The Cowardly Baby Saint Sees Ghosts - Chapter 64

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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# Episode 64.
Days had passed since receiving the letter, yet that single line continued to gnaw at me.
[When we meet next time, I’ll tell you something fun.]
What on earth was he planning to say, drawing it out like this?
It bothered me all the more because it was unlike Demian to leave such lingering mystery.
“Are you looking at that letter again, Holy Maiden?”
Becky approached and asked.
“…No, I’m not.”
In truth, I was reading it for the third time now.
“If you’re that curious, why not just send a reply and ask him directly?”
“I won’t!”
I pouted my lips defiantly.
“…You have quite the competitive streak, don’t you, Holy Maiden?”
Days accumulated with nothing but mounting curiosity.
I continued with counseling and blessings as usual, but a corner of my heart remained fixed on that letter.
As if my thoughts had summoned it, that very afternoon a familiar carriage rolled through the Temple’s main gate.
“Wow, Your Highness!”
Bursting with joy, I dashed out before Becky caught me by the scruff of my neck and stopped me.
“Holy Maiden, we don’t run inside the Temple.”
“…Right.”
Demian descended from the carriage with a slight smirk. His expression was especially bright today.
“It’s been a while.”
“How devious of you, leaving only that teasing letter and not visiting—what was I supposed to do but wait?”
“I was busy.”
The excuse felt suspicious. Before, he’d always used illness as a convenient pretext to while away the time.
“So, what’s this fun story you promised?”
“You’re impatient, aren’t you?”
“Of course I’m curious!”
Demian drew out the suspense as he settled onto a bench in the Temple courtyard. Cheese promptly jumped into his lap.
“…Move.”
“Meow.”
“You really won’t budge.”
Giving up, Demian looked at me with Cheese sprawled across his knees.
“I met with Marquis Kailun not long ago.”
“…Pardon?”
It was a name I’d heard before. I was certain of it, but from where?
Ah, I remembered.
“That strict marquis everyone says? The one no one can handle?”
“Yes, that one.”
“Why? Did you cause some trouble?”
Demian looked at me as if I’d said something ridiculous.
“Why would I cause trouble?”
“Because whenever I see Your Highness, it seems like you’re scheming something sneaky.”
“…You’re not entirely wrong about that.”
He admitted it readily and began unfolding the details of what had happened that day.
How he’d gone alone without any guards, how the marquis initially hadn’t even spared him a glance, yet the moment he saw the chess board, his attitude shifted completely.
“…You went alone? That was dangerous!”
“It was fine. Look, I’m perfectly intact.”
“That’s not the point!”
My voice rose before I could stop it. Demian looked slightly taken aback.
“…You were worried?”
“Of course I was worried! What if something had happened?”
He fell silent for a moment, then let out a quiet laugh.
“I’ll tell you next time before I go.”
“You’d better.”
Hmm. But if the Crown Prince himself went to recruit someone personally, that marquis must be quite an important figure.
“But is that marquis really as frightening as people say?”
“Less frightening than simply disinterested. At first, he wouldn’t even make proper eye contact.”
“Then how did you win him over?”
“…It’s a long story.”
I could see he was trying to brush past it, but I decided to let it slide for now.
“Anyway, that Marquis told me to come back next month.”
“Really? Him? The picky one?”
“To play a proper game of Chess.”
It was remarkable. A man known for being so aloof, and yet a single game of Chess had moved his heart.
“But Your Highness, you’re quite skilled at Chess? I’ve never heard that before.”
“……It’s not that I play well, exactly. I’ve just been studying it on my own for a while.”
“Why?”
“I had nothing else to do.”
There was a hint of bitterness in his voice.
The memory of those days spent confined to his room, feigning illness, seemed to pass through his mind.
I pretended not to notice.
“So you spent all that time playing Chess because you were bored?”
“Chess, reading books, various things.”
Sensing the mood was growing heavier, I hastily changed the subject.
“Well, things worked out nicely. I think they’ll continue to go well.”
“……They will.”
There was a note of certainty in Demian’s voice that hadn’t been there before. The sight of it was both unfamiliar and welcome.
Becky drifted closer and cleared her throat.
“Ahem, shall we replenish your Holy Power? I heard you didn’t get to last time.”
