“Let me ask again, Rein, what is going on here?”
Alice’s cold voice echoed through the quiet hall.
Her pale sky-blue hair shimmered faintly, and she wore an outfit reminiscent of a uniform, complete with a mantle draped over her shoulders.
Even beneath such distinctive clothing, her figure was striking enough to take one’s breath away.
She exuded a noble beauty that could draw admiration, though expressing such thoughts openly seemed unthinkable.
The atmosphere around her was so icy and commanding that even considering such things felt impermissible.
She observed Rein with a gaze as cold as winter.
I found myself watching her with interest as she questioned him, for someone immediately came to mind when I saw her.
That person was Leopold Everglow, the Duke of the Everglow family, whom I had seen before.
‘They’re strikingly similar.’
Though her hair color was different, her demeanor and gaze left no doubt that she was his daughter.
‘I thought Rein was the only one like that, but of course, that couldn’t be the case.’
Had that been true, the family’s reputation would have already plummeted to the ground.
“Rein, I asked what this is about.”
‘What should I do?’
I hesitated. Alice was solely focused on questioning Rein, not sparing a glance for anyone else.
It felt oddly like I’d become part of the background, but there was no need to interrupt her. After all, she was handling the matter with Rein quite well on her own.
As I watched her, wondering what to do, Bliss stepped forward, asking me to leave it to her.
With a calm yet sharp expression, Bliss spoke.
“I believe you’re asking the wrong person.”
Alice shifted her gaze from Rein to Bliss and asked,
“Could you explain what happened here?”
“He insulted us,” Bliss answered immediately.
“Insulted? Could you provide more details?”
Alice’s tone grew thoughtful, but her expression remained impassive as she prompted Bliss to elaborate.
Bliss began speaking clearly, loud enough for everyone to hear, recounting Rein’s words.
“He called Lady Agnes and Lady Olivia losers, referred to me as a weakling from the West who was almost destroyed by Balion, and told the Saintess she didn’t belong here. Finally, he demanded that she pour wine into his cup.”
Bliss emphasized particularly offensive phrases, her voice growing louder as she went.
Her pointed delivery caused murmurs to ripple through the onlookers. Meanwhile, Alice’s expression grew increasingly stern.
“And yet, Saintess Ruina of our Holy Church showed him mercy. Instead of rebuking him, she sought to guide him, allowing him the chance to reflect on his actions and repent.”
Bliss’s words transformed my earlier criticisms and insults into the actions of a benevolent saint.
It was remarkable how her words painted a picture of me as an embodiment of compassion, though reality was far less noble.
“She guided him on behalf of Lady Naias to ensure he wouldn’t act like this again… but Sir Rein clearly didn’t appreciate it. When the Saintess turned to leave, he cast a powerful flame spell at her, strong enough to cause serious harm!”
Bliss pointed an accusatory finger at Rein, her voice rising in indignation.
‘Bravo,’ I thought, mentally applauding. Her delivery, complete with well-timed emphasis, was exceptional.
Rein’s face twisted with frustration at Bliss’s accusations, making his emotions clear for all to see.
It was a satisfying sight.
Alice, however, showed no visible reaction to Bliss’s statements. Her expression was unreadable—a stark contrast to the way her brow had furrowed earlier.
But I quickly realized this lack of expression was misleading.
“Rein, is what she says true?”
Alice turned to him, her voice colder than ever.
At first glance, her demeanor seemed unchanged, but there was something different this time—a sense of restrained emotion underlying her words.
Her tone was so sharp that just hearing it made me swallow nervously.
Rein clicked his tongue, his face contorting as he looked down at the floor. His darting eyes and guilty demeanor were reminiscent of a child being scolded by a parent after misbehaving.
“Sigh… this is infuriating. And at such an important time…”
Alice placed a hand on her forehead, sighed deeply, and turned to us.
“I apologize. It seems a member of my family has caused you harm. I don’t know how to atone for this…”
“For such insults that no lady should endure, Sir Rein must issue an appropriate apology,” Bliss interjected, arms crossed and chin lifted.
“So, Sir Rein, kneel before us, bow your head, and offer a sincere apology. If you do, we’ll consider letting this matter go.”
“Ridiculous!” Rein shouted, his face twisting further in anger.
“Silence, Rein!”
Alice’s rebuke was swift and thunderous. Her commanding voice left Rein stunned, his mouth snapping shut like a mute.
As Rein fell silent, Alice sighed and spoke with a hint of discomfort.
“I’m sorry, but that request is something I cannot accept. Is there no other way you would consider?”
“I don’t think so,” Bliss replied, shaking her head.
Alice hesitated, seemingly weighing her options, before speaking again.
“If there’s something you desire from the North, I will ensure it is granted. Could you let this matter go in exchange?”
Her offer was tempting—anything from the North—but Bliss appeared unimpressed.
Her brow furrowed as she replied firmly,
“He used magic against the Saintess. How can such an act simply be overlooked? The spell he cast could have caused serious harm if the Saintess hadn’t nullified it.”
