Chapter 8

"Today, I will bring Alm back!"

Johannes declared this to the gathered holy knights.

Yesterday, he ended up being immobilized by the holy maidens, and by the time he managed to free himself, he was too exhausted to move. What kind of treatment is this for a royal?

"But they must have used up a lot of their strength. They shouldn't be able to use the 'Light Seal Technique' today."

Johannes smiled slyly. Today, he would bring Alm back and fight the corruption of the country as a holy maiden alongside him. With Alm, he could fight anyone. He wouldn't lose.

"Alright! Just wait, Alm!"

With the holy knights in tow, Johannes strode out of the grand temple with high spirits. But the moment he took a step, the ground gave way, and he fell to the bottom of a pit.

"What the—!?"

"Yay! Total success!"

Above him, the holy knights were heard laughing and cheering.

"What do you think you're doing?!"

"It is our duty to protect the holy maiden! We have sealed away the evil one who threatened Holy Maiden Alm at the bottom of the earth!"

"What do you mean 'that's all'? Do you think you can get away with just dropping a royal into a pit?!"

"Of course not. Using your status to threaten us... How despicable..."

"You always threatened Holy Maiden Alm like this. How barbaric..."

The holy knights criticized Johannes in a tone that sounded like a neighborhood gossip session, making the veins on his temples throb.

"Enough! Alm's power is absolutely necessary for this country! I won't give up until I bring her back!"

None of them understood. They didn't understand how powerful a holy maiden Alm was.

(Only I understand Alm.)

He recalled their first meeting. Unlike the other holy maidens, the shy girl stood in the corner. When their eyes met, she opened her purple eyes wide and smiled innocently like a child.

As a member of the royal family, Johannes had never let his guard down with anyone. But he made a vow to that pure, unblemished smile.

To make this country a pure and fitting place for this holy maiden.

"Alm..."

At the bottom of the deep pit, Johannes whispered the girl's name.

***

The Duke of Clandor, the Chancellor of the Holy Chastel Kingdom, raised the corners of his mouth when he heard the report.

"So, the holy maiden Alm has left the temple."

This was an opportunity he couldn't afford to miss. Clandor immediately began to devise a plan to bring the holy maiden Alm into his own camp.

Clandor harbored the ambition to prevent the virtuous and incorruptible Fifth Prince from ascending the throne. He was too excellent to be a puppet.

Moreover, the Seventh Prince, who had become a priest, was a supporter of the Fifth Prince. If the Fifth Prince were to be named the crown prince, his power, backed by the grand temple, would become unshakable under a system of cooperation between the government and the church.

"But for the holy maiden to have escaped is a clear failure on the part of the Seventh Prince. If we can weaken the Seventh Prince, the Fifth Prince will not come out unscathed."

Clandor let out a low laugh and resolved to make the most of the holy maiden Alm's existence.

***

"Zzz... Huh?"

Alm, who had been napping on a bench, woke up to the noise around her.

"..."

A crowd had gathered around the park. Unable to enter further due to the barrier, they were shocked by the sight of the park turned into a field.

"Hey, you! Is this field yours?"

One of them spoke up on behalf of the group.

"Yes, it is."

"Can we ask a favor? Could you share some of the crops?"

Alm blinked.

They were likely residents of the slums. Their clothes were tattered, and they were so thin it was pitiful. Sharing some crops was no big deal.

"Sure, no problem."

With that, Alm snapped her fingers. Instantly, a large amount of fruit and vegetables flew out of the barrier. The people cheered and caught the falling crops.

"Hey, you... Are you the holy maiden? Why are you here?"

"I'm not a holy maiden."

I've already quit, Alm thought.

***

"What? The holy maiden?"

In a corner of the palace, a handsome young man with a luxurious appearance leaned back in his chair and laughed with delight.

"That's right. It seems the Seventh Prince had a falling out with Holy Maiden Alm and expelled her from the grand temple."

"What a shame. To neglect such an important holy maiden."

The young man played with his golden hair as Clandor presented his proposal.

"Indeed. The Seventh Prince does not seem to understand the importance of the holy maiden. If someone like Prince Vendel, the First Prince, who understands the necessity of the holy maiden, were by her side, she wouldn't have had to flee."

Clandor dramatically furrowed his brow and shook his head.

"Hmm. You're right."

Vendel, with his exquisite features, smiled.

Clandor smirked. Among the princes, the most handsome was the First Prince Vendel, born to the second queen. With just a few sweet words, he could make any young lady do as he pleased. He would use this charm to bring Holy Maiden Alm into their fold.

"It pains me to think of the holy maiden suffering without a place to go. I will rescue her and protect her."

Vendel, full of confidence, imagined himself saving the pitiful holy maiden and being celebrated by the people, and he reveled in the pleasure of the thought.