Hey, Older Brother~ (4)
A few days had passed since Pram arrived at the Holy Nation.
Pram's heart pounded with excitent at becoming the Holy Nation's Saint.
Like any other country, the Holy Nation also had a leader equivalent to an Emperor.
In the Holy Nation, this leader was called the Pope, and the Pope's bloodline was referred to as the royal family.
It was no different here, either.
The Saint's treatnt was on par with that of the royal family.
As the chosen Saint, the hospitality Pram received was undoubtedly the best.
Thanks to this, Pram found most of her days completely satisfying.
Everything was convenient, from the pleasing al plans to lifestyle guidelines.
With sparkling clothes and plenty of jewelry, there was nothing lacking in satisfying Pram's desires.
There were even many nuns being educated together with her, so Pram was able to build social relationships that had always been difficult in the past.
'I'm so happy.'
Was this perhaps a dream?
What if she woke up to find herself back in the 7th Legion's barracks?
'Heeheeheehee... It can't possibly be a dream.'
In conclusion, Pram was thoroughly satisfied with her current life.
That's right.
Everything was good.
Except for one thing.
"Saint, please pay attention."
"Huh?"
"What was Article 21 of our Holy Nation's regulations?"
Having been lost in a daydream, Pram had completely forgotten.
She wasn't even aware that it was etiquette class right now.
"Um... Those who touch Demonic Energy are punished for generations! Is that correct?"
"That's Article 20! You'll need to write an additional essay."
"So what about break ti?"
"Naturally, it's reduced."
In short, even if she had to copy lines, she needed to morize it again.
As a result, Pram's precious break ti was pitifully cut short.
"I want to rest."
"It's still first period."
"......"
At the additional despairing news, shadows deepened around Pram's eyes.
The most hellish monts in her otherwise perfect Saintly life.
The only thing comparable to her days at Paruzan Fortress with the 7th Legion.
That was class ti.
'It's boring. I feel like I'm going to die of sleepiness.'
Of course, Pram had not been completely unprepared.
Didn't people say that those of high status underwent intensive education from a young age?
It was only natural for a Saint, of even higher status, to undergo the sa.
'I thought, compared to life in the 7th Legion, this would be nothing...'
After her hellish experience in the 7th Legion, Pram had beco prideful.
Having already gone through hell, what could be as bad as that?
But through the Holy Nation's education, Pram realized sothing.
Hell and hard work were entirely different things.
"Finally, it's break ti!"
When the long-awaited break finally ca, Pram dropped her head onto her desk.
Other young priestesses who were in training with her imdiately began chatting and laughing as soon as break started.
They seed clearly more accustod to classes than Pram.
"Saint Pram, have you finished your copy work?"
Just then, as Pram lay face down on her desk, a student approached and asked.
Ah, right.
If she didn't finish her copy work, she'd finish later than everyone else.
"Haaah..."
Facing this dismal reality, Pram couldn't help but sigh.
The student, perhaps feeling sorry for Pram, placed sothing on the desk.
"Please have so of this while you work. It's the best for relieving fatigue."
The potion, looking much like holy water, was literally a fatigue recovery tonic.
Seeing it, Pram gave the student a bright smile.
"Ehehe... Thank you."
"You're very welco. Thanks to you coming to the Holy Nation, we're all a lot more comfortable."
As the student smiled and spoke, Pram gratefully accepted the fatigue recovery tonic.
"What's your na?"
"I'm Lima. I'm from the Kilvus Imperial Court, just like you, saint."
"Oh, really?"
"I think several students here are from the sa country."
In the sa classroom, other people from her holand!
Realizing she had t a friend from ho, Pram was deeply moved.
"Saint, what did you do before becoming the Saint?"
"?"
Pram hesitated at that question.
Her affiliation with the 7th Legion was classified information even within the Holy Nation.
So she decided to add a few lies to make her explanation reasonable.
"You worked as a military mage?"
"Sothing like that."
"I heard you were witnessed at the Imperial academy during the incident."
"That was because such a major event occurred, so I participated as a part of the Imperial army."
The academy incident was widely known, even in the Holy Nation.
The reputation of the Imperial Court's unofficial squad, which had resolved the incident, also soared.
Since they had defeated a Great Devil, it was only natural for the Holy Nation to covet them.
"Then you were one of the heroes who defeated the Great Devil. That's amazing!"
"No, it wasn't really
who did it, directly..."
Of course, it was Louis who defeated the Great Devil, not Pram.
But, being weak to praise, Pram simply smiled awkwardly.
"As expected, being born the Saint is sothing that's fated. In my case, my family went bankrupt when I was young..."
"Were you a noble?"
"Yes."
Lima's original status was the lady of a rchant guild attached to the Kilvus Imperial Court.
She had received lessons befitting a lady and had once participated in education led by the Imperial Court.
Up until then, she had thought only a life of sunshine lay ahead.
That was, until she t the Crown Prince.
"Because I displayed outstanding magical talent before the Crown Prince, my father's rchant guild was ruined."
As expected, the Crown Prince really was hopeless, even back then.
Pram clicked her tongue, thinking so.
"But my family once received a great favor from the elves. Thanks to that, we managed to escape to an elf village located in the Holy Nation."
"Elf village?"
