CHAPTER NINE.

Seiden’s Dark Charm

The people of Rundhardt desperately waited for the hunting festival to end. Once the hunting festival for the imperial family and nobles concluded, the people’s festival would begin the next day.

The week-long festival was a national event that the entire empire had prepared for months. Not only in the capital but throughout the nation, during this period, the empire was filled with pink festive energy.

Of course, due to the unfortunate incident at the hunting festival before, Geril and Seiden’s story was the talk of the town everywhere during this imperial festival. Occasionally, stories about the saintess who appeared with Hestina, Seiden, and the Holy Knight Order Commander also became a topic of conversation.

However, what shocked everyone the most was the fact that Duke Lylester, who had seemed so perfect and proper, had used such tactics. It was so shocking that even within the Grand Temple, everyone was talking about the hunting festival, and Bellota couldn’t avoid hearing about it.

“So there’s no guarantee he didn’t pull the same tricks in previous hunting festivals. Duke Lylester has won the hunting festival three times already.”

“But it’s really hard to believe. Why would such an excellent person do something like that? I heard he was the one who made this hunting festival into a charity event. Surely there must be some circumstances?”

“Well, about that. I overheard some priests who went to the Selento subjugation saying that Duke Lylester isn’t actually as excellent and wonderful as he’s known to be.”

Bellota had to hide from the apprentice priests who were excitedly conversing while visiting the herb garden to collect herbs for consecration. Fortunately, they didn’t notice Bellota quickly hiding as they were too engrossed in their conversation to even remember picking herbs.

“That can’t be! The Duke makes many donations and gives enormous offerings to the Grand Temple every year!”

“Hey, does giving lots of money make someone excellent?”

“Well, no, but…… He still agreed to make the planned donation for this hunting festival too. He said he’d still cover half even after that disgrace.”

Even after that incident, Geril didn’t let the meaning of his proposed charity hunting festival fade. He agreed to maintain all the planned amounts for donation.

“That’s because it would look even more ridiculous if he canceled that too. He left the hunting festival without any explanation, right? It’s been three days since then, and he hasn’t shown up.”

“I heard he’s not even appearing at the festival. He canceled all his scheduled appointments too.”

“Exactly! Would he do that if he was innocent? Hah, I never liked him from the start. Isn’t he from the imperial family, after all? The imperial family hates the Grand Temple! They’re even falsely accusing the Grand Temple of causing this incident!”

Bellota quietly swallowed a sigh.

It seemed this incident had properly damaged Geril thanks to Seiden. Even she hadn’t expected Geril to use such cowardly methods in the hunting festival, so it wasn’t surprising that everyone was shocked. She even began to suspect whether Geril might have had something to do with the curse placed on Seiden during the hunting festival.

“And to think even Princess Hestina is after our Holy Knight Commander, my goodness.”

When the conversation finally turned to Seiden and Hestina, Bellota’s breath grew thin for a moment.

“Is that really true? That Princess Hestina……”

“Of course. Several people saw it themselves. I’d want to go out with the Commander too. Did you hear that the Commander donated all the prize money and rewards given to the winner?”

The apprentice priests quickly changed the subject and began excitedly discussing Hestina and Seiden. In just a few days, the story had been inflated to say that the two had promised to go to this festival together. There was a suspiciously detailed story that Seiden had deliberately caught the kurkroll for Hestina and used it to reverse-propose an outing to her.

“What if they really end up getting married?”

“Well, the Grand Temple would lose its talent to the imperial family. But they would really make a good match.”

“Oh my, I thought the same thing! Though I hate to admit it, the two of them standing together would be absolutely stunning.”

Bellota’s eyes darkened at the excited voices of the apprentice priests. The image of the two standing side by side flashed through her mind. Perhaps others would think the same as these priests.

“Imagine how beautiful their children would be!”

