Chapter 13
The Emperor of the Menosian Empire, which is where Gabi currently resides in, is not feeling well right now. He wasn’t very sick, but it seemed like he had trouble doing outdoor activities.
So, right now, it will be the Emperor’s son, Crown Prince Arnold, who will crown her and give her a title.
To recognize Gabi as the Saintess, Erica tapped her shoulder a couple of times.
Gabi bowed to Erica and then moved in front of Arnold, who was standing next to her.
“……”
“……”
Arnold still hold on to the garland and stared intently at Gabi, who had her head bowed down. Gabi looked like she knew why he was looking at her, so she tried to ignore his gaze.
“Your Highness…!”
As Arnold stared at Gabi for a long time, an attendant standing behind him quietly called to him.
There is a lot to say, but since the oath-taking ceremony has to commence, Arnold crowned Gabi as if he couldn’t help it.
With an awkward smile, Gabi greeted Arnold and came down from the podium as if she was running away.
After all the tedious procedures of the ceremony, Gabi stretched out her body. While Simon, who was standing next to her, suddenly said something.
“The oath-taking ceremony is over, but you still have to go to dinner with the Imperial family.”
Having a meal with Erica was already uncomfortable, so having dinner with the Imperial family would surely be even worse.
As soon as Gabi heard what Simon said, she made it clear that she didn’t like the idea.
“Can I say no?”
But Simon shook his head.
Most of the people who went to the oath-taking ceremony have already left, but Gabi has to go to the Imperial palace along with Erica and Simon.
“His Majesty the Emperor is sick and bedridden, so today we will have dinner with just Her Majesty the Empress, Your Highness the Crown Prince, and Your Highness the Prince.”
While looking around the high ceiling decorated with gold, Gabi moved to the dining room under the guidance of the servants.
When they walked into the dining room, there were a lot of servants standing against the wall, and two people who looked like the Empress and Arnold, as well as another unfamiliar person were also there.
Gabi’s face wrinkled when she saw Arnold smiling like he had been waiting for her.
“Welcome, Archbishop, Saintess, and Simon.”
When the Empress, who looked dignified even when she was just standing still, was the first to greet them, Simon and Erica returned the greetings right away. Gabi, on the other hand, was not accustomed to greeting the Imperial family, so she sloppily followed the two and bowed her head.
“We greet the Crown Prince Arnold, and Prince Gerald.”
The six people who exchanged greetings finally sat down.
It wasn’t long before the prepared food was placed on the table one after another.
During the meal, Arnold intently looks at Gabi, who kept trying to avoid his eyes.
“I heard you are from another country. Are you from the Far East? You look just like the people from there.”
“Yes?”
While they were talking about this and that, the Empress suddenly spoke to Gabi first.
“Mother, she’s from—”
“Uh, ah!”
Thinking that Arnold would blurt out that she’s from ‘another world’, Gabi stood up and covered his mouth.
At her sudden action, everyone present looked blankly at Gabi.
“Ehem.”
Gabi, who felt embarrassed, cleared her throat and sat back down.
“Sorry, my throat hurts. If I scream like this…the pain will be gone.”
“It’s great that the Saintess looks like very energetic.”
Fortunately, no one pointed out Gaby’s sudden behavior.
When she first met Arnold, she said without thinking that she was from another world. Now that she thought about it, she knows that people will think she’s weird if she says that again.
“You’re right. I’m from the Far East.”
Gabi answered the Empress.
“As expected. I can tell because I’ve been there a few times. Anyway, what kind of rudeness is this Arnold, to cut the saint?”
“I’m sorry.”
The Empress smiled at Gabi’s answer, then looked at Arnold, who was sitting next to her, and scold him.
Seeing Arnold apologizing politely, Gabi secretly laughed at him with one corner of her mouth slightly raised, but then her eyes met his.
When Arnold twitched his eyebrows and looked uneasy, Gabi acted like nothing had happened and ate a piece of tomato from the plate.
* * *
It was uncomfortable to be with the high-ranking people of this country, but she was satisfied with the hearty and delicious meal, so Gabi happily prepared to return to the church.
“Let’s make a bet, Sissi. Give me some sp if I win.”
【 Okay, what’s the bet? 】
“If I meet Arnold later, he will say something like ‘Be deprived of your title as a saint? How funny’. I will bet my wrist on the line.”
Gabi can already guess what Arnold will do because he has been trying to talk to her all day with a very dissatisfied face.
She thought it would be nice to make a bet with Sissi and at least reap a reward through it, so she suggested a bet.
【 But I want to bet on the same thing as well 】
“Be nice to me and just let me have it once.”
【 Fine, I get it~ 】
As soon as Sissi was done talking, a system window that looked like a quest window popped up.
【 If Arnold says, ‘Stripped off your sainthood? How funny’ or something along the lines, you will be rewarded with 5sp (currently 16sp) 】
“Yayy, sp reward.”
She was confident enough in predicting Arnold’s behavior so she thought that she would have the reward sp easily.
“Who are you talking to?”
“I’m talking to myself. Err, talking to myself is my hobby.”
Erica, who couldn’t see Sissi’s windows, approached and asked her.
“I see. Are you alright? I heard that the heretics attacked you this morning.”
