CHAPTER 22
They appeared not through the entrance where Kitty and the other nobles had entered, but on a balcony overlooking the entire banquet hall.
The nobles, who had done little more than whisper among themselves when Kitty and her fiancé had arrived, immediately began to stir.
The orchestra’s gentle melody had changed before anyone noticed. Holding a wine glass in his hand, the Emperor praised the nobles who had traveled from afar to attend the gathering for the sake of the Imperial Council and the governance of the Empire.
Kitty and Patrick tried to listen to what Theodore was saying, but they had been pushed to the edge of the hall, and the surrounding nobles’ murmuring drowned out the Emperor’s voice.
“He arrived together with Prince Evan.”
“If that’s the case, then…”
“That must mean it, right?”
“Oh no… We still have three years left on our contract with House Shunoa.”
“We backed the wrong side. Definitely the wrong side.”
From the conversations around them, it was obvious that everyone believed the Second Prince, Evan, would surpass the First Prince and be appointed Crown Prince.
Nibbling on a piece of fruit drenched in chocolate, Kitty gave a small nod.
In any case, it was good news for her if the position of the Second Prince—who shared the same mother as she did—became even more secure.
Though, on the other hand…
That also meant her already terrifying older brother would become even more terrifying.
After finishing his speech, the Emperor and the Second Prince slowly descended the spiral staircase connecting the balcony to the hall.
Like moths drawn to a flame, people flocked toward them.
Then they suddenly hesitated.
Someone else was following behind the two.
“Who is that?”
Standing on tiptoe to get a better look, Kitty soon gave up and asked instead.
Margaret, who had been standing behind her like a shadow, leaned down and whispered quietly.
“His Holiness Pope Yehudiel of the Holy Kingdom.”
“The Pope?”
Even Kitty, who usually paid little attention to political affairs, was astonished.
“The Pope came all the way to a banquet welcoming the nobles?”
It was the appearance of someone important enough to surprise even her.
The murmuring among the nobles grew louder and louder until, before anyone realized it, an invisible circle had naturally formed around the Emperor, the Second Prince, and the Pope.
Thanks to that, Kitty was finally able to see the handsome man standing beside the Emperor, greeting the guests with light brown hair gently framing his face.
The man, said to be wise, beautiful, and endlessly compassionate, wore nothing more than the plain white robes of a priest.
Yet despite their simplicity, they somehow gave him an unmistakably noble air.
However, he wasn’t the sort of person who overwhelmed others with his presence or inspired an untouchable sense of holiness.
Instead…
His softly drooping eyes and gentle smile reminded her of someone.
“He looks like Cindy.”
At Kitty’s quiet murmur, Patrick—who had been watching the Emperor and the Pope with a tense expression—turned toward her.
“Pardon? Whom did you say?”
“My maid, Cindy. She’s only twelve, but she’s really, really pretty.”
Patrick’s face stiffened slightly.
His expression clearly said that she shouldn’t make such irreverent remarks in such a public place.
Margaret and Diana, who had been standing behind Kitty like shadows, had obviously heard her muttering as well.
Yet neither of them criticized Patrick’s reaction.
Deep down, they agreed with him.
Kitty had no choice but to close her mouth.
Meanwhile, the nobles, who had been briefly flustered by the Pope’s unexpected appearance, soon relaxed once again.
Pope Yehudiel’s humble and gentle demeanor quickly melted away their tension.
Not long afterward, three or four young girls pushed their way through the crowd and hurried over to stand before the Pope and the Emperor.
“We greet Your Majesty, the eternal sun of Theros and the supreme light of all creation, and Your Highness Prince Evan.”
“Melly.”
The Second Prince called Princess Amelia by her affectionate nickname in front of everyone.
“I was just about to introduce you to His Holiness Pope Yehudiel.”
The impact of that single gesture was tremendous.
The Pope immediately looked at the shy girl standing before him, her eyes sparkling with nervous excitement.
“So this is the child.”
Encouraged by the Pope’s warm and gentle voice, Amelia stepped forward.
But somehow, she couldn’t bring herself to speak.
Perhaps it was because Emperor Theodore had been silently watching her as though weighing something ever since she approached.
