I Stole the Heroine's Holy Grail

The emperor laughed at Hestine’s foolish actions.

Berkian’s face froze for an unexpected laugh.

The emperor felt the subduing atmosphere and said with a short click of his tongue.

“Well, I didn’t call you to exchange greetings.”

“I am thankful for your generosity as wide as the sky.”

Berkian bowed his head deeply and expressed his gratitude.

Hestine, following Berkian, bowed her head in haste.

“That’s it for now. So, what’s the progress?”

The emperor asked him questions although he was already aware of the whole situation, Berkian swallowed his saliva.

“Thanks to God’s grace, we were able to successfully win our first battle against the demons.”

“Success….”

The emperor dragged the word and tapped the handle of the throne with his index finger.

“Isn’t the damage too much for you to say that?”

This was the expected response.

Berkian recited the words he had prepared in advance.

“Of course, your Majesty is right. But since it was the first battle of the saint, I think it was a great achievement.”

“Hmm.”

“This is our first victory against a disaster. In view of this… Such sacrifices are inevitable, isn’t that, right?”

At Berkian’s subsequent excuses, the emperor remained silent for a while and looked down at the two siblings of the Valkyr family.

Hestine was disturbed by a series of cynical gaze.

‘After all, I wonder if my choice was wrong. Adelia-nim was angry with me, too.’

Hestine felt her eyes moistened, and bowed in a hurry.

Fortunately, no one saw her tears.

After a short silence, the emperor’s lips finally moved.

“Well, as the prince said, if you focus on your first victory, the sacrifice is honorable.”

“Thank you for your understanding.”

When the emperor agreed, Hestine could breathe comfortably. This was the same for Berkian.

The emperor grinned at the two brothers and sisters who looked exactly alike.

‘How can you act like a real brother and sister even though you haven’t been living together for a long time? I’ll believe it if they say they are actually blood related.’ said the emperor, clicking his tongue.

“I must not reprimand those who have fought so hard. I’ve prepared a banquet for you today, so I hope you enjoy it.”

“I don’t know what to do with your overflowing hospitality.”

Hestine’s face was filled with laughter when she heard that the emperor had prepared a banquet for her.

The tears that had moistened her eyes already disappeared.

“Oh, one last word,”

“I beg your pardon,”

“I give you my full support because I believe that you will fulfill your obligations faithfully. Don’t let me down.”

It was a word with many implications.

The emperor knew it already, that the saint and her party just sat down and watched the destruction of the small village.

When Berkian realized the meaning behind it, his face stiffened.

On the other hand, Hestine replied with a bright smile, mistaking that the emperor’s words were encouraging them.

“I still have a long way to, but I’ll do my best not to disgrace the name of God!”

“Yes, I’m relieved to hear that. You can go now.”

When the guest orders were given, Berkian and Hestine had different thoughts as they left the parlor.

‘I need to be more careful in the future.’

‘His Majesty even held a banquet for me.…!’

Hestine blushed as she remembered the shining appearance of His Majesty.

“Will His Majesty attend the banquet?”

“…well, I can’t give you a definite answer. He’s a very busy man.”

“I see…”

Hestine could not hide her disappointment as the emperor’s presence became uncertain.

Berkian sighed, and said to Hestine soothingly,

“But there will be many people who will celebrate with you, so don’t be too disappointed.”

“Yes… Oh! Come to think of it, I haven’t changed my dress yet.”

Hestine dust the hem of her skirt covered with dirty dust.

‘I can’t believe his majesty saw me like this.‘

Moreover, the plain white dress was not suitable for the banquet.

Berkian smirked and quenched Hestine’s anxiety.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ve got a dress ready for the party.”

“Really?”

Hestine asked with her eyes wide open.

‘We just returned to the capital, but you’ve already prepared a dress. Where in the world did you have time for that?‘

“Of course, don’t forget that your prestige is the honor of the Duke of Valkyr.”

“Brother… Thank you so much!”

Hestine jumped into Berkian’s arms, expressing her gratitude.

Berkian thought quietly, accepting Hestine.

‘Yes, Hestine, your honor will soon be mine. Your ability, too.’

Berkian skillfully concealed his dark thoughts and returned to the gentle Prince Valkyr. He stroked Hestine’s shoulder and said,

“Let’s go now, shall we? It takes time to decorate beautifully.”

“Yes!”

Hestine rushed at Berkian’s words.

The two headed to the annex, which was given to nobles who visited the Imperial Palace.

There Hestine was redecorated with jewels and dresses prepared by the duke.

Hestine admired herself for becoming a perfect aristocrat.

“Wow… “

“you’re beautiful. Saint.”

“You’ll probably be the brightest person in this celebration.”

“Of course, she is, you should go out now.”

The maids trembled at Berkian’s words and left in a hurry.

Berkian clicked his tongue briefly and reached out to Hestine.

