The Fallen Blossoms of the Empire, The Falling Empire (2)

<Side : Materi Ar Sirenniid>

『Martyr’s Moon – Day 10 (Morning)』

“M-Materi-nim…!!”

A youthful voice flutters from afar, carrying with it the scent of gray hair.

“Shrine Maiden…”

A small figure comes bounding over, wearing a pure smile that suggests a complete lack of worldly knowledge.

Her name is Christopher Faces. A Shrine Maiden who serves the Divine Beast… and the very person who ignited the downfall of the Imperial Family.

She doesn’t seem to realize it at all… but spending time with her is not a pleasant experience for a former member of the Imperial Family.

“What brings such a precious person… to my humble abode?”

The Sultan, who now holds the reins of the Empire, was once an official of the Empire, holding one of the lowest positions of power.

One day, he suddenly brought this child. Chris.

She was unkempt, stuttered, and was a frail girl. This insignificant girl was suddenly placed before the Emperor.

The other officials and my father were at a loss, but the Sultan spoke confidently. This child was born with the innate ability of a Shrine Maiden, capable of communicating with the Divine Beast.

In fact, she demonstrated this before us, directly conversing with the Divine Beast and even using some of their power.

She received Divine Revelation to predict the weather, foresee events, and even bestow the Blessing of the Divine Beast upon others through her.

However, my father seemed displeased with her, the bridge to the Divine Beast with whom communication had been severed long ago.

My father’s gaze went beyond Chris, as if he was looking at something else. Whether it was because of her, or because he sensed something unsettling from the official who brought her… I don’t know.

“Haa… Haa… A-Are you free, Princess!”

The Shrine Maiden, who should have been treated with the utmost respect, was immediately banished to the most remote part of the Empire. A modest Altar was built, and she was managed there. Furthermore, we were told never to reveal the existence of the Shrine Maiden to the outside world.

At the time, I did not understand my father’s decision and pitied Chris, who had been exiled. I often went to her residence with Arc, the Garrison Commander, to talk and read her fairy tales, which led to our current relationship.

“Free, you say…?”

However, the mention of the Shrine Maiden, which my father had repeatedly warned against, was revealed soon after Chris moved to the outskirts, and my father, the Emperor, received great criticism from the people.

Starting with this, dissatisfaction with the Imperial Family gradually accumulated, and the result, as you can see, was the downfall of the Imperial Family, the death of the Emperor. And… I, the Princess, have fallen to the status of a mere dancer, and Prince Barkle has been reduced to a low-ranking member of the Garrison.

“I’m sorry, Shrine Maiden. I have to go see the Sultan now…”

“I-Is that so…”

Chris’s face turned gloomy. Ah… this isn’t good…

Chris, the Shrine Maiden of the Divine Beast, is a girl who is deeply loved by the Sultan. The Sultan punishes those who disrespect the Shrine Maiden more severely than those who disobey his orders.

I once saw servants who had called Chris a dull brat stripped naked in front of the Sultan, flogged repeatedly, and carried away as corpses.

If this situation reaches the Sultan’s ears, I fear what might happen.

“Th-That reminds me… I’ll talk to the Sultan. Could you spend some time with me today?”

“Y-Yes…?”

Chris grabbed my hand and asked me to spend time with her.

But this is a difficult situation. Because if I don’t sleep with the Sultan for even one day out of 1001 days, I and my Sister’s lives will be like a Lantern in the wind.

The pact with that wicked and evil Sultan could not be undone, even by the Shrine Maiden’s request.

However, if I refuse Chris’s request now, and she starts to cry…? She could be beaten and left for dead on the streets overnight.

It was truly a choice of death, but to save my life for the moment, the decision I had to make was…

“Haa… I understand. Someone like me cannot refuse the Shrine Maiden’s request.”

As I said in my conversation with Barkle earlier, this Empire, this Imperial Castle, is no longer our courtyard.

With the Sultan’s eyes and ears lurking everywhere, there is nothing more foolish than refusing the Shrine Maiden’s request and upsetting her.

I have to live first, right?

“Really, Princess!? Yay! Let’s go to my room quickly!”

“W-Wait a moment, Shrine Maiden… Just a little slower…! W-What kind of strength is this…?”

As soon as I showed my willingness to comply, the Shrine Maiden grabbed my hand and dragged me away, her gloomy expression gone.

But this child… how can she be so strong when she’s so small? Could this also be due to the power of the Divine Beast…?

–Thump, thump, thump…!

“This place is…”

“After the Sultan moved his residence to the Imperial Castle, he gave me this room as a gift! Isn’t it incredibly big and beautiful, Princess?”

Led by the Shrine Maiden, I arrived at the Shrine Maiden’s room.

And once… it was my room when I was a Princess. I naturally frowned, but immediately put on a mask and pretended to be fine.

