The Power of the Saint is All Around (LN) - Volume 8 - Chapter 5

Act 5:

Confession

I RECEIVED A SUDDEN INVITATION to a tea party, which was unusual. It was just a tea party, but be that as it may, it was a tea party. If all I had to look forward to was enjoying tasty pastries, drinking tea, and chatting and giggling, the invitation would have arrived a week before the date of the event. This one had arrived only a day before.

Typically, I would have said no, but the hostess was someone I knew well: Liz. Of course I was happy to accept an invitation from her, even if it had arrived with such short notice.

I quickly penned a reply and inquired to make sure that the palace maids would be available to help me get ready.

It was the day of the party. After formally greeting each other, we took our seats. Just as I was taking my first sip of tea, Liz asked, “So, Sei. Is there something you might have neglected to mention?”

“What do you mean?”

Liz rarely did this. Usually, even during our convivial friends-only parties, we started with small talk. Today, she instantly jumped to what appeared to be the main reason she had put this together.

Was there something that important to discuss? I couldn’t imagine why else Liz, former fiancée of the prince, would ignore standard procedure in this manner.

I wondered what she might be getting at as I tried to answer her question. “Hmm. I can’t think of anything in particular.”

“Really? You haven’t the slightest idea as to what you might need to tell me? Or is this the sort of thing you can’t discuss?”

“While there are indeed some things I mustn’t discuss outside specific contexts, I’m not exactly sure what you mean. Thus I don’t know how to answer your question.”

“So that’s how it is. Very well, then, I shall ask you plainly: What is your relationship with Grand Magus Drewes?”

“Grand Magus Drewes?” 

My mind filled with question marks. Why was Liz asking about Yuri? I supposed I’d just have to ask her after I explained. First, I needed to answer her question. As for our relationship, the only way I could think to correctly describe it was that of a teacher and his student. Oh, though we were also colleagues who went on monster-­slaying expeditions together. As we were employed by different organizations, there was no simple way to capture our dynamic.

“Let me think… A mentor-mentee relationship, I guess? He teaches me about the arcane.”

“Is that all?” Liz squinted at me accusingly.

“Uh, yes?”

Huh? What? Why is she looking at me like that? That’s really the only way I can think to frame it.

As I was at a loss for how else to respond, Liz snapped her fan open to cover her mouth and breathed out a very obvious sigh. “Don’t you know the rumors everyone in the palace is spreading about you two?”

“Huh? What rumors?” I hadn’t heard about any rumors.

Nobles lived for the latest gossip. For a time, everyone had been talking about the Saint’s powers of purification and the potency of my Healing Magic, but that had been quite a while ago and had since died down. I hadn’t released any new skincare products either, so I doubted anyone was talking about those. Same thing with the food we had served at the food festival I hosted at the palace. Although those dishes were still a popular topic of discussion, I doubted everyone was talking about them.

So what rumors was Liz referring to?

Wait a minute. Do they have something to do with the grand magus? She did say “grand magus,” right? And as for my relationship with him…

Just as I realized what was going on, Liz declared, “I hear that you’re now engaged to Lord Drewes.”

“What?!” I screeched in a most unladylike manner. Then, as I heard more details from Liz, I found myself deeply troubled.

According to her, all the nobles were gossiping about me and Yuri. Someone had started the rumors because they’d seen our behavior at the theater. They had witnessed our friendly conversation in the opera box and begun spinning wild speculations about the nature of our relationship. That original speculation had been even more hugely exaggerated, and now baseless rumors were circulating throughout the palace—the most groundless of these being that Yuri and I were now engaged.

Liz had been shocked when she heard these allegations, which was why she was inquiring as to their veracity. “Then it is true that you went to the theater with Lord Drewes?”

“Yes. He told me that his family had tickets that no one else could use.”

“That’s a typical way to invite a lady.”

“But this is Lord Drewes we’re talking about. He couldn’t give a fig about anything unmagical. I doubt he imagined these rumors would pick up.”

“That’s true. I understand how you feel. However, you were careless.”

“Uuugh…”

“And now you’re paying for your mistake. It was foolish of you to agree to go with a man to the theater alone. You were practically begging to become the target of gossip.”

“I’m sorry…” In the face of Liz’s exasperated expression, all I could do was apologize.

This lecture pertained to something I had actually learned in my classes at the palace. The fact that I had accepted Yuri’s invitation even though I knew better had been total carelessness on my part.

Liz was right that a man and woman going somewhere by themselves was always cause for rumor—especially since we had been in box seats, in which you could claim we had been practically alone.

