Chapter 83

―――I know my sins better than anyone else.

In the long time that has passed, I have repeatedly, over and over, regretted not being by that person's side at that time.

But no matter how much I regret, lament, plead, or pray, nothing will change.

Losing something precious happens in an instant.

And it can never be regained.

That radiant dawn-colored hair, that smile filled with kindness, that gentle voice—everything is lost.

There is no salvation left in my life―――……

◇◇◇

―――I was having a dream.

In a world slightly different from this one, a dream of serving that person again.

……Ah, I can clearly tell that this is a dream. Or perhaps, I have finally died.

That person was smiling joyfully with the same red hair and golden eyes as always.

Tears fell from my eyes when I saw this, even though I don't deserve such a sight.

……Ah, this is the scenery I couldn't protect. A cruel and beautiful scenery that can never be regained.

―――I repeat the same words I have sworn over and over again.

‘If I could serve you again, this time I will protect you from everyone, everything, and the whole world.’

In the dream, that person smiled happily upon hearing my words.

“―――Canopus!”

Called by my name, I opened my eyes in shock.

Sitting up, I realized my nightclothes were drenched in my own sweat.

My heart was beating wildly, as if it had gone mad.

“Are you crying?”

Asked in surprise, I touched my eyes.

My fingertips touched wet eyes, and I was surprised by this.

―――I hadn't cried in years.

“…Maybe I had a dream. I don’t remember it, though…”

I replied to the knight sharing my room and got out of bed.

In fact, I had shed tears, but I couldn’t remember the content of the dream at all.

“Ha, maybe it’s a sign of your night. You’ll probably wet your pillow with tears after being rejected by the Second Princess,” the knight, two years my senior, said with amusement.

I shrugged as I changed into my knight’s uniform and replied calmly.

“It’s not just me. Over a hundred knights will be rejected today.”

“You’re lucky to even have the right to be rejected.”

We exchanged banter and left the room, heading for the dining hall.

Today is the day the Second Princess selects her guard knight.

I was honored to be chosen as one of the hundred candidates.

It was clear to everyone that I would remain a candidate and nothing more.

―――I am a knight of the Nerve Kingdom, and my name is Canopus Blazey.

I come from an island off the southern coast of this continent.

I lived in Sutherland with my clan until I came of age, but I came to the capital at the age of 13 because I desperately wanted to become a knight.

The capital was different from Sutherland, where there were hardly any islanders.

Therefore, my brown skin and webbed hands were met with disgust and discrimination.

At first, I felt angry and responded, but as the discrimination continued, I got used to it.

Responding didn’t change anything, so I developed a habit of silence.

Fortunately, my sword skills and manners were highly regarded, and I was appointed as a knight in the year I came to the capital.

However, as an islander and a commoner, I couldn’t stand out from the “many” other knights.

―――A turning point came in my life when I was 17.

That day, I was gathered with many other knights in the castle’s grand hall.

It was for the Second Princess to select her guard knight.

Over a hundred knights were gathered in the hall, and the princess was to choose one from among them, but it was already decided who would be chosen.

This was to be expected.

The role of a guard knight, who must stand by the princess’s side and protect her with their life in times of crisis, should naturally be given to someone with a solid background.

However, it was frustrating that this role could only be given to the children of high-ranking nobles.

There are those of low status who are highly loyal and skilled.

I hoped that one day, such people would be chosen.

While I was thinking these trivial thoughts, it seemed that the time had come, and a large group of people entered through the main doors. Everyone in the room bowed their heads.

After a while, when we raised our heads, a young and adorable princess stood before us.

The Second Princess, like the First Princess, had deep red hair, which made her seem to possess great power as a holy maiden.

The princess, standing on a raised platform, was expected to announce the name of the knight she wished to choose, but she surprised everyone by jumping down from the platform and approaching us.

Then, she beamed and gave a cute bow.

“Nice to meet you, I’m the Second Princess, Seraphina. Today, I will choose my guard knight.”

The princess walked around us, giggling, and looked very cute.

As I watched her with a warm feeling, she stopped in front of me and looked up in surprise.

“…You’re really strong. What’s your name?”

“Yes, my name is Canopus Blazey.”

Though surprised to be suddenly addressed, I maintained my composure and answered. The princess smiled happily.

“Canopus, will you be my guard knight?”

I was shocked and froze.

The other knights and the high-ranking officials standing at a distance were also frozen in surprise.

However, the officials quickly ran to the princess.

“Your Highness, that’s not right. Your guard knight is not this person. Please, say the name you remember.”

“My father said I could choose whoever I like.”

“Well, that may be true, but the names we provided are just for reference. All previous princesses have chosen from the reference. It would be best to choose from the reference.”

“Besides, this person is from the islands. He doesn’t have the status to be the princess’s knight.”

The officials pleaded desperately, but the princess smiled without concern.

“Thank you for your advice. But I want Canopus. …Canopus, will you be my guard knight?”

The princess repeated the same words and looked at me with sparkling eyes.

Glancing at the officials, I saw them shaking their heads in fear.

But that was unrealistic.

There was no way to refuse the princess’s request.

I knelt on one knee and performed the knight’s salute.

