Taming the Evil Saintess

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The depths of the Imperial Palace.

In the sanctum where only the Emperor and his closest advisors may enter, Possessor Morgan knelt on one knee and spoke.

“I am ready. Just give the command and I can act immediately.”

Morgan feebly attempted to display proper etiquette, but Adelheit did not reprimand him for his clumsiness. She understood all too well from which world the possessors hailed.

“Alright. Let’s get ready then.”

“Yes.”

Adelheit flashed a sly smile. The power was sufficient. There were more than ten possessors. Having control over the Mark meant that she could fully utilize the abilities of these numerous possessors.

In other words, Adelheit believed she could defeat the Demon King without the Hero’s help. If needed, she could gather more possessors, and she had insurance.

If a cause arose, it wouldn’t be difficult to unleash chaos.

To hunt down the Demon King and unify the continent. In that process, no matter whose blood was spilled, if she could provide definite results, no one on the continent would dare persecute Adelheit.

“Who’s going to fight the Hero?”

“I will.”

Possessor Morgan was not originally one for fighting. However, after nearly ten years rolling about as a minion of the Demon King’s army, he buried the essence of his former self as a modern man. Until recently, he longed to see his parents, and the Empress had the power to grant that desire.

Above all, he had his own way of confronting the Hero. Morgan was quite displeased that only he, a possessor, was playing the role of the protagonist.

“Alright. Let’s get the situation sorted.”

Adelheit clapped her hands.

“First, the Hero’s party will be at their residence.”

“Yes. Everyone is at their residence except for Emily Barried and Hero Elliot.”

“Where’s that little girl Emily?”

“She’s enjoying food in the banquet hall.”

According to the informant, she was happily indulging in food, which meant she had no inkling that such plans were unfolding beneath the surface.

“Alright. And what about the Hero?”

“His whereabouts were unknown for a while… but he was found in the courtyard.”

“The courtyard?”

Adelheit frowned. The palace courtyard was a nice place for a stroll, but it wasn’t particularly important.

“Why the courtyard?”

“The Hero is currently with the Imperial Guards.”

“Huh?”

The Imperial Guards were one of the forces Adelheit could utilize. She had her own methods prepared to mobilize them.

So why were the guards with the Hero? In the courtyard, of all places.

“Why on earth?”

Adelheit asked, while Morgan scratched the back of his neck, seemingly perplexed.

“I’ve heard… they are having a handshake meeting.”

“Huh?”

Adelheit genuinely could not understand, and a question mark floated above her head.

*

“Impressive!”

He was receiving overwhelming support.

It was a greater cheer than when he had practiced with Albrecht while staying in the Imperial Capital. Back then, the crowd had cheered, but this time it was his fellow knights praising him.

“Your swordsmanship seems to have reached a divine level.”

“No, Albrecht’s swordsmanship is superior.”

“No! The Hero’s swordsmanship looks crude at first glance, but within it lies a calculated aesthetic…”

There was nothing like that at all.

“Moreover, I’ve heard that before becoming a Hero, you led the Black Eagle Mercenaries! You willingly devoted your life to protect the northern region of the Empire!”

He was simply dragged along.

“I also heard that after retiring from the mercenary group, you devoted yourself to the Will of God as a knight in the Cathedral of the Saint. Was it not the Divine being himself who bestowed the Hero’s Divine Mark upon you in awe of your piety?”

He had entered just to more easily enjoy himself.

“And you even defeated a high-ranking member of the Demon King’s army that invaded the Ice Palace and triumphed over Black Water Elgore in a one-on-one duel without a scratch!”

It was half death, really.

“Moreover, you even captured the heart of the beautiful Saint Lady!”

“Fuck, that’s not true.”

He understood it all.

But he could not tolerate the flattery directed at Ophelia. When he exploded in anger, the knights blinked a few times.

But that was all.

“Truly magnificent! It’s not that you captured the Saint Lady’s heart, but rather she has become completely captivated by Knight Elliot’s charm, has she not?”

“….”

These idiots were impossible to communicate with.

They fit perfectly with the title of fervent fans. No matter what he did, they would attach their own reasons to praise him.

He thought the Imperial Guards would exude the solemn and cold aura of the Emperor’s sword, but as he faced them directly, he could feel that they were just people too.

“…Enough. It’s getting late; I should take my leave.”

“You’re going to see the Saint Lady?!”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m going to Ophelia and plan on turning the Saint Lady into a loose woman.”

As I responded casually, they erupted into cheers like a bunch of orangutans in a zoo.

