Chapter 98

We arrived in the Empire without much trouble. Safe and sound, not a single scratch on us. Of course, that’s not to say absolutely nothing happened along the way….

“Hooo~ Look at these slick punks hanging around with such fine ladies.”

“Look at that sword. You actually think you’re a knight or something?”

“How about playing with us instead of losers like them?”

There was a small incident at the high-end inn we’d grabbed in a hurry. A group of noble thugs, their speech cheapened by alcohol, started picking a fight. Even so, the trio of knights stayed quiet despite the insults, following my word that we should move silently without causing a scene.

“Oh? You’re carrying a sword too? Can those slender arms of yours even lift it?”

“How dare you! Do you have any idea who this person is?”

“No, should I?”

“If you don’t know, then die!”

“Uwaaa! Lady Beatrice, have you lost your mind?! No, wait, let’s talk—don’t draw your sword!”

I think I was… fairly well-behaved, in my own way. Ever since my throat was pierced that one time, I’ve felt anxious without a sword in my hand, so I carried one for peace of mind. I didn’t think it would lead to this result. Anyway, when the Crown Prince and I arrived with only three escorts, even the Imperial side looked flustered. Still, thanks to the Crown Prince—whose face served as his own credential—we entered the Imperial Palace with a free pass. Once the three who had guarded us without a wink of sleep finally disarmed, the tension seemed to break, and they began to share some lighthearted banter.

“I’m glad we arrived safely, but I’m going to get an absolute earful from His Holiness the Pope when we return to the Holy State.”

“Just an earful? You’ll probably end up rotting in the dungeon.”

“Haha, no way! You say the funniest things!”

Ilian laughed so hard his voice echoed through the hallway.

“…Actually, it’s not funny. Because I think you might be right. Ah, Sir Hereis, don’t you worry. Would they really throw the Saintess’s companion into a dungeon? They’ll throw the son in, though!”

“Ahaha…”

The protagonist gave an awkward laugh at Ilian’s self-deprecating joke. As expected of the protagonist, he really is quite kind.

‘By the way… the Pope…’

The culprit who attacked me hasn’t been identified yet, but the prime suspect is the Pope. Based on the evidence I can verify now, he’s the only one, but there’s no clear motive. If anything, it’s a loss for him. Like the Crown Prince said, I’m being used effectively as a propaganda tool for the Holy State; it feels like there’s no reason for him to bother. If the Pope is trying to kill me for some mysterious reason I can’t fathom, I might have to stall for as much time as possible in the Imperial Palace and not return to the Holy State until the culprit’s outline becomes clear.

“Ah, Saintess. You’ve come out.”

As I stepped out of my room lost in thought, the Crown Prince welcomed me immediately. Seeing the protagonist beside him, it seemed the two had been talking in the hallway. We had only just agreed to go to our respective rooms to recover from our travel fatigue, so why were they already out here? I had a bad feeling…

“He—Sir Hereis!”

A woman’s urgent voice echoed from the other end of the hallway and reached us. The Crown Prince’s eyes widened as he looked toward the end of the hall and muttered.

“Dione?”

Princess Dione. Oh boy, here she comes. And then.

Ding!

-The Princess appears!

-Kyaa, finally.

-The gloomy-odd type is good, but upbeat characters are the best after all.

-The protagonist’s personality is pretty mild, so a bright person like the Princess suits him.

The appearance of a heroine means the game’s story is moving. Without fail, the broadcast began as well. Normally, this wouldn’t be the time for an episode, but it seemed the meeting with the Princess had triggered a later Imperial Palace episode early.

“Princess. What brings you here?”

“I heard the do—I mean, my brother, entered the palace with Sir Hereis, so I came running!”

“News travels fast, doesn’t it?”

The Princess’s eyebrows twitched for a moment at the Crown Prince’s sarcasm before she smoothed them over.

“What are you doing, not even greeting the Saintess? Ignoring all etiquette. You, that’s blasphemy.”

“I was just about to! Ahem! I offer my greetings to the Saintess. I am Dione Bamea von Cassus, the First Princess of the Nilcaron Empire.”

Princess Dione lightly held her skirt and bowed to me. For the record, I’d bought a new veil before entering the palace and was wearing it properly. There was no way the Princess would recognize me.

“It seems I became excessively excited as it has been so long since I reunited with my brother. Please forgive me with a heart as vast as the sea…”

“It is quite alright. Please, lift your head.”

I replied in a gentle voice, as if I understood completely.

“My lacking sister has caused trouble. I apologize as well.”

“Not at all, Crown Prince.”

“And, I apologize for interrupting your conversation, but.”

After catching his breath, the Crown Prince spoke in a resolute voice.

“His Majesty the Emperor is waiting.”

…!!

Has the time finally come? Silently swallowing my spit, I followed behind the Crown Prince.

A space where outside escorts were not permitted. Walking down the hallway toward the audience chamber, the Crown Prince came to a halt in front of a massive door.

Creeeeeak—

Soon, the door opened, and the Crown Prince extended his arm toward the inside. It was a sign for me to enter alone. At last, it was time to meet the Emperor.

‘I wonder what kind of person he is?’

A mysterious character whose face was never once shown in the game. Would he be a heartless, cold-blooded man befitting a conqueror? Or, as a twist, would he turn out to be a scruffy neighborhood uncle type? Or perhaps…

Thud—!

