Since then, I don’t remember clearly how I got back to my room.
The next thing I knew, I ran out of magical power and vomited everything I ate the hell’s pumpkin that I gorged out and used as an interior design. It’s not as though the coffee did not sit well with my body.
‘Guaa… haa, haa.’
The truth of the Coloflare Kingdom’s history was more normal than I thought it would be. The story about its founding is something you can find in every country, and it doesn’t differ that much from what was written in the forbidden books. However, the heavy feeling that invaded my stomach, as though they were stuffed with stones, persistently remained after hearing it.
‘….What should I do? What would you have me do?’
The problem doesn’t lie in the past. I merely discovered that blood-smeared traditions of the past were still being continued as they were, only changed in name.
Saintesses are naught but a sacrifice.
The first one is to absorb the miasma for herself, and upon failing to bear it, shall fall into witchery and be disposed of. The second one was only an accomplice to that end.
My father knew it. He knew it and yet, he decided to sacrifice Chloe nonetheless. But that is unlikely to happen now given that the lady recovered her past life memories. What now then? Their roles will only be reversed. Lady Chloe will just be the saintess instead and Lady Momo, be the witch.
A wretched place like this that sacrifices the lives of young girls in order to keep its peace does not have the right to claim righteous. A wretched country like this should just—
‘It’s hopeless!!’
I can’t do it. What’s the point of revealing something so far-rooted to anyone at this point in time? The Sacred Church would not allow anyone to threaten the very meaning of their existence either, even if it’s the crown prince. The authority that the royal family had created for the sacred church had now eaten it by the whole.
Besides, even if the saintess, it’s very symbol of that authority, were to destroy the sacred church itself, then what? Who would benefit from such a thing? Only those who seek the kingdom’s dissolution. The kingdom’s loss of one of its very pillars will just result to even more sacrifices. It won’t be possible to rebuild the country’s system in just a short span of time.
Ah, this is so difficult. I shouldn’t have asked for it. For either one between Lady Chloe and Lady Momo to have to fall into witchery. While I do not particularly like either of them, that doesn’t mean I would be willing to push them off to ruin. The density of the miasma until now was just enough for the previous interim-saintesses to purify so there hasn’t been any problem so before. However, now that it satisfies the requirement, history will just repeat itself.
Can I take everything in as the crown prince? Including the weight of this sin? Father did say that I can just forget about it. In the first place, the two of them are just brother’s fiancee candidates, and brother was originally the one to be the crown prince too, according to the game.
‘If I was the brother… what would he choose?’
What would he think upon learning the truth behind saintesses? Considering his fastidiousness, would he not forgive the royal family’s darkness and destroy the church? Or perhaps, he would just use it as a just cause in getting read of Lady Chloe.
But if he does that, it would definitely estrange the House Moonlight. They are nearing their limits. The only reason why father does not view them as a problem is that he has the capability to suppress them even if they revolt… but not everything leads to violence. There is a way to destroy a foe from the inside with protracted subversive activities that are so discreet they escape notice.
I cannot leave this to my brother. He is a simpleton who only sees the world’s surface beauty, blind to its underneath.
Canaria…
The face of my beloved fiancee came to mind. I was reminded her letter, pleading to assist Chloe where she to recover her memories… I shook my head of my naïve thoughts.
‘No. I decided to do this. I need to determine myself in becoming the crown prince.’
Whether it is Lady Chloe who reformed herself or Lady Momo who was chosen by the Saintess, the first, I need to be able to shoulder whatever is to become. It feels heavy… It feels as I was being crushed by a hundred years worth of darkness. I wiped my involuntary tears and swallowed the weeping to come.
(Help me… Could anyone please… notice…)
As my consciousness grew faint, I saw a phantom of peach-colored hair swaying in the air. As I called out to her, the name that came out of my mouth was not Lady Momo, but rather of my fiancee—
‘Your highness!!!’
When I opened my eyes, Sando held me in his arms and was the one to wake me up. It looks like I ended up fainting and sleeping on the ground. By the time I noticed, sunlight was already dazzling through my room’s window.
‘Ah, sorry… looks like I ended up sleeping.’
‘Please do cease making me worry. My heart almost stopped. If you do not feel well, you may just sleep on the bed after getting a change of—’
‘No, I have to meet father. Can you prepare my bath?’
