Chapter 2

Chapter Two
It Seems You’re Going to Break the Engagement

Another troublesome person has arrived.
Why did these troublesome things keep piling up today?

Angelina thanked the maid and sent her off, then sighed. She did not want to go. But not going would only make things worse.

Dragging her heavy feet, she opened the door to the guest room.

“I’m sorry to keep you waiting.”

“You’re late. How long did you plan to make me wait?”

“My apologies.”

It was not just playing around either. If you hate waiting, you should announce your visit in advance.

When I raised my head, my eyes met cold lapis-blue ones.

Graham Bearsley.
The count’s son.
This rude man was my fiancé.

He was said to be handsome and intelligent, a perfect gentleman. Only toward me did he show not a shred of courtesy.

Why did I even have a fiancé?
The answer was simple.

To bind a Saintess’s ability to the kingdom.

The Saintesses of the Centrea Kingdom possessed many different powers. Some abilities were considered too important to leave the country. Queen Leonora’s Barrier Power was one of them. And for some reason, my Warding ability was treated the same way, despite being called useless.

“So. What can I do for you?”

“I hear you abandoned your duty and dumped the injured on Helena. Aren’t you ashamed, as a Saintess?”

“The injured said they did not want my treatment.”

“That only proves you are at fault for being rejected.”

It had always been like this. Everything wrong was my fault. Anything that went poorly was blamed on me.

The engagement was the same.

It had been decided without my knowledge, yet I was blamed for it.
A political engagement arranged by the kingdom, balancing power and relations with the temple.
There was nothing a commoner like me could do about it.

And yet, one day, this man stormed in, furious, and hurled insults at me.

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re my fiancée? I refuse. I will never accept this.”

What the hell is he talking about? I had known nothing about the engagement. I honestly thought he was a pitiful man lost in delusions. I even went to call Helena, wondering if he needed healing.

I glanced at Helena, who was sitting close beside him.

I never imagined that incident would lead Graham and Helena to fall in love. Unintentionally, I had tied their fates together.

There was even a Saintess who specialized in matchmaking at the temple. But in their case, the credit was mine. If anything, they should be grateful.

“Lady Helena was present at the carriage accident. You saw what actually happened.”

“Yes. That is why I believe Lady Angelina’s attitude was inappropriate. A patient’s selfishness comes from fear. Leaving the injured behind just because they spoke harshly is not admirable. One should avoid actions that cause anxiety in patients.”

How well she spoke, after provoking the situation herself.

"You're the one who encouraged me to do this."

When our eyes met, Helena’s golden hair swayed, and her jade eyes flickered as if frightened.
Graham pulled her close.

“You glare at her like that and scare her. Helena has done nothing wrong. How cruel of you.”

“Is it acceptable to be involved with a man who already has a fiancée?”

“I do not acknowledge you as my fiancée. Your obsession is disgusting.”

No matter how much he tormented me, the engagement would not disappear. If he objected, he should have taken it up with the kingdom.

I frowned silently.
Graham’s lips twisted in a smug smile.

“But this unwanted engagement is finally over. You apparently tried to force it through the temple because you wanted me so badly. All that scheming was pointless.”

“What do you mean?”

“I exhausted every option and completely annulled this absurd engagement.”

That was unexpected. For me, too, this was good news.

“The kingdom resisted until the end, but when I said it was for true love, they gave up.”

His proud expression was blinding. Though perhaps they had given up in a different sense.

Still, he had worked hard to break the engagement. I should acknowledge that effort.

“That’s wonderful. Congratulations.”

“What’s wonderful about it? You are at fault. Including the engagement annulment, the kingdom plans to fine you. Naturally.”

“Oh. And what is the reason I’m at fault?”

“That’s obvious. You neglect your duties as a Saintess.”

Even if you look at me like that. My ability is doing its job properly.

Fine, huh. The kingdom knew I worked. They were likely imposing a convenient punishment to vent public dissatisfaction.

“You really see nothing, do you.”

“What?”

This was beyond disappointing.

Acting like a ‘proper’ Saintess, like Helena, might be a talent. But it also proved that people only saw what suited them.

The masses.
The nobles.
Even the priests.

The kingdom understood a little, perhaps. But by allowing the criticism, they were complicit.

I was done.

“I accept the annulment. Do as you please.”

“What?”

“You’re going to break the engagement with me and become engaged to Lady Helena, correct?
Congratulations. I wish you happiness.”

Their stunned expressions were almost funny. I let out a small laugh.

