Final Chapter ~The Vow of the Saintess~
In the royal capital of the Kingdom of Lionel , banquets were held every day.
The beautifully decorated hall echoed with graceful melodies as elegantly dressed gentlemen and ladies gathered.
It was a heavenly world. At the center of it all was Saint Elizabeth, basking in fortune’s favor.
In truth, no woman in the land could compare to Elizabeth.
Not only was she an officially recognized saint of the Church of Salvation, she was the companion of the prince who had defeated the Demon King, one of the few heroes of the age. With her achievements recognized, she became engaged to the prince upon her return to the country. Thirty days ago, the wedding finally took place, and she became the prince’s wife.
Everyone sang Elizabeth’s praises, vied to give her gifts, and bowed their heads in obeisance.
Nothing could be more joyous.
And in the not-too-distant future, she would be queen, with the whole country in her hands.
The prince’s father, the current reigning king, was aging and bedridden with illness. It was Elizabeth’s duty to restore the king’s health every day with her healing arts, but even as a saint, she could not cure aging. She could only restore one day’s strength. He would surely not last much longer. The king’s death was imminent.
When that happened, this land would be Prince Henry’s and hers in name and in fact.
Her incessant smile conveyed this meaning. Though Prince Henry was not at her side to share this joy, she would bear it for now.
Prince Henry was on a campaign to destroy the remnants of the Demon King’s army that still roamed the land. If it was the prince, he would surely crush the enemy and bring victory. How to celebrate this victory was Elizabeth’s concern.
An unprecedented celebration would have to be held. And maybe they could add another jewel to their crown. Thinking of this, Elizabeth’s cheeks naturally relaxed as her mood seemed to rise to the heavens once again.
“Elizabeth.”
The withered voice brought her back to reality from her dream. It was the de facto leader of the Church of Salvation, Cardinal Prime Femahan.
Not only the representative of the Church, he was the foster father who had discovered the orphan Elizabeth and recognized her as a saint.
“Oh my, what is this? Fa… I mean, Your Eminence the Cardinal.”
Now that she had married Prince Henry, she was royalty herself. With the Cardinal, she had to separate public and private matters. And it wasn’t good to be treated like a daughter all the time.
“Has something happened?”
Seeing Elisabeth’s questioning look, the Cardinal’s face stiffened somewhat.
“Listen carefully, Elizabeth. Prince Henry…”
Cardinal Femahan paused for a moment.
“What about him? What happened to the prince? Could he have already defeated the enemy and returned home triumphant?”
Elizabeth shouted loudly. Not even ten days had passed since he left for the campaign, so maybe he had already won. If so, that would be unfortunate. Preparations for the celebration would not be ready in time.
“No. Elizabeth, the prince… it seems he was wounded on the battlefield.”
At first, Elizabeth did not understand the Cardinal’s words, not knowing what he was talking about.
As the meaning of the words began to sink in, the color drained from her entire body.
“Ah! The prince, is he al…alright?”
Elizabeth grabbed Cardinal Femahan by the shoulders and shook him as she sought confirmation.
“Don’t worry. Prince Henry is still alive. He dueled with the enemy commander, and though badly wounded, his life was spared. He is said to be recovering from his injuries.”
Hearing Cardinal Prime Femahan’s words, she felt a moment of relief before she could no longer stand still.
“I will go to Prince Henry immediately!”
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Elizabeth intended to leave immediately. For injuries, the power of healers was needed. Although the army had many skilled healers, it could not be left to others. The prince’s wounds would be healed by her.
Although she wanted to leave immediately, the Cardinal stopped her.
“Wait, Elizabeth.”
“Why, Your Eminence? Are you not concerned for the prince?”
Prince Henry’s life and death were crucial to Cardinal Femahan as well. With Elizabeth’s saintly marriage to the prince, the power of the Church had reached unprecedented heights. If the prince were lost now, it would be a great blow to the Church as well.
“Of course I am worried. That’s why I have to tell you something. Prince Henry has been wounded, but there is more.”
“More? What do you mean?”
Elizabeth asked.
“It’s a military conspiracy. The military may have plotted to assassinate the prince.”
“Assassinate? The military wants to kill the prince?”
Elizabeth asked back, unable to believe the Cardinal’s words.
