Chapter 65 - The King's Summons
Within a few days, news of the Saint's birth spread throughout the kingdom, sparking a festive atmosphere. In the city, portraits of Anna-san were selling like wildfire, and the citizens were eagerly awaiting her public debut. At home, my father was returning late every night due to the mountain of work at the castle. His Highness still came to the academy, but our quiet moments in the garden had vanished. Nevertheless, he sent letters to the Marquis's estate frequently, and our brief conversations during the morning commute became the highlight of my days.
Because everyone was so busy, I dedicated myself to my studies and spent my time in the library researching spirits. I had remembered something Professor Bluet, my tutor, had told me about the Saint.
"The Saint is considered a symbol. Humans are greedy creatures; if her power were spread too thin, people would become dependent on it. Therefore, the specifics of the Saint's power are kept secret from everyone except the royal family."
I was curious about what that power actually was. Even as the Crown Prince's fiancée, I wouldn't be told the details until we were officially married. So, I decided to look into the Saint from three hundred years ago, the ones before her, and spirits in general. I hoped this might also lead to information about the Spirit of Darkness. His Highness and Theodore-sama surely knew much more than I did, but I couldn't just sit still. I had to find what I could do and pursue it with everything I had.
As for Anna-san, the subject of everyone's conversation, she had moved to the Great Church to begin her training as the Saint. She had to return to the academy briefly to handle the paperwork for her leave of absence, which was when I saw her for the first time in a while. The moment she noticed me, her face stiffened and her eyes darted around. She seemed to be struggling to find words.
"How is the Church? I hope the change in environment hasn't been too difficult for you."
"No... everyone has been very kind to me..."
"I see. I'm glad to hear that."
Anna-san, who had been looking down, suddenly snapped her head up at my words. She whispered something that sounded like, "Where's the villainess in all this...?" When I asked her to repeat herself, she simply shook her head. "It's nothing."
Then, with a somber expression, she spoke again. "Rachel-san, the next time we meet, it might already..."
"Eh?"
"No, I look forward to seeing you again."
What was that? It looked like she had stopped herself from saying something important. Her pained expression vanished in an instant, replaced by her usual smile. "Well then, until next time," she said, walking briskly away in the opposite direction.
She had seemed off. Was she really trying to tell me something? The fact that she had stopped suggested she was dealing with some kind of internal conflict. It was the first time I had seen her look so grim. Had something happened at the Church? Or was it something to do with me? Was she uncomfortable seeing me?
Maybe I should talk to His Highness about her. I couldn't tell him about the time loop, but Anna-san's behavior was definitely suspicious. Even so, there was little I could do on my own.
After watching her walk away for a moment, I turned and headed back to my classroom. Even there, the topic of the Saint dominated every conversation. From morning until after school, there wasn't a moment where her name wasn't mentioned.
"To think that Miss Carroll is the Saint. I wonder if personality isn't a requirement for the position," Abbott-san remarked during lunch at the cafeteria. She glanced around before adding with a hint of bitterness, "It's nothing but talk of the Lady Saint lately."
Abbott-san had disliked Anna-san ever since our trip to the cafe. She had been quite vocal about her dissatisfaction with Anna-san becoming the Saint.
"Abbott-san, you should be careful about criticizing the Saint. There are many devout believers here; you'll only hurt yourself if you get into trouble over it."
Abbott-san nodded reluctantly at my warning. "But still... she's the Saint. Every citizen of this country grew up with picture books about the Saint. I had this image of a Saint who was noble, humble, and filled with mercy. ...And then there's her."
She cut her meat with sharp, irritated movements. I understood her point. To Abbott-san, the Saint was an idealized figure from her childhood dreams. I couldn't exactly tell her that she might change her mind if she got to know Anna-san better. The previous Saint might have been that ideal—whether she was naturally like that or worked hard to project it, she had been the perfect Saint. But I didn't think it was fair to fail Anna-san immediately when she had only just begun. After all, the Spirit King had chosen her. I didn't know what she was thinking, but I wouldn't understand her goals unless I learned more about her.
"I'm thinking of talking to His Highness about her."
"About what?"
"About Anna-san. There's so much I don't understand about her words or her actions. That's why I've decided not to keep it to myself anymore."
Abbott-san's expression softened into a gentle smile. "Yes, I agree. I thought you should have said something sooner, but I know you had your own struggles to work through. I'm sure His Highness will be relieved that you're sharing your worries with him."
"Of course, I still want to keep consulting my reliable friend as well..."
Abbott-san blushed slightly and laughed. "Of course! I'm worried about you too, you know."
Her words warmed my heart. I loved these gentle moments with her. Abbott-san was the one who taught me the value of spending time with a true friend. We spent the rest of the day chatting about trivial things, and the time flew by.
When my carriage arrived at the estate, I felt a prickle of tension in the air. Wondering what was wrong, I walked into the hall.
"Ah, Rachel. Welcome back."
"Father! Goodness, look at the dark circles under your eyes."
"I've been... quite busy. More importantly, I'm sorry, but you need to prepare for the palace immediately. I've already told Sarah; I believe your dress is ready."
I blinked in surprise. "The palace? So suddenly? What happened?"
Is it His Highness? My father seemed to read my mind and smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, but it's not His Highness."
"Eh?"
"The one who summoned you, Rachel... is His Majesty."
His Majesty?
The unexpected name made my body go rigid. In the two years since my engagement to His Highness, I had never once received a direct summons from the King.
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