Saintess.
She was the only one in a generation, let alone across all continents.
Her divine power surpassed even that of the Pope, exuding an aura that made one want to prostrate at first sight.
Her power astonished the continent, causing numerous miracles.
Moreover, it was known that she never left the Holy Empire throughout her life.
Thus, the visitation of such an esteemed saintess to a foreign land was an unprecedented event.
This is something that will go down in history.
The nobles of Kaistein could not afford to miss such a remarkable opportunity.
This is the saintess of the Holy Empire.
Greetings to the saintess.
It is a great honor for our family to have the chance to meet the saintess.
Everyone was rushing to try to hold hands with the saint.
However, Ians eyes were fixed on her face.
Thatface?
Familiar yet too familiar.
No, even though he had only seen her, old memories deeply buried in his mind resurfaced.
Mother?
The saintesss face was strikingly similar to the face he could barely remember.
Ians heart naturally raced.
But it was only for a moment.
Im pleased to meet you. I am Ian Kaistein.
Ian greeted her with royal etiquette concealing any trace of emotion.
It was natural.
Despite the resemblance to his mother, the saintess appeared to be a girl in her early teens, looking even younger than Ian himself.
Even someone like me No matter what, it couldnt possibly be my mother.
Maintaining a composed expression, Ian pursed his lips, clearly affected by Haverions words.
However, he understood that the current situation called for his attention to be elsewhere, rather than dwelling on the resemblance of the saintess to his mother.
What are you doing right now!
!
Ians eyes flashed, and his voice rose.
What are the guards doing? Are they going to continue allowing such disgraceful behavior in front of our distinguished guests?
Ian even mobilized the royal guards to drive the nobles away from the saintess.
The nobles were taken aback by Ians sudden outburst, their expressions filled with anger.
While the saintess herself did not show it, a hint of discomfort could be discerned.
After all, they were nobles who adhered to court etiquette and had extended their courteous welcome to the guests.
To call it disgraceful Your Highness, such words are rather harsh.
Your Highness, your words are too severe.
But Ian cast them a cold gaze.
Unless it is an outrageous act to block the path and words of unfamiliar guests, what else could it mean?
!
The nobles fell silent, realizing their mistake.
They suddenly became aware of the fact that the other party was a young girl, surrounded by adults vying for her attention and engaged in conversation.
While such behavior might be commonplace in society, the circumstances were different here. Hastily, they stepped back.
We have shown shameful behavior.
We offer our sincerest apologies, Saintess.
However, Ian had a different motive for intervening and blocking the nobles.
His cold gaze fixed on the saintess served as evidence of that.
Saints are bestowed with special abilities from generation to generation.
Originally, it was a secret that no one knew about.
However, a few years later, when the Holy Empire collapsed due to mania and lost its mind, the truth about the saintess had come to light.
The saintess has the power of prophecy.
It was not just a simple prophecy.
This power allowed her to see the past, present, and future of an individual.
No one could escape the saintesss prophecy.
And the power of prophecy is triggered by direct physical contact.
Hence, Ian was cautious not to touch her as he offered his apology.
On behalf of Kaistein, I would like to extend my apologies.
Silence greeted his words as the saintess simply stared at Ian.
He wondered if she had come specifically for him.
However, before he could dwell on that thought, Cardinal Cesare, who stood beside her, spoke up.
The saintess is used to this kind of thing. Thats because she doesnt go out very often.
The nobles gazes shifted upon seeing him.
Is that him?
Cardinal Cesare, the Popes left hand man?
The chamberlain next to Ian bowed his head to the cardinal.
I never expected the cardinal to grace such a humble place alongside the saintess.
As our side caused this issue, it is only fitting that we offer our apologies as instructed by the Popes will. This is a sincere gesture from us.
Cardinal Cesare responded to the chamberlains words with a warm smile, touching the hearts of everyone present.
Eager to hear more from him, they drew closer, captivated by his presence.
However, Ian remained skeptical, unaffected by the smile.
Is that the only reason?
Ian was not fooled by that smile.
Because he knew that man very well.
Cesare the Tyrant.
He remembered the incident that happened before his death in his previous life.
It was a major event where the Holy Empire collapsed due to mania.
Cesare had taken charge, effectively assuming the role of the fallen Pope.
In fact, it would be an understatement to say that Cesare played a pivotal role.
He even ascended to the throne of the Holy Empire.
The blood shed during his rise to the throne was more than the damage caused by mania.
He even earned the moniker of Tyrant.
Although Ian didnt know what transpired after Cesare became Emperor, in his previous life, Ian had already met his demise.
However, one thing remained certain to him.
Cesare was a dangerous man.
Sure enough.
Just as Cesare was about to address the nobles with his smile, Ian interrupted him.
