The disease that has been raging in Sutherland showed no signs of abating, as expected. Repeated letters from the special envoy requesting Lady Seraphina's deployment arrived, and just two weeks after her last visit, she was asked to visit again.
"The situation is worsening! There is no time to spare!! I implore you, please, please, deploy the Great Saintess!!"
The special envoy must have pushed himself to the limit, riding without rest. His eyes were bloodshot even in the dim light.
"I understand your feelings. I, too, wish for the Great Saintess to be deployed. However, she is far too busy. It is difficult to have her occupied for three weeks. No matter which route we take to request her, the earliest she can be deployed is a year from now. That would be too late. ...We should look for other solutions."
"We have invited renowned saintesses from all over the country! But none of them could cure it! Even if the Great Saintess comes, there is no guarantee she can cure it, but there is no other option!!"
The special envoy pleaded desperately.
"The spread of the Yellow Stripe Disease is abnormal. If this continues, our clan will be extinct in less than a year. Please, please, I beg you, deploy the Great Saintess!!"
The special envoy knelt on the floor, pleading as if clinging to us.
I understood his feelings all too well and fell silent, unable to continue.
He is right.
If this continues, our clan will be extinct.
And it is true that Lady Seraphina is our only hope.
However, Lady Seraphina is too important to this country.
There are battles that only she can handle, injuries that only she can heal, and curses that only she can remove.
There are too many things that only she can do.
Occupying Lady Seraphina for three weeks is simply impossible.
As I stood there, unable to come up with a solution, a mocking voice called out from a distance.
"Hey, I thought someone was blocking the corridor, and it's you, Canopus. You islanders are already so dark-skinned that you're hard to see in the dark. Get out of the way and stop causing trouble! Or do you want to be executed for disrespecting the royal path?"
I turned hastily to see Prince Capella, accompanied by Lady Seraphina and several high-ranking officials, walking down the corridor.
I groaned inwardly at my mistake and helped the special envoy to his feet, moving to the side of the corridor.
...I failed.
I was led by the special envoy's panic and wasted time talking in the corridor instead of entering the room.
I bowed my head, hoping he would pass by, but Prince Capella stopped in front of us.
"What, are the islanders holding a strategy meeting? ...Ah, I get it. You're discussing what to do after your clan is wiped out, right? Ha, you should follow Canopus's example and lick Seraphina's shoes. That way, you'll be guaranteed a place in the castle and can escape the disease in that rural area."
The special envoy, who had never met a royal before, was trembling and bowed as low as possible.
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond, but Lady Seraphina spoke up.
"Prince Capella, what do you mean by the clan being wiped out?"
I looked up in surprise, but all I saw was Prince Capella's smug, nasty smile.
"Right, you don't know. There's a disease spreading in Sutherland, Canopus's territory. Canopus has repeatedly petitioned for your deployment, but it's always rejected in the meetings. Of course, I attend those meetings, and no one supports the deployment to Sutherland. The schedule you receive only includes confirmed tasks, so you wouldn't see any rejected requests."
"What kind of disease is it?"
"Hahaha, it's the Yellow Stripe Disease! It's a disease that even a child in the mainland can cure. But for the islanders, it's almost fatal! And it's spreading at an unprecedented rate. It's shocking that even a child's disease can be fatal. It shows how weak your clan is. In other words, the islanders are not suited to survive in this world. The right path is to be eliminated without resistance."
Lady Seraphina, who had been listening silently, tilted her head curiously.
"I've heard that the islanders have become a population of tens of thousands. If a disease with such severe symptoms and rapid spread is threatening tens of thousands of people, I don't think it's unreasonable for me to be deployed, do you?"
"Hahaha, you're as stupid as ever! It takes nearly ten days to reach Sutherland one way. Considering the stay, it would be a three-week trip. There are many sick and injured people in the capital. How can you leave the capital for three weeks, leaving them behind?"
"But, if the disease is as serious and widespread as you say, I don't think it's unreasonable for me to be deployed, do you?"
"Hahaha, you really are a fool. If it were the mainlanders, it would be different, but they are islanders. They are a step below us and their extinction wouldn't be a problem. We will never move you for them. No one in the castle will agree. After all, everyone in the castle is from the mainland."
"…Ah, I understand. Thank you."
Lady Seraphina bowed to Prince Capella, but I clenched my teeth in frustration.
