The Regressor and the Blind Saint-Chapter 269: After Story: The Guest (1)

The procession filled the road. Carriages gleamed with dazzling decorations, cavalry guarded the front and rear, and infantry surrounded them.

The flag held high by the lead soldier bore a symbol known to all on the continent—the Crest of the Imperial Family.

Indeed. This procession was escorting a member of the Imperial Family.

“Princess, we will be arriving soon.”

A man with striking golden hair inside the carriage said. It was Albrecht.

At the end of his gaze was a girl with the same golden hair as him.

She was Erineth, Albrecht’s only niece, with upturned eyes resembling a hawk’s.

“Why is Father sending me to a place like this?”

Erineth spoke in a voice as haughty as her appearance.

Her tone was filled with dissatisfaction and irritation.

The reason for her reaction was simple: at the end of this road lay none other than the Holy Kingdom of Elia.

“What does he mean, study abroad? I prefer staying in the Imperial Palace.”

Her lips turned pouty.

For about three months.

This was the period her father, Maximilian, had ordered for her to study abroad to cultivate an understanding of theology.

Albrecht smiled awkwardly.

Of course, he knew the real reason why his brother Maximilian had sent her to study abroad.

—Little brother, please. If she continues growing like this, Erineth will become an impertinent person. She has no manners because everyone around her only pampers her.

That was the gist of what he had asked, with a face covered in fatigue.

Let her learn how to get along with others by staying with peers her age in Elia.

Also, teach her manners and respect.

Erineth wouldn’t know how much donation money was spent to push her into the closed-off Elia, or how much manpower was expended.

And that was only possible because Sir Vera turned a blind eye.

It was a remarkable alignment of interests.

As it happened, Vera had been wanting to make friends for his children, and the Imperial Family’s donation was enough to entice Vera, so he had no reason to refuse.

Clatter—

Though the carriage shook greatly, the impact didn’t spread to the inside.

The magical engineering product that Maximilian had created by overworking scholars was shining even in moments like this.

“They’ll surely be country bumpkins. They probably don’t even know the first thing about magical engineering and just eat grass all day.”

Erineth grumbled as she fiddled with the ring on her finger.

This was also one of the magical engineering products bestowed upon her for protection.

She smiled viciously and said,

“Hmph, just try and be impudent. I’ll teach them a lesson with this.”

Her expression as she laughed arrogantly was quite wicked.

Albrecht smiled awkwardly after seeing this.

Well...

He had a certain guess in his mind.

The Vera and Renee he knew were not to be underestimated, so naturally, he thought their children would be extraordinary as well.

...I hope she doesn’t get too discouraged.

Albrecht hoped inwardly.

That his niece wouldn’t be hurt.

That she would stand up strong after the pain of having her pride shattered to pieces.

*In front of Elia’s gates, Vera and Renee brightened their expressions as they watched the Imperial procession approaching from afar.

“They’re coming!”

“Is that where the Princess is riding?!”

Lennon responded to Renee.

His face lit up with a bright smile, already full of anticipation at the thought of making a friend his age.

Renee smiled and nodded.

“Yep, she’s the Imperial Princess.”

“Yes! Lady Theresa told me! She said that members of the Imperial Family have dazzling golden hair!”

“That’s right, the Emperor and the Prince all have sparkling golden hair.”

Renee stroked Lennon’s head as she continued thinking.

Has it been eight years?

Right after she was revived, her last meeting with Albrecht was when they met on their way back to Elia.

Renee felt a sense of joy at the arrival of someone she considered a friend.

“They are here.”

Vera said as her thoughts continued.

His face was also lively.

However, his reason was different from Renee’s.

The donation.

An enormous donation.

A lump sum that would give Elia’s finances a green light for a while was riding in there.

Didn’t they ask to educate her well because she lacked manners?

I’ll make sure of it.

The corners of Vera’s mouth twisted upwards.

Their daughter Leni looked at this sight admiringly.

So cool!

That somewhat dangerous-looking smile is cool.

I want to make that kind of expression too.

With such thoughts, Leni’s eyes sparkled as she twitched the corners of her mouth.

*The carriage door opened.

Erineth took Albrecht’s hand and stepped down from the carriage, lifting her head in what she thought was the most elegant posture possible.

