Drawing Manga in a Romance Fantasy

Chapter 60

"Your Highness, it seems that Sir Rupert has only recently recovered from the curse, so it might be best if he takes some rest now," the Saintess suggested gently.

"Oh, I almost forgot that you’re still recovering, Sir Rupert. I was just so eager to share the good news that I overstepped," the Crown Prince responded with a sheepish smile, patting Rupert on the shoulder.

Rupert, who was still trying to make sense of the situation, could only muster a forced smile in response.

‘What’s going on? Why is the Saintess doing this?’ Rupert wondered, puzzled by her behavior.

The Saintess's expression and response were so natural that if Rupert hadn’t known the full story, he might have been completely convinced. But the way she glanced at him, as if she knew everything, made Rupert even more uneasy.

"Let me bless you before you leave, Your Highness," the Saintess offered.

"Oh, but this wound has already been healed by a potion...," the Crown Prince began to refuse, but the Saintess had already placed her hand on his right shoulder and began to pray.

Her hand began to glow with a soft light, and the Crown Prince's expression quickly shifted to one of surprise.

"What is this...?" he asked, astonished.

"A potion can’t regenerate nerves. This will prevent any lingering pain," the Saintess explained with a smile.

"Thank you. I didn’t realize there could be such a difference," the Crown Prince replied, genuinely grateful.

"It’s nothing. It’s a small repayment for someone who brings peace to the world," she said, smiling warmly.

The Crown Prince, a bit embarrassed by the praise, turned to Rupert.

"Sir Rupert, it seems it’s time for me to return to the palace. Let’s end our meeting here," he said.

"Your Highness...," Rupert began.

"Once the reports are completed, I’m sure there will be rewards for those involved in this matter. We’ll meet again then," the Crown Prince said before taking his leave with his knights.

He paused briefly to comfort Ada, who was whining about him leaving without playing with her, and then departed as suddenly as he had arrived.

Rupert was left standing at the entrance of the Somerset estate, watching the Crown Prince leave. Yet, he still had two other significant figures to deal with, and they were no less troublesome.

As they watched the Crown Prince depart, Rupert overheard the Saintess muttering something under her breath.

“The Crown Prince and the Earl’s second son... that could work.”

Rupert caught bits and pieces, but it was hard to decipher her exact meaning. Something about the Crown Prince and a second son...

"Lady Amelia, thanks to the Saintess’s intervention, we’ve managed to resolve this incident without issue. Please don’t worry too much," Rupert said, turning to Amelia.

"Thank you," she replied softly.

Rupert remembered her as a confident woman from their last encounter at the banquet, but now she seemed deflated, likely due to her recent mistake.

‘It’s understandable,’ Rupert thought. The daughter of a duke, cooking a meal that caused everyone who ate it to collapse—it’s the kind of story any noble would want to avoid.

Nobles live and die by their reputation, and for the eldest daughter of a duke, this was a particularly mortifying situation.

"Even so, I’m grateful that you visited to check on my health," Rupert said, trying to reassure her.

Amelia seemed to appreciate the gesture but still looked downcast. Perhaps she thought she had overstepped by coming to check on him, or maybe she felt guilty for her unintentional mistake.

‘I never expected her to come all this way, especially after hearing I was unwell,’ Rupert thought.

As expected, once everyone else had left and they were alone, the Saintess's demeanor shifted entirely from the gentle and saintly woman she had presented earlier.

Rupert took a cautious sip of the coffee on the table as he observed her closely.

Even now, she maintained an innocent expression as if she knew nothing, but Rupert was convinced there was something hidden behind that facade.

"About a month ago, Sir Eustaf and Sir Harun visited the palace," the Saintess began, seemingly unfazed by Rupert’s scrutiny.

"They mentioned something related to dark wizards," she continued, her tone casual.

The Saintess then went on to explain that the Goddess Church had also conducted its own investigation into the matter, uncovering various incidents, which she shared with Rupert.

While the information she revealed was shocking, Rupert was more alarmed by the fact that the Goddess Church had the capability to gather such detailed intelligence, even about secret investigations being conducted by the royal family.

‘No wonder they’re said to be the only power that can rival the royal family,’ Rupert thought, feeling his wariness towards the Saintess increase.

The information she had shared was of the utmost importance, known only to the highest-ranking officials within the Empire, and yet she had casually relayed it to him. That made him deeply uneasy.

Typically, after such a conversation, the other party would reveal what they wanted. The fact that the Saintess had not only lied to protect him but had also shared such critical information with him suggested that she might have a dangerous request in mind—one that could very well risk his life.

"It seems the Crown Prince, perhaps due to some misunderstanding, believes that the Somerset estate is under threat from dark wizards," the Saintess said, smiling as if she found the situation amusing.

The Saintess’s smile, which had once seemed pure and holy, now appeared far more unsettling to Rupert.

"Sir Rupert," she said, her tone suddenly serious.

"Yes, please speak," Rupert responded, bracing himself.

"I considered this matter to be nothing more than helping a child of my Mother who was in need, but I’m concerned that you might feel burdened by it," she said, her words elegant but laced with underlying meaning.

Translated bluntly, she was essentially saying, "You know you owe me, right?"

"Indeed, I would be unable to sleep at night if I were to ignore the grace bestowed upon me by the daughter of Gaia," Rupert replied, equally formal but direct, as if to say, "Just tell me what you want already."

"I would feel guilty keeping a devout follower awake at night. May I ask a small favor?" the Saintess asked, her tone sweet yet firm.

"Of course, whatever it may be," Rupert replied, though internally, he braced himself.

Given how much the Saintess had drawn out this conversation, Rupert suspected that she was going to ask him to paint a mural or a sacred image for the church. It was unlikely that she had any designs on the Somerset estate’s wealth or property, as that would be insignificant compared to the riches of the Goddess Church.

The only thing of real value he possessed was his skill as an artist.

A mural or sacred painting would be time-consuming and difficult, but given the situation, he would have no choice but to accept, no matter how much he wished to decline.

‘It’ll be tough, but at least I’ll have gotten through this crisis,’ Rupert thought, already resigned to the extra workload.

The prospect of suddenly having to take on such a task was daunting, but considering that he had narrowly avoided being dragged off for insulting the royal family, he counted it as a fortunate outcome.

Mural or sacred painting commissions were difficult, yes, but if completed well, they could lead to many future opportunities.

"Could you paint a picture for me?" the Saintess asked bluntly.

Rupert, steeling himself for the challenge, was about to respond with acceptance when she continued.

"I’ve thought long and hard about it, but I think the scene of Edmund Eldric and Lloyd Cavallo embracing each other would be perfect!"

Rupert froze, his mind going blank as he processed her words.