63 – 63. Porticissimo (3)
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Rudmila, who exuded unwavering confidence to Edanant.
She was currently holed up in her study, dealing with piles of documents.
After all the twists and turns, victory was achieved.
However, the victory claimed by the Baltarian Empire was nothing but a glory marred with wounds.
The grand palace of the emperor, boasting a magnificent history, had collapsed. An incident occurred where the outer walls of the imperial palace were destroyed by the rebel forces’ sudden attack, and the capital city of the empire, where unidentified monsters rampaged, was reduced to ashes, not a single brick remaining visible.
How should one accept such a devastating outcome?
The blonde princess sighed heavily, dropping her pen.
“Haah… I boasted so much to Edanant.”
She wanted to immediately dispatch a stage for a graceful waltz with Edanant.
But the piles of documents did not allow even a moment of respite.
If I say it’s difficult now, he would be greatly disappointed, wouldn’t he?
He might even lose confidence in me…
Words once spoken cannot be taken back.
Even if she was a corner of the Seven Rivers Kingdom, she couldn’t turn back time.
Rudmila leaned back on her chair, then stood up repeatedly, revealing her complex emotions.
What tormented her now was not the piles of documents, but the fear of not being able to keep her promise to Edanant.
“Could it be that Edanant was a disciple serving the calamity of war…? There was no sign of that at all.”
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As she pondered, Rudmila’s expression suddenly darkened.
The Apostle of Blood.
She recalled the man in black armor armed with numerous weapons.
The image of Edanant, deploying thousands of weapons into the air, exuded a heavy sense of oppression, perfectly embodying the ‘calamity of war.’
The expanding deity of war, like an explosion, was so terrifying to even think about.
War.
Witnessed the war up close.
Thinking back, my hands trembled reflexively.
Rudmila, who had been carrying fear, grimaced as she struggled to suppress the trembling.
“Why am I shaking…! Edanant is Edanant! Edanant is different from other mines! It’s said to be the savior of the royal family and the empire many times!”
She saved her younger sister.
She stood against the envoys of calamity for her older sister and father.
And she rescued many people who were engulfed by the irrationality of violence.
For Rudmila, Edanant was like an object of reverence and admiration. She mourned him with reason and respected him as a hero.
Recalling the emotions she felt while watching his back, she dispelled the fear of the envoys of war.
“The relief supplies sent by the nobles have just arrived.”
“Your Highness, the procession of citizens leaving the capital has greatly increased. We must make preparations as soon as possible…”
She wanted to meet Edanant.
She wanted to meet him quickly to hear the details.
What had he experienced in the past,
Why did he come into contact with the envoys of war.
She needed answers, even if it meant completely dispelling the tormenting doubts from her mind.
But the misfortunes raining down from all corners of the capital did not let Rudmila breathe.
As if not allowing a moment of peace to calm her mind, troubles bombarded her.
“Mila, sister!”
Wasn’t even a moment of rest allowed?
Even just for an hour…
No,
At least 30 minutes would do.
In the desolate space where only sighs of concern lingered, a lively voice suddenly burst in.
It was Elizaveta.
At Elizaveta’s sudden approach, Rudmila’s rigid expression softened for a moment.
“Let’s go quickly, we’ll be late at this rate!”
“Why all of a sudden…”
“Oh, come on, you’re so forgetful, sister! We decided to dance with Edanant!”
“….”
At the unexpected suggestion, Rudmila showed a stiff reaction.
In response, Elizaveta lifted her sister up with both hands and led her to the stage where Edanant was waiting.
***
Where on earth are we going?
This isn’t the direction to the ballroom…
Guided by her sister Isabelle and younger sister Elizaveta, Rudmila, dressed in a ball gown, followed the Louinons to an unknown location.
A disconnected underground world.
A space filled with dazzling white crystals.
In the center of the space was a simple village built for innocent fairies.
Unfortunately, like a place hit by numerous bombings, most of the village lay in ruins.
It felt eerily familiar.
As Rudmila slowly surveyed her surroundings, she felt a sense of unease.
Eventually, she realized that she had returned to the place where Edanant had fought the envoy of blood.
“This way! It’s this way!”
“The Lord has created it so wonderfully! The Lord is truly amazing!”
As the Louinons urged her forward, Rudmila moved without even a moment to feel perplexed.
She passed through the desolate space surrounded by ruins.
And then, she arrived at a mysterious terrace straight out of a fairy tale.
“Here, here….”
Rudmila’s words faltered at the sight of the heavenly spectacle adorned with vibrant flower gardens.
The terrace erected in the fairy paradise was more beautiful than any scene she had ever beheld.
Flowers drenched in dew from the divine realm.
