8. Who can withstand this
My personal experience made me realize: regarding whether to remove the bounty on Oujili De at this summit of nations, the Church side represented by the Holy Maiden—Ikusis—definitely came prepared! I’ve told Louie IV some advantageous information, but how much this Queen BOSS, who probably wouldn’t even trust those close to her, believes my words, whether she will continue to help me or suddenly turn against me, I’m not sure.
In any case, this Queen, who is never in a safe situation in the script, stated: “Ke Fei Er, you go prepare the venue and arrangements for the upcoming private meeting with the Church, and I’ll just borrow your fiancé for a bit~★”
Knowing that my future largely rested in the Queen’s hands, Ke Fei Er, having her exposed weaknesses, could only agree reluctantly. As for me? I cowardly didn’t dare to choose from the start, and so I used my disguised identity as a servant beside Louie IV and secretly accompanied her to the streets.
At this moment, within the capital of the Great Yung Empire.
After some proper makeup and putting on a hat to avoid recognition, Louie IV even unknowingly held onto my arm, wearing a standard “Louise smile” as she happily accompanied me to the streets. There’s something I’m afraid to say because I fear Ke Fei Er would hit me if she found out; the Queen was completely forcing us to play the role of a couple.
Amidst the surrounding noise, Louise spoke in the most innocent tone, saying things that made me feel a chill just thinking about it.
“Mr. De, do you know? Even a rough estimate shows that at least sixty percent of the people in the Great Yung Empire have faith in the Goddess, not to mention some powerful nobles, even my trusted ones~”
“…”
This point… I’ve already experienced it well today, Your Majesty. After all, today is the day the Church’s convoy arrives at the capital of the Great Yung Empire to participate in the summit of nations, and the convoy hasn’t even driven to our side yet, while the originally spacious roads have already been filled with layer upon layer of people.
But these onlookers were not merely there to enjoy the spectacle; a plethora of scripts suddenly sprang to mind, clearly stating that passersby ABCD… wanted to see the Church’s Saintess, His Highness Ikusis! This was clearly a manifestation of worship and anticipation towards the embodiment of faith—the Saintess! The Queen’s earlier words were definitely not meant to scare me.
“A man like you, who can at least keep up with me, should understand the meaning behind my words, right?”
Heaven knows if it was because there were too many people or if the Queen was being deliberate, but the next moment she simply climbed onto my shoulder, whispering in my ear as if she were sweet-talking me.
“Even if you don’t understand, you’d better use prophecy to figure it out and then say you do~ I really don’t like having too many expectations for fools.”
“Your Highness…”
“Shh~”
Just as I was about to utter a dangerous phrase, the Queen raised a finger to her lips, then playfully winked at me. If one could ignore the intentions behind her actions, it was truly as if she were a quirky and innocent beautiful girl, leaving me momentarily dumbfounded.
Fortunately, I quickly regained my composure.
“Let’s just say… I do know, so I’m very grateful, which is why I’m telling you about the Church’s matters, Louise.”
Louise IV wanted to emphasize just how much risk was involved in the content of this summit she was initiating—the “cancellation of the warrant for Oujilide.” I had already witnessed the popularity of the Church’s Saintess from the very beginning; if the Queen were to have a disagreement with the Saintess over my issue later, it could greatly impact her rule.
So, the script didn’t say, and I couldn’t understand at all: was the Queen looking for an excuse to delay Kefir’s marriage, or did she want to lift the warrant against me? If it was the former, the risk she was taking was far too great; it didn’t seem like her style at all.
Just as I hesitated, the cheers around us suddenly surged! As I hurriedly looked over, accompanied by the emergence of the script in my mind, I realized that in one of the vehicles from the Church’s convoy, a figure had just jumped out.
【Saintess Ikusis has appeared!】
In the distance, the girl who looked… somewhat haughty, I wouldn’t mistake her thanks to the script’s reminder; she was the “representative” of the Church, which had a strong soft power and multiple faiths—Saintess Ikusis!
