Part 1: Saintess Candidate Arc

20. the Saintess's Reputation (4)

Translated by: S3

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Treat me to a Ko-Fi to give me more motivation!!!

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The Impure Mist had existed above the royal capital for a long time.

Because it had slowly accumulated over many years, the people of the royal capital did not recognize this unnatural presence. Occasionally, when someone wondered about it and brought it up, they failed to get agreement that it was anything more than their imagination. Because of this, the Impure Mist remained unrecognized for a long time, slowly, thinly, and broadly covering the sky of the royal capital.

When its existence was officially announced by the Royal Palace, people looked up at the sky, pointed, and voiced their anxiety. They became terrified of a presence they hadn't cared about until yesterday, and they attributed all their physical ailments and reasons for injuries to the Impure Mist, beginning to pray for this misfortune to disappear quickly.

And today, Olivia Gold, a Saint candidate, succeeded in eliminating the Impure Mist.

When the dim mist vanished from the sky, and people witnessed the original beautiful blue of the sky, cheers arose, followed by shouts of praise for her from all directions.

After finishing the task, Olivia remained on the spot and waved to the citizens with a smile. After thoroughly fulfilling their expectations, she boarded her carriage and was grandly seen off as she returned to the castle.

Upon returning to the castle, Olivia received a message from the maid who was waiting for her return. As she was checking the document, her older brother, Dylan Gold, appeared to praise her efforts.

「You did well, Olivia.」

「Yes. Thank you, Brother. But, Arthur-sama still told me to submit the report in writing, as usual.」

Olivia was severely disappointed, as she had fully expected to receive words of praise directly after accomplishing such a major task. This wasn't the only thing. The returned invitation to the Flower Festival tea party, marked with an absence, also made Olivia's heart grow restless. If she couldn't meet him even after achieving results in her work, what should she do next to make him notice her?

「Is that so. Well, Arthur is probably busy.」

Though he said that, Dylan had made a slightly forceful request to make it a task for the Gold family. From Arthur’s perspective, his stance was likely to have the Gold family complete it and simply receive a report.

(Good grief. My little sister's romance is quite difficult.)

Yet, he felt that the strongly advancing Olivia would achieve it on her own. Furthermore, if Dylan overtly offered assistance, it would wound Olivia's pride.

(Since she is highly motivated herself, I should just observe the situation.)

Even so, Dylan thought of the changes around him and couldn't help but find it amusing internally. People quickly grow tired of rumors and jump to the next thing.

Since then, the rumors about Arthur and Lily were negated, and the citizens' interest was completely colored by anxiety over the Impure Mist. Now that it had been dispelled, the next thing to garner attention would likely be the debate over whether Olivia or Poppy Carcoss was more suitable to be the Saint.

For Dylan, this was a predictable development.

Without resorting to underhanded tactics, the results could be easily obtained if the suitable person simply achieved success to be recognized. This meant that the governance of the Holy Aurum Kingdom was functioning well, and Dylan respected the way the country operated.

「Well, I'm returning to work. Olivia, you too must strive so as not to disgrace the Gold family name.」

「Yes. I will achieve results in my next task and seize victory.」

Olivia smiled cheerfully as she said that.

***

Looking up, the evening sky was stained orange, with the first star faintly shimmering. Every time she looked up at the sky, Lily was reminded that the purification using the magic circle that she and Daniel Aurum had considered together was not adopted.

(I wanted to see it, though. A magic circle filling the whole sky...)

She had only imagined it in a blue sky, but she thought it would have been beautiful floating against the sunset or night sky. Still, since the problem was solved, it was a good thing, so Lily decided to devote herself to her work.

(It was a shock that the candy of blessings was suspected of being addictive)

When she spoke with Daniel, she was so surprised that she was focused entirely on making excuses, but as time passed, sadness slowly crept up on her. Since then, Daniel's work had been put on hold, and Lily had been working in the warehouse all day. The inside of the warehouse was already empty; there were no more cursed weapons, armor, or accessories left to uncurse. She held the broom in her hand and slowly began sweeping from the back.

