Episode(83) ???, The Saintess
SOVEREIGN OF DEATH~(83)
[????: POV]
On a hot day, the sun was boiling and the sound of cicadas outside was deafening.
Still, even though it was a hot day it was one of the few sunny days that came after a flood nearly destroyed the villages surrounding the royal capital.
I was born on such a day.
In a village not far from the royal capital that had lost half its stock of crops from the flood, the birth of a child on this day was auspicious to say the least.
It wasn't exaggerated, no one considered luck or misfortune in daily life they just thought that this child would be lucky in life.
The village itself wasn't wealthy, on the contrary it was more of a settlement than a village.
Still, lands near the royal capital were very fertile and suitable for crops thus though the village wasn't wealthy due to its small size, no one lack enough to complain.
By the time I knew it, I was already five years old learning from my father everything he knew about hunting.
Of course, as a girl learning a man's craft, the village aunties never thought too favorably.
'Rather than wasting time doing something as crass as rolling in the dirt and shooting down animals go learn to cook'
'Learn to wash'
'Act more ladylike'
But, what did a bunch of commoners even know about being ladylike?
Weren't they awkwardly trying to copy the noble ladies and ended up being mocked by them every times a noble daughter came to the village?
But, everyone in the village got along so there was truly no maliciousness hidden in those suggestions.
I also never took it to heart as I truly had fun doing what I did.
Spending time with father, learning how to hunt.
It was time that she would never forget, ever.
And since the village vibe was so positive, no one bullied her for being different. She had many friends whom she got along with and played with occasionally when she wasn't learning from her dad.
Playing in the fields, swimming in the river and pretending to play heroes and demon king.
This time, for me it was unforgettable.
When these memories of childhood return to my mind I wish I could return to those days.
And, I wish that it would never end.
Why?
Just why did it have to end?
...
The peaceful village life did not last long. As if the village had touched some sort of taboo and the gods sent down a decree.
That day haunts my memories even to this very day. Monsters surging like a tide, unending and infinite in number as they attacked the defenseless villagers.
Sure, a few people survived the ordeal.
We survived, but living after having everything we loved destroyed and left with only just a minority of what once was felt worse than dying.
The memories would plague the villagers forever.
As for me? I lived of course, but even though I lived I wish I died.
Not only had my entire family been wiped out, the blame for this disaster was placed on my head.
Can you understand what it felt like? Being seen as a curse that caused not only your own family to die but the entire village that was like a family perished because of you.
My dad, my sister and mom all died helplessly before my eyes.
Maybe I really was a curse. I had brought calamity to those I loved and I deserved to be hated.
Eleven years passed after that disaster. It was now my 16th year in the world.
The village had been rebuilt and old houses reconstructed. And with more space than before after many families were wiped out, the villagers turned usable land into fields for farming.
Against the many wishes of the villagers, the village chief ended up allowing my stay in the village.
Well, I live on the outskirts so can I really say I still live in the village?
Still, it wasn't too bad. Being near the graveyard I could visit my family more often and I was a decent hunter so daily meals were taken care of.
If there was something that was truly needed, exchanging with a passing merchant for the game I hunted made it easy.
Though, many of the villagers still despise my presence and either wish I would leave or just die and not cause trouble for the village.
It hurts-
But, I can't complain because I know. I truly am a curse.
Ah, don't think that I was brainwashed by the villagers spitting at my mere presence.
No, every time I glance at the mark on my shoulder I am reminded of what I am. A calamity. A curse. A plague!
It happened before the disaster. A passing mage discovered my mark while I was out hunting and said that I was bound for greatness.
But, before greatness comes a great trial. Only through surviving that fate can I fully inherit the fortune waiting for me.
At the time, the villagers that had believed that I was a fortunate child being born on the same day the flood ended.
But, after hearing the words of the mage they thought even more that I was blessed with fortune and would bring the village great luck.
It wasn't until after the disaster that they recalled the words of the mage, now rather than being seen as someone with luck I was a cursed child bound to bring bad luck wherever she went.
So I knew it, the villagers may just want someone to resent after losing all that they loved and cared for. But, it was a fact that my relationship with the village had caused it's destruction.
As for this elusive 'fortune' the mage had boasted about, nothing of the sort came.
If this continued I would only live and die as a 'Cursed One' or 'That Wretched Beast'.
It was fitting enough.
But a change came, one afternoon when the villagers prepared to retire for the night. Knights dressed up to the nines in full suits of armor marched into the village.
The delegation seemed prepared for a war, except. This was just a regular village so what was happening?
Did that witch cause another calamity?
The villagers couldn't help but get nervous.
Even the ones who hadn't witnessed the last calamity had long heard that there was a cursed girl that caused great destruction years ago.
Not everyone believed this, but with everyone talking about it with such certainty no one took it lightly.
Before I could even understand the situation, villagers stormed my cottage and dragged me before the group of knights.
I was naturally confused but even more so I was horrified.
Why were knights here and why was I tossed out like a criminal?
I didn't do anything!
Even if you blame me for the disaster isn't this too much?
But the knights did not elaborate.
All that was said was that I was to be taken to the castle and 'dealt with'.
What did this mean?
A commoner being brought to the royal castle only had one of two meanings. One, I was being framed as a cover up for a crime.
Two, the king must have gotten news of the incident eleven years ago and decided to deal with this source of calamity.
I laughed.
Either way this meant death.
Perhaps this was inevitable and this was my fate. I did hold on to some faint hope that a few villagers would stand up for me, but no such dramatic scenes happened.
Without pity or guilt, I was sold by the villagers.
Finally, the cursed witch they hated so much would go away and get her dues.
Such cheers caused my already tired heart to break even more.
At least, I can say goodbye to this painful life.
I thought I'd get to see my parents soon and a smile spread across my face as I glanced at the sky from the carriage.
...
Finally, the long journey of two weeks came to an end.
Though the village was close to the capital, it wasn't really that close when you considered the distance. However it was one of the nearest village to the capital.
The walls stood high, huge magnificent buildings every where. Smooth roads and the people here looked so vibrant and full of life.
It was nothing compared to the small village back home.
Getting to see such a magical place before I died, I considered it a blessing.
Perhaps this was my true fortune.
At least, comparing it to life in the village, it felt like a totally different world.
Past the residential area, after nearly an hour of entering the royal capital a beautiful castle could be spotted in the distance.
It was huge and majestic like a picture from a fairytale.
Unlike what I had expected I was never carried to a prisoners cell.
Instead, I was dragged through the lavish hallways and tossed into a large throne room facing the king and what seemed like his royal ministers and officials.
????
What?
What was going on?
The situation became even more confusing now.
Are prisoners nowadays directly interrogated by the king?
I was definitely intimidated. This type of atmosphere could force even the most vicious criminal to confess.
As I was about to accept reality and confess my sins, words I never expected left the kings mouth.
[Oh Saint! Finally the Gods have sent thee!]
Standing up, the king walked down from the high throne and knelt before her.
[I implore thee, save my people!]
What????