Chapter 37.2
What are you doing to her?” – Said Albert; his cold and dignified voice echoed throughout the church’s main hall .
(W-w-why is he here!?)
The prince had shown up all of a sudden and he had a scary expression on his face, so Leo couldn’t help but tremble in fear . However, Albert wasn’t alone . Bianca and Natalia were right behind him… and they were glaring in Leo’s direction–
(W-why are they-? Did I-I do anything to make the two of them hate me…!?)
–The three of them were obviously angry because Gustav was almost twisting the little girl’s arm… but Leo didn’t know that .
“If you have an explanation for what’s going on right now, then I’ll give you a chance to explain yourself… . ” – Said Natalia, in a cold tone as well .
Since Natalia had allowed him, Leo tried to explain what was going on—
“T-this isn’t, what it, looks like, w-we were, just—”
“—Leonora, can you stay quiet for a bit?”
—But the prince shot him down, in a cold tone, before he could say anything else .
(N-no way, he won’t even let me explain myself!? L-like I thought, Albert is scary!!)
On the other hand though, when Gustav realized what was happening, he couldn’t help let out a small chuckle . He then released Leonora’s arm and stood up, before whispering, “I see… I fell for it, huh?” With a sarcastic smile .
“Now I understand… so that was your aim all along… . ” – Said Gustav; his tone was full of contempt for the little girl knelling in front of him .
“Huh…?”
(What is Gustav-sensei talking about?)
“Her aim?” – Said Albert, as he glared at Gustav .
“Don’t play the fool, Albert . I’m talking about this–”
Gustav then lifted the magic crest that Leo gave him .
“–I should’ve known you guys would be part of this farce . ”
A fervent speech about the weak and oppressed, a magic crest that made him remember his sister… and the three most powerful students of the academy stepping into the church at the most convenient time .
That was a brilliant plan .
Now Gustav was at her mercy . He would be forced to tell Leonora what she wanted to know . And then, like magic, she would forgive him… after all, she had to play the part of the kindhearted Altruistic Saintess .
“Wanting to know where the Lady of the Lake lived… and that magic crest . Haha… you played your part so well, that you even fooled me… . ”
“What the hell are you talking about…?” – Asked Albert; anger and confusion could be seen in his expression .
However, Gustav didn’t even bat an eye for the prince .
“Congratulations, you did it… your knight in shining armor came to your rescue . But remember this, you’ll never be able to speak with the Lady of the Lake . ”
“Eh…? W-why…?”
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“Why? Because the Great Spirit of Water doesn’t like greedy bitches* like you . Well, I don’t know where exactly, but she’s somewhere in the Korwitz Forest . ”
(*Tl/n: He literally called Leo a greedy pig, but bitch was better, so I changed it . )
“!!!!!!”
(The Korwitz Forest!?)
Leo was happy to know the Lady of the Lake’s general location . However, Bianca wasn’t happy at all . She couldn’t stand the way Gustav referred to her little sister .
“What did you say, you-!”
But before Bianca did something she would regret later, Natalia gently grabbed her arm and said–
“–Calm down, Bianca . ”
“But Natalia Nee-sama, he-!”
Even though Leo had just been insulted, he didn’t care about that as much as Bianca did . After all, the lady of the Lake lived in the Korwitz Forest, which was the destination of this year’s field trip for the primary students… and Leo couldn’t let such an opportunity pass by . He was excited . If everything went well, he would be able to make a contract with the Great Spirit of Water and earn a lot of money .
But then, Leo remembered something .
(Oh no, I gave the magic crest to Gustav-sensei!)
Never in his wildest dreams, Leo expected to be able to meet the Lady of the Lake so soon . He was planning on going there on his next day off, but now the situation had changed… Leo didn’t have enough time to make another crest .
Although the magic crest he gave Gustav was just a prototype, it took him two days to complete it . The new crest was already on par with a finished product, so upgrading it would be easier than making a new one–
(–But I can’t simply take it back!)
Leo wanted to curse his lack of insight . He should’ve made a reserve magic crest . Besides, he couldn’t simply tug on Gustav’s sleeve and say, “Hey, can I have my magic crest back?” Not only that was against his principles, but it was also unthinkable .
However, Leo wasn’t prepared for what was about to happen .
“I don’t know why you gave me this… thing… but I don’t need it . ” – Said Gustav, with a disgusted expression, as he threw the magic crest on the ground .
“!!!!!!”
(T-t-this is it!!!)
Leo was happy . Really, really happy . So happy, in fact, that he couldn’t help but tremble from joy .
