Then I heard the Emperor’s voice,
“Why don’t the Saintess participate in the Hunting Festival with the Crown Prince?”
As I turned my head, I noticed the Queen grinning and straightening her body as she whispered something into the Emperor’s ear.
Kyle spoke to the Emperor instead of me,
“Entering the forest where the monsters are located is dangerous.”
Then the Emperor answered Kyle,
“So you, the Sword Master, should protect her. Then maybe you two can get closer… hmhm.”
Perhaps the Queen used this as a ruse to coax the Emperor.
“However, we don’t know if there will be any unforeseen events.”
“Last year, the High Priest came as the temple’s representative, and he took the lead in purifying the forest. He imbued the Els Valley rocks with divine powers. But nowadays, people claim that Els Valley is once again plagued by monsters.”
The Queen opened her fan and interrupted Kyle.
Kyle’s brows furrowed at her words.
“She is different from the High Priest, who is a skilled swordsman. Stop being so obstinate.”
Kyle’s blunt remark made the Queen frown for a brief moment.
“Isn’t the Crown Prince trying to force himself on the people of the empire who live in the Kinston Mountains collecting minerals and medicinal herbs?”
Her lips arched upward.
“……”
“Aside from subjugating monsters at the Hunting Festival, if the Saintess goes to Els Valley and purifies Kinston through the rocks, there will be a lot less ordure this year. There is a reason why saints have traditionally engaged in purification activities every few years.”
It was a reasonable story. It’s as if she planned it beforehand.
“The Queen has a point, but the Saintess should make the decision.”
The nobles all looked at me as the Emperor said his final words.
I stared at the Queen’s sharp eyes. I opened my mouth after a long silence,
“I’ll do it.”
I was expecting them to force me into the hunting grounds at any cost.
Kyle’s brows furrowed at my calm reply, and the corners of the Queen’s lips raised slightly.
“However, riding a horse-drawn carriage to the hunting grounds doesn’t seem enjoyable.”
With my index finger, I soon pointed in the opposite direction.
“I’ll take that horse.”
The Queen’s brows furrowed at my remark, and the corners of her risen lips hardened.
I then went on to say,
“Sir Alberto doesn’t seem to be a good horse rider, so he will ride in my carriage.”
Alberto complained with widened eyes,
“What do you mean I can’t ride a horse! I never said anything like that!”
With a casual expression, I rose from my seat and walked out to face the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, I witnessed Sir Alberto trampling a child on a horse in the square less than a month ago. The child nearly lost his breath.”
The Queen’s face stiffened at my words, and Alberto felt a sense of dread.
I turned to Alberto and said,
“He hit him, trampled him, and fled without looking back, like a dwarf on an angry bull.”
With a white face, he clenched his fists.
“Do you have any proof that I did it?”
“I treated him with my divine powers, and there are numerous witnesses. You still don’t remember, so I’m assuming you didn’t even know you trampled on him.”
The Emperor frowned at Alberto.
“Is that true?!”
“Your Majesty! That is…”
Alberto’s eyes wandered and shook.
The Emperor clicked his tongue after a while.
“Huh. I knew you were weak in swordsmanship, but your horse riding skills are worrisome.”
Perhaps he remembers it as well.
But he couldn’t say that he killed a child like a fly’s life, so Alberto remained silent to the Emperor, his fists trembling.
Oh, I feel good.
I arranged the conclusion neatly and brought it up, hoping that he would be punished,
“So, for the sake of mutual safety, Sir Alberto should ride in my carriage. I will ride Sir Alberto’s horse.”
“No, you can’t!”
The Queen’s eyes were trembling with a nervous glint.
I felt like I was about to burst out laughing at her obvious intentions.
“It would be impolite to the royals and nobles who are participating in the Hunting Festival today if you went to a Hunting Festival on horseback with skills bad enough to trample on a child.”
The nobles’ whispers reached my ears.
