Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Who Will Subjugate the White Dragon? (1)
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Loretta was already certain of her victory even before stepping into the grand banquet hall.
After the Grand Duke of Bilheim took command of Aselina's faction, he had swiftly reorganized it.
Thanks to that, the active efforts of Marquis Boel, whom he had appointed, and the young nobles had recently stirred a strange breeze in Aselina's favor... it was true.
'But it'll end as nothing more than a passing gust. I'll make sure of it.'
The two saintess candidates had attended numerous official church events together, and naturally, those occasions turned into invisible battlegrounds between them.
And the victor was always Loretta.
Aselina, who had lived with a sword at her side instead of scripture and tea.
Because of that, she always embarrassed the surrounding nobles and priests at public events with her masculine, blunt speech.
Loretta could easily reap the benefits just by standing beside such an Aselina, playing her usual role of the 'devout healer' and responding kindly to those around her.
Thus, the protagonist of this opening banquet would undoubtedly be Loretta as well.
Against an Aselina utterly lacking in refinement and the sinister Duke of the North.
Who in the grand banquet hall would welcome them?
On top of that, she had prepared a masterstroke this time.
"Are you ready, Sir Stefan?"
Loretta advanced down the corridor leading to the grand banquet hall, clad in an elegant dress of white and gold.
Escorting her was a young nobleman in a white tailcoat with golden hair and blue eyes.
"Yes, Lady Loretta."
He smiled at her.
Even she, a nun, felt a flutter of illicit desire; surely no one could resist that fresh smile.
Loretta was convinced of it.
His name was Stefan Betelgeuse, the third son of Marquis Betelgeuse.
His background from a prestigious family that had produced high priests for generations was one reason she chose him as her partner,
but the most important factor was...
'This will flatten the Duke of the North's arrogance.'
That he was handsome. Extremely so.
-The Grand Duke of Bilheim, right? He looks scary at first glance, but if you look closely, isn't he surprisingly handsome...?
She had overheard two noblewomen chatting about the Duke of the North in passing.
Loretta agreed.
His perpetual scowl, the dark circles under his eyes, and his massive build tended to overshadow it,
but by her standards, the Duke of the North's looks were quite impressive.
So Loretta had devised a plan to completely erase not only Aselina's presence but the Duke's as well from the banquet hall.
By having Stefan escort her.
Entering with Stefan, who drew the gazes of women just by passing, would end the matter.
Stefan’s bright and friendly presence would only make the Duke of the North’s sinister and barbaric nature stand out even more.
Thus, the attendees would show no interest in Aselina or the Grand Duke of Bilheim,
and the winner of the opening banquet—the prelude to the saintess election—would once again be Loretta.
"Is something good on your mind, Lady Loretta? You're smiling already."
"Nothing much. I'm just excited to meet all those famous figures attending the opening banquet in person, without realizing it."
"Haha. Honestly, I'm feeling the same way."
As he said, Stefan was trying to play it cool inwardly but couldn't hide his excitement.
He was fresh-faced and innocent, not even twenty yet,
and so he had easily fallen for Loretta's lie about 'I have to attend the opening banquet but can't find an escort, what a dilemma,' volunteering to help her.
"We've arrived, Lady Loretta."
Before they knew it, the pair had reached the entrance to the grand banquet hall.
Loretta strode forward confidently as the doorman's call rang out and the doors swung open.
-Oh, it's Lady Loretta. How elegant she looks today as well.
-Oh my, heavens. And beside her... Sir Stefan...?
'As expected. Just as I calculated.'
Still wearing her mask, but feeling every gaze poured her way without fail, she was certain.
-At least until she spotted those two in the distance.
"Eh?"
Loretta unwittingly let out a dumbfounded sound upon seeing the two surrounded by people far off.
"What...?"
It was a change so startling she could have believed they were someone else.
They had shed their usual crimson dress and pitch-black coat, now wearing a pink dress and pristine white suit, completely transforming their images.
And seeing the haughty Aselina and the blunt, intimidating Robertus responding to those around them like perfect gentlemen and ladies,
'What in the world...? Brainwashed? Or body doubles?'
Loretta tried to rationalize the unbelievable sight before her with such absurd thoughts.
'Th-this means...'
She hurriedly glanced back and forth between Stefan and the Duke of the North.
Her own beauty fell short of Aselina's. She admitted that.
Bringing Stefan was partly meant to compensate for that.
But...
'...Even my partner is being overshadowed...?'
The Grand Duke of Bilheim had donned a white suit, completely revamping his image.
A kind handsome man. Yes. An image similar to Stefan's.
Thus, people would inevitably compare the two directly...
'And pick the Duke of the North.'
And that's exactly how the banquet hall's atmosphere was flowing.