“Yes. I’m fine.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”
“It’s alright, but what’s the matter with the heretics?”
Erica put her hand on her cheek at Gabi’s question and sighed as she looked at the mountains in a distance.
“Literally as it is. This group go against our doctrine. They’ve been quiet lately, so they be here because of the new Saintess. Anyway, don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.”
“Thank you for taking care of me.”
“Oh, I’m going to give you a present tomorrow.”
In the middle of her talk, Erica clasp her both hands and looked at Gabi, as if remembering her purpose in talking to Gabi.
“A gift?”
“Yes, please look forward to it.”
Gabi’s gaze lingered on Erica as she turned around. When she was ready to walk away, Gabi spotted Arnold nearby.
She bowed her head slightly and greeted Arnold.
“Archbishop, go back with Simon first. I will escort the Saintess.”
“All right.”
Erica left with a smile.
“Tsk, that woman. The more I see her, the more I don’t like her.”
Arnold, who clicked his tongue looking at Erica’s back, turned his head and looked at her.
“So what now? I thought you’re going to be stripped off your so-called sainthood? You’re such a joke.”
When Arnold said it to her instead of a greeting, she laughed out loud.
“Why are you laughing?”
Gabi’s reaction gave Arnold a displeased look.
“Your Highness is so easy to understand.”
She was happy by the fact that she got her sp easily, but Arnold’s easy-to-understand behavior was funny, so Gabi continued to laugh a little.
“Stop laughing. And feel free to call me by name. I will also call you comfortably when there’s just the two of us.”
Gabi, who answered yes, pretended to wipe away the tears she hadn’t actually shed while laughing.
The first time Gabi met him, he’s not dressed like a prince at all. At the rain ritual, his outfit sure looks luxurious but his outfit today made him look like a real Crown Prince even from a distance.
“I don’t see you often, but this is the first time I’ve seen you dressed like this.”
“Well, today is an official event where I had to stand in front of people.”
Gabi was observing the jewels and pendants on Arnold’s clothes.
“Are you thinking of quitting?”
As Arnold asked, making Gabi dropped the idea of messing with his clothes.
“Not right now. If not for the church, then I will be just a beggar right now.”
“I see, I understand.”
Arnold sighed as if he had given up on arguing any further.
“I apologize for trying to tell them that you came from another world.”
“It’s okay, only Arnold should know. After all, only I know that you are a swordsman.”
When the word “swordsman” came out of Gabi’s mouth, Arnold closed his eyes tightly, but soon burst into a small laugh.
But when he was about to leave, Gabi stopped Arnold.
“You said you will take me back!”
“Oh right… Let’s go.”
Arnold, who momentarily forgot what he had said, hurriedly resumed his steps.
As Gabi and Arnold made their way across the garden to get on the carriage, a stranger blocked their path.
“Heretic!”
“This, a heretic?”
The man who suddenly appeared was wearing the mask used by heretics that she knocked down during the day, and she somehow recognized that it was Ethan.
When Gabi shouted, Arnold was embarrassed and looked at Ethan and Gabi alternately.
“How dare you do that to Lewis! Atone for your sins with death, Saintess!”
Ethan lunged at Gabi, holding his dagger upside down.
So Arnold hurriedly pulled out the sword he was carrying around his waist to block the attack of the heretic, but he was soon struck by the dagger and missed his sword instead.
“……”
Arnold stared blankly at his sword, which fell to the ground, then raised his head and looked at Gabi.
“Hey!”
When Ethan tried to swing the dagger at Arnold, who was standing there blankly, Gabi shoved Arnold away and barely escaped the attack.
Once again, Ethan swung his dagger at Gabi, but she quickly ducked to avoid it.
While Ethan panicked when Gabi disappeared from sight, Gabi, who was underneath him, lifted her dress and stretched out her leg, kicking Ethan in a certain place.
“Ugh.”
Ethan, who was struck by Gabi’s kick in the critical place, dropped the dagger and swayed in a bow-legged position, crossing his legs before collapsing on the floor.
Hearing the commotion, the Imperial Knights ran to arrest the fainted Ethan.
“I feel like all I had to go through today was just fight. Phew, Arnold, are you okay?”
As her situation was sorted out, Gabi held out her hand to Arnold, who’s sitting on the ground.
But Arnold didn’t answer.
Embarrassed by his action, Gabi looked at Arnold’s expression and saw him gritting his teeth.
“Well, there…”
When Gabi tried to talk again, Arnold raised his head and stood up.
“I’ll ask the servants to take you back to the church.”
After saying those words, Arnold left Gabi in the garden and returned to the Imperial palace.
【 Why is he like that? 】
“I don’t know, maybe because he’s weak and I am strong?”
【 He’s the Crown Prince. He’s also the male protagonist, but he’s weak~ 】
Gabi didn’t answer Sissi’s words and stared blankly at the spot where Arnold left. He might be weak, but why did he react like that?
【 Okay, you won. 】
Sissi gave the 5sp reward on the bet.
Of course, Gabi couldn’t be more happy with the newly accumulated SP.
Gabi, who stood still where Arnold left, immediately left the Imperial palace with the servants and returned to the church.