“Keep your voice down. Calm yourself. Prince Henry was defeated in his duel with the enemy. All his wounds were caused by the demons. However, the reason for this was also due to the machinations of the military.”
Cardinal Prime Femahan then launched into a long tirade.
How Prince Henry had relieved General Zalia of command, causing friction with the military. The soldiers were deliberately withdrawing, isolating the prince and putting him in a difficult position. He told her all this, but she hadn’t even absorbed half of it.
“Are you listening, Elizabeth? The military can no longer be trusted. Only we of the church can help the prince now. You must help the prince. Are you listening? Do it properly!”
Although Cardinal Prime Femahan kept urging her, her mind was foggy, unable to think.
Moments ago, she had been in paradise, now it felt like she had fallen into hell.
Her current status and life existed only because of the presence of the prince. Without the prince, she had no authority or power. If Prince Henry died, everything would be lost. And there was even the danger that the prince might be murdered by treacherous retainers.
The position she had believed to be solid as a rock when she married Prince Henry was in fact as fragile as a piece of glass. It was incredible.
She suddenly felt that the formal clothes, jewels, and lavish cuisine that surrounded her were all worthless junk. Like stage props. Whether it was the gorgeous dresses or the dazzling jewels, without her standing, they had no value.
The noble lords and ladies who praised her also seemed like monsters who knew what they could do behind the scenes.
If the prince disappeared, she would lose everything. No, it would be better if only I was lost. These things were no different from garbage anyway. But what about this child?
Elizabeth put a hand to her belly, confirming the life within.
Though not yet certain.
The royal physicians had not been able to diagnose her pregnancy either. So she had not yet told the prince. But Elizabeth was convinced. That she had been given new life.
If the prince died, what would happen to the child?
Thinking of the child, another kind of fear pierced her body. While she could protect her own body, this child was helpless.
“I will go to the prince. Have a carriage prepared immediately.”
“Ah, splendid. But don’t let your guard down. Only we of the Church can be relied upon.”
Cardinal Prime Femahan warned them in his hoarse voice.
Was Prince Henry really unharmed?
Tormented by anxiety, Elizabeth rode by carriage to the battlefield.
Two days away from the battlefield. It was the longest two days of Elizabeth’s life.
Arriving at the army camp, Elizabeth jumped from the carriage and ran to the tent where the prince lay.
Near the tent where the prince lay, the head of a military officer was sticking out of the ground. But Elizabeth did not even look at the flies buzzing around the severed head; she jumped straight into the tent.
When she entered, the prince had his back to her as he changed.
“Prince, are you all right?”
Elizabeth asked breathlessly. Prince Henry had a surprised look on his face.
“Ah, it’s you, Elizabeth. You arrived quickly. You got my message that I’m safe, right? See, this is how it is.”
The prince took off his clothes, bare chested as he flexed his arms and tensed his muscles.
“You’re not wounded?”
Disbelieving his words, she confirmed it with her own eyes. And abnormalities in the internal organs and bones could not be allowed, caution dictated the use of the healing arts.
“Hey, I said I was fine, didn’t I? I made you worry it seems. I apologize.”
“I heard you almost died.”
Hearing Prince Henry’s words, Elizabeth finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“Ah, I didn’t want to alarm you, but that’s the truth. I really thought I was going to die. Even I’m surprised that I’m still alive.”
Prince Henry also nodded, it was good fortune.
According to reports, the prince had been sent flying in his duel, even blown high into the air at one point. For a time it was said that he had died, and obituaries were even circulated.
“But with God’s protection and your existence, this level wouldn’t kill me.”
Prince Henry laughingly declared himself immortal.
“What I lacked were followers with courage. Those cowards who abandoned me, the prince, in an attempt to escape. But don’t worry. I beheaded the cowards.”
The prince looked outside the tent at the exposed heads.
“That’s the end of it. Cowardice has been completely purged from my army.”
“Prince?”
As the prince said it, though betrayed and nearly killed, he seemed unfazed. Elizabeth felt confused.
No, this man has not noticed.
He was unaware of the gravity of his brush with death. He hadn’t even grasped that he had been betrayed, unaware that the dismissed General Zalia was pulling strings in the shadows.
This man could not be trusted.
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