On top of that, it turned out that box seats were often how people flaunted intimacy when they went with someone other than their family or betrothed. Furthermore, the two persons of interest in this matter were the grand magus and the Saint. According to Liz, it was only a matter of course that everyone who’d spotted us and cared even a little about gossip had immediately told everyone they knew.

“I’m certain people will talk about it for a time, but it ought to die down before long,” Liz said.

“You think so?”

“Yes. They’ll move on to the next big rumor in no time. I suggest you learn your lesson from this and be wary of invitations from men in the future.”

“Yeah. I’ll be careful from now on.”

I took Liz’s generous advice to heart, after which our tea party came to a close.

Two days later, I was still dealing with the rumors.

I was crouched in the herb garden at the institute, staring at the ground as I mentally harangued myself. I didn’t voice this out loud because I didn’t want anyone to overhear and think I was losing my mind. Apparently I still had it in me to think logically about potential risks. However, I was full of regret over my own stupidity. Specifically, ever since I left Liz’s tea party, I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about certain…things.

According to Liz, everyone in the palace was whispering this rumor. That meant a lot of people knew it. That was embarrassing, sure, but if only people I didn’t know had been talking about it, I wouldn’t have cared so much. Even if people I did know were talking about it… Well, even if that was the case, I could probably get over it.

But my heart twisted whenever I thought about what would happen if a certain guy heard these rumors. It made me unbearably anxious.

By “certain guy,” I meant the knight commander. I had only realized it recently, but I was pretty sure I was in love with Albert.

I was always happy to see him, and I became giddy when we conversed, even if it was just idle small talk. I had never felt that way about anyone else. That was why I was pretty sure that I was in love. On the other hand, I had never been in love in this world or the one I’d come from, so I wasn’t entirely sure.

Our current relationship was wonderful. But what would Albert think if he heard those rumors? If he heard them like Liz had and thought that Yuri and I were going to be engaged, would he start to distance himself from me?

The Kingdom of Salutania and Japan had similar social mores in that it was generally taboo to befriend someone of the opposite sex besides your betrothed. Albert was such an earnest and serious person, so I doubted he would break those rules. In short, the genial time we spent together would definitely come to an end. When I thought about that possibility, I could hardly contain myself.

It was no use crying over spilled milk, but that was exactly what I was doing. Why, oh why, had I said yes to Yuri’s invitation? The relationships between people were always a subject of gossip among the nobility as well as the commonfolk.

If I’d thought about it, I could have predicted that if two people went somewhere together, everyone would start to whisper that they were close—or even dating. Yet this hadn’t occurred to me at the time. I mean, in my ­defense, I’d never imagined that I might become the target of relationship-centric rumors.

Weren’t these kinds of rumors just supposed to be a ­junior high thing? Then again, I had never been the subject of gossip, even at that age… For one thing, as a girl who had never been popular with the guys, no one had ever spread rumors about me in the first place.

Ahh, but Liz was right. It really was stupid of me.

“What should I do?” I unconsciously murmured my thoughts out loud. Excuses and guilt churned through my mind, leaving me in cognitive disarray. 

Then someone called my name. “Sei?”

“Huh?” I yelped at the voice—especially since it belonged to the very person I was thinking about. I quickly rose and turned around to find Albert standing before me.

“Sir Hawke?” I was completely freaked out by his ­arrival and too stunned to remember to say hello. 

Albert seemed unbothered by this, though. If anything, he was worried. “What’s the matter? You look like something’s bothering you.”

I couldn’t say it. There was absolutely no way I could say it. If I didn’t want this specific person to know about a rumor, how could I ask if he’d heard it? 

Instead, I forced myself to smile to hide my anxiety. “Oh, uh, ummm—I’m fine.”

“Are you sure? I mean, if you are, that’s all right, but if not…” Albert trailed off, still wearing a worried look. He seemed a touch despondent as he gazed at me.

Guilt prickled in my chest, but I didn’t have it in me to tell him what was troubling me. “What are you doing here today?”

“I was wondering if you’d like to go out with me the next time you have a day off.”

“Go out?”

“Yes. To a certain park in the capital.”

There were several parks in the capital, but one was particularly large, and it also functioned as a gathering place for the nobility. Even those who lived in mansions with vast gardens liked to take walks in that park and socialize with anyone they ran into. Some even liked to have picnics there during the warmer months.

Now Albert was asking me to go there with him.

“I know it’s not really the season for taking walks, but there’s something I’d like to show you,” he said.

“There is? What?”

“You’ll have to come along with me to find out.” Albert smiled with his index finger raised. I could practically see his radiance.

I squinted a bit as I peered up at him. He was a feast for the eyes, just as usual.

