NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 93
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With a devout heart, the bath and purification rituals were completed.
Then, she applied smooth, fragrant oil to her warm skin.
She donned the red ceremonial robe, meticulously washed by her maids. Finally, she finished her thorough preparation by spraying perfume made from refined jasmine honey all over her body.
“This should be enough.”
The ‘strange smell’ detected by the fairy’s sensitive sense of smell must have vanished without a trace.
“Your Majesty urgently requests your presence. It seems to be a banquet for the Holy Kingdom’s envoy.”
Gulp…!
With a heart trembling like reeds, Ludmilla, who wished to meet Edanant, found herself ensnared by the banquet welcoming the Holy Kingdom’s envoy.
It was a banquet attended by Holy King Boerun and the Candidate Saintesses.
So naturally, the Red Dragon of the Empire would attend to escort the Emperor.
Despite preparing everything for Edanant, it all came to naught.
Letting out a sigh of disappointment, Ludmilla replied to her maid that she would attend the banquet.
“It’s been quite a while, Princess Ludmilla.”
“I am truly honored that you remember me.”
At the banquet, Ludmilla shook hands with the Holy King, entering with the Candidate Saintesses.
Her distinct southern complexion.
And a gentle smile that seemed to demonstrate she was the representative of the Creator Deity.
Facing the Holy King, Ludmilla maintained her impeccable demeanor while being extra cautious. The ruler of the Holy Kingdom was ranked equally with the Emperor of the Empire, so she had to tread carefully in her words and actions.
“A banquet with the Red Dragon and the White Dragon present… Hehe, it brings back old memories.”
“We saw it during last year’s summit between the Empire and the Holy Kingdom.”
Boerun erupted into a hearty laugh.
At that moment, Zebeline, who had been watching from the side, stepped forward and spoke up.
“……”
“……”
The Red Dragon, who escorted the Emperor.
The White Dragon, who aided the Holy King.
Ludmilla and Zebeline confronted each other at the banquet between the Empire and the Holy Kingdom.
The elegant appearances of the Princess and the Saintess seemed to radiate glory throughout the banquet hall. However, the palpable tension between Ludmilla and Zebeline, both glaring at each other, thickened the atmosphere.
“Edanant… It seems the Prince is absent.”
“He said he would be a bit late.”
Zebeline glanced around before speaking.
Ludmilla twisted her lips, revealing her displeasure.
Pfft.
“……?”
During the intense standoff, remarkably, it was Ludmilla who pulled back first.
It was rare for the stubborn and proud Ludmilla to give in first. Zebeline widened her eyes at Ludmilla, who retreated with a smirk of leisure.
“Pr, Princess Ludmilla…! It’s an honor to meet you.”
“May the blessing of the Earth Mother be with the Valtarian Empire!”
Ludmilla exchanged greetings with the Candidate Saintesses of the Holy Kingdom who had come in tow, like chicks following their mother.
Eyes sparkling with admiration.
A burdened smile filled with reverence and respect.
Unlike Zebeline, who had committed numerous rudenesses, the disciples of the Holy Kingdom displayed friendly behavior toward Ludmilla. Like fans at a handshake event with a famous celebrity, the Candidate Saintesses erupted with cheers, vying to talk to Ludmilla.
“The Red Dragon protecting the Valtarian Empire…! Truly as beautiful as the rumors say! Strong and noble like a hero of the Seven Heroes of the Warring States, and moreover, possessing such grace…!”
Cough! “You flatter me.”
Feeling her heart flutter with that one compliment, which had the opposite effect on Zebeline, Ludmilla was somewhat buoyed.
Hmm.
It seems there are those with discerning eyes.
Unlike that arrogant First Saintess, these ones appear respectful.
Even with a spoiled senior, they choose their words correctly.
Amidst the flood of sincere compliments from the Candidate Saintesses, Ludmilla shrugged her shoulders and showed an uplifted reaction. Watching from a distance, Zebeline sneered.
“Um, would it be possible to request a handshake…?”
“Of course.”
A freckled Candidate Saintess reached out with a cautious voice.
Seeing the nervousness of the Candidate Saintess, Ludmilla gave a gentle smile, granting her request for a handshake.
“Me too!”
“I will treasure it as a lifelong honor!”
