“First Imperial Prince, these two are guests Grandfather arranged for me to look after. You aren’t planning to do something to them too, are you?”
Although she was young back then, Tracy could never forget her eldest brother.
He looked harmless, but he was full of wicked schemes.
Whenever the two met, they were always full of smiles like this, but the reality was quite the opposite.
‘Tsk, how does this girl always manage to ruin my plans?’
‘Hmph, this bastard clearly has bad intentions. If I don’t come out, I’m afraid two more ignorant girls will be deceived into a trap by that fake smile of yours.’
Facing Tracy’s innocent yet unyielding attitude, Adost knew he had no way to deal with this pampered Imperial Princess.
However, he wasn’t that flustered this time, as he really hadn’t done anything wrong.
“Little sister, you’ve misunderstood me this time. I am following Father’s orders to specifically invite these two ladies to the side chamber to meet him.”
“Is that so? — The more I look at you, the more suspicious you seem. No way, I’m going to see Father with you!”
The young girl had no way to refute his words, so she simply stood in front of the two, determined to go along.
This made the First Imperial Prince very troubled, yet he had no way to stop her.
Although he had learned as he grew older that this little sister wasn’t a significant threat and his attitude toward her had improved slightly, she was so pampered that even he couldn’t control her.
Moreover, if she really insisted on going along, even if Father was unhappy, Tracy would likely just cause a scene and make him lose his anger.
“Fine… then you follow along. If Father blames us when the time comes, don’t you dare pin it on me.”
“Che, who’s afraid of who? You’re just trying to scare me. I’m already 14, do you really think I’ll fall for your tricks?!”
Tracy stuck out her tongue and led Hailey and Idledra toward the other side of the Great Hall, heading for a room that was hidden and where few people dared to approach.
The room wasn’t large and the decorations were very tidy, but a closer look revealed that the vases and famous paintings on display were all very precious collectibles.
Looking at one of the vases, Hailey seemed to recall something similar; the Holy See also had a very large…
“Haha, the Saintess finds this familiar, don’t you? After all… this is exactly the gift your Pope gave to me. Knowing you were coming, I specifically ordered it to be placed here.”
A voice came from a chair with its back turned to them.
The man sounded steady yet radiated a sense of majesty. His golden hair shone under the crystal lamps.
Despite only seeing his back, one couldn’t help but grow serious.
“3 years ago, to represent the friendly relationship between the Imperial Family and the Holy See, the current Pope, Issar, presented the Imperial Family with a vase he claimed was blessed by the Goddess as a commemorative gift, symbolizing the friendship between the two sides.”
Idledra answered the doubt for Hailey.
After all, she had seen it far more times than Hailey had, especially the way Issar would act all mysterious and foolish in front of the vase…
‘As for whether this vase was actually blessed by the Goddess?’
Idledra smiled somewhat self-mockingly.
“Father! My big brother said you wouldn’t let me come, but I didn’t believe him and had to see for myself. You aren’t going to chase me away, are you?”
As soon as Tracy saw that silhouette, she ran up excitedly.
The previously majestic tone instantly became loving and gentle upon seeing her.
It was almost unbelievable that this was the same person.
Although the Emperor knew about the internal struggles between his children, whether for the sake of the Imperial Family’s reputation or his own wishes, he hoped that a situation of fratricide would never occur.
Therefore, even though Tracy and Adost were like fire and water, they would act like a respectful brother and sister in front of their father.
At the very least, they wouldn’t openly trade harsh words.
“Welcome, Saintess Idledra. I presume you’ve already met Adost, along with my other two worthless children. Oh, right, and my lovely little Tracy, correct?”
If the Tracy currently acting spoiled beside the man was like a stubborn little kitten, then the man before them gave Hailey the feeling of a lion lazily leaning against a stone cliff—arrogant and dismissive, unaffected by his surroundings.
Yet, he also faintly emitted the oppressive aura of a superior.
This was exactly why the First Imperial Prince had remained silent.
Only when facing his innocent child would the lion briefly reveal his tenderness and patience.
This was likely the one thing the other princes desired or envied the most…
“Father… oh no, Your Majesty, Saintess Idledra and her bodyguard have been brought here.”
Watching this scene of father-daughter affection, Adost couldn’t help but interrupt, but he immediately stepped aside respectfully and remained silent.
Tracy, on the other hand, was too lazy to move from the sofa.
‘As long as she stayed here, even if her father was unhappy, he probably wouldn’t make a move against her friends, right?’
“That’s enough, you mischievous girl. Do you think I can’t see through your little schemes? Adost, take Tracy out first. I have important matters to discuss with the Saintess. Hurry.”
The unquestionable tone made the First Imperial Prince dazed for a moment, but he quickly nodded and led the reluctant Tracy out of the drawing room.
The heavy door closed with a dull thud.
“Now then, we should be able to have a proper talk. I am the ruler of the Empire, the seventh Emperor, Augustine Owen.”
The golden-haired man before them was middle-aged, but the beard he wore made him look even more heroic.
Between his brows, he appeared peaceful and humble, yet he faintly radiated an unquestionable pressure.
To his left, he always gripped a massive Golden Greatsword.
The blade was simple, with only a few carvings.
It didn’t look as dangerous as a typical sharpened blade, but Hailey felt a powerful Mana coming from that sword.
It was not at all inferior to the Black Magic the Pope had released before.
“I wonder why Your Majesty has sought us out so specifically… Is it about the Holy See, or do you intend to take something from us?”
Idledra naturally sensed that powerful aura as well, but she felt no malice.
She simply stood protectively in front of Hailey, watchfully waiting to see what the man before them wanted to do.
Augustine simply waved his hand.
To show his sincerity, he even set the sword aside and gestured for them to sit.
“Since you two have accepted my invitation to come here, I won’t beat around the bush. You’ve both seen my daughter, haven’t you?”
Seeing how determined Tracy was to protect her new friends, Augustine felt somewhat surprised.
He hadn’t expected his youngest daughter to accidentally become friends with the Saintess, which saved him quite a bit of trouble.
“What I want to say is, even though I know we are currently, or may in the future be, in our respective camps—perhaps even as enemies…”
“Regardless of that, my only request is for you to look after Tracy.”
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