𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎: 𝐃𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲
And so, a week of observation passed, during which I, as the “proof of the saint’s strange abilities,” healed the injuries and illnesses of all the members of the Margrave family and all the servants in the castle. This indeed deepened the queen’s trust in me.
ㅤ
The price of the saint’s unique abilities ― according to Kami-sama, I don’t need to worry about physical exhaustion or a shortening of my lifespan. “Charlene can use it endlessly, it’s fine,” he said. A body that has been filled with more than half of Kami-sama’s power is said to be a soul that was born with one foot dipped into Godhood. No, this is a cheat.
ㅤ
I, known as Charte-chan, the strongest saint, finished treating several people in the morning today and was then invited to lunch by the queen.
At a breezy terrace seat in the dining room, the queen looked at me, squinting in the wind.
ㅤ
“From those who intentionally hid their injuries to those who were not aware of their chronic diseases. . .you truly are a genuine [Charlene-sama’s Envoy], Charte.”
“Thank you for the praise, Your Majesty!”
ㅤ
The queen’s attitude had softened significantly over the week. At the same time, I also had a deeper understanding of the situation in the Margrave family.
This is not a reconciliation after divorce but rather treated as a separate residence for rest and recuperation. Due to this position, even among the Margrave’s household, the queen is treated as an outsider and seems to only walk within a certain part of the castle grounds. The Margrave is the queen’s father, and the eldest son, along with his family, live elsewhere.
While drinking tea, the queen sighed with a haggard face.
ㅤ
“You. . . . . .you are well-mannered and show an admirable spirit as a young saint. I’m almost ashamed of myself for initially suspecting that you were a suspicious child.”
“Not at all, Your Majesty. It’s my fault for appearing suspicious. . . . . .If you think something’s strange, please feel free to ask me anything!”
“Fufu. I trust you now. I actually wanted a daughter too. It’s so easy to talk to you, as if I’ve known you for a long time.”
“Hehe. . . . . .”
ㅤ
Yes, in fact, Charte-chan is Charlene, and was once engaged to your eldest son.
Thinking about such things while blushing like a child, the queen shows a much softer smile than at the beginning.
ㅤ
“Come on, don’t hesitate, and enjoy.”
“Thank you, I will!”
ㅤ
The queen watches me drink my tea with the same affectionate gaze as one would give to a kitten. It’s quite hard to keep acting like a cute 8-year-old without revealing my stray cat origins.
ㅤ
It seems that the queen has been living lonely days, and having an 8-year-old to talk to seems to be a comfort to her.
Sometimes, the queen would dress me up, braid my hair, do embroidery, draw, and play other girly games.
ㅤ
Of course, there must have been an intention to judge my upbringing by watching my movements. Even so, in front of an 8-year-old, the queen always wore a nostalgic, wistful smile.
ㅤ
(She must miss having a child. . .after all, she was already expelled from the royal palace ten years ago. . . . . .)
ㅤ
It’s said that she’s been living separately since Prince Lewis was 10 and the second prince was 5. Although they meet occasionally, the loneliness of living apart from her growing sons every day must be considerable.
ㅤ
Speaking of which, because of the differences in educational policy, she became hostile with the king, so she must be frustrated to leave her two princes under the king — oh, I see, that’s why she behaves like an educationally enthusiastic mom to 8-year-old me. Because in her mind, children are stuck at that age――
ㅤ
“What’s the matter? You’re spacing out.”
“Oh. . . . . .I was just thinking, is it a dream to have tea with the queen.”
“Fufu, it’s not a dream. Go ahead and eat.”
“Yes.”
ㅤ
I reached out for a cookie, pretending to be cute when suddenly. . . . . .
A ticklish sensation rushed to my stomach as I moved, and I twisted my body.
ㅤ
“Heheh. . . . . .”
“Oh, what’s the matter, Charte?”
“Ah. . . . . .I’m sorry for making such an unrefined noise. It’s just that my stomach felt ticklish. I’m a bit nervous because I received this cute outfit.”
ㅤ
With a shy grin, I could feel myself breaking into a cold sweat. My skin, slick with sweat, squirmed like a serpent.
ㅤ
(Goodness, Kami-sama, please stop. . . . . .!)
