TSMMT Ch 153

Predestined Fall

It was the day before the Pope was set to announce the primal ruins he had "discovered." He had calculated everything meticulously: which divine miracle to simulate, what words to utter, and which sacred vestments to wear.

The movements condemning him seemed almost endearing by comparison. Those tiresome fools; he would discipline them with divine punishment later. He had even roughly decided how to execute their punishment. Yet as he stood up, an intuitive sense of wrongness struck him.

[Crowd] "May divine grace be upon you!"

[Crowd] "May divine grace be upon you!"

Even then, the Pope assumed his ruins had been discovered ahead of schedule. This differed from his expectations, yet damage control remained possible. After all, he could claim he had uncovered the primal ruins first...

Concealing his irritation, he addressed the gathered crowd.

[Pope] "What is the meaning of this?"

Priestess Ionia offered a radiant smile.

[Ionia] "Holy relics have been discovered!"

[Pope] "What?!"

[Ionia] "The expedition team led by High Priest Alcmene has unearthed holy relics!"

[Pope] "Holy relics?! What madness is this?!"

[Ionia] "Priest Rob, Priest Akra, and Priest Krond reportedly discovered holy relics simultaneously!"

[Pope] "Dammit all!"

High Priest Alcmene was the leader of the New Church faction. Leading upright priests, he stood as the fiercest critic of the current Pope.

Furthermore, Priests Akra, Lobb, and Krond—the Three Virtuous Priests—were Alcmene's disciples and the Pope's formidable nemeses.

No matter how small the New Church's influence was, the Pope had been unable to crush them solely because of those three priests. Having lived squeaky-clean lives, their immaculate reputation proved impossible even for the Pope to tarnish easily.

[Pope] "Holy relics?! Impossible!"

He bellowed in outrage.

[Ionia] "The Holy Sword, the Holy Grail, and the Holy Statue have all been unseated! The demon-cleaving Holy Sword, the Holy Grail that sates hunger upon drinking, and the Holy Statue that bestows pure hearts and blessings upon a single touch—their divine powers have all been verified."

The Pope's face paled to a sickly ash.

[Ionia] "Is this not joyous news?! For the Three Virtuous Priests to discover holy relics simultaneously!"

She beamed with genuine delight.

Watching her expression, the Pope gnashed his teeth.

This foolish princess clearly fails to grasp what this signifies.

Finding the genuine holy relics rendered the location inside the Primal Temple meaningless! Compared to actual holy relics, the Primal Temple's significance dissolved into irrelevance.

[Dianna] "Priest Akra and I are acquainted."

Suddenly, her voice echoed in his mind.

No... It can't be!

The Pope's eyes gleamed wildly. He knew Dianna had spoken with Priest Akra prior to her departure. He had relaxed, believing their exchange was trivial.

Could she have tipped them off through Priest Akra...?!

[Pope] "T-That... Dianna Brienne!"

He roared in fury, on the verge of madness from rage. Ionia observed his outburst with a chilly smile.

[Pope] "That wench infatuated with barbarians actually went through with it!"

He shrieked hysterically. Watching his face flush red as a beet, she spoke smoothly.

[Ionia] "Your Holiness, mind your words."

[Pope] "W-What?!"

[Ionia] "Uttering such vulgar terms toward the Queen of Lodbrog. Would that not further tarnish your already dismal reputation?"

[Pope] "What?! Y-You...!"

Gazing at the Pope who had covertly tormented her, Ionia offered a brilliant smile and whispered softly.

[Ionia] "With a reputation already ruined, you ought to grovel of your own accord."

His face turned a bruised violet. Those were the exact words he had uttered long ago while pressing down on young Ionia's head when she struggled to adapt to the Holy See.

Repaying the debt in full, Ionia laughed with refreshing liberation for the first time in ages.

---

Bill ran a hand through his hair with a grumble.

[Bill] "What on earth is with that scene?"

Darium added his own assessment.

[Darium] "They are eccentric, that's for sure."

Knights and maids clicked their tongues as they watched the royal couple. Rather than a married pair, the two resembled an innocent young man and woman on the verge of falling in love. A suitor pleading his feelings and a lady who didn't reject him.

Logaple offered a cheerful chuckle.

[Logaple] "Still, isn't it sweet to watch? Look how comfortable they both appear."

The onlookers stared blankly at Logaple's remark.

Lady Kragel observed Dianna and Guiscard with a sullen expression.

[Leonie] "I can't understand either of them."

Bill chuckled through his grumbling.

As if bathed in warm spring sunshine, bright light seemed to envelop the royal couple. Guiscard adjusted Dianna's shoes, the two whispering quietly before exchanging scoffs.

[Leonie] "What could they possibly be discussing? Shall I find out?"

With no objections from the knights, Lady Kragel stepped closer.

It was natural for a lady-in-waiting to remain nearby. After standing behind them briefly, she returned with a complicated expression.

[Logaple] "What is it? Whispering sweet endearments?"

As the knights leaned in subtly, she pressed a hand to her forehead.

[Leonie] "No... Sigh."

[Logaple] "..."

[Leonie] "Her Majesty is restraining His Majesty from going off to pulverize the Pope, assuring him she has already arranged everything."

