How did it happen?
Lorraine thought as she wove through the ruined palace.
Cloud, holding hands with Lorraine, was introducing the old palace, but her ears did not register.
Her attention was solely focused on the hand clasping hers.
They were only holding hands, so why was she so nervous!
They usually did things much worse than this!
“…that’s how it happened… What is it, you aren’t listening.”
“Uh..? No, no! I’m listening!”
“Why are you screaming? It’s night time now.”
“My heart..!”
Lorraine gasped softly. Cloud chortled.
After that, the trek of the two continued.
The place where the walk stopped for a while was in front of the pond in the palace garden.
“What place is this?”
The plants in the garden had withered and died, but mysteriously, the water in the pond remained transparent and clear.
“This is the place where royals used to get married or betrothed. The divine power that went into keeping that pond clean must be staggering. That’s why it was able to manage to hold on even in such havoc.”
“Why did they have weddings in a place like such? Queer.”
“It looks like this now, but back then the garden was pretty. I guess that’s why.”
“Huh…”
Lorraine glanced over the garden and nodded. For she did not know the significance of the garden or the beauty of the past.
She just wanted to finish the pond tour and continue her walk.
But even after a while, he showed no signs of trudging.
“Hey. What’s here—”
The moment she couldn’t wait any longer, she turned her head, and Cloud kissed her on the lips.
“Eh?!”
‘What, why? Were we not doing it today? Why all of a sudden…’
While Lorraine was puzzled, Cloud moved his hand. She naturally assumed that he would go for her hips or breasts. However, his hand wrapped around Lorraine’s thin waist.
Very politely.
She couldn’t figure out his intentions any more.
Why was he acting so gentle all of a sudden…
At that moment, the words Cloud had just said passed through Lorraine’s mind like struck lightning.
– This is the place where royals used to get married or betrothed.
‘Ah..?’
A, Ah?
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah?!
No, no, wait a minute.
What?
T, This didn’t make sense!
When did this atmosphere appear?
How they came to be?
Fighting, kissing, groping…
So how?
Lorraine was distraught at the thought that she, unbeknownst to her, was already acquaintances with him.
So when she writhed under him, Cloud parted lips.
Lorraine, who had regained the freedom of her lips, tried to argue, tried to protest.
But she couldn’t.
Moonlight gently streamed down the night sky.
Beneath was a man who looked as if he had jumped out of a painting crafted by a grandmaster himself.
The splendid red hair attracted the attention of the viewer and the beautiful appearance latched onto that attention.
His red eyes, similar to that of Blood Ruby, didn’t lose their gleam even in the darkness.
Cloud.
He was looking at her against the tapestry of starry moonlight.
Lorraine swallowed her saliva.
‘Really, no matter where I look, he doesn’t look a commoner…’
It was foul play, this.
She stared blankly at his face without realizing it.
Waiting for him to say something.
And waited longer.
Finally, Cloud’s lips moved.
He cocked an eyebrow.
“Are you aroused or what?”
A teasing expression crept on his face.
“..?”
Lorraine’s awestruck face rendered into a dumbfounded expression for a moment.
She soon realized that Cloud was pranking her. With her face flushed red from shame, she threw down her fist.
“You asshole-!”
* * *
Archbishops.
The general managers who heralded the huge diocese of their respective Kingdoms.
They held a position of considerable authority in the church, and also held considerable authority throughout the continent, which believed in one Goddess, Iris.
As far as authority was concerned, they pledged oath from the enthroned monarch at the coronation ceremony, the coronation ceremony of the ruler of a Kingdom.
And in the Kingdom of Prona, not even the new archbishop was elected, let alone the date of the coronation ceremony.
This was an opportunity for Lorian.
Making the archbishop their own would give them a considerable say in the matters within the Kingdom.
So, Lorian was currently having a covert meeting with a bishop.
“So, what the Hero says is that he’ll make me the archbishop, and at the coronation, I must say something that shows my support for the Hero.”
“If we can maintain a close relationship not only at the coronation but also beyond, even deeper cooperation awaits.”
Lorian said, assessing Bishop Vedic.
Bishop Vedic.
Among the bishops of Lupus, he had the highest contribution to the church, so he was a popular choice as the next archbishop.
Bishop Vedic stroked his white beard.
“To make me the archbishop… The Hero sure knows how to amuse. But I see no reason to seek help from the Hero.”
“Bishop Parua.”
The hand that had been stroking the white beard halted.
Lorian’s smile deepened.
“He was the former archbishop’s favorite bishop, right? Feeding to that, there are quite a few people who support him.”
“…Since the former Archbishop was into playing favourites, it can’t be helped.”
“Aren’t you anxious?”
“What is there to be anxious about? Everything will be as it should be.”
“Surely… that’s a good way to put it. By the way. According to the bishop, did the descent of the Heavenly King also happen according to the natural will?”
The smile vanished from Bishop Vedic’s face.
“Imagine. The sight of Bishop Parua being elected as the Archbishop. The sight of Bishop Vedic bowing to the newly elected Archbishop.”
“…”
“If you want, I can erase all those insecurities.”
Saying that, Lorian hoisted the small chest that had been put down on the floor onto the table.
“Please, open it.”
Vedic opened the chest as Lorian said. The chest was thronged with gold coins and jewels. He stared at it for a moment longer before closing the chest.
“This is?”
“This is but only a facet of the help I can give you, bishop. If we share a close relationship, we can help each other more.”
“…”
Vedic silently stroked his beard. Seeing that, Lorian slowly stood up from his seat. It would do him no good to show impatience.
Lorian spoke one last time to Bishop Vedic before turning to leave.
“If we develop a close relationship, we can promise more help. Please make the wise choice.”
With those words, Lorian pulled on the hood and left.
A priest who could be said to be his aide approached Vedic, who was stroking his beard while looking at the spot where Lorian had left, and dipped his head.
“From Hero Cloud to Hero Lorian, they have all come to you, Your Holiness. No need to fret about the voting anymore. Congratulations.”
“Yeah, yeah, got it. What did he mean…”
“What are you going to do now?”
“What do you mean?”
“Hero Cloud and Hero Lorian, whose side are you going to choose.”
Since it was a sensitive issue, the priest asked in a sufficiently surreptitious manner.
Even so, Vedic looked the priest in the eye, his expression austere.
“Do you have to ask me to know?”
“Yes?”
“You lack faith. Tsk.”