Cuties from the Holy Nation (1)
"Good morning."
Sisilia linked up with Beatrice before heading out to greet the people from the Holy Nation.
"...Yes. Good morning."
But Beatrice didn't greet her with her usual bright energy, cooing "You're so cute today too!" while petting her head. Instead, she whipped her head away.
She's pissed!
Did I do something? Sisilia racked her brain, recalling the previous incident.
-That was the last one I was saving!
Stealing the strawberries off Betty's cake while she was in the bathroom—that had to be it. Yeah, that was pretty bad. But I really wanted to eat them.
"Betty."
"...Yes."
Sisilia grabbed the hem of Beatrice's clothes and spoke with slightly teary eyes.
"Sorry. Forgive me."
"...!"
Sisilia's apology was devastating!
Too cute...! Overcome with emotion, Beatrice pulled Sisilia into a tight hug. In this moment, her job satisfaction hit an all-time high.
"I'll let it slide just this once. Do you know how sad I was back then?"
Can't breathe.
Sisilia squirmed in the violent embrace. Beatrice stroked her head.
"You're cute today too!"
"Right?"
Having smoothly mended things with Beatrice, Sisilia let out a sigh of relief.
"But why'd you call me out today?"
"To escort and greet the delegation from the Holy Nation."
"Ah, the envoys who are arriving this time."
"Missions like this are kinda lame, though."
As Sisilia mounted her horse, Beatrice did the same and replied.
"Why's that?"
For the record, Beatrice thought it was way better than dungeons. Escort duty counted as a "sweet gig" for the Windsor Knights. Assassins and bandits—the occasional threats for demon hunters like them—were just cute little nuisances.
"No fun."
"...Y-yeah, it's probably not that exciting."
But isn't it better than risking your life...? Sisilia.
Beatrice smiled faintly. But this wasn't because Sisilia was unusual. Most of the Windsor Knights—Beatrice aside—loathed escort missions. They had to stand around doing nothing all day. The dopamine addicts of the Windsor Order much preferred life-or-death dungeons.
"And if I had to pick, I'd rather go to the Empire than the Holy Nation... But the vice-captain went there."
I got bumped down the seniority list.
Sisilia pouted.
"Isn't that unfair, Betty? Cool Empire folks would like pretty me more than the vice-captain anyway."
"... "
Beatrice was baffled. Did this girl remember personally beating up that cool Empire prince (?) of hers?
"Exactly."
Sisilia shot Beatrice a cold glare. Beatrice's reaction was automatic.
"Ah, ahaha! Totally, yeah."
"Right? You think so too, Betty?"
Sisilia beamed happily again. Though Beatrice's job satisfaction plummeted straight back down.
"Are you really becoming vice-captain for real?"
"Yep. Congrats, Betty. Promotion in your first year."
"It's a huge honor, but... Sisilia, you're really taking over the Windsor Knights' budget?"
"Nah, Edward the vice-captain's handling that. Shame. I had some great investment spots lined up."
"...Thank goodness the captain's so wise."
"Eh?"
"We almost went bankrupt from financial woes."
"...?"
Sisilia and Betty chatted idly at the harbor rendezvous point, waiting for the delegation. Their eyes met.
Sisilia pondered for a second, then charged straight at Beatrice.
"I was kidding! Kidding!"
Beatrice fled desperately. As their game of tag went on for a while, a horn blared—puuuu—
"Th-they're here."
Sisilia peered toward the sea, still gnawing on Beatrice's blonde head.
"...That's a lot of them. Come to think of it, they said multiple nations were sending delegations."
A faint sense of wrongness passed through her mind. If there are that many delegations, they wouldn't just send us two.
The ships docking at the harbor grew close enough to make out clearly with the naked eye.
"No, it's just the Empire and the Holy Nation coming."
Beatrice gasped, speechless. Every one of those countless ships flew flags with the same crest.
Sisilia muttered.
"They here to start a war or something?"
Beatrice shuddered. Not just from the massive fleet ahead. Or because escorting the Holy Nation felt burdensome to a country girl.
Sisilia's lips curled up ever so slightly.
"This could be fun."
Scary...! Her superior staring at the ships with madness in her eyes was terrifying.
**
"So this is the land of barbarians who twist the Goddess's sacred words to their whim."
The Holy Nation. The nation of clerics who served the Goddess. But they harbored no fondness for the Liannen Kingdom.
