Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 477: When the Misunderstanding Is Cleared Up
Saint Matilda was feeling confused and irritated.
It was because Marquis Donaisson, the Kingdom of Luwan’s representative and the person in charge of overseeing her, had praised Aeris, her romantic rival.
Matilda had heard from the Crown Prince that Aeris had volunteered—without being asked—to act as her decoy, resulting in severe casualties among the local soldiers. She had assumed that this blunder would damage Aeris’s reputation and give her the edge in her pursuit of Prince Fleue. But contrary to her expectations, even Marquis Donaisson, who should have been her greatest ally, and the other Luwan nobles were openly praising Aeris and her companions.
Only the high-ranking nobles of the Kingdom of Sart were criticizing Aeris, which left Matilda increasingly unsure what was really happening.
”According to what the Crown Prince told me, Lady Aeris and her group made a huge blunder. So why are you all praising them?”
Saint Matilda naturally posed a question to those around her from the Kingdom of Luwan, who had always been her most loyal supporters.
”Saint Matilda? That information you received is heavily distorted—it’s far from the truth.”
”Distorted?”
”Yes. Our knights—about five of them— also joined Lady Aeris and Lord Tauro in their decoy mission, so we’ve received accurate firsthand information about what happened at the scene. The group faced enemies far stronger than expected, but through their brave efforts, they defeated the enemy leader and forced the rest to flee. Most of them committed suicide when captured, but they even managed to take some of them alive, albeit gravely injured. It was a great success. To call that a ‘blunder’ would make us nothing more than ungrateful fools. Those who died did so to thwart a plot to harm you, Your Holiness.”
One of Matilda’s attendants, always sincere in their support of the Saint, calmly explained the situation.
Matilda was taken aback—this account was completely different from what she’d heard from the Crown Prince.
Aeris was supposed to be her romantic rival. Why would someone like that risk her life on her behalf?
I don’t understand why would someone like that risk their life for me? In some ways, what the Crown Prince said still made more sense. But now, even the people in front of her were saying that this was not the case. And since they heard this from a knight on their side- the Kingdom of Luwan- who was present at the scene, it only made Matilda even more confused.
”Your Grace, perhaps you should meet with Lady Aeris and have a chat with her. Our knights told us that the enemy was unimaginably strong. For someone to willingly face such a foe to protect you… It’s only right that you offer your thanks to them—to Miss Aeris, and to Lord Tauro as well as the others.
”Yes, Your Holiness. Also, before leaving this region, you should offer your condolences and gratitude to the local soldiers who gave their lives. Otherwise, people may accuse you of being ungrateful.”
Despite the advice of her entourage and Marquis Donaisson, Saint Matilda still wavered, but she realized she didn’t want to be seen as ungrateful. At the very least, she decided to do what was necessary to avoid being misunderstood.
And so, a few hours later, Tauro, Aeris, Ragune, Ankh, and Zion were invited to a spacious reception room arranged by Viscount Musai, where Saint Matilda would meet them.
”(Why are we being called here too?)”
Ankh whispered to Ragune, who was standing next to him behind Tauro and Aeris as they took their seats.
”(According to Marquis Donaisson, the Saint wants to thank us for our actions.)”
Ragune whispered back to Ankh and Zion.
”(But didn’t the Saint hate Aeris? What could she possibly want now?)”
Zion, clearly not fond of the Saint who disliked her friends, muttered irritably.
”All three of you, keep it down. The guards on the other side can hear you.”
Tauro warned Ragune and the others because he could hear their conversation.
Just then, the door to the reception room opened and Saint Matilda and Marquis Donaisson entered.
”Sorry to have kept you all waiting. Saint Matilda has asked to personally express her gratitude, so we’ve arranged this meeting.”
He quickly explained the purpose of the meeting, hoping to stop Matilda from saying anything unnecessary.
Matilda looked slightly dissatisfied with his preemptive explanation but composed herself and sat down. Marquis Donaisson followed suit and took his seat beside her.
”Now then. Let me start by saying this: if not for the efforts of Lady Aeris, Lord Tauro, and their companions, we would not have been able to thwart the enemy’s plan to kidnap the Saint. You have my deepest gratitude!”
After Marquis Donaisson had finished speaking, he gently nudged Matilda to follow his lead.
”…It seems you acted as decoys in my place and lured the enemy away, then defeated them. I… thank you.”
Matilda said this while deliberately avoiding eye contact with Aeris.
”…Lady Matilda. Did you call us here just to offer that half-hearted thanks?”
Aeris responded bluntly, skipping all noble formalities.
”W-What!?”
Matilda flared up at her words and glared at her.
”I’m not asking for your gratitude. But it’s frustrating to be misunderstood and treated like an enemy based solely on convenient hearsay, especially when I’ve done nothing wrong.”
Aeris met Matilda’s angry gaze head-on and continued:
”I don’t care who you’re in love with—that’s your business. But don’t go off the rails just because of a false rumor that I have feelings for Prince Fleue. Do you realize how many soldiers lost their lives because of this incident? You’re a saint who visited this country representing the Kingdom of Luwan, right? Please, act like it.”
Aeris stared directly at Matilda and firmly reprimanded her.
Matilda instinctively tried to say something in response, but no words came out.
”Lady Aeris, please, that’s enough. The Saint still doesn’t fully understand the situation. As the one responsible, I also bear some blame. I sincerely apologize.”
Marquis Donaisson bowed his head deeply on Saint Matilda’s behalf.
”Marquis…!? I—I was wrong too. Lady Aeris, and all your companions, I apologize for the trouble. And thank you… for acting in my place…. And, I like Prince Fleue, don’t you–“
Matilda offered her apology, then hesitantly continued:
“I don’t.”
”So you really don’t have feelings—“
”Never.”
Aeris cut her off repeatedly, firmly denying it.
”…Then maybe it’s the guy next to you that you like—“
”…T-That’s none of your business!”
Aeris knew what Saint Matilda was going to say, and with a blush on her cheeks, she hastily denied it.
”…I see. Then there’s no problem. In that case, I think we can get along after all.”
Saint Matilda agreed, a mischievous look on her face.
*…Whatever! Tauro, we’ve heard what she has to say, so let’s go home!”
”Huh!?”
Tauro realized from the conversation between the two that something meaningful had happened regarding him, but before he could figure it out, Aeris dragged him out of the room.