Thought It Was 'The End', Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 166
It was around that time that the Saintess appeared.
Harrison and Keith saw Genevieve, who was known as the ‘Saintess candidate’, for the first time from a great distance. It was long before Harrison could get close to the Crown Prince.
She was a dazzling person.
Harrison wondered if this is what it would look like if light were shaped into a human form.
He had seen enough of people’s darker sides to grow tired of them. His father, whether as a loyal knight or a traitor to his lord, was the same person—a single face worn by one man.
Harrison had also seen both faces in Keith.
Keith had changed noticeably after seeing the Saintess candidate.
Although he had said she needed to be killed, his conviction lacked enthusiasm. If Keith had truly wanted her dead, the Saintess candidate would have been killed before she ever became the Saintess.
Even though the young lady from the Bertrand Marquisate had intervened and died in her place, Keith had prepared other plans. He could have tried again. After all, Keith had anticipated Kaitlyn’s failure from the beginning.
Yet, Keith did not kill the Saintess candidate.
Even after she was confirmed to be the true Saintess, Keith chose to spare her, reasoning that her abilities were weak compared to previous Saintesses and thus not much of a threat.
“Is it sympathy?”
“…Perhaps.”
“Or have you fallen for her?”
“Me?”
Keith let out a derisive scoff, as if the idea were utterly ridiculous.
Harrison knew all too well that this was Keith’s habit whenever he was hiding his true feelings.
Still, Harrison didn’t press the matter. He feared Keith might turn the same question back on him.
And so, the years passed.
Harrison successfully became the imperial guard of Crown Prince Edwin.
The suspicious Crown Prince often gave Harrison pointed looks, but over time, Harrison, who was genuinely loyal to him, gradually gained his trust.
The Green Windsor Empire was like an unbreakable stone wall.
Though the Emperor was a useless figurehead, the capable Empress and Crown Prince were powerful, and a Duke, who shared imperial blood, stood as a solid pillar with a mighty force behind him.
On top of that, the Duke had gained the true Saintess, securing his position as the <Protector> with even greater authority.
Long ago, many territories had been their own independent nations, but they were now unified under the Empire’s flag. While a few noble houses still held considerable power, they all maintained good relations with the imperial family.
The Brubewein Kingdom, truthfully, should have long been absorbed into the Empire and become a small province.
But the Brubewein Kingdom took great pride in having survived the harshest lands. They had a fierce independence, insisting that it was better to face extinction than live under someone else’s rule.
Keith had said he’d grown to love the Brubewein Kingdom.
Harrison, though he had only lived there for two years, had come to love it as well, because it was a place Keith loved.
Those were, after all, the happiest years of his life—the time when Keith and Kaitlyn were with him.
“Could you seduce the Saintess, Harrison?”
“…Me?”
“Well, give it a try. If it doesn’t work, so be it.”
“…Keith, I’m not exactly the type of guy women fall for…”
“I know that. But if you can win her heart, it would be a great asset if she ever became a threat. It wouldn’t hurt to try.”
“…”
“Betrayal works best when it comes from someone they love. I thought sparing her was fine before, but there’s always that ‘what if’. I don’t want to miss even the smallest possibility.”
“There’s no way the Saintess would fall for me just because I confessed…”
Keith, with a light tone, pointed out that Harrison had already become the Crown Prince’s sword, so maybe it wasn’t impossible.
“At least make her believe you like her. Just try confessing.”
And so, Harrison confessed—and ended up becoming her husband.
Keith had laughed.
“See? I told you so.”
