Boom! A solemn memorial service for the victims caught in the bombing was held at the Central Plaza of the Imperial City.
Let us remember the sacrifice for a long time.
May the departed souls find happiness in the sky.
A girl dressed in pristine white vestments recited prayers in a heavy voice.
Sniffle! Sounds of crying emerged from all around.
Surely, these were people who lost beloved family members in the tragedy.
Unable to hold back their wailing, the crowd gathered like clouds, engulfed in immense sorrow.
So many lives were lost…
As I gazed upon the sacred memorial site, I sighed deeply.
“Don’t blame yourself. Was it not thanks to you that the situation didn’t escalate further?”
…
The blonde princess finally spoke up.
Ludmilla, who presided over the memorial service alongside Zebeline, wore a somber, colorless outfit. The princess, with a face full of worry, mourned for the citizens who tragically perished.
After the memorial service ended—
Zebeline approached me after leaving the organization to the subdeacons.
“Thank you for honoring my request.”
“Not at all, it was something I had to do.”
In a memorial service filled with numerous crowds, the risk of a calamity similar to the bombing was high. Thus, I willingly accepted Zebeline’s proposal for an escort, especially since I’d planned to attend the service with Ludmilla regardless.
Contrary to my worries, the memorial service concluded without incident.
As I watched the crowd slowly disperse, I let out a sigh of relief.
“I was so nervous something dreadful might happen during the memorial service… I was sweating bullets while reciting prayers.”
Zebeline tilted her head onto me, acting like a fragile heroine. Her gentle smile revealed it was all an act.
What a tough cookie.
Zebeline displayed superhuman courage.
Contrary to the nobles attending the service, who frequently looked around in fear, she stood unbothered.
Of course, the White Dragon of the Holy Kingdom wouldn’t fear villains.
While she might not measure up to Ludmilla, who proved invincible through numerous public exploits and became one of the Seven Heroes of the Warring States, Zebeline was no pushover either. At the very least, she wouldn’t be threatened by lowly scoundrels.
“Saintess, aren’t you being overly cheeky? Aren’t there countless troops escorting you?”
“Well, that’s what they say.”
The Red Dragon and the White Dragon.
The royal guard dispatched from the Imperial Palace.
And the Holy Knights responsible for escorting the Saintess and the envoy.
No matter how unpredictable the assault, they wouldn’t dare attack the memorial service. The combined forces assigned for escort duty exceeded the military strength of a nation.
Zebeline pouted in response to Ludmilla’s remark.
“Well, at least it’s a good thing there were no further casualties.”
“You’re absolutely right.”
The political climate, shaken by the bombing in the Imperial City, gradually began to stabilize. Thanks to the Valtarian Empire’s swift response and the Saintess comforting citizens in the Holy Kingdom, the fear-laden atmosphere was beginning to ease.
But it wasn’t time to relax just yet.
This calm could be the ‘calm before the storm’.
“I have something to consult with you… Do you have some time?”
“If it’s alright, may I take Rue with me? I’m sure she’s bored at home all alone by now.”
“Hehe, that’s fine.”
“Understood.”
Since I often held tea time under the pretense of consulting with Ludmilla, I nodded in agreement right away. Sweet desserts would surely come out during tea time, making it a perfect remedy for the pouting fairy.
Then, reluctantly, Ludmilla offered Zebeline an invitation for tea time as well.
Honestly, I wish you wouldn’t come.
But she didn’t want to come off as stingy, so she made the offer out of courtesy.
She’s so obvious with her discomfort.
A cold sweat trickled down my back, fearing another round of tension would spark.
“I appreciate the invitation, but I have schedules with the bishops. Unfortunately, I’ll have to postpone until later.”
“What a shame, I was hoping you could join us, Saintess.”
The exchange was devoid of any genuine feelings, no fragments of sincerity at all.
Scary.
I never thought women’s mind games could be this terrifying.
The relationship between Ludmilla and Zebeline was like a powder keg, ready to explode at any moment.
*
After being pressured by her suitor Maximilian to annul her engagement, Elizaveta ultimately accepted a conditional new engagement, albeit reluctantly.
The engagement discussions had restarted.
Upon hearing the news, Emperor Barbarossa jumped up in joy.
He had been anxious, worried that his beloved youngest daughter might end up remaining a single lady forever, so he warmly welcomed this development and declared that he wouldn’t hold back his support for his youngest daughter’s new engagement.
“So, who is Elizaveta’s new fiancé?”
“We’re currently in the selection process.”
As soon as Rue and I arrived in the reception room, Ludmilla brought up the main topic.
