IFGO 11

Chapter 11

‘What’s going on?’

I widened my eyes and turned around. But Kyle suddenly stepped in front of me, placing one hand on the hilt of his sword.

With one arm extended, he pushed me back behind him protectively.

The fluttering cloak blocked my view, and through my sense of smell, a cool musk scent drifted from him.

“What is the meaning of this?!”

When the Emperor stood up and ordered the soldiers, they hurriedly rushed toward the scene.

“Oh my goodness…”

The Empress covered her mouth with her hand, her face filled with shock. Ahead of us, dust and smoke were scattering through the air.

“A-a lightning bolt!”

“Lightning struck the statue!”

The circular banquet hall was designed with half of it covered by a roof and the other half open to the sky, with the dividing point centered around the statue of the First Emperor.

And the statue that had been proudly displaying its magnificent copper form when I entered earlier was now shattered into pieces and scattered across the floor.

“A lightning bolt suddenly struck from the sky! And then the statue became like this!”

Perhaps thinking the danger had passed, Kyle slowly removed his hand from the hilt of his sword. But the sight before my eyes was truly horrifying.

The statue had been completely destroyed, as if it had been hit by an actual bomb.

“Are there any injuries?”

The Emperor asked in a heavy voice.

The knights inspected the area around the shattered statue, checking on everyone nearby. Fortunately, there did not appear to be any injured people.

The copper statue was still glowing red from how fiercely the lightning had struck it.

“Why would such an ominous thing happen…”

The Empress frowned and placed a hand against her forehead.

“Empress, are you all right?”

“I feel dizzy. Haa…”

Suddenly, I remembered something and muttered quietly.

“…Hesed. It was you, wasn’t it?”

A moment later, a blue dialogue window appeared before my eyes.

[The God of Art, Monde, is uncomfortable with your kiss.]

[The God of Knowledge, Hesed, denies that he actually struck it with lightning and claims he only pretended.]

“Ha…”

I had a feeling, but…

It seemed the gods were the cause of all this.

[The God of Knowledge, Hesed, feels wronged.]

“Wronged? Seriously?”

I let out a small sigh and pressed my hand against my forehead.

[The God of Knowledge, Hesed, has become discouraged.]

[The God of Art, Monde, clicks his tongue at Hesed in disappointment.]

“An ominous sign…”

“The statue of the First Emperor being shattered like this… Could it mean that when the Crown Prince ascends the throne, the empire itself will also fall apart?”

Behind me, I heard nobles whispering in low voices.

I looked around.

Everyone had fearful expressions, unable to hide their shock at the unexpected event.

And then I saw the Crown Prince standing there with a chilling gaze.

He was staring at the shattered statue.

What was he thinking right now?

“…”

A strange emotion pricked at my heart.

Perhaps it was because I was currently inhabiting Ariel’s body, the woman who had once loved him.

Then the Empress’s voice reached my ears again.

“It is strange. The Saintess herself came here after such a long time and even bestowed her blessing. Yet I cannot understand why the gods have become angry.”

She opened her fan and shook her head, letting out a sigh.

The murmuring voices of the nobles grew louder, while Kyle stood silently with a cold expression.

Hmm.

Now that I thought about it, these two really didn’t seem to have a good relationship.

Well, how close could one be with their father’s second wife?

“Though it is an impertinent request, when you return to the temple, Saintess, please pray for the sake of the empire.”

The Emperor’s voice rang out.

Somehow, this entire lightning incident was already being accepted as the wrath of the gods.

But I couldn’t let this situation end like this.

After receiving my blessing, something like this happened.

What if he held a grudge against me because of it?

In the original story, Kyle Alexis played a decisive role in Ariel’s death.

I needed to maintain a decent relationship with Kyle and avoid the dead end route.

Ignoring all the gazes focused on me, I opened my mouth.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

With his brows furrowed, he slowly turned around.

His eyes were cold.

“The gods have conveyed that they are pleased.”

“…Pleased?”

Kyle asked with a stiff expression, as if he couldn’t understand what I meant.

My words spread throughout the hall, and the tense atmosphere became completely silent.

The Empress looked at me as if she couldn’t believe what nonsense I was saying.

“Saintess, I do not understand the meaning of your words.”

The Emperor also added,

“Saintess. What do you mean by that?”

They looked angry, as if I were fanning the flames of a fire.

Of course, I understood their feelings.

The banquet had already become a disaster, and now I was saying something like this.

But I ignored their reactions and continued.

“Your Highness was born in the Month of Siel and received Siel’s blessing. Destruction is the beginning of creation. Destruction is the source of all great things, and it is their mother.”

In this world, the god who granted someone protection depended on the month they were born.

In Kyle’s case, it was Siel, the God of Destruction.

That was why my blessing earlier had included words about Siel.

In other words, I could provide a convincing explanation that the lightning destroying the bronze statue was a sign of Siel’s satisfaction.

The power that could destroy everything!

That was the ability and blessing of Siel, the God of Destruction.

“What nonsense are you saying…?”

I heard the Empress’s flustered voice, but it was drowned out by the Emperor’s exclamation.

“Siel’s blessing! That is how you see it, Saintess?”

I nodded at the Emperor’s question.

Fortunately, just as I expected, the crowd was easily swayed.

“Indeed…”

“So we have witnessed divine power?”

“Now that I think about it, His Highness was indeed born in the Month of Siel. And not a single person was injured.”

The public opinion quickly changed.

The nobles began offering congratulations to Kyle.

And at that moment, I thought I saw a strange glimmer flash in Kyle’s eyes.

“It seems Siel was excessively delighted upon celebrating Your Highness’s birthday.”

“Congratulations, Your Highness.”

The frightening atmosphere of the banquet quickly warmed again.

I saw the Empress, whose expression had worsened considerably, stand up as if she intended to leave.

The atmosphere became lively once more.

Music began playing, and several elderly nobles approached the Emperor to converse with him.

Amid the quickly restored banquet, Kyle stared coldly at the Empress before turning his gaze back to me.

“Then, please enjoy the banquet.”

Before he could say anything else, I quickly lowered my gaze slightly and spoke.

Since I had already covered up the situation caused by Hesed, it was time for the fake Saintess to leave.

I bowed to him once more before quietly turning around.

I could feel his gaze fixed on the back of my head.

“Phew.”

I needed to tell the gods never to throw lightning around again.

And I also needed to investigate the relationship between the Empress and the Crown Prince.

Lost in complicated thoughts, I quickened my pace.

But then Kyle’s voice suddenly stopped me.

“Saintess.”

His deep, low voice pierced my ears.

I stopped walking and hesitated for a moment.

‘Should I pretend I didn’t hear him and just keep walking?’

But the sound of his footsteps approaching made my options disappear.

Soon, his quiet voice reached my ear.

“The banquet has only just begun.”

In the original story, Kyle had no interest in Ariel.

If there was any emotion he had toward her, it was closer to contempt.

Yet today, he was stopping me from leaving.

“…”

I turned around with an awkward expression.

His intense gaze, coming from those deep crimson eyes, locked onto me.

And then words I never expected to hear from him left his lips.

“You weren’t planning on leaving me behind like this, were you?”

What?

Why is he acting like this all of a sudden?