“Viscountess Bianca Gillette.”

The king’s voice, uttered without any special intent, instantly drew everyone’s full attention.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Bianca bowed deeply.

What could be the king’s business summoning her, someone politically opposed? Just then, a faint cold sweat seeped into her hand clutching the hem of her dress with tension.

In the solemn, heavy air of the audience chamber, the king’s purpose finally emerged.

“I’m tired. I just want to approve some documents.”

“Yes?”

Blinking in surprise, she belatedly noticed something odd.

A large stack of papers lay piled beside the throne. Even during the audience, he had been attending to official duties.

‘Could it be... he’s a diligent person...?’

The sleepy yet imposing and decadent appearance didn’t quite match that, but there was no evidence to the contrary.

The king himself muttered with some complaint.

“Even with my ninth-circle-level mental strength, this workload is tough. The state of the kingdom is more serious than I thought.”

“That’s... regrettable. Due to the three-way political struggle, focusing on internal affairs and curbing corruption was delayed.”

“Ah, yes. The royal family’s power struggle led to many things being overlooked or ignored carelessly.”

“That is so.”

“I appreciate the frank answer. Truly befitting someone trusted by the Celestid late princess.”

“...”

The mention of the Celestid’s people was a perilous subject.

‘Here it comes.’

Bianca prepared herself mentally for whatever fate awaited, and Prinz steeled himself to step in if needed.

But the king only muttered an inscrutable phrase with a face worn by fatigue.

“Why am I serving a palace that deserves to be destroyed...”

“Your Majesty?”

“Nothing.”

Regaining composure, the king adjusted his posture and spoke with dignity.

“Bianca Gillette, by royal decree—”

“I receive it.”

“I appoint you as my royal aide. Serve faithfully and reduce my burdens.”

“...!”

This was the king’s first declaration to keep her close, despite having established no faction.

In effect, she suddenly rose politically to be among the top three powers in the Kingdom of Winchester.

Was it such a shocking order? She instinctively adopted a cautious attitude.

“Your Majesty.”

“Do you have something to say?”

“I was... a person of the late princess. Is it all right to entrust me?”

“I trust the viscountess.”

“Is there a particular reason?”

“I received a recommendation.”

“A recommendation...?”

Instead of elaborating, Reid decisively sealed the matter.

“Rest assured. I don’t consider you a political threat, nor do I intend to test or trap you. You cannot harm me.”

“...Of course. No one can harm ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) a transcendent by force.”

“Not even by schemes.”

This time, Bianca didn’t respond with a sharp retort but quietly looked at Reid’s face. He immediately read the meaning in her gaze: ‘How can you guarantee that?’

“If you harm me, your precious ones will also be hurt.”

Reid spoke amicably, keeping his relationship with Ayleth in mind. Yet Bianca seemed to take it differently.

“...!”

Startled as if caught off guard, she quickly glanced sideways.

“...”

“...”

For a moment, Bianca and Prinz exchanged glances and flinched simultaneously.

“No, I didn’t mean that side.”

Only then did Reid realize his words sounded like a threat: ‘I won’t leave your precious people alone.’

An awkward silence filled the small audience chamber with just three people.

As Bianca and Prinz averted their gazes, Reid clarified.

“To avoid misunderstanding, I’m not holding anyone hostage. Don’t worry about your people being manipulated. I want you to help me of your own will.”

Bianca looked at Reid silently and said,

“Your Majesty, you are indeed a merciful and generous person.”

“I’m glad to earn your goodwill.”

“I am a noble of this kingdom. Serving the royal family is both a duty and an honor, so Your Majesty need not win my favor.”

“That’s not true. Beyond your exceptional abilities, you are quite important to me just as you are.”

“...”

Her face showed confusion. Reid decided to give her one last hint.

“In fact, I have a partner sharing this great endeavor.”

“...”

“Not long ago, I once jumped from a sinking ship. My partner, instead of shouting encouragement, called out the name of the one they wanted to see most. Guess who that was?”

“...”

Bianca’s eyes fully rounded like a full moon.

“It was your name.”

“...!”

It was now harder not to notice.

Bianca took a deep breath and spoke, her voice trembling slightly with lingering excitement.

“My partner was the sacred priest.”

“You must have missed much news because of the ban. The sacred priest himself conducted my coronation. You should have seen it.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

Rarely smiling so broadly, Bianca replied.

