Chapter 115 – The Second Prince's Fate

“Your Excellency. This is my younger brother, Brid, who serves as the Second Prince’s closest aide.”

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Brid. I serve as the Second Prince’s closest aide.”

“I appreciate the information. This way.”

The bishop led me over to a large map.

“Brid. There’s something I’d like to ask of you. How much cooperation can I count on?”

“Full cooperation, just as the word implies. Menial chores or even cleaning the sewers—the Second Prince will handle it all.”

I flashed a sly grin, and the bishop mirrored it with one of his own.

“I’ve heard the story. About how the Second Prince brought the Saintess’s sister along, and the reason behind it.”

“Yes. It’s quite embarrassing.”

The bishop’s expression turned stern as he said that.

“I like you lot… the Second Prince included. But that’s a separate matter from this. You understand, right?”

“Yes.”

The bishop stared deep into my eyes, as if confirming something.

“At midnight, the Saintess rescue team will head for the royal castle. To avoid clashing head-on with the Holy Knights, I need you to get the Saintess out of the castle and hand her over to Heart. Can you make the Second Prince handle every bit of that himself?”

“Yes, sir! Count on it!”

This was a major responsibility.

Is there some special meaning in having the prince do it personally?

“One more thing. Headquarters has notified us that Heart of the Saintess rescue team has received a ‘Divine Oracle.’ The church will formally inform the king about this. If there are any changes to the plan, we’ll contact you—so make sure the First Prince doesn’t catch on.”

“U-understood!”

This was bad! Bad! Bad! A “Divine Oracle” had been issued!

It was practically as if the Saintess had been kidnapped…

Ah! So that’s why they were calling it a rescue team!

Did that mean I’d unwittingly lent a hand in it?

Prince—this time you’re in deep trouble.

No wonder the bishop entrusted the Second Prince with such a big role.

At this rate, he’d be considered an accomplice. The only way to survive was to become the hero who saved her.

The bishop had given us our chance.

What the hell had the First Prince gone and done?

Was he planning to take the whole country down with him?

I hurried out of the church and rushed into a carriage.

“Get us back to the castle—now! This is urgent!”

“Yes, sir!”

As the carriage sped through the castle gate, I spotted a familiar back.

“Isn’t that the former guard captain, Dajil?”

The guards and subordinates riding with me checked out the window.

“Yes. He’s with one of Larsen-sama’s subordinates—the First Prince’s closest aide.”

“Larsen’s?”

The guards and subordinates nodded firmly.

“I’ll tail them. You head straight to the prince, Brid-sama.”

“Y-yeah. Thanks. Be careful out there.”

The carriage slowed, and the guard leaped out, breaking into a run.

“When we get to the castle, send reinforcements to take Dajil into custody. He’s strong, so bring a large group. And whatever you do, don’t let Larsen’s subordinate notice.”

“Yes, sir.”

I hesitated for a second—Isn’t custody a bit much?—but then figured, If I’m wrong, I can always apologize later. Pure prince logic. That’s the order I gave.

After all, a “Divine Oracle” was in play.

Better to overdo it than underdo it.

I parted ways with my subordinate in front of the castle and hurried to the prince’s side.

“Prince! Pant… pant… big trouble!”

Brid flung the door open and yelled straight at me.

“You okay? Sit down first.”

I was startled by how unsteady he was on his feet. I lent him my shoulder and helped him onto the sofa.

“Prince… pant… a Divine Oracle… pant… has been issued.”

“A D-Divine Oracle!? Wait—is the country done for? So it really was a kidnapping?”

Brid’s eyes went wide in shock.

“Pant… yes. Probably a kidnapping. Any news on your end?”

“Yeah. After you left, one of your subordinates reported that they’d pinpointed the Saintess’s location.”

I snapped my fingers as I said it, and Brid grabbed me by the collar.

“And?”

“I had them keep watch. Told your subordinate to rescue her if there’s any sign of harm coming her way.”

Brid let go, went limp, leaned back on the sofa, and stared up at the ceiling.

Huh? Did I mess up?

Brid let out a huge sigh in that same position.

“Prince~. You’re amazing~.”

“What the~? Don’t scare me like that~.”

Brid had been laughing, but suddenly he sat bolt upright, straightened his posture, and put on a serious face.

“Prince. Listen carefully. Lily’s involvement in this means we’re not exactly uninvolved either.”

“Yeah~. We went and made her look just like the Saintess~.”

I’d unwittingly created a fake Saintess.

Sorry, Saintess—you saved my life once. I never meant to cause you trouble.

“But the church has given us a shot. The Saintess rescue team arrives at the castle at midnight. The message is: to avoid a direct confrontation with the Holy Knights, get her outside the castle and hand her over to Heart.”

“Is it okay for me to do that? What if the Holy Knights show up and just take her?”

I’d already given up hope, but now the church was throwing us a lifeline.

“Exactly. The church here knows you’re innocent. But we can’t ignore the Pope and church headquarters. That’s why you need to play the starring role in the rescue.”

“At this point, I’ll do anything—chores, sewers, whatever. So, who’s this Heart guy?”

“The leader of the Saintess rescue team. The one who received the ‘Divine Oracle.'”

Ah, got it. Just hand her over to the guy bearing the “Divine Oracle.”

“I’d like to send a message to the Saintess. Can one of your subordinates handle it?”

“Of course. You just act normal, Prince. If the First Prince catches on, the plan’s toast.”

“Right. We can’t let anything happen to the Saintess.”

Still, when it’s time to sneak her out at midnight, won’t I have to fight my brother’s men?

Well, no one’s dumb enough to come at the Second Prince head-on. I can at least serve as her shield.

Right? Yeah, has to be.

If I get cut down, it’s my own fault—no regrets.

Even so, a Saintess kidnapping…

Why would my brother do something like this…? The country’ll fall before I even die.

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