The tragedy that unfolded here was still spoken of as cruel and ugly. The land where thousands of noble clerics—come to spread the true words to savages who ignored the Goddess's teachings—were massacred.
The Holy Nation was the only country that refused to recognize Liannen as a sovereign state.
"This time, we must show those barbarians what for, Cardinal Iham."
"Of course. That's why we've come to this distant land."
"The only savages in the world without a single cathedral. We must preach the Goddess's words. Even if we must use force."
Yet their "delegation" was massive in scale. 300 holy knights, 500 clerics. 20 inquisitors, and above all—
"The Seventh Seat, Largon. What say you? Confident?"
The Seven Seats, called inhumanly powerful even in the Holy Nation. Among them, Largon—a Sword Master who had reached the pinnacle humans could achieve.
He replied arrogantly.
"No sword in this world surpasses mine."
"Hoho, reassuring. Liannen is known as the land of swords. Does that change nothing?"
"Do you think those who can't even wield divine power properly can stand against me? Give the order. I'll wipe out the barbarians before sunset."
Even excluding the Seat himself, the Holy Nation's delegation had enough forces to topple a kingdom.
Cardinal Iham smirked slyly.
"Now, now, don't overdo it. Our purpose today is to secure 'opening of ports.'"
A land they couldn't touch before, blocked by those damned Empire dogs. But with the queen overstepping lately, relations soured—no moves to stop the Holy Nation heading to Liannen.
How dare an unrecognized nation, without the Goddess's oracle, presume to select the "Proxy of Humanity." Even if retracted hastily upon realizing the slip, words once spoken lingered.
No stronger justification existed. The Holy Nation aimed to at least open Liannen's borders for clerics.
"Of course, if they resist, we'll have to show them the terror of the Goddess's legions."
But Cardinal Iham was prepared to crush Liannen right here if needed. These backward folk. Barbarians who would've fallen long ago without the Empire's protection.
For 200 years, the Arcadia continent buzzed with trade. Liannen's outdated isolationism drew mockery from many.
Protecting humanity from demons? Hah, nonsense. At best, orcs and trolls.
So, ruling them would be easy for the great Holy Nation.
"Hmm, more developed than expected."
The clerics, brimming with ambition, scanned the harbor eagerly upon docking.
Liannen's port was impressively maintained. Passing ships rivaled those of the Holy Nation in size.
"Natural, since it's near the capital. Pathetic compared to the Holy City of Saint."
Cardinal Iham sneered openly as he disembarked. Holy knights and clerics followed in droves.
"Are you the ones from the Holy Nation?"
Sisilia stood before them. She offered a faint smile and flawless courtesy.
"Sisilia Windsor of the Windsor Knights. It's an honor to escort you."
The clerics momentarily lost themselves in her beauty. Terribly rude, but she outshone even their saintess.
**
"I figured they'd come for profit."
Queen Lydia lounged casually on her throne. She smiled amusedly at the Empire diplomat prostrated before her.
"This is unexpected."
"Forgive my impertinence, but this is undoubtedly in the Empire's interest."
Erterion beside the queen, and Edward who brought the diplomat, were stunned by his words.
They'd assumed the Empire—ever scheming against Liannen—had some plot.
But they weren't here to complain.
"...If I heard right."
Queen Lydia said admiringly. The Empire's emperor was a mere boy of 50. From her perspective, anyway. To think he'd show such insight.
"The Empire defers to Liannen's decision and wishes to hold its own summoning ritual?"
"If Your Majesty permits, His Majesty commands we crush the Holy Nation's ambitions utterly."
"Ahaha! Masterpiece. I thought they'd gleefully join the fray."
Queen Lydia clutched her sides, giggling. Erterion glared with a stern face.
Please, some dignity...!
Finally composing herself, Lydia continued.
"Granted. The Empire may hold the summoning."
The diplomat's face lit up.
"However."
His expression stiffened at the caveat.
Lydia tilted her head slightly.
"We don't need the Empire stepping in to protect us from the Holy Nation."
"...Are you certain? Forgive me, but I understand Liannen struggles just to hold back the demons."
"It's fine. We have the perfect candidate this time."
"Wonderful news as an ally. Must be an excellent retainer."
"Exactly. A very, very excellent—and cute—one."
"Cute...?"
Lydia giggled, picturing Sisilia's adorable face. What results will our cute Sword Princess bring to amuse me next? A queen's modest diversion after 300 years.