This Engagement Never Happened

This Engagement Never Happened

Raw: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2001lb/

The Knight Commander’s third son, who was my fiancé and was scheduled to come as a son-in-law to our Margrave family, was rumored recently to be close to the Saint, so Janet decided to visit the academy she had graduated from six months ago.

The existence called “the Saint” is a precious existence who can use light magic and healing magic, and can even heal great injuries or bodily losses that cannot be expected to recover with ordinary treatment. It is a good thing to be close to such a person, but there was something that worried her.

The sight of boys wrapped in the frontier marquis’ military uniform walking with dignity, their eyes shining, and girls blushing — it looked no different from student days and it made her smile unintentionally, and when she smiled a little for some reason, screams erupted.

Come to think of it, it was like this even while enrolled.

“You are as sinful as ever.”

She was told by an attendant but could not understand.

“Lady Renbrand, daughter of the Margrave.”

While tilting her head a young man called out to her.

“It’s been a while. Because you came, it’s become a mess and I hurried and came over. Please don’t increase the Student Council’s work.”

“Student Council? I thought in this generation there was the Crown Prince and his attendant……”

The young man in front of her, in terms of grades and status, it would not be strange if he were in the Student Council, but this generation’s members were the Crown Prince and his attendant. With the Saint also present she did not think the Saint would join the Student Council.

“Indeed they are chosen to run the Student Council in a way that is somewhat related to national politics. Although this time, ability was evaluated because the Student Council President is Lady Kianne, the Duke's daughter.”

The name of the Crown Prince’s fiancée was raised, and knowing her personality made it understandable.

Still, she tilted her head thinking the Crown Prince might complain, and the young man said,

“They won’t choose someone who, while saying to treat students equally, favors one girl. Well, the president is elected by vote.”

Meaning he lacks public favor…

“Anyway—”

He turned a sharp gaze toward her.

“Even if you are an alumna, wandering around the academy at will is troublesome.”

She stared intently at a junior who had seemed frail while enrolled but whose build had become sturdy and whose impression had become robust, and said,

“Ah. It was not good for security. Sorry. — I’m looking for my fiancé.”

“Security is not the only reason. Anyway your fiancé... is Count Cocalis’s son, isn’t it?”

He gave title rather than saying Knight Commander.

“Did you catch wind of the rumor?”

“Why else would I be here?”

“That was a foolish question.”

They talked like that and guided her, but there was no sign of her fiancé there.

“He’s not here?”

“You can see better from here. Lately, it’s rumored he’s nearby here.”

When told to look down from the window she did so and saw in the courtyard her fiancé and a female student.

“That is the Saint……”

She was sure it was Miss Mina.

Her fiancé was swinging a wooden sword around training, and the Saint was cheering him on.

—A scene that could be called a slice of youth.

She observed for a while, but the matter was completed by observation alone.

“Is that enough? You’re not going to call out to them?”

“Ah. — Not necessary.”

She thanked him for guiding her.

She immediately headed to the Knight Commander…no, to Count Cocalis.

“About the engagement, I have come to dissolve it.”

When she quickly stated the matter,

“Lady Janet. Isn’t it too soon…no, I do not intend to defend my son’s flirtation, but the Saint seems to be the Crown Prince’s true interest……”

Although she thought that a truly loyal retainer would stop the Crown Prince, who has a fiancée, from falling in love with another woman,

“The cause is an earlier issue.”

She told him.

“And what do you mean……”

“I would like to borrow the training ground as soon as the fiancé returns.”

When I told him that I would tell the cause later, he granted permission.

“Ja…Janet!? Why are you here.”

After waiting a while her fiancé — soon to be in past tense — returned, bringing with him the Saint and the Crown Prince, and the attendant.

“You don’t notice a change in the mansion’s atmosphere, that’s a demerit. My horse and my family’s carriage were stopped.”

He said in exasperation,

“The Highness is also at fault. Sudden schedule changes affect the guards.”

“That is—”

“Eeeee!! Coming to Shudal-kun’s house without permission and scolding Alto for acting freely is strange!!”

Because the Saint complained she sighed and said,

“Well, I will change the wording. — If there is a sudden schedule change and an emergency contact must be made, if the Highness’s whereabouts are unknown how would you get in touch?”

