Chapter 43
The next day, the Saint took the initiative to meet with the Queen. The two of them had a private conversation in the study for a long time, dismissing all servants, so no one knew the specific content of their discussion.
The only thing the servants outside the study noticed was the Queen’s expression when the Saint emerged. Her face was serious but not troubled, as if she was contemplating something of great importance.
Shortly after, the Queen urgently summoned several ministers to the palace, announcing that there were important matters to discuss. They remained inside for the entire day, leaving only after nightfall, without even taking a break for meals. The same situation continued for the following days.
The servants outside, though not privy to matters of state, were sharp enough to sense that a significant change was imminent.
Since returning from the battlefield, Crown Princess Tsukiyo had been practicing her martial arts with even greater diligence. The recent battle had made her acutely aware of her shortcomings in horsemanship. Determined to address this weakness, she asked Wakako to temporarily suspend archery lessons and instead teach her how to ride.
The Queen herself had been skilled in riding and archery, and the palace had a dedicated riding ground.
They practiced together for several days, and Tsukiyo gradually improved.
Now, she could skillfully control the adult horse she was riding, galloping around the grounds with ease.
After successfully completing another lap, she was filled with joy, expecting praise from her teacher. She looked up at Wakako with a bright smile, only to find her gaze distant and unfocused.
Although Tsukiyo and Wakako had always had a good relationship, she was still the Crown Princess, a child at heart. Seeing her teacher distracted during their lesson, she couldn’t help but feel a little displeased.
Especially since this wasn’t the first time it had happened.
“Master,” Tsukiyo pursed her lips, “What are you thinking about?”
Wakako snapped back to reality and apologized without hesitation. “I was thinking about something else.”
But what good was an apology if it happened again and again?
Tsukiyo, frustrated, tossed the riding crop aside and told the servants that she wanted some water. They brought her tea brewed from dew, but she didn’t even savor it and downed three cups in a row.
These past few days, Wakako had indeed been distracted, and the reason was clear—it all revolved around the decision she had made with Miki.
The consequences were unmistakable. The more they entangled themselves with each other, the more it would endanger the Saint’s life. So, no matter how painful it was, Wakako forced herself to distance herself from her master.
The night she left Miki, she hadn’t slept a wink. At dawn, she rode back to the divine temple and once again held the shard of the sacred water bottle in her hand.
This time, Wakako saw nothing.
She knew she had understood God’s will and was on the right path.
Before speaking to Miki, Wakako had prepared herself for a strong reaction. With the Saint’s status and intelligence, it would be easy for her to disrupt the peace of the palace. But this time, Wakako was determined not to yield.
However, what followed was completely unexpected: nothing happened.
The Saint didn’t shed a single tear, didn’t lash out in anger, didn’t cling to her clothes with stubborn determination. Miki did nothing, remaining as quiet as if nothing had ever occurred.
This should have been the best possible outcome, yet Wakako felt a nagging sense of unease. It simply wasn’t like Miki to react this way.
She had the uneasy sense of standing in the eye of a storm, where the sea seemed calm but a tempest could strike at any moment.
Wakako pushed aside her distracting thoughts and approached Tsukiyo, apologizing again. “It was my fault,” she said softly. “The Queen has been in constant meetings lately, and I can’t shake the feeling that something significant is about to change, which has been weighing heavily on me.”
This wasn’t a lie. uncertainty and unresolved anxieties had left her unsettled.
Hearing that Wakako was concerned about kingdom affairs, Tsukiyo’s expression softened. “I see. I wrongly accused you, Master.”
A hint of melancholy crossed her face, and she sighed, “I wish I could attend those meetings too, but for some reason, Mother won’t allow it. I suppose she thinks I’m not ready to learn such things. I want to grow up quickly so I can help her govern the kingdom. Will you help me, Master?”
Wakako couldn’t help but be moved by the girl’s determination and smiled. “Of course.”
She turned and pulled a longbow from the weapon rack. “Tsukiyo, compared to a bow, a crossbow is easier to handle and quite powerful, without relying on arm strength. But on the battlefield, cavalry rarely use crossbows and mostly rely on bows. Do you know why?”
Tsukiyo shook her head, puzzled. “I don’t know.”
“Speed,” Wakako explained. “A bow is faster than a crossbow. The one who shoots first survives.”
She tossed the longbow to Tsukiyo. “Want to try shooting from horseback?”
***
The bell signaling the late afternoon chimed before the Queen realized she hadn’t had a single drop of water or a bite to eat since morning.
Before governing the kingdom, one must first take care of their own health to have the energy to rule. She paused the meeting and ordered food and tea to be brought in, sharing the meal with her ministers without any pretense of superiority.
During the meal, a minister casually remarked, “Your Majesty, why not have the Crown Princess join us? She’s been learning state affairs under your guidance since she was young. These topics may be complex, but with her talent, I’m sure she would grasp them quickly.”
At the mention of Tsukiyo’s name, the Queen, usually composed and unflappable, felt a cold sweat break out on her palms.
But her expression remained unchanged. “The Crown Princess has her own teacher to guide her.”