But what could he want to show me? I really want to know. If I can’t find out unless I go, then I should do so. Anyway, an outing with Albert is sure to be fun. 

Just as I was thinking of saying “yes,” I suddenly remembered Liz’s frustrated expression. 

Oh… If I go out with Albert, will people just start more rumors about me?

When I thought of how cross she had been with me just two days prior, I reconsidered my response.

Although I wouldn’t mind if people were talking about me and Albert. He’s my h-heart’s desire after all—I think. So I don’t imagine I’d dislike there being rumors about us. I would find it embarrassing. What about Albert, though? I’d feel just awful if that kind of rumor would bother him. Maybe the right thing to do here would be to say no, especially after what happened with Yuri.

However, I was reluctant to turn Albert down. It had been a while since we’d last gone out together.

My desire to go and my sense that I shouldn’t warred with one another, and just as I slowly opened my mouth, Albert said in an uncharacteristically fainthearted tone, “Do you not want to?”

Albert’s shoulders drooped, and it felt like I could see animal ears on his head droop in disappointment as well. He looked at me with a plea in his eyes, and my voice died in my throat.

Ugh… How am I supposed to say no when you look at me like that?!

“I do want to.” I couldn’t deny him! I didn’t have it in me to turn him down when he used that face on me. Besides, part of me wanted to go. So I gave in—I said yes.

Albert’s expression instantly brightened, which made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Oh well. I’ll just leave the regret for later.

I forced myself to smile as well as we continued talking and planned out our future fun.

***

On the day of my outing with Albert, there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky.

Although we were going to a park, it was a place where nobles went to socialize, so I was all kitted out in a gown. Nevertheless, it was an outdoor d-date (ahem), so I’d had the maids who helped me dress pick something that wasn’t too gaudy and was easy to move in. For some reason, we were going out in the evening, so as it would likely be cold, I was also wearing a fur-lined coat at their suggestion.

Albert was on point with his wardrobe too. The ­carriage that came to the front gate of the institute at the scheduled time wasn’t conspicuous, but it was of nice enough quality that you could tell at a glance that it belonged to a noble. As Albert stepped out of the ­carriage, he was wearing a different sort of outfit than he had the last time we went into the capital. It was brilliantly ­embroidered, and it made his status self-evident.

Albert was already attractive, so I figured he would look good in anything, but he looked even more handsome than I had anticipated. He felt fifty percent more dazzling than usual when he dressed up like this. I could bear to observe him from afar, but I got too shy up close and couldn’t look him in the eye. As Albert helped me into the carriage, I pretended to watch my feet to avoid his gaze and recover my self-control.

The park was near the center of the capital. As would be expected from a place where people went to socialize, it was bordered by countless other carriages that had brought their noble masters to the park. When I descended from the carriage and glanced around, I saw other visitors who looked like nobles too. However, the time being what it was, most were on their way out of the park—unlike us.

“Shall we go?” Albert asked.

“Let’s.”

Albert escorted me onto the green.

As one might expect from a place the nobility used for walks, the paths were well maintained. They were flat with no grass and lined with neatly pruned shrubs. There were also trees planted at regular intervals along the paths, as well as grass used to accent them both. Even though the season was cold, there were flower beds of multicolored flowers.

Albert and I remarked on the scenery, which I was ­enjoying since it was so different from the palace gardens. It wasn’t spring or summer, when flowers would have been at their peak, but this garden was lovely even in winter.

Thus we continued making our way through the park until I spotted a black iron fence. There was something that looked like a gate with a guard standing near it. Was that the far edge of the park? However, that didn’t seem to be the case, as there appeared to be a dense forest on the other side.

As I wondered about this, Albert led me to the guard. “I’m Albert Hawke.”

“We’ve been awaiting your arrival.” The guard opened the gate for us. He smiled and gave a slight bow as Albert escorted me past the gate.

“Do they need that gate to keep the public from something beyond it?” I asked.

“Indeed. Only members of the royal family are allowed to walk through this area.”

“What?! Really?”

“I managed to secure permission for you.”

“For me?!”

I was stunned to hear that this fenced-off area was for the royal family’s exclusive use. I assumed they used it for parties they personally hosted or something. The palace had its own gardens, but this place had a unique charm, so it seemed lovely in its own right.

How to describe what I was feeling? It was a vague impression that part of me couldn’t accept what was happening, even as I knew something important was about to unfold.

What did he mean, he secured permission for me? Did he ask the king to take me on this date? Can you ask to use a place like this for something as minor as a date? I was overflowing with all kinds of doubts as we came to a clearing in the forest. 

The spectacle that revealed itself robbed me of all thought.

“Oh my!” 

