The Executed Saint Reincarnates as a Princess and is Loved by Her Older Brothers - Episode 29

“Another price increases?”

The castle town of the Coral Kingdom. Looking at the goods lined up at the stalls, the woman sighed in exasperation.

At the storefront, there are leafy greens, root vegetables, and fruits, but all of them are smaller than last year. Despite being thin and having poor color, the prices are rising even more.

“Back in the day, you could buy much better quality food for a lot cheaper…”

Recalling the prosperous past, the woman sighed and spoke, and the man who was tending the shop also sighed in agreement.

“It can’t be helped. We’re in the same boat here.”

The reign of the current king, Nathan, has been prolonged, but the people’s living conditions have not improved at all. On the contrary, they are becoming increasingly difficult.

Unfavorable weather. Cold damage caused by prolonged rain. Continuous crop failures due to lack of sunlight. Domestic food prices are soaring to unprecedented levels.

Even in this town, which was supposed to be the richest in the country and the king’s stronghold, poverty was rampant.

“I want to move to the Rochelle territory. I hear there’s more food there now than in the royal capital.”

When the man on duty complained, the woman also nodded in agreement.

“That place has the most favorable taxes in the whole country, and above all, the duke is a person who understands things, right? I’m so envious.”

The Rochelle territory was originally land granted to the king’s younger brother from the previous generation.

The previous king’s younger brother was also born of a concubine. To the king at that time, he was nothing more than an eyesore.

The reality is that while he was granted the title of duke, he was given a wasteland that even barons were reluctant to take on, effectively distancing him from the central government.

Rochelle was, so to speak, a remote “out-of-the-way” place. The title of Duke of Rochelle was merely nominal, and he was practically relegated to a sinecure.

After the death of the king’s younger brother, the lord of Rochelle was once interrupted.

The one who took the lordship seat again after a period of vacancy is the current king’s younger brother.

However, Prince Lionel emerged as a prominent figure in the sealed land of Rochelle.

After the death of the former lord, it has been the vassals who have effectively governed Rochelle in his stead.

They acted as deputies, managing the domains on behalf of their lord, overseeing practical affairs, and handling the collection and disbursement of taxes.

On the other hand, they were freely administering the lordless Rochelle territory and enriching their own pockets.

Duke Lionel of Rochelle, after taking control, approached them despite being aware of their misdeeds. Instead of purging them, he brought them to his side.

They have embezzled public funds and satisfied their own selfish desires, but they are still much more familiar with the current state of the Rochelle territory than the young new lord.

It is more beneficial to join forces than to make enemies, and it is more helpful to have them work together than to cut off their heads.

Lionel demanded that they serve this land instead of turning a blind eye to their corruption.

In fact, the territory that was gradually shrinking seemed to be a source of concern for the governors as well.

If the people become any poorer, they won’t even be able to be exploited. For them, it wasn’t a loss for Rochelle to be wealthy.

“You’re quite bold, aren’t you? Not like a true royal.”

The shopkeeper let out a sharp whistle.

Furthermore, Duke Lionel of Rochelle, with his immense wealth from unknown sources, reduced the tax burden on his subjects. He personally led the charge against the bandits who were disturbing the peace. He also encouraged the cultivation of potatoes, spreading them throughout his territory.

Despite being royalty, they did not hold any prejudice against potatoes, which were considered a lowly food, and rather promoted them with keen insight and remarkable skill.

Now, over a decade since Lionel’s entry, it is not an exaggeration to say that the Rochelle territory is the most vibrant region in the country.

The magistrates, who once operated like petty villains in the shadows, have now completely become loyal vassals of Duke Rochelle and are handling the practical affairs.

It seems like he is receiving a much more decent salary now compared to the time when he was embezzling public funds in small amounts.

“They say Duke Rochelle has a terrifying appearance. Apparently, he has only one eye.”

“One eye, huh? I don’t really care, though. My face doesn’t matter.”

Appearance doesn’t matter at all. What’s much more important is how well they can govern──.

Trying to say that, the man coughed violently.

It’s a lung disease. I’ve been suffering from it for a long time, and there’s no hope of recovery.

In the past, it was said that even such illnesses and injuries could be healed by the priestess in the temple if one offered enough gold.

However, the current saint has hardly been seen, and the doors of the temple that used to be open have long been closed.

“The current saint never shows up in front of us at all, huh?”

“Is there really such a thing as a saint, to begin with?”

“It’s been years already, right? They must be there by now.”

Whether the saint exists or not, it’s not even clear.

Whether a new saint has been found or welcomed into the temple, nothing has been officially announced.

The frustrated people had inquired at the temple, but the priest only spoke vaguely, saying nothing clear.

The woman propped her chin on her hand and tilted her head.

“Has it been twenty years already? My grandpa, you know, he was healed by the previous Saint.”

For my grandfather, who was diagnosed with an incurable disease, the whole family somehow managed to scrape together the money.

I donated the money to the temple and, as I had long wished, was able to receive a healing directly from the saint.

The treatment was successfully completed, and my grandfather has fully recovered, but the saint had a pale face and a stern expression, and she left without even letting me thank her properly.

At that time, I thought, “What a rude person, doesn’t he want to speak to commoners or something?”

“Maybe you were just feeling a bit unwell…”

Looking back now, it almost seemed like he was enduring the fall.

I can’t help but vividly recall the fleeting, ethereal expression of the previous saint, whom I met only once.

The woman pressed her hand against her eyes, which were stinging from the sunlight.