She jumped out of the vehicle amid the increasingly loud cheers, looking quite excited as she waved at the surrounding crowd! This action was theoretically fine, but for some reason, I felt that her performance was somewhat different from the standard image of a “gentle and serene, noble and aloof, grand and high-class, only standing on a human palanquin with a signature smile, gently waving to receive cheers and worship” that I had imagined.
It felt like this Saintess was just too excited; wasn’t she just a little brat!? And her pretty looks seemed to make her appear a bit silly…
The next moment, the script appeared!
【Ikusis is being escorted back into the vehicle by Church members!】
Along with the same scene, this young lady was directly carried back into the vehicle by other nuns. Seeing her struggle in apparent dissatisfaction only reinforced my previous assessments of the Saintess.
The Queen, of course, had also witnessed this entire scene, and I wondered what she was calculating in her mind. After a moment of silence, she turned to me.
“Hmm~ it really does seem a bit strange, this Saintess. Actually, this is my first time meeting her too; the representatives at the previous Church summit weren’t her. However, Oujilide, while the insider information you gave me is an excellent leverage, if you say ‘the Saintess is a puppet’ and that is false, then the impact of my random speculations about the Saintess could be very serious.”
Pausing, Louise IV looked at me and smiled, “Serious enough that I might even think you are deliberately trying to get back at me~ That’s also why I won’t immediately believe you~”
“Louise…”
I wanted to explain, but the onlookers who had just seen the real Saintess could hardly contain themselves.
They cheered and wanted to rush forward; although the guards diligently blocked them with barriers, the impact of the crowd still made Louise IV gasp, her noble form nearly losing balance!
I didn’t know if the Queen had fallen intentionally, but by the time I realized I had instinctively wrapped my arms around her waist to steady her, it was too late. Louise IV’s eyes revealed a sly smile that seemed to say, “You ‘ve fallen for my trick,” while her words remained serious, making it even harder for me to respond.
“What a malicious intent, Mr. Oujilide, trying to use this method to persuade me to believe your words.”
I’m not, I didn’t… You have to let me explain, Your Highness.
“I just want to confirm one thing with you: are you on my side?”
The Queen maintained the position of being embraced by me as she questioned me, then finally formed the words “Oujilide” with her lips.
I… stand with Kephir.
But this time, I want to protect myself, to clear my identity, and the queen is undoubtedly my greatest ally. Furthermore, the queen now holds my life and death in her hands, as well as Kephir’s reputation. If she so much as thinks of a script for my demise, I would be unable to escape; if she even slightly considers dealing with Kephir, who is practically in bed with me, a wanted criminal, her family’s reputation would be dragged down with mine.
So I have no choice, and besides, the queen is at least much better than the church, which has already drawn up a death script for me.
“I stand with the Great Yīng Empire.”
“Mm~ then you have to say something nice to comfort me, or else eating dog food every day makes my heart ache~ If I’m not careful, the summit might just change its tune~”
The queen wore a look of “I’ve got you under my thumb.”
Fine, I concede.
“Long live the queen, long live the queen, long long live the queen! Louise, your beauty intoxicates me, your wisdom captivates me, your extraordinary thoughts ensnare me…”
This time, the queen immediately withdrew her hand from mine.
“Don’t talk like those nobles, it’s disgusting…”
“But… unexpectedly not bad~”
“Come with me, this time I want to show you what I’m really capable of~ First, let’s find a way to provoke them a bit and see what they’re made of; you have to help too~”
Hmm, rest assured, Your Majesty, this time we are on the same side. For the sake of self-preservation and clearing my name, I can only intercept all the threats that have already appeared in the script involving me, Kephir, you, and the Great Yīng Empire.
——
On the last day of the 30th, the monthly tickets are on a big sale~ Don’t let them expire~
PS: Recently, there’s a new illustration of the fairy—Magnus, which I will place in the previous volume, and I will notify you then.