“Miss Bianca...?”

“...Ah.”

Seeing Prinz’s wide-eyed fascination with her smile, she suddenly realized her state and grew awkward.

Her ears reddened; feeling compelled to say something, she nervously began.

“Ah! S-sir Prinz, why didn’t you tell me about the sacred priest’s story... N-never mind. Come to think of it, whenever you tried to discuss politics deeply, I interrupted you first. It was my fault for not listening properly.”

It was part of her effort to protect him.

“Oh no! Surely I was the one at fault. That’s how it is.”

“No. It’s clearly my fault, Sir Prinz.”

“The moment you said ‘fault’ from your mouth, it became my fault.”

“I don’t want to show you the cowardly side of blaming others.”

“Not at all...”

“My point is...”

“...”

The atmosphere was endlessly warm and teasing. Reid decided it was time to conclude the talk.

“I look forward to working with you, Viscountess Gillette.”

“Ah! Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you for granting me the honor to serve the royal family.”

“Then let’s go to the study immediately... I’ve prepared a place for you.”

Reid looked very fatigued, so refusal wasn’t an option.

Unlike upon entering, Reid left alone, leaving words for Prinz.

“Sir Prinz, return to the knights. You have important duties ahead.”

✠

Prinz’s steps felt lighter than usual as he returned from the audience with the king.

Not only was Bianca’s welfare, which had been a constant worry, resolved instantly, but the king had shown great favor to both of them.

‘He really is a good man.’

Though a great misconception, it was inevitable.

A king who not only spared Bianca harm but treated her well was practically a benefactor to Prinz.

Of course, Prinz also had doubts about the favor. He didn’t understand the reason for it well.

‘Judging from the conversation in the audience chamber, it seems related to the sacred priest... Could it be that not only Miss Bianca, but also I and the sacred priest are connected?’

Even his top cadet mind couldn’t find an easy answer. Unfortunately, the information he held was insufficient.

Prinz didn’t need to go to the training grounds to rejoin the knights. The Second Royal Knights, his unit, were already assembled in the central courtyard.

It seemed related to the ‘important schedule’ the king had mentioned.

He postponed detailed inquiries for later. For now, both his comrades and his revered seniors were waiting.

Prinz straightened his spine and hurried to stand beside Raywin.

“You arrived just in time before the captain, Sir Prinz.”

“It should be break time now... What’s the matter, Sir Raywin?”

“Apparently, an unexpected schedule came up. It’s that...”

As Raywin hesitated to continue, the seniors standing nearby explained, unable to contain their frustration.

“They say we’re going to greet a very important person.”

“An important person?”

“Yes. The sacred priest himself summoned our knights.”

“...!”

An audience with the sacred priest was a perfect timing and a remarkable event.

Although they had just met the ninth-circle king, the news of an upcoming meeting with the ninth-rank sacred priest felt very different.

After all, Prinz and the others were royal knights, so meeting the king was expected sooner or later. But the sacred priest was another matter—no one had prepared mentally for that.

Moreover, the king and sacred priest, though both transcendent, belonged to very different orders.

If the ninth-circle king was a conqueror, the ninth-rank sacred priest was a savior. Granted divinity by an omnipotent god, he had saved the citizens of Ragneif.

In other words, he was a legendary hero figure whom knights naturally revered.

‘To meet the rumored sacred priest in person?’

The nervousness was mixed with excitement. Royal knights were talking more than usual because of it.

“They said they specifically called only our Second Knights. What could it be for?”

“Rumors say we’re temporarily appointed as the sacred priest’s guards...”

“Isn’t that the role of paladins? We’re royal knights, aren’t we?”

“Hey, does anyone not know that the sacred priest is practically the future queen?”

“Th-That’s true.”

“We need to make a good impression.”

“Indeed.”

Tension spread among the knights as they accepted reality. Among them, one person looked particularly stiff, even grim.

Prinz glanced at him with concern.

“Sir Raywin, are you that nervous?”

“N-Nervous?! Me?!”

“No? Your expression looks stiff.”

“Oh, no, no!”

Of course, everyone was looking at Raywin as if to say, ‘That’s exactly what it looks like.’ Reading the mood, Raywin confessed voluntarily.

“I just thought... it might be someone I know...”