Episode 128: Spread the Word (V)
As per the emperor’s suggestion, Esther took a big bite into the shiny strawberry.
And her eyes widened in surprise at the combination of strong sweetness and freshness that made her heart race.
“Does it taste good?”
Esther nodded vigorously. She didn’t quite register it, but she was starting to find the emperor likable.
Needless to say, the tension in the atmosphere was relieved in an instant.
“The imperial chef really likes to make new desserts. But my kids don’t like it…”
Then, the emperor glanced at Esther.
“I was happy to hear from Noah that you like desserts. Whenever you visit the Imperial Palace, I will prepare a lot of delicious desserts for you.”
After suggesting that she should visit the imperial palace often, the emperor pushed the plate containing the fruit skewers in front of Esther.
“Noah said you could grow holy flowers. Really?”
Esther paused as she rolled the sticky strawberry in her mouth. Although she had already made a firm decision, she still hesitated for a moment when it was time to reveal the truth.
However, as she had previously told Noah, she was determined to join hands with the emperor to fight the temple.
“…That’s rwight.”
The pronunciation was off because the strawberry was not swallowed well. The wriggling cheeks bulged out like how a squirrel’s did when it’s stuffed with acorns.
“Then would it be possible here?”
“All I need is soil.”
After barely swallowing the strawberry, Esther lifted her right foot from the soil which she was stepping on. There, was a small sprout that had been hidden by her foot.
It was a sprout that appeared in response to Esther’s good mood while eating dessert.
The emperor’s eyes widened greatly; he had expected it, but it was still unbelievable.
“Goodness, you didn’t even concentrate your divine power, yet the holy flower grew on its own… I can’t even believe it when I see it. Does this happen often?”
“Umm, recently.”
The emperor became silent for a moment, lost in his thoughts. Then he slowly opened his mouth and muttered,
“The same goes for fixing Noah’s incurable disease, which is called the curse of God…”
In the meantime, Esther finished the strawberry skewer, and her eyes twinkled with happiness.
It tasted so good that she wanted to come back to eat it again.
Seeing Esther’s lips glossed with sugar, the emperor smiled and held out another skewer, this time, of green grapes.
“Noah hasn’t told me anything yet, but I see that you’re a saint.”
Esther nodded quietly as she took the skewer. She was not surprised; it was expected that he would notice when he talked about the holy flowers.
“I knew it. Ah, two saints. I’m not sure what the situation is, but… Your abilities are similar to that of the first saint.”
As Esther’s cheeks became convex again, she blinked rapidly. Eyelashes swayed up and down together.
“The first saint?”
“Yes. Saints are not equal even though they are all saints. There are varying differences in the amount of divine power they can use.”
Putting down the skewer, Esther brought her feet together, and perked up her ears. It was to listen attentively.
“Among them, the one who had the most outstanding divine power in history. The one thing unique to the first saint.”
Up to this point, Esther had also learned it in class.
“Holy flowers bloomed where she stayed, and holy water instead of rivers flowed in the empire.”
But it was the first time she had heard that the holy flowers bloomed by itself, and that holy water was abundant like water. It was very similar to her own abilities.
“She was the savior of this world, befitting the title of ‘saint’.”
In the history book passed down only to emperors from generation to generation, the origin of the empire and the world before the creation of the barrier were written.
It was because of the barrier created by the first saint that they were able to escape from demons, monsters, and all kinds of diseases.
“The temple doesn’t seem to know that you are a saint at all.”
“For now.”
Since she was now carrying out relief activities in Tersia, rumors would spread more and more, so she didn’t know if the temple would find out ‘sooner’ or ‘later’.
“Do you have any intention of entering the temple after it’s revealed that you are a saint?”
“Absolutely not. Under no circumstances will I be with the temple.”
Upon discerning determination in Esther’s gaze, the emperor lowered his voice.
“I would like to ask why.”
Esther wiped her mouth with the napkin lying next to her. Her eyes became as serious as the emperor’s.
“How much do you support the temple, Your Majesty?”
“Temples are indispensable to the empire. I definitely need it. But I cannot watch it ruin the empire like it is now.”
It was a far more sufficient answer than recklessly telling lies about hating the temple in order to gain Esther’s power.
Esther was convinced that the emperor would be on her side, at least while Rabienne was the saint.
“You need holy flowers, right?”
“Yes.”
“I will help you.”
The emperor let out a sigh of relief at Esther’s willing and positive answer.
Holy flowers were necessary not only to keep the temple in check, but also for the people of the empire who were about to die of an infectious disease.
“I apologize, I feel that I’m putting too much burden on you. If there is anything you want, feel free to tell me.”
“I… I want the current temple to collapse. I hope everyone in the central temple gets punished.”
“This includes the daughter of the Duchy of Brions, who is currently in the position of a saint?”
“yes.”
“Well. It can’t be seen as a personal wish. For the sake of the empire, it must be done.”
