Necromancer's Descent

91 - Old Fashioned Princess

Odelgarde's Point of View and Story

I think perhaps, that Karin's maturity on all other points made everyone forget about telling her of the gods in our world... however, Karin would never accept the Shepherds.

At least, for the larger part of the war, she did nothing more than refuse their help... of course, the shepherds ignored that whenever they saw that our side was about to lose. They valued lives over pride and ego, naturally, but I think suffering such defeats only made Karin even more bitter towards them. At least, she didn't lay hands on any of them again...

However, eventually, as promised, Karin had to return to the academy. This specifically, was the third time I was home in the capital as well during that time, and reported the success of capturing the demon of sailing and the demon of fire to Anneliese, along with the issue Karin had with the shepherds. After all, Anneliese had been raised to become the mother of the nation, and needed to know, so she had a chance to work out the issues.

Anneliese's patterns were all specialized towards politics, whether to read books faster, read people's emotions as colors, improve a room for speeches magically for sound resonance or similar. On top of that, she was overall skilled in sensing mana. If not for her future role as queen, she would have made a very powerful mage.

That day, Anneliese met with her closest supporters... and one of them reported to Anneliese, that she had seen Karin and Cornelius holding hands.

Anneliese had at first smiled, like she was beginning to react to what she was sure had to be a joke, only to clearly read her friend's worry, realizing that these were ladies that didn't do such things, and then her expression fell.

I myself was standing guard, and I remember how others chimed in, noting multiple incidents, and that as per the other times, she spent all her time with the heroes. The princess silence almost hurt, because she just forced a smile. It was well known that Cornelius and princess Anneliese didn't get along that well. It was believed that neither held love towards each other, but I remember how Princess Anneliese was off the rest of their tea time... and how she sat quietly alone in the garden, as the sun set behind dark clouds.

She didn't get up until the sun had fully set, muttering to herself, that they must have seen wrong, as she squeezed her fingers like I wouldn't notice, as we returned inside.

It wasn't new, that Karin spent time with Cornelius at the academy. Princess Anneliese had allowed it as well, because it was inevitable for a saintess to spend all their time with the people they went to war with.

However, the rumors of them holding hands was... unprecedented. Remember, the previous saintesses devoted themselves to Eostra. Eostra did encourage them to have children, but- we suspected that they felt too far from us, culturally or emotionally.

Either way... the next day, the princess went to confirm the rumors. I- usually I wouldn't have gone there, as my time at the academy was already over, but I was... concerned. I adored Karin, however, laying a hand on an engaged man was unheard of, and the princess was quite strict with rules. So I went there as a mediator, or at least to make sure that Karin would have time or place to prove her innocence.

I didn't get the chance.

Because the Princess found his highness Cornelius and Karin going to class together, holding hands.

Princess Anneliese had said she would only go to greet them, so she went only with me... and to say that she froze up would be an understatement. She grew pale with shock.

Even I was shocked. Moreso that everyone around his highness and Karin didn't seem to mind.

I should never have gone. Though, that would still only have avoided the inevitable. Because as Anneliese was about to turn away, squeezing the tips of her fingers till her knuckles turned white, Karin recognized me and called out for me. Still holding hands with his highness.