104 – Benediction

“I… Impudent…!”

The Imperial Princess, face still flushed,

was shrieking as she thrust herself forward.

Kiana Pravel.

“Young master… E… Even if you’ve become more mature…

Y… You’re still a minor…”

“…”

“Such… things are still too premature, I think… ugh…”

And beside her stood

another woman.

Ella, pretending to cover her eyes with her hand,

but peeking at them through the gaps between her fingers.

“..Hey, I’m not the only one who doesn’t understand

what Her Highness is talking about, am I…?”

“…”

“And why… why is your attendant acting like that?”

And right there, before them all,

stood Shino Charlotte, looking utterly bewildered.

As she came into my view,

all I could do was hang my head low

and sigh a deep, weary breath.

‘….’

“Lady Shino, I believe as a lady of noble birth you should strive to─”

“My Lord, might I inquire as to the nature of your… relationship?”

“..Your Imperial Highness? I have absolutely no idea

what you are even implying…”

‘..Ah, headache incoming.’

≪Unidentified User headache detected.≫

≪Source of Headache: Stress identified.≫

I know that already, you don’t need to announce it.

*

Thump, thump─

Footfalls echo through the air.

A solitary set of steps delicately treading

across the pristine, white stone floor.

In the centre of this expanse of flagstones,

resembling marble tiles, sprawled a long

scarlet carpet of the finest, softest wool.

Alongside this, the walls remained covered

in a dense array of utterly beautiful paintings.

“Reindell, why would he visit

the Royal Palace now?”

“….”

“Do you not have some

inkling as to his motives?”

“..I regret to say that I do not, Your Majesty.”

“Well… I suppose no one can ever know what that

wily old fox is thinking.”

The voices of the two men resonated

once more through the long, long corridor.

One with fiery red hair and a matching crimson

cloak swirling as he strode forward,

followed by the Golden Knight,

his characteristic stoic expression firmly in place.

He took a step forward, slowly.

Thump-thump─

Clack-clack─

The sound of footsteps, which until moments ago had been just a single rhythm, had now swelled to two.

Beyond that,

no other sound reached his ears.

Only the diligent churning of his thoughts.

‘There’s no reason… no reason at all for him to have come all the way here.’

“Your Majesty, we have arrived.”

“Ah… yes, so we have.”

The line of lavishly displayed paintings alongside them faltered, breaking before

a single door that stood watch.

The very same reddish-brown door that Jennison had been assigned.

Creak─

The hinges, stubbornly holding the door shut, finally relented,

their lips parting to reveal the interior.

A grand bed, large enough to comfortably accommodate three, even four, people,

a gleaming silver table, and

furniture that whispered of wealth.

A gentle breeze, wafting in from the beautiful terrace,

danced about the room, restless.

“..May you accept that these words I am about to speak

are solely of His will─”

But wind wasn’t the only thing adrift in the room.

“Forgive me for howling for your beloved children…”

“…”

“And grant me the thoughts belonging not to this lowly earth, but to the heavens…”

Despite the arrival of people of such immense stature—

the Emperor and a knight of gold—

Within the room, the ceaseless intonation

of a prayer showed no sign of stopping.

“Grant me the wisdom to dare understand

your pure and noble thoughts…”

“Your Holiness, His Imperial Majesty has arrived.”

“That I may understand your will… hmm?”

Unable to bear it any longer, Leindel approached

the kneeling figure and tapped his shoulder a few times.

Only then did he cease his constant

recitation and turn his gaze this way.

“Ah, forgive me. I was unaware of His Majesty’s

arrival… I have been discourteous.”

“Haha, not at all… I found it rather pleasing,

that prayer of yours, I mean.”

“I am grateful that you say so.”

A head slowly lifts.

The head of the man chanting prayers in the room.

Snow-white hair and beard fluttered

in the gentle breeze, and the stark white robes

he wore were adorned with golden embroidery here and there.

“So, what brings you

all the way here?”

“Haha… merely to behold His Majesty’s face after so long─”

“I know better than anyone else in this world

that you are not that sort of man, Pope.”

At the Emperor’s resolute tone,

as if such a thing were utterly impossible,

the Pope could only offer an awkward smile.

“Hehe… I knew I might hear such words,

but I can’t help but feel a touch disappointed.”

“Spare me the empty words,

and tell me the purpose of your visit, won’t you?”

I already have so many matters

piling up, you see.

No sooner had the Emperor finished speaking,

the Pope’s expression hardened completely.

Like the muddied earth, soaked by rain,

drying out under the sun’s glare the next day.

“…What are you contemplating?”

