Saint, You Should Quit Smoking

“Welcome. We’ve been waiting for you.”
After the night of my promise with Rinet. We left the village and arrived at the Boderod knight family.
The one who came out to greet me and Rinet was not a servant or an ordinary knight, but Lord Boderod himself.
Graying hair. His wrinkled face carried the years, but his body was still robust as if he were still active.
He greeted me with a disciplined salutation and paid his respects.
“It’s been a long time, Your Highness.”
“Yes. Have you been well, my lord?”
“Haha. I would like to say so, but….”
Boderod shrugged his shoulders.
“I’ve been busy lately with magical beasts attacking.”
“You’ve had a hard time.”
“Yes. So I was quite surprised when they said the academy would send the Saint herself.”
Boderod’s gaze moved to look at Rinet. As he greeted her again, Rinet responded with a clean Order etiquette.
“Thank you for personally coming to such a humble place, Saint.”
“Not at all. It’s what I should do as a Saint.”
After the greetings between them were finished. Boderod straightened his back and indicated behind him with his eyes.
“Both of you must be busy as students. I’ll skip the reception so you can finish your work and leave quickly. Is that alright?”
“I don’t mind.”
“Yes. Me too.”
We accepted the proposal since there was no benefit in dragging out the time.
Boderod immediately guided us inside the mansion.
The sound of knights training in the distance. The sight of servants cleaning the mansion passed by.
But one thing that was a bit impressive was that the number of swordsmen was small compared to the size of the mansion.
Their numbers were not many, as if they had been deployed somewhere.
“Where is the sealing stone located?”
“It’s deep inside the mansion. We’ve made security thorough.”
I nodded at those words.
If dangerous objects like sealing stones fell into the wrong hands, chaos would ensue immediately.
It’s a natural step for a family responsible for managing the sealing stone.
However, it also meant that we would have to continue walking for a while. So I opened a dialogue to ease the atmosphere.
“On the way here, we saw a child threatened by a magical beast. Fortunately, we were able to save them, but if such incidents are frequent in your domain, it’s quite concerning.”
“It’s my lack of virtue. For now, I’ve deployed knights and soldiers so that the domain’s residents don’t live in fear.”
“I see. I did think the numbers seemed low.”
As I nodded at his convincing words, Boderod hunched his shoulders. It seemed like there was something more to it.
“Actually, it’s not just because of the magical beasts.”
“Then?”
“It’s because there’s been an increase in knights reporting abnormal symptoms. There are frequent reports of hearing hallucinations or feeling depressed when staying in the mansion.”
“Hmm.”
That was a very unfavorable phenomenon.
Knights are those who walk the path of martial arts.
Not only do they train their bodies, but they also train their minds.
For such people to report abnormal symptoms.
My brow furrowed. I voiced the conjecture that came to mind.
“…Since when has this been happening?”
“Indeed. You’re still astute. It seems Your Highness has a guess.”
Boderod nodded slightly and continued.
“It’s been happening since the seal of the sealing stone weakened.”
“I suspected as much.”
“We should deal with this quickly, then.”
Rinet, who had been listening to the conversation, added.
‘Certainly.’
If a dangerous object like a sealing stone is already spreading such influence, it should be urgently addressed.
Boderod’s expression was not particularly comfortable.
Imperial knights are under the control of the imperial family. It would be uncomfortable for him to show that he wasn’t properly performing his duty in front of me.
I turned the topic to be considerate to him.
“By the way, my lord.”
“Yes.”
“These days, rumors of someone called the Knight Hunter have been spreading. There’s even talk that he was spotted nearby. Are you aware?”
“Ah, you mean that criminal?”
Boderod laughed loudly. He didn’t seem particularly concerned about the rumors.
“A fellow with a ridiculous epithet claiming to hunt knights. Journalists have exaggerated his actions, it seems.”
“It seems you’re not particularly concerned.”
“Of course not.”
Haha- Boderod smiled cheerfully. On that face full of wild charm was confidence built from years of experience.
“Even I, though not having reached the flower realm, have reached the peak level. And many of the knights under my command have reached first-class.”
“Hmm.”
“Would that criminal dare to crawl in here on his own? Rather, if he did, he’d just be another addition to the imperial prison.”
It was quite arrogant confidence, but since there wasn’t a weak basis for his words, I nodded as well.
As they are responsible for managing the sealing stone, the military power of the Boderod knight family is considerable. Unless the Knight Hunter has reached the flower realm, if he attacks this place, he would instead be captured.
The conversation concluded, and silence prevailed for a while.
The situation is that there’s still distance to the room where the sealing stone is located.
Just as I thought we might continue walking in silence, Rinet broke the silence.
“Are you well-acquainted with His Highness, Sir Knight? You mentioned ‘still.’ I’d like to hear stories about His Highness from the past.”
“Haha. Were you curious about that? Doesn’t His Highness tell you?”
“No! His Highness is taciturn and doesn’t talk much about himself.”
“Very well. This is perfect timing. Since we’ve walked for a while, let’s talk for a bit.”
With those words, we paused our steps for a moment.
Rinet’s ash-gray pupils were filled with curiosity. She probably wants to hear about my past from someone else’s mouth.
Boderod chuckled with humor. He seemed quite pleased with the topic Rinet had brought up.
“I have only seen His Highness when attending social gatherings at the imperial palace. At that time, I only saw him from a distance. He was someone I wouldn’t dare approach.”
“Heeh. Is that so?”
