I’m Not A Saint Though?

chapter 21

Startled, I turned my head and met a pair of violet eyes.

It was the Crown Prince.

‘…When did he get here?’

Just a moment ago, only the Emperor and I were on the platform.

Did he use teleportation magic or something?

Lost in thought as I looked down at his long legs extending from beneath his impeccably tailored long coat, I finally came to my senses and spoke, “It’s been a while, Your Highness. I heard you were confined, are you alright?”

“Confined.”

He chuckled briefly.

“It’s embarrassing to call it confinement when the citizens of the Empire are dying because of a ridiculous system created by the Imperial family, while I sat in a luxurious room, eating top-quality food prepared by the Imperial chef, and idly wasting time.”

Wow, what conscience.

I was momentarily stunned by his surprisingly objective self-awareness.

‘How could such a son be born to that kind of Emperor?’

I couldn’t believe he was the son of the Emperor who, knowing full well it was a death sentence, created the Beloved system to avoid the immediate situation and sacrificed his own citizens.

‘Look at him.  He’s still strutting around, grinning from ear to ear.’

The contrast was even more stark when I looked at the Emperor, waving to the citizens who were chanting “Long live His Majesty!” without a shred of guilt, after shifting all the blame onto the trash and his appendages.

‘Could it be that he has a hidden family history?’

Lost in absurd thoughts that weren’t entirely implausible, I smiled and said, “With Your Highness caring so deeply for the citizens, the future of Catalon seems bright.”

“How can my concern help the future of Catalon? I’m just a powerless human in the face of this terrible disaster.”

His expression as he spoke seemed quite bitter.

Well, he had been running around for 13 years, barely surviving, yet he couldn’t even stop the disasters, let alone find out the cause.

‘I feel a bit sorry for him.’

It was even more heartbreaking because I could sense that his efforts weren’t for his own well-being but for the citizens he was responsible for.

Just then,

“So, have you decided on my offer? If you’re not too busy to have a cup of tea, I hope you won’t refuse.”

“Hmm, what should I do? Even if it’s an invitation from Your Highness, praying to the Goddess is my priority.”

I’m sorry, but I have to go finish my revenge quickly.

“I apologize, but next time…”

Just as I was about to decline with a troubled expression,

“If that’s the case, I can’t force you. I had a gift for you, Saintess, and I wanted to give it to you personally, but then at the Grand Temple…”

“A gift?”

I hurriedly interrupted him.

‘A gift, all of a sudden?’

Naturally, I was intrigued.

A gift prepared personally by the Crown Prince wouldn’t be ordinary.

‘Is he going to give me some kind of Saintess encouragement fund?’

I, who until recently had been the Lady of the wealthiest family in the Empire, the Veloce family, couldn’t contain my excitement at the prospect of a little money.

‘Well, I’m practically a beggar now, with nothing but the clothes on my back.’

Fortunately, I had become the Saintess and secured a place to stay, but how long could I keep up the charade without any divine power?

I would have to leave the temple at the right time, but I had lost all my assets, even my house, so the thought of the future filled me with dread.

‘So I should take whatever I can get.’

I looked at the Crown Prince with sparkling eyes, full of anticipation.

‘So what is it! What are you going to give me!’

But the Crown Prince just stared at me blankly, as if wondering why I was acting this way.

Normally, people would subtly hint at what the gift was when someone was this obvious, but he seemed clueless.

Frustrated, I eventually destroyed my own dignity.

“Hmm, it’s not polite to keep refusing when Your Highness is asking so earnestly.  I suppose I could spare a moment.”

“…Earnestly?”

He asked back with a puzzled look, and I responded with a “What?” expression.

So, are you going to have tea with me or not?

Looking at me, his face hardened with determination, he seemed a bit taken aback, but then he shook his head.

“No. Since you seem busy, and the Imperial Palace is quite far, how about we go to a nearby tea house?”

“That’s a good idea.”

“Then let’s go in my carriage.”

From escorting me to his carriage to offering me his hand to help me board due to my high heels, the Crown Prince’s manners were impeccable.

We arrived at a small salon near the square.

Thanks to the knights who had arrived earlier on the Crown Prince’s orders and cleared the area, the salon was empty.

“It’s an honor to serve tea to Your Highness and the Saintess. I’ve dismissed all the staff, so please feel free to converse without worrying about being overheard.”

