Chapter 151

“…”

The King stared at me, who had frozen in shock at the sudden change in circumstances, and let out a small sigh.

He then rose from his seat and slowly descended the stairs.

“Our side’s priests have no obligation to uphold what the church people call ‘purity.’ I know nothing about your culture, so I’m curious if walking with me for a bit would be a major issue.”

“Ah… well, if it’s just walking…”

“Hmm.”

The King shrugged.

Maybe he doesn’t know the extent of purity?

Then again, such concepts are almost non-existent in this world. There’s a rule to be loyal to family after marriage, so I suppose one just has to follow that… but the limitation of ‘keeping your first time’ can differ from person to person.

If someone thinks lightly of it, they would simply believe you shouldn’t engage in anything sexual at all. If we take it strictly, even wearing such thin clothing in Ria’s arms would be problematic.

Still, I can’t imagine they’d nitpick over just walking, right? Hmm, perhaps it could imply that the King and I entering a private place together might be an issue.

The King walked on silently. Following at a slight distance were his aides and guards. Behind them were maids, too.

My side was the same. Ria walked almost right behind me, closely following in the same position as the King’s aides.

“That’s enough.”

The King turned back and said,

“You all step back for a moment.”

“But, Your Majesty.”

“What you’ll hear is a sensitive topic. Or do you think I can’t even handle the Saintess?”

“……”

The King is the most powerful wielder of magic in my country. Certainly, when it comes to that, I doubt I could win. More so, the King’s body is incredibly well-trained. If it comes down to pure strength, I’d be at a disadvantage.

I do have Saint Power, but it doesn’t always work on people.

Upon the King’s command, the aides retreated further back. At the very least, they were at a distance where they couldn’t overhear our small conversation.

The King looked at me. His gaze seemed to demand something from me.

“…Ria, could you step back a bit?”

Ria frowned at me.

She clearly didn’t want to do that.

No, even so, the King wouldn’t attack me here, right? We were just having that conversation moments ago.

“Ria.”

“Well, it should be fine. After all, she is a high-ranking figure of the church.”

The King took a step back.

Ria stood tall, her chest puffed out. For some reason, her expression was so proud that it irritated me a bit.

“What I want to say is, please take good care of my sister.”

“If that’s the case—”

“No.”

The King shook his head.

“You can’t possibly think you hadn’t noticed? Did you not hear the conversation between my sister and that maid? Did you not feel anything?”

“……”

I couldn’t find the words to respond. But perhaps sensing my silence as a confirmation, the King continued.

“My sister loves me. But there are many kinds of love. The love between lovers is different from the love a god has for their believers. The love a parent has for a child is different as well. My sister loves me as her brother. I too love her as my sister.”

Realizing the meaning behind those words, I blinked.

“If we were to marry, I would’ve done my best. My sister would think the same. That’s how it is. We share that bloodline and that destiny. If my sister and I don’t set an example, the country’s system would collapse… Eventually, there will be a way to change that, but you cannot change everything overnight.”

“…Is that so.”

I slowly nodded.

“Since my sister lost considerable power after the demon race was torn away, she is still of noble descent, but she won’t be the top among them. This means there’s no need for us to marry. And I’m not keen on marrying her off to another noble.”

There must be various reasons intertwined there. Being a noble, of course. With the King’s situation, he wouldn’t want to create more in-laws among the high-ranking nobles.

…Given that reasoning, it seems like he wants to send his sister away.

“Did you know? Our priests live without marrying. You probably do too. About purity and whatever else, but in reality, it’s not like that, is it?”

“…Uh.”

“In some ways, our priests live freely. Since we don’t marry, we’re not bound by anyone. By the rules, we shouldn’t have children, but, well.”

The King shrugged with a meaningful expression.

So, he seems to think it’s the same for us.

He must have heard. A convent is a place where only women live, and even if someone who was married enters later, they must maintain their purity while living there.

The problem is that it’s not as easy-going as the King thinks. Even in modern society, “purity” within a convent is quite strictly upheld. Of course, within that small society, there will always be those who cross the line, but that’s like being a criminal in society, doing it sneakily and not getting caught.

“Um, our convent is not that free…”

“Hmm? I think my sister got hints from the Saintess and her knight.”

“What?”

At his words, I froze for a moment.

Uh…?

“Y-yes, yes, yes!?”

When I belatedly panicked, the King stared at me wide-eyed.

“Oh, was that something I shouldn’t have said? It’s fine. They’re far away, so they wouldn’t have heard.”

“No? No, that’s not it!”

Just because we weren’t involved in a romantic relationship or anything like that? Of course, I can’t help but think about how nice that would be. Why, when you see incredibly beautiful pictures of women online or when you see a woman in a video who’s stunningly pretty, you end up imagining dating her, right?

Ria is that kind of existence for me. Being so close to me, I feel like if I let my guard down, I might unintentionally misunderstand and cause a huge disaster.

So, it would be problematic to agree with that kind of statement.

“W-we’re not like that.”

I quickly regained my composure and firmly stated in a small voice.

“Such a thing is probably—”

I glanced at Ria, seeking her agreement.

Ria had a rather pouty expression.

No, why?

Oh.

No, thinking back, it’s understandable for her to pout.

Why, there are those who make comments like “I saw her boyfriend pass by” or “Are you dating her?” It’s a face that resembles someone who’s heard such remarks.

But of all people, it would be the King who said such things. Naturally, it would be rude to openly reject him, and I can’t hide my feelings, so that expression must have just come out.

……

Hmm, thinking like that is a bit hurtful.

However, when Ria’s eyes met mine, she opened them a bit wider.

And for some odd reason, she made a face like a mischievous child about to play a prank—

“Well, not yet.”

“Oh? Not yet?”

The King nodded as if thinking, “As expected, that makes sense.”

“Then I feel more at ease.”

No, feeling at ease about that is a bit strange.

But before I could find a timely way to voice my thoughts, the King continued speaking.

“Then once again, please take good care of my sister. Even if your reaction is true, wouldn’t it be better for my sister to be close to someone she loves rather than nestled in the arms of someone she doesn’t?”

“……”

That is true.

In this world, I could choose to become a priestess, but that wouldn’t shield me from Paina’s gaze. No, even to become a priestess wouldn’t be an option as long as this world exists. I still have the capability to generate magic within me, and if I’m of noble lineage, I’m sure marriage proposals would come my way.

Now that I have a way to escape, I’ll run away with all my might.

That was oddly comforting to think about.

In the end, I had no choice but to nod in agreement to the Beastman’s words.

“Understood. I will do my best to assist her.”

“Hmm. You can rest assured about that. It seems there are already many princesses from other countries around you.”

Upon the King’s words, I nodded heavily.

*

Before heading back, there was a lavish banquet.

At that banquet, Ria took my hand, pulling me up and twirling me around while holding me tightly.

“…”

Though it wasn’t the first time, I found myself unable to lift my gaze to Ria’s face in such a situation.

With each movement, Ria’s body felt incredibly exposed.

“Anna.”

Ria called out my name.

Eventually, I gathered my courage and looked up at her.

…The face of Ria, looking at me, was as beautiful as always.

Ah, truly.

I have no idea how it got to this point.

……

Still, right now, what I feel is more happiness than confusion.

Have I always been this easygoing?

No, it’s all Ria’s fault.

She’s pretty, her body’s great, and her personality is excellent, what can I do?

Indeed, there are no gods in this world.

If a deity is responsible for creating Ria, I would have gladly cursed that deity with joy.