The next day, Dwayne and I went to the Imperial Palace.
While we were escorted by the guards, I rolled up the majestic hallway and entered alone to see the Emperor sitting on the throne.
While hugging her slightly swollen belly, the Queen sat beside the Emperor with a haughty expression.
Jewels and peonies decorated the perimeter of the throne, and hundreds of fire from golden candlesticks were flickering on the walls.
Like the Imperial Palace of the empire, it was marvelous and grand.
‘How much is all this?’
I stuck out my tongue and moved on.
High-ranking nobles and officials were originally supposed to attend, but they weren’t present because the blessing request was prompted by a ‘doubt’ triggered by Cronia.
There are only the Guard Knights who can detain the Queen at any moment.
The Guard Knights stood motionless.
“May His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Queen have the blessings of the Nine Gods.”
I bowed and greeted them according to etiquette. Then I lifted my head and looked into the Emperor’s eyes.
His dark brown eyes somehow looked darker today.
“You must’ve had a hard time coming here.”
The Emperor spoke in a slightly hoarse voice.
‘Hm? It’s a little out of the ordinary.’
I had a strange sense of foreboding.
“I invited the Saintess today…”
The Emperor coughed once before continuing,
“To seek God’s blessing on the baby in the Queen’s womb.”
The Queen’s cold stare settled on me.
The hall’s atmosphere was unusually cluttered.
“May God’s glory be with you. The temple had also prepared a small gift in honor of the meeting. It was made using the Crown Prince’s preliminary birthstone, Crotium.”
I began by bowing to greet the Queen.
Then I lifted the small, equal-sized sphere that Dwane gave me.
“Thank you.”
The servant accepted it and placed it at the Queen’s feet.
“But I can’t see the Crown Prince.”
I asked, turning my head to face the Emperor.
Then the Emperor frowned with a worried expression.
“Where is… Kyle?”
That’s when I frowned and realized the Emperor was acting strangely.
The Queen intercepted the Emperor’s words,
“The Crown Prince was unable to attend due to prior commitments.”
“Oh, right.”
The Emperor nodded blankly.
I raised my head and made eye contact with the Queen.
Her lips were arched into a smile, but her eyes were icy cold.
The moment I met the Queen’s gaze, I could tell that what I expected was correct.
“Last time, the fake saint from Tiago caused many rude things, Saintess.”
