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

     A young man, one of Keefa’s aides and Eric’s junior, entered the room. He stopped and assessed the scene in the room. Then, he looked at Keefa, who’s sweating profusely and his face stiff.

     “What is the matter, Your Highness!?”

     “I’m fine…It’s nothing. What are matters with the duke’s men?”

     “Yes. He was a servant of the duke, but he had no connection with Sheena Blyde, also the Colorado region. Sheena was originally at Emilia Kafen, and changed her face by doing forbidden magic. She thought that she needed the title of the “saint of Colorado” in order to become a crown princess and therefore had caused the dispute in the Colorado region. The man had only assumed the role of a messenger in the Colorado area, and of course, the duke was not involved with it at all.” 

     Sheena looked up as if she was slapped, “No! That’s not it!” She understood that she was about to be charged with all of it. She turned pale.

     Keefa said frankly, “Of course…The details may be inconsistent. However, your opponent is the head of the Igner family, which is known for generations. Neither the ministers would try to pry further…even the prime minister. You’re the only culprit that will show. After all, it’s true that you became a saint of Colorado to deceive the people and poisoned me, the crown prince. There are witnesses.”

     At the corner of the room, the maids and the soldier stared at Sheena, pale but not overlooking anything. Sheena threw herself down on the floor and began to groan. Her whole body was trembling all over, as “reality” had stabbed her.

     “The duke seems to have cut you off, though he probably planned on doing it from the very start..” Keefa said to the helpless and aghast Sheena.

     “How is the duke involved? Who’s the magician who changed your face?”

     There is no escape. There’s no other way around. She clenched her teeth and eventually she opened her mouth as if she had resigned.

     “…I am.”

     At last, they’ll know the truth. Liz leaned forward.

     “I am the Duke Igner—”

     Suddenly, there was a sound that seemed to cut through the air. Eric has swiftly stood in front of Keefa, while the other young aide protects Liz.

     With a solid and sharp sound, an arrow striked through Sheena’s chest. Her eyes widened and silently fell.

     “Sheena!?” Liz hurriedly ran to her.

     Eric lifted up Sheena’s upper body, but her eyes were tightly shut. She didn’t move. Crimson blood flowed down from her left breast, where the arrow was deeply pierced.

     “This pattern—it belongs to the temple.” Eric said.

     Liz quickly tore the sleeve on her dress, trying to stop the bleeding. She lightly smacked Sheena on the cheek, “Sheena! Sheena!?”

     She still didn’t move and her eyes were shut. Blood was splattered to her face as if she were dead—

     “That…” Liz groaned. All of the truth was about to come to light.

     “So you were here, Liz.” At the door of the room were the figures of the saint and the armed priests. The priest in front was holding a bow.

     The saint turned to the stiff and struggling Keefa, “Are you alright, Your Highness? Sheena has poisoned His Highness. As the head of the temple, I cannot forgive such actions. I’d punish them before they commit any more crimes.” She gave a clear smile, understanding everything.

     Liz bit her lip, “I was just one step closer..” 

     Frustration flowed up from her feet. She was about to tell what her relationship is with the duke, the truth about Colorado, and the true identity of the saint before them.

     Then—

     “Catch the criminal, Liz.”

     By the order of the saint, Liz was captured by the priests again.

     Keefa couldn’t move due to the poison. Eric and his other aide couldn’t move nor act carelessly. Liz is considered a criminal and protecting her would be considered a crime for Keefa. At the very least, he could defend Sheena and at the same time be a witness.

     In a firm voice, Keefa said, “This is the Royal Palace, and the Crown Prince’s room. This absurd act—”

     “I beg your pardon, Prince Keefa. When Liz was taken out of the prison by you after discovering she was the culprit. Is that the case? The king, your father, is very distressed to hear that. The prime minister and other ministers have voiced their opinions whether it’s okay for the crown prince to help Liz in the first place through a love affair.”

     Keefa, who was struck by it, swallowed his words and turned away in regret as he’s not able to do anything.

     “It looks like you’re having a hard time, Your Highness. I can cure you. I’ll give you treatment.” said the saint.

     Liz turned pale. By the sound of her worried voice, she clicked her tongue.

    “It’s fine.” Keefa turned pale, but he firmly responded. Of course he doesn’t know what treatment will be done to him.

     “Don’t worry. I’m the saint. It is no use for being the saint if I overlook the physical condition of the Crown Prince.”

     “I am the Crown Prince, I have the authority to refuse.”

    “Then I will refer you to the King. The royal will agree. On the other hand, the Imperial Prince’s impression will worsen by rejecting. Not only helping the criminal, but the temple will also question the protection of the Crown Prince. You’ll be questioned of your qualifications as the prince.”

     Keefa bit his lip in frustration. “…Alright. But in front the king, the ministers. In front of a crowd. Also, have the chief priest attend you.”