Kyle broke the noise and opened his mouth,
“It is better to do what the Saintess said.”
The grim Queen’s ferocious eyes turned to Kyle, but he continued with cold eyes,
“I’ll keep the Saintess safe.”
If the Sword Master shielded you, no monster would dare to harm you.
When Kyle agreed, the Emperor turned to Alberto and ordered,
“Get in the Saintess’s carriage. And the Saintess…”
The Emperor’s eyes turned at me.
“You’re wearing a dress, will it be okay?”
I agonized for a moment before telling the Emperor,
“I think it would be uncomfortable. May I borrow some of his spare clothes?”
· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·
After going to the temple’s stable a few times for my escape, I was able to ride a horse quite plausibly.
“It suits you pretty well.”
Kyle’s stern gaze was fixed ahead, but I understood what he meant.
I arranged the cuffs of the shirt that fit me and grabbed the reins.
Because it was worn by a high-ranking noble, the clothing was of good quality and elasticity. And Alberto’s horse was quite a steed.
I carefully haltered the horse and followed Kyle into the hunting grounds.
Today’s mission was to get to Els Valley, the mountain’s heart, without getting hurt and to purify the special rock.
Monsters are mutated from dark energy, and they say that injecting dark energy with divine powers weakens it.
The holy knights were following us for safety’s sake.
The Kinston Mountains’ paths weren’t so harsh, and the slopes were gentle enough for a horse-drawn carriage to travel on. And, whereas other mountain ranges require three days to reach the border, Els Valley was only three or four hours away.
“You must have wanted to hunt as much as you like, I apologize for having Your Highness tied up like this.”
I told him, looking straight ahead,
“So it would be better if we go quickly and find freedom for each other.”
Listening to my words, I heard him burst out into a small laugh.
“Speaking of which, when did you learn to ride a horse?”
“It’s just something I do in my spare time.”
Kyle’s lips twitched, as if he was amused by me skillfully dragging my horse.
“You truly exceed my expectations whenever we meet.”
His revelation and smile in the bright sunlight made my eyes stop on him blankly.
When he turned his head to me, our eyes met. Then we heard a noise, which cut this moment short,
“You damn b*stards. Can’t you slow down?”
When I turned around, I saw a temple carriage drawn by three horses.
The temple carriage was sturdy, but it was not suitable for shock absorption as it was not a combat carriage. This means that the feeling of a rocky or uneven surface is conveyed from within.
“AAAH!”
I heard a voice filled with anger again.
I purposefully slowed the horse to match the pace of the carriage.
The carriage drew closer. In the window, Alberto’s distorted face was visible.
[Monde, the God of Art, frowns at his conceit and expresses their displeasure]
[Ciel, the God of Destruction, growls on his obnoxious face]
[Hesed, the God of Knowledge, cleanses their eyes with holy water]
“How terrible.”
Kyle’s voice made him stop.
He was reacting so violently for a reason.
“Damn it. DAMN IIIITT!”
Alberto clenched his teeth, unaware that we were peering through the window.
The dress I wore earlier covered his scrawny body for a man. It fits just like mine.
When I saw Alberto in my dress and enraged in the carriage, I thought I would laugh.
Given the uncomfortable dress, telling the Emperor that I would change clothes with Sir Alberto was indeed a wise decision.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
End note:
Andd we reached 50 chaps! Tysm for reading it this far!〜(꒪꒳꒪)〜
Although the 4th male lead (silver haired) still hasn't showed up yet... Camilla as well...
But so far, who do you guys ship Ariel with?
And I'm also curious of which of the gods do ya'll like the most (☞ﾟ∀ﾟ)☞
If there's any mistake on the tl that I may have overlooked, do tell me and I'll try to fix it~<(￣︶￣)>
Please don't forget to never share this to anyone or repost it, or else I would have no choice but to drop it. I'm merely tling this in my free time just to share this story with everyone.