This, of course, wasn’t entirely true. The Queen rubbed her forehead wearily. The others assumed she was tired, unaware of the scene replaying in her mind from a few days prior when the Saint had come to see her.
Her suspicions had been confirmed. Although Wakako was once just a lowly guard, she held a significant place in the Saint’s heart.
Time had passed, yet Miki remained unchanged. The years had only made her face more strikingly beautiful, without leaving any other marks on her.
She stood outside the door, draped in her familiar white cloak, as pure as freshly fallen snow. “Ruijun,” she called.
Rui signified auspiciousness, and Jun represented beautiful jade. Together, they symbolized the flawless jade that brought prosperity and good fortune to the kingdom: Ruijun.
No one in the palace dared address her this way. The Queen had long since distanced herself from her own name. She was momentarily stunned, watching as Miki walked towards her, step by step.
Slowly approaching.
Then, she held a gleaming silver dagger against the Queen’s neck.
“Ruijun, I don’t like being tested,” Miki said, her gaze fixed on her. “You should know that.”
The hand beneath the cloak was as soft as silk, holding the blade with no real force. The Queen, an Alpha who had trained rigorously in combat from a young age, could hardly be threatened by the physical strength of an Omega.
Especially not the Saint, who was even more fragile than the average person. If she wanted, she could have easily taken the dagger from Miki’s hand.
But the Queen had known Miki for many years. They had once been betrothed, and the Saint had been raised to be the future Queen. They even shared the same tutors.
Therefore, she understood that when the Saint’s eyes were this calm, it was a sign of danger.
“I am the ruler of Mios first, and Ruijun second,” the Queen stated calmly “If I hadn’t used Wakako to lure you out, would you have shown yourself?”
She showed no fear, meeting the Saint’s gaze head-on. “These years you’ve spent in hiding—was it because you lost God’s favor?” she asked pointedly.
Ordinary people might not know, but the royal family had dealt with the Saint for a thousand years, and naturally, they possessed certain methods unknown to commoners. The royal family always has a way to discern the will of God.
The Queen’s tone softened, becoming more sincere. “Miki, you know my character. Even when we were once betrothed, I never interfered with what you did. All I ever asked was for you to lend your strength to me and to Mios.”
Miki glanced at her and suddenly smiled. “Yes, God is indeed displeased with me. God even promoted that bastard Saburo as Their pawn.”
She withdrew the dagger, letting it slip from her grasp and clatter to the floor.
“What God wants, Wakako has surely already informed you,” Miki continued. “Saburo, of course, sides with the Eagle Kingdom. God wanted to use my influence to incite the Eagle Kingdom to wage war against you, but I stabbed him instead.”
The Queen’s eyes narrowed. “Is Saionji Saburo dead?”
“He won’t die. He’s already sworn allegiance to God.”
“Aren’t you afraid of angering God even more?”
“How do you know this isn’t God’s will?”
God was the one obsessed with the so-called “noble bloodline,” otherwise, God wouldn’t have created the distorted position of the Saint, a being placed on a pedestal above all others.
Given this obsession, how could God ever favor a bastard with impure blood?
“God wants the Eagle Kingdom and Mios to fight, and God also wants Saburo to fight me,” Miki said with a hint of mockery in her voice. “God thrives in chaos.”
One was of royal blood, the other of noble descent. They didn’t need to be overly explicit in their conversation; a subtle hint was enough.
The Queen understood. The Saint was willing to help Mios, but not without conditions. “What can I do for you?” she asked.
Miki paused for a moment.
“You have taken good care of my little guard all these years,” she said.
Why bring up Wakako now?
The Queen’s eyes flickered, her mind racing. After a moment of contemplation, an unbelievable thought struck her. “Could it be… you and Wakako… is that why you incurred God’s displeasure…?”
Even her composure faltered.
The Queen had always believed that the two shared a deep bond between master and servant. But now it seemed that the Saint harbored forbidden feelings for her own guard…
This seemed like an easy conclusion to draw, but in reality, it wasn’t due to a lack of consideration on her part. The Saint was supposed to remain chaste and untouched, devoid of romantic love. This had been the tradition for centuries. Who would have thought that Miki would dare to defy God for this?
Miki was also slightly surprised. She had assumed Ruijun would have guessed as much. After all, on their journey back to Mios, several Alpha mercenaries had looked at her with knowing glances, likely aware of the deeper connection between her and Wakako.
Knowing and not reporting was a grave crime, yet they had chosen to keep Wakako’s secret.
The girl who treated everyone with sincerity, whose smile revealed dimples as sweet as wine, had earned the sincere loyalty of others.
“Yes,” Miki admitted with a smile. “He forbade it, but I will have it anyway.”
She bent down and picked up the fallen dagger. “If this is the only thing I desire, Ruijun, will you stand with me?”
The Queen clenched her jaw, unsure how to respond.
“Give me a few days,” she finally said in a low voice. “I will give you an answer.”
Miki said softly, “Since we are old acquaintances, Ruijun, let me give you a prophecy.”
“When Saburou awakens and turns against Mios, the first to die will be the ten-year-old Crown Princess.”
Whether true or not, the Queen felt a cold sweat drench her back.