     “I understand.” the saint smiled and glanced at Sheena. In Eric’s arms, Sheena’s blood has completely stopped and her eyes remain closed, “I have a hard time understanding why you cherish a criminal who has poisoned His Highness. It’d be nice if she’s able to wake up soon.”

     She never woke up again—

     The saint went out of the room chuckling.

     “Walk!” Liz, who has been violently pushed by the priest, glanced at Keefa. He also stared back at her, drenched in sweat.

     “Walk quickly!” Liz glared at the priest shouting at her.

     ‘That apparition earlier—Sheena’s face turning into Emilia. I wish I could do it again.’

     In front of these priests. Even if it’s an illusion, it’s a clue to create suspicions and doubt.

     Liz, being bound, took a deep breath. Be calm and concentrate. She closed her eyes. There’s an image that released a kind of energy within the body.

     The moment she opened her eyes, her eyes met the saint’s. The saint grinned as if everything is in its prospect. At that moment, she thought that she had casted a spell, Liz’s energy disappeared. Due to lack of strength, she knelt down like a doll with a broken thread.

     “Liz!” She heard Keefa’s grim voice.

     Liz was being held by the priests and was forcibly dragged away. Liz weakly and desperately turned her head and looked back. She could see Keefa staring intently at her through the gaps from the priests’ bodies.

     She tried her best and gave out a pitiful look like an abandoned puppy.

     Liz blankly thought in her mind.

     ‘I guess you’re bad at acting after all.’

　* * * * *

     The saint and the priests took Liz and left. Eric instructed the young aide and took the maids and the soldier out of the room.

     After a while Lloyd came into the room. He has a small brown jar on his hand.

     “Are you all right? Perhaps it isn’t necessary, but I’ve brought the poison that Sheena had used on you.”

     Keefa frowned and thanked him. When he relaxed and let out all the tension, he realized again that his whole body was numb and aching.

     “It looks painful. You knew that Sheena was going to do something? Why didn’t you stop at the last minute and pretend to be poisoned?”

     “I’m not good at acting. She didn’t try to kill me and I knew it wasn’t a lethal dose. I am quite used to poison. I have been accustomed to poison little by little from an early age in fear of actually being poisoned. First of all, unless Sheena believes, the fake saint will not. Also, for the treatment, bring out the fake saint from the first temple. It’s convenient—Eric, is Sheena alright?”

     The duke ordered the fake saint to take her life—

     “It’s alright. She seemed to be breathing. It’s amazing. I’m sure the arrow would’ve pulled her heart out.” Eric, who was impressed, shrugged his shoulders.

     “Well, he’s the chief priest.”

     It was thanks to the magic that the chief priest had applied to Sheena before. Although she herself is not aware of such a technique being applied onto her.

     If he were to corner Sheena, she would tell about the duke and the fake saint. In order to prevent it, the duke would try to silence Sheena. Therefore, he asked the priest in advance to set up a preventive measure. The duke would be relieved to know that she’s dead.

     When Keefa was confronting the duke, he had his young aide tell Lloyd and the Chief priest.

     When told that the saint is fake, the two looked very surprised. However, Lloyd immediately laughed, “Oh, that’s Liz’s intuition.”

     “I cannot tell you the details, but if we cooperate with His Highness, we can’t afford to due to the fake saint. We are limited on what we can do. Forgive me, I’m sorry.” the chief priest said, looking a little bitter.

     “I think there is something about the real saint.” said the young aide in a serious tone. He and Keefa thought too.

     Keefa raised his sore body and turned to Lloyd. “Liz has been caught. The fake saint’s attention will be here for the treatment. As planned, Liz will be in the first temple to look for the Holy Dragon and the mirror. I want to go with you to the first temple, but I can’t escape. I ask you to help and look after Liz.”

     Lloyd stared at Keefa, but after a while he laughed, “Don’t you doubt me? I’m a priest too, perhaps serving the fake saint.”

     Keefa smiled, “No. It’s alright.”

     “…Why do you say so? Did you eat the leaves?”

     “Leaves?”

     What was that? Lloyd muttered to himself in front of the confused Keefa, “Not long ago, I remembered you talked to Liz about the sacred buds…”

     He didn’t know what he was talking about, but…

     “Liz trusts you. So it’s okay.” With conviction, Keefa laughed.

     “…I see.” he murmured happily, but he was rather sad.

     Lloyd left the room to the temple.

     “It’s almost over.” Eric smiled. 

     The misdeeds of the duke and the fake saint in this life are told, yet nothing of the previous life or of Cecil was. However, Eric, who knew everything, chuckled softly. If he is not so bold, he may not be a close aide of the prince, serving him.

     “Ah,” Keefa nodded.

     Let’s end it. This fateful connection, which had lasted since five hundred years ago, from the previous life—

If you like my translations, please consider supporting me by buying me a ko-fi