In the corner of the Royal Capital, during the days when I spent my time praying to the goddess, the occasional rumors about the war that reached me were some of the few clues I had about Elliott’s safety, who was far away on the battlefield.
Paper was still a luxury, and letters were beyond the reach of a commoner’s earnings. The announcements occasionally posted at the gates of the Royal Castle conveyed only brief updates on the war situation, leaving me to cling to the scant information carried by the winds of gossip.
Even so, news of Elliott obtaining the Holy Sword and becoming a Holy Knight, along with his remarkable feats in annihilating the Undead Beasts, quickly spread throughout the Royal Capital.
—And alongside him, the rumors of the Holy Maiden who accompanied him and fought alongside him.
The Undead Beasts, as their name suggests, cannot be defeated by mere slashing. One must douse their sword in Holy Water, behead the creature, and only then can it return to the earth. Furthermore, after slaying each one, the sword must be purified with Holy Water.
Due to the laborious nature of the hunt, progress was often slow, but with Elliott wielding the Holy Sword, it was said that he could defeat the Undead without the need for purification.
There was also another matter. When a living human is wounded by an Undead’s attack, even the smallest injury can lead to decay spreading from that wound. This causes excruciating pain, and many succumb to madness from the horrifying experience of rotting alive, even from minor injuries.
The ones who could purify such wounds were the clergy and priests who had received blessings from serving the church.
In this recent campaign against the Undead Beasts, the remarkable achievements of Lady Emily, who would eventually be known as the Holy Maiden for her powerful purification abilities, were often spoken of alongside the valor of Holy Knight Elliott.
Both were honored with the great goddess’s blessing, and their exploits became a beacon of hope for the nation, drawing the attention of everyone.
The bright tales illuminating the kingdom likely played a role in easing the fears brought about by the terrifying Undead Beasts. The rumors circulating here and there increasingly focused on the budding relationship between the two as they fought side by side.
Given their striking beauty, it is possible that the initial discussions were filled with envy and expectation.
Yet, amidst all this, my existence as Elliott’s wife was never mentioned.
Rumors are just that—rumors. As they are passed along, they can easily become distorted by the desires of third parties. I tried my best not to dwell on it.
“Living comfortably in the safe Royal Capital, only praying—such a wife is unworthy of Lord Elliott.”
—The first time I heard that, it was a whisper from someone who knew that Elliott and I were married.
“I hear that Holy Knight Elliott has a wife waiting for him in the Royal Capital.”
“Ah, that must be it. A self-proclaimed wife who appears as soon as a man gains fame.”
“Exactly, self-proclaimed lovers and self-proclaimed wives—if you searched the Royal Capital, you wouldn’t have enough fingers to count them.”
Most of the gossip exchanged throughout the streets denied my existence as a wife. In fact, I had even seen a woman I didn’t recognize boasting about being his lover, so it was perhaps understandable that the townsfolk would be skeptical.
I could not believe that before Elliott’s deployment or before our marriage, he had secretly been involved with many women.
At least the Elliott I knew was someone who dedicated himself to training from dawn until dusk, always covered in sweat and dust, and he was quiet, not particularly skilled in socializing.
I took pride in having loved and supported him during that time.
That is why I did not believe the rumors about the Holy Maiden.
The tide began to change when those actually belonging to the knight order or their families started to speak of similar tales.
The messengers who conveyed the war situation to the kingdom would regularly return to the Royal Capital. They would share trivial conversations with their families living in the capital alongside their mission reports.
Everyone was keenly interested in the stories that leaked from those conversations.
Even in harsh conditions, they supported each other, and as they overcame numerous challenges, the bond between the Holy Knight and the Holy Maiden deepened rapidly. It was the wives of the knights, waiting for their husbands to return from the battlefield, who brought this news to my ears.
At first, some expressed their anger at what they deemed infidelity and showed concern for me. However, perhaps due to the harsh war situation and the expectations and hopes placed upon the Holy Knight and the Holy Maiden, they gradually changed their attitudes.
“I… feel sympathy for you. But you should also be aware of your situation…”
“Yes, after all, we haven’t done anything like the Holy Maiden.”
“You should make the right judgment.”
Days passed with such words subtly urging me to step back. As more people learned of my position, the voices of criticism grew louder.
“Miss Flora, I’m sorry, but I need you to take a break from work for a while. It’s not your fault; it’s just that the customers…”
I lost my sewing work, and even my favorite shops subtly asked me to refrain from visiting.
All I could do was avoid the public eye and pray in the deserted church on the outskirts of town.
Until I heard it directly from him, I had been stubbornly holding on to my pride.
“Flora,”
When Elliott called my name, I looked up.
“Flora, I’m sorry… Emily has been supporting me on the battlefield all this time. I have fallen in love with her…”
—That was not the kind of thing I wanted to hear from your lips…
It’s strange. Now, at this moment, I think such thoughts. Anger, sorrow, and disappointment all resided firmly within my chest, yet not a single word could escape my lips. Perhaps it was because, somewhere along the way, I had given up.
“…I understand, my lord.”
I had called Elliott “my lord” only a handful of times. And surely, this would be the last.