The Continent's Greatest Beauty? No Way!
Queen Beatrix sat alone on her throne, overseeing state affairs as usual.
A maid entered carrying a single letter.
It was sealed with a perfect red wax seal on a pristine white sheet, its format elegant and refined.
At the center of the deeply impressed wax was the Holy Church's symbol: a building.
Crack.
With expert hands, the wax was peeled away, and the letter was revealed.
It announced the start of a pilgrimage from the Holy Church.
A signature of the Church's leader was affixed.
*Already?*
Beatrix silently placed the letter in her hand onto the table.
The Holy Church was a religious group based in the south, in Wilhelmina's territory.
It had branches in the east, west, and north, and every three years it dispatched pilgrimages to probe the corners of the continent.
To aid those they had overlooked or who suffered.
When labor was scarce, they worked; when the sick, they healed with the sacred power that their disciples performed.
Anyone who wielded high sacred power could cure any illness.
Only if their sacred power was sufficiently high.
Knock.
“May I enter, Your Highness?”
“Come in.”
With permission, the one who had knocked opened the door and entered.
It was Mia in her black uniform.
“Excuse me. There is an item I need your approval on…”
“You’re doing this yourself?”
“Yes. Here it is.”
Mia politely placed a sheet of paper on the desk.
Beatrix skimmed the documents with her eyes and let out a short sigh.
“So noisy, huh?”
“The rumor that the saint capable of toppling a nation has arrived has spread like wildfire.”
Toppling a nation.
A beauty so outstanding it could topple the country.
Of all things, two years ago such a person had been selected as a new saint.
Beatrix let out a languid sigh.
It was tinged with annoyance.
“The rumor might be exaggerated. What do you think?”
“Based on my short-sighted conclusion… I think it’s false. As Your Highness knows, the entire continent is peaceful. The Holy Church has no reason to lie about this, and they lack the power to do so.”
“Tsk.”
Beatrix simply clicked her tongue and said nothing.
It meant she agreed with Mia.
“Better to tighten the mental education. Turning a blind eye is one thing, but crossing the line means having one’s head cut off.”
No matter how great a beauty, it wasn’t worth it compared to her own life.
“I’ll do as you say.”
After signing the document, Mia picked it up with both hands.
“By the way, send someone to the dwarf workshop. Have them make a piece of craftsmanship.”
The dwarf master who struck iron had to possess excellent craftsmanship.
And Ella was that master-qualified dwarf.
It meant they should use her efficiently.
Mia gave a short reply and left.
“…Ugh.”
Alone in the study, Beatrix let out a long sigh.
It was due to the worry that Albert might feel jealous.
*
“Good! Ten-minute break!”
At the palace training grounds.
Knights in simple clothes sweated profusely, panting.
Among them stood Mia without a single drop of sweat.
“Ugh… I’m dead!”
Without waiting for the rest command, they collapsed to the ground.
It looked sloppy, but they maintained formation.
Twenty palace knights.
When the Holy Church’s envoys set foot in the territory, they were the ones to escort them until the border.
A troublesome duty for a while, but also an opportunity to see the saint praised as a beauty up close.
Thanks to that, the support rate had been high, and there had been quite a stir.
But it had died down quickly.
Mia, wielding a stick, restored order, and within ten minutes, it had gone quiet.
Normally the captain oversaw this training, but this time she had personally supervised.
Beatrix’s command had been to firmly establish military discipline.
Would it work out?
With a troubled expression, Mia walked to the corner of the training ground.
Since they were handpicked knights, nothing bad would happen, but she still worried.
She was human too, so the worry kept nagging at her.
“Drink some water.”
“Ah, thanks.”
Someone quietly approached and handed her a water bottle.
While she drank from the wooden bottle, Mia’s gaze remained fixed on the knights sitting on the training ground.
‘Huh?’
Then.
Suddenly realizing it was a voice she had heard somewhere, she quickly turned her head.
Albert, smiling kindly, came into view.
“Eek?! Sorry! Why are you here, Your Highness…?”
Startled, Mia hurriedly tried to salute, but Albert’s hand stopped her.
There was no sign of displeasure at the casual speech.
“The knights’ battle cries were rougher than usual. I got curious and came to check.”
“Ah… Sorry. I disturbed Your Highness’s schedule.”
“It’s nothing.”
More than that.
Albert subtly gestured, and the maids standing nearby approached the knights.
In their hands were the same water bottles Albert had been holding.
When the maids handed them out, the knights each expressed gratitude and drank.
Exactly, just wetting their lips slightly.
It was because Mia had shouted while watching the knights drink water.
“Drink little by little! Training isn’t over yet!”
Hydration was necessary, but too much water could cause dehydration.
It was unclear now.
The knights answered cheerfully and drank.
While glancing sideways at Albert standing beside Mia and murmuring among themselves.
When the water bottles were nearly empty, Albert asked.
His gaze was not to the side but straight ahead at the knights.
“The training intensity seems too high… Are you really all right?”
“This time it’s necessary. The purpose isn’t to hone experience and skill, but to sharpen the mind. It’s a warning too.”
Mind. Albert also knew why the knights rolled on the ground like that.
He had heard from Beatrix about the saint arriving just moments ago.
“Is that saint so beautiful?”
Was it jealousy or anxiety?
Mia hurriedly turned her gaze to observe Albert’s expression.
It was unusual, but since men were men, the fear that royal favor might be taken by a more handsome man was natural.
‘He seems fine.’
However, Albert’s expression showed no dark emotions like jealousy or fear.
Only curiosity was visible.
If this was acting…
The thought fleetingly crossed Mia’s mind, but she soon shook her head and denied it.
“Yes. The rumor that he is a beauty capable of toppling a nation is well-known. That’s why there are secretly many nobles who try to court him.”