Then she looked at the Holy Kingdom’s welcoming party in front of the gates.

Flinch—

She trembled.

W-What...

It was different from the image she had in mind.

The Apostles and Paladins before her eyes had quite a dignified appearance, contrary to her perception of country bumpkins.

Among them, what particularly caught her eye was the couple at the very front.

They must be the Holy Emperor and Saint she had heard about beforehand.

Th-They’re... cool...

Erineth’s cheeks flushed slightly.

Then, belatedly realizing she had acted undignified, she coughed a few times.

“It’s an honor to meet the Holy Emperor and Saint. I am Erineth van Freich, First Imperial Princess of the Freich Empire.”

She greeted them while slightly lifting the hem of her elaborate dress.

At this, Renee covered her mouth and blushed.

How cute...

Wasn’t this girl a perfect fit to be described as a living doll?

Renee smiled involuntarily and replied.

“It’s nice to meet you. We hope you’ll enjoy your stay with us for the next three months.”

Her gentle, beautiful voice resonated.

Erineth mumbled, suppressing a smile.

At that moment, Lennon stepped forward.

“Princess! It’s a pleasure to meet you! I am... um! I am Lennon, son of the Holy Emperor and Saint!”

Elia did not follow a hereditary system, and they also did not bestow any particular status on young children.

So, after pondering how to introduce himself, this was the greeting Lennon ended up with.

Erineth’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.

What? He hasn’t even learned basic etiquette?

His face was quite... no, very presentable, but lacking in refinement, so he was disqualified.

As she inwardly evaluated Lennon, Erineth then looked at Leni.

Leni met her gaze with an indifferent expression, then slightly tilted her head.

Im-Impudent...!

Erineth’s teeth gritted slightly, then she thought.

It seems that becoming friends with these people during this study abroad is unlikely.

*In the Grand Temple’s garden.

While the adults went to handle complex administrative matters, Lennon, who was tasked with looking after Erineth, introduced the flower garden with a smile.

“This is the Grand Temple’s garden! Vargo always works hard to grow these flowers. Aren’t they pretty?!”

He asked, his eyes sparkling.

Erineth snorted with a hmph.

The Imperial Garden is prettier.

To Erineth, who had seen gardens designed by the continent’s best gardeners where a myriad of flowers shone in all colors, the Grand Temple’s garden wasn’t much of a sight.

Moreover, the one introducing it was Lennon, the epitome of a country bumpkin. It was natural she was in a poor mood.

Lennon scratched his cheek.

Strange. I was told girls like flowers.

Was the Pirate King’s advice wrong?

Confused by her indifferent reaction, Lennon made an awkward face, and Erineth spoke.

“Where are the others?”

“Ah! Sir Rohan and Lady Marie are out on a dispatch! Lady Theresa is preparing for class, and Vargo is educating the Paladins! The Pirate King is...”

“That’s not what I’m asking. Aren’t there other people managing the garden?”

“Uh...”

Lennon’s eyes rolled around.

“Well... Vargo takes care of the garden alone.”

A sigh escaped from Erineth’s mouth.

“Sigh...”

She shook her head while holding her forehead, already sighing at the thought of having to spend three months in this unremarkable place.

Lennon flinched.

His expression also darkened slightly.

Although Lennon always smiled, he had enough sense to understand what this reaction meant.

She’s disrespecting the garden...!

He felt a strange, unfamiliar emotion.

Something was boiling inside him, making him feel sick to his stomach.

A surge of loathing swept through him, unable to stand the sight of the one before him.

Lennon, who loved Elia, felt a sense of revulsion towards Erineth who had disrespected what he held dear.

“What am I supposed to learn in a place like this? I really can’t understand Father.”

Lennon’s expression darkened, his fists tightly clenched.

Just as his lips were about to spit out some harsh words, Lennon held back.

...She’s a guest.

The person in front of him was a guest.

His mother and father had said to take good care of her, so he shouldn’t get angry.

Lennon didn’t want to disappoint the people he loved, so he forced a smile.

“Th-Then shall we go somewhere else?”

He answered with a bright smile, as always.

However, the fire that had taken root in Lennon’s heart had not yet been extinguished.

