The next day.
Inside the holy temple of the Imperial Palace, a solemn worship space.
The 3rd Princess Solana was absorbed in prayer. Beside her was Priest Tom, essentially her secretary.
“…She will surely become the hope of the Empire.”
“Indeed. Oh, Sun God, are you listening!”
As Solana prayed, Tom exclaimed.
“Is there another woman with such overwhelming status and prowess like the 1st Princess? Every time a crisis arises on the continent, her title grows more famous.”
“Indeed. Oh, Sun God, are you listening!”
“That title is probably the continent’s greatest fox woman….”
“Indeed… um? What?”
Tom unknowingly opened his eyes after closing them and glanced at Solana’s profile. Solana seemed to be struggling with her prayer, with beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
“Hmm! Ahem!”
Solana cleared her throat.
Did I mishear something?
Nah, I must have misheard.
The continent’s greatest fox woman for the 1st Princess…?
“Ahem…”
Solana asked the priest in her usual tone.
“Tom, what prayer were we saying?”
“You were praying for the other princesses, and it was now the 1st Princess’s turn.”
“That’s right. Got it.”
Solana refocused on her prayer.
“Oh, Goddess of War, Queen of All Cures… An unimaginable value. Simply existing is a threat to enemies and provides a justification for enforced peace. There’s a reason the Emperor nurtured you with so much Sun Elixir.”
“Indeed! Oh, Sun God, are you listening!”
“But why invest in such a fox woman….”
“Indeed… um? What?”
“Oh, must be the devil sticking around.”
While Solana was catching her breath, Tom doubted his own ears. The things the 3rd Princess had been saying repeatedly were simply unbelievable.
Finally, Solana opened her eyes.
“Brother Tom, the Sun God’s will and desire is to make the world peaceful, isn’t it?”
“Indeed.”
“Then what are heretical acts? Everything threatening the world’s peace is heretical. Isn’t that right?”
“Indeed.”
“Good. We shall never let heretical things be. If the 1st Princess intends to threaten the world’s peace, we need to block her.”
Priest Tom quietly nodded.
Of course, he still had some doubts.
“Uh, 3rd Princess.”
Tom’s voice held a hint of confusion.
“Isn’t the 1st Princess considered to be impossible to surpass? The Sun God also encourages childbirth in her teachings, and wouldn’t marriage be a good thing?”
“Heretical words!”
Solana shouted decisively.
“There’s no doubt about the 1st Princess’s power. However, marriage would be a weakness. How would someone like the 1st Princess, who only needed to protect herself, cope with having a family?”
“Ah.”
“The 1st Princess should have only minimal weaknesses. Until all evils threatening the continent are gone.”
“I understand.”
“So, until the day we can genuinely say complete peace has arrived, it’s fine to keep Ezekiel here in the temple. Providing safety, of course.”
Tom nodded along.
“Just think. If Ezekiel stays here for a lifetime?”
“Ah, Your Highness….”
Tom respectfully clasped his hands.
Guaranteeing the absolute safety of a specific individual for an indefinite period, how huge that is!
Wouldn’t there be those targeting Ezekiel just because the 1st Princess showed interest? The thought that this temple would hold all those dangers was quite comforting.
To eradicate all the world’s heretical deeds, for a beautiful world, the 3rd Princess is faithfully…
“…Really, wouldn’t it be wonderful if that truly happened?”
“Excuse me?”
Solana now assumed she had misspoken or that the devil had attached itself…. She didn’t even bother clarifying that.
“Complete peace? Does such a thing exist? Better to lock him in the temple and make him spend a lifetime with me rather than letting him be taken away by the 1st Princess…”
Denying complete peace?
Oh, that can’t be done…
The teachings of the Sun God proclaim complete peace…
“Right, if it seems that complete peace will come, then the Sun God will become a disaster for us. For the sake of the hard work I’ve put into praying…”
Solana’s body trembled.
Thanks to that, Tom’s body began to tremble too.
“Tom!”
At one point, Solana suddenly turned her head.
“Yes, yes!”
The Empire’s smile, the 3rd Princess Solana.
Yes, the Empire’s smile…
Though her eyes now looked like they were rolling back…
“Still, there’s one thing to be thankful for—Ezekiel has no interest in marrying the 1st Princess.”
Tom’s eyes widened.
“Really? It’s a life-changing opportunity.”
“Think about it.”
“Yes?”
“If you become the 1st Princess’s man, how heavy would that burden be? Just thinking about it makes it troublesome.”
“Oh!”
Tom nodded.
If Ezekiel, who has nothing, were to marry the Empire’s 1st Princess Eether, even if they were fine with it, the surroundings wouldn’t leave them alone.
“Ezekiel thinks of the peace of the continent, he’s so virtuous. He’ll probably decline because he looks far ahead.”
“I didn’t know that. He’s truly an impressive person.”
