Chapter 35

“······Who’s there?”

The voice of Estelle, small but firm, reached my ears.

At that moment, only one thought crossed my mind.

‘······I’m screwed.’

The thought that I had completely twisted the original story.

This single thought filled my mind entirely.

It’s not like I wanted to get caught by the Saint.

In fact, I had been holding my breath, trying not to get caught while searching for Rebecca, quietly wandering through the garden.

*Crack—*

Unfortunately, I stepped on a stray branch lying in the garden.

There was no way Estelle, who had been lost in thought, wouldn’t hear that sound.

“Who’s there?”

“······.”

After fully realizing that I had been caught, the next thing I did was seriously ponder.

‘······Should I run?’

I wondered if it would be better to pretend I didn’t hear anything and quietly slip away now.

From Estelle’s perspective, someone who suddenly runs away after being caught here would look like a lunatic.

But wouldn’t that still be better than completely derailing the original story?

Despite these thoughts.

“······Hello.”

What I chose to do was reveal myself as if nothing had happened.

The reason for this action was simple.

Even if I ran away now, I still hadn’t found Rebecca, who should have been heading to the garden.

If I couldn’t find the Princess and return, the original flow of the story would still be ruined.

So, I revealed myself. Even if I wasn’t exactly confident.

“You are…?”

Surprisingly, Estelle seemed to already know who I was.

“······Do you know me?”

I was certain I hadn’t done anything related to the Church.

How could the Saint, Estelle, know someone like me, a mere son of a Count family…

“Yes. I was deeply impressed by your waltz earlier!”

“······Ah.”

My face burned.

What on earth was I thinking, performing like that in the past?

Even if I had been provoked by Rebecca’s annoying taunts.

I couldn’t help but resent my past self from just a few hours ago.

“Should I say it was romantic…? The way you caught your fiancée when she was about to fall is still etched in my memory.”

Unaware of my embarrassment, Estelle continued to share her impressions.

Listening to the Saint’s sincere and pure thoughts.

“······Is that so?”

I really wanted to hide in a mouse hole.

I wondered if this was how a sinner felt confessing to a priest.

I felt extremely awkward.

“Really. I thought I was watching a heart-fluttering play.”

“···.”

If she had heard the conversation between me and Rebecca at that time, she would never have said such a thing.

I considered telling Estelle, who was smiling brightly, about the childishness between me and the Princess that would make even 5-year-olds cry.

But to protect the Saint’s innocent heart, I decided not to bring it up.

After all, ignorance is bliss.

Unaware of my thoughts, Estelle continued.

“······I was envious.”

Her voice noticeably darkened.

“······Excuse me?”

“The way you two didn’t seem to care about others’ gazes.”

As she spoke, Estelle’s expression darkened, as if she truly envied us.

“I also wish I could act without worrying about others’ opinions sometimes… but it’s not easy.”

“···.”

The Saint, who was always merciful and smiling brightly.

That was the character Estelle in [The Crown Prince Wields a Sword].

Having grown up in the Church without the support of parents and, after awakening her Sacred Power, being groomed as the next Saint, learning only about grace and etiquette.

It was only natural that Estelle would envy me and Rebecca.

She had never experienced not caring about others’ opinions.

“······I’m sorry, I’ve been rambling for too long, haven’t I?”

“···.”

“I’ve been talking too much nonsense in front of someone I just met.”

Estelle forced a smile, but I couldn’t help but sense sadness in her eyes.

No, it wasn’t just my imagination. In the original story, Estelle’s low self-esteem was often mentioned.

And it was Mikhail, the protagonist, who resolved and saved Estelle’s abnormally low self-esteem.

– Estelle. You have meaning just by being yourself.

I still remembered the scene where Mikhail charmed Estelle with that cringy line.

It was one of the most memorable parts of the story, and it gave many readers goosebumps.

Though I had no idea where Mikhail was or what he was doing now.

‘······Why isn’t he coming?’

Thinking about it, it was strange.

By now, Mikhail should have appeared according to the original story.

But there was no sign of Mikhail, or anyone else for that matter, except for me and Estelle.

Mikhail should have been here to protect the Saint from assassins targeting her life.

I could step in if necessary, but compared to Mikhail or Rebecca, my skills were lacking.

There was no way I could stop the assassins alone.

“······Hello?”

“······Yes?”

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

I must have been too lost in thought.

