The Saint is Not My Sister, The Real Saint is Me - Episode 5

“Are you the true saint?”

In the grand audience chamber of the imperial palace, I found myself standing before the emperor. How did it come to this?

A few hours earlier, after a long journey, I had finally arrived safely at the Ainakura Ducal estate. But before I could even rest, Lord Rein had taken me straight to the palace.

And before I knew it, I was standing here, having an audience with the emperor.

“Y-Yes.”

If a saint is someone who protects the land and grants it prosperity, then that would undeniably be me.

“I never imagined that the Saint of Kotokoris would be the elder sister…”

Well, of course, you wouldn’t. I’ve always lived in my sister’s shadow, so it’s no surprise no one knew.

“I can personally vouch that Yuna is the true saint.”

“Even so, is there any other proof? I cannot simply trust Rein’s testimony alone.”

A man who seemed to be one of the emperor’s retainers spoke, fixing me with a piercing gaze.

S-Scary…! I understand his doubts, but his intensity is overwhelming!

“Father, your gaze is frightening. You’re scaring Yuna.”

Father? So this man is Lord Rein’s father—the Duke of Ainakura! The emperor and the Duke of Ainakura… I was surrounded by powerful figures, and my sense of being out of place was overwhelming!

“My apologies, that was not my intention—”

“Father just has a naturally sharp gaze, but he’s not a bad person, so don’t worry, Yuna.”

“I-I believe I can prove that I am the true saint.”

“What?”

When I was young, I couldn’t control my power well, but now I can. I can choose freely who to grant my blessings to.

“Lord Ainakura, do you have the ability to use magic?”

“No… Unlike my son, I cannot use magic.”

That works perfectly. This way, he will clearly feel my power.

“Then, may I borrow your hand?”

“My hand?”

My magic works through touch—I can bestow power upon others.

Depending on the recipient, the effects vary. The land flourishes, Yuna’s healing magic grows stronger, and for those without magic—

“! This is…!”

A flame appeared in the duke’s left hand.

For those without innate magical abilities, my power allows them to wield magic, albeit temporarily. It seems the Duke of Ainakura has acquired fire magic.

“For now, you should be able to use magic. But unless I grant my power again, it will eventually fade.”

The duration varies by individual, but once my blessing wears off, the magic will disappear completely.

“Amazing… This power is beyond imagination.”

“You seem well-versed in your abilities.”

“After I learned to control them, I experimented on the village children.”

The children of Kotokoris were the only ones who interacted with me. And since children often lose their ability to use magic as they grow, no one noticed.

“As for the land, I must physically visit a location to bless it. Touch is the fundamental requirement.”

That was why Kotokoris flourished while I lived there.

“If you could prove this all along, why did you remain in your sister’s shadow?”

…Good question. Once I mastered my abilities, I could have proven my status as a saint anytime. But I never did.

“I believed it was my duty, as an elder sister, to support Emil.”

I hated her, but she was still my twin. So I always lived as her shadow.

For the sake of my family—

“Father, Yuna’s power is genuine, isn’t it?”

“Indeed, there is no doubt. Lady Saint, I sincerely apologize for my rudeness.”

“P-Please don’t apologize! If you’ve believed all this time that my sister was the saint, it’s only natural that you’d be skeptical when someone else suddenly claims the title!”

I shrank back as the Duke of Ainakura bowed to me. Someone like him shouldn’t be lowering his head to someone like me!

“Hmm. This saint is far more humble and refined than her sister.”

“…Did my sister do something disrespectful?”

Surely Emil didn’t behave rudely toward the emperor? Though I often accompanied her, I was mostly kept in the background. I was never taken to glamorous places like the imperial capital, so I had no idea what kind of person Emil was outside of our home.

I did, however, have some idea that our father was arrogant towards Lord Ruki and the high-ranking nobility…

“Hmm. Well, when we requested the saint’s aid in revitalizing barren lands and healing the wounded, she refused, complaining that the locations were too far, the food wasn’t good, or that she didn’t want to use magic because her skin wasn’t in good condition.

“Even when she did go, if the people did not treat her as she expected, she would refuse to use her power, saying things like, ‘Why don’t they cherish me more? I am the saint! They should adore me!’”

“She once even left an audience with my father mid-way, saying, ‘The duke glared at me! As a saint, I should be treated with more reverence. How dare he glare at me? I’m leaving!’ And she returned to Kotokoris.”

“…I sincerely apologize for my sister’s behavior!”

Hearing these reports made my face go pale.

Her attitude during her saintly duties, her way of speaking to the Duke of Ainakura, and even leaving an audience with the emperor mid-way—such insolence!

And to top it off, she sulked and ran home? Is she an idiot!?

“It’s fine, Yuna. You don’t have to apologize.”

“No… This is truly disgraceful. I wish I could crawl into a hole out of embarrassment.”

I was truly relieved that I had cut ties with my family.

“As a saint, we could not reprimand her too harshly, so we ignored her behavior. But recently, even Baron Kotokoris has been making excessive demands in exchange for the saint’s services—such as increasing his rank, granting him more land, and raising his rewards. It has become quite troublesome.”

They were running wild.

Did they not realize that Emil wasn’t the real saint?

“…Please ignore their demands. It is only natural to help those in need. I will go in Emil’s place and restore the land.”

Before I was born, Kotokoris was a barren land where nothing could grow. I heard how difficult life was back then.

So why wouldn’t they extend a helping hand to others?

Why would they abuse the power I gave them?

“Hmm. I am relieved that the true saint is someone like you. The Finable Empire will take full responsibility for your protection. Duke Ainakura, Rein, I leave Yuna in your care.”

“As you command.”

The two of them bowed in unison at the emperor’s decree.