Entering the bathroom, a horrible countenance was reflected in the mirror. Perhaps, I should apply the makeup I aptly learned for intruding in the church’s halls. Concealer supposedly hides eyebags, don’t they?’
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
As the Advent Festival draws near, making both the academy and the church busy themselves, I used the spare times of the student council’s preparation to polishing my plans within the newspaper clubroom. The rustles about to happen from now onwards are not included within the confines of the game.
Shiela contacted me to leave the matters of Darck to the House Whitey. Apparently, Darck was exposed to a Himemomobana perfume by his previous lady tutor, and judging from the smell of his letters, it’s likely that he had fallen under the same situation right now.
Which reminds me, the minister-to-the-right spoke of having regulated Himemomobana essential oils before, didn’t he? Was that the main ingredient of the perfume? According to the game, he had a quarrel with Chloe concerning Viscountess Majenta, but upon knowing the details now, it can no longer be singlehandedly blamed on Chloe’s temper.
Shiela was considering the possibility of his perfume being illegal and is tracing its sales route. It was probably the one Momo bought for him on his birthday. However, I cannot be solely fixated on my game knowledge. I will just entrust this case to Shiela… and try to test Darck, myself, when he discovers the truth. I need to know whether he can properly face his younger sister or whether he can truly recognize her change.
Recently, Lady Missouri had changed and is becoming more vibrant with her expressions. Vaguely, or rather clearly, she seems to have taken the impression from Lady Momo.
‘I used the game information that his highness gave me as a reference.’
In the game’s Sei Route, they will antagonize the House Walter, and it will declare that the cancellation of their engagement would result in the house giving up its court rank and rescinding its assistance in the country’s diplomacy. Lady Momo opposes this and insists that they just recognize Sei’s efforts in moving away from his turbulent lifestyle and attempt to lead a sincere life. In order to show Sei’s sincerity, they challenged Lady Missouri to a business contest on Advent Festival. If they win, Momo will be able to marry Sei and become business partners with the Count House. If they lose, or if Sei were to pursue a relationship with another lady within their contest’s time frame, the two of them can no longer meet and Sei will be wed to Lady Missouri.
The main reason why such an absurd logic was accepted was because she was the saintess. Even without the use of magical charms, she can still put her ‘authority’ to work.
Lady Missouri’s plan was a clandestine attack with the help of incorporating many components of Sei’s route. Lady Momo, who reached an all-friendship status in an attempt to go to the hidden route, likely wouldn’t have expected that Sei’s route was still progressing under her nose. However, can the lady really win the bet in such a short amount of time?
‘I will settle everything in the Advent Festival, sir; by using this.’
She says as she put a bottle on the table, widening my eyes in surprise. It was the same as the Himemomobana alcoholic beverage that Count Glinda bought as a souvenir. It’s a product used by people who have difficulty conceiving children due to infertility and other problems. Its effects are strong charm, hallucinations, and aphrodisiac… It may have no side effects and wears off easily, but for such a thing to still be legal; What a degenerate age to live in.
‘Aren’t you rushing things too much? I don’t think he will be satisfied with such a forceful means.’
‘For the time being, I can win the wager. If Sir Sei wasn’t so hot-headed, he would notice it so easily.’
‘Hey… I’ve been thinking about this for a while but… what’s so good about Sei?’
It may be a political marriage, but after having made fool of to such a degree, I would think be better to just cancel it. Of course, I’m only saying this without taking the kingdom’s circumstances into account.
‘It would be his face, I guess.’
‘Huh… Only his appearance then?’
‘The most important part of the trade is bluffing… and first impressions. Doesn’t appearance play a huge factor in choosing products to purchase? In that regard, Sir Sei would be the best advertising material.’
Sei called Lady Missouri a ‘doll’, but the lady considers him as an article of commerce. The two might be unexpectedly fit for one another. At any rate, Sei stepped on the tail of a sleeping beast that he should’ve not woken up. He only reaps what he sows though.
I’m assuming that the final battle would also be in the advanced level dungeon in the Iris Mountains, just like in the game. Mistress Rinji’s husband, Count Earl, who is also the knight commander, was assisting us. His subordinates of the knighthood were already sent to Situm City and to conceal themselves within.
I told the members that I spoke to about the game that I will be making Lady Chloe the saintess, considering her past experience as the heroine in playing the game herself. I didn’t tell them anything concerning Momo, but perhaps Lady Chaco was already having an idea, being her best friend in the past.