Ludmilla’s beautiful and noble appearance was more than enough to captivate the adolescent girls. Faced with the Candidate Saintesses approaching her with glittering eyes full of admiration, Ludmilla couldn’t help but be flustered.
Um.
Is this really okay?
Such commotion at the banquet between the Empire and the Holy Kingdom.
“I’m sorry! I’m a bit late due to some matters.”
“Edanant…!”
With the banquet disrupted, it seems they should disperse the Candidate Saintesses now.
As Ludmilla attempted to step back subtly, a gray-haired man rushed into the banquet hall with a panicked voice. Following him was a girl with flowing light green hair, nearly out of breath.
Edanant and Rue.
The duo from the Hohenberc Family had arrived.
When the main characters of the Divine Oracle foretold by the Earth Mother and the cute mascot of the Saintess Party made their sudden appearance, all eyes turned toward the Candidate Saintesses.
“Th-the user of the Holy Sword!”
“It really must be the protagonist of the Divine Oracle! H-he’s so handsome…!”
Ludmilla, feeling discomfort from the gaze of the Candidate Saintesses, found herself shifting focus onto Edanant.
“Ooh! His cheeks are really squishy! It’s the real Luinong I’ve only heard rumors about!”
“If you want to embrace him, at least some jelly candy… Hiiieek!”
Like handling a cute doll, the Candidate Saintesses reached out without restraint, hugging and petting Rue. Surprised by such vigorous affection, Rue screamed for help.
But Edanant was in a similar predicament.
He was cornered by the barrage of questions from the Candidate Saintesses, who simply asked about his ideal type right from the get-go.
“W-what’s your ideal type?”
“How did you get chosen by the Holy Sword? Please tell us!”
This is difficult.
To think such innocent questions would be so painful.
The Candidate Saintesses drew closer, as if to nestle into him. The more they narrowed the distance, the fiercer Ludmilla’s gaze became.
Ideal type.
What should I say?
Glancing at the fiercely scrutinizing Ludmilla, Edanant finally opened his mouth.
“I like women who are jealous. They might sometimes be stubborn and troublesome, but I appreciate when they recognize their mistakes and sincerely apologize later.”
“…Oh?”
“Until now, I’ve had no particular interest in dating… But since last night, I do.”
“Is that so?”
The rapid-fire delivery of Edanant’s unfiltered response made the Candidate Saintesses tilt their heads in confusion. The answers felt completely disjointed for a question about the ideal type.
What does that even mean?
All handsome men must be quirky, huh….
It seems the new hero of the Holy Kingdom has quite peculiar tastes.
“Yes, I’m rather unusual.”
Edanant looked at Ludmilla with a significant smile.
When their eyes met, Ludmilla, having turned beet red, tried desperately to hide her face, bursting into a giggle. Fortunately, it seemed she had successfully evaded the jealousy with that candid answer.
*
A woman’s intuition is always sharp.
Especially regarding suspicions related to a man’s flirtation, a woman’s intuition sharpens further.
There’s no doubt.
Something must have happened between those two last night.
With her keen intuition, Zebeline pierced through the ambiguous atmosphere between Edanant and Ludmilla and took strides forward, embodying the incarnation of jealousy.
“What happened last night?”
“No, nothing at all.”
Edanant shrugged in response to Zebeline’s question, clearly filled with jealousy, while feeding cake to a finally freed Rue.
Then he offered her the fork with the cake.
It was an irresistible temptation.
Zebeline, contemplating while staring at the fork that Edanant extended, eventually leaned forward and took a bite of the cake.
“I-it does taste good.”
“Indeed, the royal chefs are quite remarkable.”
Edanant smiled faintly.
With that, Zebeline turned her head slightly to the side while chewing on the cake.
“But with so many eyes on us… Isn’t this a bit too bold?”
“Aren’t I a hero of the Holy Kingdom due to the gracious oracle bestowed by the Earth Mother? Even if I were to date a beautiful Saintess, everyone would humbly forgive me.”
Perhaps starting a romantic life with a first kiss has made him more skillful.
And with a more fluent manner of speaking, he captivated the First Saintess.
As Edanant whispered with a charming smile, Zebeline forgot all about interrogating the relationship between him and Ludmilla, her lips parting slightly as her face turned crimson.