*Erineth’s provocations continued.

They moved sequentially through the hall, chapel, dining room, and barracks.

—What? You call this the hall?

—A chapel? Well, this is somewhat acceptable.

—Huh? This is supposed to be a dining room? Where’s the chandelier? Where are the jewels on the chairs? No, forget all that, do I have to eat with other people?

—Ugh, it’s so dusty!

Those were Erineth’s words and actions, becoming more and more arrogant while Lennon was desperately holding back his anger.

The girl who had grown up as the apple of the Imperial Family’s eye, not knowing how high the sky was, paid no attention to Lennon’s changing expression.

Lennon endured.

Even when what he loved was belittled and denied, even when he kept hearing unpleasant words and was ignored throughout, he still endured, driven by the desire to not disappoint others.

However, even his patience was reaching its limit.

“What’s this? A forest? Ew, bugs.”

Erineth was now disrespecting his home, the sanctuary where green leaves always fluttered in the wind, something he couldn’t bear even if he could put up with everything else.

The flame within Lennon surged; the raging fire opened its maw wide, devouring his sense of reason.

“...Hey.”

A chilling voice came out, one Lennon had never used before.

Upon hearing him, Erineth flinched.

At last, Erineth turned her head; darkly shining ashen eyes bored into her.

“Wh-What is it! Why are you looking at me like th—”

The moment she was about to snap at Lennon, her pride hurt by the fact that she had been momentarily frightened...

Slap—!

For the first time in her life, Erineth was met by an entirely foreign sensation.

In that instant, her mind went blank.

A stinging pain bloomed across her cheek, followed by a rush of heat that swept up her face like wildfire.

Slowly, as if emerging from a daze, her mind sluggishly pieced together what had just occurred.

Did I just...

Get slapped?

Erineth stared at Lennon with an indescribable emotion.

He met her gaze directly and said growlingly.

“That’s enough.”

If Renee had seen him, she would have said that he looked exactly like Vera when he was furious to the core. That was how menacing his expression was.

Erineth let out a hollow laugh.

Then, gritting her teeth, she thrust her ring forward.

“You, you dare...!”

Whirr—!

Light gathered in the ring.

It traced a spell in the air, materializing into a blue arrow.

She was going to shoot it right at his head.

The moment Erineth made up her mind...

Crack—!

The ring shattered, and the arrow also vanished.

Pure white divinity was rising from Lennon’s body.

“Is that all?”

He asked emptily. Erineth felt her heart drop.

Rustle—

Lennon took a step closer, and Erineth instinctively stepped back.

It was an action born from the thought that she needed to get away from him, but it was meaningless.

Thud—

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Her retreating was blocked by a tree, leaving her with nowhere else to escape.

Slap—!

Once again, Lennon slapped her cheek.

Unable to understand the current situation, Erineth held her slapped cheek with a dazed expression.

As she trembled, Lennon brought his face close to hers.

“Hey.”

Her head, which had been lowered to the ground, was lifted.

Before her very eyes was an entirely white, beautiful boy.

This boy was glaring at her chillingly.

Then, his hand reached out and caressed the cheek he had reflexively slapped.

Erineth felt the pain disappear the moment his hand touched her.

“You should know your limits...”

Lennon’s voice remained cold, his eyes lowering slightly towards the cheek he caressed. White eyelashes fluttered as his gaze lingered.

It was an inappropriate observation given the situation, but seeing these features up close, Erineth couldn’t help but marvel at his beauty.

While all of her senses were captivated by this inappropriate focus, Lennon whispered.

“If you continue to act insolently, it might not end this lightly next time.”

Thump—

Erineth’s heart raced at the soft threat.

Heat rushed to her face.

Wh-What’s this...

It felt like her heart was tightening.

Her breaths grew rough, confused by this strange, newfound emotion.

“Shall we get along?”

Lennon smiled twistedly.

She nodded in a daze, not even knowing what she was doing.

Erineth, at seven years of age.

Having grown up as the precious child of the Imperial Family and never even spanked by her parents, she awakened to her first love along with the pain of being slapped.

...Years later, reminiscing about this day, Erineth would say:

“That face was the problem, that damn face.”

If it weren’t for his face, she would have never fallen for him.