You must be tired from the journey. Allow me to escort you to your accommodations from this point.
Pardon? Do you mean Your Highness will personally attend to this?
As the representative of the negotiating party, it is only fitting.
Did he sense the coldness in Ians voice?
Kaistein side whispered to Ian.
Prince. That person is a cardinal from the Holy Empire
While it is important to show respect, it is also a demonstration of our unwavering resolve, considering the Pope has sent a saintess
Are they guests?
Pardon?
They are only references and suspects.
In the end, the nobles bowed their heads.
And the moment when Ian approaches Cesare.
[Huh, look at him].
!
Something stirred in Ians arms.
It was Jealousy, a presence visible only to his eyes, attempting to escape his embrace.
But there was nothing to worry about.
Grab!
Ian immediately caught Jealousy.
I told you to stay quiet, didnt I?
[But theres an excellent fellow. Ah, that guy should have been my master. Whenever I see him, he exudes a better aura!]
Jealousy seemed to enjoy the negative feelings emanating from Cesare.
Ian couldnt help but be puzzled.
How was Jealousy able to speak?
Patience and Faith were not like this.
Of course, that wasnt what mattered now.
Cardinal Cesare is jealous of me?
Why?
In their previous lives, their relationship had been marked by indifference, not jealousy.
It was right then.
Your Highness?
Ian, coming to his senses, immediately gave instructions to his attendant.
Originally, there would have been more space for official events between Kaistein and the people of the Holy Empire, but Ian ignored them all and led them straight to the palace.
This is where you will stay.
Isnt this the Sapphire Palace?
Indeed, the location Ian had led them to was once the palace of the former Second Prince but had now become his own.
However, Cesares astonishment stemmed from a different reason.
I heard that envoys are typically hosted at the Opal Palace.
Because you and the saintess are special.
Ian smiled wickedly.
Just because Kaistein has not chosen the Sun as its state religion does not mean we dont honor the Holy Empire, Ian continued.
Is that so? Thats surprising.
Cardinal Cesare seemed very pleased at Ians words.
After all, the sun is a symbol of the god that the Holy Empire worships.
He was happy to hear that Ian, who was likely to be the next king of Kaistein, believed in his God.
Of course, Ian had an ulterior motive.
The Second Prince has hidden devices everywhere.
Ian knew the devices would reveal the mans true intentions.
He intended to uncover all their intentions.
Well, there are some that could result in unexpected accidents.
Ian raised the corners of his mouth.
Then rest. Negotiations will begin tomorrow.
Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness.
They turned away from each other, eyeing each other as if knowing they would be obstacles in the future.
***
Thats when Ian returned to the Sapphire Palace.
Someone approached his bedroom stealthily.
Thunk!
A figure clad in black approached his bedroom.
Swiftly and quietly, the individual maneuvered through the room, seemingly targeting Ian while staying out of sight of his knight.
Finally, reaching Ian, who appeared to be asleep, the intruder was met with a smile.
Alright, whats the situation? Ian inquired.
As the prince predicted, a gathering has taken place around Marquis Adelas.
This man was a spy formerly loyal to the Second Prince.
However, after the Second Princes downfall and the decision to engage with Lavaltor, he had decided to follow Ian.
In fact, all of the Second Princes remaining power had already been transferred to Ian.
Tell me, what are their intentions?
It appears they plan to abandon the First Princess and introduce a new ally, the spy revealed.
Hmm, theyre abandoning her now?
It was absurd.
It seemed unlikely that Marquis Adelas, unless he were a fool, would join forces with the Fourth Prince.
Currently, the only ones who posed a significant challenge to Ian were the First Princess and the Third Prince.
But the Third Prince would never join hands with those guys.
Most of the First Princesss faction has close ties to the Second Prince. Its likely that the Third Prince still holds a grudge.
They were rotten meat.
But Louis, whom Ian knew, was not someone who would fight even after eating such rotten meat.
He was Louis, who would rather die than give up and fight to the end.
But the spys complexion hardened.
I dont have all the details, but it appears they are discussing that. And the spy hesitated.
And? Ian pressed for an answer.
Marquis Adelas secretly met with people from the Holy Empire.
What?
Ians expression stiffened slightly.
He knew that Marquis Adelas supported the Sun God of the Holy Empire.
But to meet with those people at this time.
Could it be that he is planning to betray our country?
It was natural for Ians gaze to harden.
The moment to make a crucial decision, especially regarding Nathan, seemed to be drawing near.
Considering the recent terrorist attack on Kaistein, that time might be even closer than he thought.
But the spy shook his head.
There havent been any specific details uncovered yet. However the spys expression turned grave, a seriousness Ian had never seen before.
It seems they are contemplating selling off the First Princess.
What?