The massive doors of the audience chamber closed with a dull roar. Because the weather was overcast, the chamber was neither bright nor completely dark. Through the faint light, a throne was visible on a dais. And in front of it, the shadow of a giant figure stretched out long.

“So, you are the Saintess…”

It was a dignified voice that oozed composure.

“Coming all this way… you have worked… very hard…”

The thought that even a slug could speak faster than this popped into my head automatically, but I didn’t let it show as I replied.

“I appreciate your hospitality.”

The Emperor was descending the dais with slow, heavy steps, and only as he drew closer could I see his face clearly. His appearance was completely different from what I had predicted.

As if proving his lineage, his long limbs looked elegant and noble, and while he shared that certain hint of wildness seen in the Crown Prince and Princess, his eyes looked so gloomy and devoid of ambition that it made me lose energy just looking at him.

“Why… did you… wish to meet me?”

Well, at least he has the will to keep a conversation going. I felt strangely grateful for the effort he was putting in.

“Time is precious for both of us, so may I ask a direct question?”

“…Please, speak.”

“Your Majesty, what do you think of Duke Rubel?”

…?

Thinking it a sudden and random question, the Emperor’s consistently expressionless face faltered slightly.

“Why do you…?”

I urged an answer with silence. Finally, the Emperor’s eyes shifted as he replied.

“I think of him as… a cunning and clever man.”

…?

I expected him to say the Duke was incompetent or a lazy socialite. I had intended to lead the conversation toward how ill-suited the Duke was for his position based on that. But this answer was so far off the rails that my brain momentarily stalled.

“Ah, I see. May I ask the reason?”

“It is a… private matter…”

So he doesn’t want to talk about it… Still, the fact that the Emperor holds a negative view of Jeffrey is a stroke of good luck. I decided to proceed with the plan and spoke in a bright tone.

“I see. That is understandable. I also believe that man is wicked and crafty—hardly befitting the title of Duke.”

“The Saintess feels that way too…?”

The Emperor’s mouth hung open slightly in surprise. I pulled a ledger out of my inventory and handed it to him.

“You will understand once you see this.”

Taking the ledger, the Emperor read the sections I had marked, and his face twisted in horror.

“Where did you get…?”

“Does that matter? The ledger is real. I swear it on the name of Ralphican.”

“…Are you saying… that I should execute the entire Rubel family… for treason…?”

“No.”

“Then…”

“I simply wish for no innocent people to die unfairly. Should the punishment not be reserved only for the one who committed the deed?”

The ledger didn’t explicitly state who performed the actions; it was recorded under the name of the household. In other words, I was suggesting we handle the person in charge and move on quietly.

“…….”

The Emperor stared at me with half-lidded eyes before turning his head toward the window. Then, he slowly nodded.

“I shall… do as you… suggest…”

It worked!

“Everything was the sole action of Jeffrey Rubel… so he shall be executed as a traitor… but the Rubel Duchy has been a loyal contributor since the founding of the nation… so I shall allow the title of Duke to remain.”

It was a natural outcome. The Emperor would want to avoid any unnecessary headaches, too.

“You are wise.”

As things went according to plan, I felt like the real world was slowly coming back into view in the distance.

“Hmm…. Well then, I must appoint the next Duke…. Should I… leave that to the Rubel family…?”

Even if the Emperor moved slowly, he wasn’t incompetent; he was already meticulously worrying about the succession of the Duchy. He didn’t need to worry about that, though—I had already decided.

“I don’t think there is any need for that.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Is there not already someone perfectly suited for the position?”

“Someone suited, you say. Don’t tell me…”

“A hero of the Empire. No, the hero who brilliantly saved this continent from magic beasts—Hereis Rubel. Is he not the perfect talent to be Duke?”

The Emperor furrowed his brow ever so slightly.

“Saintess… are you perhaps doing this on purpose…? Why on earth…?”

Does he think I’m spinning some grand web of intrigue?

‘He’d probably faint if I told him my goal was just to be the mistress of the Duchy.’

Honestly, he wouldn’t believe me even if I told him. It’s a glorious position, but not something a Saintess would normally covet. I spoke to the Emperor with total sincerity.

“I only recommended Sir Hereis because I believe he would fulfill his duties as Duke magnificently. Setting aside the issue of bloodline, the burden would be too heavy for Lord Carlo, who is a scholar, or young Oscar, who is still a student.”

“…….”

“I don’t think they would desire it, either. Furthermore, if Duke Jeffrey dies for treason, the Duchy will be met with suspicion and cold glares. But with the hero Hereis, the story changes.”

“Ah… You are… quite thoughtful…”

The Emperor nodded in agreement, seemingly convinced. Now that the negotiations were finished, I told him it was a pleasure to meet him and that I would be taking my leave. As I turned to walk away, the Emperor called out to stop me.

“Since you have come all this way… you must also look after the believers of the Empire…”

Ah. He wants me to perform my duties as the Saintess.

“Of course.”

“Thank you…”

The Emperor’s face brightened with delight.

“Then, may the grace of Ralphican… be with you…”

I’m the Saintess; that goes without saying. I offered the Emperor a formal blessing in return and stepped out of the audience chamber. And then…

I started sprinting immediately!