‘Highness, are you alright? You look unsteady.’
‘I’m fine. We’re in critical moments so I need to do better. Rather, Lady Chaco, reinstating Lady Chloe as the saintess would inevitably affect Lady Momo as well… You’re fine with that, right?’
‘Well, it does give me mixed feelings, sir. It may have been an act on her part, but we’ve had quite the considerable fellowship.
Which reminds me, sir; do you know the story about the “devil of the caverns?’
Hearing the word “devil” made me think that she realized Lady Momo’s fall into witchery, but it seemed to be unrelated.
‘The story says that if you light up a fire inside a pitch-black, people will see the figure of a devil within. However, it is not real but merely their shadows projected on the wall. I heard from father that we journalists have the role to start these fires and show those shadows to people.’
‘…You mean to say that those written in the newspaper are not true?’
But the things I’m planning to disseminate are true though.
‘It means that for as long as you’re human, you’re bound to mix your agenda to the information you disseminate. Like leading a popular belief by only showing the convenient bits of information; or to put it harshly, impression manipulation.’
‘Well, I guess journalism has that facet too.’
‘However, there are still people who are able to doubt these mediums of information. They turn their attentions behind and see the real devil themselves. There will always be those kinds of people. Just like in your case, sir.’
Lady Chaco’s gaze drops from my face towards my arm, but I quickly hid them behind my back before she does. The lady reverts her gaze to the manuscript as if nothing happened.
‘I do not know what you are thinking of sir, but it would trouble the people if you were to fall. Please do not underestimate us too much.’
‘I am not… But, thank you.’
I was meaning to hide it. I could only reply with a forced smile to her perception. I cannot let my brother and the others found out until the day, not even to Canaria either.
(I can smear my hands with evil for the sake of my kingdom, but Canaria… only you, I do not wish to get hated at least. It looks like my cowardice was never fixed in the end.)
Canaria will be staying in the kingdom just before the start of the advent festival. I in the past would’ve rejoiced at the thought of meeting her again, but now I wonder whether I can still maintain my smile in front of those jewel eyes. Although not plan-related, that has been troubling me for a while.
Since then, I don’t remember clearly how I got back to my room.
The next thing I knew, I ran out of magical power and vomited everything I ate the hell’s pumpkin that I gorged out and used as an interior design. It’s not as though the coffee did not sit well with my body.
‘Guaa… haa, haa.’
The truth of the Coloflare Kingdom’s history was more normal than I thought it would be. The story about its founding is something you can find in every country, and it doesn’t differ that much from what was written in the forbidden books. However, the heavy feeling that invaded my stomach, as though they were stuffed with stones, persistently remained after hearing it.
‘….What should I do? What would you have me do?’
The problem doesn’t lie in the past. I merely discovered that blood-smeared traditions of the past were still being continued as they were, only changed in name.
Saintesses are naught but a sacrifice.
The first one is to absorb the miasma for herself, and upon failing to bear it, shall fall into witchery and be disposed of. The second one was only an accomplice to that end.
My father knew it. He knew it and yet, he decided to sacrifice Chloe nonetheless. But that is unlikely to happen now given that the lady recovered her past life memories. What now then? Their roles will only be reversed. Lady Chloe will just be the saintess instead and Lady Momo, be the witch.
A wretched place like this that sacrifices the lives of young girls in order to keep its peace does not have the right to claim righteous. A wretched country like this should just—
‘It’s hopeless!!’
I can’t do it. What’s the point of revealing something so far-rooted to anyone at this point in time? The Sacred Church would not allow anyone to threaten the very meaning of their existence either, even if it’s the crown prince. The authority that the royal family had created for the sacred church had now eaten it by the whole.
Besides, even if the saintess, it’s very symbol of that authority, were to destroy the sacred church itself, then what? Who would benefit from such a thing? Only those who seek the kingdom’s dissolution. The kingdom’s loss of one of its very pillars will just result to even more sacrifices. It won’t be possible to rebuild the country’s system in just a short span of time.
Ah, this is so difficult. I shouldn’t have asked for it. For either one between Lady Chloe and Lady Momo to have to fall into witchery. While I do not particularly like either of them, that doesn’t mean I would be willing to push them off to ruin. The density of the miasma until now was just enough for the previous interim-saintesses to purify so there hasn’t been any problem so before. However, now that it satisfies the requirement, history will just repeat itself.
