The Protagonists of Romance Fantasy Novels Have Escaped

21 – The Red Dragon and the White Dragon (3)

A solemn memorial ceremony was held in the central square of Hwando for the victims entangled in the bomb terror.

To remember the sacrifices for a long time.

May the departed souls find happiness in the sky.

A girl dressed in pure white robes recited prayers in a solemn voice.

Sounds of weeping echoed from various places.

Certainly, those must be the people who lost precious family members in the tragedy.

Unable to contain their grief, the crowd gathered like clouds, immersed in immense sorrow.

Too many people had died.

I sighed deeply as I gazed upon the sacred scene of the memorial ceremony.

“Do not blame yourself. Thanks to you, didn’t we prevent the escalation of the tragedy?”

“….”

The blonde princess with her flowing hair spoke.

Javelinne, who was leading the memorial ceremony with me, was dressed in a colorless ceremonial robe. The princess, with a face full of depth, expressed condolences to the unfortunate citizens.

After the memorial ceremony ended –

Javelinne approached me after assigning tasks to the subordinates.

“Thank you for your assistance.”

“No, it was something I had to do.”

There was a high risk of a disaster worse than the bomb terror occurring during the crowded memorial ceremony. Therefore, I willingly accepted Javelinne’s proposal for security. Even if she hadn’t suggested it, I had planned to attend the memorial ceremony along with Rudmila.

Contrary to our concerns, the memorial ceremony ended without incident.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I watched the dispersing crowd.

“Did you, by any chance, continue to sweat cold sweat even while reciting prayers, fearing some dreadful incident might happen during the ceremony?”

Javelinne portrayed the image of a pitiable heroine, leaning on me. I could tell it was an act through the gentle smile on her lips.

A strong-hearted woman, indeed.

Javelinne boasted supernatural courage.

Her demeanor was the opposite of the feeble appearance of the nobles who had attended the memorial ceremony, anxiously looking around.

Naturally, the White Dragon of the Prosperous Kingdom had nothing to fear from villains.

Although not on the level of Rudmila, who had risen to prominence through numerous achievements, Javelinne was still a formidable force. At least, she wouldn’t be threatened to the point of losing her life by mediocre individuals.

“The saint seems to have a penchant for exaggeration. After all, isn’t she surrounded by numerous forces as her escorts?”

“Well, words can be deceiving.”

The red dragon and the white dragon.

The Imperial Guard dispatched from the palace.

And the Holy Knight Order responsible for escorting the saint and the envoy.

No matter how unconventional the faction boasting of daring assaults was, they dared not interrupt a memorial ceremony. With the combined forces deployed for the escort, they surpassed even the military might of a small nation.

In response to Rudmila’s observation, Javelin raised her lips slightly and replied, “Anyway, it’s fortunate that there are no further casualties.”

“Your words are indeed correct.”

The political situation, unsettled by a bomb attack in the capital, was gradually stabilizing. Thanks to the agile response of the Valterian Empire and the saint’s visit to console the citizens, the atmosphere tainted with fear was being gently restored.

However, there was no room for complete reassurance.

This silence might be the ‘calm before the storm.’

“There is something I’d like to discuss with you for a moment… if you have the time.”

“If it’s okay, I’ll take Rue with me. She’s probably pouting at home, complaining about being bored by now.”

“Hehe, that’s fine.”

“Understood.”

Having frequently taken tea time as a pretext for consultations with Rudmila, she nodded immediately. Since sweet desserts were served during tea time, it was also an ideal way to appease the elf with the visibly displeased lips.

Reluctantly, Rudmila also extended the invitation for tea time to Javelin.

Actually, I wish you hadn’t come.

But I don’t want to give the impression of being stingy, so I’ll make a superficial offer.

To reveal such sincerity.

Sweat dripped down Rudmila’s forehead at the blatant discomfort emanating from her. She feared another confrontation, a new nerve-wracking conflict.

“Thank you for the invitation, but I have prior arrangements with the bishops. Unfortunately, I’ll have to look forward to another time.”

“It’s regrettable. We had hoped for the saint to join us.”

It was a conversation where even the semblance of sincerity seemed nonexistent.

Terrifying.

Who would have thought that the skirmishes between women could be this terrifying?

The relationship between Rudmila and Javelin was akin to a powder keg ready to explode at any moment.

* * *

Since being threatened with a broken engagement by her fiancé Maximilian, Elizabeth, who vehemently rejected any new engagement, finally reluctantly accepted it on certain conditions.

The private consultation began again.

Upon hearing the news, Emperor Barbarosa leaped with joy.

Barbarosa, who had been losing sleep worrying that his youngest daughter might remain unmarried like the golden autumn leaves, expressed a fervent welcome. He declared his full support for his youngest daughter’s new engagement, fearing she might become an old maid like the forbidden autumn leaves. While enthusiastically expressing his approval, he inquired about the identity of Elizabetha’s new fiancé.

