“Lady Arousing Priestess! Thank you very much!”
“Esteemed Arousing Priestess!”
“Smile at me too, please! I want to be blessed with children!”
“M-Me as well! A smile that will cure my impotence!”
“P-P-P-P-Please your s-s-s-smile…”
I was no longer fazed by the borderline vulgar calls that belied my elegant attire and smiled. One could say it was my way of taking the offensive.
“I can’t believe how far I’ve come…”
For a common saint to become the royal crown prince’s fiancée as well as the Arousing Priestess. And then…
I peeked at Richard next to me. His upswept red hair revealed his strong forehead. The sumptuous full dress uniform was complemented by the gorgeous ultramarine cloak. It felt like the deep crimson lining represented his inner self.
The crowd of spectators watching the parade thinned out and their voices grew distant as the procession continued moving. In a controlled movement, the knights led the line of carriages to the next main boulevard. The streets along which the parade was open to the masses were thoroughly guarded by the special forces knights of Kophe.
As the Special Military Advisor, Richard was effectively at the top of Kophe’s military chain of command. All of the country’s military power was placed under Richard’s command. Clad in their splendid full military dress, every one of them working in today’s parade was under his control. Every last one.
“In the end…Kophe became a country in which you hold all the military power, Richard,” I remarked.
“That is what happened, isn’t it?”
“Have I told you lately how scary you are…? Because you are.”
Kophe had essentially been stripped bare. It was virtually no different from total surrender.
Richard smiled cheerfully. “I refused the position countless times, but the knights were veeery insistent on me unifying them. When the government begged me to at least accept a role as a military advisor even for a limited period of time, well, how could I say no after all that? Really, I had no choice in the matter.”
Unamused, I stared at him. Because I knew well now the immense appetite he concealed under that mask of irreproachable conduct.
“And what about Prince Stevvay’s fiancée? Did you also have no choice in setting him up with Her Majesty’s younger sister?”
“Weeell, I only did that to make it easier for Tundica’s family to have an easier life. Political marriages and marriages of convenience are quite common, you know.”
Next to His Royal Highness sat Empress Tundica’s younger sister, Margaret Sowles, daughter of Marquess Sowles. She would officially become Prince Stevvay’s consort in six months. It had become difficult to find a husband for her after Tundica became the empress, so by marrying Stevvay, she would become the bridge connecting the Kingdom of Kophe and the Belktrius Empire.
“I know Maggie will get along famously with His Highness, which makes me really happy, you know?”
“You really are terrifying… Oh, speaking of terrifying, Richard.”
“Hm?”
“Why am I wearing such an ostentatious saintly outfit?”
I gripped the fabric of my new clothes as I spoke. It was white, from the top of my head to the tips of my toes, and airy, like I would lift off into the sky at any moment. Multiple layers of tulle lace combined to make the stylish wimple inlaid with beads. Thin silk ribbons were sewn all over the attire, and they arced lightly in the breeze. The dress itself was made entirely of lace. Overall, it was less a saintly outfit and more…
“Reminds me of wedding clothes…” I remarked.
“Hahaha! No, no, you’ve got it all wrong, Miss Monica.” Richard waved his hand casually in dismissal. “I have grand plans for your wedding clothes.”
“You…what?”
The carriage rattled as it turned a corner. The wave of cheers drew closer. The parade was once more approaching a street where onlookers could see it.
First, the people sent up joyous shouts for Prince Stevvay, who led the procession in his carriage. The cheers continued and—our coach finally appeared before the crowd of roadside spectators. The people of Kophe welcomed us with enthusiastic applause and acclaim.
His expression rapt, Richard took my hand in his. “Miss Monica, I love you.” He leaned down and kissed my cheek lightly. Under the falling cherry blossoms, he smiled at me, his face a hair’s breadth from mine. “Once more.”
This time he kissed the other cheek. Everyone noticed when he did it the second time and their loud cheers turned into teasing calls and wolf whistles with excited squeals mixed in.
“Woooooow!”
“Y-Your Highness!”
“Eeeek!”
Their voices grew louder. Wait. This wasn’t right. Because we weren’t the main event today!
With all eyes on us, Richard finally kissed me on the lips.
“Heh…and that ends our perfect performance.”
His flame-colored eyes narrowed. My cheeks burned at the heat in them.
“Miss Monica, let’s take our time planning our wedding ceremony and choosing the right date, hm? Ah, we should have an engagement party too. I’m sure it’ll create a stir.”
“Richard…you really are…a vexing man…”
“I adore you, my precious Miss Monica.”
His smile was gentle and bold. It was both beloved and a tad odious to me. Because he had the nerve to kiss me without warning in front of all these people!
He always had me dancing on the palm of his hand even as he attacked me head-on with his love. But he should know by now that such acts were dangerous against the Arousing Priestess! The fact that everything inevitably went his way made me a little…no, a lot, annoyed!
“Darn you.”
Before I knew it, my hand stretched naturally toward his cheek. The roadside crowds fell silent, waiting with bated breath. Richard’s eyes widened, surprised by my unexpected action. And then.
I brushed my lips ever so lightly against his. I scowled at him out of embarrassment then declared loudly, while staring into his eyes. “What did you think would happen when you said those words to the Arousing Priestess, Richard?! Of course I’ll want to kiss you!”
“Miss…Monica…”
“Huuuuuuzzzzzaaaaaaahhhhh!!!”
A thunderous roar of approval came from the spectators now.
Richard pressed his hand to his mouth in shock. I had never seen him this clearly flustered before. He was red all the way to his ears. Ha, take that! I still tingled from embarrassment, but I had finally succeeded in routing him.
“How bold… Now whatever shall I do with you, hm…” He mumbled the words happily, hand still covering his mouth. He kept muttering to himself, his monologue mixed with chuckles and dreamy sighs. And as he spoke, he excitedly tapped the toes of his shoes together, his legs crossed. “Miss Monica, sweet Miss Monica. I’m incredibly happy.”
“O-Oh, really…?”
“Can we change our plans after this? I hope they’ll let us. I think we should just skip the ceremony at the temple, so I can whisk you back right away and straight to bed.”
“You…!”
“I jest, I jest.” Eyelids lowered, Richard chuckled when he saw me at a loss for words.
“It never sounds like a joke coming from you! Especially when—”
“Especially when you remembered? What we did the other day?”
“Ngggh!!!”
His usual carefree grin. He had long since flung aside the veil hiding his desire and seeing the emotion in his eyes now, I felt dizzy. Of course, Richard wasn’t bothered at all by my agitation. He truly embodied the devil in devil-may-care with his attitude.
“I don’t know if I can control myself until all the ceremonies finish today. Considering I want to ravish you this instant in your saintly attire,” he said in that accursedly suave voice of his.
“Will you stop it?! We’re in public! Have you no morals?!”
“Come on, Miss Monica, time to wave to everyone.”
“Urk…!”
He whispered the words right in my ear as he planted a kiss on it. There was no use fighting him. He casually wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me as close to him as he could. Then he responded to the cheers with a broad, invigorating smile. I knew very well that was a lie too.
My face stiff with displeasure, I found it difficult to wave at the crowds. I was dying of embarrassment.