Ch.196196. The Imperial Princess and the Saint

The coronation ceremony for Seraphina’s successor began with great splendor, as the name suggests.

The ceremony, attended by the power elite from various countries and the Saint of the Holy Empire, began with a mass offered to the main deity, followed by a series of rituals enumerating the legitimacy and orthodoxy of Seraphina becoming the successor.

All of this took place under the supervision of the empire’s high ministers, in the presence of the Emperor.

While the coronation was essentially an appointment ceremony, it was known for its numerous ritual procedures. Religious ceremonies were also conducted to demonstrate that their positions were not determined solely by humans but were the will of the gods.

The Holy Empire did not particularly object to this.

The religious ceremonies conducted during the coronation primarily expressed gratitude for the grace bestowed by the main deity and pledged to govern the people by upholding its teachings, rather than challenging divine authority.

For the Holy Empire, punishing those who outwardly showed willingness to follow the will of the gods might appear as persecution against followers of divine teachings. Thus, it became customary to dispatch envoys to congratulate them on the coronation.

However, the participation of Saint Veronica in Seraphina’s successor coronation ceremony was unprecedented. Given the symbolic significance of a Saint, even visiting a specific country could become a political issue.

Particularly, participating in a successor’s coronation ceremony was an event that could influence continental politics. In fact, envoys from various countries attending the ceremony speculated that there might be some kind of deal between the Infractus Empire and the Holy Empire.

Some argued that such speculation based solely on the Saint’s appearance was excessive, but controversy showed no signs of abating, especially since this was the first time a Saint had participated in a successor’s coronation ceremony.

Of course, those who knew the fundamental reason for Veronica’s participation in this coronation would dismiss these rumors as groundless.

“Welcome, Saint of the Holy Empire.”

“Thank you for your hospitality, Your Imperial Highness.”

It was a moment when the second most powerful figure in the Empire met the second most powerful figure in the Holy Empire.

Crown Princess Seraphina was curious about why the Saint personally attended the successor’s coronation ceremony, but outwardly expressed her welcome for her attendance.

“I truly welcome you to my successor coronation ceremony.”

“Thank you again for your hospitality. As it happens, I had business in the Empire, so I took the liberty of coming here.”

Seraphina’s curiosity intensified. Simultaneously, she recalled the moment when the Saint personally came when she had requested a priest from the Holy Empire to treat Gilbert.

“It’s surprising that the Saint has business in the Empire. May I ask what it might be?”

“It’s nothing difficult. In fact, I have a favor to ask of you.”

“Since you’ve attended my successor coronation ceremony and saved my face, I’ll gladly grant it within reasonable limits. So, what is it?”

Saint Veronica smiled gently and, instead of answering, cast her gaze in a particular direction. Seraphina naturally turned her head to where Veronica was looking and discovered a man standing there.

Gilbert Lion Heart.

Her priest who had begun to be called the Empire’s hero.

“Would you mind explaining the meaning of your gaze more clearly?”

Seraphina’s tone subtly changed.

Having been using a more elevated manner of speech than usual when facing the Saint of the Holy Empire, she reverted to her normal tone the moment she noticed Veronica’s gaze.

Whether Veronica noticed this or not, she smiled gently with an unchanged expression.

“It’s not complicated. My purpose for coming is to meet Sir Gilbert.”

“Gilbert… Do you have a reason for wanting to meet him?”

“That’s a matter I need to discuss with him directly, so it’s difficult for me to explain.”

Seraphina found Veronica’s words strangely irritating. It wasn’t particularly disrespectful, but there was something about her that kept grating on her nerves.

“Then, may I go meet Sir Gilbert? Our conversation might take some time.”

“I’m afraid that would be difficult.”

“Wouldn’t that depend on Sir Gilbert’s judgment?”

Seraphina, feeling that the Saint’s smile was detestable, struggled to suppress the anger rising from the depths of her chest. Though she was better than most at controlling and regulating her emotions, she found it somewhat difficult these days.

It’s about my priest again.

Ironically, these moments always seemed to be connected to Gilbert.