The marvel before us was so enchanting that it made me cry out. I wasn’t sure how to describe it. It was like taking in a landscape carved entirely of ice.

The grove was coated in translucent frozen layers, and the trees sparkled as they were bathed in the light of the setting sun. No, wait—it wasn’t just the sun. When I looked closer, I realized that some of the branches were accented with glowing points as well.

Are those enchanted foci?! Huh? But why is something like that on the trees?! I was stunned to see the same kind of light I had just seen at the theater now illuminating the trees here and there. What is this place?

As I stared in wonder, Albert explained, “I tried to recreate something you once told me about. How did I do?”

“You mean Christmas lights?”

“Exactly.”

Albert’s words and the wonder before me made memories bubble to the surface. At some point in the past, when I had been telling Albert about the world of my origin, I had mentioned Christmas lights. So that was what these were supposed to be? That made sense. I had also told him that we used those lights to decorate every year during the cold winter months.

“You remembered?” I asked.

“Yes. I thought they must look something like this. Was I right?”

“Yes. They’re exactly like this.”

“I’m glad to hear that. As they were something you used to see every year, I thought you might like to see them here as well. That’s why I did this for you.”

“Really? Thank you. It’s so beautiful.”

Albert had gone to all this trouble? He’d made this frozen grove? That was in his wheelhouse, as a master of Ice Magic. I was sure he could enchant foci as well. I greedily drank it all in so that I would never forget the sight. He must have put a great deal of effort into making this scene.

I turned to thank Albert again, but for some reason he took my right hand. What was he up to now? I looked up at him to ask, at which point I saw that he was gazing down at me with a serious expression.

Albert wrapped both hands around mine. “Sei…I love you. Will you marry me?”

His declaration made me choke.

“M-marry me”? No, wait, back up. He loves me? Huh? He loves me?

It was a strange experience, oh-so-conveniently hearing something I had so hoped to hear. It made me doubt my ears. I stared at Albert for confirmation, but he still wore the same nervous yet serious look. I couldn’t detect a hint of teasing in his eyes.

Did he really just ask me to marry him? I continued to stare at him, still disbelieving.

Albert didn’t move as he went on, “To be honest, I wanted to take things much slower.”

“O-oh?”

“Yes. You didn’t seem accustomed to traditional courtship.”

Albert’s words brought all kinds of things to mind, and a slight heat rose in my cheeks.

Well, you’re right about that. Now that I think back on it, the way he kissed me on the back of my hand or brought his hand to my cheek—all of those things I took as teasing—was that actually his way of testing my comfort with the situation? I thought dumbly.

Then Albert’s expression grew clouded. “But I can’t hold back anymore. Too many people have been seeking your hand in marriage.”

“Do you mean—”

“I couldn’t keep my calm when I heard about you and Grand Magus Drewes.”

“Oh…”

“I don’t want to lose you to anyone else.”

I was shocked to hear Albert bring up the grand magus. He knew. However, it turned out that I’d never had any reason to worry. The rumor had merely inflamed Albert’s competitive spirit. As such, I was imprudently relieved.

“Of course, I have no intention of ignoring your feelings. But if you wish to do so, would you accept my hand in marriage? I will cherish you for the rest of my days.”

As I gazed into Albert’s earnest eyes, something started to well up from my feet.

I was happy. So, so deliriously happy. I wanted to say yes immediately. But I lacked the confidence, so I just stared up at him.

“Are you sure you want someone like me?” I asked, my voice trembling.

“Yes,” Albert replied, his voice full of reassurance.

Perhaps it was because of my joy, but my vision began to blur with tears. My throat quivered, and I couldn’t speak. Instead of words, I took Albert’s hand in mine, thereby accepting his proposal.

Albert broke out into an enormous smile, and he drew me into his arms for a tight embrace. I wrapped my arms around him as well, embracing him in turn.

***

The days after Albert’s proposal passed in a flurry. Normally, his family would have been the first people we told. Marriage between nobles was a contract between houses in the Kingdom of Salutania, so we required their permission to move forward. In particular, we needed the approval of Albert’s father, the head of the family. However, Albert said that was unnecessary. They had known about his feelings for me for a long time now, and they had even been encouraging him to hurry up and propose. As such, he didn’t need to seek their permission.

I see. So when we visited, they were welcoming me into their family. That brought me some peace of mind. But if we’re getting married, then we’ll surely have to see them again soon.

Albert was in favor of celebrating with his family. However, both of his brothers held important offices in the kingdom. His parents were awfully busy as well, so it would be difficult to find a day when everyone could come together.

As such, we decided to inform them all by letter. Albert said that if we waited, with his brothers’ assistance, we would sort out a day when everyone would be available.

