Excited, Meivia’s pink eyes sparkled as she gathered force into her fingertips.

The concentrated magical energy became a transparent violet before flashing white like a bolt of lightning.

“At this level, I could travel all seven kingdoms using movement magic with you after staying up five nights straight and it wouldn’t be a problem.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes! Not long ago when I was traveling through the Haizen Kingdom on Haven’s orders, the mana consumption was so heavy it was exhausting. And that was just crossing one country with only myself to move.”

Meivia cried out with a face flushed with excitement.

“To think you’re the owner of a mana stone mine like this! You’re going to become wealthier than the imperial family of this Empire, Miss!”

Ella laughed bitterly.

It had been essential for the deal with the Deloa Guild, but the distance was too great.

Slipping out at night to go there was out of the question.

There were too many restrictions on moving herself directly.

“Thank you. Things became much easier thanks to you, Meivia.”

She had thought she might only be able to get it during the Grand Temple’s prayer festival……

Ella stared at the red stone and tucked it inside her saintess’s robes.

“Will you go to the merchant house you mentioned now?”

“Well.”

She wanted to go find the Deloa master today if possible, but there was still something that needed to be done.

“Not today. I’ll go another day.”

“Ah, right. Today will be hard going until tonight.”

Ella nodded with a stiff expression.

There was a joint meeting between the Grand Temple and the imperial family ahead of the upcoming ‘Goddess of Summer’ festival. A gathering of all the Empire’s nobles and the officials in charge of the festival.

The saintess and senior priests were required to attend to offer blessings and pray for the festival’s success and good fortune.

After the formal meeting in the assembly hall, a light banquet was scheduled.

‘I didn’t think this banquet would be held again……’

It was an imperial palace banquet she had seen in Marian’s memories.

The festival had been planned a year in advance, that was understandable, but a banquet at the imperial palace.

At a time when an oracle had declared malevolent energy rampant throughout the palace, to think this banquet would be held again.

The imperial family was one thing, but Capuasia would never have permitted a banquet with priests in attendance.

‘What kind of deal was made for him to accept that proposal.’

A greedy Capuasia would never have done it without getting something in return.

She couldn’t miss tonight’s banquet if she wanted to find out.

“It seems I’ll be suffering until tonight.”

“Then that fox of a High Priest will be there too, so shall we check your magic one more time while we’re at it?”

Meivia gave a confident smile and gathered mana into her fingertips.

“Better safe than sorry.”

***

The banquet hall of the Emerald Castle, summer flowers in full bloom.

Beneath the brilliant chandeliers, colorful butterfly ornament mobiles spun gently.

On the white tablecloths, light green lace ribbons and centerpieces breathed the spirit of summer.

The effort made with the ‘Goddess of Summer’ festival in mind was unmistakable.

The main hall was already filled with many nobles.

Even though it was the social season, not even a small banquet had been held because of the ominous oracle. Given that, this imperial banquet drew nobles who couldn’t hide their excitement.

Priests in white ceremonial robes were also scattered throughout, conversing with nobles.

Dienne, standing at the hall entrance, looked at Zikhart beside her.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“What thanks. It’s only natural.”

He smiled warmly, holding her hand.

“Who else would I have at my side, Dienne.”

But despite his words, Zikhart’s mind was entirely occupied with Ella.

‘I heard she would be here today.’

Having not caught even a glimpse of Ella for days, Zikhart was on edge.

On the rare days they did cross paths, she was coughing blood, so they couldn’t even have a proper conversation.

She said she could only recover by offering purification prayers at the Wellea chapel after the consecration rite, so he couldn’t even go to see her.

‘Will she take off her saintess robes today?’

The dress he had prepared as a gift had already been sent to her palace.

Along with a letter written in his own hand.

“The tailcoat suits you very well today.”

“Thank you, your eye for these things is impeccable.”

Even if the tailcoat he was wearing now wouldn’t match the dress he had sent to the saintess.

‘Well, it doesn’t matter.’

Seeing her draped in things he had given her didn’t seem bad at all.

Even as he kissed Dienne’s cheek, Zikhart’s mind was full of anticipation at seeing Ella.

