A few days later, the day of the Continental Festival of St. Augustine dawned.
People from all over the continent, regardless of nationality, gathered in the Strait of El Amuz to see the Continental Festival.
In the center of the street stood a stone statue of Saint Augustine decorated with flowers...
People held hands and danced in a circle around the stone statue to the sound of the music.
The flower petals fluttered and a sweet fragrance filled the air.
People burst into laughter. The sound of cheerful music coming from somewhere was endless.
At this time, there was no nationality or status. They all got together and enjoyed the festival.
"Emily! Come in! Let's dance!"
"I'm done."
The girl shook her head despite her friend's urging. Then her friend's eyes widened.
"Have you forgotten that today is St. Augustine's Night? The day when dancing couples meet their lifelong partners?"
"What is that? This is the first time I've heard of it."
Even though she was scolded for not listening to the famous story, the girl willingly explained the whole story to her friend.
"Once upon a time, there was a couple who couldn't stay together because they were enemies. They ended up running away together, but were chased by both countries."
"Oh!"
"But Saint Augustine took pity on them and blessed them. And so the two lived their entire lives caring for each other!"
"It's like a fairy tale."
"It's true! Why do you think so many people are gathered here today? It's because St. Augustine is asking for blessings and meeting the lover of the century!"
As her friend said, this was a festival regardless of nationality or social status.
The roaring laughter continued to explode like a burst of fireworks in the sky.
The Parthenon.
Meanwhile, the priests of the Holy Kingdom and the dignitaries from each country who had visited the strait were enjoying the atmosphere of the continental festival at the Parthenon.
The Parthenon was located on high ground a little distance from the villa.
The plains in front and the wide open sea behind boasted a beautiful natural landscape.
It was a location where you could see the street view at a glance.
In addition, the windows on both sides were opened for the continental system, creating a cool, open feeling.
It was the intention of the Valdina royal family to enjoy the festival together with the people without creating a wall of social status.
So when people on the street raised their heads, they could vaguely see the interior of the temple.
The imperial siblings were the first to perform their first dance as the hosts of the continental festival.
The young Emperor of Valdina attracted everyone's attention with his appearance which was more noble and pious than usual.
He wore an old-fashioned white robe, and he looked like the leader of the Holy Nation party, so even the young priests sometimes glanced at him.
However, the person in question was so focused on his sister in front of him that he didn't notice at all.
"Dea. I don't know when you grew up so much. It seems like only yesterday that I was holding your hands when you couldn't even walk properly on your own two feet."
Even now, Peleus could see traces of the baby's toddling form on Medea's face.
"When are you talking about the enemy?"
Medea whispered, slightly raising the corners of her lips.
Unlike the women who were dressed in lovely pastel colors, she was still wearing a strict navy dress.
However, perhaps because of her youthful features, she still looked like a fresh-faced girl.
Even though she had an expressionless face and a cold, unapproachable aura, there was a loveliness about her that could not be hidden.
Peleus gently stroked his sister's cheek, which was flushed from the heat of the outdoors, and glanced across the floor at the men waiting to ask Medea to dance.
He frowned at the impure gazes for a moment, then suddenly realized.
His younger sister had become old enough to be getting married.
"Dea."
"Yes?"
"Someday you will have to leave me, but I hope that moment will not be too soon."
He took a deep breath and quietly muttered. His soft voice sounded like a plea.
The years that passed without him watching were too long.
He didn't even get to see her grow up next to him, and soon he's going to have to send it off to one of those punks.
"..."
"I'm sorry for leaving you alone for so long and asking you such a selfish favor."
Medea chuckled at her brother's voice, which was a mixture of worry and disillusionment.
Peleus was worrying about nothing.
"Well, will that day ever come?"
Because she had no intention of getting married in this life. One mistake was enough to lose everything.
'Some might say that I have no sense of responsibility as a Princess...'
If my reputation becomes so bad that I cannot even stay in Valdina, why don't I just leave my inheritance to Peleus' children and go wherever I want?
After going through the arduous expedition life, she wonders if there is no place for her to stay anywhere on the continent.
Meanwhile, the music ended.
"Your Majesty!"
Peleus frowned as he noticed High Priest Paul striding towards him.
A thunderous voice echoed across the floor.
It was a quickness that showed the determination not to pass the turn to anyone else, as he waited only for the siblings' dance to end.
"The next dance will be with our Saintess. The goddess will also be pleased with the sacred solidarity between the temple and Valdina!"
Rachel was also standing quietly behind him, a bashful blush on her face.
Medea secretly admired his courage.
'The great powers are quite similar.'
The shamelessness of Holy Nation, who pretended to forget all the previous conflicts for the sake of his goal, was no different from Katzen.
But High Priest Paul still did not seem to understand.
The young Emperor of Valdina was not a man who would easily give in to the atmosphere he was pushing forward with.
That he was a man who had no qualms about putting his face on the cheek of the Holy Nation, no matter how much people watched.
"Yes, everyone is waiting. Originally, the first dance should have been given to the Saintess, but for the sake of the two siblings' strong bond, our Saintess gave it up. So now it's time to get back to the proper order..."
"Unfortunately, it will be difficult because of the preparations that will be made a little later."
A calm voice of rejection rang out.
The rejection was so swift that it seemed as if it wasn't even a slight consideration.
"The music is short and doesn't take much time. Your Majesty, it is an opportunity to show the harmony between the Holy Nation and VaIdina."
"Well then, it doesn't have to be me. D'Angel, take the Saintess in my place."
Paul's face turned red and blue.
'That cheeky...!!'
Doesn't that green guy know who it is thanks to that the Continental Festival is being held here right now?
We even turned a blind eye to the vulgar dancing taking place in our sacred temple?
Paul felt deeply insulted as if he had been rejected, not Rachel.
"If Our Holiness knew that the Emperor of Valdina had treated the Goddess' representative so ill-manneredly, he would not be pleased. Wouldn't a brief blow be too much for Valdina to handle?"
Peleus stopped walking and slowly turned around.
"It's a blow..."
The face looking down at the High Priest clearly showed that he had been consciously paying respects up until now.
"Your Eminence, It seems you are mistaken in thinking that the land you are standing on is the Holy Land."
A cold voice chided the High Priest's behavior.
A more murderous aura emanated from the young Emperor than the Knights Templar had ever felt while fighting the Demons.
"..."
A feeling of oppression like frost.
The lively atmosphere that had been building up excitement at the festival suddenly cooled down.
"I, I just..."
Paul flinched and took a step back.
There was clearly nothing in the Emperor's hands, but for a moment, an illusion appeared as if he was holding a greatsword in his hand.
Only then did he realize the true value of the nickname 'the butcher' that had been given to Peleus.
The rumor that the blood of the plains warriors who disappeared from his hands for ten years formed a river was not false.
"I was worried about the attention of the world. For the sake of the reputation of both countries, especially Valdina. His Holiness has asked me to do something-"
"So, is this the will of His Holiness the Pope?"
Peleus snorted mockingly.
"How strange. If His Holiness had thought so, why would you have sent the Saintess here again?"
Blue eyes turned to Rachel absent-mindedly, yet coolly.
"His Holiness must know what she did in Valdina last time?"
That clearly meant the incident the Saintess had caused in Valdina.
"That, that is..."
"What? What did you do? What did the Saintess do?"
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Peleus! Gosh, you're so good!
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