The Saint Who Has Been Summoned to Another World

Chapter 22 Convening Again


After Mana ran off, Ethan sent Karina on her way, while I entrust Yuno to Christa.

As for me, I got a lot of one-on-one words of appreciation from the Queen.

The Queen was busy, so our small talk lasted about 30 minutes, but I think I came out looking about ten years older after I was released.





Since I was alone, I went to Mana's room, but I didn't feel like talking to her, so I left the dog cookies with Hannah, the priestess.

The rain eventually stopped, but I'm not sure if that was due to the cookie's effect.

I hope she was pleased with it…




The next day, we were called to go to the Queens for our usual morning meeting.

The maximum number of people in the room so far was six.

In addition to the queen, my father, who is the head of the Order of the Knights, and my brothers and I. Lucas, who was a magician and a consort of the Queen, joined us.




“It’s been raining a lot these days. The worst is the earthquake. It's very annoying if you don't have advance warning, like the ground shaking. That one nearly killed me.”




Lucas, who was sitting cross-legged and irritatingly saying so, was the best magician in Astraea, but he was not the head of the magician's corps.



The only one who was blood-related to us three brothers was Clive, the Knight Commander, and there are no children between the Queen and Lucas.

He has stated publicly that he does not like children, partly because he does not want to be bothered with the succession to the throne.


We used to call him Father Lucas, but he said, "I am a Prince consort, but I am not your father," and will only respond if we call him by his given name.

He was a mysterious figure with blue eyes and long black hair, more akin to a beautiful woman than a handsome man of unknown age.



“I was buried in books that collapsed after the earthquake because Lucas-sama just piled them up instead of putting them back on the shelves…”

“You speak as if I have been negligent in cleaning up my mess, Alvin. The truth is I wasn't. I was challenging myself to see how much I could pile up in between research. Don't you think I'm as brilliant as you are for being able to combine relaxation and research?”

“Haa…”




Lucas was an ‘Oddball.’ I don't know how to describe him in one word, but he was someone who was on a different wavelength than others.

He was rarely present at gatherings because he doesn't try to fit in with others, but I wonder what was wrong with him today.

He often stays up all night doing research, so I don't see him that much, especially in the morning….




“It's been a long time since I saw Lucas in the morning, and I apologize for today.”

“Don't worry, I woke up and saw my lovely wife right away, and yesterday I witnessed an event unfold in front of me. I even saw a hilarious skit.”




Skit…?




Was there such a thing going on somewhere? I thought, but then I felt a gaze on me.




“The production was flashy, but not very exciting. Edward, you were like a stick standing there. If that's the case, you should be proud of yourself! Nobody could have done a better job as a pillar than you.”

“What…?”




Was Lucas talking about what happened yesterday!?

It was because I was surprised! That was why I was just standing there!




“Kuku…”

“Elder Brother!”




I glared at Ethan, who started laughing when he saw the conversation between me and Lucas.




“Ethan's trampling on the pure maiden's feelings was also wonderful. In another ten years, the castle will be swarming with women with children from who knows where, and they will all be saying, 'This is your child!’”

“Kuku.”




Now it was my turn to laugh.

If It was a pillar and a good-for-nothing, the pillar was more harmless.

No, a pillar supporting a building was definitely more useful to people.




“That's enough of that. The reason I asked Lucas to come here today is to tell me what he has found out about the events that happen regarding the Saint.”




At the Queen’s word each of us immediately changed our mood.

Lucas, who until now has not been seen or named in connection with the saint, seems to have been working on a number of things.



“Not everything I've looked into has been confirmed…So far, the Saint's state of mind has caused rain, wind, thunder, snow, earthquakes, and sunshine. There is no evidence that any of them were caused by magic. At first glance, they are just natural phenomena. However, since they are linked to the Saint's state of mind, we can conclude that they are caused by the Saint. This is a realm that we are unable to understand– A Saint, a messenger of the goddess. Also, I've looked into the damage…and none of the events are occurring throughout Astraea.”

“Is that right?”




I was under the impression that the same thing was happening everywhere in Astraea, and because of that I just couldn't help but speak up.



“Yeah, I believe the range varies depending on the intensity of her emotion. It's happening with the place where the Saint is located as the center. The remote areas don't seem to be affected as much. So if it gets out of control, why don't we just send her to some remote place?"

“Send her to a remote place!?”




I remember that I had not seen him for a long time, but he used to say such things without hesitation, then my father, Clive, warned Lucas about that.




“Lucas, we don't know what would happen if we treated someone who was given a mission by the Goddess in such a harsh manner. So watch your words.”

“What do you mean, Clive? You and I are here in case something like that happens. I'll protect my wife, you take care of the rest.”

