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Chapter 24
Even though I wanted to act calm, the corners of my mouth kept lifting.
As I looked around, thinking the world looked endlessly beautiful, my eyes met His Majesty’s—and he let out a soft chuckle.
Ugh. So dazzling.
The beautiful thing wasn’t the world—it was His Majesty.
“Why did you even think you’d be chased out of the imperial palace in the first place?”
“Well, because I’m a saintess without divine power.”
“So?”
I fidgeted with my fingers.
It was embarrassing to explain the reason behind my solo spiral of overthinking, but if I didn’t say it now, it felt like I’d never get the chance.
“Because I’m useless, there would come a day when keeping me around would feel like a hassle. But at the same time, giving me to another country would feel like a waste, since I’m wrapped up as the ‘代理 of the God of Seikan.’ So I thought that someday I’d be sent away to some distant temple far from the imperial palace.”
Saying it out loud made it feel even more miserable.
If only the God of Seikan had given me divine power, I wouldn’t have to worry about being such a burden. Sob.
“Hah.”
His Majesty let out a hollow laugh, as if he were dumbfounded.
“What a pointless worry.”
“It was an important concern for my future, you know.”
“It’s very saintess-like to come up with such a plausible reason, but Zendal’s divine power is sufficient enough that we don’t need to rely on the ‘power’ of a saintess.”
So this is the confidence of someone with a divine power stat of 100.
His Majesty shrugged.
“So don’t worry too much about divine power. I won’t tell you to leave the imperial palace over something that trivial.”
“Wow.”
Overwhelmed, I covered my mouth with both hands.
This world’s technology is truly lamentable.
I should be recording this and going around telling everyone how kind-hearted my favorite is.
‘…Huh?’
Kind-hearted?
Now that I thought about it, that was a strange thing to say.
His Majesty being kind-hearted. Not handsome—kind-hearted.
“Your Majesty, is there anything you want from me?”
“What?”
His eyebrow lifted slightly. Not in gentle mode, huh.
Why is he being so nice when he’s not acting?
…Could it be that he’s in a good mood right now?
I absentmindedly fiddled with my sleeve.
‘There is. There definitely is.’
People are more generous with their smiles when they’re in a good mood. This is my chance.
“Hehehe.”
“…Saintess, are you all right? If you think something’s wrong with your mind, say so immediately. We’ll need to take measures.”
“Eek. It’s nothing like that. Your Majesty, please lend me your hand for a moment.”
“My hand?”
His Majesty readily held out his palm toward me.
He really must be in a good mood.
And seriously—why are his hands this pretty?
Forget refreshing or whatever—I’d be fine spending all day just staring at this palm.
“What are you planning to do?”
“……”
“Saintess.”
“Ah, this is perfect. Please stay just like this for a moment.”
I almost asked him if I could make a plaster cast of his hand.
I showed him my empty hands.
Then, right above his palm, I clasped my hands together.
“When I let go, something surprising will happen.”
Meeting His Majesty’s suspicious gaze, I slowly pulled my hands away.
I could already hear a refreshing laugh ringing in my ears—
“……”
—was just wishful thinking.
It failed.
But it wasn’t a complete failure, because a spark of interest flickered in His Majesty’s eyes!
I pointed at his hand with a proud expression.
On His Majesty’s palm, which had held nothing just moments before, lay the blue paper flower I’d made with Huperson last time.
“I didn’t know the saintess had such a skill.”
“This one turned out pretty well, right? Actually, in my original world, I was from the Department of Magic—”
“You were quite quick. Did you keep it in your sleeve and take it out?”
“…Yes.”
Looks like he saw right through it.
Well, how could I fool someone whose physical abilities transcend human limits?
I need another way to make His Majesty laugh—
Thud.
“What’s this?”
“Oh.”
As His Majesty lifted the paper flower, something hidden inside the petals dropped into his palm.
It was a pair of cufflinks adorned with transparent blue gemstones.
“Sapphire?”
They were an impulse buy from a merchant who frequented the Prodinta Palace.
Pastel blue sapphires that resembled His Majesty’s eyes. I couldn’t not buy them.
Of course, they couldn’t compare to his actual eyes.
“They’re a gift for you, Your Majesty.”
“For me?”
Surprise flickered across His Majesty’s pale blue eyes, as though he truly hadn’t expected it.
My goodness. His Majesty is surprised. Is this why everyone brings tribute?
“I just got my first paycheck. Ah, in the world I came from, there’s a custom of giving a gift to someone important when you receive your first salary.”
I grinned.
“I thought about who to give it to, and your face was the first thing that came to mind.”
Honestly, it’s always His Majesty’s face that comes to mind, anytime, anywhere.
Ugh. I wish I could engrave that face onto my retinas.
Then wherever I looked, I’d see His Majesty.
“Saintess…”
His Majesty stared quietly at the cufflinks before speaking.
It seemed like he wanted to say something, but then he pressed his lips shut.
“It’s late. You should head back now. Is Kasiyan in the corridor? I’ll order him to escort you.”
It seemed midnight had already passed.
His Majesty rose from the sofa and started walking toward the closed door of his office.
I was following his retreating figure with my eyes when he suddenly stopped and turned back toward me.
“I’ll use these gratefully. It’s an honor—to be considered a precious person by the great saintess.”
