I Got an Otherworldly Dating App

It was the day of the founding of Pelledia, 200 years ago.

"Your Majesty?"

"Resilia?"

Prime Minister Resilia appeared in front of Iris, who was busy with preparations for the founding ceremony.

"You look especially beautiful today."

"Oh my, Resilia is such a sweetheart. The maid's hard work since early in the morning has paid off," Iris replied, smiling faintly.

Iris, who was fully adorned in traditional attire for the founding of the country, stared at Resilia's calm presence.

"By the way, what is going on here? I heard you are busy preparing for the founding of the country."

"I have left the preparations to my subordinate officials."

"Hmm?"

Iris was puzzled by her own words. She wasn't the type to leave something as significant as preparations for a founding ceremony to someone else.

Because of her meticulous personality, she couldn't stand it if she didn't personally manage and supervise even the smallest details. How could she have left the most important preparations for the founding of the country to someone else?

"I have something urgent to report to Your Majesty."

"To me?"

"Yes, I had to inform you of this before the founding ceremony began, so I hope you will forgive me for leaving the preparations to someone else."

Seeing her serious attitude, which was much more solemn than usual, Iris dismissed the maids and headed to a nearby room.

"I only put in two spoons of sugar, as you usually do."

"Haha, thank you."

Iris drank the black tea that Resilia had personally prepared for her and made a satisfied expression.

However, as Resilia's story continued, Iris's expression became increasingly serious.

"...The Northern Empire is preparing for war?"

"Yes, this is information from a reliable source."

Iris rubbed her temples at the two words.

"If they win, won't the U.S…. Where?"

"The Kingdom of Santala?"

She didn't understand. Even if the Northern Empire were to invade the Kingdom of Santala at this time, there would be more to lose than to gain.

"Recently, a mithril vein was discovered near the capital of the Kingdom of Santala."

"Mithril…"

Mithril was a precious metal used in weapons and armor, especially those strong enough to warrant war. However, the discovery of a mithril vein also meant there was a high possibility that adamantium was buried there as well. Adamantium, an essential material for creating sacred relics, was worth enough to provoke conflict, a rare resource even in Pelledia.

"Did the Kingdom of Santala request support?"

"Yes, it was unofficially conveyed through a messenger this morning."

That meant the Kingdom of Santala was aware of the war brewing. If they were to request support from the neutral nation of Pelledia, then the Northern Empire must already be preparing for war with all its might. Iris had to swallow a heavy sigh, thinking that such a problem was occurring right before the founding of the nation.

"Reject it."

"However, Your Majesty, the Northern Empire is a military power that does not have the Catholic Church as its state religion. If the Kingdom of Santala falls into their hands, the Northern Empire will share a border with us."

"But that won't do. If we send support, our status as a neutral nation will become unclear. It would be appropriate to hold future talks and sign a peace treaty with the Northern Empire."

"…The Iron-Blooded Emperor is not a man who can be reasoned with."

Iris stood up from her seat with a stern expression.

"Resilia, this agenda ends here."

After leaving the room, Iris's already complicated mind grew even heavier.

The Northern Empire was one of the greatest powers that had argued for hegemony over the continent. If a war broke out between such an empire and the Kingdom of Santala, countless people would die. The rivers and fields would be stained with blood, and the refugees that would arise from the war would be uncountable.

Iris had a way to prevent such a tragedy.

That was to send support to the Kingdom of Santala.

If the Kingdom of Pelledia sent support, other countries that had the Catholic Church as their state religion would also send support to the Kingdom of Santala or criticize the Northern Empire. No matter how much the Northern Empire did, it would be burdensome to have so many countries as enemies.

However, there was a high possibility that the scale of the war would be reduced or that the war itself would not occur.

Even knowing that, Iris could not choose that option. The status of a neutral country could only be maintained if it stayed neutral for eternity.

Even though there were many human nations that had the goddess cult defining elves as their state religion right now, human time and elf time were different.

Iris knew that, in the future, the influence of the goddess cult would eventually wane, and a time would come when humans no longer worshipped elves as objects of faith. Preparing for that eventuality, she had resolved to ignore the Kingdom of Santala's request for support in their conflict.

To protect Pelledia's neutrality and ensure her nation's survival, Iris had no choice but to prioritize thousands of elven lives over tens of thousands of human lives. As queen, it was her responsibility to safeguard the future of her people, no matter the cost.

Her conviction wavered as the carriage approached the holy land. The streets were lined with Pelledia's citizens, cheering and waving with heartfelt enthusiasm.

"Look! It's the queen's carriage!"

"Our queen!"

"Thank you for everything, Your Majesty!"

Iris reminded herself that her choice was not wrong as she stepped out of the carriage, her royal demeanor composed but her mind weighed down by doubt.

She walked with measured steps toward the World Tree, the sacred mother of the elves and their sole deity. The massive tree loomed in the distance, its grandeur visible only to those deemed worthy.

