Chapter 37: A Dangerous Invitation

“…And thus, Priest Francis, by the will of the Goddess, bestows grace upon you all.”

“This is the distribution from the church!”

“Maintain order, everyone!”

In one corner of the square, people had gathered like clouds.

There were many priestly robes bearing the emblem of the green tree.

Looking at them, the faces of the merchants and citizens were filled with anticipation.

On simple wooden plates, each person was served a large bowl of pine needle soup.

Beside it, pieces of bread, cheese, and fruit were being diligently handed out.

The people repeatedly bowed their heads in gratitude, praising the Goddess.

“Thank you so much!”

“Thank you, Priest Francis!”

Among the crowd, some eyes watched quietly.

A man with sharp green eyes gleamed from beneath a hood.

“Master Doryeon.”

Four people approached, having gathered reports from several knights.

Glenn turned away from the square and nodded.

“…Did you find out?”

“Yes. Lately, there have been church distributions at least three to four times a week. Thanks to that, public perception of them has somewhat improved.”

“Do you mean most have a positive view of the Empire’s church?”

Though not as extreme as Lepent, there were quite a few in Arian who shuddered at the mention of the Empire.

The hostility wouldn’t just vanish because of a few free servings of soup.

“From the reports, it seems split about fifty-fifty. There’s still basic antipathy toward the Empire — and as you know, the views on their proselytizing efforts aren’t exactly favorable either.”

“Yeah, the Empire’s followers can be pretty extreme.”

Among the four major church orders, the Kerbada are particularly notorious for their fanaticism.

It had been that way since the previous life, with many deserting because of it.

They say the order is so large, that’s just how things are — but from his point of view, it looks more like they’re being neglected.

“Come to think of it, today’s quite quiet? Does the protest stop on distribution days?”

“That seems to be the case. The church doesn’t distinguish the protest squads separately.”

“Such hypocrisy.”

“Do you think it’s unusual?”

“…Yeah.”

The protesting side had once escalated to the point of arresting and beating opponents.

They had acted like it could explode at any moment —

Yet here, the protests seem to be self-regulated.

Is hunger naturally calming them down?

Something feels off — his instincts warn him.

“But you know… they’re praising Francis, not the Goddess.”

“That’s probably because he really holds the power.”

“Hmm…”

It’s customary for religious officials to downplay their own names and elevate that of the Goddess.

But this looks like he’s riding on the Goddess’s name to boost his own reputation.

“…I guess I’ll have to ask him directly.”

Whether he’ll give a straightforward answer is uncertain, but it’s clear he’s someone who knows a lot.

The man with the green eyes watching the square turned his back.

***

“…What do you think?”

“Is that the first thing you say right after greetings?”

“Since it might take a while for the food to arrive.”

Isabelle’s fan fluttered gently.

Her red eyes studied Glenn intently from across the table.

“First, we need to confirm something. You accepted my invitation, so can we assume your decision is final?”

She didn’t specifically say what decision, watching with a composed expression.

“Wasn’t it just an invitation to have a meal?”

Glenn feigned ignorance and smiled wryly.

Now, a hint of sorrow crossed her face.

“It’s a rather cute attempt, but you might lose both rabbits.”

“Which side am I on? No matter how I look at it, I seem opposed…”

“Either way, the fact that the prince is popular doesn’t change.”

Tap, tap —

Isabelle closed her fan and Glenn nodded in response.

“Let me be clear: if you don’t decide now, I have nothing more to say. This time will be wasted.”

If he planned to raise his price back and forth, that would be the end.

The warning was unmistakable.

Glenn quietly clicked his tongue.

“…I was joking.”

“What do you mean by that?”

She pressed him.

She was no woman to be underestimated.

“I intend to join forces with House Stauffen.”

A smile.

Only then did Isabelle smile again.

“Not with Priest Francis, then? Is there a particular reason you chose that path?”

“Not the princess, but Stauffen —”

“Ah, so that’s what you mean.”

“Priest Francis seems more of a politician than a true clergyman. I don’t really trust him.”

“Hmm — lucky you saw through that on your first meeting.”

Knock, knock —

Just as Isabelle nodded with satisfaction, a knock sounded.

“Looks like the food is ready. Shall we continue our conversation over dinner?”

“Yes, let’s.”

***

The meal was quite satisfying.

Not a full banquet, but even the short course was excellent.

A rich country truly shows its difference.

