ETL – Chapter 4
Her current image of tears contradicted the image I saw of her a couple days ago, smiling with the marquis. Either way, the princess said that someone was following her and I was getting a funny feeling. It’s the same feeling you get when you lose something or when you wake up in a different room after falling asleep.
It could have been the truth or it could have been a lie. In the end, I have to help in this situation. I just have to proceed believing that there were both truths and lies.
“My room is always closely watched. My father was being cautious for some reason, but this still happened…”
“Princess, please calm down,” Reneben said worriedly and began to soothe her.
It was hard to get a good read on the situation as the princess was covering her crying face with her hands. It was also strange that the princess showed up when I received the Oracle about a demon. Even though I had my doubts, she might actually be in trouble.
I knew the reason she came now.
“Please Saintess, please help me.”
It was to ask me for help.
I’m not sure yet if she really needs help or if there’s an ulterior motive. I should start getting close to her to find out what was really happening.
“I’ll help you.”
I couldn’t miss this opportunity. I got most of the big issues concerning the temple taken care of so there shouldn’t be a problem. Besides, only a person with divine power can kill a demon. This was a chance for me to be in the VIP seat watching the princess and the people around her.
“Yessss…? Your Holiness…? Th.. thank you,” she stuttered, looking at me surprised.
Reneben also turned to look at me in surprise.
“I can help you in a few days,” I said.
Ronella’s face brightened up as she thanked me. She had tears in her eyes as if she was relieved.
Reneben left first because of work. I saw Ronella off at the door. I walked to the terrace railings and looked down.
I saw the smile Ronella when she got into her carriage. It was a smile that seemed to indicate victory. I would have not been able to see it if I didn’t have great vision as a saintess.
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All I was asked to do was to protect her.
On the morning of the hunting competition, I changed into my clothes with the help of a maid. I arrived at the hunting grounds earlier than the appointed time.
It’s been a week since I started following the princess around and today the demon was supposed to appear.
Since the weather was getting colder, I also had a shawl over my white dress.
“Are you escorting the princess today?”
I was an escort in name only, all I did was simply follow her. I didn’t have to personally escort her but considering what happened over the past week, I didn’t refuse.
There were some interesting scenes, such as two men fighting over the princess or when the crown prince fall apart whenever the princess walked with another man.
Apart from that I didn’t see anybody following her. The princess said it was because I was also there, but…
The aristocrats arrived at the hunting grounds much earlier than the starting time. They had already scouted the hunting grounds with their knights, but there was nothing that stood out.
Looking at the nobles who were coming one by one, I eventually stopped and went to the tent given to me. I didn’t like when things became annoying and noisy.
However, just before I entered the tent, the main characters of the hunting competition arrived.
The carriage with the imperial seal stopped with a loud noise. Everybody turned their attention towards it. My guess is that the crown prince and princess were in there.
My prediction proved to be correct when the main character of this story and the organizer of this event stepped out of the carriage.
The prince got out first and turned around to offer his hand to the princess. She placed her hand on her slightly redden checks as if she was embarrassed. Soon after, she placed her hand in the crown prince’s.
There was an unexpected character in the carriage that followed. It was Duke Cassan, who was a friend of the princess and also one of her fishes. I didn’t know that he would be here too.
Soon after, Helio also arrived. Currently there were 4 fishes here- the crown prince, the duke, the imperial sage, and the priest, Reneben, who was beside me. All 4 men had their eyes on the princess.
Ronella smiled broadly at the prince and said something to him. He smiled tenderly back at her and wrapped his arm around her waist, as if to show off to the other men.
Reneben’s breathing became heavier. I hope we don’t lose our original purpose in all the excitement. In fact, I can’t say much because I was feeling the same way watching them.
The atmosphere returned to normal when the prince left.
As soon as Ronella found me, she smiled broadly and walked up to me.
“Miss Emilone! You’re here.”
The sudden appearance of the saintess seemed to be causing excitement among the nobles. Everyone wanted to come to me but were hesitant. Ronella was able to come to us freely. They couldn’t get close enough to me like Ronella and I preferred it that way.
I laughed as gently as I could while responding to the conversation. Ronella was excited like a little kid as she told me what happened last night. Ronella used the attention gathered around us to her advantage to make her stand out.
So it became like this, people were talking about the princess and me. The whispers were more than usual since I don’t usually socialize with others.
I have had great hearing since I became a saintess, I can clearly hear what they were saying. Most were saying that Ronella added another great person to her network.
“Nella.”
I was listening to her talk but wanted to start the hunting competition soon. It would be great if the demon comes out soon so I can take care of it quickly.
A man came up and interrupted my thoughts. He had the same pink hair as me. He was a man that others could not easily approach. He was Duke Cassan, who briefly disappeared after getting off the carriage earlier. He came up to us and called the princess by her nickname.
I bowed and greeted him. When I turned to look back at Ronella, she proceeded to treat me as if I wasn’t there. I was ok with that.
This man in love only looked at her, which the same couldn’t be said about her. My flustered gaze fell on the duke.
“Handkerchief.”
“Oh! I prepared it for you with your favorite purple embroidery. Do you like it?”
It was a tradition that if a lover or family member presents a knight with an embroidered handkerchief, then the God of Victory will stay with him.
I was still watching them when Ronella realized I was still there. I stood there as if I was doing nothing. I’m glad I knew how to act but I could get caught if I wasn’t careful. I’ve been an actor for a while but I still get nervous in front of a girl who has been deceiving others for a long time.
The prince approached them as they were having a friendly conversation. The sage could not approach due to his timid nature.
“Duke Cassan, we’re ready to go, let’s depart.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The tension between the two can be seen by their eyes. I had to hold back my laughter as I watched the two rivals in love.
“Your Highness, I wish for your safety and that you will win the championship. Enesis, don’t push yourself too hard.”
I watched Ronella give different farewells to the two men. My facial muscles twitched a little as I held back my smile.
I don’t know how I look in front of those two but I said in a calm voice, “I hope both of you will be safe. We will be waiting here.”
Both the crown prince and the duke looked at me.
“Thank you for your blessing,” the crown prince said, breaking the silence. The duke followed with the same reply.
I don’t know why they both looked nervous when I spoke.