Kneeling before the altar, Iris raised her head to the towering figure of the World Tree. Thin branches extended toward her, weaving themselves into a laurel crown that rested lightly on her head. It was the symbolic acknowledgment of the queen's legitimacy, a ritual repeated every year to ensure the nation's prosperity.

The ceremony proceeded as expected until an unprecedented event disrupted the sacred atmosphere.

"What…?!"

"Huh? The World Tree…?"

The murmurs spread through the gathered crowd like wildfire.

"This is impossible… It's never happened before!"

"Is something wrong?"

The World Tree, which had always extended its branches to embrace the queen, was retracting. Slowly, almost hesitantly, its living extensions withdrew from Iris. It seemed to pull away as if rejecting her very presence.

The crowd gasped. A murmur of confusion and fear rose among the people.

"Your Majesty…"

The priests and knights surrounding the altar scrambled to maintain order, but the sight of the World Tree's apparent refusal sent shockwaves through the onlookers.

"You are a sinner!"

The declaration boomed across the holy grounds, silencing the crowd.

All eyes turned to the base of the altar stairs, where a figure stood. Resilia, the prime minister of Pelledia, stepped forward, her sword drawn and gleaming with divine authority. Her gaze was fixed on Iris with a chilling intensity.

"Citizens of Pelledia! The World Tree has rejected her! It sees her as a sinner so vile that it cannot even acknowledge her presence. It is furious!"

The people bowed their heads in fear, their faith shaken by the sight.

The knight commanders of the imperial family, standing nearby, released an oppressive aura of murderous intent. It hung in the air like an invisible blade aimed directly at Iris, ready to strike her down at any moment.

Yet, amidst the overwhelming pressure, Iris remained unmoving. She stood tall, her face an unreadable mask of calm, even as the aura seemed poised to cut her apart.

The knights doubted their own eyes. This was not the prime minister they knew but a traitor. How could a civil servant exude such murderous intent, her aura crackling with the intent to kill?

"You have finally gone mad!"

"Prime Minister! Even if you are a prime minister, how dare you rise to this Her Majesty the Queen?!"

"Do not try to misinterpret the will of the World Tree!"

Several high-ranking nobles raised their voices in outrage, but Resilia paid no attention. Instead, the sight of her calmly walking toward Iris was enough to make the knights roll their eyes in disbelief.

The enraged knights drew their swords and blocked her path.

"Stop! Only Her Majesty the Queen is permitted to come here!"

"You dare set foot on the holy ground?!"

"Traitors!"

The faces of the three captains of the imperial knights, sworn to protect the reigning family, were flushed with anger. But Resilia showed no hesitation.

In front of overwhelming evidence of a superhuman that no ordinary person could hope to match, Resilia did not blink an eye. Instead, a mocking sneer appeared on her lips—so different from the gentle smile she usually showed her subordinates.

"Tch, how can the queen be rejected by the World Tree?" she hissed.

"This… blasphemous person!!!"

The face of the first captain of the imperial knights, usually known for his gentle demeanor, was contorted with rage. The moment his sword swung like a flash, aiming straight for Resilia's neck, a black-clad knight appeared from the shadows, blocking the captain's blade.

"Resilia! You've finally gone mad! You dare bring an outsider into the holy land?!"

"Ignore it!"

The enraged knight commander exchanged swords with the unidentified knight in earnest. But dozens more black-clad figures stepped forward, emerging like wraiths from the shadows. Each wore the same ominous attire, exuding an aura that made even seasoned warriors falter.

The knight commanders were astonished.

"Who are they?!"

The black-clad figures were a small elite force, their abilities clearly on par with—or possibly above—that of the imperial knights. Among them, three knights stepped forward who emanated an aura so powerful it reached the level of masters, like the knight commanders themselves.

"Stop it."

"Yes?"

At Resilia's command, the mysterious figures paused their advance. Though they resembled knights, they lacked the formal discipline that imperial knights were known for. They exuded expert-level skill but weren't on the same level as the elite knights of Pelledia.

In truth, their authority and prowess came from one source—Resilia herself.

Blocking the knights, Resilia quietly swept Iris aside with her body movements.

"Resilia!"

Iris's voice was calm but tinged with shock. She loved Resilia more than anyone else, but this betrayal was something even she could not have foreseen. A queen could not rule with only kindness, yet she could not suppress her horror at Resilia's actions.

"Don't be so angry, Your Majesty."

Resilia's mouth twisted into a smile, her voice eerily calm. It was the kind of calm that sent chills through everyone present, including Iris.

"What is this reaction, World Tree…?"

The unprecedented event continued to unfold. Out of nowhere, branches of the World Tree extended and wrapped themselves around Iris like a protective cocoon.

The crowd gasped.

"This is impossible!"

"How could the World Tree do that?!"

Even the nobles and knights, who were normally steadfast, could not hide their shock.

The World Tree had embraced Iris.

An ominous and sinister smile appeared on Resilia's face as she looked at Iris, who stood unmoving in the World Tree's protective embrace.