Thus, the very first person we told was my boss, the head researcher at the institute, who also happened to be Albert’s childhood friend.

When we showed up at Johan’s office together, he raised an inquisitive eyebrow. “What are you two doing here?”

“I’m sorry to bother you while you’re in the middle of work,” I said. “Do you have a few minutes?” 

“Of course.”

“Uhhh, so…” Now that it was the moment to tell him, I grew shy and hesitated.

“We’re getting married,” Albert announced without pause.

We had assumed Johan would instantly begin to tease us, so Albert and I had agreed to just say it to him straight out—and to show up without prior notice so he wouldn’t have a chance to study us and figure it out himself.

However, our fears proved groundless.

“Finally did it, eh? Congratulations.” A relieved smile crossed Johan’s face as he offered us a totally ordinary congratulations. After that, however, he smirked at Albert.

“Thanks,” Albert said with a tight smile. Although Johan hadn’t said anything, he knew what he meant.

“Thank you,” I echoed.

With our first mission complete, we were released before Johan could try to pry.

The next two people we told were the king and the prime minister.

As I was the Saint and therefore of equal status with the king, they would treat my wedding as they would the marriage of a member of the royal family. That was why our meeting wouldn’t end with a simple announcement of our engagement; we would have to tend to all kinds of formalities. It was therefore necessary to alert them as soon as possible.

We were soon granted an audience, and by the time Albert and I reached the king’s office, the prime minister was already present. The knights who acted as guards and other officials who helped with various duties were also there.

I had told the king and prime minister that Albert would be accompanying me, so they must have anticipated our announcement. They all wore unusually bright smiles as we entered.

I felt a bit embarrassed by all this. My face was a bit flushed, but I managed to make myself smile too.

After our formal greetings, the king asked us to sit on one of the couches. The king stood from his desk to sit in the opposite couch, so we thanked him and took the neighboring seats he’d directed us to. The prime minister stood beside the king’s seat, as per usual.

“So, I believe you have an announcement to make,” said the king, jumping straight to the main subject we’d come to discuss. 

I had prepared my response in advance. “So we do. We have come to inform you of our betrothal.”

At first, I had considered giving the king all kinds of explanations for my choice, but even imagining how I would convey all that made my face hot, so I didn’t think myself capable of offering a proper rundown. Therefore, I had decided to offer the king the minimum necessary amount of information. Even that made my face warm.

“Your fiancé is Knight Commander Hawke?”

“Yes.”

“I see. Congratulations.”

“Congratulations,” the prime minister agreed.

Neither of them looked particularly surprised as they smoothly gave us their congratulations. 

“Thank you,” I said.

“Thank you,” Albert echoed.

Then, just as I had predicted, we dove into discussion of all kinds of proceedings and other events that would have to take place. There were a multitude of things we would have to do.

The sequence of getting engaged before getting married was the same as in the world I came from, with the exception that the engagement was a necessary first step in the kingdom. Since this was a contract between houses, I would need to speak with Albert’s father to enter into the contract. Fortunately for me, the king would lead the discussions since he acted as my guardian in such affairs.

According to the prime minister, the major topic of discussion would be assets. As the royal family were acting as my guardians, they would provide my dowry as well.

In my opinion, them serving as my guardians was sufficient favor in itself, and I initially declined additional assistance, but the king wouldn’t accept my refusal. He claimed that because I had achieved so much for Salutania, there had been a delay in providing a proper reward, so he was going to use this opportunity to fulfill that obligation.

That being the case, I had no option but to accept, ­especially as I had been in the habit of declining everything he offered me. Besides, the dowry was likely to be money rather than rank or land.

After all of the conditions were agreed upon and Albert and I were formally engaged, the next thing to do was to hold a reception. It wasn’t the kind held after a wedding but rather a party to announce our betrothal.

This was common practice for the nobility of Salutania. As part of House Hawke, we were obligated to follow suit. That ran doubly true with regard to my position as the Saint. If we didn’t host a party, the other houses would turn their noses up at House Hawke, and I definitely didn’t want that to happen. I therefore couldn’t refuse—especially not after the prime minister came up with a wonderful suggestion for the reception.

The plague of the black swamps had finally been taken care of, so the palace had been planning to hold a victory banquet. The prime minister suggested that we use the event for our annoucement.

It would be a huge help to piggyback on something they had already been planning, and neither the king nor Albert had any objections, so I gratefully accepted the prime minister’s proposal.

And so, having sorted out our betrothal reception, things were moving along smoothly. However…

No one anticipated that we would receive such news from far away after the reception-slash-victory banquet.