The salon owner placed two steaming cups of herbal tea on the table and discreetly excused himself.

An awkward silence fell as we were left completely alone in the empty salon.

The Crown Prince, staring out the window as if enjoying the silence, spoke, “Thanks to the Saintess, Catalon is regaining its vibrancy. It’s been so long since I’ve seen the citizens laughing and chatting without any worries.”

“It’s all thanks to the Goddess’s grace.”

“That’s also thanks to you.  You’re the one who appeased the Goddess’s wrath.”

He smiled faintly.

‘Why is he doing this? Making me feel guilty.’

I had managed to maintain a shameless smile even in front of the Emperor, the Pope, and countless citizens.

But for some reason, it was difficult to keep up the act in front of the Crown Prince.

It was probably because of the sense of justice deeply rooted in his eyes.

Feeling like I was about to open the tightly shut doors of my heart and yell, “Conscience, come back!”, I quickly averted my gaze and mumbled, “…Thank you for saying so.”

He chuckled softly and then suddenly said, “I’m glad you’re alive.”

“What?”

“I’m glad you didn’t lose your life to that absurd system, that you returned safely. And I’m even more grateful that you broke the chain of sin created by the Imperial family to save themselves, so that my precious citizens won’t lose their lives meaninglessly.”

“Ah, yes…”

My head, which had been gradually lowering as the Crown Prince spoke, was now completely buried in my chest.

‘Why is he doing this?  It’s so uncomfortable.’

The Crown Prince, constantly poking at my guilt, was making me not even want the gift anymore.

‘What’s a little money anyway?’

I was someone who had increased her family’s wealth even while the trash and his appendages were squandering it like water.

I could earn as much as I wanted if I put my mind to it, so why did I tag along all the way here?

‘Right, let’s just go…’

Just as I sighed and racked my brain for an excuse to leave,

“Ah.”

Letting out a short exclamation as if something had come to mind, he tapped on the windowpane with his straight knuckles.

A knight waiting outside quickly rushed in and handed the Crown Prince a small wooden box with gold-plated corners.

The Crown Prince handed the box to me.

“It’s a small token of my gratitude. I hope you like it.”

Despite receiving the gift I had been anticipating, my expression wasn’t very bright.

‘How much could be inside this tiny box?’

It wouldn’t be worth much unless it was filled with diamonds.

‘For this tiny thing…’

To hide the disappointment washing over me, I forced a wide smile.

“I haven’t done anything yet, I don’t know if I deserve such a gift.”

“There’s no need for modesty.”

Smiling faintly, he gestured for me to open it.

I reluctantly opened the box, and…

“…It’s a key?”

I hadn’t expected anything extraordinary, but this was truly an unexpected gift.

As I looked at him with puzzled eyes, the Crown Prince nodded with a smile.

“Yes, the key to the Veloce Dukedom.”

“What?  The key to where?”

I asked back, startled.

‘Why does the Crown Prince have the key to my house?’

I thought the charity was going to auction it off…

Seeing me tilt my head in confusion, the Crown Prince spoke again.

“I won the bid.”

“You did? Why?”

“I heard that the Saintess donated all her assets to the needy before being taken as a sacrifice. I was deeply moved by your compassion for the struggling citizens, even as you faced an unjust system and death.”

“…You’re too kind.”

I just wanted to get back at that trash.

“But the Catalon Dukedom is a great part of this Empire’s history. I couldn’t stand by and watch it fall into the hands of someone I don’t even know.”

“…”

“So I won the bid to take care of it, but now that the owner has returned…”

Taking a sip of his tea gracefully, he met my gaze.

“I can’t do anything about the assets you’ve already donated, but I wanted to return at least this house to you.”

His eyes seemed to say it was the right thing to do.

‘Is this man really of Imperial blood?’

I stared at him blankly.

Although I couldn’t see myself because there was no mirror, I was certain that my gaze towards the Crown Prince had completely changed.

I was feeling a surge of loyalty that I hadn’t even felt towards the Emperor.

Looking up at the Crown Prince with teary eyes, I clasped his hand on the table.

“As the Saintess of Catalon, I will dedicate my life to the revival of this Empire, Your Highness!”

Of course, loyalty and conscience weren’t proportional at all.