Chapter 4: The Prince’s Reluctant Visit.
I received the news right after the enrollment ceremony concluded without incident, as Cyril—my milk-brother—and I were heading toward the student council room.
Ernest, my fiancée’s cousin and a potential future aide of mine, called out to me in the corridor.
“So, she’s finally awake.”
“Yes.”
“Then I suppose I have no choice but to pay her a visit.”
“I’m terribly sorry for the trouble.”
“No need—after all, she’s technically my fiancée. Showing my face should keep any complaints at bay.”
The message was that my fiancée, who had fallen ill and taken to bed about three days ago, had finally regained consciousness.
Louis pictured his betrothed and let his usual bright smile fade, furrowing his brows instead.
Her black hair reached down the center of her back in soft, glossy curls.
Her large, slightly upturned cat-like eyes spoke of a willful temperament.
From her vivid red lips usually spilled bold, confident remarks laced with aggression.
To Crown Prince Louis—who handled everything with effortless grace—his fiancée Rachel was a rare exception: someone he genuinely found tiresome to deal with.
Among the high nobility, she possessed particularly strong mana.
Her academic performance was outstanding, and it was precisely because of her exceptional abilities that she had been chosen as his fiancée.
Yet she carried the typical arrogance of noblewomen.
Her attitude toward any woman who approached Louis was openly hostile—almost as if she were warding off intruders.
Worse still, her disdainful remarks toward those with weaker mana—even including the commoners who supported the kingdom—left Louis utterly exasperated.
Still, as Crown Prince, he had made every effort to keep such feelings from showing on his face.
Louis himself possessed golden hair that shimmered like sunlight, vivid blue eyes, and features so perfectly handsome they could only be described as sweet.
At the same time, he carried the unmistakable dignity of royalty.
His ever-present gentle smile captivated people of all ages and genders alike.
Yes—once upon a time, Rachel had firmly believed that this flawless prince was the only man worthy of her.
Now, with no one around except those he could truly relax with, Louis discarded his usual public smile.
He couldn’t quite hide the weary, fed-up expression that crept onto his face.
He let out a single, heavy sigh.
Then, instead of continuing toward the student council room, he turned on his heel and headed for the entrance.
“Cyril, we’re going to the Marquis de Marcel’s residence. Send someone ahead to announce us.”
“As you wish.”
At those words, Ernest—Rachel’s cousin—also stepped forward.
“I shall accompany you.”
He fell into step behind Louis.
♢
At the very same moment the three of them boarded the carriage bound for the Marquis household—
A girl with fluffy pink hair, unmistakably a new student, stood frozen in front of the student council room doors long after the enrollment ceremony had ended.
“Why isn’t the post-enrollment event triggering?!
It’s a crucial forced event—how is this possible?!”
She stomped her feet in utter despair, wailing at the top of her lungs.
Students passing by the student council room pretended not to notice her dramatic display and hurried past even faster.
No one present at that moment had the slightest inkling that this girl would one day be known as the Saintess.