Can I take everything in as the crown prince? Including the weight of this sin? Father did say that I can just forget about it. In the first place, the two of them are just brother’s fiancee candidates, and brother was originally the one to be the crown prince too, according to the game.
‘If I was the brother… what would he choose?’
What would he think upon learning the truth behind saintesses? Considering his fastidiousness, would he not forgive the royal family’s darkness and destroy the church? Or perhaps, he would just use it as a just cause in getting read of Lady Chloe.
But if he does that, it would definitely estrange the House Moonlight. They are nearing their limits. The only reason why father does not view them as a problem is that he has the capability to suppress them even if they revolt… but not everything leads to violence. There is a way to destroy a foe from the inside with protracted subversive activities that are so discreet they escape notice.
I cannot leave this to my brother. He is a simpleton who only sees the world’s surface beauty, blind to its underneath.
Canaria…
The face of my beloved fiancee came to mind. I was reminded her letter, pleading to assist Chloe where she to recover her memories… I shook my head of my naïve thoughts.
‘No. I decided to do this. I need to determine myself in becoming the crown prince.’
Whether it is Lady Chloe who reformed herself or Lady Momo who was chosen by the Saintess, the first, I need to be able to shoulder whatever is to become. It feels heavy… It feels as I was being crushed by a hundred years worth of darkness. I wiped my involuntary tears and swallowed the weeping to come.
(Help me… Could anyone please… notice…)
As my consciousness grew faint, I saw a phantom of peach-colored hair swaying in the air. As I called out to her, the name that came out of my mouth was not Lady Momo, but rather of my fiancee—
‘Your highness!!!’
When I opened my eyes, Sando held me in his arms and was the one to wake me up. It looks like I ended up fainting and sleeping on the ground. By the time I noticed, sunlight was already dazzling through my room’s window.
‘Ah, sorry… looks like I ended up sleeping.’
‘Please do cease making me worry. My heart almost stopped. If you do not feel well, you may just sleep on the bed after getting a change of—’
‘No, I have to meet father. Can you prepare my bath?’
Entering the bathroom, a horrible countenance was reflected in the mirror. Perhaps, I should apply the makeup I aptly learned for intruding in the church’s halls. Concealer supposedly hides eyebags, don’t they?’
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
As the Advent Festival draws near, making both the academy and the church busy themselves, I used the spare times of the student council’s preparation to polishing my plans within the newspaper clubroom. The rustles about to happen from now onwards are not included within the confines of the game.
Shiela contacted me to leave the matters of Darck to the House Whitey. Apparently, Darck was exposed to a Himemomobana perfume by his previous lady tutor, and judging from the smell of his letters, it’s likely that he had fallen under the same situation right now.
Which reminds me, the minister-to-the-right spoke of having regulated Himemomobana essential oils before, didn’t he? Was that the main ingredient of the perfume? According to the game, he had a quarrel with Chloe concerning Viscountess Majenta, but upon knowing the details now, it can no longer be singlehandedly blamed on Chloe’s temper.
Shiela was considering the possibility of his perfume being illegal and is tracing its sales route. It was probably the one Momo bought for him on his birthday. However, I cannot be solely fixated on my game knowledge. I will just entrust this case to Shiela… and try to test Darck, myself, when he discovers the truth. I need to know whether he can properly face his younger sister or whether he can truly recognize her change.
Recently, Lady Missouri had changed and is becoming more vibrant with her expressions. Vaguely, or rather clearly, she seems to have taken the impression from Lady Momo.
‘I used the game information that his highness gave me as a reference.’
In the game’s Sei Route, they will antagonize the House Walter, and it will declare that the cancellation of their engagement would result in the house giving up its court rank and rescinding its assistance in the country’s diplomacy. Lady Momo opposes this and insists that they just recognize Sei’s efforts in moving away from his turbulent lifestyle and attempt to lead a sincere life. In order to show Sei’s sincerity, they challenged Lady Missouri to a business contest on Advent Festival. If they win, Momo will be able to marry Sei and become business partners with the Count House. If they lose, or if Sei were to pursue a relationship with another lady within their contest’s time frame, the two of them can no longer meet and Sei will be wed to Lady Missouri.
The main reason why such an absurd logic was accepted was because she was the saintess. Even without the use of magical charms, she can still put her ‘authority’ to work.