I didn’t even notice Estelle approaching me.

“Thank you for listening to my ramblings today. I feel a bit better now.”

Estelle’s expression was brighter than before.

Perhaps this was what the Saint needed.

Someone who would listen to her story without considering her status or background.

Someone she could irresponsibly confide in.

That’s what she, who held the important position of ‘Saint,’ needed.

Was that why?

“······No.”

“Huh?”

“I didn’t think of it as rambling.”

I, who had been trying to just listen to the Saint, responded to her thanks.

“Everyone has their own hardships.”

“···.”

“Everyone thinks they are the most troubled, the most unfortunate in the world.”

“···.”

“What matters is whether you give up because you think it’s hard, or endure and solve it. That’s all.”

“······Pfft.”

*Pfft—*

Estelle burst into laughter after hearing my words.

A mischievous laugh, completely contrasting with the calm Saint who had been speaking earlier.

That must be Estelle’s true personality.

She had just been hiding it all this time because of her position and duties.

Because that’s what a ‘Saint’ is supposed to do.

“······This is the first time I’ve heard something like this.”

“···.”

It was a natural reaction.

Who in their right mind would give such advice to a Saint?

The only reason I could say those things was because Estelle thought I didn’t know her true identity.

If Estelle knew that I knew who she was, there’s no way I could have said that.

Unless I wanted to be arrested by the Church for blasphemy.

“Thank you.”

“······Huh?”

“I feel a bit more courageous now. At least I’m enduring and solving things, right?”

Honestly, I hadn’t thought deeply about what I said.

But I was glad she took it that way.

If my clumsy words could give strength to the original characters, there was nothing bad about it.

Even though I didn’t particularly like Mikhail for framing Rebecca’s family for treason.

Separately, I wished for Mikhail and the heroines to live happily.

After all, I was one of the readers who thoroughly enjoyed [The Crown Prince Wields a Sword].

Perhaps sensing my expression of wanting everyone to be happy, Estelle smiled and said.

“Since this is fate, may I ask your name?”

“······My name isn’t that special.”

“Who knows? Maybe I can be of great help to you later.”

Of course, that was true.

It was the help of the ‘Saint.’ It would be more surprising if it wasn’t helpful.

Perhaps I could even receive the Saint’s help when the Valentia family is framed for treason.

“···.”

But I hesitated to give my name.

Because if I revealed my name here, I would truly stray far from the original story.

Just having a conversation with the Saint was enough to twist the original plot, and revealing my name would make it irreversible.

And then.

“Estelle.”

“······What did you say?”

“My name. It’s Estelle.”

That was when the Saint carelessly revealed her name.

I was speechless.

‘······Is it really okay to reveal your name so easily?’

Even if Estelle is a common name, it’s not something the ‘Saint’ should be telling just anyone.

I wondered how deeply impressed she was by my not-so-advice advice.

“And you?”

“···.”

“You’re not thinking of not telling me after I’ve told you mine, are you?”

Unable to resist the Saint’s subtle threat of having revealed her name first.

“······Albert.”

I had no choice but to give my name.

The only saving grace was that I didn’t reveal my family name.

While Albert isn’t as common as Estelle, it’s not a unique name either.

It was my timid rebellion.

“Albert… That’s a pretty name.”

Fortunately, the Saint didn’t ask for my family name.

“······Thank you.”

I could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

“I plan to stay here a bit longer. Are you going back first?”

Estelle seemed to want me to stay and keep her company.

“······Yes. My original purpose wasn’t a garden stroll.”

I had already twisted the original story enough. Any more would be too much.

From now on, Mikhail would be the one to keep Estelle company.

“Your original purpose? What was your original purpose?”

“I was looking for my fiancée.”

“Your fiancée… Are you talking about the lady with the striking red twin tails?”

“······How do you know that so well?”

Something felt off.

Even if the Saint had seen me dancing with the Princess at the banquet hall earlier.

It was impossible to describe Rebecca’s appearance in such detail just from briefly seeing us dance.

An inexplicable sense of unease washed over me.

And unfortunately.

“That’s because… she’s standing right there?”

“······What?”

This sense of unease had never been wrong before.

At the end of Estelle’s pointing finger stood Rebecca.

“···.”

And she was wearing a look of utter shock.

In the three years I had known Rebecca, I had seen many of her expressions.

But I could confidently say this was the first time I had seen her make that face.

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