Graham was taken aback by Angelina's innocent smile, which he saw for the first time. It was soft and warm. It was like melting snow. He thought, Why had she been hiding it until now? If she had shown it to him from the beginning, it would have been more...

“Hmph. You should stop pretending. You liked me, didn’t you.”

“Not at all. I wonder how you came to such a misunderstanding.
Think about it yourself.
Ignoring your fiancée.
Avoiding eye contact.
Never speaking.
Where, exactly, is the part that suggests affection?”

“But you pushed for the engagement because you loved me.”

Helena must have fed him nonsense. Nothing angelic about her at all.

“There is no way a useless, incompetent Saintess could force an engagement on the kingdom.”

Honestly. A little thought would have made that obvious.

“The engagement was arranged by the kingdom. Which means, regardless of public opinion, I was considered valuable enough.”

Graham’s face went pale. Only now did he realize he had ignored the kingdom’s will.

Would the kingdom truly approve his engagement to Helena, popular as she was, despite his lack of political sense.

“It seems we’re done here. Goodbye.”

If they could be happy, then so be it.
I stood and left the room.

“Wait.”

Helena chased after me and grabbed my shoulder hard. One nuisance after another.

“Do you need something?”

“Don’t get carried away. If I wanted, I could have you stripped of your Saintess title at any time.”

“I see.”

Her Saintess mask was completely gone. She glared at me.

She was not wrong. The priest had warned me, too.

If this might be my last chance, I should ask what I wanted to know.

“I’ve been meaning to ask.”

“What? Do you have a complaint?”

“Why did you keep acting in ways that encouraged the rumors about me?”

During my grandmother’s time, prejudice existed, but it was never this bad. That meant someone had deliberately pushed things this far.

Helena’s eyes widened. Then she laughed, her mouth twisting grotesquely.

“Well, even someone stupid would notice eventually. But why ask now?”

“No reason. The one being dragged through the mud has the right to ask, don’t you think?”

She laughed softly. Her eyes did not smile at all.

“I can’t stand that you’re above me.”

“What?”

“Choosing a useless witch over an angel who can heal and recover people.
It’s insane.”

Above her?! Chosen?!

By the kingdom? By the Bearsley family?
Or because she noticed the dark desire in Graham’s eyes?

“Obviously. Warding is useless. My power heals injuries and illness. I’m the one who’s useful to the world. I’m the one this country needs.”

“…”

“Graham. The Bearsley family. They should have all been mine. I won’t give status or honor to a filthy witch.”

So that was her motive.

How foolish.

I let out a deep breath.

“You’re mocking me!!”

“I am disappointed, yes.”

She still understood nothing.

My being useless was what kept everyone safe.

The decisive difference between my power and every other Saintess’s. If she had realized that, would the future have changed?

But it was too late.

“Congratulations. You’ve reclaimed everything. Are you satisfied now?”

“Hehe. Completely.”

“I see. Then I wish you happiness.”

I closed the door without waiting for an answer. It knocked a few times. Then silence returned. I sat with my back against the door and stared at the ceiling.

Unconditional love. Trust. Once lost, they never returned.

“I’m sorry, Grandmother. I can’t keep my promise.”

Ten years together. She was my mother and my teacher.
My only family. She taught me everything and loved me unconditionally. It had been a little over five years since her death.

“I’ll teach you everything I know. So protect this country as the Saintess of Warding.”

I had endured everything, thinking that if I just endured, it would be enough. But sacrificing yourself for someone else’s happiness was not love. I had only been used.

Now that I understood that, I could no longer devote myself to people as a Saintess.
Losing the resolve to give my life for others meant losing the right to be a Saintess. Then I should leave.
Before a new engagement bound me by royal order.
Before my dignity was trampled by false accusations.

I removed my robe and packed my belongings into a small bag.
The room was nearly empty.

“Goodbye, Grandmother. From now on, I’ll live as just Angelina.”

I would never return to this room. I bowed and quietly closed the door.

No one stopped me as I left the temple. I looked back once. The temple remained silent. No one cared that I was gone. Letting go was easy. All I had lacked was the courage to take one step forward.

Now then.
Where should I go?

I had not decided, but I would leave the country. I had prepared a secret method to do so.

“It won’t be immediate, but this country’s future unrest is already decided.
How long will it last, I wonder.”

As long as the Saintess of Warding existed, evil would never approach the Centrea Kingdom. Which meant, As long as I stayed here, the day my true power was needed would never come.

For the people, that was happiness. No unnecessary bloodshed.

Then what would happen after the Saintess of Warding was gone?