ㅤ
I grumbled, a smile adorning my face. When away from Kami-sama, a serpent coiled underneath my dress as a guardian. The principle is unknown, but it seems to be an avatar of Kami-sama.
ㅤ
By the way, as for Kami-sama himself, he always locks himself in his room, saying, “I need to be alone to offer prayers to Charlene-sama.” It is a necessary measure because it’s dangerous to leave Kami-sama alone.
ㅤ
Kami-sama, with his divine authority, seems to have a hard time leaving an impression on people. Regardless of his desire, he always seems to be under a cloaking spell.
That is the reason why everyone, starting with the queen, addresses me as their superior rather than Kami-sama, an adult male.
ㅤ
“Charte. You’re going to the capital as a saint, so you need a silk dress.”
“Yes!”
ㅤ
I straightened my back with a snap, subtly grabbing at the snake.
The queen has promised to nominate me as a saint to the church this week. The church can’t act recklessly with the queen’s backing. No matter how much she’s been banished as a mere figurehead, any disrespect to her is a disrespect to the king, the two princes, and the Margrave family. It was the best shield to protect myself from Lulumia and the church.
ㅤ
In front of me, calculating, the queen spoke.
ㅤ
“I want you to become the leading saint in the future. It might be a difficult thing for you to understand now. . . . . .The capital is in a state of chaos right now. Even though I am banished under the guise of convalescence, as the queen, I must fulfill what I can.”
“Your Majesty. . . . . .”
ㅤ
I stopped eating and appealed to the queen.
ㅤ
“Your Majesty, I’ll work hard to repay the trust you’ve given me. I believe Charlene-sama commanded me to perform a miracle here, to become your strength.”
“Charte. . . . . .Yes, that’s right. If the former leading saint knew the current situation, she would send a messenger. After all, Lulumia is a difficult saint as a leading saint. And above all. . . . . .”
ㅤ
Here, the queen seemed to catch herself and covered herself with a smile.
It was clear that she almost slipped out something that shouldn’t be spoken to a mere saint.
ㅤ
“Now, if we stay here in the sun any longer, we’ll get sunburned. Let’s meet again at dinner.”
“Yes! Thank you for the wonderful time and meal.”
ㅤ
I stood up with the rising queen and said goodbye with a bow.
When I quickly returned to my assigned room, Kami-sama was lying on a lavish sofa.
ㅤ
As I silently got up, snakes gathered from all directions towards Kami-sama. The snake coiling around my waist also returned to Kami-sama smoothly.
ㅤ
“Hehehe, it tickles, it tickles.”
“Charlene. I think I can guess what the queen was hiding earlier.”
ㅤ
Kami-sama said as he listened to the story from the snakes coiled around his hands.
ㅤ
“It seems the king is bedridden with an unidentified illness. Correspondingly, the second prince is on his way back to the country.”
“. . . . . .If they’re even calling back the second prince, the situation must be serious.”
ㅤ
The second prince, a highly accomplished prince who is doted on by the king, should have been studying abroad in a distant foreign country due to a political marriage. I’ve hardly ever met him face-to-face. It seems that the country has considerably deteriorated from when Priest Trias told me about it.
ㅤ
“And then. . .”
“W, What else is there?”
ㅤ
Kami-sama said.
ㅤ
“It appears that the barrier that prevents monsters from invading the nearest border is beginning to fray. The Knights of the Margrave are heading for subjugation. . . . . .If this continuous subjugation goes on, the knights will become exhausted, and the border will likely be breached by monsters.”
“W, What did you say?”
ㅤ
Between our country and the neighboring one, there’s a hoard of monster-infested forests. Thanks to the power of Kami-sama, monsters could not enter from the border. I’ve heard that it’s common for a small number of monsters to invade during trade times, but I’ve never heard of the knights going on a large-scale subjugation mission.
ㅤ
“So. . . . . .that’s why it was strangely quiet inside the castle. . . . . .”
“Also.”
“Is there still more?!”
“Even if my divine protection disappears, the barrier would not normally fray immediately. Even if a fray occurs, it usually takes a decade.”
“So, you’re saying something unusual is happening.”
ㅤ
Kami-sama silently nodded. His golden eyes were a testament to his heightened tension.
ㅤ
“It seems to be a lot more chaotic than I imagined, huh?”
ㅤ
I swallowed hard, laughing because there was nothing else I could do.
Now, what can I do?
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