s appalled, faint voice.

     “Yes! That’s right! When she’s alone with me, she’s very cold, but the moment there’s someone—a man—there, she’ll be friendly and smiling. Other candidates also said that Liz acts like that.”

     The moment Keefa managed to put his hand over his mouth as if he had been shocked. Her long eyelashes lay heavy over her trembling eyes.

     Emilia laughed heartily in her heart. That’s right. He should know that Liz isn’t a good woman nor is she worthy for him. 

     Keefa slowly raised his head before the excited Emilia.

     ‘…What?”

     Contrary to her expectation, Keefa had a straight face. He was neither angry nor sad, he just stared straight into Emilia with a blank facade. The crazy light on his face before was completely gone.

     ‘Why? Why!?’

     “Oh, great! I’ve never seen Liz’s smiling face, nor have I been turned at. Whether she’s alone with me or with someone else, Liz is always blunt and straightforward. Well, as for the other man, it’s that unusual priest.” He looked as serious as ever.

     Emilia was puzzled. She didn’t understand the meaning of Keefa’s words. Liz must be lovable to Keefa. If not, the crown prince would not like to deal with a commoner, much less, Liz.

     “But —!” she shouted despite herself, but was then interrupted by Keefa.

     “It’s fine. There are times that Liz smiles…I remember seeing it once, but rather than it being directed to me, she laughed alone because she was relieved…” Keefa was looking out of the distance, giving out a sad laugh. What a cruel smile.

     Emilia was confused that her expression looked distorted. It might have been a misunderstanding on her uneasiness, but Keefa gave her a serious nod of encouragement.     

     “It’s all right, you don’t have to worry. You’re not hated. Be confident! You’re rather liked…..unlike me.”

     “…What?” She couldn’t help but voice out her confusion, she couldn’t really understand what Keefa was saying. He must be very interested in Liz. He’s never properly looked at other women before, but she heard that his attitude towards Liz is different. Liz doesn’t think about Keefa?

     ‘…What’s going on?’

     In contrast to the confused Emilia, Keefa seems to have completely recovered himself.

     “Well, I’ll be going. If you have any questions, ask the priests and the maids in the temple. They will surely be able to help.” with a smile, he left.

     ‘What!?’ Emilia, who had been left behind, was taken aback by the sight of Keefa’s back.

     Keefa gave out a deep breath when he turned around the corner, where Sheena couldn’t be seen at all.

     As he said, his aides approached him.They lined up next to Keefa, who kept on walking in the same direction and pace.  Keefa, once again, exhaled a deep breath, whispered to the man close to him. “I want you to go once more to Blyde monastery, where Sheena Blyde was. Whether there really existed a Sheena Blyde. You must confirm the facts.”

     His aide slightly frowned and glanced at him. “—is there anything you want to think about?”

     “I don’t know.”

     Honestly, the man who was his aide laughed with interest. Keefa continued to look ahead, “But I will never make the same mistake again. I swear.”

     Like in his last life, he shouldn’t take at will what others say. He has had enough of that. The same mistake will not be repeated. This time, he’ll protect someone who really matters.

     Keefa continued looking forward with a serious glint in his eyes. His aide smiled and bowed at him.

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