The emperor expressed that it was too little of a want, and he kindly told Esther to not be burdened with anything.
Esther, who, for a long time, had hoped for nothing but to repay Rabienne and the temple, requested after contemplating.
“There cannot be a world without bad people. But at least, I hope our country can be one where evil deeds and wrongdoers are punished. Our empire.”
For a second, the emperor’s expression hardened. He felt dizzy for the first time in a long time.
The simplest but hardest to keep. It was a principle that he had been missing while paying attention to the temple.
“…It looks like I have received an awakening. I get it. I promise you that I will try to change from the inside.”
The eyes of Esther and the emperor met, and they both smiled.
At this moment, it seemed that there was a commotion outside, and a few seconds later, the door to the greenhouse was thrown open without the emperor’s permission.
There was only one person in the Imperial Palace who could do such a thing. Princess Reina, the emperor’s favorite.
“I heard that Lady Esther came, is it true? Dad, you are so mean. You should have called me too. I almost passed by without knowing.”
Reina ran to the side of the table and gave Esther a wide smile.
“Sister, you shouldn’t go in like that while they’re talking.”
Noah, who was unsuccessful in stopping Reina, came in after her with a sigh.
“I’m just going to look at Esther’s face for a second. I have no intention of interfering.”
Reina was so lively that she seemed to be a different person from when she was sad about Noah.
“Lady Esther, how have you been doing? You gave me a lot of strength back then, so I really wanted to see it again.”
“I’ve been well. How has the princess been?”
“Great as well. Noah is back, and we are so happy now.”
Radiating genuine joy, Reina clasped Esther’s hand tightly. Her eyes were full of gratitude.
“When are you going back? Please have some tea with me later.”
“Oh… I have to go right back today. Instead, I will definitely stop by next time I come.”
At Esther’s words, Reina couldn’t hide her regret and disappointment.
“Let’s promise. Next time you come, let’s eat something delicious together and chat. I want to become friends with you.”
The emperor laughed wildly when he saw his daughter, who was usually not the bubbly sort, being particularly active towards Esther.
“Heh heh, it seems our Reina really likes Esther.”
Esther didn’t know it, but in front of the greenhouse door, the empress was peeking inside.
“Is that the child?”
“Yes. I heard that she is the daughter of His Excellency, the Grand Duke of Tersia.”
The empress was going to be happy with whoever her son brings, but to think it’s the grand duke’s daughter… She widened her eyes in amazement.
“Oh my goodness… No wonder our Noah is hooked. She is a very sweet girl. Doesn’t the light just shine around her?”
“Is that so?”
The empress’ lady-in-waiting looked puzzled.
“It seems like a treasure the grand duke would never give away. Noah is going to have a hard time. Haha.”
The empress adored Esther as soon as she saw her.
She had come to see her face because she was curious, and if it wasn’t for her health, she would have gone into the greenhouse and asked questions like Reina.
After a while…
Having finished the conversation with the emperor, Esther exited the greenhouse with Noah.
He was going to send her off to the carriage, but wanting to spend more time with her, he deliberately led her down a winding garden path.
“It’s very pretty here.”
“Right? It’s my favorite path.”
The walk progressed alongside small talk, with neither of them realizing the passage of time. Eventually, the end of the garden path came into sight.
“Hmm? Are you sad to have to say goodbye?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You just slowed down.”
“It’s… it’s not like that.”
Esther waved her hand, dismissing it.
Actually, her voice rose because she was embarrassed to have been caught. She really did slow down a little while ago.
“Or not.”
A mischievous smile appeared on Noah’s face. Esther was not yet conscious of it, but he knew that she had been very open with him.
“Esther, you know what?”
“What?”
“I like you a lot.”
Rustle.
Esther’s heart thumped with the sound of the leaves being stepped on.
The step forward that she was about to take was lost, causing her to stand still.
“…Huh?”
It wasn’t just a day or two that Noah said this, but this time, his voice was subtly different.
The tension from the difference made the tiny hairs all over Esther’s body stand on end.
“I know. I like you too.”
Wanting to overcome the awkward moment, Esther smiled brightly as she took a proper step forward.
“Do you really know?”
But today, as if he had made up his mind, Noah went in front of Esther and turned to face her.
He stared intently.
“It’s a different feeling than you liking your dad and older brothers.”
Esther bit her lower lip lightly.
She suddenly felt short of breath, like she was being sucked into the depthless black eyes.
Although she had no dating experience, she couldn’t not know if he said this much.
‘Does Noah really like me? As in… As someone of the opposite gender?’
In the meantime, countless thoughts crossed her mind (which she had censored out of self-consciousness).
She was in a state whereby she didn’t know what to say, so she only pursed her lips.
“Uh… So I…”
“Ah, wait. I didn’t confess, so don’t answer now.”
She didn’t mean to answer, but Esther, who was stopped by Noah, opened her mouth slightly.
“Then what is it?”
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