Around the age of ten, I began traveling between the capital and the territory.
By then, I was allowed to use one of my father's titles, that of a count, so there was no inconvenience in visiting the royal castle.
My mother seemed to dislike the capital and lived in the territory.
Perhaps she could not bear to see in the capital the many things that she would have had if she had become a queen.
I regularly visited my mother to ask if she needed anything, but most of the time, I could not even get a response.
My mother, without even looking at me when I spoke to her, continued to drink tea or gaze at the flowers in the garden, treating me as if I were not there.
Moreover, she was a very saintly saint.
In other words, she was haughty, always prioritizing her own desires, and never backing down.
She believed herself to be superior to everyone and everything and desired to be treated with the utmost respect.
Therefore, she despised the people of this land.
The majority of the people in this land were from the outlying islands.
The people from the outlying islands had distinctive appearances, which could be identified at first glance, but she rejected this difference.
She despised the outlying islanders' brown skin and dark blue hair as unclean and cursed their hands, which had evolved to have webbed fingers due to years of living by the sea.
She had many noble-born maids and servants from the capital, but she constantly compared them to the people of Sutherland, mocking their lack of manners and refinement.
To my mother, who considered those originally from the mainland to be supreme, the presence of outlying islanders with different appearances around her felt like an insult.
On the other hand, fortunately or unfortunately, the saints of this land were unlike typical saints.
Many of the saints in this land were from the outlying islands, and perhaps as a result of their dedication to healing their own people, they were neither arrogant nor selfish.
However, unfortunately, most of them were weak in their saintly powers, and my mother's power was many times stronger.
Therefore, whenever there was a serious injury or illness, the residents would rush to my mother for help, but she never healed them even once.
When a young girl was burned and her father came running to ask for help, my mother interrupted him, saying, "Oh, the same old terrible accent of the outlying islanders! I can't even understand what you're saying," and sent him away.
When a middle-aged man came carrying his bloodied, elderly father who had been attacked by a monster, my mother, without even meeting him, had the butler tell him she was "busy" and continued to drink tea in the garden.
Still, despite being treated so roughly, the residents revered my mother.
While nobles are taught from a young age that saints are absolute beings, the residents had not received such deep teachings.
What made them so devoted to the saint?
This land was originally one with strong faith in the Great Saint, but it was still surprising how the residents accepted my mother's arrogance.
However, the residents' unconditional reverence for my mother would come to an end.
—The cause was a single tree.
In front of the duke's house, there was a vast garden, and in the center stood a 300-year-old giant tree.
The tree was 30 meters tall, and its lush branches stretched out in all directions.
Guests entering from the front would first be captivated by this tree.
In fact, the duke's house was mostly hidden from the gate by this tree.
This giant tree in the duke's garden was planted to commemorate the Great Saint.
It is said that 300 years ago, the Great Saint visited this land, broke off a branch from a young tree, and planted it with the people of this land.
It had grown so large that it became a symbol of the duke's house.
Every year, a festival is held in this land to commemorate the Great Saint's visit.
During the festival, the duke's garden is opened to the public, and the villagers hold events centered around this tree.
They dance in front of the tree and express their gratitude for the year's safety.
My mother had never shown particular interest in this, but one day, she learned that the tree the residents cherished was planted by the Great Saint.
For my mother, the fact that the residents cherished something that was said to be better than herself was unbearable.
My mother immediately had the tree cut down and had tables and chairs made from its trunk for the garden.
She then enjoyed tea using these tables and chairs, which satisfied her.
To my mother, it was just a tree, but to the residents, it was a symbol of the Great Saint.
When the residents learned that the tree had been cut down by my mother, they began to openly avoid her.
When my mother went out, the residents would quickly disappear like scattered spiders, and no one came to her for healing anymore.
However, this seemed to displease my mother.
Her theory was that the existence of a powerful saint should be revered, and everyone should kneel and worship her.
Dissatisfied, my mother became even more harsh towards the residents.
The residents, simply because they were from the outlying islands, were insulted and belittled.
By then, the rift between my mother and the residents had become definitive.
—And then, the accident.
That day, my mother had come to the cape in search of rare herbs.
On the steep cliff overlooking the sea, my mother was giving orders to the residents.
"That's not the herb! You need to go down further. The herb is at your feet, pick it."
Standing at the edge of the cliff, she directed the resident who was clinging to the rock face to pick the herb. One of the residents reached out to her.
"Madam, it's dangerous to lean out like that. Please step back..."
However, the resident could not finish his sentence.
My mother had slapped his hand away.
"Do not touch me, you lowly person! Oh, how unclean! Understand this, there is a vast difference in status between you and me! You must not speak to me! To touch me is absolutely forbidden! No matter the reason, no matter the situation, it is unacceptable for someone like you to touch me! If you repeat this, I will cut off your hand and punish your parents, siblings, and even your children and grandchildren! Now, step away from me!"
Immediately after, a strong wind blew, and she lost her footing and fell off the cliff.
Wearing a splendid dress, my mother did not float to the surface, possibly due to the weight of the dress.
The attendants and knights who accompanied her rushed into the sea, but the current was swift, and the sea was murky from the rain the previous day, making it impossible to find her.
