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The Heir Designation Ceremony grandly concluded after a week-long banquet.

Due to political reasons, leaders from various nations, who had traveled far, returned after achieving their respective goals by participating in the ceremony.

Some built connections to expand their wealth, while others collected crucial information that could serve as a political foundation.

Though their purposes and outcomes varied, they all began to leave one by one as the ceremony ended.

Given the large number of attendees, a sudden departure would have caused chaos, so they left gradually. Nobles, who value their dignity, preferred not to leave in a disorderly manner.

After about three days, all participants of the Heir Designation Ceremony had left.

Except for one group—Saintess Veronica and her party from the Divine Empire.

Veronica had come here not only to meet Gilbert but also for another purpose.

If Gilbert was indeed the person from the prophecy, her task was to guide him to the prayer room where the prophecy had been revealed.

After her private meeting with Gilbert, Veronica was convinced he was the prophesied figure and suggested he visit the Divine Empire.

Gilbert, who also had reasons to go to the Divine Empire, agreed to accompany her.

However, there was one procedure Gilbert had to complete before heading to the Divine Empire.

The Demia Empire Academy was still under restoration and indefinitely suspended, as it needed more time to return to normal.

While he didn’t need permission from a specific professor, there was someone he had to report to before leaving for another country.

“Your Majesty, the Crown Princess. Sir Gilbert has arrived.”

“Hmm, let him in.”

As soon as permission was granted, Gilbert stepped through the opened door.

Inside the office, Seraphina was seen reviewing various documents piled up.

It seemed she had been working for a long time, as several cups of black tea were scattered in front of her.

Seeing Seraphina, who usually enjoyed leisurely tea breaks, so engrossed in her work without time to relax made Gilbert feel a bit sorry for her.

Her appearance reminded him of modern workers desperately trying to avoid overtime.

“A priest has arrived. But I have no leisure time. The long vacancy of the heir has left too many documents to process.”

Seraphina looked up at Gilbert only after confirming the last page of the document she was reviewing.

Perhaps due to her relentless work schedule, there were faint dark circles under her eyes.

“Are you getting enough rest?”

“I sleep two to three hours a day, so there’s no need to worry.”

“Two to three hours can hardly be called proper sleep.”

“It can’t be helped. It’s the minimum responsibility of a ruler.”

Seraphina, pressing her temples to relieve fatigue, waved her hand as if it were nothing.

Gilbert nodded inwardly, seeing Seraphina’s sharp eyes despite her exhaustion. Even during the days of Tactical Combat, she always prioritized the empire’s well-being.

The developers had even stated that her romance route wasn’t available because she prioritized the empire above all else, seeking a partner who could benefit the empire.

Though things had changed in reality…

Gilbert forcefully erased the normalized sub-scenario from his mind.

“By the way, since you’ve come here suddenly, you must have a request. I’m very curious about what scheme you have this time.”

“This time, it’s nothing too demanding. I just need permission to visit the Divine Empire with Saintess Veronica…”

“Denied!”

Before Gilbert could finish, the sharp refusal made him flinch involuntarily.

The cheerful expression Seraphina had moments ago was gone, replaced by a stern look with raised eyebrows. She looked like a cat with its fur bristling.

It was a side of her Gilbert had never seen before, making him wonder what was going on. Even when someone had tampered with the system, her behavior had been strange, but that was due to forced alterations in her thought process.

Unlike the twisted demeanor back then, this current expression, though slightly off, still felt like Seraphina.

Upon further reflection, Gilbert realized there was a valid reason for her to block his trip to the Divine Empire. Veronica had come here specifically to meet him, so it was natural for Seraphina to suspect that the Divine Empire might be trying to poach him.

Gilbert, who was only going to the Divine Empire for a specific purpose, felt the need to clarify this misunderstanding and quickly spoke up.

“Your Majesty. My visit to the Divine Empire is solely for a personal matter, nothing more.”

“If it’s nothing more, then tell me, what exactly is this matter?”

An intangible aura emanated from Seraphina, who was born with the qualities of an emperor. It wasn’t a physical force like mana, but an overwhelming presence of dignity or charisma.

Gilbert wanted to explain everything, but he couldn’t reveal the prophecy about the hero and the Demon King. Veronica had strictly warned him against it.

Nor could he say that he was a transmigrator seeking a way back home. That was information he intended to keep hidden at all costs.

“Your Majesty. Do you think my delayed response is a mistake on my part?”

The strange pressure continued. Realizing that stalling further wouldn’t help, Gilbert quickly gathered his thoughts and began to speak.

“I was just organizing my thoughts. The reason for visiting the Divine Empire is primarily at Saintess Veronica’s request.”

“What reason would the Saintess have to summon the empire’s hero?”

Her gaze grew sharper.

Seraphina, who was highly protective of talented individuals, seemed wary of any potential threats.

