Chapter 22
The Saint appeared.
There were two kinds of reactions from the priests at the Grand Shrine who heard the news.
Those who rejoiced at the descent of a holy person sent by the gods and offered heartfelt blessings.
And... those who expressed displeasure upon hearing that the Saint came from a commoner background.
"Why did a Saint appear from lowly blood!? Overlooking noble people like us!"
"The Saint is supposed to be someone on par with royalty... Are we, nobles, supposed to revere a filthy commoner!?"
Most of the priests at the Grand Shrine came from noble families, and naturally, they were very prideful.
They truly detested having to respect a Saint from a commoner background and treat her as someone above themselves.
"A commoner Saint over me, a daughter of the Duke Laurel family!? I cannot accept that!"
And that sentiment was no different in the house that took Reina in as an adopted daughter... the Duke Laurel family, which was also the birthplace of the previous Saint.
The Duke Laurel family had a daughter the same age as Reina, who was furious that a commoner girl, and not herself, had become the Saint.
"I share the same blood as the previous Saint and was born into the prestigious Duke Laurel family, a cornerstone of the Grand Shrine—shouldn't I be the Saint!? And yet, a commoner stole the Saint's position... I simply cannot forgive this!"
The cardinal chose the Duke Laurel family as Reina's new home, thinking that since it was the house where the previous Saint was born and raised, they would know how to treat a Saint.
However, that consideration completely backfired.
The Duke Laurel family's daughter... Carrot Laurel was fully prepared to bully Reina when she arrived at the mansion.
"Nice to meet you, my name is Reina. I'll be in your care starting today."
"Wh—!?"
However, Carrot froze in shock upon seeing Reina.
The girl who stepped down from the carriage and appeared at the entrance of the ducal estate... was simply an angel.
(S-She's so cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuute!?)
What appeared was a beautiful girl dressed in a pure white dress.
Her silver hair fluttered, and her jade-colored eyes sparkled.
So beautiful, so pure.
Her flawless appearance could only be described as a divine work of art.
(...N-No! She's the villain who stole the Saint's position from me! I have to put her in her place!)
"H-How dare a commoner girl come to the Duke Laurel family!"
Carrot held back the urge to writhe on the floor and desperately put on a brave front.
"We're only taking you in because the cardinal requested it... but originally, a filthy commoner like you—"
"............?"
"F-Filth... Filthy... Fi—"
(I-I can't say it!? I can't even lie and call this angel filthy!?)
Carrot collapsed on the spot, tears streaming down her face.
Carrot had admired Saints since childhood and had trained hard, hoping to become one herself.
She buried herself in books, mastered the Holy Arts, and devoted herself to volunteer work.
She couldn't become a Saint, but thanks to her efforts, she became the fiancée of the crown prince, the next king.
However, even that position was shaken by Reina's arrival.
Some people, upon hearing of the Saint's appearance, claimed that the newly descended Saint was more suitable to be the crown prince's fiancée.
'Why do I have to lose His Highness to a girl who appeared out of nowhere!?'
'How can a commoner who's done nothing take the results of all my hard work!? I can't stand it!'
Carrot's attempt to torment Reina stemmed largely from her desire to protect herself.
"W-Wait, huh!? Are you okay!?"
Reina rushed over to Carrot in a panic.
She helped the sobbing Carrot up and looked at her with tear-reddened eyes.
"I... I surrender..."
"Huh...?"
"I'll... give you the crown prince... You're the next queen..."
"Ehh!? No, I don't want him!"
Reina shouted in a fluster after suddenly being offered the crown prince.
"There's no way a commoner like me could be the crown prince's bride! A relationship with such a status gap could never work out!"
Reina declared firmly.
She smiled gently at Carrot and held her hand reassuringly.
"The one who raised me always told me: 'Never approach a man who already has a fiancée. Especially not a prince, absolutely not.' Even if a commoner like me married into royalty, I'd only live a life full of anxiety and hardship."
That was a lesson Clael had repeatedly taught Reina as she grew up.
After enrolling in the academy, Reina met several men and eventually fell in love with one of them... but if she followed the crown prince route, an incredibly harsh story awaited.
The crown prince's fiancée and stepsister... Carrot Laurel would bully her fiercely. Her followers would attack her. Even a maid from the ducal estate who adored Carrot would poison her.
And even after Carrot was judged and removed, the storm wouldn't end.
She'd be targeted for assassination by the punished followers, their families would rebel and cause mass casualties, and Carrot, exiled from the ducal house, would resurrect an evil god.
That's why Clael educated Reina to never choose the crown prince.
"I also know that Lady Carrot is the crown prince's fiancée. You've worked so hard since you were young, haven't you?"
"Yes... but... I couldn't become a Saint..."
"Being a Saint doesn't matter. You, born and raised as a duke's daughter, are the one truly suited to be the crown prince's bride. Please hold your head high."
Reina smiled as divine light radiated from her back.
Bathed in that overwhelmingly pure light, Carrot shed even more tears.
"Saint..."
"Please call me Reina, Sister Carrot."
"Y-You're calling me sister even though I tried to say such horrible things... Ah, you truly are the real Saint...!"
Carrot clasped her hands together in prayer and accepted Reina.
The otome game 'Beyond the Rainbow Gleam'... Carrot Laurel, the rival character in the crown prince route and the series' final boss.
The mean stepsister fell on the very first day Reina became an adopted daughter.