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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: TushChen
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The capital of the Holy Kingdom was known as a sacred land that every follower of the Earth Mother must make a pilgrimage to at least once in their lifetime.
However, for those who worshiped forgotten gods, it was no different from a slaughterhouse.
A slaughterhouse.
Literally!
Cultists captured by the Holy Kingdom’s inquisitors were transported to the Holy Kingdom and mercilessly executed.
There were no humane execution methods.
Burning at the stake.
They were always burned to death.
It was a strict method, ensuring that not even a single bone or fragment of the cultist remained in the world.
There was even a saying, “The most common item in the Holy Kingdom is kindling.”
“What do you mean? Are you suggesting they’ll turn me into charcoal?”
“Of course not. There’s no concrete evidence.”
After the banquet,
I discussed the Pope’s intentions with Zebeline.
Has my identity been exposed?
Perhaps the Earth Mother had whispered it to him while delivering the oracle.
I swallowed nervously, recalling Pope Boern’s benevolent smile.
If the Pope had openly expressed hostility, I wouldn’t be so worried.
But the old fox of the Holy Kingdom, concealing his true intentions behind a benevolent smile, was a formidable opponent.
“It doesn’t matter even if the Pope received a revelation from the Earth Mother. Edanant is a hero who has saved the Valtarian Empire countless times. Even if they expose him as an apostle serving the Disaster God of War… Do you think the Emperor of the Empire would simply accept it?”
“……”
Barbarossa trusted me so deeply that he had already chosen me as his son-in-law.
Overconfidence.
No,
It was closer to blind faith.
I had been treated like a scoundrel, embroiled in scandals with the princesses of the Valtarian Empire.
But ever since he realized that I truly loved Ludmilla, his treatment of me had changed drastically.
“Hmph. That’s unpleasant. To be caught by an old bachelorette.”
“……”
It was a positive thing to be trusted by the Emperor, who would one day become my father-in-law.
But I couldn’t express my joy in front of Zebeline.
I kept my mouth shut.
I tried to maintain a neutral expression, pretending not to have heard Zebeline’s words.
“So you’re saying it’s alright because there’s no evidence?”
“As long as you don’t enter the Holy Kingdom’s capital. If your identity is exposed in the sanctuary, even the Emperor won’t be able to save you.”
The number of demons and cultists executed in the sanctuary would easily exceed hundreds of thousands.
It was said that they burned criminals day and night, like a large-scale factory in operation.
The executions must have decreased significantly since the end of the Racial War.
Of course, they wouldn’t have completely stopped.
Even at this moment, executions were probably being carried out.
The Holy Kingdom used merciless executions as a means to suppress the cult forces.
And they used it as a way to cultivate devout followers who worshiped the Earth Mother.
Massacres by fanatics to enforce the one true god’s faith.
That was the true nature of the slaughter taking place in the sanctuary.
“I’ve traveled all over the continent… but I’ve never visited the sanctuary. At most, I’ve only briefly passed through the Holy Kingdom’s territory.”
I suddenly recalled Beatrice and Maximilian, who had desperately tried to avoid the sanctuary.
What would have happened if they hadn’t made such efforts?
I didn’t even want to imagine it.
I shook my head and chuckled bitterly.
“Should we run away?”
“…The hero already ran away. Is elopement a hereditary trait passed down through the Hohenberc family?”
“I heard Father also left the family when he was young. I don’t know the reason, though.”
“Oh my-”
How had the Hohenberc family, experts in elopement, managed to survive for so long?
It was a mystery.
It wouldn’t have been strange if they had perished long ago.
Zebeline sighed at the history of the Hohenberc family, filled with countless eccentrics.
“Anyway, don’t accept the Pope’s invitation.”
“Of course not. Unless I’m crazy… I wouldn’t walk into a slaughterhouse on my own.”
The saintess stood up.
I also stood up and escorted her as she was about to leave the reception room.
“Oh, and…”
The Pope had mentioned a holy mass where he would preach to the priests of the Valtarian Empire.
Zebeline, who was about to leave, suddenly stopped, as if remembering something.
“I’m going to ask you in detail about what happened with Princess Ludmilla last night! So don’t even think about giving me vague answers! Ugh, I want to summon the inquisitors…!”
“……”
I swallowed nervously at Zebeline’s aggressive threat, wanting to involve the inquisitors in a mere love triangle.
What would happen if they found out that I had even kissed Ludmilla?
Hmm.
Elopement was the only option.
My vision darkened as I imagined the White Dragon spewing jealousy. I was terrified that Zebeline might transport me to the sanctuary in the Pope’s stead.
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Edanant wouldn’t have recklessly given in to his desires.
He had stolen the princess’s lips.
Moreover, it was her first kiss, an experience and ritual that held immense significance for women.
