The kings of various countries, arriving at the Valtarian Empire to attend the Alliance Conference, couldn’t help but be puzzled by the dazzling parade of the Holy Kingdom, which flaunted its vanity.
Holy King Boern was known as a humble and honest seeker of the Earth Mother.
Why on earth was such a person displaying such extravagance?
It was excessively worldly.
The carriages adorned with the finest platinum and ivory were saying it all.
“Did you see the beautiful maidens in the carriages?”
“Don’t be foolish. Those are the Candidate Saintesses selected by the Holy Kingdom. If you throw compliments at them carelessly, you’ll be caught by the Holy Knights and executed right away.”
“Why on earth did the Holy King bring the Candidate Saintesses along like concubines…?”
“Indeed.”
This was an important venue where the kings reigning over the continent had gathered.
A significant power struggle and the measuring of influence and scale would unfold.
Perhaps the Holy King indulged in extravagance to display the prestige and majesty of the Holy Kingdom.
However, it was strange to see the 30 Candidate Saintesses accompanying the Holy King.
Why were the candidates from the Saintess Academy suddenly following him to the imperial city?
The existence of the beautiful maidens following the Holy King stirred various doubts.
“Damn, the Earth Mother has possessed a Candidate Saintess.”
The rising whoosh of killing intent and fear surged rapidly like a volcano.
It was like gagging on my own insides.
There was no doubt.
The divine status of Earth Mother Gael had entered the imperial city.
I gulped down hard while recalling the sight of the Candidate Saintesses disembarking from the carriage with the Holy King. My head throbbed with the thought that it must be related to the oracle announced by the Holy Kingdom.
“Edanant!”
“Ah, Your Highness Elizaveta.”
Why would the humble Creator Deity visit the precious imperial palace?
As I pondered the penetrating question while walking through the rarely visited garden,
A golden-haired princess appeared.
Behind her, the lively Luinongs trailed like they were playing a train game.
“I’m going to collapse if I have to entertain all these guests without a proper break. It’s not like we’re beggars!”
“Since all the kings are attending.”
“I might just faint. If I do, you better carry me, Edanant.”
“Yes, understood.”
I sat down beside Elizaveta.
Elizaveta shrugged at the thought of receiving guests and leaned her head on my shoulder.
Was it the scent of her perfume?
Or was it the smell emanating from her flawless skin?
Every time her luxurious golden hair swayed, a sweet fragrance tickled my nose. Following her delightful sigh, my face heated for a moment.
“I bet Pai is also super tired!”
“Wherever I go, the humans are swarming…! It’s terrifying!”
Even the Luinongs who trailed behind the Platinum Princess voiced their grievances one by one.
With so many crowds gathered to see the famous mascots of the Saintess Party, it was no wonder the Luinongs felt fatigued like animals on display in a zoo.
“Really, you’re doing a great job.”
“Uh, yeah….”
I reached out a hand.
And gently patted the head of the beautiful princess who was complaining about her fatigue.
“How could you treat my sister like that while dating? Edanant, what a scoundrel! Are you going to throw compliments at married sister Isabel too?”
“…….”
“It’s a joke, just a joke. It feels a bit strange to be patted on the head. My sisters used to comb my hair directly.”
“…I feel a bit strange too.”
I had never patted Ludmilla’s head before.
As I said this, Elizaveta blushed and revealed a smile full of content.
“Receiving such head pats… isn’t so bad after all.”
I wondered if it might have helped the tired princess a little.
Looking at the Platinum Princess, who was accepting my touches with her eyes gently closed, I thought about it.
The Luinongs let out squeals of excitement at the sight of me and Elizaveta. Their reactions were filled with zeal, like watching children read a romance novel for the first time.
“Elizaveta, Your Highness.”
“Uh, yeah? Why?! What are you trying to do here… Mila is working hard right now….”
“I hear many footsteps. It seems that outsiders have entered the garden.”
“…….”
I turned my head and stood up.
Then Elizaveta shot a glaring look towards the direction of the voice.
“It’s the Candidate Saintesses of the Holy Kingdom.”
The garden of the Valtarian Imperial Palace strictly prohibited the entry of outsiders. However, there were partial exceptions for guests invited from the palace.
Since they were the Candidate Saintesses of the Holy Kingdom, it was probably allowed under formal permission. It wouldn’t be the case that the noble Candidate Saintesses of the Holy Kingdom would sneak in like thieves.
“How magnificent this garden managed by the Empire is. There’s even a greenhouse gathered with rare flowers.”
“Wow! There are so many flowers I’ve never seen!”
The beautiful maidens of the Holy Kingdom fluttered their skirts as they wandered through the flower garden. Their movements painted a breathtaking picture, reminiscent of a colorful watercolor.
