I Was Supposed To Be A Queen, But I Was Accused Of Being A Fake Saint, So I Fled And Was Doted On By The Crown Prince, But I Hope You’ll Be Happy There Too - CH 56

Chapter – 56 || I Was Going To Be The Last Saint

My recovery was quick, and soon we were back in the Zomer Empire.

“Welcome home!”

Various people greeted me and Rudolf-sama.

“I’m back.”

“I’m sorry I was gone for so long.”

Relieved, I greeted everyone.

“Elvira! Welcome back.”

“Empress Claudia!”

Their Majesty the Emperor and Empress, no, my father-in-law and mother-in-law, rushed over.

“Oh, I’m sorry for being so busy.”

“What are you talking about? You’ve been through a lot.”

“Thank you…”

I felt a heartwarming feeling when I greeted the lively crowd.

—————————————————

After carrying my luggage, I returned to my private quarters and looked out the window.

There was the view of the Zomer Empire.

“I’m back.”

I whispered such an obvious thing to Rudolf-sama next to me.

Rudolf-sama squeezed my hand and said,

“Welcome back, Elvira.”

It’s funny that we came back to the same place, isn’t it?

But I nodded.

“I’m back, Rudolf-sama.”

“Yes, welcome back.”

—————————————————

That night.

It had been a long time since I had slept in a bed that was too wide, and I lay down with Rudolf-sama.

I felt nostalgic for the smallness of the bed in the Kingdom of Turku, so I took the liberty of saying,

“…Rudolf-sama… um, may I come closer…?”

“Please do so…!”

Rudolf-sama must have been surprised, because he froze, saying very little.

But,

“Can I hug you?”

He immediately said something like that.

“Oh, oh.”

I said yes, but what should I do?

I froze, too.

Then, Rudolf gently put his arm under my head.

Isn’t this an arm pillow?!

This is called an arm pillow, right?!

My heart raced.

Rudolf-sama said,

“Elvira, I’m sorry.”

Why was he apologizing here?

I thought so, but Rudolf-sama looked sincerely apologetic.

“What are you talking about?”

I asked him.

“I have put you through a lot of danger.”

A sombre voice came back.

I said,

“I’m sorry, too.”

“Elvira has nothing to apologize for. I didn’t do a good job of protecting you.”

“You protected me, didn’t you?”

“No, I appreciate the comfort,”

“But,”

Interrupting Rudolf-sama, I said,

“I knew Rudolf-sama would come to me at the end.”

Rudolf-sama made a difficult face.

I didn’t really care, but I didn’t think this was the kind of conversation we should have been having while arm-in-arm.

“Still, it must have put Elvira in harm’s way.”

As expected, Rudolf-sama seemed to have been feeling remorseful.

I retorted strongly,

“I never thought it was dangerous.”

“Why?”

“Because Rudolf-sama is a prodigy who understands my feelings without me having to speak.”

—I am willing to notice even the slightest change in your expression. If that’s where your true feelings are.

I had never forgotten what he said to me in the greenhouse.

“I always know that Rudolf-sama was watching me, so I was relieved.”

“Elvira…”

I said something that I had been thinking about for a long time.

“Rudolf-sama.”

“Yes?”

“I have been thinking about the High Priestess’ last words.”

“Oh,” said Rudolf-sama, having a look of understanding on his face.

—’You fool, there are demons are all over the place, it’s just the difference between the Zomer Empire,

they take the trouble to declare them while the Kingdom of Turku keeps it close to it’s chest.’

“I’ve been thinking…”

I was hesitant to say it out loud because I felt afraid to say it, but I took the plunge.

“I’m going to be the last Saint.”

“The last?”

Rudolf-sama looked puzzled.

That was right, I was saying something outlandish.

I didn’t know if I could say it well, but I tried to explain.

“There are no Saints in the Zomer Empire. Because she is in the heart of each and every one of us.”

I remembered the Maiden Lily Festival.

At that time, I felt that there was a Saint in all of us.

“So, in the Zomer Empire, there was no need for the Saint to manifest herself… Wouldn’t it be nice if the Kingdom of Turku could do the same?”

“But if that happened, wouldn’t the Maiden Lily stop blooming?”

I nodded my head at Rudolf-sama’s words.

“I will miss them, but I believe that the paper lilies that the people of the Zomer Empire held in their hands at the Maiden Lily Festival were just as wonderful.”

Perhaps I was speaking out of line.

To be the last Saint.

But I didn’t want the same thing to happen again.

I was trying to do the best I could.

“I’m just trying to do my best…”

After all, I couldn’t say it well, and I was cut off there.

I was so preoccupied with my feelings that I couldn’t come up with any concrete examples.

I couldn’t do this. I was really just me.

“Elvira.”

Rudolf-sama said, as he leaned over me,

“I’ll support you.”

“…Thank you.”

“So don’t work too hard on your own.”

“But,”

“We could use all kinds of people to help us.”

“I did…”

I almost forgot an important thing again, didn’t I?

I didn’t have to make decisions alone, and I didn’t have to work hard alone anymore.

“Elvira.”

Rudolf-sama’s face became even closer.

Oh?

“…Can I touch you?”

Wait!

Of course I would like to say yes, but I was too shy to answer immediately.

“So, …you don’t need to bother to ask me, because I’m sure Rudolf-sama would know how I feel…”

Rudolf-sama chuckled.

“I have to ask.”

“You’re mean, aren’t you?”

“You’re so cute.”

“!”

“Okay, let’s change the question, Elvira.”

“…Yes?”

“Can I kiss you?”

“!!”

You’re totally kidding, right?

I was so frustrated that I deliberately said the opposite.

“…No.”

Rudolf-sama stared at me and said,

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not lying…”

I couldn’t tell him until the end.

—————————————————

It wasn’t until about six months later that I was able to go to Lake Erie.

“Lady Elvira! Welcome!”

Everyone in the town welcomed me.

Lake Erie and the surrounding area had become a very nice lakeside town.

“It’s hard to believe the water was once dry.”

“Oh, isn’t it strange?”

Today, we were going to stay at a villa for the royal family.

We were told that at night, we would be able to see the stars as they twinkled, and we were encouraged to go out on the balcony.

“Oh, how beautiful…”

It was really, a star-filled sky.

I said, gazing at the stars,

“I am very happy to be married to Rudolf-sama.”

“?!”

Rudolf-sama turned red at my surprise. I could tell even in the dark.

“Why so sudden?”

“Somehow, I felt compelled to put it into words.”

“You got me…”

“What did you say?”

“Elvira is cute when she is honest.”

I was going to say it here and now.

“How about you, Rudolf-sama?”

Rudolf-sama hugged me from behind.

“Of course, I’m happy.”

It was a starry night.

【Main Story Complete】