Stefan's presence as the typical golden-haired, blue-eyed handsome man was utterly buried by the rare combination of black hair and blue eyes, and the subtle, mysterious allure emanating even from his neat appearance.
Those who had initially paid attention to the pair upon their entrance had soon turned their heads back to Aselina and the Duke of the North.
"...Ahem. S-Sir Stefan? It seems those two are drawing quite a bit of attention. But surely there are people who recognize you too..."
Loretta was trying to calm Stefan first and devise a plan to regain the spotlight somehow.
"...What? Where'd he go?"
But Stefan had already left her side.
"Th-the Grand Duke of Bilheim! It's an honor to meet you!"
Watching Stefan trot over to the Duke of the North, eyes sparkling as he spoke to him, Loretta squeezed her eyes shut.
As the opening banquet was wrapping up, he slipped away from the crowd with Aselina and entered a private parlor set aside for quiet talks in one corner of the hall.
"Haa... This is exhausting. I'd rather fight heretics..."
Alone at last, Aselina slumped over on the sofa.
"Quit whining. If you become saintess, you'll have to attend events like this two or three times a week."
His words were harsh, but in truth, she had performed far better than he expected.
A few times during the banquet, he had jumped into conversations to bail her out of tight spots, thanks to her crash-course etiquette.
"Did you see Loretta's face? When she saw her partner was smitten with me, she looked ready to burst from frustration. Quite the spectacle."
"Oh? Lady Loretta was here?"
"You didn't notice?"
"No... I was too busy answering the flood of questions."
No, it wasn't just that Aselina lacked the bandwidth to notice her visit.
The others in the hall had simply forgotten Loretta's presence because they were focused on the two of them.
"Heh heh... The strategy worked perfectly."
The original goal of this strategy was to improve Aselina's (and his) image.
Now Aselina had shed her image as 'that ignorant woman who only knows how to swing a sword,' and he had gained a somewhat sociable persona.
But on top of that, public sentiment seemed to be shifting their way.
Among those chatting amiably with Aselina were several priests.
This could even be the turning point for reversing the polls.
"...Hm."
Oh no. Aselina was giving him a strange look.
Had he failed to control his expression?
"You look really happy."
"...Not that much. But it's satisfying to see things go according to plan."
"Hmm... So, I did well, right? I contributed to Sir Robertus's plan succeeding, didn't I?"
"...? Well, yes."
"Then praise me a little."
What was this sudden change?
"Quickly. I'm so tired, if I don't get some praise, I might not be able to get up from here."
Aselina wriggled on the sofa, heedless of her disheveled dress.
...Well, praising her wouldn't hurt.
She had genuinely worked hard.
He'd been wielding the whip these past few days, so mixing in a carrot now and then was necessary.
"Fine, you did great. It was worth the training. Honestly, you exceeded my expectations and fulfilled my requirements admirably."
"!"
"...Satisfied now?"
"...Hehe."
Good grief. So capricious.
"Then it's time to get up. Let's head out from the banquet hall."
"Pardon? I'm fine with that, but... the banquet hasn't ended yet, has it?"
"To prepare for tomorrow's Holy Capital Assembly."
"The assembly? Is there something about the saintess selection on tomorrow's agenda...?"
"Not you. Me."
"...Ah. Aha! Right, the White Dragon subjugation matter."
The next morning.
Dragging his banquet-weary body from the bed, he began preparations for going out with Eline's assistance right away.
His attire was back to the previous black coat.
Though at Eline's suggestion, the dark circles under his eyes were lightly concealed with makeup once more.
Apparently, it gave a better impression.
He left the lodgings without even eating breakfast and hurried toward his destination.
Passing numerous grand temples and buildings, he arrived at the Papal Palace's main cathedral.
This massive domed structure was the heart of the Radain Holy Kingdom,
and today's Holy Capital Assembly would convene in its grand conference hall.
He passed through the majestic arched main entrance into the cathedral.
The interior was already sparse. Probably because he was slightly late for the meeting time.
"Ah! Lord Robertus. We've been waiting. This way..."
A priest loitering in the first-floor hall approached and promptly led him somewhere.
"The meeting will start soon. Good thing you're not completely late..."
Descending the stairs to the basement, a massive iron door greeted him at the bottom.
Its grandeur might even surpass the cathedral's main entrance.
"Alright. Opening it now..."
Kiiiiiik-
The iron door began to open very slowly.
Gazing at the sight, he reaffirmed his goal for the day once more.
The first item on this Holy Capital Assembly's agenda was the White Dragon.
The very dragon that had massacred his father and four brothers.
Given the topic, every word he spoke would significantly influence the meeting.
Thus, he had to achieve his objective no matter what.
'By any means necessary, the Northern Territory must be excluded from this White Dragon subjugation...'