The Protagonists of the Novel Escaped – Chapter 132

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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The devastating incident at the Sanctuary was more than enough to throw countless nations across the continent into disarray.

The city of the One True God had fallen.

The extent of the damage was unimaginable, beyond comprehension.

The Holy Kingdom, struck by an unknown force, had severed all contact with the outside world, seemingly in an attempt to contain the spread of panic. The Valtarian Empire and other nations were left in the dark, forced to wait for the Holy Kingdom to issue an official briefing.

“Has the intelligence agency infiltrated in the Holy Kingdom failed to uncover anything?”

“Even they are having difficulties. It seems the Holy Kingdom is keeping a tight lid on everything.”

The Valtarian Empire’s intelligence agency was renowned for its vast network of informants spanning the entire continent. Their continued lack of information suggested that the Holy Kingdom was meticulously suppressing all news of the incident.

The only intel they had managed to gather was that cultists, harboring resentment towards the Holy Kingdom’s oppression, had attacked the Sanctuary.

It was difficult to accept that the Holy Kingdom, with its formidable paladins and legions of holy knights, had been defeated by a cultist attack. Clearly, there was more to the story than met the eye.

“What in the world could have happened? How could the Sanctuary, a fortress of faith, fall…?”

Isabelle, the First Imperial Princess, murmured, her beautiful face etched with worry.

Unbelievable.

Had the Holy Kingdom ever been in such dire straits?

Not even during the Third Racial War, when the Demon King’s army and the cult forces had run rampant, had such a thing occurred. It was unprecedented. Isabelle, struggling to comprehend the situation, looked at her father, the Emperor.

“Father, Sister Isabelle, you needn’t worry. If the Holy Kingdom is truly in danger, the Saintess Party will surely return.”

“…”

Alexis, the crown prince, spoke with a voice filled with hope and admiration.

Barbarossa and Isabelle remained silent.

The Saintess Party.

The saviors of the present age, the heroes who had vanquished the Demon King of Death.

Just like Alexis, the citizens of the Empire also believed that the Saintess Party would return and save the Holy Kingdom. Their faith in the heroes who had delivered them from the Demon King’s reign remained unshakeable.

“Let’s discuss this again when Ludmilla returns tomorrow.”

“Yes, that would be best.”

Ludmilla was currently maintaining a grueling schedule, traveling back and forth between the Imperial Capital and the Hohenberc estate. She returned to the capital at dawn and departed for the marquisate in the evening.

It was a testament to her unwavering resolve not to be outdone by the First Saintess.

Despite the arduous journey, which took several days by locomotive, Ludmilla’s dedication to her relationship with Edanant was astonishing. It was a feat of endurance that ordinary people wouldn’t even dare attempt.

“Edanant must be truly captivating for Ludmilla to endure such a grueling schedule. It’s such a passionate love story! It reminds me of when I first met my husband.”

“Ahem!”

The beautiful noblewoman, with her flowing auburn hair, squealed with delight. The Emperor, embarrassed by her outburst, cleared his throat loudly.

The wedding, planned for next spring, was all but confirmed.

Therefore, Barbarossa had granted his second daughter unlimited leave.

‘Cohabitate if you must.’

‘Even create a fait accompli with your fiancé. I don’t care.’

Normally, he would have insisted on a strict code of conduct for his unmarried daughter. But Barbarossa, desperate to see Ludmilla married, was now actively encouraging premarital… activities.

“What about Elizabetta?”

Isabelle asked playfully.

Barbarossa’s expression immediately clouded with concern.

“How can I possibly control that stubborn girl? She seems completely smitten with Edanant… I’ve given up trying to dissuade her.”

“So you’ve finally surrendered, Father.”

Despite his repeated attempts at persuasion and coercion, Elizabetta had remained steadfast in her love for Edanant.

She was willing to relinquish her status as an Imperial Princess for him. Barbarossa, faced with his youngest daughter’s unwavering declaration, had finally relented and given his consent to a polygamous marriage.

A heavy sigh escaped his lips.

Isabelle smiled wryly, seeing the troubled look on her father’s face.

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War. Tyranny. Famine. Death.

All of the Innocent Calamities had awakened.

Edanant learned the truth from the Master of the Tower. That was why Maximilian had abruptly abandoned the fight and left the Sanctuary.

The Seraphim Bellatiel was merely a stepping stone.

The true objective of Maximilian and the Saintess Party was to confront the One True God, Gael.