“Why would we have to contact Alto about such a thing?!!”

The Saint complained again and she was exasperated.

“Royalty are allowed to act as the person responsible in emergencies. The Saint will also be called in emergencies.”

“Haaaa? That is not relevant now.”

Seeing the Saint screaming as if throwing a tantrum, she grew tired of talking.

“Enough. Let's get to the main point. — Take the sword.”

“C-could it be, you suspect I’m cheating because I’m friendly with Mina? Rest assured. Mina is His Highness’s……”

“Take the sword,”

She cut off his superfluous answers and pointed the tip of the sword at him.

“A real sword is fine too.”

She lightly stroked the scabbard with her left hand, as if to say, “If you keep whining any further…”

“Al-alright…”

At the same time the Knight Commander who acted as referee’s voice resounded and they moved, but she clicked her tongue at the slowness of his movement and his bad habit of deliberately going to be hit though he should be reading her attack.

The Knight Commander acting as referee also noticed that bad habit and his temple twitched. He deliberately went to be hit, and with a disappointed look as if to lose as is.

“Shudal-kun, are you okay!!”

As the Saint immediately cast healing magic, he leaned on her as if wanting to be spoiled,

“Ah. I was saved, Mina.”

Her ex-fiancé was smiling.

“That's the situation.”

“Indeed, with such a spineless son, it seems there is a need to break off the engagement.”

The Knight Commander gave him a sharp gaze.

“Father…?”

The ex-fiancé called out while still leaning on the Saint, but the Knight Commander did not answer.

“I don’t mind if it’s dissolved rather than annulled.”

“No, to send such a son as a son-in-law to the Margrave’s territory. To receive mercy through dissolution, I, as the Knight Commander, cannot forgive myself.”

As he said that he approached the ex-fiancé still clinging to the Saint and punched him with all his strength.

“Kyaaaaa!!”

The Saint screamed.

“Knight Commander!!”

The Crown Prince raised his voice, but,

“The Margrave’s territory always bears the national defense from neighboring countries. If you do not keep winning, then you cannot protect the country. And yet you!!”

Watching the training scene in the academy’s courtyard, she felt there was no seriousness.

Showing off to the Saint was only a theatric and not combat-suited. And then, after moving a little, he had the Saint treat him.

Even slight grazes were treated.

And now the Saint was trying to treat the punched area, but

“Do not. No, do not.”

The Knight Commander’s voice tinged with anger. At that the Saint flinched and the healing hand stopped.

“The Saint’s healing should prioritize those with serious injuries. Yet you deliberately injure yourself to receive healing. Such a person cannot protect the country!! Hasn’t the Saint been taught not to use her heals so lightly?”

At the Knight Commander’s voice, she could only be amazed at the girl who was frightened after being scolded and yet did not still understand her position. At this rate the Crown Prince would soon hand over that position to his younger brother.

The Saint’s healing ability is thought to be very convenient, but it has its flaws. The Saint’s power is not inexhaustible. Inevitably at some point a limit will come and the healing ability will be exhausted. If she continuously healed small injuries, there is the fear that in an emergency, her healing ability will disappear, and moreover the Saint’s limit is not the strength of her ability but the number of times it can be used.

Healing a slight wound and healing a heavily wounded person — even if the range of treatment differs, the count is the same. When the Saint is found the number of healing uses the Saint can use is simultaneously informed to the related parties.

And it has a big impact on the person receiving the healing.

Once there were two warriors who had bodily losses; one had a close relation to the Saint who always received healing, and the other just barely met her.

Although the more familiar warrior was healed first, the recovery was faster for the warrior who barely met her despite being received later. He returned to the battlefield quickly.

But the closely related warrior needed long-term recuperation, and in the end did not fully recover. Forced to use prosthetics.

Being treated and being able to move is fortunate, perhaps, but……

“We cannot have someone without resolve bearing national defense.”

It applies to the Saint and the Crown Prince, not only her former fiancé.

Therefore she declared.

“Let the engagement be treated as if it had not existed.”

—And so.

After that. What will happen I do not know, but next I must make sure the person I will be engaged to, the son-in-law, is someone with resolve.

By the way, there are two candidates.