The Oblivious Saint Can't Contain Her Power (無自覚聖女は今日も無意識に力を垂れ流す)

According to His Holiness Pope Melvin, I possess divine power.

After thinking about how to use it,

I decided to help Prince Gilbert, Prince Edward's older brother.

Thanks to my divinity, the treatment went well, but...

Come in.

Pardon me.

Good morning, Mistress!

I'm so glad to have you back!

I find this very difficult to say, but...

Could you please call me anything other than "Mistress"?

But why? You are my mistress, after all.

It's much cleaner in here now.

I've prepared some tea,

so let us enjoy an elegant teatime.

W-Wait just a moment!

I've come here to treat you, not to have tea.

That won't be necessary.

Is that some kind of toy?

You see, this is a perpetually active magical device.

The fact that I don't sense any mana even when I look at this

is proof that your divine power still remains inside me.

What would you have done if the treatment suddenly wore off?!

There's no need to worry.

It only contains a very small amount of mana

that wouldn't aggravate my condition.

Even so, I'm still worried...

Then how about this?

If you join me for some tea, I'll turn this device over to you, Mistress.

I won't set up any others either, of course.

What do you say?

FIRST PRINCE GILBERT

After that, I barely performed any of the treatment.

We ended up talking about our blunders and episodes from our childhoods

over some tea the whole time.

This butterfly isn't unlike Prince Gilbert...

I can't seem to grasp him.

Hello, Mistress! I haven't seen you since yesterday!

G-Good morning, Prince Gilbert.

You don't seem like yourself.

If you'd like, I can offer some advice.

Coming from you, of all people?

I appreciate the mere thought.

That's rather distant of you...

Well, I guess that's part of what makes you great, Mistress.

Now then, let us get straight to the examination.

It appears there isn't any divine power left within you, Prince Gilbert.

It has been a few days since the infusion, after all.

Now then, let us move on to the next test.

Take a look at this magical device

and see how much mana you can sense from it.

Oh, you held on to it, did you?

W-Well, how are your symptoms?

I might just be imagining it, but the mana seems... thinner than before.

There isn't much change.

I see...

We've only just begun. It's perfectly natural we aren't seeing results yet.

The one struggling the most is His Highness himself, and yet...

You're right. Let us first focus on the treatment!

And so, a few weeks passed just like that.

How are your symptoms?

Prince Gilbert?

They appear to have lessened.

I-Is that true?!

The mana I used to see clearly, I can only see faintly now.

I'm so glad...

This is all thanks to you, Mistress.

Please allow me to express my gratitude formally.

O-Oh, no.

When you thank me one too many times, you start to make me feel bad.

I respect you from the bottom of my heart, Mistress.

To think someone with your power could be so humble...

To think he'd make such a face...

He took me by surprise.

Prince Edward?

Apologies for inviting myself in.

I have no business.

I just felt like talking to you, Carolina.

He's so busy, but he's still made time to be with me...

Would you care to chat for a bit?

Most certainly!

By the way, is my brother's treatment coming along well?

Yes.

I'm glad to hear that.

At this rate, I hope he's completely cured of his illness.

What's wrong?

Has there been an issue between you two?

No, nothing of the sort.

Then why do you wear such an expression?

I've told you before, haven't I?

I want to be the one who understands you best...

So please tell me.

In truth... it's because Prince Gilbert is calling me "Mistress."

MISTRESS

M-Mistress?

His trust in me, or rather this kindness I'm allowing him, is going a bit far...

I'm failing to understand.

My older brother is calling you... his mistress?

Perhaps it would've been best not to bring it up.

Carolina...

Yes?

My brother looks up to you solely as a mentor, correct?

There aren't any other feelings... beyond that, right?

I don't believe so, no...

Carolina, please permit me to ask you this.

Who's wife are you?

I am the wife of the Second Prince Edward Ruby Martinez.

I see. Then we're good.

Why did he ask me such a question?

If you don't put them into words, I won't understand your feelings...

I hear Carolina has been visiting my older brother daily as of late.

Indeed, we're having her strive to treat Prince Gilbert's illness.

And how are the two of them?

What do you mean?

No, never mind.

I apologize for summoning you abruptly.

Please, do not worry yourself.

Allow me to get straight to the point.

This concerns the succession dispute.

Simply put, we are moving toward a resolution.

Thanks to His Highness Prince Gilbert's return to high society,

the radicals have calmed down some.

However...

Somehow, word has leaked to the nobles

that Your Highness has been visiting the Diamond Palace every day,

and this included the spread of unpleasant rumors.

I can't believe it...

I've been careless.

I am truly sorry.

Please don't apologize.

It may not fully make up for things,

but I have already identified the source of the leak, so I expect to get

to the bottom of this at once.

Huh?

We'll handle purging the rumors.

U-Understood.

There is one last thing I would like to mention.

I intend on changing the test we use on Prince Gilbert.

Something other than the method I currently use?

Yes. In order to determine the range at which he can see mana,

we're thinking of having His Highness

leave the Diamond Palace without any divine power in him.

Is he going to be all right?

I've discussed matters with His Holiness in writing numerous times as well.

I understand your concern, but there is ultimately no other way.

I understand. I shall fully support Prince Gilbert.

That is all. I apologize for going on at such length.

Not at all.

I understand that I am overstepping my boundaries, however...

I believe it may be best

you do not become too friendly with Prince Gilbert.

There are those who will feel hurt if you do.

Feel hurt? What do you mean by that?

That is all I can say. Please consider the rest yourself.

As expected of Your Highness Princess Carolina.

In just a few weeks, there are already improvements in his symptoms.

Oh, please. I still have much to learn.

Mistress is always strict with herself.

That, too, makes you wonderful.

What do you think, Your Holiness?

If we continue the treatment as is, a full recovery is certainly possible.

It's just... there's a risk of recurrence.

Oh no.

May I ask the reason for that?

I believe the cause of Your Highness's illness

lies in the fact that your eyesight is too keen.

Mana, which normally isn't visible,

becomes visible when triggered though some sort of event

that stimulates the hypersensitive optic nerves, isn't that right?

Yes, and even a full recovery will not change that fact.

Hence there is a risk of relapse at any time.

I see. What a vile disease.

Even if it's necessary as a test,

won't it be difficult for Prince Gilbert to set foot

outside the Diamond Palace without the aid of divinity?

Well, his symptoms are well on their way to full alleviation.

If I am to become emperor,

I cannot stay holed up in here forever, after all.

Tomorrow, Prince Gilbert will step outside without any divine power,

so members of the Pyreborn will accompany him as his guards.

It will be nonmagical knights who excel in swordsmanship

accompanying him, correct?

Yes. And just to be safe, we will have you accompany him as well, Your Highness.

Most certainly.

Everything is riding on tomorrow.