“So that, means… you don’t, need it, Gustav-sensei…?”
“Are you deaf? I already said I don’t want that thing . ”
(He doesn’t need it!!!)
“T-then… I’ll take, it back, with me… . ” – Said Leo, in a low tone, as he picked the piece of cloth from the ground and turned around to leave the church .
However, Gustav still wanted to ask something, so he stopped Leo, and said–
“–Wait! You still haven’t told me anything about that priestess named Chris yet!”
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“Ah… . ”
(S**t! I forgot he asked about her!)
To tell the truth, Leo wanted to introduce her to Gustav . But he didn’t have enough time right now . He had to expand the outer circle of the magic crest by sunrise, after all, tomorrow was the field trip and he needed the extra space to add the Lady of the Lake’s address to the crest as well .
“I want you, to meet her, as soon, as possible . I promise, you’ll meet, each-other–”
Leo then looked up and stared into Gustav’s eyes; his expression was a bit sad .
“–And, I promise that, at that time, your dearest wish, will come true… but, right now, I don’t have, enough time… I’m sorry!”
(I promise I’ll help you lose your V-card, sensei!)
Leo then turned around and bolted out of the church, while holding the magic crest against his chest .
“Wait! What do you-!?”
Gustav tried to stop Leonora a second time, but nothing that he said reached her, after all, Leo’s mind was full of thoughts about all the money he was about to make .
Gustav not only almost twisted Leonora’s arm, but he also insulted her . He even threw away the magic crest that she gave him, like it was trash . So the three of them couldn’t help but look at Gustav like he was the trash, when they saw Leonora bolting out of the church with moistened eyes .
“Gustav Schneider! You-! You’re the worst scumbag in existence!” – Said Bianca, with an angry expression, as she pressed forward in Gustav’s direction, with the intention of punching him in the face .
Natalia also wanted to beat Gustav . However, it would be a bad move to beat a Holy Knight who was placed in the academy by the Emperor himself, so she hugged Bianca from behind, then she turned to look at Albert, and said–
“–Albert, you can leave this place to me . You should go after her . ”
“………I understand . ”
There was a brief moment of silence at first, but the prince soon made his mind and went after Leonora, which meant that now Natalia was alone with an angry Bianca and a piece of s**t dressed in holy garments .
“Why are you trying to stop me, Natalia Nee-sama!? This scumbag insulted Leonora!”
“Bianca, please, calm down . ”
“How can you be so calm!? Leonora was insulted right in front of us! But you’re not doing anything! Don’t you have a heart!?”
Bianca was a kind young lady, but sometimes, specially when angry, she would say things without thinking and hurt other people .
“Ah…! N-no, I… that… I-I’m sorry, Natalia Nee-sama… I-I didn’t mean it… . ” – Said Bianca, in a remorseful tone .
Even though Bianca was frustrated with the current situation, that wasn’t something she should’ve said to her cousin . Well, she apologized right away, but still, there was a hint of sadness in Natalia’s calm expression .
“I know you didn’t mean it, but you’re too emotionally unstable right now, so go outside for a bit and cool your head . ”
“B-but then-!”
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‘You’ll have to deal with Gustav on your own!’ – Is what Bianca wanted to say, but before she could finish her sentence, Natalia cut her off .
“No buts . You’re in no position to talk back, little lady . Besides, you should listen to your seniors–” – Said Natalia, with her usual smile, as she showed Bianca her way outside .
Natalia was certainly more mature for someone her age, however, she still didn’t know how to interact with boys, despite being two years older than her cousin . Because of that, Bianca couldn’t help but worry about her, after all, she would be left alone with Gustav .
“–There we go . Now wait for me right here, okay?”
“Uuuh∼, okay… I’m sorry for making you do this on your own, Natalia Nee-sama… . ”
(If only I was better at controlling my emotions…) – Thought Bianca, as she glanced at Gustav one last time, before exiting the church .
“Alright… now that we’re alone–”
*Clunk* (Tl/n: This is the sound of a door closing . )
“–I’m sorry for the rude things my cousin said to you, earlier–” – Said Natalia, in a cold tone, as she turned around with a bright smile .
Bianca was a princess, so it was normal for Natalia to refer to her as such, in front of other people . However, that wasn’t the case right now . Natalia had referred to Bianca as her cousin, meaning that she wanted to have a frank conversation with Gustav, instead of a formal one .
“–She’s young and I know she can be rather inconsequential sometimes–”
That was a bold thing to say about the princess of a country . Gustav even thought about commenting on that . However, Natalia’s eerie smile kept him in check .