Saintess.
She was the only one in a generation, let alone across all continents.
Her divine power surpassed even that of the Pope, exuding an aura that made one want to prostrate at first sight.
Her power astonished the continent, causing numerous miracles.
Moreover, it was known that she never left the Holy Empire throughout her life.
Thus, the visitation of such an esteemed saintess to a foreign land was an unprecedented event.
This is something that will go down in history.
The nobles of Kaistein could not afford to miss such a remarkable opportunity.
This is the saintess of the Holy Empire.
Greetings to the saintess.
It is a great honor for our family to have the chance to meet the saintess.
Everyone was rushing to try to hold hands with the saint.
However, Ians eyes were fixed on her face.
Thatface?
Familiar yet too familiar.
No, even though he had only seen her, old memories deeply buried in his mind resurfaced.
Mother?
The saintesss face was strikingly similar to the face he could barely remember.
Ians heart naturally raced.
But it was only for a moment.
Im pleased to meet you. I am Ian Kaistein.
Ian greeted her with royal etiquette concealing any trace of emotion.
It was natural.
Despite the resemblance to his mother, the saintess appeared to be a girl in her early teens, looking even younger than Ian himself.
Even someone like me No matter what, it couldnt possibly be my mother.
Maintaining a composed expression, Ian pursed his lips, clearly affected by Haverions words.
However, he understood that the current situation called for his attention to be elsewhere, rather than dwelling on the resemblance of the saintess to his mother.
What are you doing right now!
!
Ians eyes flashed, and his voice rose.
What are the guards doing? Are they going to continue allowing such disgraceful behavior in front of our distinguished guests?
Ian even mobilized the royal guards to drive the nobles away from the saintess.
The nobles were taken aback by Ians sudden outburst, their expressions filled with anger.
While the saintess herself did not show it, a hint of discomfort could be discerned.
After all, they were nobles who adhered to court etiquette and had extended their courteous welcome to the guests.
To call it disgraceful Your Highness, such words are rather harsh.
Your Highness, your words are too severe.
But Ian cast them a cold gaze.
Unless it is an outrageous act to block the path and words of unfamiliar guests, what else could it mean?
!
The nobles fell silent, realizing their mistake.
They suddenly became aware of the fact that the other party was a young girl, surrounded by adults vying for her attention and engaged in conversation.
While such behavior might be commonplace in society, the circumstances were different here. Hastily, they stepped back.
We have shown shameful behavior.
We offer our sincerest apologies, Saintess.
However, Ian had a different motive for intervening and blocking the nobles.
His cold gaze fixed on the saintess served as evidence of that.
Saints are bestowed with special abilities from generation to generation.
Originally, it was a secret that no one knew about.
However, a few years later, when the Holy Empire collapsed due to mania and lost its mind, the truth about the saintess had come to light.
The saintess has the power of prophecy.
It was not just a simple prophecy.
This power allowed her to see the past, present, and future of an individual.
No one could escape the saintesss prophecy.
And the power of prophecy is triggered by direct physical contact.
Hence, Ian was cautious not to touch her as he offered his apology.
On behalf of Kaistein, I would like to extend my apologies.
Silence greeted his words as the saintess simply stared at Ian.
He wondered if she had come specifically for him.
However, before he could dwell on that thought, Cardinal Cesare, who stood beside her, spoke up.
The saintess is used to this kind of thing. Thats because she doesnt go out very often.
The nobles gazes shifted upon seeing him.
Is that him?
Cardinal Cesare, the Popes left hand man?
The chamberlain next to Ian bowed his head to the cardinal.
I never expected the cardinal to grace such a humble place alongside the saintess.
As our side caused this issue, it is only fitting that we offer our apologies as instructed by the Popes will. This is a sincere gesture from us.
Cardinal Cesare responded to the chamberlains words with a warm smile, touching the hearts of everyone present.
Eager to hear more from him, they drew closer, captivated by his presence.
However, Ian remained skeptical, unaffected by the smile.
Is that the only reason?
Ian was not fooled by that smile.
Because he knew that man very well.
Cesare the Tyrant.
He remembered the incident that happened before his death in his previous life.
It was a major event where the Holy Empire collapsed due to mania.
Cesare had taken charge, effectively assuming the role of the fallen Pope.
In fact, it would be an understatement to say that Cesare played a pivotal role.
He even ascended to the throne of the Holy Empire.
The blood shed during his rise to the throne was more than the damage caused by mania.
He even earned the moniker of Tyrant.
Although Ian didnt know what transpired after Cesare became Emperor, in his previous life, Ian had already met his demise.
However, one thing remained certain to him.
Cesare was a dangerous man.
Sure enough.
Just as Cesare was about to address the nobles with his smile, Ian interrupted him.
