The Magical Holy Woman Seraphina - Chapter 67

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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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The Magic Saint Seraphina
Chapter 67
Why had Crown Prince Arden, his identity concealed, happened to be passing through that very spot at that exact moment?
Arden’s day had begun within the Imperial Palace.
“Your Majesty, shall we take our usual walk past the stone wall again today?”
“Very well.”
The Emperor and Empress—Arden’s parents—sat across from each other, lost in their own world, indifferent to whether their son frowned or not.
These days, the imperial couple’s walking route began at the Emperor’s office and ended at the stone wall where the Magic Saint had etched the names of corrupt nobles.
They would sit before a table placed in front of it, chuckling as they gazed upon the inscribed names of those disgraced aristocrats.
What? The Emperor’s own name hadn’t been carved there alongside theirs?
‘If one errs, it must be recorded in history. What else can be done?’
That was the Emperor’s philosophy.
Even an Emperor cannot do exactly as he pleases.
The Empire possessed Imperial Law, a concept that superseded even the Emperor’s command, and the Emperor himself, as the Law’s guardian, must uphold it more strictly than anyone.
By the law. According to procedure. With justification for every act.
It was only natural, though honestly, there were many times he wanted to abandon it all. Every Emperor who had come before had surely thought the same at least once.
Whenever he wanted to do anything, he had to negotiate with nobles obsessed with lining their own pockets, compromise, coordinate, present arguments….
‘Blast these selfish creatures! How can you think only of filling your own bellies?’
There were more than a few occasions when he wanted to shout himself hoarse and overturn his desk—but then a court scribe would dash forward to record “His Majesty overturned his desk,” the photographers constantly attending the palace would snap their shutters and publish the story, and history would remember him as a tyrant who destroyed furniture.
So during the Slums fire some time ago, he’d barely managed to restrain his roiling indignation as he witnessed the nobles’ despicable conduct.
Then the Magic Saint appeared and cleanly etched those aristocratic wretches’ names upon the Imperial Palace wall!
“Like drinking a bowl of grapefruit wine with carbonation,” the Emperor had told his son at the time.
Since then, the Emperor had secretly cheered for the Magic Saint.
Like this.
“So, my son, how is the investigation into the Magic Saint proceeding?”
……
“Your silence tells me it’s not going well. Isn’t that right?”
“…We will apprehend her. Please do not worry yourself too much.”
“Worry? I only hope it takes much longer.”
“Really, Your Majesty. You’re hurting our son’s feelings.”
……
A father who scolds is worse than a mother who strikes….
Trembling with displeasure.
Having finished his morning appointments at the Imperial Palace in a foul mood, he made his way to the Clothing Shop on Demarcey Street.
He hoped to find peace of mind by purchasing a clean handkerchief.
But then.
“Arden! Oh dear, Seraphina just stepped out. It’s her lunch hour.”
……
Of course, Arden’s purpose wasn’t to meet his senior in the first place—
it wasn’t—
he was simply buying a handkerchief.
So he shouldn’t have felt disappointed that she was absent, or regretted coming, or considered sneaking out only to return later; he felt none of those things.
……
He received fifty clean new handkerchiefs, yet his mood scarcely improved.
He headed toward the Plaza.
He remembered seeing his senior sitting at the fountain a few days ago, spreading jam on a scone.
Not that he was anticipating a chance encounter disguised as coincidence—
no—
he needed a walk anyway.
Citizens who recognized Arden spoke to him along the way.
“Arden!”
“Arden, where are you headed?”
“Arden, are you going to catch the Magic Saint?”
“Arden, please have this!”
Ever since his appointment as investigator into the Magic Saint, citizens had taken to accosting him in precisely this manner.
They giggled and thrust homemade snacks into his hands—he might as well have been a street cat.
Though Arden would never admit it, to the Empire’s populace, the chase between the Magic Saint and the beautiful knight Arden was an endlessly entertaining spectacle.
Even though it was winter and the days grew short, and even the popular Opera Cernié had concluded its run, leaving the people bored—Arden’s arrival provided precisely the diversion they needed.
“Eat up and find your strength to catch the Magic Saint~”
“Though I hope you never catch her~”
The group of girls who had handed the bread to Arden watched him tremble and giggle among themselves before disappearing.
Unable to vent his frustration at a citizen of the empire, Arden stood motionless, clutching the bread.
“Arden!”
Hey there, Arden! Help me out, would you?
“Someone help me!”
He turned to see Cameron, Count of Roa Central Court.
The judge, whom he hadn’t seen in days and who now looked half-ruined, came stumbling frantically toward him.