Lady Missouri’s plan was a clandestine attack with the help of incorporating many components of Sei’s route. Lady Momo, who reached an all-friendship status in an attempt to go to the hidden route, likely wouldn’t have expected that Sei’s route was still progressing under her nose. However, can the lady really win the bet in such a short amount of time?
‘I will settle everything in the Advent Festival, sir; by using this.’
She says as she put a bottle on the table, widening my eyes in surprise. It was the same as the Himemomobana alcoholic beverage that Count Glinda bought as a souvenir. It’s a product used by people who have difficulty conceiving children due to infertility and other problems. Its effects are strong charm, hallucinations, and aphrodisiac… It may have no side effects and wears off easily, but for such a thing to still be legal; What a degenerate age to live in.
‘Aren’t you rushing things too much? I don’t think he will be satisfied with such a forceful means.’
‘For the time being, I can win the wager. If Sir Sei wasn’t so hot-headed, he would notice it so easily.’
‘Hey… I’ve been thinking about this for a while but… what’s so good about Sei?’
It may be a political marriage, but after having made fool of to such a degree, I would think be better to just cancel it. Of course, I’m only saying this without taking the kingdom’s circumstances into account.
‘It would be his face, I guess.’
‘Huh… Only his appearance then?’
‘The most important part of the trade is bluffing… and first impressions. Doesn’t appearance play a huge factor in choosing products to purchase? In that regard, Sir Sei would be the best advertising material.’
Sei called Lady Missouri a ‘doll’, but the lady considers him as an article of commerce. The two might be unexpectedly fit for one another. At any rate, Sei stepped on the tail of a sleeping beast that he should’ve not woken up. He only reaps what he sows though.
I’m assuming that the final battle would also be in the advanced level dungeon in the Iris Mountains, just like in the game. Mistress Rinji’s husband, Count Earl, who is also the knight commander, was assisting us. His subordinates of the knighthood were already sent to Situm City and to conceal themselves within.
I told the members that I spoke to about the game that I will be making Lady Chloe the saintess, considering her past experience as the heroine in playing the game herself. I didn’t tell them anything concerning Momo, but perhaps Lady Chaco was already having an idea, being her best friend in the past.
‘Highness, are you alright? You look unsteady.’
‘I’m fine. We’re in critical moments so I need to do better. Rather, Lady Chaco, reinstating Lady Chloe as the saintess would inevitably affect Lady Momo as well… You’re fine with that, right?’
‘Well, it does give me mixed feelings, sir. It may have been an act on her part, but we’ve had quite the considerable fellowship.
Which reminds me, sir; do you know the story about the “devil of the caverns?’
Hearing the word “devil” made me think that she realized Lady Momo’s fall into witchery, but it seemed to be unrelated.
‘The story says that if you light up a fire inside a pitch-black, people will see the figure of a devil within. However, it is not real but merely their shadows projected on the wall. I heard from father that we journalists have the role to start these fires and show those shadows to people.’
‘…You mean to say that those written in the newspaper are not true?’
But the things I’m planning to disseminate are true though.
‘It means that for as long as you’re human, you’re bound to mix your agenda to the information you disseminate. Like leading a popular belief by only showing the convenient bits of information; or to put it harshly, impression manipulation.’
‘Well, I guess journalism has that facet too.’
‘However, there are still people who are able to doubt these mediums of information. They turn their attentions behind and see the real devil themselves. There will always be those kinds of people. Just like in your case, sir.’
Lady Chaco’s gaze drops from my face towards my arm, but I quickly hid them behind my back before she does. The lady reverts her gaze to the manuscript as if nothing happened.
‘I do not know what you are thinking of sir, but it would trouble the people if you were to fall. Please do not underestimate us too much.’
‘I am not… But, thank you.’
I was meaning to hide it. I could only reply with a forced smile to her perception. I cannot let my brother and the others found out until the day, not even to Canaria either.
(I can smear my hands with evil for the sake of my kingdom, but Canaria… only you, I do not wish to get hated at least. It looks like my cowardice was never fixed in the end.)
Canaria will be staying in the kingdom just before the start of the advent festival. I in the past would’ve rejoiced at the thought of meeting her again, but now I wonder whether I can still maintain my smile in front of those jewel eyes. Although not plan-related, that has been troubling me for a while.