The engagement of the Third Imperial Princess.
Currently, the Imperial Family was hastily moving forward with Elizaveta’s engagement talks.
Through strict selection and verification, the candidates chosen from prestigious families numbered as many as fifteen. Ultimately, one would be selected among them. It was bound to be an intense decision befitting the fiancé of the Platinum Princess.
“Hoo… Actually, I recommended you as Liza’s new fiancé first.”
“Me?”
I couldn’t hide my surprise at Ludmilla’s lament.
Me?
Why…?
I only had a passing acquaintance with Elizaveta.
Would I really be up to par to substitute for Maximilian? Of course, the same could be said for the newly appointed suitors.
The Valtarian Imperial Family had already declared a severance with the Hohenberc Family. Bringing the Hohenberc Family back into the fold was impossible now. Besides, numerous prestigious families and wannabe suitors that were either chosen or rejected wouldn’t accept such an injustice.
“Your Majesty seems to be rushing things. Isn’t this still a time of crisis? It’ll be difficult to proceed with engagement talks.”
…
Ludmilla fell silent.
She turned her head for a moment.
I locked eyes with Rue, who was munching on cake beside me.
…
…
As we quietly exchanged glances, Rue and I simultaneously turned to look at Ludmilla.
We instantaneously understood why the ruler of the proud Valtarian Empire was hurrying the engagement talks, as if something was chasing her.
The reason was right before us.
*
While Edanant and Rue were being punished by a furious Ludmilla, on the other side, Zebeline had just finished a meeting with the priests dispatched to the Empire and was taking a moment to relax.
Those damn old folks… Why do they keep clinging to the meeting like it’s a lifeline?
She grimaced at the fanatical appearance of the priests who begged for the Saintess’s noble blessing.
When would there be another chance to meet the First Saintess blessed by the White Dragon? The priests’ desperate antics had some validity, but Zebeline dismissed their actions as mere blind faith.
“Saintess.”
“What is it, Sir Franz?”
The Holy Knight guarding her spoke up.
Zebeline lifted her milk tea cup and allowed him to speak.
“Are you truly intending to grant Prince Edanant ownership of the Holy Sword Aldebaran?”
“Do you think I would speak such nonsense?”
Worries surfaced on the faces of Franz and the other Holy Knights escorting Zebeline. They were concerned about her firm decision to allow ownership of the Holy Sword.
I figured they’d react this way.
What could I expect from you guys who are as rigid as bishops?
Zebeline pressed her temples and sighed deeply.
“However, Prince Edanant is not from the Holy Kingdom. He hasn’t even accepted baptism. How can you entrust such a person with Aldebaran? Sure, Maximilian wasn’t from the Holy Kingdom either, but at least he was baptized!”
…
Public opinion in the Holy Kingdom was likely no different.
The First Saintess was bound to face debates for unilaterally delegating ownership of Aldebaran.
Should I delay my return?
Imagining the swarm of bishops charging at her gave Zebeline a headache.
“The forces of evil, which had been elusive for a while, have begun to move again. They are certainly plotting the Ascension of Evil. Now’s the time to prepare for that!”
The ultimate goal was to dismantle the noble teachings of the Earth Mother, the only recognized figure on the continent, and create a hell on earth where only lawlessness and wickedness thrived.
That was the Ascension of Evil.
The Demon King’s Army and cultists, long oppressed by the Valtarian Empire and the Gael Holy Kingdom, were seething and preparing for the collapse of the Creator Deity. Once they toppled the faith in the Creator deity, they had always lingered in the back of the world, waiting to fill the void with their own gods.
“Saintess!”
As Zebeline began explaining the severity of the situation to the Holy Knights—
A piece of urgent news arrived, seemingly trying to validate her concerns.
“We have received urgent news from the Holy Kingdom. Meiros, a cultist worshiping evil, has appeared in the Pug Kingdom.”
Meiros.
A cultist.
A monster blessed by the Forgotten God had emerged.
Gifted with immense power, users of such blessings could manifest capabilities beyond limits. Even the weakest among them could turn an entire city into a pool of blood in an instant.
So upon receiving the urgent news, the Holy Knights were astounded and swallowed hard.
“If it’s the Pug Kingdom… then that would be the homeland of the Sword Saint Madbay.”
The Sword Saint Madbay, who had created bloodlust from the corpses of numerous demons and cultists.
It was evident that they had deployed Meiros for revenge against him.
This was a far greater threat than the criminals who ambushed the Imperial City.
Zebeline breathed a short sigh and stood up.
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