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IBP 167
Everyone looked bewildered by the sudden opening of the doors.
Since no one was visible through the open doorway, their suspicions only grew.
“What on earth is happening?”
“Who dares open the doors during a sacred meeting attended by His Majesty?”
“......There is no one there. Where are the guards.......”
While the people were buzzing with confusion, Chloe rose to her feet with an expressionless face.
“Everyone, please be silent. The divine beast is arriving.”
“......Divine beast?”
It was just as the bewildered attendees looked at one another.
Perhaps it had been hiding in the gap of the door. A snow-white, fluffy puppy dashed in like an arrow.
“I-isn't that just a puppy?”
Just as everyone was flustered by the sudden appearance of the puppy.
Unable to hide a bright smile, Chloe tightly hugged the small puppy.
The puppy, barely the size of a palm, fit perfectly in her arms.
Chloe stroked the puppy's fluffy fur and gave tiny kisses to its moist nose.
The sight was quite lovely and cute.
However, this was the Imperial Palace's conference hall.
The Count of the Court, standing beside the Emperor, whispered with an uncomfortable look.
“Lady Chloe, what is this commotion? You must remain silent in the presence of His Majesty.”
Only then did Chloe blink and respond.
“Ah, I have something urgent to report to His Majesty, so please pay attention.”
“......Woof?”
Chloe added one more sentence while stroking the puppy, which had let out a small sound.
“For I have brought the divine beast here.”
Everyone looked puzzled as they stared at the lovely puppy in Chloe's arms.
“I mean, where is the divine beast.......”
“It's right here, isn't it?”
“Woof!”
“The divine beast.”
The way she stroked the small puppy affectionately looked like nothing more than someone petting a pet dog.
Seeing her like that, the Imperial Concubine wore a look of absurdity.
“Lady Chloe Ardos.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“......The previous divine beast was a dragon. Are you claiming that palm-sized dog is the divine beast, Lady?”
People murmured in agreement with the Imperial Concubine's words. The small, whining puppy was very cute, but it certainly did not look like a great divine beast.
The sharp gazes of the two women clashed in the middle. It was a tense psychological war. However, their battle ended futilely.
Chloe had turned her gaze toward the Emperor.
“Yes. The first Emperor rose to fame as the companion of the dragon divine beast. How could I dare speak lies before Your Majesty, the descendant of that great being?”
To mention the Emperor while being a mere lady!
The Imperial Concubine's lips curled up in disbelief.
'Isn't she overreaching too far with this?'
However, having received the token of the divine beast, the Imperial Concubine thought she should make good use of this opportunity. If Chloe continued to spout such nonsense, she would be the one humiliated.
The Emperor looked back and forth between the Imperial Concubine and the dog.
“If verification is needed, I shall check.”
The Emperor touched the dog with a dissatisfied expression.
His hand touched the fluffy fur.
The puppy moved as if uncomfortable, but cooperated quite diligently.
The moment he casually stroked its back, his eyes widened.
“I certainly feel the power of a divine beast.”
Everyone fell silent at the Emperor's declaration. The Imperial Concubine's expression distorted as she grasped the situation.
“That's impossible. That can't be right!”
The corners of Chloe's mouth rose slightly.
“Why do you think it's impossible, Your Highness? His Majesty himself has said so.”
“......Lady!”
“Furthermore, the contents of the note Your Highness showed have been realized exactly. Has the divine beast not descended before Your Highness?”
“What do you mean by......!”
The Imperial Concubine's face turned bright red. In a way, Chloe's attitude felt arrogant in front of the Imperial Concubine.
However, Chloe was the one holding the divine beast verified by the Emperor. The Emperor waved his hand in the middle to mediate.
“Calm down. Did the divine beast not descend before you, just as the note said?”
It was absurd!
To think the divine beast would appear so suddenly in such a manner.......
It was then, as the Imperial Concubine glared at the tiny puppy with a flushed face, unable to either sit or stand.
Only then did the nobles gathered in the hall begin to chatter incessantly, as if the situation had finally sunk in.
“S-so, what I saw was correct? The divine beast has truly descended upon the Empire?”
“To think that tiny puppy is the divine beast!”
“By the way, there's a rumor that the Empire will be eternally blessed if the divine beast descends. Will sprouts finally grow on my desolate lands.......”
“Woof!”
“Oh my, it's so cute. To think that little thing is the divine beast......!”
