Side: Amy (11)

Huh? What? I didn’t even understand what was happening!

How were the Villainess and that gloomy loner still alive? And branding me, the Saint of Benevolence, as a witch and putting me on the wanted list? Were they out of their minds? To make matters even worse, the notice said it was fine to kill me on sight. Seriously, how far were they going to go?

Are they really that afraid of me? The Saint of Benevolence?

Well, of course they were. She was the Villainess, after all. She probably had plenty of guilty secrets to hide.

Just you wait. We’ll put you out of your misery soon enough.

Just as I was thinking that, some unbelievable news came flying in.

What? The Villainess’s family territory was recognized as a sovereign nation? Furthermore, the Zaus Kingdom—which was supposed to be at war with them—had acknowledged their independence and even sent a princess to the ceremony? And to top it all off, they announced an engagement between the Villainess and that gloomy loner?

"Huh? You’ve got to be kidding me!"

Just then, Marcus burst into the room.

"Your Highness! It’s an emergency!"

"What is it, Marcus?" Karl asked.

"Leo! It’s Leo!"

"What about Leo? Did he come back?!"

"Th-that’s... he’s in... a coffin..."

"What?"

"Wait... Leo? He’s... dead?"

My vision went white the moment I heard those words.

"Amy."

Karl reached out and held me tight. Ah, right. It was fine. I was still okay.

Even so, for them to kill Leo! Unlike that shitty mob of a Villainess or her gloomy loner, Leo was a capture target. Why was he dead? I was the Heroine and the Saint of Benevolence, and I specifically told him to come back. He was supposed to obey me! What were they thinking?!

...It was unforgivable. My Leo! How dare they!

"Lord Karl! Leo is... we have to avenge Leo!"

Fine. I would definitely kill them. That’s right; I should have just finished off the Villainess and that loner a long time ago. It was because I was too kind—because I acted too much like the Saint of Benevolence—that those pieces of trash got carried away. I wouldn't make that mistake again.

"I know, Amy. But unless we do something about that coward—"

"Excuse me! Your Highness!"

Another interruption? Honestly, some people just couldn't read the room.

"Ah, the Saint of Benevolence is here as well. You are as beautiful as ever, my Lady."

"Oh, thank you. You’re such a flatterer," I replied, slipping into my Saint of Benevolence persona for the time being.

"Enough! What’s happened?" Karl demanded.

"Sir! The front line against the Est Empire has collapsed. We have lost all of Bruseni."

"What?! How? You said Kardachia wouldn't fall even if we were pushed back slightly!"

"It seems there was a secret passage we were unaware of. They used it to stage an attack from inside the castle walls."

"Tch. And then?"

"Sir! Our forces were thrown into total confusion by the enemy soldiers appearing suddenly within the castle. We lost half our troops before the rest were routed."

"Half? You lost half the army?"

"Yes, sir. Furthermore, the Imperial Army has secured all of Bruseni and is currently reorganizing. It is expected they will begin their march on Luluden at any moment."

"Dammit!"

This couldn't be happening. Was the Royal Capital really going to fall even without the Villainess there to sabotage it? But I, the Saint of Benevolence, was right here. There was no way we could lose.

I realized then: This must be the final boss battle.

"I-I’m here, Lord Karl! I’ll stay by your side and support everyone’s struggle!"

"Y-you’re right. We have the Saint of Benevolence with us. We can’t possibly lose."

"Exactly! As long as we have the Saint of Benevolence, we have nothing to fear!"

At my words, the morale in the room surged visibly. That was more like it. Now was the time to show off my true power as the Heroine!