“I cannot allow it, as I don’t know what proposal the Saint of the Holy Empire might make to the Empire’s hero.”

“If Sir Gilbert decides so, it would all be according to the guidance of the main deity. So there shouldn’t be a problem.”

Veronica spoke while recalling a divine revelation, but to Seraphina, who was unaware of this fact, it felt like a kind of threat.

“Saint of the Holy Empire, are you implying persecution against the Empire?”

Once a misunderstanding had formed, it began to spread uncontrollably.

Seraphina’s gaze grew increasingly sharp, and Veronica, as if unwilling to back down, boldly met her eyes.

The guards around them raised their vigilance to the extreme as the atmosphere gradually worsened, creating a situation that could explode at any moment. They prepared to intervene to prevent any potential incident.

“I refuse. I cannot stand by and watch this attempt to steal the Empire’s valuable talent.”

“That’s strange. I never once said I would take Sir Gilbert away from the Empire. I would simply welcome him with open arms if that were his wish.”

“You take me for a fool. Did you think I would accept such an absurd story?”

“I can only explain that you’re making excessive assumptions and misjudgments.”

The conversation between the two was gradually turning into an argument.

One was the successor to a great empire that occupied half the continent, and the other was the Saint of a religious order believed in throughout the continent.

As both held considerable social status and influence over the continent, the worsening atmosphere between them rapidly deteriorated the mood of the banquet hall.

As their voices grew louder, the banquet attendees began to cast puzzled glances at the two.

By all appearances, it was a situation on the verge of a poor outcome.

At worst, it could imply discord between the Empire and the Holy Empire…

“What seems to be the matter?”

Just before a situation implying discord could arise, a bold figure intervened between the two.

A young man with blonde hair, tanned skin, and a handsome face.

It was Gilbert.

“Hello, Sir Gilbert. It’s been a while.”

“Indeed. I was too preoccupied then to properly greet you. I express my gratitude for treating me that day.”

“How kind of you, Sir Gilbert.”

Though it seemed like an ordinary conversation between a stoic man and a gentle woman, considering their positions, it was not something to be taken lightly. One was a rising star in the Empire, and the other was the Saint of the Holy Empire.

When two acquaintances conversed so amicably, it was bound to create gossip. At least, that’s what Seraphina thought.

Then what should she, as the legitimate successor to the Empire, choose to do?

It was to put an end to potential gossip about the Empire’s hero and prevent the outflow of talent.

“Lord Gilbert.”

“Yes, Your Imperial Highness.”

Seraphina felt a strange satisfaction seeing Gilbert’s extremely respectful attitude toward her, different from how he addressed the Saint. It allowed her to demonstrate to the Saint of the Holy Empire that Gilbert, the subject of their argument, showed respect to her.

“You’ve come at a good time. I had something I wanted to ask you.”

“Please speak. I am always ready to receive Your Imperial Highness’s words.”

Indeed, you are quick-witted.

Seraphina was quite pleased with how Gilbert responded appropriately despite not fully understanding the situation, as he was usually perceptive.

“You are surely a loyal subject of the Empire, aren’t you?”

“I am. My loyalty is always directed toward the Empire.”

“And you have pledged to serve me, have you not?”

“That is also correct. Your Imperial Highness is the future of the Empire.”

A correct statement!

Seraphina was elated.

It was a moment when she could fully feel that she had completely won over Gilbert, the Empire’s hero, to her side. For Seraphina, whose political path was important going forward, Gilbert’s support, being called the future of the Empire, could only be welcome.

Especially since it provided an opportunity to showcase the relationship between Gilbert and herself in front of the Saint with whom she had just been arguing, she couldn’t help but feel her shoulders rise with pride.

“Your Imperial Highness, I have one request to make.”

“Speak, whatever it may be.”

In a good mood, Seraphina was willing to grant Gilbert’s request readily.

“I request permission to have a private audience with the Saint.”

Of course, Gilbert’s subsequent words were outside her range of expectations. Seraphina naturally looked at the Saint and, seeing her bright smile, couldn’t help but feel an inexplicable sense of defeat.