episode_0007

Even if it was something that happened in a rural territory, the fact that Estelle was teaching someone in the Imperial territory, let alone preparing to go to the Academy, was bound to quickly reach Crown Princess Iris’ ears.

That also meant that she was taking good care of the territory.

“So you’re saying that the saint is definitely there?”

“Yes, it has been confirmed that he is staying in the Derr County without any intention of hiding his energy.”

While the Saintess stayed in the Empire, it was basically inevitable that people would become attached to her.

Considering the long history of ill-fated relations between the Empire and the Holy Empire, it was thought that the peace treaty would be implemented starting with the Academy’s admission period, so it was impossible to completely trust the people of the Holy Empire until then.

“Okay. I’ll go and see for myself, so you report to His Majesty.”

“Is that your Majesty speaking personally?”

“Yes, you are a precious person who will be entering the academy with me anyway. I should treat you accordingly.”

After saying that, the Crown Princess seemed to have nothing more to say and headed to the dressing room with several maids in tow.

When he said that he would change his clothes and prepare to leave, it seemed as if he was telling them to report to the Emperor without saying anything else.

If I uttered even one more word here, I would be met with a cold stare that would make my bones shiver.

The Crown Princess, who was not unaware of the character, hurried to report to the Emperor before departure.

“Your Majesty, it seems as if the saintess has secretly entered the imperial territory. However, I am not sure if Your Majesty has any reason to go.”

She shook her head at the words of Seo Jin-hee, who was assisting Iris most closely.

“Your Majesty is putting more effort into the friendly relations with the Holy Empire than anyone else, right? Whether it’s superficial or not.”

Seo Jin-hee listened to those words, thought deeply, and then nodded.

“What does that mean? Regardless of the identity of the saintess who entered the country illegally, if she hid it and did nothing, His Majesty had no choice but to welcome her. So it’s right for me to step forward and take care of it first.”

It was natural that the report would reach the Emperor’s ears anyway.

And the Emperor, whether outwardly or not, wanted to establish friendly relations with the Holy Empire, and he hoped that Iris would be the one to lead that friendly relations.

“Okay, let’s go.”

“They say it’s getting a little colder these days. Do you think it’s okay to wear something like that?”

“It’s okay, just bring a jacket and go.”

For Iris, who easily gets hot, it would have been much more helpful to pack a jacket to wear when it gets cold.

During the changing of seasons, long-sleeved knits and long pants that you wear are more likely to make you feel hot when you go indoors.

As such, she was wearing the clothes she often enjoyed wearing throughout the summer: a gray-brown tank top that fit Iris’s body, which is large but not the type to enjoy exposing much, and white shorts with a brown belt as an accent, which accentuated her body without being too revealing.

“You really like those clothes.”

“Yeah, that’s my style. I have a pretty body, but I think it’s a sin not to show it off.”

She thought that her body’s greatest strengths were her large breasts and slender legs.

“Don’t walk around with your chest exposed.”

“That’s too vulgar.”

Seo Jin-hee looked at Iris in disbelief as she said that it was vulgar to walk around with your chest exposed but it was okay to walk around with your legs exposed, but that was all.

Her status was too high to point out anything more than that.

If not, I just thought that it would have been a remark worthy of being criticized by people.

dripping-

“Your Majesty, His Majesty told me to stop by before going to the saint.”

“Okay, I understand. I’m just about ready. Let’s go now.”

Although it was a bit of a hassle, since I had to meet the Emperor before leaving the palace anyway, I had already planned on stopping by to see the Emperor, so I walked on without saying anything else.

“Your Majesty the Emperor, Her Royal Highness Iris Luasa Ermund has arrived.”

“Already? It’s been a while since I’ve been here. Okay, I’ll tell you to come in.”

He had planned to visit from the beginning, and the servant had even told him when he had finished putting on his clothes, so the emperor let out a low laugh at his unexpected visit, which was much earlier than usual.