The doors opened.

At the chamberlain’s voice announcing the crown prince and his consort‘s arrival, the gazes of the nobles fixed on them.

“My, don’t they suit each other perfectly.”

“How beautiful and splendid they are.”

The two of them in matching attire was immediately apparent.

Dienne in a ruffled dress combining the Becarto imperial family’s signature deep green and gold, and Zikhart in a tailcoat of the same colors with a gold sash, made a picture-perfect pair.

With each step they descended the stairs, admiration and praise followed.

“A living masterpiece.”

“I heard Dienne and the crown prince were exceptionally close, and here they are together again today.”

“I told you, didn’t I? No matter how much Miss Mariella has changed, where is a common-born saintess going to go in the end? Making all that fuss just because her looks improved a little……”

“Shh! Someone will hear. The priests are here too, aren’t they?”

“And what of it even if they hear? Half the people in the temple don’t welcome the saintess either.”

The noble ladies spread their slander about Ella behind theiropened fans. Apparently displeased with the favorable rumors circulating about Ella recently, they were determined to gossip.

Cedric, listening from behind, swirled the glass in his hand and gave a quiet laugh.

A saintess hated on all sides.

‘The back alley drum has nothing on this place.’

She was apparently doing her body harm performing the oracle, and all she got for it was talk like this.

The saintess’s sacrifice looked foolish and pointless.

He hadn’t wanted to come and see things like this……

“Hah, Baulos, that bastard……”

Whether as revenge for everything, Baulos had put Cedric’s name down as an executive of the festival organizing committee.

The Deloa Guild had been designated by the Empire’s merchant association, so at least a proxy had to attend.

Which was why he was stuck in this wretched imperial banquet hall.

“Just wait until I get back.”

He had come against his will, but Cedric had planned to show his face and leave immediately.

“Miss Mariella and Sir Martis have arrived.”

That was before he saw the woman who had just appeared.

‘……That woman!’

***

Instead of the gift the crown prince had sent, Ella wore the saintess‘s ceremonial robes.

The dress Zikhart had sent was a sky-blue silk dress the color of her eyes.

Embroidered with lace and silver thread, the dress was truly beautiful.

A necklace set densely with blue diamonds, satin shoes accented with sapphire ornaments, and a pearl hair ornament to complete it.

Had Ella worn it, she would undoubtedly have made it impossible for anyone to look away.

But Ella didn’t wear it.

She wore the same saintess’s ceremonial robes as always, with only a long white lace veil trailing behind.

Tailian standing beside her was in the formal dress uniform of the knight commander.

‘Is he nervous?’

Tailian’s stiff throat rose and fell sharply.

The arm where Ella’s hand rested was still held firmly taut.

“Thank you for agreeing to my request, Sir Martis.”

“……N, not at all. It is the greatest honor for me.”

An awkward smile spread across his stiff face.

His bright golden hair, neatly swept back and set, caught the light. Looking at Tailian, she could understand why noble ladies and young misses turned red whenever they saw him.

‘He’s far better than the crown prince.’

Satisfaction crossed Ella’s eyes as she looked at the partner beside her.

When Zikhart had shown a hint of apology saying he would be escorting Dienne, Ella had inwardly rejoiced.

She had no desire to arrive at a hall full of trash holding a trash’s hand.

‘First time I’ve ever been grateful to Dienne.’

If not for Dienne, Zikhart would surely have taken her hand for the entrance.

Looking at his recent behavior, that wasn’t a difficult conclusion to reach.

“Announce us.”

At Tailian’s command, the chamberlain guarding the door called out loudly.

“Miss Mariella and Sir Martis have arrived.”

The doors opened at last, and every gaze in the room poured toward them.

The sound of conversation in the banquet hall stopped for a moment. From the nobles who couldn’t take their eyes off the two of them came only small gasps.

Light makeup and nothing special in her attire, and yet Ella was more beautiful than any woman gathered in the banquet hall.

The pure white saintess’s ceremonial robes and the veil trailing behind were an old-fashioned design, but even that gave off a graceful elegance like a swan.