Using knowledge he had learned in the Empire in his previous life, Glenn conducted the meal with relative ease.

“Surprising.”

Isabelle, who had been quietly observing Glenn’s eating habits from earlier, spoke softly.

“Excuse me?”

“I mean your table manners. I expected something when you accepted the banquet invitation.”

“Did I make some mistake…?”

Was the etiquette different back then?

No, that couldn’t be — the history wasn’t that long ago.

Or maybe the Empire’s dining etiquette was different from Arian’s? That’s unlikely.

It’s no secret that the Arian nobility tends to mimic the culture of the Empire’s upper class.

“No, your table manners were impeccable. It just left the impression that they were slightly more Imperial.”

Does Lepent even teach Imperial etiquette?

She asked this indirectly.

“Well — it’s just that I happened to have a chance to practice. So, as for your earlier question…”

“…Oh, the distributions?”

Isabelle lowered her cup, taking a sip of white wine.

Her expression was far from pleasant.

If you noticed something suspicious, then you saw correctly. As you know, in Niran right now, there’s a food shortage due to the skyrocketing price of wheat.

“That’s right.”

She crossed one leg.

Then asked with a meaningful tone.

“So… who do you think is behind raising those prices?”

“…You don’t mean the church did this?”

“That’s the current suspicion. If you’ve been to his residence, you probably didn’t sense anything unusual?”

“It seemed excessive for a foreign clergyman to own that many estates.”

“He owns more than five such residences. He rotates between them, coming and going every night.”

Was he originally wealthy?

This level of wealth is unusual for Niran right now.

In other words, he’s reaping absurd profits here.

And the most likely method is manipulating the grain prices.

“Moreover, he’s now absorbing the opposition faction as well.”

“So it wasn’t always like this?”

“Exactly.”

Francis was the figurehead of the pro-Empire faction within Arian.

He mostly operated along the Empire border area, but since coming to Niran, he’s reached out even to the opposition.

And before long, he’s risen as the leader of two to three factions.

“…His political ability is impressive.”

“Not wrong. But lately, he’s been crossing the line.”

Glenn felt a sense of unease listening to Isabelle.

From what she said, the royal palace already has a good grasp of the situation.

But why —

Why is the palace staying silent?

“Sigh…”

She took another sip of wine.

She seemed quite frustrated.

“I don’t know either. I have no idea what my father’s thinking.”

“That’s unexpected.”

“Not just me — probably no one knows. He’s quite a stubborn man.”

Glenn nodded without realizing it.

He had briefly met him in a past life.

“In any case, Francis, who has absorbed the opposition, now threatens the royal family. I think he’s also reaching out to the protest groups.”

“So he’s expanding his influence through protests and proselytizing, even distributing food in the name of religion.”

Quite a well-crafted scheme.

An ordinary clergyman dared to speak of the throne.

“Of course, my father and Senate wouldn’t give up the throne easily — myself included.”

In fact, under Senate’s name, they even provided guard expenses for common merchants to maintain order.

Normally, that would be the task of the royal guard, but the palace remains silent on this.

“That’s why the prince’s visit at this time was so important. To exaggerate a bit, it felt like a ‘kingmaker.’”

“…That wasn’t my intention.”

“Well, I think I’ve said all I needed to. Now it’s your turn, Prince.”

Just as expected.

Glenn exhaled shortly.

“I’m listening.”

“What does the republic want? Why did the heir personally visit Niran?”

“…In short, to establish cooperative relations with Arian.”

“Hmm, I suspected as much —”

Her fingers tapped her lips.

She seemed to be trying to discern his intentions; a moment of silence passed.

“There can’t be a reason like that for Arian. Is it really because of the Empire?”

“To explain in detail —”

Glenn hesitated briefly, then revealed his ‘Jewel Strategy’ plan.

From memories of his previous life, the contract still belonged to the King of Arian.

Meaning, he wouldn’t lose in a showdown with Francis.

So rather than Francis, it’s better to have cooperative ties with Isabelle first.

After all, what he said would surely be passed on to the contract.

“Impressive. Not so much the idea itself, but that it came from Lepent.”

From her reaction, it seemed she had somewhat expected it.

Still… hearing it that way almost sounded like a bitter complaint.

“…Is it a bribe?”

“Of course, haha.”

When he frowned and asked,

Isabelle covered her mouth with her fan and laughed quietly.

“So — when will the king arrive?”

