Chapter 06
The Holy Empire of Zendal was an unusual nation.
A nation where, if one possessed divine power, many things were permitted.
If one had sufficient divine power, rising from commoner to noble was commonplace in this empire.
Even the selection of the emperor did not depend on bloodline; instead, children with strong divine power were chosen, and from among them the emperor was determined.
This was a method that the Kingdom of Bonia, which valued bloodlines, could not accept—but it was not incomprehensible.
This world was one that functioned under the blessing of the god Seikan.
All lands, except for the land of the apostates, were blessed by the god and capable of sustaining life.
Especially the vast continent that accounted for two-thirds of the world’s landmass: Oditria.
The god Seikan loved this continent.
As evidence of that, across the continent of Oditria, power beyond mere blessing—the divine power of the god—would often manifest.
When divine power dwelled in the land, that land could yield abundant crops every year.
When it dwelled in buildings, those buildings gained a sturdiness that would not collapse under any natural disaster.
When it dwelled in a person, that person gained exceptional physical abilities and special powers that ordinary people could not possess.
For this reason, on the continent of Oditria, divine power was closely tied to military strength.
The reason Zendal, once a smaller nation than Bonia, had become a great empire that no one could touch was thanks to the manpower endowed with divine power.
Zendal also had an especially high number of children born with divine power compared to other nations.
Thus, a culture that valued divine power developed, and Zendal came to be called a nation beloved by the god.
‘To think they even succeeded in summoning a saintess.’
From the distant past to the present.
Many nations had tried to summon a saintess.
If they succeeded, they would gain not only the saintess’s overwhelming divine power but also the tremendous prestige of being a nation chosen by the god Seikan.
There was no surer way for a nation to rise to prosperity than to summon a saintess.
“Is the Saintess adapting well to life in Zendal?”
As they entered the third movement, the flow of the music changed rapidly.
Allend’s eyes narrowed slightly—but only for an instant.
Charles failed to notice and waited for the emperor’s reply.
“Perfectly.”
As Charles and Allend extended the hands they were holding to the side, their arms drew an elegant line.
Their feet naturally moved in the direction their hands pointed.
If it had been Ari, the saintess, she would have already stepped on Allend’s foot at least once.
“She’s doing very well.”
“That’s a relief.”
At the emperor’s words, Charles smiled gently.
It was that smile of hers that, when met face-to-face, no one—young or old—could resist.
“If you ever need the records of the first saintess that are kept in the Kingdom of Bonia, please let me know anytime.”
“Aren’t those materials information that must not be disclosed externally?”
Throughout all of world history, the successful summoning of a saintess had happened only three times.
The first was in the Kingdom of Bonia.
The second was in the Kingdom of Barbernon.
The third was Zendal’s saintess.
Though the eras differed, all saintesses appeared with black hair and eyes, the symbol of the god Seikan.
Bonia, which summoned the first saintess, rose to the ranks of great powers and flourished greatly.
The tragedy occurred in the era when Barbernon summoned a saintess.
About 480 years ago, Barbernon tried to use the saintess to purify the land of the apostates.
It was a continent across the sea, cursed by the god Seikan and turned into a land of death.
Barbernon planned to claim the purified land as its own territory.
The saintess was forced to use her divine power from the very day she was summoned, used like a tool, and within a month, driven to her limits, she took her own life.
That marked the beginning of Barbernon’s downfall.
The god Seikan immediately withdrew the blessings that had rested upon Barbernon’s lands.
The land was engulfed in darkness and life was taken away.
The surviving life forms were cursed.
Wherever their footsteps reached, death followed; thus, Barbernon vanished from history without leaving even a trace.
The history of the saintess that Barbernon had recorded was no exception.
Therefore, at present, the only nation that possessed records of a summoned saintess was Bonia.
“If it helps the Saintess, our king would surely grant permission. However—”
Allend stepped forward, waiting for Charles’s next words.
Despite the fact that they were conversing while dancing, the rhythm between the two was flawlessly calm.
“The records of the first saintess are top-secret documents that only a very small number within the Bonian royal family can view, so it would be difficult to bring them outside.”
“It sounds like you’re saying that if we want the materials, we must come directly to the Kingdom of Bonia.”
Moreover, by emphasizing that only a handful within the royal family could access them, the princess was clearly implying that she expected someone of equal status to be sent from Zendal.
For example—
‘The Saintess.’
From the moment the Bonian princess placed the flower crown upon the saintess’s head, Allend had felt an inexplicable irritation toward Charles.
‘Now I understand why.’
The princess was an intruder.
One who coveted what was his.
‘Certainly, she’s dangerous.’