(They're saying I did something bad to Prince Arthur, right?)

Had she really done something that bad?

She had uncursed a warehouse full of items and hauled in a cart full of rare medicinal herbs. She had also diligently practiced the magic circle, so Lily thought she could have managed the purification of the Impure Mist.

(I tried so hard, but—)

Unconsciously, the hand sweeping the broom stopped, and a film of tears blurred her eyes.

(If Father and Mother were here, they would praise me so much—)

Tears dropped one after another. There was no one in the warehouse, and no one would come to a place like this.

So Lily cried quietly.

— I worked so hard and made such an effort, but why am I being spoken ill of?

Why did people who I have no dealings with come to dislike me?

Did I hurt someone without knowing it?

Lily could not understand the fact that unwarranted malice could be directed at her by others.

If she was disliked by people without realizing it, it meant she must do things that make people dislike her without knowing. Searching her mind for any fault, she realized her manners were half-baked, and her speech was not perfect, finding numerous shortcomings. If Arthur, Daniel, or Noah Tinam were to dislike her, Lily wouldn't be able to live here. The thought that they might abandon her someday made her hand holding the broom tremble.

「~I wanna, wanna go home. I wanna go home.」

She wanted to return to the Western Fortress where Adam and Emma were. Why had things turned out this way? Her parents were no longer at the Western Fortress. And Lily didn't know the way to the Eastern Fortress.

「Uuuh... ~mmph, ~mmph.」

Small sobs constantly leaked out in the dark warehouse. But since no one visited the warehouse at dusk, Lily continued to cry alone until she was satisfied.

After a while, she stopped crying, and the sun had set, with the light from the streetlamps shining in through the entrance door.

(Oh no. Cousin Noah might come looking for me.)

If he saw her tear-stained face, he would undoubtedly keep persistently asking for the reason. As she panicked about how to deceive him, she instinctively put her hand into her pocket. Then, she noticed something was warm. Taking it out, she saw the Loose Gin had given her during the Flower Festival was faintly glowing and warm.

「Ah, the promise. Two weeks!」

She had completely forgotten, but there must have been an update on the egg's treatment. Lily rushed out of the warehouse, avoided people as much as possible, and squatted down, hiding in the shadow of an inconspicuous bush.

She carefully placed the Loose on the ground. The faint, continuous glow seemed to be beckoning something. Small sounds of a flute or drum began to be heard from somewhere far away. It was highly similar to the sound that always played at the Black Market during the Flower Festival.

Just then, Noah's voice calling for Lily came from behind her.

「Lily. Are you not there? Did we perhaps miss each other? Lilyyy!!」

(What should I do? What should I do? What should I do?)

After hesitating, Lily decided that being thought of as breaking a promise to Gin and Elliot was more dangerous, so she waited for Gin while hiding in the bush.

「Lily. Are you there?」

This time, Gin's voice came from the darkness deep within the bush.

「Gin? Good, good. Listen, things got a bit busy, just wait a little—」

Based on her previous failure, she tried to negotiate for a little time to go and explain the situation to Noah, but when she saw his figure, she was speechless. Gin's face was covered in bruises, his body was injured in various places, and he was covered in blood and mud.

「W-what happened? What's wrong?」

「I'm sorry. I, I don't know what to do.」

It was at that moment, as she couldn't help but draw closer to Gin whose face was contorted in pain as he began to cry, that something happened.

Suddenly, a silhouette appeared behind Gin. The figure was more than twice Gin's height, and though his face wasn't visible, the outline showed he had the same ears as Gin.

She frantically twisted her body to escape but was caught by a large hand and dragged in.

「No! Noah—」

Hearing the loud rustling of the bush and a scream, Noah rushed over in a panic.

「Lily!」

But there, only the headscarf Lily always wore and some scattered candies remained.

*****

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