CH 9

“How is Himari-sama’s physical condition?” 

“No, we can’t return her to the temple yet.”

──The human world. 

A corner of the Oracion Kingdom where the royal palace is located. 

The crown prince, Elder, was irritated and confronted a man wearing a white priest’s uniform. 

Sitting on the sofa, Elder looked down at the priest with an arrogant attitude. 

The priest lowered his eyebrows in trouble.

“However, Your Highness, it’s already been a month since the Holy Maiden stopped offering prayers…” 

“Hmph, in Himari’s case, a single prayer can be effective enough. It’s still going to be more of a folk grass than that fake.” 

A month had passed since Presea’s execution.

Since then, Himari Harushima, the holy maiden of another world, has fallen ill and has been unable to come out of her room. 

But Elder thinks it’s not strange. Himari left her family, friends, and everything behind to come to this world. 

And because of the unfamiliar act of “the saint”, her physical condition must have been significantly damaged.

That’s why Elder couldn’t help but worry about such a saint. 

Even if “Saint’s Prayer” was necessary for this country, he didn’t think it would be so brutal to impose a saint on a 15-year-old girl who didn’t know anything about the situation.

“There has never been a case like Himari. It is judged that Himari should be treated with care.” 

A legendary figure such as a saint from another world. They have never seen a king with a wife from another world. 

That’s why Elder couldn’t help but be proud.

However, even if the royal palace side was satisfied with that, the temple side seemed to be quite dissatisfied. 

It would be so. Although it was good that the saint was successfully summoned from another world, but had not prayed for a month. And the crown prince tolerated it.

Himari Harusima was, so to speak, a god-like being who transcended all existence. 

Her holy power was very strong, and she saved many people with her prayers. 

It was enough to gather the faith of many people.

She is a holy maiden with no complaints.

However, recently, she has been lying in her room without even praying, or going down to the castle town, and her behavior has gradually become questionable. 

“Himari needs rest” 

Elder strongly thinks.　 

“She’s different from Presea.”

That woman pretended to be a saint, and declared that it was hard and painful, and did not perform the role of a saint poorly.

“But I have to offer my prayers soon…” 

Elder irritatedly said to the priest who was still insistent. 

“Didn’t you hear that? Setting up a barrier is very tiring.”

“…” 

“It’s a burden, especially for Himari, who is not used to it.”

Silence descends on the room. 

The priest said quietly. 

“Isn’t that something that can be said to Presea-sama as well…?”

Elder didn’t hear more. 

“Stop talking about that fake! Are you trying to insult Himari!”

Why are you talking about Presea now? 

It was as if I needed Presea.

As if the execution was wrong. 

Elder’s heart was filled with anger.

◆

The first time Elder and Presea actually met face-to-face was shortly after the death of Elder’s mother, Princess Elena. 

Two years had already passed since the Great Temple announced that a five-year-old girl had been chosen. There is a rule that saints must live in the Great Temple until they get married. 

There, she learned about the saint and the customs of the royal palace, and when the time came, she would become the wife of His Majesty the King and the mother of the country.

At that time, his mother had just died, and Elder’s heart was in a deep depression. 

Even so, he had to go see Presea, who had inherited the role of a saint, and to support the country from now on, in a sense, like comrades-in-arms, they had to make a covenant.

Elder was reluctant. 

Successive saints were generally chosen from among the daughters of noble families. 

The same goes for my mother, and she was the daughter of a splendid aristocrat who had continued since the founding of the country. 

A commoner’s daughter was once chosen as a saint, but that was only once. In this way, there was no way that a girl with no backing would be chosen. 

Will a commoner’s daughter really become a saint?

Can she become a great saint like my mother?

I doubted it from the beginning. 

I wondered if a girl with no status would play such an important role.

“Nice to meet you, Your Highness the First Crown Prince Elder.”

And when he met Presea for the first time, Elder was convinced.

This girl is not a saint.

This was because Presea had an appearance that was far from human.

Golden hair wrapped in delicate light. Her hair, which shines like scattered jewels, is clearly not a hair color that ordinary humans are born with. 

But what was even more unusual was her dark pink eyes. An ominous color, like diluted blood. 

If her hair were like “scattered jewels”, her eyes were “real jewels”. Her eyes, which emitted a dazzling light, were eerily devoid of any emotion. 

It was cold, like real stone. She was so like a doll.

──Presea, no matter how I look at it, was a “magic possessor” who was regarded as an unclean existence in this country.

Even so, as the crown prince, he never said that he was not a saint. Also for her, who trained at the temple for two years from the age of five. 

However, as the conversation progressed, he realized that Elder didn’t get along with Presea.

“Is there something painful?”

Elder listened calmly to Presea, who was too expressionless and looked grumpy.

Then Presea was slightly shaken. She seemed to be at a loss as to whether to say it or not.