"Yes. If you've benefitted from the elves, they accept people like us—those who were unjustly ruined—into their community."
She thought that was the sa village that young master Louis would soon be visiting.
Or perhaps, by now, he had already arrived and was doing sothing there.
"But then, why didn't you stay in the village?"
"Well... Because of the village fund..."
"Village fund?"
In the elf village, there was a concept of a Village Developnt Fund.
For immigrants, the condition was that they pay 50 gold each month. When Pram heard this, she was appalled.
"Hey, Lima. Sorry, but isn't that more of a bandit den than a village? Who in their right mind—!"
Even Pram, who had been a lifelong commoner, knew the value of 50 gold.
The abnormal village system almost made her curse aloud.
"Of course, it's not money you can pay easily. I ca here to solve that problem."
"You ca here because of that fee?"
Was there so system here where, if educated, the fees would be paid for you?
Even the Imperial Court didn't have such things.
"Occasionally, White Knights from the Holy Order visit the elf village and pick out candidate Saints. They often choose from the immigrants, like ."
"So, besides , do they have other Saint candidates?"
"Now that you are the formal Saint, yes, but before it was always composed only of unofficial candidates. The people taking class with you now are all forr candidates."
Pram had heard, before her appointnt, that there had been other Saints.
But in truth, they had all just been candidates.
Everyone except for her.
"For so reason, I feel sorry. Like I stole your spot."
"Not at all! Even if we didn't beco the official Saint, we're still able to study, so you don't have to worry about us."
Apparently, even after selecting an official, candidates could still remain.
The Holy Nation's kindness stood out in how they didn't simply discard the candidates.
"Still, aren't you jealous?"
Of course, it would be only natural to feel jealous.
After all, the very position they all wanted was suddenly snatched away.
With forty candidates, it was impossible that not a single one would feel that way.
"Why would I be jealous?"
But Lima showed none of that reaction.
"If anything, I'm grateful."
That was true for all forty candidates.
Maybe it could happen if all of them had a good personality, but Pram didn't think so.
From her 7th Legion days, she had learned well that trash always appeared in a crowd.
"But, saint, you'll need to be careful soon."
"Careful about what?"
"Tomorrow, the Holy Nation's Hero is coming to visit you in person."
The Hero endorsed by the Holy Nation.
Like the process for choosing a Saint, there were said to be many candidates for Hero as well.
It was common knowledge that the man selected as the official Hero wished to et Pram in person at the palace.
"Why would I need to be careful, when such a wonderful person is coming to see ?"
From what she heard, he was extrely handso and the strongest in the Holy Nation.
What harm could such a man possibly do to her?
"First, I think you need to understand how the White Knights of the Holy Nation think."
Even after class, Pram had to listen to Lima's explanation.
Perhaps because it was important, Lima helped Pram with her lines while explaining.
****
The next morning, Pram stretched and got up early.
Once again, a satisfying breakfast and the etiquette of maids greeted her.
It reinforced her belief that this was a good place, and Pram smiled.
At least, until classes started.
"Everyone, attention. I have an announcent for you."
The nun in charge of education pointed to two empty seats before class began.
"Sisters Lumia and Ashile will be leaving us as of today."
The number of candidates dropped from forty to thirty-eight.
This sudden news left the candidates confused.
"I know this cos suddenly, but it was decided long ago. A certain family has appointed the two sisters as direct priests."
Pram tilted her head at sothing so unheard of.
Ordinarily, wouldn't news like that be shared beforehand?
Or maybe this was just the Holy Nation's way.
'Lumia, Ashile...'
Among the many candidates, those two were the ones Pram most rembered.
With purple and blue hair, they had been the most outstanding candidates before Pram's arrival.
If that performance was reflected in reality, maybe it wasn't strange for them to be scouted.
But was it necessary for them to disappear so silently, without anyone knowing?
Maybe because of that puzzlent, Pram didn't doze off during class.
Staying awake in class was good, but in exchange, she felt uneasy.
"Saint Pram, please follow ."
After class, the supervising nun led Pram sowhere.
The place seed to be a parlor, and inside, a young man in shining armor was seated.
"Are you the Saint of prophecy, as the rumors say?"
The young man had not only a handso face but also a pleasant voice.
Pram, feeling her heart pound at his face, lost herself as she answered, "Yes."
"It's a pleasure to et you. I am Bellain, the Hero of this Holy Nation."
As he introduced himself and knelt on one knee, Pram's heart raced.
"It's nice to et you as well. My na is Pram."
"Hahaha. You have such fair hands."
As Pram held out her hand, Bellain removed his glove and took her hand.
With a face as if sculpted by the gods, smiling at her while holding her hand, Pram's mind was filled with pink.
"And the holy power I can feel from your hand... Truly worthy of the Saint of prophecy!"
"Th-thank you."
"If it's not rude... May I offer you a gift?"
"Of course!"
Enchanted by his looks, Pram couldn't control herself any longer.
If he told her to die for him, she felt she could do so right then.
Of course, he did not make such a request.
"This is a ring I crafted myself."
While kneeling, Bellain placed sothing on Pram's finger.
"I hope you'll be pleased."
A ring set with two gems—one purple, one blue—was now on Pram's hand.
"For our future together."
Realizing he was proposing to her, Pram's mind went completely blank.
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