Though it was a palm-sized puppy far from the dignity of a divine beast, perhaps because it was brought by the House of Duke Ardos and guaranteed by the Emperor.
The nobles seemed to easily accept that the puppy was the divine beast.
'To think everyone is so favorable toward a mere dog like that.'
It was just as the Imperial Concubine ground her teeth and slumped into her seat.
The Emperor gestured toward Duke Ardos.
“Duke Ardos. Let us verify the divine beast through the Temple. Once the verification is complete, we must follow the official announcement procedures, so please prepare for that as well.”
“I shall do so, Your Majesty. Chloe, come here.”
“Yes.”
As Chloe rose while holding the divine beast in her arms, the Count of the Court rang the bell to signal the end of the meeting.
Driven by the thought that all her plans had been ruined, the Imperial Concubine looked around with bloodshot eyes and suddenly noticed a strange vibe.
'The Emperor's expression is strange.'
Despite the appearance of the great divine beast, the Emperor's expression did not look particularly joyful. And the only one who caught that was the Imperial Concubine.
* * *
The Emperor finished his conversation with Duke Ardos.
Duke Ardos was reluctant to explain the circumstances of meeting the divine beast. It was curious, but regardless, the counterpart was a divine beast.
The Emperor sent a messenger to the High Priest to undergo the official verification process for the divine beast. Afterward, they discussed the date to announce the existence of the divine beast.
Having finished all the discussions and returned to the Imperial Palace from the conference hall, he encountered the Imperial Concubine, who had been waiting for him in the drawing room.
“What is it, Imperial Concubine?”
“Your Majesty! That the great divine beast of the Empire is a dog—is that not preposterous?”
His complexion turned uncomfortable at the sudden direct approach.
“What do you mean by that? How dare you speak such blasphemy toward the divine beast.”
“Do you not find it strange as well, Your Majesty? Originally, the divine beast of the Empire was a dragon, yet now a mere dog is the divine beast.......”
“......Stop such talk. There are many ears listening.”
The Emperor seemed uncomfortable, but the Imperial Concubine cheered inwardly upon seeing his expression.
Clearly, despite acknowledging the divine beast, the Emperor had a subtle expression.
Since Empress Hervezette had known him for a long time, she could easily tell that he harbored doubts about the existence of the divine beast.
Seeing her chance, the Imperial Concubine whispered as cunningly as a snake.
“Do you truly believe that dog is the divine beast, Your Majesty? Are you absolutely certain?”
The Emperor closed his eyelids and opened them again.
......Got him.
“The reason I felt a bit uneasy was....... When I touched the divine beast, the power did not feel that intense. However, I must have misperceived something. The House of Duke Ardos guaranteed it as well. Since we plan to visit the Temple, I intend to keep the divine beast by my side and verify it carefully.”
At those words, the corners of the Imperial Concubine's mouth rose slightly.
“How strange. For the divine beast's power to be weak. Then, could it be that the divine beast is a fake, Your Majesty? Or even if it's not a fake....... perhaps a powerful spirit beast.”
“Imperial Concubine, what are you saying?”
“How amusing would it be if the House of Duke Ardos mistook a spirit beast with strong divine power for the divine beast?”
“......I warned you to exercise restraint.”
“Of course, Your Majesty. How could I not? I am merely in a wretched position, having just been released from confinement.”
Empress Hervezette smiled softly. It was her usual seductive smile, but the Emperor sighed and rose from his seat.
“It matters not that you are the mother of the Prince and possess noble blood. If you act rashly even in this matter, I will not be able to guarantee your safety this time. Keep that in mind.”
However, despite receiving the cold warning, the Imperial Concubine's expression brightened again.
'So, even the Emperor isn't sure whether the divine beast is real or not, right?'
......She felt that perhaps there was still a chance for her.
It was time to properly uncover the identity of the divine beast.
* * *
It was after I returned home and popped back into human form. While I was changing into some cool clothes, my sister looked at me worriedly.
“Coco, why did you do that earlier?”
“Hmm?”
“When the Emperor touched you, you shrank back.”
“Umu.”
“You acted as if you were intentionally suppressing your power, right?”
“Yep, yep. I did.”
“......Coco, you shouldn't do that. What if the Emperor thinks my Coco isn't the divine beast?”
“That's why I did it!”
I bared my front teeth like a brave puppy, a fierce beast eyeing a roasted sweet potato. At that, my sister looked at me with a blank expression.
“......Huh? What do you mean by that?”
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