She heard that her former master had always been in poor health, but as far as Rishe could tell at the moment, he was in perfect condition. He looked a little weary, but that was probably due to the carriage ride and his daughter’s tantrums.
The Duke heaved a deep sigh and bowed once again to Rishe and Arnold.
“I apologize for the delay in greeting you. I am Joseph Ehrenfried Jornal, duke of the Holy Kingdom of Domana. I apologize for the inconvenience my daughter has caused you.”
He then turned his attention to the coat of arms of the Garkhain Kingdom painted on Arnold’s carriage.
“Are you members of the Garkhain royal family?”
Arnold sighed briefly and greeted him as the Crown Prince.
“I’m Arnold Hein. I understand that my father, His Majesty, is indebted to you.”
“―― ……”
The Duke seemed to have gasped soundlessly.
He concealed it cleverly, but Rishe clearly sensed his upset. Perhaps Arnold perceived it, too.
“I didn’t know you were the Crown Prince. If that is the case, then this young lady must be the one you have just been engaged with. Again, I hope you will pardon my daughter’s impudence.”“… If my wife wills it.”
“Of course, there is no problem, for I have met such a lovely young lady.”
After replying, Rishe smiled and walked toward Myria.
Arnold and the Duke of Jonal continued their ceremonial greetings. Meanwhile, Rishe crouched down and smiled tenderly at Myria.
“Myria-sama, why are you quarreling with your father like this?”
“My father doesn’t understand that I’m a substitute for the maiden priestess. The festival is just around the corner, and if I fail to do things right, I’ll bring disgrace to the real priestess and goddess who have passed away!”
“I see. So for the next festival, Myria-sama will be playing the role of the shrine princess?”
Rishe nodded, pretending that she never heard of it before despite knowing everything about it.
In the Krushade Order, a festival was held for the goddess, the object of worship.
Usually, a priestess, who was said to carry the blood of the goddess, would attend the festival and offer prayers to the goddess.
The church has cherished these maidens for generations.
However, twenty-two years ago, the previous priestess died in an accident, and the women of the goddess’ bloodline disappeared.The bloodline never ceased, as boys were born into the ancestry, but only a woman could serve as priestess, the goddess’ representative.
That’s why the Order has continued to cancel the festival for about twenty years. However, as a result of the protests from the believers, the celebration will resume this year with a substitute priestess.
Rishe thought back to the explanation she heard in her life as a maidservant.
“I heard that only women born to the aristocratic family of the Holy Kingdom of Domana can represent the maiden priestess. Myria-sama was chosen for the position?”
“That’s right. It’s a great honor, isn’t it? And yet, Papa…”
Myria compressed her lips and whispered, “Papa is stupid. He upsets me.”
Rishe blinked at the sound of Myria’s voice, which was the lowest she had ever heard.
A few moments ago, Myria was displaying the willfulness of a child younger than her age.
But now she looked much more mature, and was quietly looking at her father.
“I cursed Papa… He still doesn’t believe that all the people I cursed… died.”
“Myria-sama?”
It was horrifying.
A chill crept up Rishe’s back.
Myria began to giggle. The expression of the girl Rishe once served rendered her speechless. It was something she never saw before.