The Oblivious Saint Can't Contain Her Power (無自覚聖女は今日も無意識に力を垂れ流す)

I've finished treating Prince Gilbert's mana hypersensitivity symptoms.

I was surprised to hear him profess his love,

but the only man I love is Ed and Ed alone.

Amidst all this, back in Celestia,

Archbishop Jonathan is apparently scheming something, and...

My, what a lovely scent!

Truly.

I'm currently attending a tea party hosted by Countess Herbert.

These tea leaves were specially prepared for you,

Your Highness Princess Carolina.

Please go right ahead and enjoy.

Thank you very much.

Countess Herbert is neither part of the first prince faction

nor the second prince faction, but rather a neutral faction.

Perhaps for that reason, there is an odd tension in the air today,

as members of both other factions have been invited.

Lady Monica is part of House Arendt and the first prince faction.

The Scarletjade Kingdrakes, led by the ducal House of Arendt,

share a rival relationship with Ed's Pyreborn order.

I just hope nothing bad happens...

THE WAVER OF THE PERFECT YOUNG LADY

My, what a beautiful wedding ring.

Could that be the pigeon blood ruby?

Yes, I do believe it is.

I knew it!

It has a radiance like no other!

By the way, how is married life with Prince Edward?

Is your relationship as frigid as I imagine it to be?

What?

After all, Prince Edward is such a coldhearted man

that they call him the Bloodthirsty Prince, no?

We've all just been worrying and worrying, haven't we?

Oh, this feeling...

I appreciate the concern,

but please rest assured.

Ed and I are steadily deepening our bond.

My, how wonderful.

You call Prince Edward by a nickname?

I do.

Still, asking about a newlywed couple's situation

is rather improper, I must say.

Truly unbelievable.

Now then, how does Prince Edward address you, Princess Carolina?

Well, Ed calls me—

I have just received word from His Imperial Majesty Emperor Eric.

He wishes for you to come to the palace immediately.

A summons from His Imperial Majesty?!

It is I, Carolina.

I have made haste here at His Imperial Majesty Emperor Eric's behest.

Come in.

I'm sorry to pull you away from your tea party, Carolina.

Come sit over here.

Why, thank you.

Jeez, you're making me jealous,

rubbing it in my face like that.

Then shouldn't you hurry up and marry as well, Brother?

My, you've learned to talk back, haven't you, Edward?

And here you used to be so cute back in the day!

I have never been cute, either at present or ever in the past.

Both of you, that's enough banter.

Let us get straight to business.

You're right.

However, before that, there is someone I must introduce.

You may enter!

Father!

Huh?

That's right. You haven't met before, have you, Gilbert?

This is Duke Raymond Sanchez, chancellor of the Kingdom of Celestia.

Please forgive me the discourtesy of not sending advance notice.

I have come today because

there is something I must report to you with the utmost urgency.

Please share the details.

Certainly. If I may, I will personally provide the report and its explanation,

beginning with regards to Her Highness Princess Carolina's divinity.

What?

It was only the other day that we,

the statesmen of the Kingdom of Celestia, learned...

Or rather, we were informed of Princess Carolina's divinity.

You were informed?

Yes. The person who brought it to our attention

was Archbishop Jonathan, who oversees the churches of the Kingdom of Celestia.

Is Archbishop Jonathan the one rumored to be exploiting the church's power?

He made us the following proposal:

"Why don't you join forces with us, the church, to take back Princess Carolina?"

Is that so?

And you guys didn't actually take him up on that, did you?

Certainly not.

But why would Archbishop Jonathan even make such a reckless proposal?

Was there ever a hope of success?

His Highness Gilbert is right.

A small kingdom like Celestia stands no chance against the empire,

which has made remarkable strides in magical culture.

Archbishop Jonathan... intends on using an oracle

and our history of Saints to take back Her Highness Princess Carolina.

An oracle and the history of Saints?

Yes. First, he'll announce that he's received an oracle proclaiming,

"Carolina is the true Saint. Prepare a place befitting of her."

Then, using Celestia's rich history of Saints as leverage,

he can argue that the place most befitting of her is our church.

A claim he can only make

because Celestia is hailed as a holy nation, eh?

A false oracle and everything...

The pretense is a shallow one, but it's nonetheless a plan we can't ignore.

Why is that?

If we ignore the oracle,

we'll hear voices of discontent from devoted believers.

And if we push back on the claim,

other nations may intervene

in hopes of keeping us from further power.

This will only cause problems down the line if not addressed.

Duke Raymond, I thank you for your report.

No thanks necessary. I am simply following King Nathan's orders.

That reserved side of yours is just like Carolina.

The apple never falls far.

Father...

Now then, I shall take my leave.

Now, on to the main matter...

How do we amicably protect Carolina without generating any bad blood?

If I may be so bold, I have an idea.

Go on, then.

How about if we were to investigate Archbishop Jonathan

and expose him for his crimes,

neutralizing him via an inquisition?

That way, we can also preempt having to rescue Princess Carolina.

You have a point there.

However, we would need to gather solid evidence for such a plan.

Father, could you please leave that role to me?

All right... If you wish to succeed the throne as the next emperor,

show me your ability and achievements worthy of it.

Thank you.

Next up,

we must plan countermeasures against the leaders of other nations.

I hate to put it this way,

but there's no better protection

for Carolina than being part of the imperial family, is there?

However, in the worst case, people may claim that

the Saint is a sacred being who does not belong in the clutches of humans

and accordingly push for her divorce.

D-Divorce?!

Brother!

Either way, this is rather troublesome.

There's no greater position than the imperial family.

Oh! I know.

Why doesn't the empire institute its own Saint system,

similar to what the Kingdom of Celestia uses?

Wouldn't that grant us a certain level of status and power?

It might prove effective if we add prestige and authority.

In that case, we'll need to establish a Saint system

capable of rivaling Celestia's.

Then how about we hold our own Saintly Trials?

Saintly Trials?

Yes.

Each country will send a representative,

and we'll host them at our Central Cathedral.

This way, rather than suddenly appointing Carolina a Saint,

our neighbors will be more convinced and willing to oblige.

And above all, it will demonstrate the true magnitude of Carolina's powers.

And so the empire will take the lead in

expanding the Saint system to a global scale.

G-Global scale?

In that case, however, what defines a saint and her duties

must be reestablished.

Why don't we have the Saint light the holy flame on Noel?

Carolina's presence should prove a great boon in uniting the people.

Moreover, treating the Saint as a symbol during the ceremony

would add even more prestige...

It is a marvelous idea.

Still, I'm a bit concerned.

About what?

There is a risk that other nations will come to realize Lina's

overwhelming divinity during the Saintly Trials.

I think it's fine if they do.

What?

They're going to find out eventually anyway, so it'll be a good opportunity.

Yes, that is true.

I will entrust negotiations with His Holiness the Pope to you, Edward.

Understood, Father.

Well then, we shall end our discussions here for now.

Your Holiness, the guests you were expecting have arrived.

Please allow them in.

Pardon us.

Good to see you all again.

Please have a seat.

Thank you kindly.

I understand the details of the matter.

Regarding the issue with Archbishop Jonathan,

if you gather the necessary evidence,

we can take the rest from there.

We'd be grateful.

However, I cannot speak with certainty about cooperation

regarding the establishment of the Faith Council of Saints.

I will need to consult the other priests about it, after all.

Please rest assured, Your Holiness.

Even if the other priests are to object strongly,

I will handle it somehow.

I'm certain that, following a small conversation with me,

they will come to understand.

So, a threat disguised as a talk...

Yeah.

In any case,