The crowd stood speechless.

---

On the return journey, the retinue lodged at the castle of Count Novara, an old friend.

Lady Novara presented Dianna with gifts, urging her to extend her stay even by a single day.

Observing the gesture, Guiscard announced they would remain for three days.

[Guiscard] "Is there any urgent need to rush back?"

Though Revius would have beaten his chest in fury while spewing blood and curses had he heard those words, Guiscard was entirely consumed with accommodating Dianna. Consequently, she enjoyed three days of restful retreat at Count Novara's estate.

Count Novara arranged light entertainment for the royal couple of Lodbrog—namely, music. Musicians played somber or lively melodies, while bards sang tales of intriguing legends.

Upon hearing a familiar tune, Guiscard set down his drink.

[O Dragon, entity destined for eternal dawn,

Was the one you loved a flower destined to wither?

Was the one you loved a star that shines only in the night?

The maiden weeps, burying her face in pale hands]...]

[Guiscard] "The people of Panborough appear remarkably fond of this ballad."

As he narrowed his eyes, Dianna responded quietly.

[Dianna] "Perhaps a tale of love between a dragon and a human strikes them as romantic."

[Guiscard] "A dragon is merely a monster."

She stared at him.

A dragon... Does he know something?

She inquired casually.

[Dianna] "Was Fafnir like that as well?"

[Guiscard] "Indeed. A bloody dragon through and through. Worse than the rumors suggested."

He gnashed his teeth, a razor-sharp glint touching his eyes as if recalling that encounter.

[Dianna] "So Fafnir was that kind of dragon."

She muttered softly under her breath.

[Guiscard] "What do you mean 'that kind of dragon'? Is there any other kind?"

Not missing her quiet murmur, he questioned her.

[Dianna] "Tarascus, who attacked us, was like a child. He possessed a somewhat human side, so I wondered if Fafnir was similar."

He knitted his brows.

[Guiscard] "He was simply a massive dragon. Overflowing with malice and intent to kill, desperate to slay me."

[Dianna] "..."

[Guiscard] "If anything was peculiar, he inquired about my name, my age, and whose bloodline I bore. That was all."

[Dianna] "..."

[Guiscard] "Come to think of it, Fafnir and Tarascus are similar..."

[Dianna] "Pardon?"

At her question, Guiscard shook his head, lost in thought.

Lacking any melancholic shadow on his face, Dianna knew beyond a doubt that Guiscard remained unaware that Fafnir was his grandmother.

What a relief.

This was a secret she would carry to her grave.

[Guiscard] "Have you grown particularly interested in dragons?"

Listening to the song, he spoke abruptly. A cool, sarcastic edge laced his tone.

[Dianna] "Why do you ask?"

[Guiscard] "Word has it that a dragon follows you."

Perceiving his sudden displeasure, she asked with a bewildered expression.

[Dianna] "Is something wrong with that?"

[Guiscard] "Dragons are cunning. Living long lives, they are more human than humans themselves. Fafnir was more evil and treacherous than anyone."

[Dianna] "..."

[Guiscard] "A monster that slaughters humans for amusement."

Ah, he is offering a warning.

She nodded slowly.

[Dianna] "That may be true, yet Tarascus is harmless. Others agree with me as well; that dragon is somewhat different."

[Guiscard] "..."

Mid-sentence, she gasped softly.

Madness.

Expressing goodwill toward the very dragon that had beaten Guiscard within an inch of his life... How must that appear to him?

[Dianna] "Forgive me, Your Majesty. I didn't mean to..."

[Guiscard] "..."

[Dianna] "I ought to have sought Your Majesty's permission first. I was impolite."

[Guiscard] "What?"

[Dianna] "Considering what that dragon did to Your Majesty, I acted recklessly..."

Yes, despite claiming she would wait for him to awaken, she had never consulted his wishes.

Guiscard knitted his brows as he stared at Dianna.

I was far too thoughtless.

No matter how beloved a woman was, acting in such a manner would naturally breed resentment.

[Guiscard] "Now that you mention it, that is true. Why did you not utter a word to me?"

Huh? So he hadn't even thought about that until now... Then what was he angry about?

[Guiscard] "That... never mind. Since you decided to spare him..."

He spoke with great effort, his face steeped in murderous intent as if ready to slay Tarascus on the spot.

[Guiscard] "Had he intended to kill you, he would have done so when I collapsed. Since nothing happened, your judgment was correct. It must have been."

[Dianna] "..."

[Guiscard] "I heard that dragon assisted with the grain situation as well. Your judgment was correct. It always is."

Dianna wore a dazed expression. This contradicted his past scolding during the gargoyle battle when he told her not to act recklessly. Guiscard trusted her judgment. That alone stirred a subtle warmth in her heart.

[Guiscard] "However..."

Ah, of course. Unfavorable words always came last.

[Guiscard] "Should you not exercise a modicum of awareness yourself?"

[Dianna] "..."

[Guiscard] "That dragon was enchanted by you as well. That is precisely why he followed you everywhere."

How on earth did he reach that conclusion?!

Dianna stared at him in utter disbelief.

---

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