The Protagonists of Romance Fantasy Novels Have Escaped

95 – 95. Preparation (2)

—-

The capital of the Glorious Kingdom was known as a sacred place that devout worshippers of the Earth Mother must pilgrimage to at least once in their lifetime.

However, to the worshippers of the forgotten god, it was nothing less than a slaughterhouse.

A slaughterhouse.

It was exactly as it sounded.

Those captured by the heresy inquisitors of the Glorious Kingdom were sent there and mercilessly executed.

There was no humane method of execution.

Burning at the stake.

They were burned without exception.

It was a strict method that left not even the smallest bone or flesh of the heretics behind.

Hence, there was a saying, ‘The most common item in the Glorious Kingdom is the stake.’

“What on earth does that mean? Are they planning to turn me into charcoal?”

“I doubt it. There’s no clear evidence.”

After the banquet ended,

Jebline and I discussed the intentions of the Glorious Kingdom.

Had our identities been exposed?

Perhaps the Earth Mother had intervened and given a warning.

Remembering the benevolent smile of Emperor Sungen, I swallowed my unease.

If only the Glorious had openly shown hostility, I wouldn’t have been so worried. The old fox of the Glorious Kingdom, who concealed his intentions with a benevolent smile, was definitely not to be underestimated.

“Even if the Glorious received a revelation from the Earth Mother, it doesn’t matter. Ethan is a hero who has saved the Valtaria Empire multiple times. If such a hero were to expose the apostles serving the Catastrophe God… would the Emperor of the Empire accept it?”

“…….”

Barbarossa already had unwavering trust in me.

Arrogance.

No, it was closer to blind faith.

As scandals related to the Valtarian Empire’s princesses spread, I had long been treated as a notorious thief. However, since learning of my sincere affection for Ludmilla, the way I was treated had completely changed.

“I feel sick. Being stuck with an old maid.”

“…….”

Being trusted by the Emperor, who would one day become my father-in-law, was a positive thing.

From Noble mtl dot com

But because it was Jebline, I couldn’t be happy.

I bit my lip.

I pretended not to hear Jebline’s words, maintaining a stoic expression.

“As long as there’s no evidence, it’s fine, right?”

“As long as you don’t enter the capital of the Glorious. If your identity is exposed in the sacred place, even the Emperor won’t be able to save Ethan.”

Even estimating the number of demons and heretics executed in the sacred place would easily surpass tens of thousands. It was known that they operated large-scale factories, burning sinners day and night without rest.

With the end of the racial war, executions had significantly decreased.

Of course, they hadn’t completely disappeared.

At this very moment, executions by burning were likely taking place.

The Glorious Kingdom wielded ruthless executions as a means to suppress the heretic factions and nurtured devout worshippers of the Earth Mother.

A mass slaughter by fanatics to consolidate faith in the one true god.

That was the true nature of the slaughter unfolding in the sacred place.

I’ve traveled all over the continent so far, but… I’ve never set foot in a stronghold. At best, I’ve briefly passed through the territory of the Glory Kingdom.

The image of Beatrice and Maximilian, who had desperately tried to avoid strongholds, suddenly came to mind.

What would have happened if there hadn’t been such desperate efforts?

I don’t even want to imagine.

I let out a bitter smile as I shook my head.

“Should we run away?”

“…The Yabandou has already been written by a hero. Is it a tradition passed down through generations to the descendants of the Hohenberg family?”

“I heard that even my father left the family when he was young. I didn’t hear the reason though.”

“Goodness.”

How has the Yabandou, a specialty of the Hohenberg family, been passed down through the generations?

It’s a mystery.

It wouldn’t be surprising if it had failed long ago.

Jéblinne sighed at the thought of the many eccentrics in the Hohenberg family’s history.

“Anyway, never accept the Glory’s proposal.”

“Of course not. Unless I go crazy… there’s no way I’d voluntarily walk into a slaughterhouse.”

The maiden rose from her seat.

And as I also stood up to see the maiden off from the reception room.

“Oh, and…”

The maiden mentioned a sacrament of communion where the priests of the Baltaria Empire impart teachings.

Jéblinne, who was about to leave the room, suddenly stopped in her tracks as if something had come to mind.

“I’ll ask in detail about what happened with Princess Ludmilla last night! So don’t think about giving vague answers as usual! Ugh, I really feel like calling the inquisitor…!”

“……”

I swallowed dryly at Jéblinne’s drastic determination to summon the inquisitor for a mere lover’s quarrel.

What would happen if it were revealed that she had gone as far as kissing Ludmilla?

Hmm.

There’s no way but the Yabandou.

As I recalled the white dragon venting jealousy, a sense of fear crept in. I was afraid that Jéblinne might not send me to the stronghold in place of the Glory.

***

Edanant would never recklessly indulge in desire.