“Soon, actually I’ve been trying to read my father’s expression for over a month now. Oh, of course, I’m receiving letters regularly. I’ll relay what’s said about you.”

He couldn’t meet him immediately — but at least there was a promise.

Glenn expressed his thanks obediently.

“…Thank you.”

“Don’t be too discouraged. Once the city situation settles, you’ll probably be received at the palace again.”

Her soft voice comforted him.

As Glenn pondered his plans ahead, Isabelle’s eyes glittered.

In her gaze flickered a sharp glint of greed.

***

More conversations followed as the meal gradually came to an end.

Finally, a rather expensive bottle of wine appeared.

Isabelle, who had been looking at the wine, shifted her gaze to Glenn opposite her.

“…Why?”

She was worth it.

The more they talked, the stronger her conviction became.

Even at their first meeting, he had sensed it, but now it became clear.

Between her smiles, an unknown reddish aura briefly appeared and vanished.

At a glance, it felt similar to vitality or blood energy.

…What was that? Was he imagining it?

Glenn smiled slightly and nodded.

“This is quite far away.”

Isabelle rose from her seat.

Then, very naturally, she sat beside him.

“Now then~ I’ll pour for you. You’ll probably like it. I picked it myself.”

Her movements were delicate.

Her subtle seduction, which he had felt before, was even more aggressive today.

Every time her fingers brushed Glenn’s arm, it gave off an inexplicable thrill.

Glenn unconsciously squinted his eyes.

What was this creepy feeling?

“This is an Elven Brinac product. Have you heard of it?”

“…That’s right. It’s as precious as Hennessy.”

Of course, that was likely a lie — but it was a wine said to be made by elves.

Its history was deep, and its taste and aroma were also exceptional.

“Thank you for your thoughtfulness.”

“Oh my — I’m so glad you noticed. Hehe.”

Now she even linked her arm with his.

…The intense gaze from beside him felt burdensome.

“Am I being a burden if I act like this?”

Her voice sounded completely dejected.

Glenn nervously shook his head.

“That’s not it… It’s just that you seem a bit overwhelming.”

“Oh? What do you mean by that? Now, shall we have a drink?”

She skillfully poured the wine into his cup, clinked glasses, and drank.

…Separately from the situation, it was indeed a fine wine.

“You drink well; I’m thankful for that.”

“Then, shall we continue your earlier explanation —?”

“Oh, enough about that. Focus on me now.”

Isabelle’s touch became bolder.

From the back of her hand, to her forearm, shoulder, and even thigh.

Today she was lightly armored, so her touch was easily felt through the fabric.

Each time her fingers brushed him, he felt something melting inside.

It was strange, but she was definitely alluring.

Her red lips and eyes were like beautiful jewels.

And her pale skin was… as if it were electrifying itself —

…Wait, why am I feeling this way?

Glenn’s sudden change put him on high alert.

“Ahem.”

“By the way, Prince, you’re really handsome. It’s my first time seeing a man’s face this close; it’s amazing.”

“…Prince, you are equally beautiful.”

Could it be?

The strange feeling raised a thread of suspicion.

…Before swallowing his hunter’s intuition, a snake appeared.

When her hand finally pulled away, he felt regret —

No matter what it was, he found himself wanting to fulfill her wishes.

His doubt gradually shifted into conviction.

“Thank you. Oh, you have a mole here.”

Isabelle’s hand moved toward his face.

Forced to meet her eyes, his head went blank.

Seeing her red lips, an unbearable impulse grew stronger.

Glenn’s guard reached its peak.

“Here, here.”

As her face drew closer,

Glenn desperately pushed his blood energy to its limit.

Jjing—

“Huh?”

“Eh?”

Blood energy in Glenn’s palm moved.

More precisely, the blood energy moving from Isabelle’s hand reacted with his own.

It was as if cold water had been poured on top, and the energy was returning to its place.

Looking closely, it became clear.

He had almost been swallowed by the snake.

“Sigh.”

The suspicion that had been growing since before crystallized.

Was this the source of the strange feeling? Damn it.

“Whoa!”

Glenn roughly grabbed Isabelle’s wrist.

A parasitic species that seduces humans through blood magic and sucks their blood. They had been a constant thorn in his side in his past life.

Had he not suffered enough from being deceived by these creatures? Thinking of that, anger surged instantly.

“So it was a damn vampire.”

His voice was threatening, like a growl. His green gaze flashed fiercely.

Ssrrung!—

Without hesitation, Glenn drew his sword.