episode_0021

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A memorial service for the victims of the bombing was held solemnly at the central square of the Imperial Capital.

May your sacrifice be remembered for a long time.

I hope the departed souls will be happy in heaven.

A girl dressed in pure white robes recited a prayer in a heavy voice.

Crying came from everywhere.

These are definitely people who lost precious family members in the disaster.

The crowd that had gathered like a cloud fell into great sadness, as if they could no longer hold back their sobs.

So many people died.

I sighed deeply as I looked at the scene of the holy memorial service.

“Don’t blame yourself. Didn’t we prevent the spread of the disaster thanks to you?”

“… … .”

The princess with flowing blonde hair opened her mouth.

Ludmilla, who was presiding over the memorial service with Zebeline, was wearing a colorless mourning dress. The princess, whose face was filled with deep sorrow, expressed her respect and mourned the unfortunate sacrifices of the citizens.

After the memorial service ended –

Zeveline left the deacons to clean up and then approached me.

“Thank you for your favor.”

“No, it was something I should have done.”

There was a high risk that a disaster comparable to a bombing would occur at a memorial service with a large crowd. Therefore, I gladly accepted Jeveline’s offer to be an escort. Even if I didn’t make the offer, I was planning to attend the memorial service along with Ludmila.

Contrary to concerns, the memorial service ended without incident.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I watched the crowd slowly disperse.

“Would something terrible happen during the memorial service? Even though I was reciting the prayer, I kept breaking out in a cold sweat. Why?”

Xebeline leaned towards me, playing the role of a pitiful heroine. I could tell it was acting through the soft smile on the lips.

I also have a strong heart.

Jeveline boasted of superhuman courage.

It was the exact opposite of the feeble appearance of the nobles who attended the memorial service who kept looking around.

Of course, the White Dragon of the Holy Empire would not be afraid of villains.

Even if she is not as strong as Ludmilla, who has proven her invincibility through numerous feats and has become one of the seven strongest powers in the country, Zeveline will also be a leading powerhouse. At least he wouldn’t have his life threatened by some idiot or something like that.

“The joke is too much for a saint. Aren’t there a lot of troops guarding the saint?”

“Well, that’s what it says.”

Red dragon and white dragon.

Guard knights dispatched by the imperial family.

And the Holy Knights, who are in charge of escorting saints and envoys.

Even a force that boasted of unusual raids would not have dared to raid the memorial ceremony. If you combine all the troops deployed for escort, it is at a level that far exceeds even the military power of a single country.

Zebeline responded to Ludmilla’s point by pouting her lips.

“Anyway, aren’t you glad there is no further damage?”

“You are right.”

The political situation, which had been in turmoil due to the bombing that occurred in the Imperial Capital, was gradually regaining stability. This is because, along with the Baltarian Empire’s prompt response, the Holy Virgin from the Holy Empire comforted the citizens and comforted the atmosphere stained with fear.

But I couldn’t rest assured.

This calm may be ‘the calm before the storm.’

“I have something to discuss with you for a moment… Do you have time?”

“Then, if it’s okay, can I take Lue with me? I’m sure you’re sitting at home alone right now, complaining that you’re bored.”

“Hehe, it doesn’t matter.”

“Okay.”

Since I often had tea time with Ludmilla on the pretext of discussing things, I immediately nodded. There will be sweet desserts at tea time, so it would be perfect to appease the fairy with pouty lips.

And Ludmilla reluctantly invited Jebeline to tea time as well.

Actually, I wish you wouldn’t come.

But I don’t want to come across as stingy, so I’ll make a superficial offer.

How dare you show your sincerity like that?

A cold sweat broke out at the sight of Ludmila openly showing her discomfort. This is because I was afraid that a new war of nerves would break out again.

“Thank you for the recommendation, but I have a schedule with the bishops. It’s a pity, but I’ll promise to do it later.”

“It’s a pity, I was hoping the saint would come.”

It was a conversation that was literally devoid of any sincerity.

scary.

I never thought women’s nerves would be this scary.

The relationship between Ludmilla and Zebeline was like a powder keg that could explode at any moment.

* * *

Elisabetta, who had been coldly refusing a new engagement since her fiancé Maximilian urged her to break off the engagement, eventually reluctantly accepted it on conditional basis.

The self-talk started again.

As soon as he heard the news, Emperor Barbarossa jumped up and down in joy.

Barbarossa had a hard time sleeping at night, worrying that even his youngest daughter, whom he had raised like a golden jade leaf, might end up becoming an old maid, so he expressed his warm welcome. At the same time, he declared that he would spare no effort in supporting his youngest daughter’s new engagement.

“Then who is Her Majesty Elizabeth’s new fiancé?”

“They are currently selecting.”

