“How boring…”
In a dimly lit room of a mansion in the Royal Capital, a girl muttered to herself.
Alicia Melsys, a viscount’s daughter. Recommended by the Crown Prince faction and recognized by the Holy Church and its main temple in the Fandora Theocracy as a Saint, she had defeated a demon that appeared in the Royal Capital, earning her the nickname “Saint Licia” from the people.
Everything was proceeding according to the “official history.” To be precise, it was following the Elvan route of the Otome Game “In Love With Silver Wings,” where she would conquer a Large-Scale Dungeon with the target character. By saving soldiers there, she would be recognized as a Saint, but due to differences in the premise, the situation was not as she had hoped.
In the original Elvan route, the Heroine Alicia inadvertently used Holy Magic during a field exercise, leading to rumors that she might be a “Saint.” The Villainess Clara, driven by the people’s desire for her to become Queen, plotted to assassinate the Heroine. However, Clara had not attempted any assassination since Licia became a Saint.
Licia could not use Holy Magic. The self-absorbed girl was not loved by the Spirits.
Licia compensated for the fame she should have gained through Holy Magic by defeating the familiars of the demons she had created. However, Elena, who should have been an ally, became hostile, and the nobles who should have supported the Saint as the Queen Consort did not recognize Licia.
One of the reasons for this, Licia believed, was the “Pink-Haired Girl” guarding the Princess.
She had tried to eliminate her by having Temple Knights attack her, hinting at a conflict with the Holy Church to those around her. However, sensing that the damage would extend to her master, the girl disappeared, eroding the power of the Aristocratic Faction, Licia’s faction, from the shadows, further diminishing the voices supporting Licia as the Queen Consort.
If that girl had directly attacked Licia, she might have been able to exploit it to gain leverage over the Princess. To that end, she had Temple Knights and a Greater Demon constantly guarding her, but the girl had avoided such foolishness and attacked indirectly.
However, that did not mean an attack was impossible. Because of this, Licia could not effectively use her Greater Demon, a valuable piece.
“…Tell me.”
Licia clutched a half-broken Magic Stone in her Amulet Pouch, the sharp, broken edges cutting into her hand, causing a slight trickle of blood.
The “Magic Stone” contained the memories and emotions of a certain “woman,” and had taught Licia various things. Licia grimaced at the “passion” trying to invade her, but she sifted through the “woman’s” memories within the Magic Stone, selecting the necessary information.
“I see… there was such an ‘event’.”
As Licia muttered, something stirred on the bed where she was sitting.
“…Licia. What’s wrong?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
Licia wore an innocent smile and clung to Prince Amor, snuggling against his chest.
“I… I’m not really recognized as a Saint, so I’m sad…”
“That’s not true. Even if that’s what people really think of Licia, I’ll do something about it.”
“Amor-sama…”
Amor, who had previously been unrecognized by anyone, kept in the castle only to secure the number of royals, and was frustrated, had changed his personality after obtaining a Divine Protection (Gift).
Unlike before, his words and actions were full of confidence, and he stopped thinking about the details. Whether that was a good or bad thing would depend on the evaluation of those around him.
Licia gave him a seductive smile, leaned in as if to push Amor down, and whispered in his ear.
“Then, Amor-sama, there’s something I want to ask of you…”
“Uooooooo!!”
I gently deflected the short sword of the man swinging at me with my bare hand, and slashed his carotid artery, burying the tip of my Black Knife into it.
“Claydale’s dog…!”
“I know.”
I finished off the man who groaned his last, checked my surroundings, and quietly exhaled.
I had raided the hideout of those who seemed to be from the Solhorse Kingdom’s Shadow Unit and eliminated everyone.
They were spies who had infiltrated the area called “Grass” as residents for a long time, but they could not deceive the Shadow Unit. The Kingdom of Claydale’s Shadow Unit had fewer personnel, but it surpassed other countries’ Shadow Units in information warfare.
“…Is there anything worthwhile?”
I obtained testimony that they were spies from another country, but as expected, they had not left any evidence of being connected to the Aristocratic Faction. Still, if I searched, something might turn up. The Shadow Unit’s liaison should arrive around the time the suppression is over, but…
Thwack!!
I threw a throwing knife at the window behind me, and a figure swayed behind the window frame where the knife was embedded. …Not a Shadow Unit member in this area. At least, they felt more skilled than the Shadow Unit members I had contacted.
Switching my awareness to combat mode in an instant, I shattered the hidden window frame with a Ball-Shaped Pendulum, and a figure in a cloak jumped out from there.
