Chapter 4

In the end, Reinhardt did not come to visit Eris again that day.

(Sigh. Even so, I still have to fulfill my duties as a partner...)

No matter how much the king's heart has shifted to Anna, she is still officially the queen.

So, Eris chose a simple sky-blue dress and walked to the venue of today's party.

The dress, while adorned with delicate white lace at the sleeves and collar, was not overly embroidered and was closer to a modern long dress.

(Because, it's so hard to move in those elaborate dresses!)

To Eris, this dress was already quite elegant, but the nobles still considered her modest, showing how arbitrary people's opinions can be.

(Although, I was caught by the deputy of the Minister of State on my way here and got a bit delayed...)

However, she should still make it on time.

"I think the knowledge of the past holy maidens was definitely relied upon..."

A slightly more advanced way of thinking from a different world. The true identity of the holy maiden made her sigh involuntarily, but the hall she was heading to was filled with elegant music. Today's party was to celebrate the safe return of Reinhardt's cousin, who had successfully quelled a rebellion in an allied country.

She rarely saw the cousin, but she remembered that he and Reinhardt had been close since childhood.

(So, it's only natural that I have to serve as a partner...)

Seeing Reinhardt standing on the red carpeted stairs, she couldn't help but stop in her tracks.

"Ah..."

He must have noticed her. Reinhardt, upon seeing Eris, hesitated and spoke uncertainly.

(Well, it is awkward to face each other right after the affair was exposed...)

But if that's the case, she was even more at a loss about how to face the one who exposed it.

"Um, about this morning..."

As he hesitantly brought up the topic, her cheeks almost twitched in exasperation.

"Your Majesty!"

Just as Eris thought she was about to reach Reinhardt, a voice called out from behind, and someone collided with her.

"Please wait! I don't have a partner for tonight! So, I really want you to be my partner, Your Majesty!"

(Eh?)

She couldn't believe her ears.

"Wait a moment! No matter what, it's too much to ask the king to be your partner in front of the queen!"

Even if Reinhardt's heart was with her, it was still too much.

Just as she reached out to grab his arm, the woman's body, which was about to run to Reinhardt, suddenly tilted and was thrown down the stairs as Eris's fingers touched her.

"Anna!"

Reinhardt, in a panic, tried to grab Anna's hand but was too late.

Her feet slid down the stairs, making a terrible sound as she rolled down the red carpet.

She must have fallen about five steps. The sound of her sliding down made the nobles look up at the grand staircase leading to the hall. Even the musicians, who were playing a strange tune, stopped and turned to look.

"Anna!"

Reinhardt's voice, as he rushed down the stairs, echoed in the silent hall.

"Hold on! I'll call a doctor right away."

However, Anna, who had been looking down, painfully clung to Reinhardt's outstretched hand and tried to get up.

"That's terrible... Why, why would you do such a thing?"

Then, she looked up at Eris, who was standing at the top of the stairs.

"That's too much! Lady Eris! How could you push me because I'm close to the king...!"

(Eh? Me!?)

What was she saying...

However, in the face of this sudden situation, Eris stood there in shock. The new holy maiden, sitting on the ground, and the king holding her, along with the murmurs of the nobles watching, grew louder and louder.