Allend’s pale blue eyes examined Charles.
Her face was dignified and beautiful.
Even though he had seen countless beauties and felt nothing, Charles’s appearance was different.
It would undoubtedly have a strong influence.
Not on him, but on the saintess.
“Ugh. So handsome. Ugh. So pretty.”
Today again, hadn’t he heard the saintess babbling that she might go blind from looking at him, or that she would become a ghost in the imperial palace to watch over him even if she died?
It was amusing, but he found it far from pleasant that the princess was now included among the targets of that noisy admiration.
Above all, the biggest problem was that Zendal could not claim ownership of the saintess.
After the Barbernon incident, the nations of the continent, feeling a sense of crisis, formed the “Oditria Pact.”
And Article 1 of that pact:
[All matters concerning the safety and person of the summoned saintess shall be decided according to the will of the saintess.]
If the saintess strongly insisted on going to another country, Zendal would have no way to stop her.
The saintess was the sole link between god and humanity.
Now that even the priests could no longer hear the god’s voice, the saintess was the closest being to the god.
Naturally, there were countless hyenas eager to bring such a being into their own nation.
With the face of a devout princess, Charles said:
“If the Saintess wishes it, I will help ensure that she can view the records at any time. After all, we mere creations must ultimately respect the Saintess’s will.”
Creations. Ultimately. Respect.
For the roundabout way royals and nobles usually spoke, these were words whose intent was unusually transparent.
“Princess Charles Ettinger.”
Allend’s steps came to a halt.
Since there was no particular need to continue the dance, Charles also stopped where she stood.
Allend released her hand and removed his glove.
It was a sign that he would never take her hand again.
“It seems you wish to provoke me.”
Seeing that the two had finished their dance, the conductor slowly lowered his baton.
The performance gradually diminished.
At a similar pace, the emperor bent his upper body.
As the emperor’s face came close to the princess’s, sighs of admiration rose from the surroundings.
But—
‘What…’
A sharp sensation spread across Charles’s cheek, and the exposed skin bristled with tension.
Sweat beaded along her scalp beneath her hair.
Stiff with tension, Charles rolled her eyes to look at the emperor.
The eyes that had always seemed gentle were now cold.
The emperor’s face drew closer and closer to her cheek.
Just before his lips touched, he stopped, and in a low voice whispered into her ear:
“No matter how much you covet her, I won’t give the Saintess to you.”
I—I saw it!!
‘Oh my god. This is insane. Totally insane.’
As expected of foreigners! They move at lightning speed.
‘His Majesty just kissed the princess on the cheek, right? Minister Ebon said there’s no such culture as cheek-kissing in Zendal!’
Then what did that mean?
It meant His Majesty has feelings for the princess! Romantic feelings!
Oh my god. Even straw sandals come in pairs, they say!
Not that His Majesty is a straw sandal, but still!
‘I should’ve known when His Majesty asked the princess to dance! Were they already on good terms? Siana! Look at this, look at this!’
With those faces and those statuses—
This is basically the scandal of the century!
I was in a state of total excitement.
I wanted to rush to Captain Henkel and share this emotional upheaval, but I’d already declared that today I would behave quietly as a purely decorative saintess.
Loose lips sink ships.
If I’d known something like this was coming, I’d have said I’d make a fuss instead!
On the outside, I made sure not to show it, but under the hem of my dress I was stamping my feet in agitation.
‘What do I do? What do I do?’
Ah, if only Siana were here.
Siana, who said she’d attend the ball, hadn’t been seen all afternoon.
‘I should’ve kept my ears open!’
The one ability I had was useless when it mattered most.
I’d been so focused on the Bonian dance that I hadn’t heard a single word of what those two had been talking about.
By the time I turned my gaze toward His Majesty as the music died down, he’d already kissed the princess on the cheek.
What did they talk about? Did His Majesty confess? Are they getting engaged soon?
‘Second generation, this is insane!’
My head was already full of visions of their happy future.
A daughter who looked like His Majesty and a son who looked like the princess.
Or the opposite! Or both looking half like each of them!
No matter how you mix those two’s genes, I guarantee the result would be heavenly beauty.
‘I want to be reborn as that family’s pet dog, at least.’
God Seikan, please change my genre from isekai to reincarnation.
Just then, His Majesty was turning back this way.
The music that had once stopped shifted to a lively, fast-tempo piece, as if to rekindle the atmosphere.
Since any conversation here would be drowned out by the music, I waited for the moment when His Majesty placed his hand on the armrest to sit on the throne, then urgently said:
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty! If your first child looks like the princess, make me the godmother!”
“…What?”
