Kays Translations

Chapter 474: The Saints’ Reactions

The operation to defeat the Imperial soldiers attempting to abduct the Saint—with Aeris serving as bait—ended in success. However, the heavy casualties meant that news of the incident soon reached both Saint Matilda and the Crown Prince, the Kingdom of Sart’s representative.

“What? I was being targeted? …Why? I’m a Saint, you know!”

Saint Matilda traveled from place to place bestowing “blessings” and believed herself beloved wherever she went. It had never occurred to her that anyone might target her.

One of her attendants, who had brought her the news, offered a suggestion:

“The details remain unclear, but it appears that another nation attempted to abduct you, Your Holiness. Viscount Musai prepared a decoy and lured the enemy into a trap to prevent that. Many people were injured or killed during the operation, so perhaps you should express your gratitude and condolences to those involved…”

“Really? I don’t understand any of that, so why don’t you ask Marquis Donaissun?”

At that moment, Marquis Donaissun himself arrived to report the situation to the Saint.

“Lady Matilda, the truth is—”

He explained the situation again. This time, Matilda listened properly and frowned deeply.

“Lady Aeris took my place? Why would she do that?”

“Because the enemy mistook—”

“There’s no comparison between me, the Saint, and that woman! Why does she keep taking my place?”

Without Matilda’s knowledge, Aeris had previously stood in for her during the city’s “Blessing Ceremony” and brought it to a successful conclusion. Although the substitution had only been temporary, Matilda hated feeling indebted to her romantic rival. Now she had learned that Aeris had served as her decoy as well.

To Matilda, it felt as though her rival in love kept upstaging her, and the thought deeply upset her.

“Lady Matilda! To place your pride above the life of Aeris, who risked herself in your place, and the lives of the soldiers who sacrificed themselves is utterly disgraceful!”

Marquis Donaissun, who rarely raised his voice, sharply rebuked her for the first time. He continued:

“Had the operation failed, you’d likely have been abducted—or even killed—in the near future. The enemy was that powerful! Don’t belittle those who fought them. Doing so would be no different from declaring the people of the Kingdom of Luwan heartless!”

Saint Matilda was struck speechless by the anger of Marquis Donaissun, who so rarely lost his temper.

Just then, a voice interrupted from the entrance.

“Marquis Donaissun, you’re being too harsh on the Saint. Our Kingdom of Sart assigned its elite royal guards to protect her. With only the troops of this duchy, heavy casualties were inevitable. Had the attack occurred while we were present, I believe we could’ve repelled it with far fewer losses. Viscount Musai may have acted rashly.”

The Crown Prince, who had been listening near the entrance, stepped into the room as he spoke.

“Rashly!?”

“Yes. The Saint was also accompanied by talented young nobles. No one could possibly have attacked her directly. Viscount Musai simply jumped the gun.”

Because the Crown Prince was allied with Marquis Halagoura, he thought poorly of Viscount Musai, the son of Prime Minister Duke Barriera—Halagoura’s political rival.

But to Marquis Donaissun, it was a different matter entirely.

He was deeply grateful to Viscount Musai, who had acted to protect both the Saint and the Kingdom of Luwan’s honor, even at the cost of lives.

The nation owed an especially great debt to Aeris and Tauro, who had volunteered to act as decoys, and to the companions who had fought so bravely beside them.

Furthermore, reports from his subordinates who had participated in the operation suggested that the attackers were the legendary Golden Lions, an elite unit directly under the Northern Empire’s Emperor.

Marquis Donaissun was both terrified and shocked that such an enemy had targeted them, making the Crown Prince’s words utterly unacceptable.

“With all due respect, Your Highness, my subordinates who took part in the operation report that the enemy may have been the Empire’s Golden Lions. Many lives were lost. I strongly urge you to refrain from further criticism.”

“The Golden Lions? That’s merely an exaggerated legend. Hahaha! Marquis Donaissun, you do enjoy your conspiracy theories. Our country and the Empire may have experienced tensions in the past, but once I ascend the throne, I believe we can establish friendly relations. I already possess strong connections and personal ties within the Empire, so I doubt it’d attempt anything so audacious. Besides, I’m only stating the facts. The soldiers’ deaths were regrettable, but a more competent commander could’ve prevented them.”

The Crown Prince pretended to wipe away tears, although he wasn’t actually crying.

It was merely a performance intended to preserve the appearance of decorum.

Marquis Donaissun was sincerely grateful for Viscount Musai’s swift response. The Crown Prince’s display convinced him that the prince was utterly unworthy, causing his already poor opinion of him to sink even further.

Meanwhile, Viscount Musai met with Tauro and the others in a reception room and listened to their report.

“I have also received the commander’s report. On behalf of my father, I offer you my deepest thanks for your service.”

Viscount Musai bowed his head.

“No, please raise your head. We didn’t expect the enemy to be so skilled, and our struggle against them contributed to the heavy losses on our side… I’m sorry.”

Tauro bowed his head, honestly regretting their shortcomings.

“The commander of our territorial troops is a highly capable warrior with a discerning eye. If he says the Imperial soldiers were extraordinarily strong, then it must be true. You played vital roles both as decoys and in repelling the attack. Without you, we might have suffered a crushing defeat. I can offer only my deepest gratitude. Truly, thank you.”

Viscount Musai bowed again, even more deeply.

This time, Tauro could say nothing more.

Any further humility would only be rude.

“Therefore, I’d like to ask something of you. May my father and I recommend you to the royal family for a noble title, Tauro-dono?”

“Recommend me?”

“Yes. For protecting the Saint and preserving the honor of both our nation and the Kingdom of Luwan, I wish to nominate you for ennoblement.”

“Wha—!?”

Tauro couldn’t help shouting at the unexpected proposal.

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