As soon as Lue and her pouty lips arrived in the living room, Ludmilla took out the main topic.

The third princess’s engagement.

Currently, Elizabeth’s marriage talks were urgently underway in the imperial court.

Fifteen children from prestigious families were selected as candidates through rigorous selection and verification. In the end, we will select the final candidate among them. As expected, the judging process to determine the platinum princess’ fiancé was very intense.

“Phew… . Actually, I recommended you as Lisa’s new fiancé first.”

“Do you mean me?”

I couldn’t help but feel puzzled by Ludmila’s words mixed with lament.

me?

no,

Why me… .

I only knew Elizabeth briefly.

Isn’t it inferior in many ways to being promoted as a replacement for Maximilian? Of course, the same applies to newly selected suitors.

The Valtarian imperial family has already declared separation from the Hohenberg family. Therefore, it was impossible to bring the Hohenberg family back in. Also, there was no way that the numerous prestigious families and suitors who were selected or rejected as candidates would accept such irrationality.

“Your Majesty seems to be in too much of a hurry. First of all, isn’t this an emergency situation? There will be many difficulties in conducting marriage talks.”

“… … .”

Ludmilla remained silent.

I turned my head for a moment.

I made eye contact with Lue, who was eating cake next to me.

“… … .”

“… … .”

Lue and I, who were silently exchanging glances, simultaneously looked at Ludmilla.

This is because I immediately realized why the ruler of the Baltaria Empire, who boasts of arrogant self-reliance, is in a hurry to talk about marriage as if he is being chased by something.

The reason was right in front of me.

* * *

When Edanant and Lue were being punished by an angry Ludmilla,

Meanwhile, Zeveline was taking a short break after finishing a meeting with priests dispatched to the empire.

‘Anyway, damn old people… . ‘Why do you keep stopping by when you say it’s just a meeting?’

He looked disgusted as he recalled the fanatical appearance of the priests who begged for the saint’s noble protection.

There was a point to the actions of the clergy who were desperately clinging to each other, wondering when they would have another chance to meet the first saint who had received the white dragon’s protection. However, Zebeline disparaged the clergy’s actions, saying they were nothing more than blind faith.

“Saint.”

“Please speak, Sir Franz.”

The paladin in charge of escort opened his mouth.

In response, Zeveline raised a teacup filled with milk tea and gave permission to speak.

“Do you really intend to grant Prince Edanand the Imperial Castle of Aldebaran?”

“Could I have lied?”

The Holy Knights who were protecting Zeveline, including Franz, had stiff expressions. He expressed concern about the saint’s decision to willingly allow ownership of the holy sword.

I knew it would be like this.

What can I expect from you guys who are as stubborn as a bishop?

Zeveline pressed her temples and sighed.

“But Prince Edanand is not a man of the Holy Empire. I wasn’t even baptized. How can you leave Aldebaran in charge of someone like that? Of course, Maximilian was not a member of the Holy Empire, but he still received baptism!”

“… … .”

Public opinion in the Holy Kingdom would be no different from this.

There would be a heated argument over the fact that the First Saint had arbitrarily delegated ownership of Aldebaran.

Should I postpone my return home?

As I imagined the bishops rushing at me like a swarm of bees, I got a migraine.

“The evil groups whose whereabouts had been unknown have begun to move again. This is most likely an attempt to elevate evil. Now is the time to prepare our forces to prepare for him.”

The ultimate goal is to destroy the noble teachings of the Earth Mother, the only recognized authority on the continent, and create an infinite hell where only lawlessness and evil exist.

That is the ascension of evil.

The Demon King’s army and worshipers, who had been oppressed for a long time by the Valtaria Empire and the Holy Empire of Gael, which revered the Earth Mother, prepared desperately for the downfall of the One God. After the downfall of the faith that worshiped one god, their ambition to fill the void with their own gods has always threatened the world.

“Saint!”

When Zeveline was explaining the seriousness of the situation to the paladins,

An urgent report came in as if to prove it to him.

“An urgent report has arrived from the Holy Empire. It is said that a demon who reveres a cult has appeared in the Kingdom of Fug.”

A demon.

Cult cult.

A monster who received protection from a forgotten god has appeared.

Guardian users who have accepted vast power into their bodies boast power that transcends limits. No matter how weak it was, it could turn a city into a disaster in an instant.

Therefore, as soon as they heard the urgent news, the Holy Knights were shocked and fell silent.

“If it’s the Pug Kingdom… This is the homeland of the sword saint Madvei.”

Madvey, the sword saint who created bloodshed with the corpses of countless demons and cultists.

It is clear that the demon was sent in to take revenge on him.

It was a threat that could not be compared to the criminals who raided the imperial capital.

Jeveline sighed briefly and stood up.