“Would you please give me the honor of escorting you, my Lady?”

Hestine smiled at Berkian’s request to be escorted in the form of a noble gentleman.

“Of course, Prince,”

Holding each other’s hands, the two relaxedly headed to the main hall where the banquet was held.

Hestine suddenly remembered Adelia as she moved to the banquet hall.

How are you doing now?

Her home was reduced to ashes.

In other words, she has no place to stay or feel at ease.

It would have been convenient if she just accepted the help of the temple.

Is she ashamed to raise her hand and ask for help?

Hestine found Adelia’s behavior foolish.

He concluded that he had never felt insufficient in his life, and that his head was not bowed.

Hestine’s face, which had just been excited, was cast by shadow.

I wish Adelia would stop being stubborn.

If she were to suffer like this, she would not feel comfortable.

Please let go of your pride. Adelia-nim,

Hestine smiled, swallowing the words that Adelia would not hear.

The door to the banquet hall opened.

“Prince Valkyr and the Saint will now enter!”

The nobles’ eyes were drawn to one place when the main character’s appearance was announced.

Hestine paused for a moment at the gaze focused on her

Her heart was pounding when she remembered the experience of crossing the capital with people’s blessings.

“As I’ve said, you’re the star of the day, so don’t be nervous.”

Hestine nodded shyly at Berkian’s friendly consolation.

As she walked gently to the center of the banquet hall, the nobles waiting for her rushed to her side.

“The story already spread throughout the empire.”

“We don’t have to be afraid of the predicted disaster now.”

“Of course! We have a saint. What’s to worry about?”

Hestine’s head was about to go down in the flood of compliments.

But Hestine kept her head stiff as she had learned from the duke.

For she was no longer a useless commoner, but a princess and saint of the Duke of Valkyr.

‘I must keep your dignity as a saint.’

“Thank you all.”

“You’re so humble, indeed. I don’t think there’s anyone better suited for a saint!”

Everyone around her nodded at the cry of a nobleman.

Hestine smiled shyly and said, “I’m flattered.”

“By the way, may I ask how the fight went?”

“I’m curious, too. As expected, the demons must be disgusting and bizarre, right?”

“It reminds me of a monster in a fairy tale book as a child. Does it look like it?”

All sorts of speculations were made about the demons as if no one knew what the demons looked like.

It was natural. The nobles who had been brought up preciously all their lives had little chance to face a demon in person.

Hestine felt somewhat heavy in her heart, stiffened her face, and answered the nobles’ guesses.

“I’m sure it’s worse than any strange creature you can imagine.”

At Hestine’s words the tender smiles of the ladies and the young ones disappeared.

No matter what they think, it’s much worse than that.

“Well, it’s just admirable that you’ve won such a great victory over such a terrible being.”

“I just did the best I could.”

“You’re so humble. I wouldn’t have imagined it.”

Hestine smiled quietly and was praised repeatedly by the nobles.

“I’d like to see it with my own eyes someday.”

“What?”

“Of course, I mean the scene where the saint performs miracles. I heard that the heads of demons burst in a moment.”

The words made the nobles shudder as if they didn’t want to imagine it.

Certainly, it was a scene that was too disgusting for nobles to imagine.

Once again, the nobles had awe and fear of the power of the saint.

This was exactly what the Duke of Valkyr wanted.

The Duke, who was watching the situation silently, came near Hestine.

“I’ve seen her since she was a child, but I am still amazed by her.”

“Duke!”

“What do you mean Duke? I’m sad to hear that.”

“Oh… I’m sorry. Father.”

Hestine hastily corrected the way she addressed the Duke of Valkyr.

The duke shook his head with such a gentle smile on Hestine.

“You have nothing to be sorry about. Come to think of it…… Why don’t you explain a little more about what happened that day?”

Hestine opened her eyes wide at the sudden request of the Duke, and could not hide her bewilderment.

The duke had a strange feeling, but he didn’t care much, and said to Hestine,

“Others would like to hear more of your stories.”

“Oh… I see.”

Hestine glanced around with a stiff face.

Hestine could feel the eyes of those who wished for her to explain the fight more vividly, as the Duke said.

Hestine felt like stamping her feet.

I was in trouble, because I didn’t know about the, miracle then.

“Hestine?”

Hestine’s expression of sadness came out of her mouth at the call of a subtle urge.

“Oh, well… I’m sorry. I can’t treat this as just a story. Everyone fought for their lives. Compared to their courage, my blessing is insignificant.”

The words surprised not only the Duke but also those who wanted her story to begin.

The Duke said, with a face that he had not thought of it.

“You’re such a thoughtful child, as you said, my thoughts were too short.”

“That’s right. I’m so ashamed of myself earlier.”

“Me, too,”

Hestine breathed a sigh of relief in her mind. Fortunately, he seemed to be able to move on in a vague way.

Then the gaze of the hall towards Hestine shifted elsewhere.