“And who might be Princess Elizabetha’s new fiancé?”

“We are currently in the process of selecting one.”

As they arrived at the reception room with lips pursed, Rudmila pulled out a document.

The engagement of the third princess.

Currently, urgent matrimonial discussions for Elizabetha were underway within the imperial palace.

Fifteen candidates, carefully selected and verified from prestigious families, were in consideration. Ultimately, the most suitable candidate would be chosen. The competition to decide the platinum princess’s fiancé was as intense as the evaluation process itself.

“Well… truth be told, I had initially recommended you as Elizabetha’s new fiancé.”

“Me?”

Rudmila’s words, tinged with sighs, left her puzzled.

Me?

Why me?

There had only been a brief encounter with Elizabetha.

Wouldn’t I fall short in various aspects as a substitute for Maximilian? Of course, the newly selected fiancés would likely face similar challenges.

The Valtarian imperial family had already declared isolation from the Hohenberg lineage. It was impossible to draw the Hohenberg family back in. Moreover, numerous prestigious suitors who had been selected or rejected would not accept such an injustice.

“Your Majesty seems to be in a hurry. After all, this is not an ordinary time. There will be many difficulties in conducting matrimonial discussions.”

“…”

Rudmila maintained her silence.

She turned her head for a moment.

Meeting eyes with Rue, who was quietly devouring cake beside her.

“…”

“…”

Rue and I, who had exchanged silent glances, simultaneously turned our gaze towards Rudmila.

As the ruler of the self-reliant and arrogant Valtarian Empire hurried matrimonial discussions as if being pursued by something, both Rue and I instantly understood the reason.

The reason was right in front of us.

* * *

When Edanant and Rue were receiving retaliation from the enraged Rudmila,

Javelin had just concluded a meeting with the priests dispatched to the empire and was taking a brief respite.

“These damn old folks… Why do they keep clinging on just because it’s a meeting?”

She grimaced, recalling the fanatical behavior of the clergy who begged for the divine protection of the Holy Virgin as if pleading for their lives. Javelin found their actions to be nothing more than blind faith.

“Your Excellency.”

“Speak, Sir Franz.”

The knight in charge of her security spoke up. Javelin raised a cup of milk tea, granting permission for him to continue.

“Do you really intend to grant the Aldebaran to the philosopher Edanant Gongja?”

“Surely, you don’t think I lied.”

Franz and the other knights guarding Javelin stiffened in expression. Their concern was evident, given the decision of the Holy Virgin to willingly bestow ownership of the Holy Sword.

I knew this would happen.

What do you expect from these bishops as naive as the bishop?

Javelin sighed deeply, pressing her temples.

“But Edanant Gongja is not a person of the Holy Kingdom. He hasn’t even received baptism. How can you entrust the Aldebaran to such an individual? Maxmilian may not be from the Holy Kingdom either, but at least he has received baptism!”

“…”

The public opinion in the Holy Kingdom will likely be no different.

The decision of the First Holy Virgin to delegate the ownership of the Aldebaran unilaterally would undoubtedly lead to criticism.

Should I postpone my return?

The image of bishops rushing in like a swarm crossed her mind, causing a headache.

“Recently, the forces of evil that had been subtly moving have started to stir again. Surely, they seek to achieve the ascendancy of evil. Now is the time to prepare the forces to counteract him.”

The ultimate goal is to create a lawless hell where only lawlessness and wickedness exist, overthrowing the revered teachings of the Earth Mother, the only recognized divinity on the continent. The demon army and worshippers, long oppressed by the Valtarian Empire and the Gaellian Holy Kingdom, ardently prepared for the downfall of their sole deity after abandoning the faith in the Earth Mother. Their ambition was always a threat to the world.

“Holy Virgin!”

As Javelin explained the gravity of the situation to the knights,

A griffin swooped in, as if to prove her point.

“A griffin has arrived from the Holy Kingdom. It seems a mage who venerates the society has appeared in the Pug Kingdom.”

Mage (마인).

A worshipper of society.

A monster, blessed by a forgotten deity, emerged.

Those bestowed with immense power through the blessings of the forgotten god boasted abilities that transcended limits. Even in seemingly weak cases, they could effortlessly turn a city into ruins with a single breath.

Thus, when the holy knights faced this sudden emergence, they grimaced, realizing the origin.

“If it’s the Pug Kingdom… it must be the homeland of the Sword Saint Madvei.”

The Sword Saint Madvei, who had turned countless demons and cultists into lifeless corpses, undoubtedly had someone seeking revenge by summoning this creature. The threat posed by this being was incomparable to the criminals who had attacked the city of Hwangdo.

Javelinne sighed briefly and rose to her feet.