Oh, right. We’d meant to replenish it at the charity event, but after a small quarrel, we’d let it slip.
“Wasn’t it difficult?”
“It was a bit.”
As always, we moved to a quiet corner of the Chapel. Clasping hands, I closed my eyes and channeled my Holy Power to him.
“……You seem especially at peace today.”
“I suppose it’s because I’m in a good mood.”
“Why?”
“Just am.”
I felt oddly embarrassed, couldn’t meet his eyes, and simply focused on letting the Holy Power flow steadily. Fortunately, Demian remained quiet as well.
The exchange of Holy Power was brief. The moment our fingertips touched, Demian’s expression noticeably softened.
“Thank you.”
“You say that every time. Don’t mention it.”
As he turned to leave, he suddenly looked back at me.
“Diane.”
“Yes?”
“Will you come with me next time I visit the Marquis?”
My eyes widened at the unexpected request.
“……Me? Why?”
“Just. I think I’d feel more confident if you were there.”
My face grew warm.
“……I’ll think about it.”
Demian waved as he climbed into the Carriage.
“See you next month.”
“Yes, travel safely.”
Becky saw the Carriage off until it disappeared from view, then turned back to me.
“Your Holiness, why do you look so happy?”
“……Me?”
“Yes, you’ve been smiling this whole time.”
I hadn’t realized it, but apparently I had been. Feeling oddly self-conscious, I covered my cheeks with my hands.
Becky folded her arms beside me and spoke.
“Are you actually going when he asked you to come along?”
“……I said I’d think about it.”
“It seems like you’ve already decided to go.”
She’d struck a nerve, and I had nothing to say. What could I do? I wanted to go.
“But I heard that Marquis is quite frightening. Will you be alright?”
“I’m not sure. But I think it’s better than sending His Highness alone.”
Becky laughed and patted my back.
“Your Holiness, I think you two suit each other quite well.”
“……What are you saying all of a sudden?”
“Just what I see. That’s how it looks to me.”
My face flushed for no good reason, so I gave a little cough and looked away. I couldn’t understand why everyone was acting so strangely today.
Watching the carriage disappear into the distance, I suddenly recalled the last line of that letter.
[Next time we meet, I’ll tell you something fun.]
Fun, he’d said—and it really was. And it left me feeling reassured, somehow.
There was something unfamiliar and oddly comforting about seeing Demian taking action of his own accord.
I found myself already curious about what would happen next month when we visited the Marquis Kailun’s estate.
* * *
Inside the carriage heading back, Demian gazed out the window and let out a soft laugh.
Diane’s angry face kept drifting back into his mind.
How she’d said it was dangerous, how she’d worried, how she’d told him to speak first next time.
He couldn’t remember anyone ever being genuinely angry on his behalf like that.
It was strange, and somehow it made him feel good.
‘It felt good.’
It was a bit embarrassing to admit, but it was true.
There had been people who worried about him before, but no one had ever been so openly angry with him.
They were all careful, always watching his mood, always maintaining courtesy. Everyone treated him like he was fragile glass.
But Diane was different. If she worried, she said so. If she was angry, she said so. Just like that.
She was honest and pure.
‘When I asked her to come with me, it wasn’t just for show.’
Of course, it was true that he’d gain more confidence facing the Marquis with her there.
But there was a deeper reason underneath that.
Simply, he’d wanted her to be by his side. There was no other reason to it.
That was all.
Demian gazed at the sunset beyond the window and closed his eyes.
‘I’m not usually like this.’
Spending time with Diane seemed to have softened his character somewhat.
As his Holy Power filled up solid and replete, his mood became refreshed and lighter.
‘It feels like things are going to work out.’
A satisfied smile on his face, Demian’s expression hardened as he gazed out at the street beyond the slowly moving carriage window.
“Who is that?”
A neatly dressed boy of similar age was speaking with Diane, wearing a smile.
Demian, who prided himself on his appearance among his peers, found the boy possessed looks that were not inferior when compared to other young nobles—quite striking, in fact.
The boy with curly brown hair wore a white training uniform and carried a sword at his side.
‘Learning swordsmanship too?’
Unaware that this was Robin, Becky’s younger brother, Demian gritted his teeth.
The fact that Diane’s face looked so radiant when she smiled at him only made his anger worse—though that was something he’d never admit.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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