Episode 3. Servia’s Hidden Feelings
[Servia’s Perspective]
“Are you alright, Lady Servia? There will be a welcome banquet after this, but…”
“Yes… I will definitely attend the welcome banquet. For now, could you please leave me alone for a while?”
“Yes, milady! If you require anything, please do not hesitate to ask.”
The butler, Lancelot, bowed deeply and exited the room.
Alone in the room I was guided to, I managed to regain some of my composure.
That said, my emotions are still in turmoil.
“To think that Brother Cain would go against Prince Leon to protect me…”
After our engagement was broken once, and I was branded a false saint, I was constantly worried whether Brother Cain would accept me.
Not only did he welcome me so warmly, but he even refused an order from Prince Leon…
It’s no use.
Just remembering it makes my tears unstoppable.
I must calm myself quickly, as I need to attend the welcome banquet where the entire Schwartz Earldom family will gather.
I carefully checked to ensure no one was nearby.
It seemed to be alright.
“【Passionflower】 Summon.”
As I chanted, a beautiful flower, a mix of blue and white, appeared in my hand.
It’s the plant 【Passionflower】, which has a strong sedative effect.
By inhaling its enhanced fragrance, I finally regained my composure.
This is the power of the 【World Tree Saint】 that awakened in me a year ago. It’s the ability to summon and control any and all plants at will.
‘Saint Servia, your role is to bring crop failure and ruin to the Atlas Empire, and bountiful harvests and prosperity to our kingdom! It is for that purpose I made you my fiancée. Be grateful!’
Those were Prince Leon’s first words to me when he received me at the royal palace.
He intended to use the power of the 【World Tree Saint】 for war against an enemy nation.
But I absolutely refused to do such a thing.
The Saint’s power is something given by God to save all people. To use it for mass slaughter is unbelievable.
More than anything, I wanted to be united with my beloved Brother Cain.
That’s why, for the past year, no matter what was done to me, I never used the power of the 【World Tree Saint】, making those in the royal palace believe I was a false saint.
I thought that if I did so, Prince Leon would break off our engagement, and I could return to Brother Cain’s side.
Eventually, people began to scorn me as a false saint who had deceived Prince Leon.
It was just as I planned.
However…
‘Servia. Even if you are a false saint, you are beautiful. Rejoice! I cannot make you my queen, but I shall permit you to love me as my mistress. For a mere viscount’s daughter, this must be an unparalleled honor, wouldn’t you agree?’
Of all things, Prince Leon declared he would make me his mistress.
Moreover, in a drunken stupor, he tried to push me down.
‘Brother! Brother Cain!’
Terrified, I couldn’t help but scream.
‘What? I am about to embrace you, and you scream another man’s name?’
‘…!’
I wanted to scream that the only one I love in this world is Brother Cain.
But if I did, there was a possibility that harm would come to Brother Cain as well…!
I desperately resisted the advancing Prince Leon, glaring at him with all my might, determined never to yield to him.
‘You wench! Do you intend to mock me?! After I went out of my way to show you mercy…!’
To Prince Leon, it seems that was his idea of mercy towards a worthless false saint.
‘…This is the first time in my life I’ve suffered such humiliation! Youuuu! I’ll make you regret this, you false saint!’
Prince Leon, enraged, stormed off.
After that, at a royal palace party, Prince Leon condemned me as a false saint and announced the annulment of our engagement.
“…I’m sorry, Brother Cain. It’s all because I was careless.”
At that time, when I was about to be assaulted, I inadvertently cried out Brother Cain’s name, which I had kept hidden in my heart for so long.
To think that because of that, I would end up involving Brother Cain…
I feel like I’m being crushed by guilt.
Prince Leon probably thought that having Brother Cain drive me to my death would be the greatest revenge.
But… I was happy.
At the same time as despair, an irrepressible joy wells up within me.
Because Brother Cain also loved me, unchanged.
“The meaning of the letter I gave to Brother Cain back then… it truly reached him, didn’t it?”
The day before I was summoned to the royal palace as Prince Leon’s fiancée, I sent a letter to Brother Cain.
This was because I was not allowed to meet Brother Cain, who was my fiancé at the time.
Naturally, the contents of the letter would also be censored, so I couldn’t directly convey my feelings to Brother Cain.
‘Brother Cain, I will become Prince Leon’s fiancée. Please, take care of yourself always.’
In the envelope of the letter I wrote, I slipped in white petals of Baby’s-breath.
The flower language of Baby’s-breath is 【Eternal Love】.
“Brother Cain. No matter what happens, Servia will love only you, eternally.”