You must be tired from the journey. Allow me to escort you to your accommodations from this point.
Pardon? Do you mean Your Highness will personally attend to this?
As the representative of the negotiating party, it is only fitting.
Did he sense the coldness in Ians voice?
Kaistein side whispered to Ian.
Prince. That person is a cardinal from the Holy Empire
While it is important to show respect, it is also a demonstration of our unwavering resolve, considering the Pope has sent a saintess
Are they guests?
Pardon?
They are only references and suspects.
In the end, the nobles bowed their heads.
And the moment when Ian approaches Cesare.
[Huh, look at him].
!
Something stirred in Ians arms.
It was Jealousy, a presence visible only to his eyes, attempting to escape his embrace.
But there was nothing to worry about.
Grab!
Ian immediately caught Jealousy.
I told you to stay quiet, didnt I?
[But theres an excellent fellow. Ah, that guy should have been my master. Whenever I see him, he exudes a better aura!]
Jealousy seemed to enjoy the negative feelings emanating from Cesare.
Ian couldnt help but be puzzled.
How was Jealousy able to speak?
Patience and Faith were not like this.
Of course, that wasnt what mattered now.
Cardinal Cesare is jealous of me?
Why?
In their previous lives, their relationship had been marked by indifference, not jealousy.
It was right then.
Your Highness?
Ian, coming to his senses, immediately gave instructions to his attendant.
Originally, there would have been more space for official events between Kaistein and the people of the Holy Empire, but Ian ignored them all and led them straight to the palace.
This is where you will stay.
Isnt this the Sapphire Palace?
Indeed, the location Ian had led them to was once the palace of the former Second Prince but had now become his own.
However, Cesares astonishment stemmed from a different reason.
I heard that envoys are typically hosted at the Opal Palace.
Because you and the saintess are special.
Ian smiled wickedly.
Just because Kaistein has not chosen the Sun as its state religion does not mean we dont honor the Holy Empire, Ian continued.
Is that so? Thats surprising.
Cardinal Cesare seemed very pleased at Ians words.
After all, the sun is a symbol of the god that the Holy Empire worships.
He was happy to hear that Ian, who was likely to be the next king of Kaistein, believed in his God.
Of course, Ian had an ulterior motive.
The Second Prince has hidden devices everywhere.
Ian knew the devices would reveal the mans true intentions.
He intended to uncover all their intentions.
Well, there are some that could result in unexpected accidents.
Ian raised the corners of his mouth.
Then rest. Negotiations will begin tomorrow.
Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness.
They turned away from each other, eyeing each other as if knowing they would be obstacles in the future.
***
Thats when Ian returned to the Sapphire Palace.
Someone approached his bedroom stealthily.
Thunk!
A figure clad in black approached his bedroom.
Swiftly and quietly, the individual maneuvered through the room, seemingly targeting Ian while staying out of sight of his knight.
Finally, reaching Ian, who appeared to be asleep, the intruder was met with a smile.
Alright, whats the situation? Ian inquired.
As the prince predicted, a gathering has taken place around Marquis Adelas.
This man was a spy formerly loyal to the Second Prince.
However, after the Second Princes downfall and the decision to engage with Lavaltor, he had decided to follow Ian.
In fact, all of the Second Princes remaining power had already been transferred to Ian.
Tell me, what are their intentions?
It appears they plan to abandon the First Princess and introduce a new ally, the spy revealed.
Hmm, theyre abandoning her now?
It was absurd.
It seemed unlikely that Marquis Adelas, unless he were a fool, would join forces with the Fourth Prince.
Currently, the only ones who posed a significant challenge to Ian were the First Princess and the Third Prince.
But the Third Prince would never join hands with those guys.
Most of the First Princesss faction has close ties to the Second Prince. Its likely that the Third Prince still holds a grudge.
They were rotten meat.
But Louis, whom Ian knew, was not someone who would fight even after eating such rotten meat.
He was Louis, who would rather die than give up and fight to the end.
But the spys complexion hardened.
I dont have all the details, but it appears they are discussing that. And the spy hesitated.
And? Ian pressed for an answer.
Marquis Adelas secretly met with people from the Holy Empire.
What?
Ians expression stiffened slightly.
He knew that Marquis Adelas supported the Sun God of the Holy Empire.
But to meet with those people at this time.
Could it be that he is planning to betray our country?
It was natural for Ians gaze to harden.
The moment to make a crucial decision, especially regarding Nathan, seemed to be drawing near.
Considering the recent terrorist attack on Kaistein, that time might be even closer than he thought.
But the spy shook his head.
There havent been any specific details uncovered yet. However the spys expression turned grave, a seriousness Ian had never seen before.
It seems they are contemplating selling off the First Princess.
What?