Sensing the girl’s unease, Pope Yehudiel kindly addressed the Emperor instead, easing the burden on her.
“Within those budding eyes lies a pure and innocent spirit. Such remarkably refined holy power. Children are the beings most cherished by the Divine Lord.”
It was unmistakably praise directed toward Princess Amelia.
Her cheeks flushed red with gratitude.
“My… You can tell just by looking into someone’s eyes? That’s incredible.”
Her eyes sparkled with pure admiration and respect.
She undoubtedly longed to be recognized by the Pope.
The sooner she could be declared the Saintess, the sooner she could firmly establish her position within the Imperial Family.
Then Emperor Theodore spoke as well.
“If the Divine Lord is willing to welcome even the child whom I struggled so hard to adopt, I could ask for nothing more.”
His voice and expression were incomparably gentler than they had ever been when speaking to Kitty.
Watching from afar, Patrick and the maids wore dark expressions.
After all…
Why would the Pope of the Holy Kingdom suddenly come all the way to the Theros Empire’s banquet?
Soon enough, he would proclaim the prophesied Saintess.
And that Saintess would most likely be…
“I’m full now. Can I go to the lounge?”
The bright voice beside them abruptly pulled Patrick and the maids out of their thoughts.
Kitty was patting her swollen stomach.
Her mouth was completely smeared with chocolate.
“What?! You ate that much?”
“You… you didn’t eat all the oranges here… did you?”
Forgetting the rule that maids should remain as inconspicuous as shadows—or as motionless as expensive vases or paintings when attending their mistress—Margaret and Diana cried out in shock.
The enormous crystal bowl that had been overflowing with oranges was now almost completely empty.
No one else had been lingering nearby.
The only possible culprit was Kitty.
While Young Marquis Patrick had managed to eat only two chocolate-covered orange slices…
Kitty had finished all the rest.
Receiving the horrified stares of all three of them, Kitty suddenly shivered.
“I have to pee…”
Ssshhh—
Margaret and Diana waited outside the restroom, their hearts still heavy.
The more attentive Diana had offered to help the young princess.
But Kitty had stubbornly refused, insisting that she was already eight years old and perfectly capable of going by herself.
She had even washed her hands thoroughly with soap before coming back out.
That was certainly commendable, but…
“Did everything go well, Your Highness?”
“Yep.”
“You don’t need anything else? You’re not feeling indigestion or nausea, are you…?”
“I’m fine. Fruit digests quickly after you go to the bathroom a few times.”
Looking pleased with herself, Kitty cheerfully patted her now-flat stomach.
Margaret and Diana exchanged weary sighs.
She was so innocent.
How was someone like her supposed to survive in the ruthless Imperial Palace?
She showed not the slightest concern about what would happen if the Pope declared Amelia the Saintess.
Nor did she seem worried about the possibility that even her only full-blooded sibling—the one person she could rely on—might abandon her without hesitation.
Then again…
What could anyone realistically expect from a child this young?
Even if she understood the situation, there was nothing the young princess could do to persuade either the Pope or the Second Prince.
Perhaps…
In circumstances like these, simply living happily while eating chocolate without a care in the world was a blessing in itself.
Having reached that conclusion, Margaret held out her hand.
“That’s a relief, Your Highness. We’ll escort you to the lounge. Young Lord Patrick of House Loengreen is waiting for you.”
Holding Margaret’s hand with one hand and Diana’s with the other, Kitty walked toward the lounge with noticeably lighter steps.
The lounge where Patrick was waiting was comfortably furnished.
A fireplace crackled warmly.
Animal furs and fine tapestries decorated every corner.
Since it wasn’t particularly large and was tucked away in a quiet part of the palace, it was the perfect place to escape the noisy banquet hall and rest.
Kitty was about to sit beside Patrick—
But suddenly, she changed direction.
Instead, she walked toward a woman standing before the fireplace.
Her violet hair shimmered mysteriously in the firelight.
Even from the side, her striking red lips immediately drew the eye.
Just from her back alone, anyone could tell she was an extraordinary beauty.
Before the maids or Patrick could stop her, Kitty trotted over to the woman as though she had been enchanted.
“Pretty big sister, do you like carrots?”
And just like that…
She struck up a conversation.