My father, who happened to pass by, saw the knights and attendants searching the turbulent sea for his wife and the residents standing on the cliff.
When the knights came out of the sea, they reported to my father, "We lost sight of the duchess in the sea."
My father, unable to control his anger, struck the knight who reported this.
"Did you let the saint, bestowed by heaven, drown?!"
Then, my father looked out at the sea from the cliff.
The sea, though murky in some places, was blue as far as the eye could see, with no sign of a dress or a person.
It was clear to everyone that the duchess's life was hopeless.
My father turned around, drew his sword from his waist, and attacked the residents.
"Why did none of you go into the sea to save the saint? She is the second saint of the kingdom, the foundation of the country! What a grave omission! Repay the saint with the lives of you and your entire family!"
And so, my father ordered the knights to attack the residents.
This led to a two-day conflict between the knights and the residents.
Unfortunately, my father lost his life in this conflict, but his death became the catalyst for the end of the strife.
◇◇◇
"...The twisted form of that couple can only be understood by those who saw it. My father always felt inferior to my mother. He was pained by his inability to properly evaluate the greatest saint in our country."
I concluded my words.
By talking about it, the memories and emotions I had locked away resurfaced, settling like sediment in my heart.
"I wasn't there, so this is based on what I heard, but I believe the cause of that incident lies with my father and mother. However, even if I think that, since the country has made a ruling, I cannot interfere. Even if I feel bad, I cannot apologize. My status and position limit my actions..."
As I inadvertently revealed my inner thoughts, Fia tilted her head.
"You're right. If the captain apologizes, the knights who were ordered by the former duke to attack the residents will also be punished. Currently, the ruling is a mutual punishment, and neither side has been given further penalties, so accepting it as it is will result in the least damage."
"………………"
Fia is sharp. She may seem absent-minded and silly, but she grasps the essence of things when it matters.
As I remained silent, Fia bit her lip with a difficult expression.
"...It's a sad story. Probably, if just one thing had been corrected, the incident wouldn't have happened."
Fia muttered and looked at her outstretched hands.
"I think being a saint is just a profession."
"...A profession? A saint?"
I was genuinely surprised to hear this unexpected statement.
To think that a saint, chosen by the gods and endowed with divine power, could be just a profession...
"Yes. Just as a skilled cook becomes a chef, someone who can use healing magic becomes a saint. Therefore, I believe that the root of all problems lies in the distortion of the saint's position."
"Ah, you have a unique perspective on saints..."
As I said this, I placed the glass I was holding on the table and turned to Fia.
"Fia, the words you said when you were under the influence of alcohol, which you may not remember, were about what a saint should be. 'A saint is not a distant and capricious deity who only occasionally offers salvation. A saint is a shield for the knights.' When I heard those words, I felt as if my heart had been pierced..."
The emotion I felt when I heard Fia's words resurfaced, and for a moment, it felt like a stab in the chest.
I clenched my fist to steady myself and continued.
"The words I am about to say are not fair to you. However... I believe that words change depending on one's position. The words you said that night about the saint, and the words you say now, are words you can say because you are a knight. If you were a saint, you would never say the same thing."
"……………………"
Since the night I heard Fia's shocking statement about the saint after defeating the Flowerhorn Dia, I have repeatedly thought about it.
The meaning of Fia's words. Why she could think and speak in such a way.
...The conclusion I reached after much thought was that 'Fia is not a saint.'
Because she was a knight, she could speak with hope and idealism, saying, "A saint is a shield for the knights." I concluded that this was the only explanation based on the knowledge I had.
"...Yes, I understand. My words are not fair to you. It's not your fault that you are not a saint."
When Fia heard my words, she looked at me straight in the eye.
Then, with a mysterious and indescribable expression, she replied in a clear voice.
"...Yes, that's true. But, Captain Cyril, even if I were a saint, I would say the same thing."
Strangely, Fia's words fell into my heart like a stone.
...Ah, maybe so.
Maybe Fia would say the same thing even if she were a saint.
For some reason, I could honestly think that.
As I thought this, I felt the murky and dirty things that had settled in the depths of my heart gradually purify and diminish.
"...Ha ha, I'm glad you're not a saint. If you were a saint and said those words while possessing divine power, I would have become your devoted follower and knelt before you."
When Fia heard my words, she made a very displeased face, even though it was a hypothetical situation.
"I, I don't want that! I don't need a follower like Captain Cyril. I plan to have a lover and get married in the future, and a follower like Captain Cyril would only be in the way."
"Ha ha, when that time comes, I'll evaluate your saint's lover for you."
"No, no, I refuse! When evaluating someone, everyone uses themselves as the standard! If Captain Cyril is the standard, no one will be left!!"
Seeing Fia desperately plead, I burst out laughing.
...Ah, Fia might really be a saint.
I am always feeling down and dominated by a gloomy mood.
Yet, how about now?
I am laughing out loud.
Fia might be able to save people's hearts.
Isn't that a power equal to that of a saint?
While Fia continued to frown in front of me, I, for the first time in a long while, drank from my glass with a calm mind.
As I looked at Fia, I felt a calm and peaceful mood