Squeak-

The large door opened and as we entered, we saw the Emperor organizing the documents in front of him.

“His Majesty the Sun Emperor of the Empire.”

“Ah, yes. Come on. And everyone except Iris, please step aside.”

When the Emperor said he had something to say to the Crown Princess, there was no one in the palace who would not listen.

After everyone quickly left the room, the emperor’s previously kind expression became much more stern.

“Iris.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“We must find out for sure what purpose the saint has come to the empire.”

Iris wondered why he was trying to talk to everyone, but as expected, she realized that he was trying to talk about something other than superficial peace, and she let out a small sigh inwardly.

“Dad, I have a question.”

“Yeah, what is it?”

When they were alone, the Emperor didn’t really care if Iris used the word “father.”

This was because he knew very well that Iris would never be the first to speak comfortably when there were people around, even if the Emperor told her to do so.

“Enrolling in the academy with the saint, signing a peace treaty with the Holy Empire. It’s all superficial, right?”

The Emperor narrowed his eyes to understand Iris’s intentions behind asking this question.

She was definitely my daughter, and she was usually a very smart child whom I cared for very much, but there were times when I couldn’t tell what she was thinking.

And now was that time.

“I don’t know why you’re asking. What answer do you want, Iris?”

The Emperor spoke to hide his intentions since he did not know his daughter’s intentions, but it was clear to Iris.

‘That seems to be the superficial reason. Do you plan to start a war after neutralizing them? Or maybe you plan to slowly, little by little, infiltrate and destroy them.’

But if Emperor Ermund was thinking that way, the Holy Empire could not help but be thinking similarly.

Even the Holy Empire wasn’t stupid enough to open its eyes and cut off its nose.

‘If that happens, will another war break out?’

Iris felt a little heartbroken when she thought that there was no such thing as a true peace treaty or agreement.

If you ask me if I like the Saints or the Holy Empire, then no.

Honestly, I thought the saint was a strange woman who spoke as she pleased, and the Holy Empire was none of her business.

However, Iris was concerned that it would not only be the Holy Empire that would suffer if war broke out.

‘Our people are hurting.’

Iris did not want those who were living ordinary lives to sacrifice their daily lives because of the useless greed of those above them.

‘Yes, since it’s come to this, I’ll try to become friends with the saint properly. If we become really close, the adults will eventually have to change their minds to some extent.’

At first, she had no intention of treating the saint sincerely, as it was only a superficial friendship, but she changed her mind.

If superficial friendship and peace ultimately lead to war, then I thought that the friendship between the two people should not be superficial.

“No. Your Majesty, I’m sure you have thought about it. I’ll make sure to find out the saint’s intentions. Well then, I’ll be off now.”

As I bowed and greeted him, the emperor’s face soon returned to its benevolent expression from before.

“Okay, have a nice trip, Iris. I hope there were no problems.”

“I will handle it well so that no problems arise. Don’t worry.”

The eyes of the father and daughter who exchanged greetings met in the air and then quickly parted.

Squeak-

“Gaji, Jinhee.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

It was like going to greet a saint, but only Iris and Seo Jin-hee were moving.

In any case, the fact that they entered the country illegally meant that they had a purpose, and they organized the group with as few people as possible to avoid causing any inconvenience.

Of course, it was inevitable that knights and magicians would accompany them to protect the two.

‘That saint moving on her own is strange.’

Iris was not a weak princess who could not even protect herself, but it was actually quite strange that she did not bring along knights and wizards.

It was not a completely formal procedure, as the second highest ranking person in the empire was moving, and he was accompanied by only a few knights and wizards.

“How far is it to the Deer County?”

“If you travel by His Majesty’s own car, it will take about 3 hours, and if you travel by His Majesty’s private plane, it will take about 1 hour.”

“… The plane is so conspicuous.”

If she was going to move so conspicuously, she would have formally brought all the knights and wizards along, as well as her maids.

◦Go by car.”

In the end, it was as if the choice Iris would make was decided from the beginning.