“Yes… It’s really beautiful…”

“Right! Come inside. Quickly!”

–Creak…

Opening the antique door and entering, I felt even more like I couldn’t control my emotions.

The room was exactly the same as before I was exiled. It was as if the Shrine Maiden had never touched anything inside, with dust piled up everywhere.

The only difference was the fairy tales scattered haphazardly on the bed.

“Just like how the Princess used to read me fairy tales, I wanted to read the Princess a fairy tale this time! Unfortunately, Arc is busy and couldn’t be invited today, but next time, let’s all get together and read fairy tales!”

To be honest, I haven’t been able to hear the Shrine Maiden’s words properly since entering the room.

Is it because my emotions are overwhelming me? Or am I angry at the purity of this girl who knows nothing?

But reminding myself that I would lose my life tomorrow if I couldn’t even control these trivial emotions, I desperately tried to stay calm.

“Shrine Maiden.”

“Yes, Princess!”

“I’m sorry to say this… but I am no longer a Princess. Moreover, I am not in a high position, so there is no need to force yourself to use honorifics by adding ‘nim’.”

“B-But Princess is…”

“Calling me that will only make things more difficult for me. Everyone in the Imperial Castle already calls me ‘Materi’. Because I am no longer in the position of Princess.”

Chris looked quite embarrassed. Was I a little harsh?

But it was something I had to do. I can’t keep the title of Princess forever…

“P-Princess… Aaa… M-Materi-nim…”

“Yes… Shrine Maiden.”

“I-I’ll look for a fairy tale to read! In the meantime, Materi-nim, please look around the room!”

The Shrine Maiden, with a slightly depressed face, turned her attention to the fairy tales and began to rummage through them, as if nothing had happened, to find a fairy tale to read with me.

Haa… The Shrine Maiden really doesn’t seem to know that her room used to be my room.

Leaving Chris behind, I took a quick look around the room.

Now, I share a room with several low-ranking dancers in a cramped room several times smaller than this one. When we have to hug each other to sleep because there is no space, I truly feel the value of a single bed.

“Nothing has changed. Not a single thing…”

Just like the Shrine Maiden doesn’t know what’s in this room, the items were full of dust from not being used for a long time.

Rather… it felt unnatural. Even if the Shrine Maiden doesn’t know much about the world, she should have read at least one book out of curiosity, even if it wasn’t a fairy tale… But she didn’t even do that.

“Materi-nim…!! Let’s do this one today!”

While I was lost in thought, the Shrine Maiden smiled brightly and held up a fairy tale.

A fairy tale with the name ‘Aladdin’…

“Aladdin…”

The Shrine Maiden quickly opened the book and began to read the contents.

“Once upon a time, long, long ago. Aladdin began his journey to find treasure. Then, he entered a cave and found a golden lamp, and when he rubbed it with his hand, smoke billowed out! From within the smoke, a very, very kind Elemental appeared who granted three wishes, and Aladdin made a wish to the Elemental, married Princess Scheherazade, and became king!”

“Scheherazade…”

When I heard the word Scheherazade while the Shrine Maiden was reading, I flinched for a moment.

Because… I used to be Scheherazade too.

“Materi-nim?”

“Haa…”

“Materi-nim! Are you listening?”

“A-Ah…!? Yes, yes, of course. I was listening from beginning to end.”

“That’s a relief! Oh, by the way, about the Princess Scheherazade in this fairy tale… the Sultan once told me about it. He said that Materi-nim became the Scheherazade of the time!”

Hoo… There is no sharper dagger than the purity of a child.

Could it be that the Sultan doesn’t even give his favorite child basic education…?

To stab me in my most painful spot…

“Scheherazade… Yes. There was a time when I was.”

I sighed and answered her, who was asking out of pure curiosity, not knowing the meaning of Scheherazade.

“To talk about Scheherazade, I have to talk about the history of the Empire and the Martial Arts Tournament.”

“Really? Wow~ Please, please tell me, Materi-nim!”

I couldn’t refuse the Shrine Maiden’s urging, so I unintentionally started a history lesson.

“The origin of the Empire was a union of the great Empire centered around the Imperial Castle in the middle of the Great Desert, the surrounding fortresses, and various Beast-person tribes. Perhaps because of this, the customs and rules differed from each other, and the Martial Arts Tournament, which was held to unite the people of the Empire and instill a sense of unity, has continued to this day.”

“Hmm… But what does that Martial Arts Tournament have to do with Scheherazade?”

“Scheherazade is just a symbol, Shrine Maiden.”

“A symbol?”

“It’s just a means to glamorize the Martial Arts Tournament that is held once a year. All the participants are praised as brave warriors who create their own glorious achievements and brave Heroic Saga, and the winner is named after the protagonist of an old story… the ‘Aladdin’ that the Shrine Maiden is reading now. The male winner is called Aladdin, and the female winner is called Scheherazade.”

