Chapter 42
It was the day of the Proclamation Ceremony of Divine Mandate.
“Your Highness, do you perhaps plan to go anywhere else today?”
“Haha, is it because you think I’ll show up covered in blood like last time?”
“No! Not at all! I-I was just curious where Your Highness’s footsteps might lead, as a humble Servant…”
“Rest assured, nothing of the sort will happen.”
Was it because I had shown up to my first Official event drenched in the blood of a demonic beast?
As soon as the officials heard my words, their expressions melted into pure relief.
We didn’t hold meetings often.
But perhaps it was because we were working together to make the Empire healthy.
Very rarely, they would make these kinds of earnest jokes.
“[It feels good, like we”ve gotten closer.]'
Right, we should be able to exchange jokes to some extent like this.
Thinking that to myself, I spoke.
“First, Prospective Saintess Rowena will begin her walk from the furthest point from the Central Grand Plaza… the Imperial Central Rampart.”
“To allow as many people as possible to see her. Good.”
“Thank you. Thus, after she begins her walk and arrives at the Grand Plaza… she will ascend the pre-installed staircase.”
“You mean the stage towering in The Center.”
“Yes, and there… Your Highness will appear with flames, ignite the holy oil, present the symbol of the Saintess… and then officially acknowledge her as the Saintess.”
“You said she would walk wearing a veil.”
“That is correct.”
I listened to the schedule for today’s Proclamation Ceremony of Heavenly Mandate.
It was called the Proclamation Ceremony of Heavenly Mandate, but in reality, there wasn’t much to it.
“[The goal is to keep it simple and let as many Imperial Citizens see it as possible, rather than making it complex and extravagant.]”
So the important thing wasn’t the schedule itself.
“How are we handling the security aspect?”
“An entire Knight Order in disguise will be stationed around Prospective Saintess Rowena.”
“And the Imperial Citizens?”
“We’ve grouped multiple soldiers with one Knight into teams and deployed them in areas where crowds are likely to gather.”
It was a matter of safety.
'[It’s not like anything strange will happen during the event.]'
I didn’t even consider the possibility of things going wrong.
The core issue was the problems that arise when crowds gather excessively.
“Did you say the Holy Kingdom’s Delegation arrived at dawn and is currently near the plaza?”
“Yes, that is correct. They arrived at dawn today. We tried to guide them to the Annex Palace, but they wished to stay outside, so we rented out an entire top-tier inn for them.”
“The standard of luxury accommodations in the Imperial Center is high, so they shouldn’t experience any discomfort.”
“Indeed.”
It had been confirmed that the Romper Holy Kingdom had also arrived on time.
All that was left was to watch and ensure the event proceeded smoothly.
'[Stable.]'
Just as I was thinking that.
Ding!
Suddenly, a message notification sound rang out.
[ Two Saintesses face each other in the Empire. ]
It showed me a piece of news that felt like a refreshing smack to the back of the head.
“[Two Saintesses?]”
This meant exactly one thing.
“[Mirne is in the Empire right now?]”
As soon as I realized this, I immediately threw out a question.
“Did we send invitations to other kingdoms?”
“No. We only sent them to the Holy Kingdom, as Your Highness commanded.”
“Then did any other Kingdom hear the news of the Proclamation Ceremony of Heavenly Mandate and request to attend?”
“There were none. If there had been, we would have reported it to Your Highness immediately.”
I instantly understood how the situation was unfolding.
“[Did she come disguised as someone from the Holy Kingdom? As a Saintess Candidate? Or a Priest?]”
Since it was a celebratory occasion, they wouldn’t have strictly scrutinized the personnel reports.
Honestly, even if they had, if Mirne had made up her mind to hide, she could have easily slipped in.
“[If a character on the level of the Protagonist… decides to disguise herself, she could fool just about anyone.]”
The curious point here was why she specifically “snuck in”.
Even without doing this, if she had said she wanted to come, I would have let her in, albeit with some reluctance.
But instead of doing that, she blended in with the Holy Kingdom’s Delegation.
“Secretly attach another Knight Order to the Holy Kingdom’s side.”
“Yes, sir!”
I didn’t know why she had come.
But it didn’t seem like it was with good intentions.
+++++
“Saintess, are you nervous?”
“I told you, I’m not the Saintess yet.”
