Joina waved her hand, breaking the silence.
“Talking about this is pointless anyway; we won’t be able to celebrate the Hundred Flowers Festival.”
“Even if we can’t celebrate, as long as we get through the Golden Dungeon, we’ll still have time to give flowers to those we care about. At worst, we’ll just miss the timing, but she’ll understand.”
A faint, happy smile appeared on Meilin’s face. It seemed she was envisioning the moment she would give the flowers and inexplicably felt a sweet warmth.
Sally let out a small “hmm” and said, “Her? Looks like little Meilin already has someone on her mind?”
As if a long-hidden thought had been suddenly exposed, Meilin’s cheeks flushed red, and her movements grew awkward. “What do you mean, someone on my mind? The Hundred Flowers Festival is just… just a chance to give flowers to someone I care about.”
“That’s what you say, but usually people give flowers to their loved ones during the Hundred Flowers Festival.”
“Sally, you’re so annoying!”
Meilin couldn’t help but punch Sally a few times, and Sally giggled, playfully fighting back.
Leanna watched the scene silently. She didn’t say much but lowered her head quietly, reaching into her chest to pull out a small gem emitting a faint glow.
“Flowers for the one you care about?”
She murmured softly. No one knew what she was thinking.
Like her, Aelia stood nearby, equally silent.
……
Two days later, with the arrival of the Hundred Flowers Festival, the entire Imperial Capital was submerged in a sea of blossoms.
A gentle breeze stirred, scattering petals of various colors through the air, forming wave after wave of floral currents.
In front of a flower store, Nola plucked a single white petal, her eyes distant and dreamy.
Beside her, Jenny whispered, “Mistress, do you really think you’ll see her at this Hundred Flowers Ceremony?”
“If nothing unexpected happens, I should,” Nola replied, “and in my heart, I already have my answer.”
“An answer? Tell me, who exactly is she in your heart?”
Jenny’s voice trembled with excitement.
She had followed Mistress Nola all the way to the Imperial Capital, and after so many missed chances, she finally heard the answer she had longed for from her lady’s own lips.
She was determined to find out who it was that had dared toy with her mistress for so long!
“The Saintess of the Oracle Hall.”
Hearing this, Jenny blinked.
When she realized her lady was serious and not teasing her, she gasped in disbelief. “Huh? Did I hear that right? The Marquess Vanessa from that night is the Saintess of the Oracle Hall?!”
“It can’t be wrong.”
Nola stared at the white petal in her hand and explained, “The Saintess of the Oracle Hall fits perfectly. Her rank and status are higher than mine. Plus, she wasn’t at the noble banquet… Besides her, I can’t think of anyone else.”
“But… didn’t you say you saw her at the banquet?”
“Did I really see her? I only caught a glimpse of her back.”
Nola continued, “And Uncle William, a noble who has lived in the Imperial Capital for decades, has never encountered a girl of higher status than me with silver-white hair and golden eyes.”
“Don’t you think that’s absurd?”
It really was!
Jenny felt like a light bulb had switched on in her mind.
Of course, Uncle William was a well-known noble who must know almost all the nobles in the Imperial Capital. Yet, even so, he had never heard of such a girl.
That could only mean that the girl wasn’t a noble!
But soon, Jenny spotted another problem.
If she really was the Saintess of the Oracle Hall, something didn’t add up either… The Saintess had taken office years ago, and her appearance was well-known.
Black hair, black eyes—no matter how you looked at it, it didn’t match that girl.
Nola had naturally heard of the Saintess’s appearance, but she preferred to believe what she had seen with her own eyes.
“The Hundred Flowers Ceremony—that Saintess will definitely appear, so we’ll wait until then…”
Before she could finish, the huge bouquet beside her, woven from countless flowers, suddenly soared into the air.
Not far away on a rooftop, a shadow shrouded in darkness controlled everything.
Without hesitation, Nola snorted coldly and drew her Knight’s Sword, rushing at the shadow.
“How dare you steal the Bouquet of the Hundred Flowers from me? You’ve got some nerve.”
……
Inside the Imperial Palace, with Renia absent, Saintess Selis had her maid help her prepare.
Not only did she wear a white flower bracelet around her wrist, but she also placed a white flower crown atop her head.
Such decorations seemed slightly out of place on Isavel, but surprisingly harmonious on Selis.
She smiled at her reflection in the mirror—the girl staring back was breathtakingly beautiful.
Once dressed, she arrived at the palace gates.
Under the watchful eyes of numerous maids and Queen Franndo, she stepped onto the Flower Carriage, holding a basket of flowers.
The first phase of the Hundred Flowers Ceremony was the Flower Carriage procession through Central Avenue.
As the carriage passed, she scattered petals symbolizing blessings and good fortune.
This was her first true public appearance before the people of the Imperial Capital.
Indeed, as the Flower Carriage rolled through Central Avenue, residents on both sides were captivated by her beauty.
“So this is the new Saintess of the Oracle Hall? Even more beautiful than I imagined!”
“My goodness, her looks rival Lady Isavel herself…”
“I wonder why the Goddess would appoint a new Saintess. Could it be dissatisfaction with Lady Isavel?”
“I don’t think so. I believe Lady Isavel treats us well.”
“Hey, that’s just her facade. You know the Rose Knights? I heard they suffer terribly under her—training is like a death sentence!”
“Really? Is she that cruel behind the scenes?”
“Not sure, but that’s the rumor. I hope this new Saintess doesn’t get framed.”
Somehow, the topic soon turned to Isavel, and she was branded as a cunning Saintess scheming against Selis.
But it was inevitable; as long as she continued training the Rose Knights, these rumors would never cease.
All she could do now was scatter petals and silence the gossip.
After the Flower Carriage completed its circle through Central Avenue, it arrived at the Oracle Hall.
At that moment, most of the nobles in the Imperial Capital had already gathered in the main hall of the Oracle Hall, led by Queen Franndo.
This was the second stage of the Hundred Flowers Ceremony—the Blessing of the Saintess.
“Greetings, Saintess.”
Everyone present, including Queen Franndo, bowed.
At this moment, they weren’t really honoring Selis but the Goddess’s messenger.
In response, Selis placed flower crowns on their heads one by one.
“May the Goddess bless you.”
She said as she crowned Queen Franndo.
As she continued placing crowns on the nobles, a stir of uneasy glances spread among the nobles gathered to the right side of the hall.
The reason? Duchess Nola, who was supposed to attend the Hundred Flowers Ceremony, was still nowhere to be seen.
If something hadn’t delayed her, it was a great insult to the Saintess of the Oracle Hall.
But unlike the others’ worries, the grand noble William stroked his beard and gazed at the Saintess’s gentle smile.
A ridiculously absurd thought crossed his mind.
Could the person Duchess Nola sought before really be this Saintess?!
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