“Me! Help me!”
Behind the flailing judge appeared an enormous man.
Arden’s gaze naturally shifted to him at the sight of such a massive figure, and he flinched.
‘What on earth is that eyesore?’
Filthy whiskers covered not only his jaw and cheeks but his neck as well.
Between the sleeveless shirt and his arms, a thick mat of… ugh! Ugh!
While Arden suppressed the urge to pluck out his own eyes and plunge them into the Fountain, Judge Cameron came running and hid behind Arden.
“He keeps—he keeps looking at me!”
Why was this monstrosity!
Cameron hid behind Arden, but Arden himself wanted nothing more than to place something—anything—between himself and the man.
A palisade. A wall. A cannon.
Concealing his reluctance, Arden stepped in front of Judge Cameron and looked up at the man.
When their eyes met, the man suddenly began sweating profusely and rolled his eyes.
From the look of his jaw, he hadn’t shaved today either.
‘Absolutely repulsive.’
Arden, unintentionally irritated, asked coldly.
“What is it?”
* * *
“So, this man has been staring at the judge? For days?”
“Exactly!”
“And the Capital Guard said staring alone doesn’t constitute a crime?”
“Precisely!”
“That won’t do.”
Arden frowned.
Meanwhile, I stood with my stomach pushed forward, wracked with anxiety.
‘Why must Arden show up here of all places?’
I resented it bitterly.
I was trembling.
At any moment, I expected Arden to turn and say, ‘Seraphina?’
Shaking. Shaking.
My throat worked convulsively as I swallowed again and again.
Of course, Arden saw me swallowing and made a face of disgust.
“Tell me, why do you stare at people so brazenly?”
Arden, unaware of who I was, scolded me.
“A person isn’t some inanimate object. Surely you understand that gawking makes people uncomfortable?”
Even animals treat such blatant staring as a sign of hostility and attack, Arden continued.
Well said.
I applauded silently, but outwardly I pressed on shamelessly.
“Staring at the judge isn’t a crime, is it?”
“It may not be a crime, but it can certainly constitute a threat.”
Right, right.
Excellent work.
“And.”
Arden continued.
“If you stare at someone while fully aware it will make them uncomfortable, isn’t that a disregard for their dignity as a person? Having already shown such disregard, you’re well capable of committing a crime. And it’s my job to prevent that. Now answer me—why exactly are you staring at Judge Cameron?”
……
“The Capital Guard may differ in their view, but I’m prepared to arrest you. Answer my question. Why have you been staring at Judge Cameron?”
“Well.”
I pulled out the excuse I’d prepared for just such a moment.
“Because he’s beautiful.”
“What?”
“I was staring because he’s beautiful.”
I held out a single Paper Flower I’d kept hidden behind me as I spoke.
“I fell for you at first sight. I was simply following you because I liked you.”
“…….”
“You’ll overlook it, won’t you? Since it’s only because I’m fond of you.”
“…….”
A brief silence settled over the room.
“Sigh.”
Arden pressed his fingers to his temple and turned to face Judge Cameron.
“We’ll take her into custody as planned.”
“No! No!”
Judge Cameron waved his hands frantically.
“If you haul her away like this, her testimony won’t be recorded in the official file!”
“Exactly.”
“I can’t have the whole district talking about this!”
“What would you have me do?”
“Just give her a warning!”
Tell her never to lay eyes on me again! the judge cried out.
Was reputation truly worth all this?
Arden shook his head, attempted to reason with the judge a few more times, then gave up and turned back to face me.
“Did you hear that? From now on, you cannot follow people around without their consent or stare at them like that.”
“But I really do like Judge Cameron……”
“Whether you like him or not. That doesn’t matter. You still can’t do it.”
He cut me off, his patience clearly wearing thin.
“Your feelings for the judge are irrelevant. What matters is the other person’s wishes. Understood?”
Impressive. Real authority.
“One more time—just once more—if you show your face in front of Judge Cameron, I will have you arrested.”
Arden issued the warning.
“I’ll have a word with the Capital Guard about it as well.”
With that, Arden turned to leave with Judge Cameron.
Or rather, he started to turn.
But he paused and looked down at me with suspicion in his eyes.
“By the way, you.”
“Yes? Yes?”
“Are you unwell?”
“I……”
“Why have you been sweating buckets this whole time, and why won’t you meet my gaze?”
“That’s……”
“That’s?”
“It’s hot……”
“…….”
Mind you, it’s the dead of winter outside.
Arden himself is wearing a coat.
“I suppose I’m running a fever from lovesickness for the judge……”
“Get out of here.”
“Yes, sir.”

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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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