“You will be soon enough.”
“I’m not yet, so we still need to be careful with our words until then.”
“Even if you say “until then,” it’s two hours away at most!”
Rowena smiled faintly at the Priest’s words.
It wasn’t wrong. In just a little while, she would become the Saintess.
“[A curse… Does His Royal Highness the Crown Prince have a curse?]”
Rowena recalled the conversation she had with the Crown Prince just a week ago.
He had definitely asked about curses and checked if she could use Purification.
“[Still, it”s a relief that I can play a role in fulfilling His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s needs.]'
The fact that it was impossible right now, but would be possible once she was acknowledged as the Saintess.
That was by no means a lie.
As long as they could satisfy the Crown Prince’s needs.
We would never be abandoned.
“[We have nowhere else to be chased to, so I hope everyone can at least find stability here.]”
They were already exhausted from the vicious politics and Faction fights within the Holy Kingdom.
If they were abandoned by the Empire as well, they truly had nowhere to go.
Thus, Rowena felt an immense sense of responsibility toward the position of Saintess.
For the sake of the people who had followed her, she absolutely needed to lead this Proclamation Ceremony of Heavenly Mandate to a massive success.
And what was needed to make it a massive success was…
“[This is making many Imperial Citizens recognize me as the Saintess.]”
To achieve this, she planned to mobilize every possible means at her disposal.
As Rowena was firming up her resolve.
“Saintess, it is time. You must move now.”
“Yes, I’m coming.”
The Priest announced that the time for the Proclamation Ceremony of Heavenly Mandate had arrived.
Rowena stood up.
It was time to become the Saintess.
Crunch, crunch.
It was the furthest location from the Imperial Central Plaza.
With her back to the rampart, she slowly took her steps.
The pure white veil restrictively obscured her vision, but it wasn’t a big problem.
Because all she had to do was look forward and walk.
Tap, tap.
Was it because she wasn’t wearing shoes?
The texture of the Ground was transmitted directly to the soles of her feet.
“Ooooh…”
“So that’s the Saintess.”
The words of the people around her gradually reached her ears.
“[I suppose I can start now.]”
Hearing those words, Rowena faintly manifested her Divine Power.
She created an atmosphere where white light spread out with every step, the white light flowing little by little from her body like threads.
“[Just walking isn”t enough.]'
“[Then how…]”
“[You have to use Divine Power. Don”t you need to put on a proper display so people will more clearly recognize you as the Saintess?]'
“[Divine Power… you mean.]”
“[If using it like that brings a sense of peace to the people around you, I”d say that’s actually the correct way to use Divine Power.]'
The conversation she had when she let the Crown Prince into her room came to mind.
It was something she hadn’t even considered.
Honestly, even as she did it, she was half in doubt.
She wondered, “Will something like this really make a difference?” But…
“Ooh… Is this Divine Power…”
“S-Saintess… It’s the Saintess.”
“Ahhh… Please grant me peace…”
Unlike when she was just walking silently, the reactions around her changed drastically when she walked while sprinkling Divine Power.
At first, they only looked at her as if observing someone unusual.
Now, every time she passed by, everyone fell to their knees and began to pray.
And at the same time.
Whoosh!
Rowena felt her Divine Power growing stronger.
The prayers were received directly from the people.
Prayers were directed not at a god, but at the 'Saintess'.
The prayers became power, accumulating steadily within her body.
“[More, wider.]”
As soon as it accumulated, Rowena spread that Divine Power even wider.
A distance equivalent to about five people spreading their arms.
The Imperial Citizens were directly touched by the Divine Power, making that distance seem meaningless.
“Ah, ahhhh…”
Someone shed tears the moment it touched them.
“O-Ooooh… S-Saintess!”
Someone poured out exclamations and immediately bowed deeply.
It didn’t matter if they were Imperial Citizens residing in the Imperial Center.
It was their first time directly witnessing such strong Divine Power, so this reaction was inevitable.
“[Did His Royal Highness the Crown Prince foresee even this?]”
He might have known.
Rowena muttered that inwardly as she continued her steps.
Perhaps it was thanks to the people continuously sending their prayers.
The plaza that had felt so far away slowly came into view.
“[To be able to decorate it like this in just 7 days is amazing.]”