Alice’s voice, still calm yet frigid, rang through the tense atmosphere.
“Faithful Saintess, I deeply apologize for what has transpired, but considering the timing of the Hunt Festival, it is not an easy matter for us to concede. I earnestly ask you to overlook this incident.”
‘The Hunt Festival, huh…’
I understood now why she was so insistent.
The North was currently in the midst of its largest annual event, the Hunt Festival. For the Everglow family, who hosted and oversaw the festival, this was an important time to reaffirm their position as the rulers of the North.
What would happen if rumors spread that a member of the Everglow family had knelt before someone during such a critical period?
Traditionally, kneeling was seen as an immense humiliation, especially for a man. Such an act would be an irreversible blow to one’s honor.
If Bliss’s demand were to come to fruition, the fallout would be clear. The individual’s reputation would be utterly destroyed, dragging down their family and, potentially, tarnishing the Everglow name itself.
Furthermore, the Everglow family’s authority as the undisputed rulers of the North hinged on their image. Should such a humiliating event occur during the Hunt Festival—caused not by an external force but by one of their own—it could irreparably damage the family’s standing.
In aristocratic society, reputation is everything. A tarnished image is akin to losing one’s life, as it directly affects a family’s influence and voice.
It was evident why Alice couldn’t back down. She needed to protect the Everglow family’s image as the rulers of the North—just as I had to maintain the image of a saintess.
Reflecting on this, I felt a twinge of sympathy. Perhaps I understood her struggle because I, too, carried the weight of such expectations.
It felt like a rare moment of camaraderie, though sadly, Bliss shared none of these sentiments.
“And if we don’t?” Bliss replied bluntly.
Alice turned her gaze toward me.
It seemed she had realized Bliss wouldn’t budge and had decided to appeal to me instead.
“Saintess, the North annually donates large amounts of resources to the Holy Church.
While this is partly to ensure assistance from the Church in times of peril, it also reflects our deep agreement with the Church’s principle of love for all.”
Before Alice could continue, Bliss interrupted sharply.
“And yet, the son of the prestigious Everglow family used magic against the Saintess, Lady Naias’s representative! If that’s not hostility toward the Church, then what is it?”
Alice ignored Bliss’s interjection and continued addressing me.
“Saintess, the North does not oppose the Holy Kingdom. On the contrary, we strive to provide aid without expecting anything in return, and we have acted on this commitment. Surely, you are aware of this?”
Her steady gaze bore into me, silently demanding an answer.
I felt a cold sweat run down my back.
Why?
‘Honestly, I have no idea what she’s talking about…’
I truly had no clue about the specifics she mentioned.
While I knew vaguely that the Church received donations, I had no idea where they came from or how they were used.
My role was to pray and deliver prophecies, not to manage resources.
And even those duties were a sham. How could I possibly know such details?
If I tried to recall, I vaguely remembered overhearing a passing comment about significant donations from the North. But I didn’t know anything concrete.
So I had no idea how to respond.
“Please, consider this and forgive my foolish brother for his mistake,” Alice pleaded earnestly.
I remained silent, unable to find the right words.
For now, doing nothing seemed like the safest choice. Silence, after all, can sometimes be a virtue.
As if on cue, Bliss stepped in to resolve the situation.
“It seems the Saintess has declined,” she declared firmly.
The matter seemed to be reaching its conclusion when—
Crash!
A sudden, sharp sound rang out, like glass shattering.
I turned my head toward the noise.
The cause was Rein, who had dropped the glass he was holding.
‘Did he throw it?’
I wondered, trying to figure out why he had dropped the glass.
Then, I felt it.
A sudden chill swept over my body, making my skin crawl.
Startled, I turned my head in search of the source of this cold.
It didn’t take long to find it.
The chill emanated from Alice. Or more precisely, from the magical energy radiating from her.
“Please reconsider,” she said in a voice that remained cold, yet carried an unmistakable warning.
The surrounding temperature dropped noticeably as she spoke.
It was clear. This sudden phenomenon was Alice’s doing.
Why was she doing this?
It seemed she was attempting to assert dominance through intimidation, using force to steer the situation in her favor.
In simple terms, it was a threat.
‘Unbelievable.’
Even Leopold, her father, tried to pressure me like this during our first meeting, and now his daughter Alice is doing the exact same thing.
Like father, like daughter, I suppose. How can their actions be so eerily identical? Perhaps children really do take after their parents.
I sighed and began to think.
‘How should I handle this… Should I use my divine power as I did with Leopold? Or just let things remain as they are?’
As I pondered, someone suddenly stepped in front of me, blocking my view.
The figure was Artorius. He stood as if protecting me, clearly fulfilling his role as a Paladin.
He must have sensed Alice’s threatening aura as well.
A demon being protected by a Paladin… What an ironic situation.
“Lady Alice, the air has grown quite cold,” Artorius said calmly, planting a spear into the ground that seemed to appear out of nowhere.
With a voice full of authority and vigilance, he added,
“As a Paladin, I worry for the safety of our Holy Church’s Saintess. Please withdraw your power.”