A voice unimaginable coming from the kindly old man who had just been grinning moments before.

Even for the Emperor, who had known him since childhood,

it was a remarkably rare sight.

“I’m not quite sure what you’re implying?”

“That letter you sent to the Saintess,

was it not sent by Your Majesty?”

“Indeed, it seems it was delivered well,

a stroke of good fortune, wouldn’t you say?”

“….”

“Ha, I know well enough what it is

that worries you so.”

“….”

“That inviting someone so clearly

affiliated with the Order is itself a peculiar act.”

The Order, which had all but monopolized

the priests since ages past,

and the preceding Imperial Family, who had struggled

to wrest priests away from said Order.

‘H-Hey, my precious little pinky,

it’s still bleeding! Can’t you treat it properly?’

‘Remember, not a single scar

must remain on the Royal Consort’s body.

Put even more effort into healing him!!’

‘Ahem…Hey, you…I command you

to come to my chambers later.’

The preceding Imperial Family, under the pretense of

ensuring their own well-being, had forcibly taken priests from the Order,

exploiting their powers.

Fortunately, thanks to the previous Pope and the Saintess,

things hadn’t escalated too dramatically,

but the relationship between the Imperial Family and the Order

remained uneasy, that was the truth of it.

At best, they would occasionally dispatch priests

to the Imperial Family.

That was the extent of it.

Until now.

“However, at least this time, it is merely

a pure gesture of goodwill that we invite her.”

“..What goodwill are you speaking of?”

“Would you be so kind as to offer an explanation?”

“Well, let’s sit and talk first.”

A table, draped with a tablecloth of unmistakable luxury,

stood between two sofas crafted

from glistening leather, catching the eye.

“How about we move over there?

Standing here is making my legs ache a bit.”

“….”

Behind the two men settling into their seats,

Ruindel remained, hands clasped behind his back, resolutely standing.

As if he knew he did not belong.

The Emperor offered him a seat as well, but

when he politely declined, he didn’t press the matter further.

“What is it you wished to discuss, Your Majesty?”

“My, my, wouldn’t have taken you for such an impatient one…

What’s the hurry… can’t we take things slow?”

“..Given it concerns the Saintess, and no one else,

I may have been a bit sensitive… apologies.”

“It’s quite alright, doesn’t bother me in the slightest.”

Silence. Once more, a stillness seemed to descend between them,

until the Emperor, who had been stroking his chin,

finally spoke, slowly.

“Well, there wasn’t really any ulterior motive.”

“..What─”

“As you know… the nobles, as a rule,

receive a blessing at the church when they are children, wouldn’t you agree?”

“That is so.”

“And yet, there’s a child who has yet to receive

even the most common of blessings.”

“…?”

“The boy you know well, I’m referring to.”

“Are you speaking of… Jennison?”

“Indeed. The information that has reached my ears

unanimously states that he has not received a blessing.”

“….”

“A child who has achieved such great merit…

Surely it wouldn’t hurt to make an exception, wouldn’t you agree?”

“…”

“It’s not as if the child has no ties to the clergy, you see.”

“…Your Majesty.”

“Hm? What is it?”

“I believe Your Majesty is well aware, but

blessing has always been the exclusive right,

the sole possession of the nobles.”

Blessing, to fervently pray to the gods

that a person’s entire future might be smooth.

The scope was so varied, from the trivial

to the utterly monumental.

Like continuously finding coins

at the tips of one’s feet while walking down the street,

or an arrow that seemed destined to miss

striking the target with perfect accuracy,

or discovering a hidden place, sought for a lifetime,

with utter ease, and so on.

An existence that would invariably

be of help in some way to one’s path.

Our haughty noble lords had no reason

to bestow such an opportunity upon commoners, so…

“Of course, I am aware of that.”

“…Then you must also be aware that

the backlash from the other nobles will be fierce.”

“Indeed.”

“Especially the jealousy of those of the same age will be unsurpassed.

Among those children are many who are so deeply entrenched

in a sense of chosen superiority, so how could…”

“Haha, wasn’t that child originally

among that very set?”

“…”

“And do not worry about that matter.

I have already prepared countermeasures.”

“…Pardon?”

“Haha, I’m quite looking forward to

the child’s reaction later, wouldn’t you say?”

*

“…Pardon?”

“Hm? Didn’t you hear?”

“..I heard, certainly, but might you repeat it, just once more?”

“Aish, honestly! Tomorrow, His Imperial Majesty himself will bestow upon you the title of Baron, so prepare—”

“….”

≪Warning, user’s headache is intensifying.≫

≪It is recommended to rest immediately…≫

Dizziness began to creep in.

Truly.