“… the circlet hurts,”

The girl who finally opened her mouth said so to Elder.

“Why? Why do you have to wear something like this?”

Something like this. 

A circlet that is a memento of my mother who was active as a saint.

This girl called this one. 

Circlet, a national treasure.

That’s why he didn’t notice. 

Presea’s eyes were filled with tears.

“What are you saying!” 

When she woke up, Elder was screaming. 

“It’s a memento of my mother!” 

The seven-year-old girl flinched, shaking her shoulders and rounding her eyes. 

“I-I’m sorry…”

Elder felt that the girl had no idea how important her sainthood was. Because of this, Elder began to dislike Presea. 

Even so, the marriage of the saint and the king is absolute.

That’s why he had no choice but to get involved with Presea.

Elder learned many things under the so-called Wise King. 

History, geography, geography, natural history, art history, Japanese literature, mathematics, science, legal economy, military lectures. “

How to deal with people, how to be a king.

Even though he had learned a lot in order to stand in the country as a king, Presea didn’t learn a single thing during that time. 

It’s good to talk about politics. She wished she could talk about art, but she can’t even talk about it. 

No matter how long it took, it seemed like she didn’t even understand manners.

She always said that her body ached and that he was tired. 

Then remove the circlet.

Perhaps because of this, she seemed to lack intelligence for her age and education. For the time being, it seems that she teached all the academics and manners, but she says she doesn’t remember at all. 

And not only that, but she didn’t have enough holy power. Even if she put up a barrier, unlike his mother’s time, monsters continue to spawn.

In particular, during the flood of monsters known as stampedes, the damage was said to be the worst in history.

For that reason, Presea had to leave the temple and travel to the countryside for purification, which could be said to be a natural result. Even so, when he came home, he was exhausted and tired. 

Isn’t it self-deserving? 

Doesn’t she feel sorry for the people?

“Your Highness”

It was a cold voice. 

There was no light in her eyes, and she didn’t have the liveliness typical of young girls. 

Presea, who has become like a real doll, speaks to Elder in a hoarse voice.

“Help”

Presea was thin. 

I’m sure she likes and dislikes it.

The food in the royal palace should be nutritious and there should be enough of it. 

Don’t you think it’s rude to leave food behind?

On the other hand, there were also people who thought Presea’s appearance was beautiful and fantastic. 

How beautiful it is to pray in the Great Temple.

It was the high priest. 

Because he liked Presea, no matter how much criticism she received, Presea was able to continue to be a saint.

I don’t even mind that.

Both the high priest and Presea.

Why is such a woman a saint?

Why is such a lowly woman my wife?

Elder continued to grow frustrated.

◆

“Why did you execute Presea?” 

After the execution of the time-back sentence.

Elder was summoned to his father’s home. 

His Majesty the former king is ill, and it is said that he will not live long. He couldn’t even get out of bed, and most of the government affairs were handled by Elder.

“… Presea tried to harm Himari.”

The king quietly asked his son. 

“What will you do if something happens to that holy maiden Himari?” 

“…”

“There is no guarantee that the saint will not return to her original world, nor will there be any guarantee that she will not die from being harmed by others.” 

If that’s the case, the king spun in a quiet voice. 

“Why didn’t you think of replacement spares?”

Even Elder didn’t think so. 

He was at a loss. He tried to use it as a substitute in case something happened to Himari.

With Himari as the primary consort, Presea intended to marry as a concubine. 

However, Presea possessed magical powers.

“I don’t know what she’s going to do, Your Majesty.” 

He actually harmed Himari.

He wants to eliminate even the slightest possibility of losing Himari.

He doesn’t know what to do with magic. 

It might curse him to death. 

“I trust my judgment no matter what they say.”

Elder said so. 

The king didn’t say anything.

◆

Why do I think of that woman now? Elder let out a sigh while facing the priest. 

There, a knocking sound resounded.

“Your Highness…” 

“Himari!”

A lovely girl staggered into the room. Glossy black hair and round, brownish eyes. 

Her lovely face, which arouses divine protection, instantly captivates those who see it.

“I’m sorry, I’m not feeling well…”

She had been slender to begin with, but she seemed to have become even skinnier. 

“It’s okay, that kind of thing.” 

Elder hugged Himari.

A girl from another world. 

Neither commoners nor nobles.

An existence close to God. 

I will make such a girl my wife.

Do it for myself.

That’s something that no previous king could do.

“When I think about everyone I left behind in Japan, I feel lonely…”

She also feels homesick. 

Even so, Himari chose to become a saint. 

That’s why I have to cherish her. 

“Himari, it’s fine as long as you’re happy.”

To get something, you have to be prepared to give up something. 

Is Himari safe?

Have I secured a replacement?

It would have been nice if I could have obtained both of them.

While hugging Himari, Elder felt a little regret.