◈ Episode 334: White Lion (2)
A grand reception room prepared to welcome a foreign delegation.
In that spacious area, two groups stood facing each other, dividing the space.
On one side were the knights and priests wearing white ceremonial robes and white armor on top.
On the other side were the Imperial Royal Guards, dressed in silver uniforms, arranged in formation.
Although it was a space to accommodate important guests, the atmosphere in the reception room was extremely tense.
"Hmm. The tea tastes good."
A man with a relaxed attitude, as if completely unaffected by the heavy and tense atmosphere, made a remark.
He had a fairly ordinary appearance.
With his messy brown hair and a few freckles, his expression exuded arrogance.
Aileen, sitting opposite him, stared at the man with narrowed eyes.
"But I've heard that the Empire has better tea leaves. It seems they weren't prepared, after all. Ah, of course, I'm not saying that this tea tastes bad, but it doesn't quite meet my standards."
The disrespectful remark made the Royal Guards bristle.
However, as well-trained as they were, no one dared to speak out of turn.
Instead, they glared back at the man with liveliness in their eyes, pressuring him with their gaze.
But the man confidently held his head high, not because he believed in his own abilities, but because he trusted the knights standing behind him.
And even more than that.
He trusted the woman sitting next to him.
"We have also heard about the unfortunate incident that took place in the capital of the Exilion Empire. It's truly regrettable."
"It gives me strength to receive comforting words from the Breutus Kingdom, even sending a delegation. Thank you for your concern."
Eileen spoke without changing her expression.
"However, it's quite surprising that you've brought so many people with you if you're here to help and worry about the unfortunate incident."
Eileen's gaze lingered on the woman sitting next to the smirking man.
She was dressed in pure white attire, with a tiara adorning her forehead.
Sitting elegantly with a faint smile on her lips, she had an air of dignified grace that almost resembled a mannequin imitating a human, sending a strange chill down Eileen's spine.
Eileen immediately grasped the identity of the woman.
'Is she a priestess from their homeland?'
The Breutus Kingdom established branches of the Lumensis Order in each country and sent their own people there.
In every major city of a country, there was always a district head, who could exert some influence in their area.
But even such district heads could only lower their heads when they returned to their homeland, facing the person standing right in front of them.
A priestess.
In the Lumensis Order, priests usually served as intermediaries between gods and humans, playing the role of a communication bridge.
Therefore, they were regarded as 'the humans closest to the gods' among people.
In the Breutus Kingdom, it was a position that could not be considered low.
'But she is so young.'
When one hears the word 'priestess,' they would typically imagine an elderly person, but that was not the case in the Breutus Kingdom.
They handpicked women in their mid-twenties as priestesses, as if it were a sacred vow.
Although the number of priestesses did not exceed ten, it was a well-known secret that all the priestesses wore tiaras.
Whether the anonymous priestess knew that Eileen was staring at her or not, she smiled more intensely, as if a smile soaked in genuine compassion.
It wasn't a sneer or a mockery, but a smile that seemed to have slipped away from true benevolence.
However, Eileen didn't like that smile at all.
Whether it was because she had a rough appearance or because she could exert influence even in the dark world, Eileen always felt uncomfortable around people like her.
Especially if the other person was from the Breutus Kingdom, it made her even more uneasy.
'Moreover, it hasn't been long since the terrorist incident ended, yet they brought such a large force to the capital. It's as if they knew this would happen and made preparations without giving us a chance to react.'
Could it have been exposed? Or was it simply a coincidence?
While Aileen pondered over various possibilities in her mind, the deputy priest couldn't hide his displeasure.
"You are being disrespectful. Don't you know who you are facing right now?"
Right, there was such a guy in this gathering.
A foolish fox who believed that the power of the deputy priest was his own power.
"It is you who is truly disrespectful. Do you not know who you are facing right now?"
"But you are not the Emperor."
"However, I can become the Emperor. Unlike you, who can never ascend to the position of a priest, even as a deputy."
Aileen's sharp remark made the deputy's face turn red.
