Your Highness, The Lady You’ve Abandoned IS the Saintess!

The man named Paris who plotted my kidnapping in the duchy—he may be a Viscount, but further investigation of his plans points to him colluding with a foreign country.

The name of the country involved was the large kingdom of Gemtrome that shares our borders. They prepared a ship because sea route has more lenient inspections than land.

Paris may have a connection with an aristocrat from Gemtrome—likely to be a middleman amongst the many—but he had no direct interaction with the mastermind. With no concrete evidence on our end, the best thing Lambert Kingdom could do was a diplomatic protest against the Gemtrome royal family. The apology did come from their side, but this ends everything without any lead at all.

It seems that Rev. Robert have become severely busy due to Paris’s disturbance. Apparently, Gemtrome promised Paris a status if things goes well, and while the sincerity of that offer is up for question, he had bribed several of the Church’s clergy to further that end, leaving Rev. Robert to clean up with the entire mess.

Naturally, Paris was stripped of his title and imprisoned for his crimes, and even his father, the Duke Leraff incurred penalties to his name.

Conversely speaking, they have created the perfect opportunity to make an example of those who wish to harm the saintess—or so his royal majesty explained over the letter, which irked me a little.

I mean—I may have a strong personality, but I was still scared, you know?

Irritated, I showed the same letter to my dearest father too, and the ever-doting parent he is, did not spare his majesty from his grievances, resulting to a letter of apology arriving two days later.

By the way, my father and his majesty’s age were close, and they got along well. So well that he was, in fact, not very like an adviser to him. But their amicability, or the lack thereof aside, I think my father is too bias towards our family, and may not be up for that task.

As for Firman, I have not met him since. I have also burned his letter as he requested.

If him being the Pope’s Loyal—knight were to be spread, the church will surely punish him severely after all.

Writing that letter to me alone had already posed him to severe risk. I mean, what if I rejected his wish and used it as evidence to protest against the church instead?

While the chances are low, Firman must have surely taken that into account.

He could’ve just left without saying anything, but the fact that he made the effort to leave such an incriminating letter behind is the most sincere thing he could do, given his position.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I’lll compromise and forgive him!

‘If you intend to attend Prince Savallier’s dance party, I can loan you my brother.’

My visitor, Caroline, the lady who trives in the company of noble ladies and their gossips—and of course, the tray of snacks—said, and after pushing aside the snacks she brought in herself, she started rummaging the snack offerings that my suitors gave.

Having found her prize within the pile, this dearest friend of mine, giggled to herself and said, When I told that stupid son of Lord Lideth that you liked Bloche’s macarons the other day, I knew for sure he would send some your way, with the most devlish expression in her face.

Bloche was a very famous confectionary shop and a purveyor of the royal family, and I most certainly like their products. But Caroline! The mountains of quickly perishable cream puffs sent the other day caused all sorts of troubles, you know?

‘Oh right. Apparently, Lina will also attend the party.’

‘Really?’

‘She will go with his older brother, sir… what was his nameagain?

‘Sir Grotz?’

‘Right, it was that unspectacular name. Anyhow, this Grotz-person, is close with his highness Savalier, do you remember? It seems that Lina will attend as his partner.’

‘But, I recall Sir Grotz having a fiancee.’

‘You mean, Lady Philly. Well, about that. She had an unfortunate case of pimples outbreak of unknown causes and said that the dance party is the least of her troubles.’

‘U-Unknown Cause?’

‘Well, it certainly has something to do with Lina. She couldn’t have joined the party with any other means than as Lady Philly’s substitute. Sir Grotz with that poor head of his don’t seem to notice, though.’

I wish she’d just get stabbed one way or another—or so Caroline said as she ate Macarons.

Caroline is a bright lady with a foul mouth, so naturally, all the world’s men are fools before her. Regardless, I can’t help but pity sir Grotz. The thought of his sister harming his fiancée likely did not even cross his mind.

‘Still, I wonder why Lina would go to such lengths to attend his highness, Savalier’s party?’

Prince Savalier’s birthday party is not that huge of a celebration. Only the royal family and their close associates are invited. It’s closer to a family birthday party than a social gathering. But I guess even then, it is smaller, strictly speaking, as a royal-sponsored gathering; there are still quite the number of invitees, nonetheless.

‘Isn’t that obvious? To find search for a marriage partner with a good name for himself.’

‘What?’

‘Poor little Lina kept bragging about being the saintess but ended up not being chosen. Not to mention, her engagement with Prince Maynard were broken off too. Normally, she’d be the second wife of some old lord in the suburbs, or perhaps, a lover of some unimpressive lower lord. That’s why she’s taking the initiative to search herself before it comes to that.’

‘I-Is that how it is?’

‘That’s right. So be on your toes, Aileen. That wench must have something in her sleeves for you.’

‘I kind of don’t feel like attending anymore.’

I also got along with Prince Savalier and was naturally invited. I used to attend it every year with Maynard, but because my dearest father is stubbornly keeping him away, I need to search for a new company. Of course, I could also attend as my own, but considering what Caroline just said, it might be prudent not to be alone to myself.

‘That’s why I told you to borrow Brother Berland.’

‘Are you not attending with him?’

‘I’d hate to. He’ll scold me like, stop wandering around!, or so, and I’ll never hear the end of it. He’s much worse than father. You can have him, but in exchange, lend me Sir Opheus.’

‘My brother? He said he’s not coming though?’

That’s right. That brother Orpheus of mine said he still didn’t feel like seeing Maynard’s face and wants to excuse himself from Prince Savalier’s party. Some nerve of his, really.

I said that, but Caroline only looked pleased and winked at me, saying, 

‘Fufufu, leave that part to me.’

When she said that, I felt a little pity for my older brother.