“…You’re teasing me, aren’t you?”
“Haha.”
Even as I pouted in complaint, I couldn’t take my eyes off his face.
The corners of His Majesty’s eyes curved gently.
What is this soft, moonlight-like smile?
“Kasiyan, escort the saintess back to the palace.”
“Yes, sir! Understood!”
I heard His Majesty and Kasiyan speaking behind me, but I couldn’t move from the sofa.
“……”
Thump. Thump.
What is this? Why does my heart feel so ticklish?
“…Has the brainwashing not fully worn off yet…?”
“Good morning!”
Huperson and I froze when we saw the energetic person pushing open the chapel doors.
Huperson shouted in shock.
“Why are you here?!”
“Wow, Huperson~ I can see everything from here. Oh, Saintess. Good day to you.”
Chobi greeted us smoothly, bending at the waist a full ninety degrees.
His pink wavy hair that once reached his waist had been cut short into a bob, giving him a fresh look.
“Why is Chobi…?”
As I stood there puzzled by his unexpected appearance,
Huperson, who had been on the podium, stomped his foot and quickly walked down the central aisle.
He grabbed Chobi by the shoulders at the entrance and lowered his voice so I couldn’t hear.
But Huperson.
I can hear everything.
“Why did you come all the way here? What disrespect are you planning toward the Saintess this time—”
“I told you, that was an accident. The Saintess already forgave me, didn’t you?”
‘…When did I?’
The only people who knew that Chobi’s potion contained a divine stone were His Majesty, me, Chobi, and Prime Minister Ebon—four people in total.
On the surface, the incident had been wrapped up as, ‘Another unintended side effect from the head of the laboratory’s invention.’
That was probably why Huperson was angry right now.
“Even if the Saintess forgave you, I haven’t.”
“Hmph. And who are you to say that? Besides, this isn’t the situation to be telling me to leave. I’m starting work here from today.”
“What—what did you say? Why?”
Exactly. Why?
I wiped down a chair with a dry cloth, pricking my ears.
No, not Chobi. Anyone but Chobi.
“His Imperial Majesty ordered me to assist the Saintess.”
“How could you possibly assist—!”
Huperson was left speechless by the absurdity.
I was just as confused, but Priest Raul, who had just entered the chapel, explained the reason.
“Ho ho. The head of the laboratory has been placed under disciplinary confinement because of this incident. During that time, instead of going to the laboratory, he’ll be helping clean the chapel.”
Ah. So Chobi will be working at the chapel.
My once peaceful workplace… goodbye…
“Your Majesty, is it truly all right to place the head of the laboratory by the Saintess’s side?”
Ebon asked Arlend cautiously.
In Zendal, a ‘loyalty contract’ with the Emperor was different from an ordinary oath of loyalty.
In exchange for granting one wish, the Emperor received a vow of eternal loyalty, with the vassal’s life as collateral.
Because it was a contract that used the power of Seikan, it was absolute and compulsory.
Ebon and Henkel had contracts with Arlend, and Chobi had one as well.
Even so, Ebon was worried.
“His Majesty has modified the ‘restrictions.’ ‘Do not cause the Saintess any harm. And cooperate with the Saintess unconditionally.’”
The moment Chobi violated those restrictions, the contract would activate and all his actions would be constrained.
But still.
Knowing full well that he harbored resentment, was it really right to place Chobi by the Saintess’s side?
Arlend smiled faintly at Ebon’s concern.
“The Saintess isn’t the type to be swayed easily. If anything, I’m more worried about the head of the laboratory being run ragged.”
There was probably no one better than the Saintess at holding Chobi Vinhood’s leash.
And there was another reason for sending the head of the laboratory to her.
“Also, with the head of the laboratory around, the nobles should stay quiet for a while.”
Ebon frowned as he grasped the implication behind the Emperor’s words.
Recently, the noble faction had claimed that the Saintess’s actions went against the will of the God of Seikan.
“Seikan teaches that people should not be discriminated against based on the amount of divine power they possess. The Saintess must explain herself.”
They were referring to the incident where the Saintess had grabbed the hair of the Lopfen nobles.
The basis of the noble faction’s argument was that the Lopfen nobles’ divine power levels didn’t even exceed ten.
“And yet they’re the ones discriminating based on divine power.”
Ebon’s clenched fist trembled behind the folder he was holding.
“It’s just an excuse. They’re not interested in what the truth is, or whether their claims are justified. What they want is an opportunity to confront the Saintess.”
And then they would try to gently coax her, to use her as a tool.
Whether sending her to the battlefield, or stirring up the populace in her name.
Any trace of pure faith had long since faded from the hearts of those drunk on power.
Only greed remained, controlling them.
For now, they were wary of the Emperor, but no one knew when that greed might overflow like floodwater.
“If word spreads that the head of the laboratory—who has no divine power—is freely entering the chapel, the noble faction’s argument will lose its force.”
Ebon nodded.
“What is that you’re holding?”
“Oh, the Kingdom of Bonia sent over the list of their delegation.”
Arlend accepted the documents and carefully scanned the names.
The transparent blue sapphire on his cuff glimmered softly.
“The Saintess will be disappointed.”
‘Ruid Ettinger.’
After checking every name on the list, Arlend let out a small smile.
“The second prince is coming.”
