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People rejoiced and blessed the return of the Saintess.
Since the plague across the entire continent vanished in an instant, it could be nothing other than a miracle. Those who were suffering recovered, and the injured were healed completely.
Everyone loved and looked up to the Saintess. Because she was such a precious existence, the young Emperor built a beautiful temple within the Imperial Palace and protected her separately. This was because there might be those who wished to harm the Saintess of Miracles.
Furthermore, rumors that the demon worshiper who suffered a great defeat by the Saintess that day might still be wandering the world played a part.
The young Emperor declared that he would protect the Saintess personally, stating, 'Although the Saintess executed that demon worshiper, no one could find the man who disappeared beneath the cliff.'
Archbishop Victor praised the young Emperor's boldness and decisiveness.
However, only the maids of the Imperial Palace's detached palace knew that this was not actually protection.
'I'm not that! I'm not the Saintess!'
'What are you talking about? Are you not Iris Achen?'
'That is my name! But I am not the Saintess. Above all, where on earth is this?'
The Saintess, who woke up 100 days after her advent, gasped and screamed like that.
'You are the Saintess who appeared at Wind Rock Monastery. You saved the world. The Sanctuary you declared spread across the entire Foldenbach Empire...'
'No! Rahan! Where is Rahan? Where is Abbot Wilbert? Please let me see them!'
Pitifully.
The young Emperor explained to the maids the reason he locked her in the detached palace, saying, 'Because Abbot Wilbert, who was the Saintess's adoptive father, has passed away, the Saintess is unable to accept reality.'
And he urged them to take good care of her.
To think that the Saintess who saved the continent had lost her own anchor.
The maids cared for her with utmost devotion, feeling sorry for her.
Because everyone also knew what had happened to the Saintess's body during the 100 days she slept, the care was even more dedicated.
However, Iris Achen could not accept reality. She cried every night and begged them to find her 'husband.'
But it was useless. The rumors that she had gone mad did not even cross the walls of the detached palace. That was how much the maids devoted their hearts to protecting the 'Saintess.'
"Get out! I said get out!"
Clang.
The sound of something breaking was heard from inside again. Along with it, the maid who had gone inside came out with a tearful face.
"She overturned all the food..."
The Count Palatine of Bayern shrugged his shoulders. Lady Esselheim, standing beside him, sighed from behind.
She had also been a maid to the former Empress, but since there was no mistress of the Imperial House, she had been called in instead of an Empress.
"We used so much precious clove..."
"Bishop Marid said the Saintess likes lambswool, so we made plenty of that too."
"What should we do? She hasn't eaten a single meal since yesterday."
"This is driving me crazy..."
It seemed the saying that the Imperial Palace's dishes were not surviving was no joke. It had been a week since the Count Palatine of Bayern returned to the palace.
During that time, dozens of porcelain and glass dishes had been shattered. The silver cutlery was all scratched or dented.
Some might say they should just use wooden bowls. But that was impossible. To bring food in wooden bowls to the Saintess who saved the entire Foldenbach continent—wouldn't Eridrahan be enraged?
Of course, there was someone who would be enraged even before Eridrahan. None other than the young Emperor, Elio Foldenbach.
The fact that the Emperor had been courting the Saintess for two full years was not exactly a secret.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that everyone in Foldenbach knew, but the 'courting' taking place within the Imperial Palace was a bit more excessive than people knew.
To give an example, if the Saintess starved, the Emperor disciplined the subordinates severely. Even maids from noble backgrounds were no exception.
Regardless of who they were, everyone had been beaten by the Emperor's knights at least once because of the Saintess. Even the elderly Lady Esselheim.
"Things were a bit better after the Count Palatine arrived..."
Lady Esselheim sighed, rubbing her wrinkled forehead. Indeed, when the white-haired Count Palatine came and begged, 'Please, just have one bite,' the Saintess had been startled and eaten at first.
The Saintess also knew that if she starved, the subordinates would be beaten.
But that only lasted three days. As the Count Palatine's pleas were repeated, the Saintess began to refuse food again. Since she even refused to touch the porridge she had been eating, everyone was on the verge of madness.
"What should we do? Shall we cook something else and bring it up?"
At the maid's words, the Count Palatine shook his head.
"Leave it. She must want something else."
Of course, she was not a Saintess who would answer even if asked.
"But we cannot keep offering things forever until we guess what she wants."
"But if she starves like that..."
The Count Palatine shook his head. He felt it was time to be firm.
"I think everyone has been too soft on the Saintess. No human starves themselves to death. I shall inform His Majesty the Emperor that things cannot continue like this."
He meant that if they let her starve, she would eventually try to eat on her own.
"But..."
Just as Lady Esselheim was about to speak.
"I know what she wants."
A voice that sounded very familiar echoed through the corridors of the Imperial Palace. Everyone present was struck with alarm. They didn't even have to look back to know who it was.
It was the Emperor of Foldenbach, who had ascended the throne at twenty-four and was now twenty-six.
A handsome face and beautiful blonde hair. The man, who was always incredibly dashing, was walking quickly toward them with his escort knights.
"We greet Your Majesty."
"We greet Your Majesty."
The maids and the Count Palatine quickly bowed. The Emperor waved his hand. It was a sign to rise.
"There is no need to starve her. She wants something else. It means she isn't complaining about the food right now."
"I am humbled by your wisdom."
The Count Palatine bowed his head. The Emperor clicked his tongue.
"It seems the Count Palatine's talent isn't that great after all. I thought it was because she ate well for a few days."
For the Count Palatine, this was absurd. While he was someone who knew the thoughts of his superiors like the tongue in his mouth and reacted quickly, he was not a Chamberlain.
In the first place, before Emperor Foldenbach ascended, the Count Palatine of Bayern was in charge of Foldenbach's judiciary. He wasn't a man whose job it was to feed superiors.
Of course, he couldn't protest. The Emperor snorted and gestured with his chin toward them.
"Leave."
Whenever the Emperor entered and exited the guest room of the detached palace, he always cleared the surroundings. It was likely to prevent the conversations he shared with the Saintess from being known to others.
After confirming that everyone had withdrawn except for one escort knight, the Emperor turned his head.
The door to the guest room was slightly ajar.
The woman inside surely knew he had come, yet her refusal to come out was quite insolent.
Of course, her insolence was her charm. The Emperor snorted and approached, opening the door. If others knew the Emperor opened the door himself, they would faint.
However, it wasn't strange, as he always portrayed himself as a humble servant specifically regarding the Saintess's affairs.
Screeech, as the door opened, the interior came into view.
"Hah."
The Emperor let out a hollow laugh.
The detached palace of the Foldenbach Imperial Palace had great lighting. In particular, the guest room was not only beautiful due to its high ceilings, but the glass windows that reached the ceiling were a tremendous attraction.
There was no guest who didn't marvel upon seeing this room. The garden visible from the window was also simple and beautiful beyond measure.
But the room he entered now was pitch black. It was because the owner of the room had drawn the curtains tightly.
"It's a waste every time I see it."
The Emperor pushed aside the food scraps scattered on the floor with his boots and stepped inside.
"I emptied this room thinking you would like it, yet you keep the curtains drawn like this every time."
What did it mean for the garden to be simple? In other words, it meant it was rustic. Thus, it was perfectly suited for that woman.
"Iris."
The four-poster bed in the middle of the room. The woman lying there did not budge.
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