Around, white crystals shimmered softly like stage lights.
She felt like she had become the heroine of a fairy tale dropped into a magical space.
Stepping on the floor decorated with top-grade marble, Rudmila crossed the terrace and finally faced the opponent she had longed for.
She felt her breath catch for a moment at the unexpected reunion.
“E-Edanant… Have you also come?”
“I was somehow dragged here by the Louinons.”
Edanant and Ludmila blushed as they felt awkwardness towards each other. It was due to the overly ornate terrace that made them feel rather burdened.
What should we do now?
An awkward atmosphere, reminiscent of the incidents in the sickroom, settled between them.
As if pushing that awkward silence, music began to play.
Elizaveta, who was observing the situation with the Luinons, felt frustrated and abruptly turned on the phonograph.
“Would you like to dance with me, Ludmila?”
A stage more lavish than a royal banquet hall.
A sweet waltz flowing through the phonograph.
Deciding to comply with Elizaveta’s obvious intention, Edanant politely extended his hand. Ludmila, despite showing a hesitant response, eventually accepted Edanant’s touch.
“I’m sorry… for forcing you into this.”
“It is an honor to dance with you, Ludmila.”
The waltz is the most popular dance in the social circles of the Valtaria Empire.
Therefore, even Edanant and Ludmila, who were unfamiliar with social etiquette and dance, could skillfully perform the waltz.
They held each other’s hands.
And as they spun around, they leaned on each other.
With each touch, they felt firm muscles.
The closer they got, the sweet scent stimulated their senses.
Continuing the waltz, Edanant and Ludmila gazed into each other’s eyes and spoke.
“I’m sorry, I was planning to wear the suit you gave me at the tailor shop…”
“Oh, it’s fine. You can always visit the tailor shop later.”
Having fought the disaster knights of the Clock Tower and ended up with a torn suit.
As if to prove that, Edanant was dressed in casual clothes, unlike Ludmila, who was in a party dress.
When Edanant apologized, Ludmila chuckled and replied.
Although he had been given a suit worth a fortune, he didn’t mind at all.
It was an unavoidable loss incurred while fighting the marauding hordes of the Clock Tower invading the Valtaria Empire.
“Edanant.”
“Yes.”
“I… I don’t care who you are.”
“…”
The inexhaustible elixir.
The disaster knights of war.
The apostles serving the disaster knights.
A hidden member of the Saintess Party, the “war enthusiast.”
The image Edanant had shown so far was only a small part. To the extent that he was considered that way, the man named Edanant concealed many hidden aspects.
It would be a lie to say he wasn’t afraid.
She was still terrified by the sight of Edanant who had once unleashed the protection of war.
But as Ludmila held onto Edanant’s strong grip, she expressed infinite trust.
Even if he were to eventually become a monster, she wanted to show that her feelings would not change.
“Ludmila.”
“Hmm.”
Edanant embraced Ludmila’s slender waist and bowed his head.
And Ludmila, embarrassed but willing, pouted her plump lips.
As they drew close as if their lips were about to touch,
Edanant and Ludmila discovered something and froze in place.
“Tsk tsk. It’s just a kiss!”
“Ahahahaha…! Instead of a pretty princess in the woods, it’s a pretty ahjumma in the woods.”
Numerous eyes were watching them.
It was the Luinons who had been secretly watching Edanant and Ludmila’s rendezvous.
Elizaveta was also present.
In her hands was a sign that read, “Kiss her now!”
“Ahahahaha! Will you be declaring your marriage right after the ball?”
Moreover…
Next to the Platinum Princess was a silver-haired saintess who exuded a chilling aura like a white-haired witch.
* * *
As the beautiful music of the waltz continued, amidst the lively chatter,
A woman resembling Elizaveta was focused on construction work, carrying a pickaxe.
“Life… no, divine life is truly a mess.”
A worn-out hard hat.
A towel wrapped around her neck and a safety vest worn on the outside.
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The woman who continued her work, swinging her pickaxe vigorously, was Broyan, the goddess of the Lluinotes.
Currently, she was repeatedly pulling all-nighters due to the coercion of the villainess forcing her in the name of the Lluinotes.
Her achievements were remarkable.
In less than half a day, she displayed an amazing display of recreation, replicating the luxurious terrace of the divine realm.
Without delay, Broyan swiftly completed the terrace and continued her work to rebuild the paradise destroyed by the apostles of calamity.
Watching Broyan mix cement in the concrete mixer felt like observing a seasoned foreman at work.
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As she tore open the sack to pour the cement,
White lightning bolts descended from the sky, instantly reducing the terrace to rubble.
Witnessing this, Broyan paled and sank down in shock.