The way the princes treat Lady Seraphina is always excessive.
The fact that Lady Seraphina has received almost no royal education and has spent most of her time as a saintess is by the king's decision.
Moreover, it is inconceivable that Lady Seraphina, who is known for her compassion towards all people, would treat people differently based on their ethnicity.
Despite understanding all of this, I find the princes' attitude towards Lady Seraphina, which seems to mock her, infuriating. However, Lady Seraphina, seemingly unaffected, turned to the special envoy after facing Prince Capella.
"Sutherland, as you heard, I cannot decide my actions on my own. I will try to speak on your behalf to see if I can be deployed to Sutherland. I can't promise how effective it will be, but I hope you don't lose hope."
"Thank you! We all look forward to the Great Saintess's arrival!!"
The special envoy clasped his hands above his head and knelt, praying to Lady Seraphina.
Lady Seraphina's words give hope.
She always stands by the people and gives them the words they need.
The special envoy, who had heard the conversation with Prince Capella, must have understood.
That those words were the best Lady Seraphina could do.
That she genuinely cared for the people of Sutherland.
---I was a fool to think that at the time.
Three days after the special envoy left, something was off with Lady Seraphina that day.
She was taking naps whenever she could between official duties.
I thought she must be very tired, but the previous day hadn't been particularly busy.
I was worried that she might be exhausted from accumulated fatigue, but the next morning, I learned that she had woken up with the sunrise and that the naps were to prepare for an early start.
The next five days were to be spent visiting the Barbyze Dukedom, which borders the capital.
The Barbyze Dukedom is the family into which Lady Seraphina's older sister, the First Princess, had married.
The visit was primarily for political reasons, with Lady Seraphina and the knights demonstrating the power of the Great Saintess in front of the nobles.
The secondary purpose was to allow Lady Seraphina, who rarely had a break, to rest and deepen her bond with her sister, the Duchess of Barbyze—essentially, to enjoy some girl talk.
The two sisters had always been close.
I could tell she was looking forward to the visit, as she was leaving with the sunrise.
The next morning, Lady Seraphina appeared in a light blue dress.
It suited her, but the design was too simple, with no frills or lace.
She usually wore elaborate dresses with frills and lace when visiting her sister, so it felt out of place.
I am not an expert on women's dresses, so I convinced myself that this might be the current fashion.
Lady Seraphina boarded the carriage with her attendants.
At that moment, I felt a sense of unease again.
Yes, if she was tired, she could have taken a nap in the carriage. Why did she take so many naps the day before?
The answer came quickly.
As we left the castle and passed through the busiest street, Lady Seraphina's carriage suddenly stopped.
The knights guarding the carriage quickly stopped their horses.
I dismounted immediately and opened the carriage door, where Lady Seraphina burst out like a whirlwind.
She looked up at the knight in front of her and smiled.
"I'm sorry, but could you get off your horse for a moment?"
Confused but obedient to the princess's request, the knight dismounted.
In the next instant, Lady Seraphina quickly put her foot in the stirrup and gracefully mounted the horse.
I was surprised to see that her feet, peeking out from under her dress, were in riding boots, not the delicate shoes she usually wore.
Lady Seraphina smiled happily and announced loudly.
"Visiting the Barbyze Dukedom is nice, but I feel like seeing the sea. So, I'm going to skip the visit to the Barbyze Dukedom. There's a letter and gifts for my sister in the carriage. Half of the knights should deliver them to the Barbyze Dukedom. My sister is a powerful saintess, so she can handle the demonstration for the nobles. In fact, it's better for them to understand that a powerful saintess can be a duchess. I've written this in the letter, so please take care of it. As for me... where should I go?"
She placed her hand on her cheek and tilted her head.
At that moment, all the knights present were speechless.
These were knights who had been assigned to Lady Seraphina.
They were all exceptionally skilled and competent.
So, they all anticipated Lady Seraphina's next words but wisely remained silent.
"...Right! When it comes to the sea, it's Sutherland! Yes, I'm going to Sutherland!! The half of the knights not going to the Barbyze Dukedom should follow me!"
She clapped her hands dramatically, saying the name everyone had expected.
Everyone looked at Lady Seraphina with a mix of emotions.
However, Lady Seraphina made one mistake.
She said half would go to the Barbyze Dukedom and half to the Sutherland Barony but didn't specify who should go where.