They had resurrected the Calamity of Death, which had been sealed in eternal slumber. They had crossed the point of no return. The Saintess Party, once hailed as saviors of the world, would now be branded as traitors to humanity.

He hadn’t been able to stop them.

His worst fears had come to pass.

Edanant clutched his throbbing temples and sank to his knees, a groan escaping his lips. Rue, alarmed by his sudden distress, rushed to his side.

“Edan! What’s wrong?! Sudden headache?! Should I get you a wet towel?”

“Just… be quiet for a moment.”

Rue immediately clapped her hands over her mouth, stifling a gasp.

Edanant smiled faintly at the Luinong’s adorable concern.

“I met Maximilian at the Sanctuary.”

“Hee hee! Is Max doing okay?”

“Healthy enough to fight a ruthless Archangel who descended from the heavens. He’ll probably achieve immortality from all the curses he’ll receive, though.”

“Eek! What’s an Archangel? Sounds like a scary monster!”

Strange markings covering her eyes.

Three pairs of large, sharp wings like a bird of prey.

Countless weapons radiating an ominous glow.

And a ruthlessness that reduced a bustling city of the Holy Kingdom to rubble.

As Edanant described the Archangel’s terrifying features, Rue shrieked like a child listening to a ghost story. She scrambled onto the bed and burrowed under the covers.

“Maximilian told me he’d capture all the naughty Luinongs and boil them alive in a giant pot.”

“Eek! I-I’m a good Luinong! I always obey! Take… take the other Luinongs instead!”

She must have been truly terrified of the Archangel to spout such blatant lies. Edanant chuckled at Rue’s frantic attempts to convince him of her innocence, rolling around on the bed with the covers pulled over her head.

“What if you wet the bed, Rue?”

“Oh.”

Elizabetta, perched on the edge of the desk, sighed and spoke. The villainess, dressed in adorable pink pajamas with frilly white lace, had clearly made herself comfortable. It seemed she had no intention of returning to the Imperial Capital anytime soon.

Rue, confirming that Elizabetta had noticed her hiding under the covers, reached out and grabbed the princess’s hand.

“Those pajamas are adorable.”

“Ugh…! The maids picked it out for me, I just threw it on! Don’t get any ideas.”

“What kind of ideas would I possibly get?”

“H-How dare you tease an Imperial Princess?! I’ll report you to the Ministry of Finance and have them audit your taxes!”

It wasn’t an empty threat.

A tax audit.

It was the ultimate weapon, capable of reducing even the wealthiest nobles to paupers.

He would be investigated for tax evasion alongside his father.

And the Hohenberc household staff would be scattered to the winds.

Desperate to prevent the downfall of his family, Edanant groveled and begged Elizabetta for forgiveness. The villainess, satisfied with his display of subservience, smirked and nodded.

“It’s late. You should return to your guest room.”

“Already? It’s barely evening. The Luinongs are still wide awake.”

If word got out that an unmarried woman had spent the night in a man’s bedroom, scandalous rumors would spread like wildfire.

And he would be dragged before the doting Emperor by the Imperial Guards.

A terrifying prospect.

Even more so than a tax audit.

“You’ve already stolen the first kiss of both the Second and Third Imperial Princesses… and now you’re afraid of a little gossip?”

“I admit I stole Princess Ludmilla’s first kiss, but you, Princess Elizabetta, kissed me first.”

“What?! Are you calling me a shameless hussy?!”

“……”

He had answered honestly, but she had taken it the wrong way.

Edanant sighed, seeing Elizabetta’s face flush crimson with anger.

“I’m sleeping here tonight! Just so you know!”

“…What?”

The villainess declared, throwing herself onto the bed.

She snuggled up against Rue, who had drifted off to sleep, and began snoring softly.

“I’ll move to another room.”

“No! Get in bed! I want to… sleep with you.”

“Wouldn’t that be… sharing a bed?”

“Sharing a bed…! So what?!”

What had gotten into her?

She was usually so reserved and easily flustered. This sudden boldness was unlike the villainess he knew.

Was this some kind of fetish?

Perhaps she derived pleasure from stealing her older sister’s fiancé.

Maybe it was a consequence of her past trauma, having her own fiancé stolen by the Saintess. The victim had become the perpetrator, continuing the cycle of netore. He mused on the cyclical nature of such twisted desires.

“Get in bed… I want to… sleep with you.”

Elizabetta patted the empty space beside her.

Edanant, unable to resist the allure of her voluptuous figure, barely concealed beneath her cute pajamas, slipped into bed beside her.

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