The closer she got to the plaza, the more Rowena couldn’t help but marvel.
She had felt that the time available for preparation was incredibly short.
The structures erected around the plaza’s fountain made her realize the greatness of the Empire.
The symbol of the new Romper Church, embedded with the Sun, was engraved on large flags, proudly decorating the plaza.
Pure white petals were slowly falling from the sky.
Not only that, but there was a natural-looking staircase above the fountain.
It had a mysterious structure with absolutely no supports, just the steps of the stairs themselves.
“[Should I call it a staircase with floating steps? It”s really fascinating.]'
Tap, tap.
Every time she took a step up the stairs
“Ooooh…”
Exclamations burst from the people’s mouths.
The dirt was smudged on the feet of the Saintess, who looked so divine.
To think such a Noble being had no hesitation about getting dirt on her feet.
The sight of her silently walking up the stairs, not even paying it any attention.
That was a factor that made her look even more divine to the onlookers.
In this situation, Rowena looked around and…
“[They came.]”
She spotted the Pope and the Saint who had exiled her.
They were keeping some distance from the Imperial Citizens, making it blatantly obvious to anyone that they were from the Holy Kingdom.
They would have no choice but to watch her become the Saintess with their eyes wide open.
It would be a lie to say it wasn’t satisfying.
“[Watch as I become the Saintess.]”
The moment the Saintess of the Empire is born.
Just sit back and watch.
Rowena’s inward muttering lasted only a moment.
Fwoosh.
The Crown Prince appeared from the sky and approached Rowena, who had reached the top of the stairs.
Appearing with flames, the Crown Prince held a ring and a scepter bearing the symbol of the new Religious Order.
“Raise your head.”
“…”
First, he removed the veil covering Rowena’s face.
After that, things proceeded smoothly according to procedure.
The veil was removed, and the ring and scepter were presented.
This was the moment Rowena took them and put them on.
“In this place, I proclaim that the Saintess of the Empire has been born.”
The Crown Prince proclaimed the birth of the Saintess.
As soon as the proclamation was made, the choir began to sing as if they had been waiting.
The orchestra, which had been waiting in the buildings surrounding the plaza, played its instruments.
Wizards amplified the sound, creating a magnificent atmosphere.
“Waaaaaah!!!”
Cheers erupted, following the holy atmosphere.
As soon as the plants in the crowd shouted and clapped.
Even while the song continued, the cheers of the Imperial Citizens poured out.
A Proclamation Ceremony of Heavenly Mandate that anyone could see was wrapping up successfully.
Just when it seemed like that atmosphere would continue.
“I cannot acknowledge this! How can a Human make a Human a Saintess, without acting on my behalf… How!”
A sharp voice pierced through the singing, revealing its presence.
“The Saint?”
Rowena was startled as soon as she recognized the owner of the voice.
“S-Saint?”
Even Mirne, who was beside the Saint, was flustered. - a situation no one had expected, save for one person.
“[I knew there was something going on.]”
Without any panic, the Crown Prince immediately launched himself toward where the Saint was.
The mood was broken for a moment, but the singing and playing were still continuing.
He judged that as long as he quickly sorted out the situation, there would be no problem at all.
“[Arveda, create an Illusion of me and hold this position with the Imperial Citizens until the end.]”
'[Yes!]'
“[Teo, thoroughly monitor those from the Holy Kingdom in case of an emergency, and share the current situation with the Grand General.]”
“[Yes, sir!]”
After giving orders to Arveda and Teo.
“Mirne, only you should exist as the Saintess…!”
“Saint, why are you doing this! Saint…!”
He arrived in front of Balleryan and Mirne in the blink of an eye.
Without hesitation, he immediately grabbed both of them by the neck.
'[Teleport.]'
He shifted their location toward the mountain visible right in front of them together.
And at the same time, as if waiting.
[ Romper does not want to be divided. ]
[ He wants his power to dwell entirely within Mirne. ]
Messages appeared before the Crown Prince’s eyes.
“[Yeah, I figured as much.]”
She’s the Protagonist, loved by the world.
Would the world really just let that power be split?
Bellon laughed inwardly as his rough guess hit the mark perfectly.
'[Today.]'
How far will the Crown Prince’s power work?
“[I will kill a god.]”
The time has come to properly find out.