I set the hot drink that yuno prepared in front of Mana.
“Here you go.”
I suggested and Mana took the cup.
“This is…milk tea?”
‘On a cold day hot milk or milk tea is a must!’ That was what Mana said in my previous life.
“You look like him, but you're not him…I'd like to see him even more now…”
“What is it? Would you like something else to drink?”
“No, I like this one. Thank you.”
Then before I knew it, the sound of rain had disappeared.
“That’s…”
Mana's gaze was on the cat face cookies that we were eating earlier.
“They're the same ones you gave me, aren't they? Did you make those cookies here in the temple?”
“I rented the temple kitchen and I made them myself.”
“Eh, you did? You’re a prince, aren't you? Do the other princes make pastries as well?”
“No, I'm the only one who does this. Unlike my brothers, I have a lot of free time on my hands.”
I sneered and laughed, but Mana looked straight at me.
“I think it's lovely.”
She had that thrilled look in her eyes, that I knew it wasn't flattery.
I'm in trouble.
This kind of thing was pretty annoying.
“Thank you very much.”
I thanked her without any unnecessary words and thought about the next topic.
Well, what should we talk about?
I couldn't think of anything at all.
Maybe I'm more upset than I thought.
“Hey, can you make me some dog-shaped cookies sometime?”
Mana spoke to me while I kept being silent.
I was saved but…
“Dog, is it?”
Why?
Mana likes cats, right?
I wrinkled my brow.
“Un, I like dogs better than cats.”
……Ha……?
HAAAAAAAAA!!!???
Hey, hey, I am not cool with that.
Then, why did I collect all of those cat stuff!!!???
“Even so, I thought you liked cats better!?”
Please tell me you do!
“No, it's dogs. I guess the one I like best is the lovable and adorable Shiba Inu!”
S-Seriously!!!!!????
But still, I bit down.
“But, Saint-sama is also adorable, just like a cat, isn't she?”
“!”
As soon as I said that, Mana's eyes widened.
Huh?
Did I say something strange?
I feel like I've said this before in a previous life, but was it weird?
Suddenly I feel embarrassed.
Mana, don't shut up and say something too!
I then drank the tea on the table to hide my embarrassment.
“I knew some people who said that, But I love dogs. I love…them very, very much.”
Mana, who didn't seem to notice my agitation, spoke calmly.
…Apparently it was true that she likes dogs.
I know it was sad, but then who was the Mana that I was looking at?
I guess this was the reality.
I should stop clinging to the past so miserably.
I am Edward Astraea now.
I'm the prince of this country, and I'm going to do it right.
I tightened the screw that was about to loosen.
“Saint-sama, did you meet the goddess when you were summoned to this country?”
“I met her, or rather, I heard her voice. She said that the blessings that she gives to this country are disappearing and she wants to do something about it.”
“I-Is that true?”
Wasn't that a big deal!?
If the blessing disappears, there would be a lot of people who try to mess with this country.
This was a matter to be reported to the queen.
“Then…Will Saint-sama save us from this crisis?”
“No.”
“Come again?”
“I won't do anything.”
“Eh…?”
What do you mean you won’t do anything!? Weren’t you already nineteen years old!?
So why were you acting like a little girl!?
“Why is that—”
“.........”
I was about to ask her a question, but tears started to slowly pool in her eyes again.
'Ahh~ It's going to rain again…!'
I wanted to ask her for more details, but I couldn't make her cry!
While I was in a hurry to find out what was going on, I heard heavy footsteps coming from the hallway.
It was coming closer and closer to us, gradually increasing its speed.
I have a bad feeling about this!
As soon as the footsteps came to the front of this room, the door opened with a force that seemed to break.
“I hear the saint has come out! For the first time ever, the useless have been useful!”