7 Home

"No, take me home…,"

"Your highness," I called as Vance grasped the end of my skirt. It was an awkward position, for someone taller than me to do that!

He started sobbing.

Caspian is waiting in front of the door of our carriage. I can tell he's annoyed. I thought since he like his own little sister then he would come to like children too.

But children in an adult's body is certainly…not easy to fathom.

How can I? He's hugging me and crying for me but with an adult appearance! I am embarrassed. I have never experienced this kind of situation!

"Your highness, I will come visit you okay? I will bring sweets, and we will play together," I said, smiling as if I am consoling a child.

God, I feel terrible for treating an adult like a child, but what should I do if his mentality is a child?

"R-really?"

"Yes,"

Vance smiled happily, and it made me feel warm inside. Ah, I really do miss Frederick, my little brother. But I don't want to be involved much further. I have resolved to live life peacefully and 'retire' this time. I will only focus on doing small tasks as required by a duke's daughter.

"But…" Vance looked down, seemingly wanted to cry again.

I tried to console him again by holding his hands.

"C-Carina!"

I shook my head when my brother called me. "It's okay brother," I said.

"What happened Vance?," I tried calling his name.

Vance felt a huge lump in his throat but tried to speak. "No-nobody comes to my home. M-mother is afraid of strangers. I can't have friends. People hate me and mother,".

I can't assess the situation much from things that he said. But it is to be expected. Their palace will be in the most terrible condition because they are 'abandoned' by the royals. There will be no maids and servants to care and serve them. Even if they were, they would mostly just be spies or servants that does not have an ounce of respect for them. Not to mention if you're a concubine, you will be watched and bullied by the empress should the emperor turn a slight glance to you.

I have worked hard as the prior empress to demolish that kind of mentality, but I am not god. A human heart could not change easily even if the system change.

"Your highness!!" someone shouted.

We turned towards the person who shouted and a man, cladded in armor came rushing to us.

"Your highness! You told me to wait for you in the garden. You forgot to tell me when you're going to leave," he said, gasping for air.

"Demetrius?!"

"Pardon me, my lady, I don't think I recognize you," Demetrius said, glancing at me.

I just met this guy recently, in my previous life. Yes, at exactly the 100th time I got reincarnated. And 15 years have passed. The 12-year-old boy I taught swordsmanship have become a knight for a prince.

"Ah, I am sorry. I've heard of your achievements, that is all,"

Demetrius blushed as he scratched the back of his head. "For my lady to hear my small achievements, I am flattered,"

"Ahem," Caspian coughed.

"A-anyways, your highness, let's get you home," Demetrius quickly regained his focus.

Vance pulled my hand closer to him. "No! I want to go home with my hero!," he yelled.

I sighed as I glanced at the troubled Demetrius. I know Demetrius is not a scheming and irresponsible person. Nonetheless, what he did seem to almost betray my view of him. "Sir Demetrius, why do you let him go unsupervised. You know about his condition,"

"Oh my lady…it does certainly seem that way," Demetrius said.

"His highness mother, my master, Lady Uld, wants him to get used to society. She said to let him make friends. But his Highness insists on experiencing it alone because he wants to look like an adult…whatever that means…," he added.

It can't be helped, can't it? No matter how retarded the master's son is, disobeying the orders of the prince is the same as treason. "Is it possible to visit Lady Uld and his Highness in the future?" I asked.

Demetrius was surprised as he did not expect the lady to extend her kindness this far. She is his Highness's first friend. Demetrius is excited at this development. "Yes of course my lady! I will relay your wishes to Lady Uld,"

"Do you hear that Vance? I will come later and then we will play!"

"Bu-but my hero saved me! A hero should always be with me, every day!,"

I heard a cracking sound and turned towards the carriage. "Oh no, the carriage door seems to be fragile. Don't mind me," Caspian said. The coachman shivered in fear at Caspian's repressed anger.

I sighed again. Today seems a bit exhausting. "Your highness, I am not a hero, but a saint. I am Saint Carina,".

"A saint? The one who heals everyone?"

"Yes. I heal, so I need to help my friend, a hero,"

"Wow!"

I smiled. Vance seems to be convinced.

"So I need to be with him. It's the only way to save the world,"

"Save the world…"

"Yes! Remember the story about knight Elecreed and his healer friend? Me and Elecreed will be busy saving the world," I said, giggling. I patted Vance head. "So wait for me, okay?"

Vance blushed happily. "Yes! Yes I'll wait! So come back home safely,"

"Eh?"

"God, I want Carina to be home safe. And then we'll be happy together," he said, clasping his hand into a prayer.

I don't know why but just from the simple words alone, it made me want to cry.

Home.

It sounds like a pipe dream but…it certainly sounds nice to actually have a home, not a home I'll be thrown into in the next life.