The Saint is Not My Sister, The Real Saint is Me - Episode 44

“You can just ignore Mimosa’s nonsense. I doubt she actually wants to go out of her way to make Luki suffer. If she wanted to, she would do it on her own.”

“…That’s true. I think so too.”

Although I hadn’t known Lady Mimosa for long, she struck me as someone sharp-witted. From her plan to drag Luki down to hell and her suggestion for this revenge, she seemed like the type who had no problem doing underhanded things.

“Don’t worry, Mimosa doesn’t commit crimes—just barely.”

“Just barely, huh…”

That’s scary. I should probably stop digging any further.

More importantly, there’s still one last thing I must do here in the Kotokoris territory.

“Lady Yuna! Oh, you must be exhausted!”
“Please, take your time here and rest! We’ve prepared delicious tea and sweets for you!”

As soon as I finished restoring the land, cheers, applause, and words of gratitude echoed from all around me.

Judging by the number of people, it wasn’t just the residents of Aqua here…

“I’m fine. I’ll head back to the inn.”

“Oh, is that so? Then we’ll prepare the finest meal for you at the inn!”
“We won’t spare any expense!”
“We’ve also prepared new jewels and accessories for you!”

“No, that won’t be necessary.”

“It’s only natural for us to do this for Lady Yuna, the Holy Maiden of the Finable Empire!”

—When I first arrived here, I imitated Emil and my father, demanding only the meals I liked and insisting on having jewels, accessories, bath salts, and aromatherapy. But I’ve since stopped.

Because even without my demands, the people of Kotokoris spoil me with excessive hospitality!

Having grown too accustomed to indulging Emil’s whims, the people of Kotokoris anticipate my every need before I even say a word. They prepare everything, stay by my side, and never fail to shower me with praise—it’s overwhelming!

Did Emil actually enjoy this? I, on the other hand, just want it to stop!

“Aren’t you supposed to be working? The land has recovered, so shouldn’t you be tending to it?”

“No, no, as long as Lady Yuna is here, nothing else matters!”

In other territories, people rejoiced over the land’s recovery and immediately started working the soil. But here…

“As long as I’m here? The land’s restoration is complete, and I’m leaving today.”

“What?! No way!”
“Please stay here forever, Lady Yuna! This is your home, after all!”

“…Home? A place where I was scorned and have no fond memories?”

“Huh? Well, that’s…”

Even if they were deceived and manipulated by Emil, the fact remains that for years, the people of Kotokoris looked down on me and scorned me. I haven’t forgotten that.

“It was all Lady Emil’s fault! That fake Holy Maiden deceived us for so long!”
“We’ve always suffered because of that woman’s selfishness! She badmouthed the wonderful Lady Yuna without hesitation—she’s the worst!”

I won’t deny it. I hate Emil too. I think she’s the worst.

But I’m not magnanimous enough to forgive everything. Even if Emil deceived them, the fact remains that they bullied me and left me completely alone. I can’t bring myself to like people who so easily turn on her and now try to use me instead.

“What you really want is the Holy Maiden’s power, isn’t it? You’ve lived in comfort thanks to that power.”

The people of Kotokoris were skilled at handling Emil. They constantly flattered her, provided whatever she desired, and fulfilled her every whim.

Whenever Emil criticized her sister, they agreed with her, understood her desire to isolate her sister, and helped push me into solitude. That’s how they secured the blessings of the Holy Maiden.

“And now you’re condemning Emil just to get on my good side? After all that groveling? How convenient.”

“Well… Um… It’s only natural to flatter the Holy Maiden…”

“Unfortunately, I have no intention of staying here. To carry out my duties as a Holy Maiden, it’s more convenient for me to stay near the Imperial Capital.”

This remote territory is a hassle to travel to and from. The Imperial Capital is central, making it much easier to move around.

“But if we lose the Holy Maiden’s power, this land will wither again!”

“If you take proper care of the land, it won’t wither away.”

“T-then… um…”

“What’s wrong? Are you worried that without constant abundance, you won’t be able to make easy money anymore? That without the Holy Maiden, this remote land will go back to being ignored?”

Kotokoris thrived only because a Holy Maiden was born here. Thanks to that, they escaped their harsh life in the frontier.

“If you understand that, then please stay here!”

“Why should I devote my life to a place I feel nothing for? Don’t be ridiculous.”

“L-Lady Yuna…”

“This is the last time I will set foot in this land. No matter what happens to it in the future, I will not return to help.”