Shaking my head, I tried to slip past the knights, but once again the path was blocked.

This time it wasn’t the guards.

“Uh, um… can we have a word…?”

“….”

A flock of bright eyes surrounded me.

They were the palace maids.

“Uh, do you have any business with me…?”

“Kyaa! He spoke to me!”

“No, I’m the one! He just looked at me, you know?!”

Let’s just cancel that last remark.

The fervent idol fans were these women.

During the era when the former emperor was on the throne, all the maids were considered the Emperor’s women and had no interest in other men, but it seemed that under the current Empress Adelheit, there was a trend of free love.

In fact, the knight who had just requested love advice from me also had feelings for one of these maids.

Certainly, it seemed that the title of Hero was quite popular.

“Uh, could you write my name on my underwear…?”

“….”

I was already exhausted.

*

“You bastard.”

The moment I returned to the residence, exhausted, Ophelia greeted me with that remark. She was standing there with a fierce gaze, hands on her hips. If you were to express that ‘I’m mad’ posture through body language, that would be it.

“Why are you suddenly cursing?”

I appealed in my innocence, but Ophelia came up to me and pressed her nose into my chest.

“Ophelia, you’re pregnant. You should be patient for a while.”

“Shut up, you perverted bastard. I have no intention of waiting.”

Ophelia mumbled while nestled in my arms.

Soon, she began sniffing me.

Ophelia was currently testing scents.

“…Hey.”

After finishing her sniffing process, Ophelia looked up and let her chin rest on my chest.

“You smell like another woman.”

“…Do you really sense that?”

“Fuck, it’s the perfume of another girl. And it’s not just one!”

Ophelia burst out in anger.

Was she truly able to identify the scent of perfume? Even the number of women?

A chill ran down my spine.

“So, what do you think a wife should do to a husband who has been joyfully enjoying himself with other women until late at night?”

“…Um.”

“Do you want to die?”

“No, there’s a reason for everything. It’s not even the time to be discussing this now.”

“Do I look like I’m free right now?”

“…”

“I heard everything from Owen. That Adelheit bitch is scheming against us.”

Well, since I sent Owen ahead, it wasn’t strange for him to already understand the situation.

“But you know? I’m curious about what that Adelheit woman is planning, but I’m even more curious about which woman you’ve been rolling around with, Elliot?”

“…”

“Speak.”

“The palace maids.”

“What the fuck…!”

Ophelia grabbed a branch from the World Tree, and I seized her wrist.

“No, it wasn’t my intention to associate! It was just that the crowd came together, and I couldn’t help it! If you had been there, the Imperial Guards would have come charging at us!”

I understood in my head, but my heart couldn’t accept it.

Ophelia glared at me with a cold gaze for some time before she spoke.

“Promise me.”

“What about?”

“That you won’t stray your gaze towards another woman.”

“Why would you even ask that? You’re the only one for me, Ophelia.”

“…”

Only then did Ophelia seem to relax as she tucked the branch of the World Tree into her bosom.

What a terrifying thought, having a wife hiding a weapon in her embrace.

“Make one more promise.”

“What is it?”

“After we deal with that Adelheit woman, we’ll officially marry.”

“…”

As I widened my eyes, Ophelia averted her gaze shyly. I placed my hand on her head.

“Sure. Let’s do that.”

“Don’t get too clever! I’m not a child!”

Ophelia shouted loudly, but the anger contained in that shout was noticeably reduced from before.

To seal the promise, I pulled out a bracelet from my possession.

“…What is that?”

“The Celestial Bracelet. I intended to give it to you earlier, but I was called here suddenly, and the situation wasn’t right.”

“Is it a gift?”

“Of course.”

Ophelia took the Celestial Bracelet and tried it on her wrist.

However, since it was too large, it did not fit well.

After pondering, she decided to wear it around her neck. It fit perfectly. It now looked like a choker.

Ophelia glanced at me cautiously before bowing her head shyly.

“…Thank you.”

“Sure.”

“I’m not forgiving you just because of this gift! I’m not that cheap of a woman!”

Her candid reaction made me chuckle lightly.

“So, shall we get going soon?”

At my question, Ophelia nodded.

After packing our things hastily and stepping outside the room…

“Wow, it’s hot, hot. Is it already summer?”

There stood Erwin, full of laughter, Albrecht wearing a wry smile, Azar with a bitter look, and Cecilia bashfully turning her face away, her cheeks bright red.

“…You’re telling me you heard everything?”

“Of course.”

I sighed deeply.

Ophelia buried her face in my embrace out of embarrassment.