Teleport to the Saintess's Bedroom
Whether it was because Estelle pulled some strings or if the academy's sick leave process is just that simple to begin with, I couldn't tell, but Iris's and my approvals sailed through without any checks or verification.
"So, no additional paperwork or anything?"
In my past life, whether it was work, a part-time gig, or school, you always had to submit some kind of proof if you called out sick. Just in case, I asked Estelle, but...
"Nope, they just said they'd handle everything."
Her answer boiled down to "they'll take care of it." Yeah, no doubt about it—this had to be Estelle's doing. Plus, one of us is the crown princess of the Ermunt Empire, Iris. For a commoner like me to tag along on something like this probably wasn't a big deal for her to smooth over.
"Anyway, I'll give that coordinate Estelle mentioned a shot and try teleporting there first. But honestly, this is my first time attempting anything this far, so no guarantees."
Long-distance teleportation magic, huh. My personal record was zipping from the dorm to the training grounds. The Holy Empire was hundreds, maybe thousands of kilometers away. I had no clue if it'd even work.
"I think you can pull it off, Theo."
"Honestly, if you can't do it, no one can. Iris, just hold my hand."
The two of them bickered like always, but their tones were way softer toward each other than before. At this rate, I might actually witness them starting to date soon. I couldn't help but smile warmly at the thought.
"Alright, I'll head out first. Gotta be there in case you mess up the landing and need a pickup."
Estelle insisted there was no way I'd screw it up, but she knew better than anyone that "just in case" scenarios were worth planning for. So she decided to go ahead.
"Okay. See you in a bit."
I agreed it made sense. Estelle was a teleportation pro anyway—she'd probably shuttled back and forth between the Holy and Ermunt Empires plenty of times already. No worries there.
The worry was all on me. Once Estelle and Iris vanished from sight, I pictured the coordinates she'd given me and cast the teleport spell.
"Please land right..."
I went with "Please land right" as my incantation. Lame? Totally. But whatever.
The thing that bugged me most was my status window, though.
Tensing up for no good reason, I squeezed my eyes shut tight... then opened them.
"Ah! Welcome, Theo!"
"Welcome. I knew you'd nail it."
Estelle and Iris, who had just disappeared from view moments ago, were right there again. Huh, no motion sickness or anything. Not bad at all. Guess all that daily mana purification practice was paying off.
"Phew, I was sweating bullets. Thought I might end up dumped at some border checkpoint getting grilled by guards or something."
If I'd botched it and landed in restricted airspace, I'd be an illegal immigrant until Estelle bailed me out. That was my biggest freak-out.
"Haha, you worry too much, Theo. Anyway, first time in the Holy Empire for both of you, right? Welcome—this is the famous room of the Holy Empire's renowned saintess, Estelle!"
No wonder the coordinates were so spot-on. She'd teleported us straight to her bedroom. At this distance, wouldn't even the Holy Emperor notice?
Teleport magic isn't some stealthy cartoon trick. It blasts mana everywhere—you can't miss it.
"I'll go give a quick heads-up, so you two chill here."
Estelle knew it better than anyone, so she headed off to brief the Holy Emperor without another word. Iris and I nodded.
"And don't have too much fun without me!"
She tossed out that jealous parting shot, shut the door, and was gone. Made me think this whole "them getting together" thing might be further off than I hoped.
"Haha, Estelle really likes us too much sometimes."
But pushing too hard could make either of them uncomfortable, so I kept it vague.
"Well, she likes you, anyway."
"Nah, it's not just me."
They still weren't being fully honest with their feelings, but they were perfect for each other. They needed to get closer—more than with me, even. Heck, I knew they sometimes met up alone already.
"Anyway, our first stop in the Holy Empire being the saintess's bedroom? Never saw that coming."
Iris glanced around, shrugged her shoulders, and said,
"Right? I figured it'd be some immigration checkpoint."
Who'd have thought illegal teleportation would mark my Holy Empire debut? Well, once Estelle cleared it up, it wouldn't be "illegal" anymore.
"Maybe I should've gone with her."
"Huh? Why the sudden change?"
Iris's expression turned a bit serious, so I asked.
Wouldn't it be weirder for us to tag along when the saintess was just meeting the Holy Emperor?
"Before I suggested we all go together yesterday, Estelle looked really displeased. It's been bugging me."
"Estelle did?"
"Yeah. Once I said you and I should join, her face cleared up."
Wait, so they met without me yesterday too? No wonder they suddenly decided on this Holy Empire trip together—they'd already talked it over.
Nice, they're getting along great.
But that aside, why had Estelle been so against going alone?
The game barely touched on Estelle or Iris's backstories or pasts, so I didn't know much there either.
"Hmm, maybe she doesn't get along with His Holiness."
Iris was the emperor's daughter, but the Holy Emperor and saintess? No blood relation—just tied by their positions. Wouldn't be weird if they clashed.
"Could be. Even I, his actual daughter, aren't that close to Father... and Estelle isn't his daughter at all."
Wait, Iris isn't close to the emperor either?
"You and His Majesty aren't on great terms?"
"Yeah, well. We look like a happy father-daughter duo on the surface... but ever since Mother passed, it's been awkward."
Ah, right. The current empress swooped in right after Iris's real mom—the previous empress—died of illness. No way they'd get along.
If my mom died and Dad immediately installed a new one? I'd cut ties hard.
"I know I have to accept it now, but... I kinda get where Estelle's coming from."
"You two definitely have a lot in common."
People are drawn to those who are similar, right? I'd thought they matched well deep down, and seeing new sides just made my heart flutter more. Sharing those traits makes empathy and understanding easier—prime conditions for falling in love.
Of course, calling their rough family backgrounds a "great foundation for romance" out loud would be rude as hell, so I'd never say it.
"Shall we sit and wait?"
"Ah, yes. Please, have a seat, Theo."
Iris pulled out a chair by the tea table for me, and I suddenly felt like the gender roles were reversed.
...Shouldn't the guy be doing that?
"Ahem. Thanks."
Not like refusing and going "Let me get it for you" now would help—it'd just be awkward—so I sat down.
"Fitting for the room of the Holy Empire's second-most powerful figure. It's loaded with luxury goods."
Iris scanned the room and commented.
"Luxury goods?"
Nothing screamed extravagance to me, so I asked back out of curiosity.
"Yes, even this rug we're standing on is a high-end luxury brand. The furniture, wallpaper, flooring—everything's top-tier."
Whoa, really?
"Pretty much everything here qualifies as luxury."
Estelle seemed way more down-to-earth and modest than you'd expect for her position. Kinda surprising.
"Probably not her choice—more for show."
"Showing off the saintess's room to whom?"
"No outsiders see it, but the maids and servants who come and go? They'll notice and gossip."
Ah, got it. Rumors spread like wildfire among the staff, and from there to the outside world. Makes sense.
Having similar upbringings really helps them understand these headaches.
Hmm, yeah—they're a perfect match.