“It seems she’s discovered something related to Horizon. She requested my presence to confirm it.”

“Then shouldn’t she have made an official request to me? I don’t know how to interpret her making a private request only to you.”

“Since it’s not confirmed, she made an unofficial request. She likely suspected remnants of Horizon’s forces might still be around, hence the informal approach.”

“That sounds plausible. But I still deny it. I cannot casually send the empire’s hero to another country. Only an official request would warrant such a dispatch. An unofficial one is unacceptable.”

This was, in essence, a political issue.

Sending Gilbert, who was revered as the empire’s hero, to the Divine Empire without an official reason posed several political risks.

Firstly, Gilbert was known as Seraphina’s sword. If he appeared in the Divine Empire unofficially, it could imply he had switched allegiances.

Though it made no sense for a prominent member of the Lion Heart Family, a noble house of the empire, to suddenly defect to the Divine Empire, politics often magnified even the smallest flaws.

Despite her solid support base, Seraphina, having just been designated as the Crown Princess, needed to solidify her position as the heir.

Though changing heirs wasn’t common, it wasn’t impossible, and other claimants still had opportunities.

They wouldn’t sit idly by, so there was no need to stir unnecessary trouble.

Moreover, neighboring nations might speculate about a potential marriage alliance between Gilbert and Veronica.

Though Veronica was a Saintess, the Divine Empire’s doctrines didn’t prohibit marriage, so their relationship could be scrutinized.

Historically, marriage alliances were among the strongest bonds, so the possibility of an alliance between the Infractus Empire and the Divine Empire couldn’t be ignored.

Though somewhat speculative, the idea was appealing.

The meeting of the empire’s hero and the Divine Empire’s Saintess.

It was a picture-perfect scenario.

“Hence, I deny it. I have no intention of granting permission, so you may leave.”

“For the empire’s stability, we must confirm whether Horizon has any backing.”

“If you follow the official procedures, I’d be happy to send you.”

“That’s not possible, which is why I’m pleading like this.”

Seraphina, firmly rejecting, and Gilbert, determined to get permission, continued to clash without reaching a conclusion.

With no room for compromise, they were at an impasse.

“Priest. I have no intention of changing my mind. I see no need to secretly dispatch you, bearing political risks.”

“Even if Horizon has backing?”

“Even so, nothing is confirmed. Besides, I’ve already said I’d gladly allow it if there were an official request.”

Seraphina firmly closed the door on negotiations.

From a logical standpoint, there was no way to win this argument.

But if he backed down now, the path to the Divine Empire would be blocked.

Bringing up this topic again wouldn’t be easy, so he had to secure permission somehow.

Reluctantly, Gilbert decided to shake things up.

“Is this because of the proposal you made earlier?”

“Proposal?”

Seraphina, who had been adamant about blocking Gilbert’s trip, looked at him with a strange expression as he suddenly changed the subject.

Her gaze seemed to assess whether he had some hidden agenda.

“Didn’t you suggest, Your Majesty, that I become your consort?”

“Th-that!”

Seraphina, who had been calm until now, visibly flustered.

Gilbert had forcibly brought up a memory she had buried deep, one she herself found strange.

Though she had been mentally manipulated due to the system hack and displayed unusual behavior, she hadn’t lost the memory of that moment. She was aware that she had made the decision herself, even if she now found it odd.

With the system normalized, she couldn’t understand the emotions of that moment but still considered the decision somewhat valid.

Objectively, Gilbert was a suitable candidate for the consort position, and personally, she found him appealing.

However, the way she had proposed it, driven by possessive and obsessive desires, was unlike her usual self and embarrassed her.

The memory of that moment, filled with a clingy desire to possess him, was vividly etched in her mind.

If it had been a rational proposal, she wouldn’t have minded, but the way she had acted then made it impossible for her to remain composed.

Do I look like a woman who can’t live without her priest?!

Seraphina suddenly felt her throat dry and took a sip of black tea.

“If you’re worried that my trip to the Divine Empire will delay the consort designation ceremony, there’s no need. I’ll return as quickly as possible.”

“Priest! I’ve only recently become the Crown Princess! There’s still much to handle due to the long vacancy of the heir. The consort designation ceremony is premature.”

Seraphina hastily cut him off, speaking rapidly. It was a side of her unlike her usual composed and elegant self.

Gilbert, sensing that the situation had shifted, subtly requested permission again.

“Then, may I go to the Divine Empire?”

“Didn’t I say it’s denied!”

“Is it because of the consort designation ceremony…”

“Enough! Fine, I’ll allow it!”

Slamming her desk, Seraphina shouted, and Gilbert bowed his head without further argument.

Finally having achieved his goal, he smiled subtly.

Of course, with his head bowed, he didn’t see Seraphina’s blazing glare.

 

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