Courting meant attempting to draw him into their family.
To make him their lover.
Or to devour him themselves.
“Even though he has converted to the religion, is it all right?”
Normally, religious people should protect their purity and live as bachelors, right?
Albert tilted his head, and Mia did the same.
Albert only knew that the Holy Church existed; he didn’t know the details.
It had ended with just a couple of lines in the game and had no connection in reality.
“Ah… What do you mean?”
“A person who has converted to the religion should protect their purity and swear to remain celibate… or something like that?”
“Um…? I don’t know where you heard that, but that’s completely false.”
Marriage is possible. It’s not uncommon for believers to create children together.
Only if they were too deeply entangled with the secular world did they have to relinquish their qualifications as a priest.
“Ah… I see.”
Albert’s eyes widened in surprise, and he nodded.
Cute.
Mia and the knights watching the scene felt the same.
There was no one who, thinking the man must be ignorant of common sense, despised him.
“When will they depart?”
“They say they will visit our territory last, so they should have some time.”
Does that mean they will keep rolling during that time?
A drop of cold sweat trickled down Albert’s back.
“Ah… Yes. Don’t overdo it. You don’t have to be too tense.”
“I appreciate the consideration.”
Mia bowed respectfully, then tucked the water bottle into her belt.
By the time they finished chatting, the break had exceeded ten minutes.
“Your Highness, I’m sorry, but it’s time to start the training again… May I go?”
“Ah! Sorry. I kept you from your work too long.”
Albert apologized apologetically, and the resting knights sighed in disappointment.
If anything, they would have wanted more time.
The knights, like ordinary people, wanted to shirk a bit, but it was no different, so the regret was great.
Mia bowed respectfully and walked back to the center of the training ground.
“Everyone, get up! We’re starting again!”
“Ugh… Yes!”
The knights feigned being tired and stood up.
Just in case they acted weak, it wouldn’t shorten the training time.
However, Mia had seen through that psychology too.
“Seeing you rolling your heads, there’s still some leeway? Form two-man teams. Each pair claps swords.”
Forming teams meant clashing swords with each other.
The knights, who knew that, complained.
“Ah, General! Even from the start, that’s a bit…!”
“Why? Is four-men-one-team better?”
When one-on-one becomes three-on-one?
It’s much harder.
If they clashed swords too loosely, the saint would notice immediately.
In the end, the knights sighed and began forming teams.
Probably because one was much better than three.
‘Truly pitiful.’
Albert stared at the scene for a moment, then left his spot.
If he stayed longer, it would only be in the way.
*
“We’ve caused you much trouble. Before leaving, I wanted to pay my respects, so I came to see you.”
“Mm. You’ve worked hard caring for the people. They say your contributions were quite magnificent.”
In the grand hall with red weapons laid out everywhere.
The red-haired queen leaned on her throne, praising the efforts of the kneeling man.
Sky-blue hair, undamaged and pristine robes.
A voice that stirred affection in listeners.
Above all, an appearance so pure that it blinds both men and women.
It was certainly worthy of being called a beauty capable of toppling a nation.
“Everything is thanks to Your Highness’s support.”
“You’ve even learned to flatter well.”
The corners of Christia’s mouth twitched.
“So, you’re heading north next?”
“Yes. Then through the east, and I’ll return to my hometown.”
The south, the land of home, meant that.
Christia nodded.
“I was going to hold a banquet for my hardworking people, but they refused.”
“Apologies, but even the things you’ve provided so far are more than enough.”
“They said you divided all the supplies too… Truly selfless. Impressive.”
“We are honored.”
The man, Valentin, lowered his head in humility.
It was genuine, not fake, but Christia did not believe it at face value.
If he had embezzled the supplies given, she had planned to use him as leverage.
Religion periodically sows discord to prevent disloyalty.
Like their ancestors.
If she had fallen for Valentin, then perhaps not.
“Be careful on the way. Knights will escort you to the border. Don’t deliver the gifts directly to the branch.”
“I appreciate the consideration. Then…”
Valentin slowly stood up and bowed deeply.
Even on his knees, not a speck of dirt stained his clothes.
It was said that with high sacred power, even if he rolled in the dirt, not a speck would stick.
As rumored.
As Valentin left the hall, Christia’s mouth opened.
It was to snap the envoys out of their daze as they watched Valentin with dreamy eyes.
“Everyone, snap out of it and return to your seats. You’ve seen enough.”
With a cold voice, she warned, and the envoys hurriedly bowed and left.
They had only just come to their senses after feeling the blade at their necks.
“Indeed, the rumors are true.”
Amidst that.
Only the chancellor Emily did not leave the hall, but quietly approached Christia’s side.
She was the only person in this palace who knew Christia’s and the monarchs’ secret affairs.
Thanks to that, she understood why the monarch had not even blinked an eye upon seeing Valentin.
“You’re envious too, huh?”
“If not, it would be a lie. But it seemed like he wasn’t the kind of man who would suit a luxurious noble.”
Emily sighed as if truly pitiful.
She was an earnest person who refused the banquet even now and immediately set off.
It had been hard for her to walk with the nobles.
Nobles didn’t understand the essence of giving, but they only knew how to collect.
“So Your Highness wasn’t showing any signs either.”
“Asking while knowing the reason? You’re quite cheeky.”
Christia chuckled, and a faint smile appeared on Emily’s lips.
“Perhaps you hope the others will turn a blind eye?”
“That would be good, but that’s not likely.”
It would be nice if the saint was distracted, but not everyone would be.
Like Christia.
“Um……”
Suddenly, the warmth that had been filling her belly brushed her mind.
Today, it seemed she would have to endure the lonely and aching climax as usual.