Chapter 27

Several days passed without Solene receiving Saintess recognition from the prince.

“Solene, a message has arrived from the church.”

Dad spoke during the meal.
His serious expression and solemn atmosphere made it clear that the message would not be good news.
Mom also seemed to already know what Dad was about to say to Solene.

“Y-yes… Dad.”

Sensing the ominous mood, Solene’s voice trembled.

“You were receiving the teachings of the Saintess at the church, but starting tomorrow, it will no longer be necessary.”

“What… what does that mean…”

“You don’t understand?”

“…I’m… not the Saintess…”

“That’s right. You are not the Saintess.”

“That’s impossible… Isn’t there some kind of mistake?”

“Mistake? How many of the wishes you prayed for have been fulfilled?”

“Um… the number of magical beasts in the Lauren region has decreased.”

“And besides that?”

“I resolved the missing persons case in the Miraldi region… and when I visited the Queen, she recovered.”

“The Queen recovered… What did you bring as a gift?”

“Well… flowers. I chose them myself.”

“You chose them, but who grew them?”

At Dad’s words, Solene looked at me.

“It doesn’t matter who grew the flowers… What matters is that I visited the Queen.”

“Then, what else have you prayed for and seen results?”

“…Nothing else…”

“Nothing, right?”

“Maybe the reports just haven’t arrived yet?”

“Every month, various territories send petitions. New ones and repeated ones alike.”

“That’s not my responsibility…”

“The new petitions have nothing to do with you. But the ones repeating their requests are connected to you. If your prayers aren’t granting results, then you are not a Saintess. To knowingly pretend to be a Saintess is a sin.”

“I… they… the church said I might be a Saintess…”

“They said ‘might be a Saintess’. No one ever declared you are the Saintess. Yet, when asked at tea parties, you didn’t deny it, did you?”

“I didn’t deny it, but I didn’t affirm it either. I was summoned as a Saintess candidate!”

“Heh, that’s right. You were summoned as a Saintess candidate, and through the teachings at the church, it was concluded you are not the Saintess. That’s the truth. If you want to prove you are the Saintess, then pray for the tree planted by the first Saintess in the royal palace not to wither.”

I was shocked to see our parents, who had doted on Solene so much, being this harsh.
Back when it was announced that Solene was the Saintess instead of me, they were overjoyed…
Dad left the table without another word, and Mom continued eating in silence.
Solene stared at her meal, while I glanced around at my family.

“Dear God, please… please let the Saintess’s tree grow lush again…”

Solene kept praying the same words over and over.
During that time, she no longer lashed out at the servants and remained calm.
But they could not afford to relax.

“Please, let Solene-sama be the Saintess…”

The servants, too, desperately prayed for Solene to be the Saintess.
Because if the official notice came from the royal palace that Solene was not the Saintess, they feared the aftermath of her current calmness would be terrifying.

“Solene, a letter has arrived from the royal palace. I have already checked its contents; now, you must see for yourself.”

A letter addressed to Solene from the royal palace had arrived, and Dad had read it first.
Mom and I were made to sit in as well.

“Solene Barurie, daughter of the Duke. The tree in the royal palace, said to have been planted by the Saintess, has shown further signs of withering. There is no observable power as a Saintess in you. The royal palace will not recognize Solene Barurie as a Saintess.”

The prayers of the servants were cruelly denied.

“Solene, that is the royal palace’s verdict on you.”

“Hic… hic…”

Solene cried at the merciless reality.
Yet even I found it hard to believe.
Solene was supposed to be the Saintess…

“I wonder when Solene’s powers will awaken? Well, it’s none of my business.”