episode_0246

After the MacHeart suppression battle, we gathered for another meeting.

However, the composition of the meeting had changed slightly compared to when we first formed the MacHeart suppression team.

Of course, myself, Edan, and Cerista were naturally included, as we were present at the scene of MacHeart’s punishment.

In addition, Seraphine, who had recently learned of my new identity as a saint, joined the meeting. Although I hadn’t officially explained my status as a saint yet, she could sense that she knew I was a saint.

“From the beginning, this meeting was arranged for Seraphine to confirm whether I am a saint or not.”

Of course, there were many other things she wanted to hear from me, but the most important thing was whether I was a saint or not. Besides that, the meeting was also intended to inquire about the details of the MacHeart incident, such as when it was planned and how many people were involved.

I also had many questions for Seraphine, so I had to participate in the meeting. I also felt like I needed to hear what had happened at the banquet while I was absent.

As for additional members, it was natural for Luke to be included. Although I was a bit hesitant about whether to reveal the fact that I am a saint to him, I figured it would be okay with him. If anything came up that shouldn’t be heard, Seraphine would probably send him out.

Fortunately, the star palace was empty, as if wondering what all the commotion was about, so it wasn’t difficult to find a quiet room to use as a meeting room. It didn’t make sense for other noble families to still be lingering in the star palace after such an incident.

After finding the meeting room and taking our seats, just as I was about to speak, two more people entered.

“Everyone is here. I was looking for you in the backyard for a while.”

“I expected you to come soon, Sir Knight.”

“…I’m just saying this in case Lillis misunderstands, but I didn’t come here to slack off.”

“Yes, Agnes.”

…No, it was actually three people.

“Agnes, I deeply apologize for what happened earlier. I thought Piangse was involved in something bad, and as your husband, I thought I should intervene…”

“I told you to go away. Who is this Piangse of yours? Go away… I don’t want to see you, so just go somewhere else.”

“Agnes, I really…”

“Stop holding my hand…!”

It seemed like Sir Knight and Agnes had come back after doing something important (presumably), and the prince who was clinging to Agnes.

Even though I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, a rough picture was painted in my mind. MacHeart had mentioned that Antonio had met Agnes earlier, so Antonio probably interfered with Agnes, who was trying to join us on time, making her uncomfortable.

“Antonio doesn’t seem to be directly involved in this matter, but it’s still better for you to take a seat for now.”

“…Yes, Sister Sera.”

-Drrrr.

“Don’t sit next to me. I don’t want to see your face, so stay away. And don’t sit across from me either. I don’t want to see your face.”

“But, Agnes…”

“Antonio, stop being stubborn and come sit next to me. I have a few things to say to you today, too.”

“…Yes, Sister Sera.”

Reluctantly, Antonio moved to a seat a couple of spaces away from where he originally intended to sit, pushed by the disgusted looks from Agnes and Seraphine.

The round table had eight seats, so there was no shortage of seating, but Luke, as if it were natural, served tea and snacks like a maid. With one seat empty, the seven people, excluding her, began their report on the events of the day.

“Well, where should we start?”

“….”

“Let’s start with the facts that everyone knows, at least to organize the situation.”

Thanks to Seraphine’s leadership, the discussion about what happened a few hours ago was quickly summarized.

I was threatened with a ‘real’ threat to my life due to MacHeart’s dark magic and asked for help from Edan because of it.

Naturally, the situation was not something that Edan and I could handle alone, so I asked for help from trustworthy people, which included Gethmogeshikwat, Serista, and Agnes.

I didn’t distrust Seraphine, but I was cautious about sharing stories related to the royal family.

MacHeart informed Antonio that Agnes would be attending this exchange event, and it was almost derailed by Antonio’s intrusion.

Fortunately, Edan managed to save me from MacHeart, who almost tripped the plan by intervening.

Using Serista’s Mirror of Truth (which I actually wrote) to expose MacHeart’s dark magic and dispose of him immediately.

It was a verbose epic of intertwining stories. In the process, we were able to find out for sure why Agnes was so disgusted with Antonio.

