Chapter 17: The Saintess’s Disappearance (2)

Something was wrong.

Among the comrades running out of the burning forest, Charles wasn’t there.

“What happened? Where’s Charles?!”

“Ask your husband!”

It was the first time I’d ever seen Sierra this angry. Even Karl’s eyes were full of murderous intent.

 so this day has finally come.

I slowly approached Alec, who trudged out from behind. His face was gaunt, flushed red as if someone had punched him.

His eyes, once always burning with hope, were now dull and lifeless in the rain.

“Alec…?”

“Eris…”

Alec hugged me, crying. His shoulders trembled nonstop with how overwhelmed he was.

 Alec… You’ve finally reached your limit. It wasn’t easy, but I have to admit, it’s impressive you made it this far.

“You…! Why didn’t you follow the plan?! Are you out of your mind?!”

“…Where’s Charles?”

Captain Sersia of the Royal Guard had come running through the rain from the plains. Sierra and Karl couldn’t say a

word.

Alec couldn’t either. The only sound was the rain falling on the plain.

None of the Hero Party could bring themselves to speak.

And after that long silence and the falling rain stopped—when Alec finally opened his mouth—Sersia already knew.

She knew something had happened to Charlotte.

“Charlotte was… attacked by a wolf… and fell down a slope. When we searched, her body wasn’t there…”

Alec pulled out a mace, stained with blood, from his belt.

“All we found… was the weapon Charlotte carried…”

Sersia lunged forward and grabbed Alec by the neck. Her face said she was ready to kill him.

She lifted him with one hand and glared at him like she was going to commit murder.

Sierra and Karl didn’t even try to stop her. They looked like they were past their limit—completely done with Alec.

Stop it…!”

“Eris…”

If I hadn’t stopped her, Alec probably would’ve been strangled to death.

Sersia’s killing intent faded, and she threw Alec to the ground.

Now covered in wet mud and blood, Alec looked far from the hero he was supposed to be.

“I will report this to His Majesty myself.”

“Duke Claudian. Are you… really a hero?”

Sersia said just that, then turned away and walked back to her tent.

Even Sierra and Karl didn’t look at Alec. They simply followed her.

“Alec…”

Alec covered his face and cried. Like a child being scolded by a parent.

Ah… really…

Pathetic, Alec.

You lost the gamble.

Or maybe… not yet?

Alec still had his title as Duke.

It’s shocking that the charm spell I placed on everyone around Alec had finally broken.

This spell, which made people like him no matter what, had its limits after all.

It was developed after analyzing the brainwashing magic used by demon succubi.

No matter what the target did, people under the spell would say, “That’s just how they are~” and laugh it off.

They’d even risk their lives in battle for him. Convenient, right?

We wouldn’t have defeated the Demon King without it.

Alec always ran in without thinking.

His comrades followed him, risking their lives.

The perfect Hero Party, on the surface.

Charles wasn’t affected by the magic because of her holy power, so I had to mediate between the two.

It wasn’t easy.

Over three years, I hoped Charles would change and become the pure Charlotte again…

But now that she’s dead, all my efforts were worthless.

my plan…

Soon, the title of Duchess of the Regulus Empire, friend of the Saint from the Aria Church, and Master of the Magic Tower

I was close to being someone with influence across all three major nations.

Alec… you’re truly irredeemable trash.

Even after all the help I gave you—how did you manage to break the spell?

In a different way, it’s kind of amazing, Alec.

The gamble of defeating the Demon King was a success…

But cleaning up after Alec is exhausting.

Now that the game’s over, I better run.

It’s unfortunate, but I’m not about to live as the abandoned wife of a disgraced Duke.

“Let’s go, Alec…”

I grabbed Alec’s sobbing hand and led him back to the tent.

Really… how pathetic.

We were arrested for deserting the mission zone and sent back to the Empire’s capital.

The carriage ride to the capital was pure hell.

Karl and Sierra looked like they were ready to kill Alec.

Is this the backlash from the charm spell? Is everything that had built up finally exploding?

I’ll need to study this—maybe test it later.

“Hey… Alec.”

You ignoring me now?”

Karl glared at Alec and spoke, but Alec only stared at the floor, unresponsive.

