Chapter 38
At the royal castle of the Lionel Kingdom, banquets were held almost every day.
The reception hall was adorned with glittering decorations, delicate melodies filled the air, and elegantly dressed gentlemen and ladies gathered there.
It was truly a world like heaven. At its center, Saint Elisabeth was on top of the world.
Indeed, there was not a single woman in the country who could compare with Elisabeth.
She was not only a saint officially recognized by the Church of Salvation, but was also counted among the heroes of the present day as a companion of the prince who had defeated the Demon King. In recognition of her achievements, she had become engaged to the prince after returning home. Just last month, they had finally held their wedding ceremony, and she had become the prince's wife.
Everyone praised me, competed to give me gifts in hopes of winning my favor, fawned over me, and bowed their heads.
Nothing could have been more enjoyable.
And in the not-too-distant future, I would become queen and gain this entire country as well.
The prince's father, His Majesty the current king, had grown old and was now bedridden with illness.
It had become my daily routine to restore His Majesty with healing power, but even a saint could not cure old age. I could only restore the strength he had expended that day. Eventually, even that would no longer be enough. The king's death was near.
When that happened, this country would belong to the prince and me in both name and reality.
This was what it meant to be unable to stop laughing. I, who had been abandoned by my parents and raised in an orphanage, was going to become the queen of a nation.
I was dissatisfied that the prince was not here to share this joy with me, but even I had to bear that much.
The prince had marched out at the head of an army to eradicate the remnants of the Demon King's forces infesting the country. He was the prince, so he was certain to crush the enemy and bring us victory. I had to start thinking about how to celebrate that victory.
It had to be a celebration more magnificent than anything seen before. And perhaps I might even be able to add another flourish to it.
When will the prince come home?
Resting a hand on her stomach, Elisabeth immersed herself in her rosy life.
"Elisabeth."
A hoarse voice pulled her back to reality.
When she looked over, she saw Grand Cardinal Farmine, the de facto leader of the Church of Salvation.
He was not only the Church's representative, but also the father figure who had discovered me when I was an orphan and recognized me as a saint.
"Oh, what brings you here, Father—no, Grand Cardinal?"
Now that I had married the prince, I was a member of the royal family. I had to keep my public and private relationships with the Grand Cardinal separate. Besides, it was troublesome to have him continue acting like my father forever.
"Has something happened?"
The Grand Cardinal's expression was somewhat tense.
"Elisabeth, listen carefully. It concerns the prince..."
The Grand Cardinal paused there, deliberately drawing out the moment.
"What is it? Tell me quickly. What happened to the prince? Don't tell me he's already defeated the enemy and is returning in triumph?"
It had not even been half a month since his departure, but perhaps he had already won. If so, this was a disaster. There would not be enough time to prepare the celebration.
"It seems the prince was wounded on the battlefield."
At first, she could not take in the Grand Cardinal's words and did not understand what he was saying.
Gradually, the meaning sank in, and at the same time, the blood drained from her face.
"I-Is the prince... a-alright?!"
She seized the Grand Cardinal by the shoulders and shook him as she demanded confirmation.
"Don't worry. The prince is safe. He lives. He engaged the enemy commander in single combat and suffered severe injuries, but narrowly escaped with his life. Apparently, his wounds are being treated now."
She wanted to say she was relieved, but she could not simply stand by.
"I must go to the prince at once!"
If he had been injured, he needed a healer's power. Several skilled healers were accompanying the prince's army, but I could not leave it to anyone else. I would heal the prince's wounds myself.
She was about to leave immediately, but the Grand Cardinal stopped her.
"Wait."
"Why? Aren't you worried about the prince?"
The prince's life should be important to the Grand Cardinal as well. Since the prince and I had married, the Church's power had grown more than ever before. If the prince were to disappear now, it would be a major blow to the Church too.
"Of course I am. That is precisely why there is something I must tell you. There is more behind the prince's injury."
"More to it? What do you mean?"
When she asked, the Grand Cardinal frowned as though she were slow to understand.
"A conspiracy by the military. It is possible that the military plotted to assassinate the prince."
"An assassination plot? Did the military try to kill the prince?"
"Lower your voice. Calm yourself. The prince lost a duel with the enemy. All his injuries were inflicted by demons. But the military maneuvered events so that it would happen that way."
The Grand Cardinal then spoke at length.
He told her that the prince had dismissed his general, that friction had developed with the military, and that the soldiers had deliberately retreated, leaving the prince isolated and driving him into a desperate situation. But scarcely half of it reached her ears.
"Are you listening, Elisabeth? We can no longer trust the military. We at the Church are the only ones who can help the prince. You must make sure to help him. Are you listening? Pull yourself together."
The Grand Cardinal called out to her repeatedly, but her head felt foggy and would not function.
Only moments ago, she had been in heaven. Now, she felt as though she were falling toward the depths of hell.
My current status and life existed only because of the prince. I had no authority or power of my own. If the prince died, I would lose everything. And even the prince himself was in danger of being betrayed and assassinated by treacherous officials.
I could not believe that the foundation I had thought so secure after marrying the prince was actually such fragile glasswork.
Suddenly, the dresses, jewels, and lavish dishes around her seemed like worthless junk. They looked like painted scenery in the background of a stage play.
The glittering dresses and colorful jewels were worthless if I lost my position.
Even the noble gentlemen and ladies who showered me with praise now seemed like monsters capable of doing anything behind my back.
