Chapter 200: A Perfect Welcome
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 200: A Perfect Welcome
A face rather handsome for a knight’s met her gaze.
Constine, who had been wearing a soft, gentle smile befitting a Saintess, flinched the moment she met the knight’s green eyes. Vivid hostility was etched into the blonde knight’s features.
“Why is this taking so long?” Constine asked, feigning ignorance of his glare.
“We are verifying the identities of those whose status is uncertain,” the knight replied curtly.
“Uncertain status! I have told you time and again that they are all priests and followers belonging to the Grand Temple!”
The knight arched an eyebrow at the fuming priest. “In Blenheim, that is exactly what we call ‘uncertain status.’”
Judging by his attitude, he had no intention of letting the pilgrimage procession pass easily.
He’s trying to force us to reduce our numbers.
This procession had been organized with as many people as possible to create a grand spectacle. It was intended to flaunt the prestige of the Grand Temple to the North.
“I am the Saintess of the Empire. I am entitled to treatment equivalent to that of the Imperial Family,” Constine said calmly. “That means I have the right to enter the Grand Duke’s Castle even without your permission.”
The knight’s temple twitched at the word right.
“I would appreciate it if you understood that my adherence to protocol is merely out of respect for His Grace, the Grand Duke of Blenheim.”
Having finished her piece, Constine waited composedly for the knight’s reaction. The knight, his lips curled in a sneer despite his handsome face, glanced back at the long line of the procession and spoke.
“In that case, please, enter.”
Just as Constine’s expression began to soften at the unexpectedly compliant answer, he added, as if mocking her:
“If you are going in alone and leaving your party behind, you may enter whenever you wish.”
“Do you even hear yourself right now?!” the priest beside her erupted in anger.
“Be quiet.” Constine raised a hand to restrain the priest, who had been utterly useless from the start. The red-faced priest finally shut his mouth.
This arrogant knight doesn't know when to stop.
“I didn't realize the Blenheim Knights were so fond of hazing guests,” Constine continued in a level tone. “This is a pilgrimage of blessing for the North. So many have traveled a great distance for the sake of Blenheim, yet you treat us with such rudeness.”
As Constine tilted her head slightly, her beautiful light-purple hair swayed.
“Is this the Grand Duke’s will? Or… is there someone else who finds me disagreeable?”
“I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about.”
“Stop pretending you don't understand!” the priest barked, losing his temper once more. “The Grand Duchess is doing this because she holds a grudge against our Saintess, isn't she?!”
At those words, the knight’s voice dropped to a terrifying chill.
“When a mere priest dares to speak of Her Highness the Consort, use her proper title.”
The priest flinched, his shoulders shrinking under the knight’s palpable bloodlust.
“This is merely the minimum security measure required to protect the North,” the knight said, turning back to Constine as if nothing had happened. “For your information, when the Grand Duchess’s own family—the Countess Frais and the youngest young master—visited, Her Highness sent everyone back to the capital except for a single maid to attend to them.”
“And how am I supposed to believe that?”
At Constine’s question, the knight pressed his lips together, visibly stifling a laugh.
“What is so funny?”
“Ah, my apologies.” He reluctantly wiped the amusement from his eyes. “It’s just a bit humorous that you assume Her Highness would even be conscious of your presence.”
He added, “To begin with, our Consort is not such an idle person.”
Constine’s face flushed a deep crimson.
“Well, I suppose I understand,” the knight said, his tone like one soothing an ignorant child. “Having lived your entire life in that tiny temple, it’s only natural you’d fall into the delusion that you are the center of the universe.”
“What did you say?”
“But you’d do well to learn your place here in the North.” The knight leaned in slightly, speaking in a voice only she could hear. “If you recklessly slander Her Highness like that in Blenheim, you might find it difficult to return to the capital alive.”
The heat of humiliation climbed up the back of her neck; she had never been insulted like this in her life.
“What could be more tragic than a Saintess on a pilgrimage of blessing becoming monster fodder in a freak accident?”
Is this man insane?
Constine squeezed her trembling fists tight. What gave him the confidence to treat a Saintess with such blatant disrespect?
“Cease your profanity this instant! How dare a mere knight speak to the Saintess—!”
“Priest, shut up.”
The priest’s eyes widened at Constine’s sharp rebuke. It was likely the first time he had ever heard such harsh language from her. It would have been the same for anyone else. That was how much Constine had lost her composure.