Gasp!
Just then, as I watched the Candidate Saintesses come into the garden,
I felt a sharp pain in my side.
Elizaveta, flushed and indignant, pinched my side.
She probably thought I was enthralled by the looks of the beautiful maidens from the Holy Kingdom, and glared at me with such intensity that she looked like she would poke my eyes out with her fingers.
Cold sweat trickled down.
Could it be that I was misunderstood by the villainous princess?
“It’s a misunderstanding. I was just momentarily enchanted. I assure you I have no ulterior motives.”
“Honestly, Edanant can’t help but be smitten by Saintesses. You were drooling over the First Saintess too.”
Perhaps due to the precedent of losing her fiancé to a Saintess, our princess seemed to have a hypersensitive reaction to them.
It almost felt like the Platinum Princess loathed Saintesses more than anything in the world.
“Hello!”
A girl with orange hair approached cheerfully.
She was a Candidate Saintess of the Holy Kingdom.
Wearing the quaint Holy Kingdom uniform like Zebeline, I recognized her immediately.
“…Your Highness Elizaveta.”
“I get it, I get it.”
When a Candidate Saintess approached to greet, it would be proper for the Imperial Princess to respond.
I shot a hint to the still dissatisfied Elizaveta.
Elizaveta nodded and stepped forward.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Elizaveta von Valtaria, the third princess of the Empire.”
“You’re really the Platinum Princess! You’re as beautiful as the rumors say! I’m Lefrie Brete, a Candidate Saintess of the Holy Kingdom!”
Renowned for her sharp temper, Elizaveta brushed off the Candidate Saintess with casual familiarity. Truly, her stubbornness and pride shone through.
As Elizaveta acknowledged Lefrie with her haughty demeanor, the girl jumped in excitement, showering her with compliments.
‘She’s not a vessel possessed by the Earth Mother… The divine status claiming to be the Creator Deity can’t be so frivolous. Is she just an ardent fan who admires Elizaveta?’
I sensed a distinctly weaker aura of divinity from the girl before me.
Compared to Zebeline, it was drastically lesser.
Even less than the divinity stored in me from the Holy Sword Aldebaran.
But I couldn’t let my guard down.
I still hadn’t been able to determine who among the visiting candidates from the Holy Kingdom was the vessel of the Earth Mother.
“If it’s alright, could you request to accompany us? I think walking through the garden with you, Princess Elizaveta, would be an unparalleled honor!”
“That’s unreasonable.”
I immediately intervened to block the Candidate Saintess, who seemed eager to take Elizaveta’s hand. Her face twisted for an instant.
Perhaps due to the ominous atmosphere.
The Holy Knights, who were watching from a distance, started to approach.
“The Holy Sword Aldebaran… Such a talented one.”
Earth Mother Gael.
The girl in front of me was undoubtedly the conduit of the Earth Mother.
She might be one among the many vessels prepared by the Earth Mother.
However, I still sensed only a faint aura of divinity from her. If she’s hiding her divinity on purpose, that would indeed be an incredible talent.
“Next time, I’ll formally request an audience, beautiful princess.”
No further conflict arose.
Perhaps out of concern for the repercussions and fallout, the Candidate Saintess waved her skirt as she bid farewell to Elizaveta and turned away.
“Why did she act like that? She looked like a cheeky little girl who could easily make friends.”
“That was quite forward to the point of being rude.”
“Hmm… You, who often tease Mila by calling her an old lady, shouldn’t be one to talk.”
“……”
Elizaveta seemed to have a more positive impression of the Candidate Saintess than I did, sensing an uneasy feeling instinctively.
Perhaps it was because of all the flattery she had just been showered with.
Or without any doubts, she may have simply accepted her as a vessel of the Earth Mother.
“What’s up with you, Edanant? Are you jealous of the Candidate Saintess from the Holy Kingdom? Trying to hold my hand?”
“…Ah.”
Elizaveta looked at me with a teasing smile.
I hesitated over how to respond to her mischievous question.
“Yes, it seems I might have been a bit jealous.”
As I readily accepted Elizaveta’s teasing, I took her soft hand in mine.
And like when I waltzed with Ludmilla, I swiftly pulled the slender waist of Elizaveta closer.
“Whoa!”
“Squeal! This is the game for grown-ups!”
The Luinongs bounced around like lobsters in a cauldron, witnessing the dizzying spectacle before them.
“Uh, umm… I’ll be more careful next time….”
With her head bowed, Elizaveta whispered softly.
It was merely a game turned playful.
Yet somehow, Elizaveta kept glancing at me with her lovely, plump lips trembling.
Perhaps it was how close we were that made her luscious scarlet lips seem even more enchanting.
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