Having relied on the authority of the priestess to establish his own position and roam freely, deep down in his heart, he felt a sense of despair that he could never become a priestess.
Aileen, being quick-witted, immediately grasped the opponent's weakness.
The deputy priest was about to say something in response but soon had a mischievous smile on his face.
"Yes. Well, I am satisfied with this position. And what is important right now is not that, don't you think?"
"Hmph. You're trying to divert the conversation. Speak to the point of why you came here."
"Didn't I say? It was to express my condolences for the unfortunate incident."
"So, it might make sense to bring priests, but why knights? It looks like they intend to use force, no matter how you look at it."
"Of course, force is necessary. It's just that the empire is not the target."
The deputy priest opened his eyes wide and scanned over Eileen from head to toe.
"But depending on the answer, it could become the empire."
"..."
What an arrogant remark.
How dare he blurt out such nonsense in the inner courtyard of the imperial palace, which was the territory of the empire.
If it had been an envoy from another country, Eileen would have drawn her sword and struck the man's neck.
But the opponent was an envoy from the Breutus Kingdom.
Although they had lost some of their luster compared to the past, the power possessed by the Breutus Kingdom was still formidable.
'Especially the way they have been interfering with the leadership of other countries for a long time bothers me.'
If they were merely a nation openly showcasing their strength, it wouldn't have been such a bothersome situation.
However, they possessed an enigmatic power whose origins couldn't be discerned, intensifying the feeling of unease.
That's why dealing with opponents who possessed unknown power was troublesome.
Eileen thought to herself as she opened her mouth.
"I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. I cannot comprehend what you mean. So, what are you planning to use that force for?"
"As I mentioned earlier, we are aware of the recent events that took place in the empire. However, among the reports we have received, there is one peculiar matter."
"A peculiar matter?"
"It is said that a black storm erupted in the heart of the capital, which appears ominous at first glance. Do you happen to know anything about it?"
As if she could see through everything Eileen was thinking, the deputy priest had a look that seemed to say he knew everything.
Seeing him like that, Eileen couldn't help but ridicule the arrogant deputy priest in front of her.
It seems like he has experienced having his throat tightened a few times in a similar situation.
To think he had the audacity to challenge her with such meager skills.
Truly audacious.
"Well, I also heard about the sudden occurrence of a black storm. However, it was brief and quickly dissipated."
"Regardless of its duration, the fact that it occurred holds significance. Do you have any knowledge about the nature of that black storm?"
"The dreadful event concluded only two days ago. It's a relatively short timeframe to uncover any information."
"So, despite being aware, you're dismissing its importance?"
The words of the deputy high priest were essentially doubting whether the empire was related to the black storm.
Upon hearing those words, the knights didn't get angry but rather looked bewildered.
It was because the opponent's words not only crossed the line but went beyond it.
Indeed, whether it was due to crossing the line or exceeding rudeness, Eileen's expression instantly turned cold.
Even the pressure from the knights couldn't make her flinch.
The moment the deputy high priest faced Eileen's expression, he felt a chill run down his spine.
It was as if her gaze possessed physical force, sharply piercing his body.
The areas her gaze touched felt cold and chilling, even though he was wearing clothes.
It felt like the tip of an ice pick piercing the skin.
Even though the deputy high priest had lost his courage, Eileen's cold gaze was something he couldn't endure.
"Once."
"..."
"I'll let your rudeness pass this time only. But remember. There won't be a next time."
It was a voice that conveyed not mere bluffing, but a sincere warning that she might really do something.
To conceal the fact that he was intimidated, the deputy high priest calmly nodded his head.
Of course, that was his own thinking, but his pale complexion, flowing cold sweat, and trembling pupils clearly showed that he was frightened.
"Anyway, we don't know the reason behind the occurrence of the black storm either. Since the Liberation Army bastards joined forces with the Dark Sorcerers, they might have done something."
"Do you think the Dark Sorcerers are capable of such dangerous magic?"
"I rather want to ask you the opposite. Aren't you underestimating the Dark Sorcerers too much?"
"Ha. You really don't intend to say a single word, do you?"