“How many will you allow?” Constine asked, her face frozen in a cold mask after taking a moment to swallow her rage. “It is impossible for me to enter alone. A Saintess’s procession is required to have at least ten attendants.”
She had completely discarded the facade of politeness she had been maintaining on the surface.
“Whittle it down to ten people, including yourself,” the knight stated, his expression equally stern as he got down to business. “I will not permit more than three Holy Knights.”
“Saintess, you can’t! This is practically enemy territory, and only three?!”
“Enemy territory, is it? I see exactly how the Grand Temple views Blenheim.”
Blessing, my foot, the knight scoffed.
Grimacing at the priest’s pathetic response, Constine spoke through gritted teeth. “Three Holy Knights, four priests, and two followers to attend to me. That makes nine. Is that acceptable?”
The knight shrugged, telling her she could do as she pleased with the rest—whether she sent them back or had them wait here.
“You will certainly pay the price for today’s actions.”
Constine, who had stepped forward to personally select the personnel, issued a clear warning.
“My name is Tiern Vieri,” the knight replied, enunciating his name with an obnoxious clarity. “I’m telling you so you don't accidentally go after the wrong knight.”
Constine climbed back into the carriage, struggling to steady her trembling body. For now, she had to endure her anger. She needed to appear as the benevolent Saintess, at least in front of the welcoming crowds.
She entered the main thoroughfare with a sense of nervous anticipation, but strangely, there were no people to be seen.
Clop, clop.
Only the lonely sound of the temple procession echoed through the streets.
…Could it be that no one came out?
This was the first time in her experience that a Saintess’s pilgrimage had not been met with a welcoming crowd in a lord’s territory.
While she was still reeling from the shock, the carriage arrived before the Grand Duke’s Castle. If the empty streets had made her blood boil, what happened next was worse.
For some reason, the firmly shut castle gates did not open.
After the sound of more bickering at the front, the priest approached her with a troubled expression.
“Saintess… they say they cannot open the gates of the Grand Duke’s Castle.”
“What does that mean?!” Constine cried out sharply.
If that was the case, he should have found out why and made them open the gates. Why on earth had this priest even followed her this far?
“They say… they received no word regarding your visit.”
“Priest.” Constine bit her lip, trying her best to remain patient. “Then tell them to inform the Grand Ducal couple that we have arrived. Do I really have to tell you every little thing?”
“I told them that, but…” The priest’s face crumpled as if he were being wronged. “It seems the Grand Duke and his wife are not in the castle.”
Not only had they failed to come out and greet her, they weren't even in the castle?
Furthermore, the knight guarding the castle gave the same repetitive answer: he could not let the Saintess’s party in without confirmation from the Grand Ducal couple.
At this point, she was so stunned she let out a hollow laugh.
“Where are the Grand Duke and his wife now?”
The priest explained the location of Porcelain Village, saying it was right near the Pogen Temple.
Constine struggled to think rationally. Her original plan was to stay at the Grand Duke’s Castle for a few days before heading to the Pogen Temple under the escort of the Blenheim Knights.
It seems they want me to just quietly disappear into the temple on my own…
She had felt a certain degree of pity for the Grand Duchess. This was because the person who had suffered the most damage from Constine’s appearance was none other than Annette Frais.
But if she was going to act like this, the story changed.
“Turn the carriage around. We are going to Porcelain Village.”
“Pardon? Saintess, but—!”
“I must go and meet the Grand Ducal couple myself.”
Grand Duchess, you brought this on yourself.
She would show everyone clearly in front of the gathered residents of the fief. She would prove that in front of Constine, the Grand Duchess of Blenheim was nothing more than a ‘Fake Saint.’
In the end, the Saintess’s party left the Grand Duke’s Castle behind and headed for Porcelain Village.
*
Loik rose from the bed late.
For the first time in a long while, he had skipped his dawn training to sleep in. No, truth be told, he had been pretending to sleep while spending two hours simply watching Annette drift in peaceful slumber.
He felt as though he could lose track of time just by looking at her face.
This must be the ‘ordinary couple’ life Annette spoke of.
Loik particularly liked this small bed, which forced them to sleep pressed close together.
When he tucked the blanket neatly up to her chin, Annette crinkled her nose before settling back into a quiet sleep. Loik stood there for a long time, unwilling to miss even a moment of her loveliness.
It was driving him crazy.
With each passing day, it became harder and harder to be away from her.