“–But that’s not problem for you, right? After all, you’re aiming to be a sage, so forgiving a reckless girl shouldn’t be that hard–”
Natalia then tilted her head to the side and stared straight into Gustav’s eyes .
“–But why is it, I wonder, that you can’t seem to forgive Leonora for her past mistakes?”
Even though the topic of their conversation was about him, Gustav stayed silent while Natalia and Bianca were talking . But that wasn’t because he was trying to show them some respect, oh no . He just enjoyed watching the first princess throwing a fit . It was hilarious… but Natalia’s provocations weren’t .
“I see… I noticed someone spying on me for the past couple of days . I don’t want to point fingers, but… maybe you could tell me what’s going on?” – Said Gustav, in an annoyed tone .
It was a bit unfortunate that Rolf was noticed, but Natalia couldn’t simply acknowledge Gustav’s wild guess and expose him, so she kept smiling .
“I don’t know what you’re talking about… but I’m sorry about your sister . I heard that she died a while ago, didn’t she? Well, my condolences to you… however, that doesn’t mean you can blame Leonora for what happened . ”
“Hoo∼, looks like your spy digged a lot of information, huh–?” – Said Gustav, with a ferocious smile, as he approached Natalia .
He then bent forward, until he was right in front of her face, before continuing from were he left .
“–The Spirit Faith is evil… They tried to overthrow the Emperor… I hear those things every single day . The people have distanced themselves from the church… the spirits are weakened… and chaos is right around the corner . All of this is that little girl’s fault . She exposed Harlet’s schemes to the world without a second thought, just because she wanted to be praised by her prince… and be hailed as a saint . ”
“L-Leonora isn’t that kind of person!”
Natalia wasn’t used to these kinds of interaction with the opposite sex, so she stuttered a bit . However, without noticing her reaction, Gustav got even closer to her face .
“I’m not as good as the Harkenbergs, but I know how to judge a person . Living in the battlefield taught me many things, and that was one of them . That girl can be quite deceptive at first glance, but I always knew she was a very calculative person . ”
Some priests had the ability to use the spirit power in their bodies to sharpen their senses… and Gustav was one of them . He mastered that ability in the battlefield .
It reached a point were he could use it without any of the drawbacks, so Gustav used it all the time . He was using that ability when he received that painting, during his first lesson and even during the conversation he had with Leonora, earlier .
At first, however, he didn’t notice anything strange about her . Leonora was just a charismatic little girl . Everyone loved her . So she couldn’t possibly be evil… right?
However, even thought he still had his doubts, Gustav decided to turn a blind eye to the truth… it was easier to just hate her .
“I may not have an ability like that… but I know she isn’t–!”
“–I know a lot of things too . For example, you’re weak to these kinds of things–” – Said Gustav, with a mocking grin, as he lifted Natalia’s chin .
Natalia wasn’t expecting that, so she turned beet red on the spot .
“–Wouldn’t you say so?”
“Khh! So you did… the same thing to her…?”
“Yeah, I did–”
“Y-you-!”
‘You bastard!’ – Is what Natalia wanted to say, but Gustav cut her off with chuckle .
“–But she wasn’t as much into it like you are . ”
When she heard that, Natalia’s eyes opened wide . She was being ridiculed . However, it wasn’t just her . Gustav was making fun of Leonora as well . He was making fun of a little girl that was so scarred by her past, that she couldn’t even fight back . And when she realized that, Natalia felt her heart closing off… she wasn’t as ashamed as before .
(Leonora was probably afraid when he did the same to her… that bastard… unforgivable…)
Natalia then bit the corner of her lower lip . However, she wasn’t trying to endure her passion for romance… she had a reason to do that .
As blood gradually began to drip from the corner of her mouth, Natalia extended her right hand towards Gustav’s face and caressed his cheek .
“You’re a scummy womanizer, you know that? Fufu, I’m sure you do this to all girls you talk to… and I’m sure that they are also your fans–”
Gustav was a bit surprised by Natalia’s sudden change of heart, but since he knew she couldn’t do anything to him, he let her be… however that was a mistake .
“–But I’ll be taking the lead . ” – Said Natalia, as she stretched out to kiss Gustav .
“Hmm!!!”
The moment Gustav felt their lips touching, he got away from Natalia, who had a smile from ear to ear plastered on her face .
“Y-you-! Why did you do that…!?”
“Why are you flustered, sensei? It’s just a kiss, you know?”
If he wasn’t so flustered, Gustav might’ve realized sooner what Natalia did to him . But it was too late now . The last thing he saw before falling to his knees, was her smile… and her bloody lips .