"Well, after all, I'm the next Emperor. How can I be overshadowed by a mere deputy high priest?"
Upon Eileen's cutting remark, the deputy priest's face twisted, and he murmured in a low voice.
"I understand. Since the empire is so uncooperative, we'll have to look into it ourselves."
"Do as you please. Just the fact that we allowed you to come this far is an act of great mercy on our part."
"...Do you think the homeland will remain silent when they hear about this?"
"The homeland? You are the deputy of the priests, not the deputy of the Bretus Kingdom. Yet you dare to speak in the name of the country? Truly an arrogant remark."
At those words, the deputy high priest fell into contemplation.
Eileen effortlessly turned his half-threatening words back on him with her own rudeness.
The deputy priest glanced at the priestess sitting beside him anxiously.
That glance urgently conveyed that his words were by no means meant in that sense.
"Indeed, they say the next Empress is extremely strong, beautiful, and intelligent. Those words seem not completely unfounded."
Surprisingly, it was the priestess herself who had remained silent until now who spoke up.
"I thought you were unable to speak."
"I simply didn't see the necessity. However, in this particular situation, I cannot stay silent, considering the opposing party involved."
"Ha."
Eileen responded with a laugh to those words.
She thought it wouldn't be easy for the priestess herself to step forward.
It's probably also unsettling for them to leave the task to that blockhead.
It's a pity.
She had planned to dig a little deeper.
However, contrary to Eileen's expectations, the priestess slowly stood up from her seat.
"We will take our leave now. Even as we are engaged in this conversation, somewhere in this world, an impure group is plotting something sinister."
As if there would be an impure group as impure as you.
Eileen barely restrained herself from saying those words.
It was gratifying to know that those annoying and bothersome individuals would leave on their own.
Watching the members of the Lumensis Order leaving alongside the priestess, Eileen clicked her tongue in annoyance.
'For now, it seems like the immediate crisis has been averted, but judging by their reactions, it seems they still suspect us.'
Even though we've hidden it as much as possible, if they start investigating, they might discover some traces.
And naturally, that will also lead to Rudger getting involved.
Judging by Rudger's reaction, he seemed to despise the Lumensis Order a lot.
If it's a relationship where they explode just by coming into contact, like fire and gunpowder, anything could happen suddenly.
'For now, I sent Mandelina to warn that man to be careful.'
He's perceptive enough to protect himself and avoid danger on his own.
* * *
Rudger silently watched the group of people approaching him head-on.
The moment he realized who they were, he couldn't help but feel awkward.
'The envoys from the Bretus Kingdom that Mandelina mentioned. Of all places, I have to encounter them here.'
It was an absurd situation.
He deliberately avoided paths where they could possibly be moving, yet they ended up crossing paths.
They didn't seem to have any specific intention.
It was just a coincidental encounter while passing by.
'Let's just ignore them and move on.'
As Rudger was about to think that way, the woman wearing a tiara at the forefront turned her head towards Rudger.
Her gaze was hidden behind the tiara, but she was clearly staring at Rudger.
"Who are you?"
"...."
He tried to ignore them intentionally, but they initiated the conversation.
Rudger silently looked at the woman with the tiara.
At a glance, she held the highest position among this group.
If she was accompanied by such a high level of escort from their homeland...
"Is she the priestess?"
While Rudger was having such thoughts, the deputy priest came up to him, fuming with anger.
"Hey! She's asking who the hell you are. Are you deaf or something?"
The deputy priest was not in a good mood.
He had been mocked by Princess Eileen during their conversation and failed to fulfill his role properly.
Just that alone was embarrassing enough, and now this guy dared to approach the priestess, so his frustration boiled up.
"Hey, what's wrong with your ears? Or is it a problem with your mouth? priestess, it seems this guy might be deaf or something."
"Did you say 'priestess'?"
Rudger stared intently at the woman with the tiara and spoke.
The deputy priest, who didn't expect Rudger to suddenly speak, looked at him with a puzzled expression, saying, "Huh? Huh?"
"It seems you're accompanied by a suitable retinue for yourself."