Despite Artorius’s warning, Alice did not withdraw her aura. If anything, it intensified.
In response, Artorius’s own divine energy surged outward, clashing against her magic.
The two immense forces collided.
“Artorius, stop this!” Bliss cried out urgently, sensing the escalating tension.
But Artorius did not stop. Instead, he released even more divine energy.
Crash!
The sound of shattering glass filled the hall. The collision of their powers caused nearby glassware to break one after another.
“What… what do we do?” Bliss asked in a flustered tone, her eyes darting toward me.
‘How should I know?’ I thought to myself, irritated.
If I had access to my original strength, perhaps I could intervene. But with the minuscule amount of divine power I currently possessed, there was nothing I could do to stop them.
Bliss, a High Priestess, didn’t seem capable of handling the situation either.
‘Looks like all we can do is watch,’ I thought.
If nothing else, this might be an interesting opportunity to observe a Paladin in action. I’d always been curious about how they fought.
But my hopes of seeing a good fight were dashed.
Someone suddenly intervened.
“Both of you, stop this at once. Look around—people are trembling in fear.”
It was the Hero.
The Hero stepped between them and first addressed Alice.
“Lady Alice, the aura you’re directing at my companions is far too hostile. What exactly happened while I was away?”
Alice didn’t answer. It was understandable—she was clearly in a disadvantageous position.
The Hero continued, turning to both of them.
“Regardless of what happened, withdraw your powers immediately. If you don’t, I will use my authority as the Hero to force you to comply.”
The moment he finished speaking, an overwhelming surge of divine energy blanketed the hall.
The combined auras of Alice and Artorius paled in comparison to the sheer weight of his power.
For a brief moment, I wondered if either of them would dare to resist, but they quickly relented. Both Alice and Artorius had no choice but to withdraw their energies in the face of such overwhelming force.
‘So this is the Hero,’ I thought, impressed.
Alice and Artorius were both formidable figures in their own right, yet the Hero ended their confrontation with just a few words and a show of force.
The Empire, though united in name, is a nation divided into six distinct regions of power:
- The Capital, where the Emperor resides and the heart of the Empire lies.
- The West, which borders the Demon Realm the most.
- The South, home to the Magic Tower and the Dream Forest, a haven for diverse flora and fauna.
- The East, the hub of trade and diplomacy with the eastern continent.
- The North, a land of frozen tundras.
- The Holy Kingdom, the center of the Holy Church and its ancient traditions.
Each region has its own prominent figures, individuals who represent the power and potential of their territories.
For instance:
- The First Prince, Gilbert Wolfenstein, in the Capital.
- The Second Prince, Hector Wolfenstein, in the East.
- The First Princess, Ellicia Wolfenstein, in the West.
- The Archduke and Tower Master, Braite Zernius, in the South.
- And, of course, Alice Everglow in the North.
Artorius represents the Holy Kingdom, while Alice is the North’s pride.
Yet the Hero, with a few words, rendered both of them silent.
‘I’m reminded again of how influential the Hero’s authority is—though much of it stems from his overwhelming strength.’
So, what should I do now?
Thanks to the Hero’s intervention, Alice’s attempts to intimidate us had been completely neutralized.
I found myself deliberating again—a recurring theme today.
‘Alright, I think this is enough.’
This should suffice as compensation for Rein’s insults toward me. It’s time to let this go.
Although I still found Rein unappealing, I had to consider Alice’s dignity. Preserving her image now might pave the way for a useful connection later.
In the now-silent hall, I murmured softly,
“Very well. I’ll accept Lady Alice’s proposal.”
I shifted my gaze to Alice, meeting her eyes.
“Lady Alice, you mentioned you would prepare anything we desired, correct?”
“Yes, that’s correct,” she replied with a nod.
I continued,
“I can’t think of a suitable compensation that matches the weight of your words right now. So, let’s defer that decision for the time being.”
“In that case…”
“That’s fine. We’ll move on from this matter for now. However, I have not yet forgiven Sir Rein.
So, if something like this happens again…”
I turned to Rein, fixing him with a piercing gaze.
“Be prepared to face the consequences.”
“I will take that to heart,” Alice replied with a solemn expression.
Satisfied, I nodded slightly.
Then, with a deep sigh, I spoke in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear,
“As a guest, I would have loved to enjoy this gathering until the end. However, I feel utterly drained and lack the energy to continue. Please understand my need to leave early.”
With that, I took Reina by the hand and began walking toward the exit.
Fortunately, no one stopped us. No one attempted to engage in conversation or blocked our path.
Unimpeded, I left the hall and headed to the room I had scouted earlier in the day for our stay.
I did not return to the gathering after that. Instead, I spent my time lounging with Reina or fine-tuning my divine energy.
Reina expressed slight disappointment at not being able to attend the event further. However, a few cookies fetched by a servant quickly erased her discontent.
And so, time continued to pass.
Days turned into nights, and eventually…
The long-awaited day of the Hunt Festival arrived.