“I, Canopus Blazey, dedicate myself to the Second Princess of Nerve, Seraphina. Please, may glory and blessings be upon my princess.”

I bowed my head and kissed the hem of the princess’s dress.

The princess smiled and looked back.

Then, the deputy commander of the knight’s order, who was the princess’s guardian, approached with a magnificent sword.

“Guarding the royal family is a matter of life and death. Never hesitate to risk your life.”

The deputy commander handed me the sword.

“With this sword, I appoint you as the guard knight of the Second Princess, Seraphina.”

The sword I received was heavy in my hand.

The intensity of the deputy commander’s gaze also showed how much the Second Princess was valued.

―――I had been given a very important mission.

With a sense of responsibility, I was deeply grateful to the princess for giving me this role.

Perhaps because of her youth, she didn’t understand the complexities of the world, but still, she broke the tradition and chose me, a person with no backing, instead of a high-ranking noble’s child.

This was the ideal future I had hoped for, thinking “someday” and “I wish such a world would come.”

The young princess had made it a reality right before my eyes, something I thought was impossible at the time.

…Ah, I serve a princess who has the power to change reality. Thinking this, an indescribable sense of excitement welled up inside me.

‘I will serve the princess with all my heart and soul.’

I made this vow in my heart.

―――And so, unexpectedly, I was appointed as the royal guard knight.

For the next ten years, I served as the guard knight of Princess Seraphina, who grew to be 16 years old.

Princess Seraphina grew up healthily and became a beautiful woman with deep red hair and golden eyes.

At the age of 15, her powerful abilities and contributions were recognized, and she was granted the title of “Great Holy Maiden,” the first in our country’s history.

As a result, Princess Seraphina was forced to handle an even more packed schedule.

Her daily life was tightly managed from morning to evening.

It included daily monster hunts and visits to ten different hospitals in a single day, which seemed overly packed, but Princess Seraphina never complained.

Moreover, Princess Seraphina’s schedule was decided a year in advance.

No matter how important or urgent the matter, it was almost impossible to insert a new task at the last minute.

―――That day, I was talking to a special envoy from Sutherland in my private room.

The content was that the “Yellow Pattern Disease” had finally spread in Sutherland, and they earnestly wished for the Great Holy Maiden to visit.

Yellow Pattern Disease is a disease that everyone gets in childhood, characterized by yellow spots on the hands and feet and a mild fever.

It can sometimes occur in adults, but in such cases, the symptoms are milder than in childhood.

…However, things were different when the islanders were affected.

When islanders contracted the disease, yellow spots spread all over their bodies, followed by a high fever, confusion, and death.

Local doctors speculated that the islanders had evolved differently from mainlanders, making them more susceptible to the disease.

In fact, almost all patients with Yellow Pattern Disease died within a month.

Moreover, the disease spread at an alarming rate, and by the time the envoy left Sutherland, 10% of the population was already infected.

“The deployment of the Great Holy Maiden is decided by a meeting of high-ranking officials. I, and the clan leader, have been making requests repeatedly since the disease started spreading six months ago, but we have not been selected yet. All we can do is continue to make requests and wait to be chosen.”

I repeated the same words I had been saying for the past six months.

“The mainlanders do not see us as equal human beings! In this situation, we will never be chosen! Not even the local holy maidens or the famous holy maidens from other regions could cure the Yellow Pattern Disease that has affected us! Our only hope is the Great Holy Maiden! Or is the country telling us to die out?!”

The envoy shouted in anger.

“…I accompany the Great Holy Maiden every day, and all her tasks are matters of life and death. The high-ranking officials are prioritizing them. We can only wait.”

As a fellow islander, I understood the envoy’s feelings and tried to persuade him.

In reality, Princess Seraphina’s schedule included ceremonies and events for high-ranking nobles, but I understood the political weight of these events and couldn’t answer.

However, I understood that Sutherland was fatally far away.

If Princess Seraphina were to travel to Sutherland, it would take at least three weeks, including travel time.

I understood how unrealistic it would be to monopolize the Great Holy Maiden for such a long period, given her preciousness.

But the envoy couldn’t understand this.

He grabbed my collar and shouted in a hoarse voice, his tone erratic.

“Canopus, have you become a dog kept in the royal castle! What’s with that detached response! Why did you become the Great Holy Maiden’s guard knight! If you plead, won’t the Great Holy Maiden listen and add it to the schedule through the high-ranking officials!?”

“Indeed. If the Great Holy Maiden, who is compassionate, hears my plea, she might listen and have the high-ranking officials add it to the schedule. …But such a route should not be created. There should be no favoritism or special treatment for the Great Holy Maiden. At least, not unless it comes from her own heart. …I am the Great Holy Maiden’s guard knight. I only act for her benefit.”

“Canopus!!”

The envoy glared at me with a fierce look, but I could only look back silently.

…In any case, even if it were added to the schedule now, it would be at least a year.

Given the speed of the disease’s spread, that would be too late.

If Princess Seraphina were to visit Sutherland in a year, only a few dozen or a few hundred survivors who had managed to overcome the disease on their own would remain.

Such a small number would make it difficult to preserve the traditions and pride of the people.

The death of a people—this was the clear future