Chapter 14: Sister Dolls

The vassals arrived just before dinner.

Numerous life forms lingered outside.

Roughly several hundred people surrounded the Ducal estate.

Forces gathered and brought by the vassals.

Foolish things. Only the innocent were about to die.

Twelve vassals passed the main gate and reached the mansion entrance.

Since the Prince had already been captured, they could arrive smoothly.

The vassals entered with an anxious air, as if something was wrong.

I could tell they were waiting for something.

‘Obviously, they planned to join the 3rd Prince and kill me.’

They must have thought joining the Prince could make up for their lack of forces.

The Imperial Knight Order isn’t just for show.

All Expert level. Those just below the Graduate stage.

Such individuals lost to the Ducal Knight Order.

Edwyn was Upper Graduate level, and the other knights were either Peak Expert or on the verge of Graduate.

Naturally, they were no match.

According to the report, it ended with just four knights.

The Prince’s escort consisted of 16 knights, so there was roughly a 4x difference in strength.

Just 4 knights killed 16 Imperial knights.

Even among Experts, there are differences in skill and rank.

‘Gathering all the knights in the Empire wouldn’t be enough.’

Of course, the Imperial family had quite a few Graduates.

At least 7 known.

But the 3rd Prince, who hadn’t even received succession rights, had no need for such high-level personnel. Even the Emperor had abandoned his son.

And the vassals had discussed how to kill me with just those Expert knights.

Without even knowing the strength of the Ducal Knight Order.

I understand.

The only Sword Masters in the Empire were me and my master.

Even combining the Graduates in the Imperial family, there were only 11 in the entire Empire.

Would they even consider the possibility of such knights being in the Duchy?

‘Use your head to survive.’

A lesson my master taught.

I don’t know if this is the right time to use it.

Though I think the vassals are foolish, they came considering their own strength, so shouldn’t I entertain them?

I ordered Butler to receive the 12 vassals and told Edwyn and the knight order to clear out some of the forces milling about outside.

“How many should we clear out?”

One of the knights raised his hand and asked.

Edwyn shot the knight a look, but I stopped him and answered the knight’s question.

“Roughly more than half. Ah, just kill everyone except the ones who look strong.”

“Yes, sir! Understood!”

“Loyalty… I’ll see you later.”

Edwyn bowed his head, promising future consequences for the knight who asked without the master’s permission.
The entire knight order knelt and shouted at the top of their lungs, making my ears hurt.

I waved my hand dismissively, telling them to leave.

Butler had taken the vassals to the drawing-room, so I had to go there too.

It’s annoying, but they hold positions in the Duchy, so I should at least listen to their story.

However, there was something I needed to grab before going.

Creak.

Opening the door and entering, I saw Sia sitting in the rocking chair, looking outside.

She seemed fascinated by the knights loitering outside, watching them like a squirrel, then turned her head towards me upon hearing the door open.

Then she smiled and spoke.

“Lilac! There are tons of knights outside! Why are so many gathered here?”

Approaching closer, I resolved Sia’s question.

“Those are all Majin.”

“Eh…? Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Th-this is terrible… excuse me?”

I picked up Sia, who flinched as if having a seizure at the word ‘Majin’.

Of course, it was a lie.

I just wanted to see Sia’s flustered expression.

Though she was flustered in a different way.

What does it matter?

Ignoring Sia’s bewildered face, I asked what she talked about with Butler.

Sia and Butler had just talked about everyday things, like what they did today and what dinner would be. Sia had made a close friend in just a few days.

I wanted to be the only one talking to Sia, but Sia probably wouldn’t want that.

I would at least make it so she could get along with the people of the Duchy.

“You seem to like the rocking chair?”

“Yes… Was I not supposed to sit in it?”

“No. It just looked a bit big for you. I’ll buy you one that fits your size.”

“No, that one was comfortable too.”

“I said I’ll buy you one.”

“Okay…”

Butler had moved it for her before going to meet the vassals.

She apparently liked how the rocking chair moved back and forth, finding it fun.

‘When the vassals leave, I should buy a rocking chair for Sia.’

Placing cushions on the seat and a blanket or quilt behind it should prevent it from feeling hard.

While thinking about Sia’s rocking chair, Sia, held in my arms, suddenly spoke.

“By the way, where are we going? It’s still too early for dinner…”

“To deal with the complaining vassals. We’re going to the drawing-room.”

“Ah…”

Seeing Sia strangely worried about the vassals, I started walking down the corridor again.

For reference, I also called the former Duke and the human trash.

They too would be involved in managing the Duchy.

The human trash’s wrist had already healed…. Unfortunately.

Holding Sia, I headed to the drawing-room.

Butler opened the door for me and announced to those inside.

“Her Grace the Duchess is entering.”

