“Really?!”

“Wow, as expected of Viscount Waldenstein!”

“...This has nothing to do with my rank. And it’s not certain yet.”

“Ah, but we can still hope! Knowing someone who’s the future queen is amazing!”

“...”

One senior knight tried to encourage hope, but somehow it backfired. Raywin’s expression grew very gloomy.

As the senior knights, wary of Viscount Waldenstein, straightened their ranks, Raywin glanced subtly at Prinz.

“Sir Prinz, have you heard anything about the sacred priest?”

“No? Not really.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Nothing much...”

His clear eyes and innocent face made it obvious that further questioning was pointless.

Raywin changed the subject with a more cautious tone.

“Then, perhaps...”

“Yes?”

“How would you feel if His Majesty the King became your brother-in-law?”

“B-Brother-in-law? His Majesty? Raywin, that’s an outrageous assumption...!”

As he made a serious face, Raywin’s eyes momentarily shone with hope. But—

“Of course, His Majesty is a peerless beauty, courteous to ladies, filled with intellect and grace, possessing power, wealth, and authority...! Still, to think such thoughts about the king...!”

“...You said you just had an audience with His Majesty.”

“Yes! He exuded the aura of a sage king!”

“...”

Raywin’s eyes darkened as his admiration peaked.

At that moment, the senior knights overheard and interrupted, picking only the juicy parts.

“What? Brother-in-law of Sir Prinz? Who?!”

“Sir Prinz, did you say you’d introduce your sister?”

“That beautiful sister?! To whom?!”

“Too bad. Can I go next?”

“...”

Prinz’s mood turned cold. Fortunately, no coup attempts followed.

“Come on, focus!”

From afar, the captain and vice-captain approached.

A small-built greatsword knight with orange-blonde twin tails and a sleepy-faced dual-sword knight with long light brown hair—Cherli and Shez, newly promoted.

The Second Royal Knights stood in three straight lines, eyes fixed ahead. Cherli moved among them, saying,

“From now on, our Second Knights will meet the sacred priest. As you know, he’s a transcendent who awakened the ninth-rank sacred power, rapidly rising as the head of our national religion, closely connected to His Majesty, even personally overseeing the coronation. I’m sure you’ve heard the rumor they entered the king’s chamber together that day. The likely future queen personally summoned us, so we must be impeccable!”

“Yes!”

“Hey, Raywin! You look lifeless.”

“I’ll correct that.”

“Hey, Sir Prinz! Your neck is stiff! Don’t show your nerves!”

“Will do!”

Over twenty knights began marching in formation.

Their destination was inside the palace. The king had ordered an entire annex rebuilt as a chapel, completed just yesterday.

Effectively, this palace chapel became the first parish of the Language Command Church in Winchester.

Symbolizing divine openness and acceptance, the chapel doors stood wide open. Inside, the sacred space welcomed them with mysterious stained glass light and pipe organ music.

From the innermost part of the chapel, a subtle yet noble atmosphere permeated. The knights walked quietly, without being told.

The king seemed intent on showing the chapel’s dignity. The pulpit was set much higher than the throne’s platform.

Looking up before greeting would be improper, so they entered keeping their eyes forward.

Stopping at a proper place, Cherli knelt on one knee in front.

“I am Cherli Lekandro, Captain of the Second Royal Knights. Alongside 24 royal knights of our order, we pay respects to the sacred priest.”

“We pay respects to the sacred priest!”

When the other knights echoed loudly following Cherli’s bow, a kind voice caught someone’s ear.

“Huh?”

Prinz unconsciously broke protocol and looked up.

The sacred priest did not scold him for breaking formation. Instead, he smiled brightly and met his gaze.

“I am the sacred priest, Ayleth Rodeline.”

“Gasp!”

The shocked gasp and near-fainting faces were clearly out of place among knights. His comrades looked bewildered.

“Wh-what’s wrong, Sir Prinz?!”

“Sir Prinz, how rude!”

“Forgive us, Your Grace! Sir Prinz seems overly nervous...!”

Then the sacred priest raised one hand to stop them and spoke a phrase that made everyone instantly understand.

“Hello, brother. Long time no see.”

“...!”

The faces of the knights supporting Prinz went blank.

After a while, they looked back and forth between Prinz and Ayleth, trying to grasp the situation.

“Wait, when the sacred priest introduced himself, the name was...”

“Rodeline here... and Rodeline there...?”

“T-Then Sir Prinz’s sister is...!”

“Eek!”

Next, Ayleth smiled at Prinz’s side.

“Viscount Raywin, long time no see.”

“So it was you after all.”

“Yes. Nice to see you. ...But you look a little pale. Are you okay?”

“No... It’s nothing. Please don’t worry...”

Raywin’s face, denying it, looked as if he had been heartbroken.

Someone was in worse shape than Raywin at that moment.

“My sister... the sacred priest...? Ah...”

“S-Sir Prinz?!”

“Pull yourself together, Prinz!”

“No, Sir Prinz! No need to be so shocked!”

“Hey, watch your tone. He’s the sacred priest’s older brother!”

“Even His Majesty’s elder brother-in-law!”

“Gah, Sir Prinz, pull yourself together!”

“Sir Prinz, lying down now will make things worse!”

The chaos settled only after quite some time.

Ayleth offered seats to the Second Knights and talked with them. Still dazed, Prinz was placed gently in a corner.

“...So I’ve begun firmly establishing my position as the head of the national religion. I thought I should tell you I’m the sacred priest, and also visit your knights to see how you’re doing.”

“Your Grace! It’s an honor to meet you.”

“...”

“Seeing with my own eyes today, you seem to have good friendships and camaraderie. I’m glad my efforts selling potions to send you to the academy paid off.”

“Oh, Your Grace supports Sir Prinz! Such a deep bond!”

“...”

“Well then, please take care of my brother from now on.”

“Don’t worry about Sir Prinz, Your Grace!”

“...”

While Ayleth’s every word was met with enthusiastic responses, only Prinz was dazed.

The conversation ended with talk of occasional requests for the knights at Language Command Church events.

They were just about to prepare to withdraw.

“Oh, brother.”

“Uh, huh?!”

Startled out of his daze, Prinz reacted sharply. His sister lightly spoke to her still troubled brother.

“Let’s go to the Hispenril Duchy together later.”

“T-The duchy? Why there...? Y-You don’t mean...!”

Prinz’s face went pale.

“Conquer it too?! Ah, jeez! Were you always this ambitious...?!”

“Brother, what are you talking about now?”

“Ah, ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) never mind. Sorry. I just had a ridiculous thought for a moment...”

“Why would we conquer a duchy?”

“Right, right? The ruler there is Duke Hispenril, an aura master and a very strong sorcerer...”

“Yeah, our maternal grandfather.”

“...?”

Prinz blinked. The knights nearby did the same.

Seeing their confused looks, Ayleth kindly explained.

“A long time ago, our mother ran away from home. So brother and I are the hidden grandchildren of Duke Hispenril!”

“Ah... I see?”

Apparently everyone understood, so Ayleth looked back at Prinz.

“If Mother inherits the duchy title, our surnames will change too. Then you’d be Prinz Hispenril.”

“...”

“Hello, Prince of Hispenril?”

“...!”

That playful greeting was a final blow. Prinz staggered as if dizzy.

This time, the knights skillfully supported him.

“Oh dear, Prince Prinz!”

“Here comes Sir Prinz again!”

“Keep it together, Prince of Hispenril!”

“He really is fragile!”

Watching the cheerful comrades, Ayleth smiled warmly.