Somehow, Bellota found it difficult to keep listening to that conversation. As she finally gave up on picking herbs and turned to leave, she discovered a figure standing in front of her and stopped breathing in surprise. Seiden was standing right behind her, gazing at her intently. When Bellota tried to say something, Seiden quietly put his index finger to his lips, then pulled her shoulder and hid them both behind a large pillar nearby.

The apprentice priests, who had now filled their herb baskets, could be felt approaching their direction. Bellota, who found herself practically embraced in Seiden’s arms, tried to suppress her pounding heartbeat as she held her breath.

“If we finish all the cleaning before dinner, maybe we can go to the festival for a bit?”

The expectant voices of the apprentice priests faded away until finally their presence completely disappeared. Only then did the large hand embracing Bellota’s shoulder fall away.

“They’re gone.”

At Seiden’s whispered murmur, Bellota’s dazed mind snapped back to attention. She quickly moved away from his embrace and tried to appear calm as she asked.

“How long have you been here……”

Seiden looked steadily at Bellota, who somehow couldn’t meet his gaze directly, and answered.

“Since the priests started talking about Princess Hestina and me.”

When Hestina’s name left Seiden’s lips, a corner of Bellota’s heart stung.

“Ah……”

While Bellota struggled to find what else to say, Seiden spoke again.

“I won.”

It was a somewhat abrupt statement for the current situation, so Bellota could only look at Seiden, again unable to find an appropriate response. However, this time Seiden didn’t let it pass. He stared at her intently with a face that clearly wanted to hear certain words. Flustered by that blatant gaze, Bellota slowly opened her mouth.

“Congratulations.”

That seemed to be the right answer. As Seiden’s lips curved up gently, Bellota’s heart fluttered dizzily at his smile. Fortunately, Seiden didn’t seem to notice that flutter, and simply asked quietly.

“May I state my wish now?”

Ah. At those words, Bellota recalled her promise with Seiden. As he had firmly guaranteed, Seiden had won first place, and now it was her turn to grant his wish. The fragrant herb scent tickling her nose made her throat constantly itch. Bellota was curious about what Seiden wanted.

When Bellota nodded, Seiden immediately stated his wish.

“I want to go to the festival with you, Saintess.”

His wish was truly unexpected. After making that promise, Bellota had occasionally tried to guess what Seiden might want, but failed every time. Bellota had described Geril as someone who had everything, but in fact, it was even harder to find anything Seiden lacks. It seemed like the man before her had no reason to desire anything. So while she knew Seiden wouldn’t ask for material things or put her in an awkward position, she hadn’t expected such a modest wish.

“This evening would be good.”

This evening? As she tried to process the suddenly immediate schedule, Bellota soon realized that Seiden’s wish wasn’t so modest after all. Bellota had never been to the festival before. At the same time, as she imagined herself walking among the crowds with him, her face grew troubled. Quickly catching her concern, Seiden quickly added.

“You needn’t worry about your identity being exposed.”

He rummaged in his pocket and pulled something out. It was a silver ring with a tiny magic stone embedded in it.

“It’s a magical device for disguise. While wearing this, no one except me will be able to recognize the Saintess.”

It was an extremely thorough preparation. Somehow at a loss for words, Bellota was staring blankly at Seiden when hurried footsteps were heard from the garden entrance, and before they could hide, Felton suddenly appeared.

“Oh, Saintess?”

At this sudden encounter, Bellota froze stiffly like someone caught doing wrong, but Seiden calmly looked at Felton without batting an eye. As Bellota tried to make some excuse, Felton, who had been glancing curiously at Seiden, spoke first.

“I see you have a visitor.”

His voice was fresh, as if he didn’t recognize Seiden at all. For a moment, Bellota was struck speechless at this clear statement.

“Please don’t mind me and continue your conversation. We just ran out of mint.”

Then he bowed politely not only to Bellota but also to Seiden before leaving to pick mint.

When a bewildered Bellota looked at Seiden with a dumbfounded expression, unlike her, he showed no surprise and casually raised his right hand. Only then did Bellota notice that Seiden had the same ring he had just shown her on his fourth finger. It was an even more reliable functional magic.