Combat strength of about 300. If they were a scout, it would be troublesome to let them escape, so I immediately readied my Dagger and Knife and was about to jump out when the figure shouted.
“Wait, wait, Aria!”
I couldn’t help but stop at the familiar boyish voice.
“…Theo?”
“That’s right! So don’t attack, I’ll die for real!”
Apparently, the Shadow Unit I had contacted had reached out, and Theo had come as a liaison from the Royal Capital.
Theo had already been relieved of his duty as a guard for the Saint, the viscount’s daughter. As a result of discussions between the Prime Minister and Mikhail, it was determined that it was better to use Theo as a spy, as he was likely to be mentally affected.
“Long time no see. So, what’s the situation?”
“I almost got killed just now!? …Well, it’s like Aria, though.”
When I responded normally, he somehow sulked. Still, Theo confirmed that there were no enemies left around and opened his mouth as if exhaling.
“The situation here is that, first of all, Aria is destroying the Aristocratic Faction’s sources of funding, so more noble families are siding with us. And Princess (Your Highness) says that she will finish the ‘preparations’ by the graduation party in two months.”
“…………”
Elena said that…?
The fact that she had gone to the trouble of sending the trustworthy Theo to tell me that meant that Elena wanted to include a slight “desire” of her own in those words.
Elena was trying to create a situation where I could return to the academy.
The shortest time I would be guarding Elena was until the Crown Prince graduated. The period might shift depending on the situation, but if the Crown Prince was overthrown, I shouldn’t have to be her guard forever.
I wanted to return to her side. But, considering that Elena would become Queen, I also rationally thought that it would be better to act as a “shadow” like this time, rather than being by her side as a maid like Sera.
“And… this is the main point.”
Theo, who had been silent as I pondered, paused with a subtle expression before continuing in a serious tone.
“This is a story from the Dandole Family, or rather, not just a story from Princess (Your Highness), but there’s been some strange movement in a part of the Second Knight Order. It’s like they’re collecting weapons and equipment, as if they’re preparing for a large-scale battle…”
“…I see.”
The Dandole Family, so it’s related to the Knight Order, and the head of the Dandole Family, the General Commander of the Knight Order, is not in control, which means—
“Prince Amor?”
“Yeah.”
Prince Amor, who was thought to be in the Crown Prince faction, had rapidly gained power in the faction that supported the Saint. With the disappearance of Nasanitaru, who had always been by the Saint’s side, it was thought that he was just standing out in his place, but Amor’s control of the Second Knight Order had progressed considerably.
But… was that person like that?
“Understood, I’ll look into it once.”
“Yeah. Don’t push yourself too hard, Aria!”
This would be a job for the Knight Order, not a mission for the Shadow Unit. But, I felt something nagging at my heart about Prince Amor’s change.
“…My lady. The information you requested is complete.”
“You may leave it there.”
In a room in the Queen’s Palace in the Royal Palace, the old butler placed the documents on the side table, bowed, and left the room. The girl opened her closed eyes slightly, revealing her purple eyes.
A deathly pale complexion. Lifeless black hair… The corpse-like girl, so still one might doubt she was alive, reflected documents in her eyes brimming with immense Mana, confirming their contents as she levitated each sheet from the top with her Mana.
“Fufu…”
How long will I be able to live?
The doctor said he didn’t know if I would live to be an adult.
How much of my lifespan is left?
If I hadn’t used my Divine Protection (Gift), I might have lived to be around twenty.
But, is there any meaning in such a life?
I’ve lived to die since I was a child.
Death alone is my hope, and I sought the lives of everyone involved in the end of this twisted life.
“But, none of that matters anymore.”
Because I met her. Because I found her, the one who will stop me, killing each other with her has become my only hope.
I will not be killed by anyone but her.
I will not let her be killed by anyone but me.
This world, which I tried to kill as an accomplice, already has value only as a “stage” for her and me to kill each other.
That’s why I let the demon escape. The fake Saint and her foolish followers, too, I left them alive as stage props.
However, those mere stage props are not allowed to destroy the stage before the curtain rises.
“I have to go scold the naughty child.”
On the battlefield called the Royal Capital, where the final stage is beginning to take shape, the “villainous” noblewoman Carla quietly began to move.
The girls are starting to move. How annoying lol.
The story is finally in its final stages. Thank you for sticking with me a little longer.
Early distribution of the electronic version on BOOKWALKER has started! The paper version will be released in ten days!
Thank you all for your support.