“Lucas...you and I need to have a serious talk.”




Both of them got along better than you might think, but on rare occasions, their small argument could turn into a major conflict.

Was this the pattern this time? As I was thinking, the Queen immediately stopped them.




“Please do that later.”

“...It can’t be helped.”

“I’ve been scolded, haven’t I?”




Following that, the three of us brothers breathed a sigh of relief.

It felt unpleasant to see both of them fighting each other.

I'm glad it didn't start.




“The details are all in the report, but I'll just tell you what I found out. I tried using magic to control the saint, to suppress her emotions, or enslave her, but it didn't work.”

“Enslavement!? That kind of thing is forbidden!”



It would be easier to handle her if she could be manipulated, but such inhuman acts should not be allowed.




“Her Majesty gave me permission to do so. Even if I could manipulate her, making her happy would be difficult. I was only trying to increase the number of possible methods. Also. Edward….If only you would take hold of the reins of the saint, I wouldn't have to do that, would I?”

“That’s…no way…”

“That’s right. The Saint is very fond of you, so why couldn’t you make the most of it?”



Alvin's sharp eyes and harsh words flew toward me.

The Queen told me yesterday that Mana refused Alvin to her caretaker because of his face.

I could feel his anger as if saying, “If I were the one being accepted, I could have done better.”




“Whatever it is, I don't think it's possible to work from the outside. It seems that the only way is for the Saint to control and suppress herself. If there was only one outside factor, it would have to be Edward, wouldn't it?”




Lucas's words drew everyone's attention toward me.

This situation was so awkward.




“I didn't think I could do anything about it…”

“Anyway, Edward will be go back to the Temple of Sanctuary along with the Saint starting today.”

“Eh…?”




I was surprised by the queen's line that interrupted my escape…

Go back to the Temple of Sanctuary?




“But she just got out from the temple…”

“The best way to restore blessings is to pray in the sanctuary temple. It's a place with a strong connection to the Goddess. The saint knew that the temple was a good place to pray, but she wanted to be near Edward, didn't she? Isn't that sweet?”

“.........”




I had a hard time making a response when I was told by such statements…




“Wouldn't Alvin be better than having his brother close to the person who dumped him and saying hello to him?”

“........”

“Lucas.”




Lucas looked coolly at Alvin, who glared at him, but cowered when the Queen warned him.




“The rain has stopped, but the sky is still dark. Why don't you go to the temple and have a change of scenery? How about the orphanage you've been eyeing? I hate children, but maybe a lively place will brighten the Saint's day.”




“I'm getting sleepy, you can read the rest of the report,” Lucas said so as he walked away, seemingly unconcerned.

Clive dragged Ethan out shortly after.

Alvin also left without saying a word, and the meeting ended in a strangely bleak atmosphere.

Only the queen, the owner of the room, and I were left.




“Edward.”

“...Yes…?”




I had a bad feeling she was going to say something, and it turns out I was right.

I turned his body toward the Queen and readied myself to listen to her maturely.




“About you having a fiancee, I’ll give it a little more grace period.”

“Eh!?”




I was surprised by the unexpected words.




“Really!?”

“However, one of them will undoubtedly become your fiancée in the near future. Do you know what this means?”

“N-No…”

“It means that you will have a choice between the Saint and the daughter of the Bernette family. Of course, both would be better, but only if you are willing to go through with your 'one and only' decision.”

“W-What do you mean by that!?”




The Queen's words made my eyes widen.

How could Mana have been an option!?

I thought she turned it down?




“I dared to ask the saint yesterday if she would approve of Edward's fiancée, just to see how she would react.”

“Was that so?”

“Yesterday's reaction showed that the saint has feelings for you. Enough to make it rain that hard. But there must be something to put a stop to it.”

“Something to put a stop to it…”

“You care about the saint too, don't you?”

“No, it’s not like that…”




It's not that I don't care about her, but I couldn’t explain my relationship with Mana.




“Edward, you've always been a kid who steps back.”

“Eh?”




I was taken aback by the sudden start of the conversation.




“You accomplished more than Alvin and Ethan combined, but you never went out in front of your brothers because of the way they looked at you. That’s the thing they didn't like about you.”

“Is that so?”




Did they hate me for that?

I mean, unlike my brothers, who each had their own areas where they are excellent, I was perceived as being just there no matter what I did, so it didn't really ring a bell.

When I was thinking about it, the Queen chuckled.




“Your brothers have high pride. They are not at all happy to be handed over to their younger brothers. Would you give in again? Or would turn it away?”




When she said that, I was at a loss for an answer.

I…



“As your Mother, I just hope won’t regret it.”




When I looked up, what I saw was not the face of a stern Queen, but that of a very caring Mother.