It wasn’t something that would end as a mere fling.
Edanant must have initiated the kiss with the intention of “I want to marry you.”
Ludmilla, who had unilaterally interpreted the meaning of the kiss, rolled around on the bed adorned with soft velvet, clutching a pillow tightly.
The pillow was crushed mercilessly, as if it were about to suffocate.
“If we’re getting married, the Justinian Cathedral would be the perfect venue! All the members of the Valtarian Imperial Family, except for special exceptions, have held grand weddings at the Justinian Cathedral!”
Flower petals scattering everywhere.
The church bells ringing to bless the wedding.
And the bride, dressed in a wedding dress, standing on a crimson velvet carpet.
Ludmilla imagined her wedding, her heart fluttering like a bride-to-be whose wedding date had already been set.
She was particularly obsessed with it, having waited for the moment she would be united with the man she loved ever since she turned twenty.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime wedding, so I have to prepare meticulously to ensure there are no regrets.”
She expressed her anticipation, her face flushed.
Elizaveta and Rue, who were beside her, whispered softly.
“The priest will be shocked, right? A bride over twenty-seven getting married for the first time. He’ll definitely think she’s divorced.”
“We’ll have to inform all the guests.”
Normally, she would have reacted lightly to their teasing, her emotions fluctuating easily.
But not now.
She had received a passionate kiss from Edanant, along with a promise of a proposal.
Ludmilla smiled, recalling the romantic moments they had shared on the terrace of the Imperial Palace.
Let them talk.
Edanant would soon propose with a beautiful silver ring.
“…Sister, I’m so envious.”
“Hmm?”
Elizaveta muttered as she left the bedroom, leaving her sister behind.
Rue tilted her head and asked.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen my sister so happy. I’m honestly envious, to the point of jealousy.”
“You have Rue, pretty princess! Ahem, just trust us!”
Rue said, patting her flat chest.
Elizaveta smiled broadly.
“The fairies in fairy tales always grant wishes… Can Luinongs do that too?”
“Of course! We welcome any wish from the pretty princess!”
Anything was possible with the goddess’s mystery that had created the fairies’ paradise.
Even wishes that were realistically impossible.
Mystery was omnipotent.
And a Luinong, who possessed mystery, was no different from a walking, talking all-purpose tool.
Elizaveta, who had even used Broyan’s divinity to quell the conflagration that had engulfed the Imperial Capital, knew this better than anyone.
Therefore, she nodded with a faint smile at Rue’s bold claim.
“Actually, I’ll take back what I just said.”
“Huh?”
The princess, dressed in a beautiful dress, said, twirling around.
And then, she declared in a confident voice, filled with ambition.
“I’m going to make Edanant fall for me. Without anyone’s help… With my own strength.”
Their marriage wasn’t set in stone.
She was significantly behind compared to her other rivals, but there was still a chance.
She had already informed her sister.
That she might steal Edanant away like a thief.
Now that she had declared war, all that remained was to join the competition.
She felt sorry for her sister, who was dreaming of a sweet honeymoon with Edanant, but this time, she was serious.
‘…It’s alright to steal a bite or two. I’m not trying to monopolize him.’
If she created a fait accompli alongside her sister, even their father, who strongly opposed polygamy, would have no choice but to surrender.
The hero who saved the Empire.
The new hero chosen by the Holy Kingdom.
Considering Edanant’s status, almost on par with the Seven Strongest, wouldn’t it be acceptable for him to marry both princesses of the Valtarian Empire as his wives?
Elizaveta smiled shyly, revealing her desire.
‘Broyan.’
-Why are you calling me? You said you would win him over with your own strength.
She whispered the goddess’s name softly, as if sending a message.
The deity, who had been observing the fairy’s bold demeanor, responded with a nonchalant voice.
‘You’re a separate case. You possessed my body, so you are me. And I am you. Besides, have you forgotten our promise to lend you my divinity in exchange for taking care of the Luinongs?’
-What kind of sophistry is that…? Did our princess hit her head or something?
The Disaster God of War.
How shocked she had been to see the calamity lurking beyond the dark shadows.
The calamity that spread war.
The monster that devoured power through war.
Could she really entrust her precious children to such a dangerous being?
Broyan expressed her distrust, her response laced with disapproval.
-Sigh… So how are you going to steal him away?
‘Of course, I’ll seduce him! Do you think Edanant can resist my charms, the most beautiful woman in the Empire?’
What was this?
Such a confident answer.
Was this a world where it was normal for women to seduce men?
I don’t know.
Such a world couldn’t possibly exist.
Elizaveta began to vividly describe her fantasies about Edanant.
Broyan, who was sharing her consciousness, let out a scream, almost a death rattle.
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