If the prince disappeared, I would lose all of it.
No, I could accept losing them. They were no different from junk now. But what about this child?
Elisabeth placed a hand on her stomach and felt the life growing within her.
It was not yet certain.
The royal physician had been unable to definitively diagnose her pregnancy, so she had not yet told the prince. But Elisabeth was convinced. She had been blessed with a new life.
If the prince died, what would happen to this child?
Thinking of the child sent an entirely different kind of fear coursing through her body.
I can protect myself, but this child cannot.
"I'm going to the prince. Please prepare a carriage at once."
"Yes, you should. But do not let your guard down. The only people you can trust are those of the Church."
The Grand Cardinal reiterated this in his hoarse voice.
Tormented by anxiety, Elisabeth sped toward the battlefield in a carriage. When she arrived at the camp, the heads of officers had been put on display.
Without sparing a glance for the severed heads lined up with flies swarming over them, Elisabeth rushed into the prince's tent. He had been changing clothes and was standing with his back to her, his upper body bare.
"Prince, are you safe?"
"Oh, Elisabeth. You're here already? You must have received word that I was safe. See? I'm fine."
The prince took off the garment he had been putting on, bared his upper body, bent his arm, and proudly flexed his biceps.
"Are you hurt?"
Unable to trust his words, she checked with her own eyes. Just in case there was any damage to his internal organs or bones, she cast healing magic on him as well.
"Now, now, I told you I was fine. But I did worry you."
"I heard you nearly died."
"Yes. I didn't want to make you anxious, but that is true. I certainly thought I was going to die. I'm amazed I survived."
According to the reports, the prince had been knocked away during his duel with the enemy and had even gone flying through the air. His body had supposedly been in such bad shape that he could barely move, and for a time he had even been believed dead. News of his death had actually been circulated.
"I have God's protection—and you. I won't die from something like that."
Only then could Elisabeth finally feel relieved that the prince was safe and that the assassination attempt had ended in failure.
"The only thing lacking was the courage of the knights who were with me. Those cowards ran away and left me, their prince, behind. But don't worry. I cut down the cowards. Everything is fine now."
"Prince?"
Despite having been betrayed and nearly killed, the prince spoke so casually that Elisabeth was stunned.
No. He hasn't realized.
Even though he himself had nearly been killed, he did not understand how serious the situation was. He had not even realized that he had been betrayed, much less that the general he dismissed was pulling the strings.
I can't leave things to this man.
He was not a bad person, but he could not recognize the dangers threatening him. And now that he was no longer responsible for only his own body, he was far too defenseless.
"Prince, is there anyone you can trust? Someone you can really count on?"
She needed someone besides herself who could help and protect the prince.
"What, are you worried about the royal palace? Don't worry. There isn't a single ill-intentioned person in our country. In particular, all the civil and military officials in the royal palace have sworn loyalty to me. The nobles and feudal lords have all sworn loyalty to the royal family as well."
"Prince!"
She wanted to tell him that was not what she meant.
It was true that the kingdom had many excellent civil and military officials. There were also many powerful nobles who had sworn loyalty. But she could no longer trust anyone.
Even if they swore loyalty with their lips, she had no idea what they were thinking in their hearts. The general who had betrayed him had sworn loyalty too, after all.
"I also have my relative Arata and my cousin Aarkite. They're both distinguished people. I'll introduce you sometime."
The prince offered to introduce her to his family, but they were the people she trusted least. If the prince disappeared, they would benefit the most. Why could he not understand that?
She ground her teeth at the prince's naivete.
The only person who seemed trustworthy now was the king, the prince's father. But His Majesty was bedridden and might not live another day. The shield that was supposed to support us was dangerously fragile.
When His Majesty passed away, the prince would automatically become king. Until recently, I had wanted that to happen, but in this situation, I could not imagine the prince managing the country successfully after becoming king.
"And Grand Cardinal Farmine, who is like your father, can be relied on too."
The prince brought up the Grand Cardinal's name.
"That is... true, but..."
It was true that the Church and the Grand Cardinal could be trusted. He was like a father to me, and more importantly, the prince and I were beneficial to the Church as well.
But I knew the Grand Cardinal too well to agree unconditionally.
The Grand Cardinal was the embodiment of greed and lust for power.
Since he was young, he had been embroiled in political struggles within the Church and had brought down everyone who opposed him.
As long as we remained useful to him, things would be fine. But if we ever became his enemies, he would show us no mercy.
The retainers and members of the royal family standing around her—even the Grand Cardinal who had been like a father to her—could not be trusted. The prince himself could not be relied upon, either.
Overwhelmed by despair, she felt her vision grow dark. There was no one to cling to and no one from whom she could ask for help.
On the verge of being crushed by this hopeless predicament, she instinctively placed a hand on her stomach.
The warmth beneath her hand gave warmth and courage to her chilled fingers.
In the darkness of despair, that warmth became a tiny flame that illuminated her.
The flame became resolve. Strength flowed through her body, and vitality returned to her chilled hands and feet.
I have to do it.
If she could rely on no one and trust no one, then she had no choice but to do it herself.
She did not know what to do or how to do it, but she could rely only on herself.
"What's wrong, Elisabeth?"
The prince noticed the change in her, but did not understand what it meant and merely looked at her blankly.
First, the prince. Above all else, I must protect him. I will protect the prince and lead this war to victory. Everything begins there.