Chapter 2 – “Nice to Meet You, True Saint!”
After Prince Marx, my former fiancé, told me to go to the frontier land of Tori, I did my best to stay calm while my heart raced with excitement.
Even so, I think my voice still sounded a little too cheerful.
“What—what do you mean thank you!?” the prince shouted.
“Do you even understand where you’re going!? Tori is a dangerous area full of monsters!”
“Yes, that’s where the First Knight Order has been dispatched, isn’t it?”
“That’s right!” my stepsister Annika jumped in, clinging to the prince’s arm, her soft pink-blonde curls bouncing as she spoke.
“My dear sister will have to work at the knights’ dormitory! Surrounded by rough, uncivilized men!”
“Gladly!!”
“…Huh?”
Annika’s big pink eyes blinked in confusion as she stared at me, but I couldn’t help feeling thrilled.
People don’t realize it, but for all her delicate looks, Annika actually has a strong and stubborn personality.
Ever since Father passed away five years ago, things have been hard. All the old servants loyal to my real mother were dismissed, and the new ones my stepmother hired stopped taking care of me completely.
My stepmother didn’t want me to inherit the Vias family title, so she quickly adopted a relative’s son—Anthony, a year older than me—to take over as heir.
It seems she also couldn’t stand that I, not her own daughter, was chosen as a saint and became engaged to the prince.
So, she made me do all the housework—cooking, laundry, cleaning—everything.
Well, once I got used to it, it actually wasn’t that bad.
***
So yes, Tori might be dangerous… but more importantly, I get to work in the dormitory of the First Knight Order, the knights who fight to protect the frontier from monsters!
…Ah, so God really does exist!
I’ve never told anyone this before, but—I love muscles.
No, more precisely, I love knights!
I know it’s improper for a high-ranking noble lady like me. People would say it’s unrefined or even strange, so I’ve kept it secret all my life.
But now… I’ll be working alongside real knights!?
This must be why I’ve been forced to do housework all these years!
It’s almost like destiny preparing me for this moment.
At least now I won’t embarrass myself in front of them by being terrible at cooking or cleaning!
Ah, Prince Marx… and even my stepmother and Annika—thank you!
I never really disliked the prince, but I also wasn’t interested.
He’s just… too thin.
Some noble ladies find his slender build charming, but that’s not my type.
Annika, on the other hand, once said she thought he was wonderful.
As for me, I prefer strong, well-trained men with broad shoulders and powerful muscles like a real knight.
The Royal Knight Orders, especially the First Knight Order, are made up of the kingdom’s finest warriors.
When I was nine, I went with Father to watch one of their training sessions—and ever since then, I’ve been captivated.
The way they risk their lives to protect the kingdom, their shining sweat, the way their swords flash through the air, the solid muscles you can see even through their uniforms…
Everything about them is perfect!
They’re like living works of art—national treasures!
Just looking at them fills my heart with joy.
I’ve never told anyone that before, of course.
So when I was later engaged to the thin, fragile prince, I was terribly disappointed…
But now? I’m being sent to work in the dormitory where the First Knight Order lives!?
“Thank you so much, Your Highness! Annika, good luck with your princess training! And as the true saint, I’m counting on you! Well then—goodbye!”
Having said that, I quickly decided to return home and prepare for my departure.
No need to waste another minute at this boring, stiff noble party!
And so, the very next day, I boarded a carriage bound for the distant frontier land of Tori.
With my heart fluttering in excitement, I spent several weeks on the road until—finally—I arrived.
