I Once Thought I Had No Place, Being Married Off to An Enemy Nation as A Token of Apology but That Was Only for One Night - Chapter 18

I entrusted Anna to an elderly woman nearby and leaned against the trunk of a tree in the corner of the plaza. I have encountered similar cases many times before. There were even instances where knights were sacrificed right before my eyes to protect me. I should be used to these situations by now. I truly thought I was used to them.

“You look quite pale, young lady. Here, drink some water,” a young woman said, noticing my condition as she handed me a cup.

“Thank you very much,” I replied.

I gulped down the water. It was lukewarm, but it managed to wash away a small portion of the distress inside me.

“It is a terrible disaster, is it not?” she asked.

“Yes, it is. I have seen scenes like this many times, but I still cannot seem to get used to it,” I said.

“Many times? I see. You are a Saintess, are you not?”

“Yes, I am.”

“By any chance, were you accompanying the unit that went to the rescue of the town of Rude?” she asked, leaning in closer.

“No, that is not the case, but,” I started.

I wondered what was happening. There was a sense of desperation flickering deep within her eyes.

“I see. I heard my husband was the rearguard for that unit. I wanted to know if he fulfilled his role honorably. But if you were not there, then it cannot be helped,” she said.

A sharp breath escaped my lips.

“Could it be that you are Anna’s mother?” I asked.

I looked toward a spot a short distance away where Anna was sitting. The child and the woman before me shared remarkably similar features.

“Yes. She is our daughter. I was prepared for a day like this to come eventually. However, she does not understand the situation yet. I do not know what I should say to her,” she said in a mournful voice.

I was the one who did not know what to say.

“I am sorry,” I whispered.

“Oh? You have nothing to do with the unit that went to Rude, do you?”

“That is true, but still,” I replied.

“Then there is no need for you to be troubled by it. Even if you were involved, protecting the Saintess is one of a soldier’s duties. You should not worry and simply fulfill your own role,” she told me.

“Yes, you are right.”

Regret cannot change the past. However, I can work hard to aim for even a slightly better future.

“Thank you for the water,” I said.

“You are very welcome. It seems you have managed to clear your head a bit.”

“Yes. I will do what I can,” I declared.

I want to prevent such tragedies from being repeated. I raised my face with resolve and spotted Frieda, who seemed to be looking for me. I said goodbye to the woman and ran toward Frieda.

“Did you find Ludwig?” I asked.

“Yes. He appears to be reorganizing his units. Let us head there now,” she replied.

In a corner of the castle plaza, Ludwig was shouting orders to his soldiers. Black smoke rose in the distant sky, and the soldiers watched it with grim expressions. While observing the busily moving soldiers, we approached Ludwig.

“Ludwig,” Frieda called out.

“Hmm? Oh, Frieda. I heard you brought reinforcements.”

“I have brought knights and Saintesses. Most importantly, Empress Noel is here as well.”

“Empress Noel, is it?” Ludwig glanced at me and let out a soft breath. “My apologies. Ordinarily, I should give you a grand welcome, but as you can see, this is an emergency.”

His words carried a hint of sarcasm, suggesting he had no time to deal with me. Frieda trembled as she noticed his tone. I reached out a hand to steady her.

“I do not mind. I came here to fulfill my duty as a Saintess,” I said.

“The purification of the Hexagram Sanctuary? I intended to ask the Saintesses Frieda brought to handle that,” Ludwig replied.

He was trying to decline my offer indirectly. However, Frieda spoke up. “Unfortunately, the number of Saintesses I brought is not that large.”

“I suppose not. Empress Noel, is it truly possible for you to purify the Hexagram Sanctuary alone?” Ludwig asked.

“Of course,” I answered with confidence.

However, Ludwig’s reaction was unfavorable.

“Anyone can say they are capable. In fact, the Saintess who came before you was quite talkative as well. But when it came time to step onto the battlefield, she could do nothing, and the knights protecting her suffered casualties as a result.”

A Saintess who came before me?

“Did a Saintess dispatched for the technical exchange visit the Greifner territory?” I asked.

“I have doubts about whether one could even call her a Saintess,” Ludwig spat out.

He clearly had a terrible experience. A distinct hatred flickered deep in his eyes. I realized then that the Saintess my brother had toyed with was from Ludwig’s territory. Because of that connection, the Saintess who came to this country for the exchange had likely visited Greifner.

In other words, the Saintess they dispatched was toyed with by my brother, and the Saintess who came in her place acted as she pleased in their territory, even causing harm to the knights. It was no wonder they were wary of me.

“This time, even if I fail, the guards will not be harmed, will they?” I asked.

“But if it drags on, the damage will increase.”

“That is,” I started.

“Perhaps you are serious. However, if I believe in you and am betrayed, my comrades will be sacrificed. So, if your heart is not in this, please stop,” he said firmly.

I understood then. Ludwig was not looking down on me. He simply cherished his comrades. He was saying he could not use someone he did not trust. I understood that feeling well.

“I saw a little girl in the plaza whose father has not come home yet. I want to reduce those kinds of sad events as much as possible. So, my heart is definitely in this!”

It was an emotional argument. It was not a guarantee of my actual ability. Ludwig looked at me, then at Frieda, and finally back at me once more.

“Once. I will believe in you just once. So, make sure you purify the Hexagram Sanctuary,” he said.

“Yes, leave it to me!” I replied.