It was time to deal with these things.

Saintess.

A person who originally exists to destroy the evil of the world.

Loved by all for her benevolent character and kind personality, loved by the gods.

Such a Saintess had lost her smile and stood blankly before the goddess statue.

“This can’t be… Two Saintesses… Someone else possesses divine power besides me…?”

She didn’t know how happy she was when she received the oracle after such a long time.

She thought the Goddess had finally revealed the Hero’s location.

She thought she could finally join the Hero’s party she longed for.

But… why was the content of the oracle so different from what she expected?

[In one week, the Saintess’s new sister shall be born. The Hero will greet the morning light with the second Saintess.]

After that, the Goddess said no more.

As if the first Saintess was unnecessary.

Even with a good character and kind personality, she was ultimately human.

Every human possesses at least some desire.

The Saintess, Diana, had no intention of giving up the position of Saintess.

Divine power is a power only the current Saintess can possess.

A power meant for a pure and innocent person chosen by the Goddess.

To think another Saintess besides Diana would be born.

What kind of divine prank was this…?

“Please tell me it’s not true… Please. One Saintess is enough!!”

[……]

Shouting at the goddess statue in the prayer room was meaningless.

Diana was currently on the verge of losing her mind.

Human desire for power is endless, and the Saintess was no exception.

In the first place, Diana was chosen as Saintess simply because she was lucky enough to be born with divine power and lived kindly, loved more than others.

“I lived kindly… I volunteered more diligently than others. So why…!”

Was she truly kind?

Really?

Yes.
Outwardly, she might have been kind.

She might have helped others, contributing to the world kindly and benevolently.

But really, is that enough to be called a Saintess?

Even Diana herself didn’t know for sure.

Her only driving force was the desire to save the world.

To achieve that, public perception was important, so she merely did volunteer work.

She too was human, a person.

Why would she willingly choose difficult tasks?

It was merely a means to meet the Hero.

Moreover, the Hero had already appeared.

Six months ago.

But where the Hero was, when he would visit the temple.

She couldn’t know.

Because the Hero possessed a unique power.

Waiting day after day like that, and then this oracle came down.

“I need to see with my own eyes…”

Fortunately, the Goddess revealed the location of the newly born Saintess.

If the existing Saintess awakens her divine power, light will shine from all temples.

Depending on the color of the light, the attribute of the divine power differs.

The power to fight demons is fundamental, but beyond that, there are direct combat styles or solely healing styles from behind.

Furthermore, the brighter the light, the stronger the divine power.

The strongest divine power is white.

And Diana’s is pale orange.

Divine power could be categorized like that.

Information known only to the Saintess and Archbishops.

If the second Saintess who awakened divine power has an unremarkable color, then I will be the one to join the Hero’s party.

No, the color doesn’t matter.

What kind of person my sister-Saintess is.

None of that matters.

The position of Saintess is mine alone.

“Ugh…”

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah. No. My ear just itches.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

‘My ear has been itching constantly since earlier. Is someone badmouthing me?’

‘I want to scratch it, but I don’t have the strength, and doing that in front of many people is a bit…’

Enduring the itch, I listened to the conversation between Lilac and the vassals.

“So. You’re telling me to step down from my position, is that it?”

“No, that’s not what we meant…”

The wrinkled old man opposite Lilac sweated profusely, trying to persuade her.

“Aren’t you saying I’m unfit for the Duchess’s position? Saying I’m too young to handle the duties. Isn’t that the same thing?”

“……”

The vassals came intending to shout Lilac down, but instead, two-thirds of their forces outside were killed.

Moreover, the remaining forces were absorbed into the Duchy.

The vassals were walking straight into hell.

“Former Duke. What do you think?”

“……”

Lilac asked, looking at the former Duke beside her.

But he too only sweated, having no idea how to handle this situation.

“Human trash?”

“……”

Huster also remained silent.

He had already witnessed Lilac’s martial prowess and strength in the Duchy.

Who here would dare raise an objection?

Damadit looked back and forth between the former Duke and Huster with pleading eyes, then finally squeezed his eyes shut.

Wiping his sweat, he continued.

“We will handle all duties and schedules…”

In the end, the elders raised the white flag.

Their attempt to drag Lilac down had failed.

Their expressions showed they never wanted to challenge her again.

I felt pity rise and looked sympathetically at the vassals.

And, of course, at the former Duke and Huster beside them.

They were now condemned to work 24/7 in the Duchy.

‘Tsk tsk. Should have done well from the start.’

Sia, who actually didn’t know what was going on.

‘Anyway, why does my chest feel so tight?’

I looked down at my chest with a troubled expression, but nothing seemed wrong. Just a slightly stuffy and hot feeling.

Only Lilac noticed the abnormality.