“Of course! His earnest heart is steadfast; he even wrote a proposal letter to the woman he’s liked since young… Ah, how romantic!”
“That woman must be very happy.”
“Of course! And above all, he has good taste. Not to mention falling for a fox woman who looks like a bear…”
“…”
Tom gulped.
The evil spirits that the heretic judges eliminate. He couldn’t help but suspect that those wicked beings were currently sticking to the 3rd Princess.
After a while, the true Solana finally spoke.
“Tom, aren’t you about to be promoted to a high priest?”
“Yes.”
“Competing among righteous people like us won’t be easy. You’ll need a lot of achievements.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Good attitude. To my brother with a good attitude, I want to propose an amazing opportunity that will become a significant achievement.”
Solana looked at Tom.
“After Ezekiel wakes, the princesses cannot approach the infirmary for three days, but there’s no clause preventing others from approaching. Do you see where I’m going?”
“…”
“Brother Tom, you will be close to Ezekiel. To show that the temple is always open to him, always providing him with a nest.”
Tom hesitated for a moment.
After much deliberation, he made a decision.
“It seems like such a monumental matter for me to take on…”
“Uh?”
Eyes narrowed into squints.
“I will definitely succeed and return.”
Tom responded boldly.
Inside the Imperial Palace, in Hedera’s office.
Sagarak— Sagarak—
The sound of turning paper filled the space like any other day. Hedera was busily examining the piles of reports, just as she always did.
“…”
Secretary Tether silently observed her.
It was a huge honor just to witness this scene.
Seeing the 2nd Princess focus on her work, anyone would agree it was a magnificent sight.
Yes, indeed.
Normally, it would surely be an inspirational sight, but…
“…?”
Sagarak— Sagarak—
Tether’s rabbit-like eyes blinked involuntarily.
‘She keeps looking at the same page, doesn’t she?’
It seemed like she was stuck in some section. Such behavior had never been observed in Hedera, making it quite awkward.
At one moment, Hedera put a sugar cube in her tea.
This too was a sight that could become a model of grace. Who in the Empire could handle etiquette so elegantly and aloofly?
“…”
However, Tether tilted her head again.
‘How many is that already?’
She felt like it was already ten cubes…
“Um…”
Tether spoke very cautiously.
“Your Highness, do you perhaps have some worries?”
“Worries?”
Hedera, with a mask over her chin, elegantly sipped her tea. Not caring about the flavor with at least ten sugar cubes, Tether was sure.
She really must be grappling with something severe.
“There can’t possibly be any worries for me. Whatever it may be, I handle it quickly and easily.”
“Yes. That is so.”
“Well, maybe just a few things on my mind.”
Tether immediately acted respectfully.
“May I dare to inquire?”
“It’s nothing. The continent is vast, and people are many; there are those of a mere insect-like intelligence who think I might be overworking the inspector.”
Hedera sighed deeply.
“Tether. I have a mission to assign to you.”
“Mission, you say?”
“Yes, the inspector will soon awaken from the infirmary. Make sure he feels an inclination to stay permanently in the Magic Tower. Persuade him by any means.”
Originally, Hedera and Solana had concocted the idea of waiting three days as such. After blocking Eether’s access, they intended to persuade him in another way.
“Um… So, about this persuasion…”
“Other princesses will send people too, but is that alright?”
“…”
In truth, it wasn’t alright. She lacked confidence in her speaking abilities.
Tether subtly deflected.
“I don’t have much authority in the Magic Tower. I can only sweet-talk a bit…”
“I’ll grant you temporary authority. Explain the advantages of staying in the Magic Tower as much as you can and what you can provide.”
“I’ll do my best, but…”
“Don’t worry. The inspector is already head over heels for me.”
How can you be so sure of that?
Yet, Hedera’s expression was filled with certainty.
“There’s one advantage you must emphasize.”
“What advantage is that?”
“The tower master is beautiful. She’s pretty. She outshines any princess brought in.”
“Hmm….”
Tether hesitated.
Among the princesses, beauty was hard to rank. It was essentially a matter of personal taste.
On the other hand, Hedera narrowed her eyes.
“The most beautiful among the princesses is me.”
That graceful squint continued to narrow.
“…Isn’t it?”
“Of course you’re the most beautiful!”
Tether stated, turning her eyes toward the curtain.
“The sun itself hides in shame, unable to confront yours. Yet that moon dares to rise with such audacity! How audacious of it!”
“…Well, yes. That’s right.”
Finally, Hedera nodded.
Tether was sweating heavily, thinking inwardly.
This mission…
It would likely become the most challenging one she has ever faced.
In the depths of the holy temple within the Imperial Palace, the infirmary.
“…”
Finally, the man awakened.
‘Ah, refreshing.’
Ezekiel opened his eyes feeling invigorated.
…Strange. Why do I feel so refreshed?
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.