Rinet’s eyes sparkled at his words.
‘Is she that curious about my story?’
If she wanted to, she could hear it from my mouth, yet she deliberately asks others. And with the person in question right beside her.
Well, there is a certain taste to hearing from others rather than the person themselves.
Boderod spoke quickly. He seemed excited by her response, her eyes shining.
“Of course, it’s partly because His Highness is of noble blood. But that wasn’t the essential reason.”
“Then what was it?”
“Ladies were always circling around His Highness. If one wanted to speak to His Highness, they had to get past these ladies, and who would be that bold?”
“Wow….”
Rinet turned her head to look at me. Her eyes were filled with a sense of wonder.
“Your Highness. You were surprisingly popular.”
“What do you mean, surprisingly?”
I frowned slightly at the somewhat rude comment. Did I seem unpopular?
Seeing my reaction, Rinet explained why she said that.
“But Your Highness is completely like a block of wood, so boring.”
“…”
“You’re not the type that women would like.”
“Then what kind of man is to the Saint’s taste?”
“Oh, are you curious? Are you curious?”
Giggle – Rinet smiled like a mischievous child.
She seemed to find my retort quite amusing.
She flicked her finger and declared.
“The style I like is, well. A thoughtful man.”
“Isn’t that too vague? Be more specific.”
“Someone who understands immediately. Someone who stays by a woman’s side when she’s struggling. Someone who listens when she has concerns. Someone who doesn’t speak carelessly. That kind of thoughtfulness is enough.”
“…”
‘That’s thoroughly your subjective opinion.’
It’s an extremely personal impression and belief.
And the characteristics of a thoughtful man don’t seem to particularly contrast with a man who’s like a block of wood.
I was a bit dumbfounded that she was applying this statement to other ladies as well.
While I was thinking about how to respond, it was Boderod, not me, who picked up on Rinet’s words.
“Haha. The Saint doesn’t know yet.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“The person who best fits the male image you just mentioned, Saint, is none other than the Third Prince.”
“?”
Rinet tilts her head. Seeing her like that, Boderod laughed heartily.
“Of course, I’ve only heard this through the grapevine. The reason ladies followed His Highness around was none other than this.”
“Hmm. What was the reason?”
“His Highness never avoided the place if any lady approached him to talk.”
“Is that a big deal?”
“It is a big deal.”
Boderod’s eyes became solemn.
He asserted firmly, as if stating an irrefutable truth.
“His Highness would listen to the ladies’ concerns, whatever they were. Whether politically complex or an unsolvable problem.”
“R-Really…?”
“If a lady showed tears, he would wipe them with his hand. If she trembled, he would gently embrace her. He always promises never to tell anyone.”
“…No way.”
“That’s why the ladies can’t live without His Highness.”
Well. Again, I’m just relaying what I’ve heard, he concluded.
I, who had been silently listening to the conversation, turned my gaze elsewhere. It was truly embarrassing to meet the gaze of the other two.
‘This is quite embarrassing to hear.’
To think that ladies thought of me that way. It’s dizzying to hear such exaggerated and inflated rumors.
Moreover, wiping tears and embracing bodies?
‘Where on earth did such baseless rumors spread from?’
Unless I went into a frenzy, I wouldn’t do that to an outside woman. I’ve never done such a thing even once.
To begin with, I didn’t listen to the ladies’ concerns with any grand mindset. I simply did it because it was something I could do.
“Sigh.”
Only now did I realize why ladies at the imperial palace so often requested private audiences with me, and the feeling was ambiguous.
I sighed and turned my gaze back to Rinet. It was embarrassing, but I felt I needed to clarify.
“Saint. There’s no need to think too deeply about it. You know how talkative ladies can be.”
“…”
“I just was a bit of support for them, and beyond that….”
As I was continuing to speak, I suddenly felt a strange current and closed my mouth.
Boderod, who had been looking at us with a warm smile, also turned his gaze to Rinet upon seeing my reaction.
Our questioning gazes turn towards the Saint.
Her face in my vision.
“…”
Was red like a radish.
‘No, why?’
What aspect of the conversation just now made her face flush?
She seems to blush frequently these days.
Whenever anything is said, her face turns red, making it awkward to have a conversation.
“C-Come to think of it….”
Rinet stammered as she opened her mouth. She seemed to have forgotten that Boderod and I were beside her.
“You listened to my story last night…. You listened to it very well.”
She even started to tremble and.
“…W-What did I say? When a woman is struggling, stay by her side…. Listen when she has concerns…. Don’t speak carelessly…. …Hup!”
She covers her mouth with her hand.
Seeing her like that, not even letting a breath escape, as if she had realized something.
Boderod and I exchanged glances.
“…”
“…”
Silence.
With Rinet left beside us, trembling alone in shock.
While silently staring at each other. Boderod spoke with difficulty.
“…Your Highness. Perhaps….”
“…”
I simply quietly conveyed my feelings through my gaze.
‘Keep your mouth shut.’
“…Let’s continue on our way.”
Boderod and I closed our mouths and quickened our steps. To avoid mentioning it further.
“Haak….”
Rinet is still behind, barely catching her breath.
‘I don’t understand.’
To be honest, it was something I couldn’t quite grasp.
Whether Rinet truly thinks of me ‘in that way.’ Or if she’s just letting her imagination run wild.
However.
‘Why does it feel so uncomfortable?’
It was truly disconcerting, as if warning alarms were frantically ringing for the remaining academy life.