How Dazzling!

“Wow, what a wonderful view! Just what I’d expect from the royal palace!”

The following day, blessed with beautiful weather, I was enjoying an afternoon stroll with Ai.

Although I called it a stroll, we were only walking around the palace gardens. Even so, the grounds were quite extensive. On top of that, flowers carefully cultivated by the gardeners were blooming everywhere, making the scenery absolutely magnificent.

Ai, who was scampering along ahead of me, already had her arms full of flowers. The gardener had told her she could take as many as she liked.

Ai looked absolutely delighted as she carried her colorful sweet peas and tulips. Even then, her black eyes were keenly scanning the surroundings for even prettier flowers. …Hehe, she was like a tiny little hunter.

As I walked along watching her fondly, Ai suddenly spotted something ahead. I followed her gaze and… Oh my, wasn’t that High Priest Houghtley?

He was sitting on a small bench, wiping away his sweat with his usual troubled expression.

“Good afternoon, High Priest Houghtley. Are you taking a break?”

When I called out to him, the High Priest hurriedly bowed his head. His smooth, bald scalp gleamed brightly in the sunlight.

“Y-Yes… I thought perhaps I might come up with a good idea if I sat out here…”

“Is something troubling you? …Actually, I hardly need to ask. You have more than enough problems to deal with already.”

Between the Saintess’s unveiling ceremony and arranging an audience with Her Majesty Sakura, he had plenty of matters on his hands. And every single one of them was difficult.

“Is Her Majesty Sakura still refusing to see you?”

“Yes, well, that’s exactly the problem… I was turned away again just a little while ago.”

As he spoke, his eyebrows drooped even further. He seemed to be completely at his wits’ end.

“…Mommy.”

“Hm? What is it?”

Hearing her call, I turned toward Ai. Her little body came running over, and she immediately squeezed my hand.

‘Is this man having trouble?’

Her round black eyes gazed steadily up at me. I smiled.

“That’s right. He has all sorts of work to take care of, and it’s been very difficult for him.”

Ai blinked several times.

Then, after thinking for a little while, she carefully pulled a single flower from her bouquet. It was a white carnation.

She hurried over to High Priest Houghtley and silently held it out to him. …Apparently, she wanted to give it to him?

I asked.

“Are you sure? Didn’t you say that one was your favorite?”

“…Mister looks sad. I’ll give him the prettiest one.”

With that, she pressed the carnation into the High Priest’s hands, then hurried back and hid behind me. Apparently, she’d managed to give him the flower, only to become embarrassed afterward.

Hehe, what a shy little girl… I was smiling at her bashfulness when High Priest Houghtley suddenly let out a tremendous roar.

“…U-UOOOOOOOOOOOH!!!”

“Eek!? What!? Were you always the type to make noises like that!?”

Startled by his unexpectedly deep, thunderous shout, I instinctively spread my arms to shield Ai.

But then, for some reason, High Priest Houghtley began sobbing. Unable to keep up with his sudden changes in behavior, I stared blankly as he wept before me.

“W-What an incredible honor…! To think, to think that I would receive a white carnation from the Saintess herself…! Guhhh, this humble believer, Houghtley, is honored beyond words…!”

As he spoke, he sank to his knees and began reverently worshipping the carnation.

“…Um, could you perhaps explain what’s going on…?”

Although I asked, the High Priest hardly seemed capable of explaining anything in his current state. I desperately searched through my memories.

Let’s see, let’s see… Wasn’t there some special meaning associated with white carnations…?

As I struggled to remember, I suddenly let out a little gasp.

—When Goddess Beze returned to the heavens, she had presented a white carnation to the first king of this kingdom. With its meanings of “love lives on” and “innocent love” in the language of flowers, it was said to embody the love that the goddess bestowed upon humanity.

And since he’d received that very flower from the goddess’s daughter, the Saintess—in other words, Ai—it must have been practically the same as receiving a flower directly from the goddess herself, at least as far as High Priest Houghtley was concerned!?

“…Ai, did you know about…”

Her two round eyes blinked innocently.

“…Of course you didn’t.”

Which meant it had been a complete coincidence.

For a moment, I considered telling him that… but High Priest Houghtley was sobbing so uncontrollably that it hardly seemed like the right time.

“Well, he’s so happy that he’s crying, so I suppose that’s a good thing, isn’t it?”

I didn’t really understand it, but that seemed like a reasonable way to look at things.

When I stroked Ai’s head, she gave a shy little giggle.

But the very next moment, High Priest Houghtley, who had been bent over weeping, suddenly sprang upright. Both Ai and I flinched at the abrupt movement.

“Lady Ederine! Lady Ai! I am ashamed to admit that I had completely lost my resolve! In order to support the two of you, I must secure an audience with Her Majesty Sakura, no matter what it takes! Now is the time for this humble believer, Houghtley, to rise to the occasion!!!”

His smooth, bald head flashed as it reflected the sunlight, and I raised my hand to shield my eyes. Ugh! So dazzling!

High Priest Houghtley thrust his fist into the air with such vigor that he seemed like an entirely different person. The flames of passion burned brightly in his eyes. Even his eyebrows, which usually drooped downward, were now raised sharply.

…I wasn’t entirely sure what had happened, but I supposed he’d found his motivation again…?

“P-Please do your best…”

I responded with a dry, awkward laugh. Beside me, Ai was holding my hand and giggling softly.