“Is that really true? Then, Materi-nim was an incredibly amazing person! I definitely want to see Materi-nim’s skills later!”

Ahaha… Does the Shrine Maiden really not know anything? Or… is she pretending not to know in order to tease me? I even had such doubts.

“Ah. That’s right! I also heard that the Emperor was Aladdin before the Princess… Then that means the Emperor was also a very strong person!”

“Ugh…”

No… Correction. This child doesn’t know anything. She really doesn’t seem to know.

Because there is no one in the Empire who doesn’t know that the fact that the winner of the Martial Arts Tournament was a member of the Imperial Family for several years in a row… was the starting point of the downfall of the Imperial Family.

“Yes… I hope I can show you someday.”

“Ahaha♥ Good. Very good♥ Then shall we read some more fairy tales, Materi-nim♥”

Forcing out an unwelcome answer, I spent time reading fairy tales with the Shrine Maiden.

–

–

–

And before I knew it, when a black curtain was drawn outside the window, I had finally finished reading the numerous fairy tales.

“It’s already this late…”

The Shrine Maiden pouted, as if she was sad that it was getting late and time for me to leave.

The hands of the clock in the room were drooping down, as if they had been neglected, and I couldn’t tell what time it was, but I sensed that if I delayed any longer, the day would pass.

“That’s right, Shrine Maiden. It’s very late, so you should go to sleep quickly. That way you’ll grow taller and become smarter.”

I was about to leave the room in a hurry, offering a formal farewell, when…

–Grasp…!

“S-Shrine Maiden…?”

“Materi-nim… Don’t go.”

The Shrine Maiden was tearful. Could it be that she’s acting like this because I’m leaving…?

“I’ll talk to the Sultan. Sleep with me in this room today…”

“But…”

“Actually, I know. I know that Materi-nim is in pain and sad every time you go in and out of the Sultan’s room… Even if I don’t know anything, I don’t like seeing the person who showed me pure kindness for the first time in pain! I’ll talk to the Sultan and ask him to let you off the hook today…!”

…………

Shrine Maiden… No. I’ve reevaluated Chris.

I have to retract what I said about her not knowing anything. She was a commendable child who knew quite a lot while still retaining her purity and goodness.

But… I have my own circumstances.

–Slam…!

“M-Materi-nim…?”

“I’m sorry, Shrine Maiden. I wish I could sleep with you, but… there is another important reason why I go to the Sultan that I cannot tell you. Because of that, I must meet the Sultan before the day passes.”

I shook off Chris’s hand, and she looked flustered.

“Let’s meet again and read more fairy tales. Shrine Maiden… No. Feisis…”

–Creak…

Without looking back at Chris, I opened the door and stepped outside.

“Ah… On a day like today. I really want to throw everything away and run away…”

Suppressing my emotions, I muttered to myself and trudged towards the Sultan’s room.

–

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<Side : The 16th Apostle, Christopher Faces/16th Rank – Zephar>

[Ah… She’s gone♥ Poor Princess… To be caught by that greedy pig and suffer such disgrace…]

Left alone in the room, I shed my shell and reveal a new appearance.

A stiff Dick. Looking at my full breasts, I feel like I’m going into Heat myself♥

Moreover, an indescribable, foul Scent emanates from my entire body… I feel like I’m going crazy♥

[I’m sad… I’m really sorry. This time slot, with no cunning fox or indifferent rabbit, is the perfect opportunity… In a little while, I’ll have to hide in the depths of my mind again and just watch…]

By a very, very coincidental opportunity, after coming into contact with the seed planted by the Goddess, I quickly became a Slave of the Goddess and realized.

This Empire is Contamination, and it must be cleaned up immediately and offered to the Goddess♥

That is the mission given to the ‘Judge’ Christopher Faces by the Goddess.

[With the Princess’s power, she could slaughter that pig in an instant, but I don’t understand why she’s walking to the gallows herself. Is the Princess also human after all? Ahaha♥♥]

Tomorrow… Yes. I have a feeling that the Goddess’s daughters, my Sisters, will come♥

Perhaps I won’t be able to do anything even when they come, and I’ll have to sleep inside the shell of the ‘Shrine Maiden’, but…

When the Empire is gradually stained with lust and approaches Depravity by them, if I come into contact with them, I’ll be able to wake up and act proudly♥

[Hehe♥ That’s right. I forgot about this♥]

–Stroke♥ Stroke♥ Stroke♥

[Ahang♥ It feels so good to rub my erect Dick wildly in my fading consciousness♥♥ Ejaculation is forbidden, though… Hihit♥ I can’t stand it♥ But I have to endure… When that day comes, I’ll unleash my semen as much as I’ve endured♥♥]

While eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Goddess’s Apostle, I rub my Dick violently and fall into a deep sleep once again.

[Our greatest and most lewd Goddess… Hail♥♥]

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