It’s easier if he breaks down, but it’s still too early for that…

“Stop it, Karl… Alec’s having a hard time too…”

“Hah! Is that you defending your husband?! Are you really Charlotte’s friend?!”

“Yeah, Eris. This isn’t the time to side with your husband. Charlotte’s dead because Alec ignored the plan.”

“But… we’re not even sure she’s really dead yet…”

Karl slammed his cuffed fist into the carriage door.

It shattered, and the door flew off into the road.

“Eris..!”

Ah, that wasn’t it?

Without the charm spell, it’s hard to find the right emotional distance…

Is this whole thing already ruined?

“I’m sorry… I wasn’t thinking clearly…”

“No… forget it…”

“I believe Charles is still alive…”

How was that? My tear-acting improved a lot over the past three years.

Crying was the fastest way to get a reaction from Charles when mediating between her and Alec.

Still, I truly hoped she was alive.

I had to maintain my position as the Saint’s friend if I wanted a shot at studying the holy power the Holy Nation keeps

hidden.

“We’ve arrived at the Imperial Palace.”

The palace came into view in the distance.

Now… how do I protect Alec’s Duke title?

Would they really strip his title just for deserting a mission once?

After getting out of the carriage, Royal Guard soldiers came to escort us.

Among them—Captain Sersia.

Honestly, she’s the one I’m most worried about.

She was Charlotte’s friend and must hold deep hatred toward Alec.

“Welcome, Hero Party.”

Karl and Sierra couldn’t meet Sersia’s eyes.

Probably out of guilt, thinking Charlotte died because of them.

“His Majesty has ordered you to appear before him immediately.”

Sersia grabbed the ropes tying us and dragged us to the audience chamber.

Wait—tying up a Duke and Duchess?! Isn’t that too much?!

We entered the audience chamber and knelt before the Emperor.

The Emperor sighed and remained silent for a while…

Then finally, he spoke.

“Raise your heads.”

When we looked up, the Emperor’s face was furious.

Damn… maybe Alec really will lose his title…

“Duke Claudian.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Why did you leave the mission zone?”

“…Because the demons were desecrating our soldiers’ corpses… As a hero… I couldn’t forgive that…”

The Emperor scoffed.

Honestly, it was such a childish excuse, I almost laughed too.

But I kept my expression serious.

“Because of that action, we lost the Saint.”

“For some reason, the Holy Nation has remained silent… but I’m sure they’ll speak soon.”

Why have they stayed quiet?

Shouldn’t they be in an uproar over the Saint’s disappearance?

Unless… they’re just slow to respond?

“Double the search teams in the granary region. Find the Saint, no matter what.”

I’ll help too!”

Alec blurted out without thinking, and the Emperor’s eyes turned sharp.

No sense of timing, as always.

“You will return to your territory and reflect on your actions with your wife.”

“Your Majesty!”

“I don’t repeat myself. Speak again and you’ll lose the rest of your title.”

Blood dripped from Alec’s clenched fist.

He should’ve just stayed quiet.

“Karl and Sierra, you’ll both join the search team.

This incident is confirmed to have been caused solely by Duke Claudian’s actions.

This is the punishment I give you.”

“We obey, Your Majesty.”

Ah… the game’s over.

The Emperor clearly has it out for us.

Maybe I should just head back to the Magic Tower…?

After the audience, I got in the carriage back to the duchy without even saying goodbye to Karl and Sierra.

Alec’s fist stayed clenched, blood still dripping.

“Alec… It’s okay… I’m here with you…”

“…Eris, I…”

“I know… let’s not talk about it. I understand everything…”

“…Eris!”

Yeah, shut up.

I’ve heard your “Hero logic” nonstop for three years.

I’m sick of it.

I don’t understand a damn thing.

…Time to make a new plan.

“Are you sure about this, Sersia?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. The Holy Nation… won’t strongly condemn the Empire for what happened with the Saint.”

“…Hah. I thought I’d left feelings like this behind when I took the throne…”

The Emperor rubbed his face, disgusted by what he’d just heard.

“…I’ve done something terrible to the Saint.”

“If what you say is true…”

The Emperor stepped down from the dais and gently patted Sersia’s shoulder.

With sympathy. With encouragement.

“I will grant your wish.”

Sersia knelt and raised her sword to swear the knight’s oath.

“Loyalty to the Regulus Empire.”