Queen Heloise had only made an offhand remark, but after hearing it, Ireya said, "If you really want to see, I could send you a portrait of that dragon."
"Portrait?"
"Yes, a portrait unlike any other, as identical to the real thing as can be."
"That’s a bit of an overstatent, isn’t it? Even Master Christia wouldn’t dare make such a guarantee," the queen said skeptically.
"It’s true—the painting was created by Prophet rlin using the Polaroid of the Double Rest Sect. It features unprecedented vivid colors and an almost infinite level of realism."
"Oh?" Queen Heloise finally seed intrigued. "Is this Prophet rlin also an artist?"
"Um, I suppose you could say that."
"Maybe when I have so ti, I should pay him a visit." The queen took a glass of wine from a maid and signaled for her to pour one for the lady as well.
"I’m not interested in all that fighting and killing; art is far more fascinating. It’s a pity there aren’t many here in this castle who truly understand art."
"Er, but I’ve heard that His Majesty has collected quite a few masterpieces."
Queen Heloise let out a laugh, "Edward collects art like he goes hunting, slaughtering everything in his path that moves—not for their fur or for at.
"It’s a simple and primal show-off, a demonstration of manly bravery, a symbol of power. He slaughters those poor animals not because he wants to kill them, but because he can.
"The art pieces in the castle are no different; he can’t even distinguish between the Art of Dark Ages and the works of the Bataf period.
"The closest he ever got to art in his life was probably when he got drunk and used ’The Heroic Duelist’ as toilet paper, but that’s okay, I didn’t like that painting anyway."
Queen Heloise sipped the wine in her hand after speaking.
anwhile, Miss Rabbit once again crashed, wondering if this was sothing she should even be hearing.
She had read so novels before, and usually, those who heard palace secrets didn’t end well.
Luckily, at that mont, a maid ca over, interrupting the conversation between the two.
She first curtsied to the queen, then told the lady that Emperor Edward had woken up. Hearing that the Dragon Slayer Hero he personally knighted had arrived, he was insistently asking to see Ireya.
Upon hearing this, the queen said, "The emperor’s matters always take precedence. In that case, you’d better hurry over."
She paused before adding, "He has a good impression of you. Recently, he’s been talking about you, so you don’t need to be too nervous about eting him. You can speak freely, but rember, do not ntion other sects or the nas of other missionaries in front of him.
"You must have heard before coming to Lion Heart Castle that the emperor now regards the Priest of Cornelia as his most trusted confidant, and is extrely devoted to the Life Goddess. It sounds like Cornelia is his queen."
"Thank you for the warning, Queen Heloise," said the lady.
Queen Heloise waved her hand, indicating Ireya could leave, and then bent down to tend to the cornflowers in the flower garden.
The lady walked a few steps, then turned back to look behind her. The morning sun illuminated the Elf Queen, casting her figure in an even more entrancing light.
Ireya had a fleeting illusion, as if a pair of wings might sprout from Heloise’s back at any mont, carrying her away from this castle.
It wasn’t until the leading maid softly coughed that Miss Rabbit snapped back to reality and hurried to catch up.
"My na is Kelli, and they all call Smiling Kelli."
"Oh, I am Ireya, nice to et you, Kelli," said the Lady.
"I know who you are, I’ve admired you for a long ti. Actually, not just —many maids in the castle admire you. You are the Empire’s fourth Female Knight.
"We all hope that you can achieve a good ranking in the upcoming tournant. We will cheer for you," Smiling Kelli said with a laugh.
"This..." Miss Rabbit felt a bit awkward, "I... I might not even participate in the tournant."
"Why, you think there are no worthy opponents? Makes sense, you are the fad at Mountain who took down an Evil Dragon all by herself. Of course, ordinary warriors wouldn’t catch your eye."
"But it is said that this tournant will still have many experts, not only Half-Beasts and humans, Elves and Dwarves will also have quite formidable guys, and in addition to these, there are so Foreigners who look mysterious; no one knows what kind of trump cards they have..."
"The Emperor said, no matter what, we must ensure that the final Champion is one of our imperial people."
The Lady thought that the maid leading the way should not be called Smiling Kelli, but rather Chatty Kelli.
Because she chatted incessantly along the way, while Miss Rabbit could only respond vaguely the entire ti.
She finally found an opportunity to interject and asked, "Where are we going now?"
"The Emperor’s bedroom, just up ahead," Kelli said while pointing to a room guarded by two Imperial Guards.
Before they even entered, they heard a male voice shouting from inside, "Where is that little scoundrel from the Rosales family, ssing around with which maid in the castle again? Why isn’t he here to pour my wine?"
"Your Majesty, didn’t you order him out of the city last night to find you a three-legged red toad?" said the Palace Affairs Director.
"What, did I say that?"
"You did, Your Majesty. You said it was an oracle from the goddess to Wade that he must do it imdiately."
"Damn it, forget that three-legged red toad, the Priest of Cornelia will take care of this matter for . Quickly have Wade return; how am I supposed to host my female hero without soone to pour wine?"
The man was saying this just as Kelli and Ireya arrived at his door.
As the Lady saw the Emperor still being helped into his clothes by others, she quickly averted her gaze.
"I can co back later."
"No, I am not naked, what are you afraid of?" the Emperor said, then rushed the Internal Affairs Officer dressing him.
"Hurry up, I am just about to receive my female hero. There are no outsiders here, skip the fuss and just get my boots on, then all of you blocking the view can beat it."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The Internal Affairs Officer stopped adjusting the Emperor’s robe and quickly knelt down to put on Edward II’s boots.
After that, he and everyone else in the room left.
"Ireya!" The Emperor stepped forward to embrace the still startled Lady with enthusiasm, "My hero, you finally ca!"
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