He stole the princess’s lips.

It was the most important experience and ritual, especially for a woman, the first kiss.

It wasn’t something that would end with a momentary mishap.

Surely Edanant must have sealed the kiss with the meaning, “I want to marry you.”

Interpreting the meaning of the kiss unilaterally, Ludmilla rolled on the bed adorned with soft velvet, clutching the pillow fiercely as if to strangle it.

“If we have a wedding, the Ustinia Cathedral would be suitable, wouldn’t it? Except for special exceptions among the nobles of the Baltaria Empire, everyone has had grand weddings at the Ustinia Cathedral!”

Flower petals fluttering in all directions.

The bell tolling in the cathedral blessing the wedding.

And the bride in a deep red velvet wedding dress.

Ludmilla already imagined the wedding with a heart full of excitement, like a prospective bride whose wedding day had been set since she crossed twenty. She especially showed a keen interest as she had been waiting for the moment to be united with the man she loved since she turned twenty.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime wedding, so we must prepare thoroughly to avoid any regrets.”

Blushing, she expressed her boundless anticipation.

Then, Elizaveta and Rue, who were next to her, muttered softly.

“The ritual master will be so surprised, right? A bride over twenty-seven having her first wedding. They’ll surely think she’s a spinster.”

“We’ll have to inform all the guests.”

Normally, she would have responded lightly to teasing remarks.

But it was different now.

Edanant had promised an intense kiss and even a proposal. Ludmilla recalled the romantic moment spent on the terrace of the palace with Edanant and burst into a bashful laugh.

Let them gossip as they please.

Soon, Edanant would come with a beautiful silver ring and a proposal.

“…Sister, I’m so envious.”

“Hmm?”

Elizaveta, who had left the bedroom leaving her sister behind, murmured.

Rue, with a sly grin, asked her.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen Sister so happy. Honestly, I’m so envious that I feel jealous.”

“Sister has Rue, the beautiful princess! Ahem, just trust us!”

Rue said, tapping her flat chest.

At that, Elizaveta smiled broadly.

“In fairy tales, all fairies grant wishes… So, can Rue do it too?”

“Of course! If it’s the beautiful princess’s wish, it’s always welcome!”

Using the mystique of the goddess who created the paradise of fairies, anything was possible. Even if it was a wish that seemed impossible in reality.

Mystery is omnipotent.

And Louisnong, who harbored mystery, was nothing less than a moving omnipotence.

Elizaveta, who had used the sacred power of Broian to extinguish the raging conflagration, knew it better than anyone. Thus, she nodded with a faint smile at Rue’s assurance.

“No, I think I’ll retract what I just said.”

“Hmm?”

Clad in a beautiful dress, the princess turned on the spot and declared with a confident zeal,

“I will make Edanant fall for me. Without anyone else’s help… solely by my own power.”

The marriage was not entirely set in stone.

Although she was significantly behind other suitors, there was still a chance.

She had made her intentions clear to her older sister.

Perhaps she might sneakily snatch Edanant away like a thief.

With the challenge declared in advance, all that was left was confidently entering the fray. Although she felt sorry for her sister, who dreamt of a sweet honeymoon with Edanant, this time, it was sincere for her too.

‘…It’s fine to sneak a little taste. I’m not aiming to take over.’

Even the Emperor, who staunchly opposed bigamy as much as making it a crime, would eventually have to yield.

The hero who saved the empire.

A new champion selected from the triumphant kingdom.

If Edanant’s position was comparable to the seven rivers, would it not be acceptable to welcome the princesses of the Valtaria Empire into the royal court all at once? Elizaveta revealed her desires with a bashful smile.

“Broian.”

-Why do you call? To claim the gloomy fellow with my power.

As if sending a message, she softly whispered the goddess’s name.

Observing the bold attitude of the fairy, the deity sent a solemn voice.

“You are obviously distinct. Since you possessed your body, you are me. I am you. Moreover, did you forget the promise we made to occasionally lend the sacred power to the Louisnongs who care for them?

-What kind of twisted argument is that… Have you hit your head, my princess?

The disaster god.

How surprised they must have been to see the essence beyond the imposing shadows.

A calamity that sows war.

A monster that thrives on the power of war.

Can cute children be entrusted to such a ruthless being? Broian continued to show a distrustful response, indicating his unease.

-So, how do you plan to snatch him away?

“Obviously by overwhelming him! If I, the Empire’s most beautiful, launch a siege, will Edanant dare to resist?”

What’s this?

This bold response.

Is it a world where women overwhelming men is considered natural?

I don’t know.

Such a worldview seems unlikely.

Elizaveta began to vividly imagine strange fantasies while thinking of Edanant. In response, Broian, who shared her thoughts, let out a scream akin to a banshee’s cry.