“Let me say this again, I have no words to say about what I did today. But I really thought about Agnes’s future….”

“Shut up. I don’t want to hear it. If your mistake had caused a problem for Lillith, I would have….”

“Agnes, calm down. I’m still alive, aren’t I?”

“….Yes.”

Even now, in a situation where the crime of coercion or insult against a noble like Antonio was about to be established, I was able to calm her down. If I had really made a mistake, I probably wouldn’t have been able to speak so quietly to Antonio.

Agnes, who was still enduring insults from a noble, was visible enough to see.

“By the way, where did Gethmogeshikwat and Agnes go without joining? Surely my magic signal would have reached everyone at the same time.”

“There was still a collaborator of MacHeart. I thought it was important not to miss him, so I searched separately with Agnes.”

“…And it’s not that they didn’t join. I was watching properly until I used the Mirror of Truth. And this hero forcibly took her away, saying he had something to do.”

“MacHeart Prince… No, MacHeart’s collaborator… Could it be the person I know?”

“…It might be a bit risky to say publicly, so I’d like to keep it to a minimum for those who are not involved.”

Seraphine, who roughly understood Gethmogeshikwat’s statement, glanced at Luke, and with just a nod, she quietly filled everyone’s cup with tea before walking out.

“I’ll be waiting outside, 10 meters away.”

A few years ago, she used to be anxious about people talking about her, but after working as Seraphine’s maid for a long time, it seemed that her personality had completely turned into that of a maid.

“Well, Agnes. Do you happen to know who that collaborator is….”

“You too, go out, Antonio.”

“…Sera noona?”

“You’re talking about something that has nothing to do with you, Antonio. Your role is done explaining why you swung your sword at the hero just now. So either go outside and wait with Luke, or go back to the palace.”

“No, Sera noona. It’s Agnes’s matter, so I have the right to know…”

“Serafin told you to leave. Leave.”

“I’m sorry, but could you please vacate the seat, Prince Antonio?”

“…I apologize. It’s a bit confidential to tell the prince.”

“…”

“…Understood. I’ll go out and wait, Agnes.”

“Don’t wait. Just leave.”

Somehow, his lonely exit reminded me of the past Luke. Of course, Antonio was not directly involved in this incident, so it was an unavoidable situation.

And it was better to have as few eyes as possible on what was about to happen. The conversation to be had in this room, and the tasks to be carried out, were secrets that couldn’t be shown to Antonio.

As the door to the conference room closed, Antonio also went outside, leaving only six people in the room. The original MacHeart suppression team with just Serafin added as a new member.

Perhaps thinking that this was enough to continue the story, Serafin was the first to speak again.

“Before hearing the hero’s words, I would like to ask one question to Lady Rilis first, if that’s okay?”

“…Yes, Princess Serafin.”

“In fact, it’s not so much a question as it is just confirming a fact. Lady Rilis probably knows what question I’m going to ask.”

“…”

“A while ago, I saw the power Lady Rilis displayed in the backyard and confirmed it. …Lady Rilis is indeed the saint of this generation, right?”

“…Huh?”

Agnes sitting next to me turned her head towards me with a surprised expression, as if hearing it for the first time, while the others who knew the truth maintained a poker face, keeping silent.

“Serafin? What are you talking about? Wasn’t there only one saint? And that saint was Serista…”

“That’s correct, Princess Serafin.”

“As expected. So it was Lady Rilis who used the Mirror of Truth behind Serista back then.”

“Well, it couldn’t be hidden forever.”

“…”

“Please do not tell anyone else, Princess Serafin. We don’t want the fact that Rilis is a saint to be widely known.”

The hero responded calmly, as if expecting this to happen, Serista rolling her eyes busily realizing that Serafin had caught on to the fact that I was a saint, and Ethan demanding that Serafin protect my secret even in this situation.

Agnes’s conclusion after seeing their reactions was naturally only one.

“…Was I the only one who didn’t know?”

…I didn’t deliberately hide it from Agnes, but yeah.