221 – It’s Your Birthday

“Your Excellency the Duke. Someone from the imperial family came to visit.”

At that report, Archduke Littorio, who was in the middle of his duties, nodded.

It must have been very sudden, but the look on his face was, “The thing you’ve been waiting for has arrived.”

“Come inside.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

After letting the people go, Archduke Littorio slowly stood up.

After leaving the office, I went down to the first floor, and a member of the imperial family bowed respectfully.

“Your Excellency the Grand Duke. How were you.”

“It’s always the same. Yes, did His Majesty send it?”

“Yes. Actually, we are planning to hold a small banquet tomorrow.”

“A banquet. Why are you suddenly like that?”

To Grand Duke Littorio’s question, a member of the imperial family gave the answer.

It is for the sake of the Grand Duke Shrelitz and others who suffered belatedly in the east.

It is said that they plan to call all the top 10 people who participated in the war and even the personnel from the command.

“I heard that the Grand Duke of Shrelitz refused the banquet not too long ago.”

“Yes. But this time you accepted it.”

“Did that friend accept the request?”

A faint smile appeared on Archduke Littorio’s lips for a moment, then disappeared.

That smile was his habit when things went as expected.

“Okay. But if you go to this body, it will be very bustling. Besides, our Littorio didn’t do anything special during the war, so I want to send my daughter instead of me.”

“Your Majesty said it wouldn’t matter if I sent a representative.”

Having heard that far, the Grand Duke happily accepted the invitation with a nod of his head.

After that, after meeting with the person from the imperial family, he returned to the office.

“As expected.”

“Yes. It was exactly as expected.”

At the words of Archduke Littorio, Elgar, who became the heir to the Archduke family, answered.

“Tomorrow is definitely Kyle’s birthday.”

“I’m sure. Father. I found out when I was at John Nassen during my vacation.”

“That’s why His Majesty the Emperor suddenly throws a banquet. He called it because he said that Archduke Schrelitz had Kyle’s birthday as well as a celebration of victory, and he probably only told Kyle to celebrate victory.”

“Because of Kyle’s personality, if I were to say it was his birthday party, he would never go.”

In this way, I’m thinking of making the marriage between the royal family and John Nassen a fait accompli.

Archduke Litto Rio thought so and tapped the table several times with his fingers.

I have no intention of blatantly ruining the emperor’s plans.

However, I am concerned about my daughter and heir to meekly.

It’s not a level of interruption, but it’s okay to give it a moderate amount of tension.

“As you requested, Elgar, I promised to send you as her substitute.”

“Thank you, Father.”

“Are you really okay? You could run into the princess head-on.”

Despite her very realistic concerns, Elgar just laughed.

Ah, Archduke Littorio exclaimed as if he noticed something.

“So, you already had a conversation.”

“Of course. It’s a formidable enemy, but that doesn’t mean you can’t just be hostile.”

It was a very ‘litorio’ type of coping method.

Although it is perceived as a competitor, it is never a perfect enemy.

Sometimes we hold hands, sometimes we compete, and that’s it.

“Actually, I told everyone that it was Kyle’s birthday.”

“I’m afraid I may have given up too much of an advantage.”

“It’s okay. If something tastes too appetizing, it can cause an upset stomach.”

I really like each and every one of the answers.

Without being overly greedy, I took everything I could get while withdrawing.

Leave debt while releasing information to the other side, for example.

With that, when the decisive moment comes later, that debt will be shaken.

‘It’s fortunate that her daughter was chosen as her successor.’

I even feel grateful to Kyle for supporting Elgar again.

“Then prepare quickly. Right now tomorrow is the banquet, but the dress and accessories….”

“That has already been done. Whose daughter am I?”

Looking at the smiling Elgar, Archduke Littorio burst into laughter.

I thought my daughter had met a formidable enemy called the princess, but it seems that she wasn’t like that.

Rather, it should be said that her princess met her formidable enemy, her own daughter.

*

Meanwhile, a special envoy from the imperial family also arrived at the church headquarters.

“Your Majesty the Cardinal.”

As the imperial envoy greeted them by crossing their names, Cardinal Paul also crossed his arms and crossed himself.

A position slightly different from that of nobles who directly swear allegiance to the imperial family.

A place that maintains an appropriate partnership without falling in love with the imperial family.

Because that was the current church’s political position, we have to be even more careful.

‘Imperial special envoy. What is this all of a sudden?’

Currently, the pope is away for a while.

Thus, Cardinal Paul himself temporarily took over the work within the church.

That’s why in a situation where there is no choice but to be more nervous.

“This is from His Majesty the Emperor.”

The envoy held out something he had cherished in his arms.

“What is this?”

“This is an invitation to the imperial banquet to be held tomorrow. It will be a place to congratulate those who have served in the recent great war and pray for the rest of those who died honorably. He directly conveyed his intention that he would like the people of the church to come to the place.”

I was very nervous, but the content was unexpectedly easygoing.

An invitation to an imperial banquet. It’s happened occasionally before.

However, the church rarely responds to all invitations.

It is a common situation that even if you receive an invitation, you receive only the sincerity and not the invitation itself.

Even if the emperor sent it directly like now, there were many cases where he refused to do so.

Be careful not to give the appearance of holding hands with the political world.

The church has always intended to be known as being politically neutral.

“This is an invitation from His Majesty the Emperor. That heart is truly grateful. I can only appreciate the magnanimity of His Majesty the Emperor, who always cares about the church. But our church….”

“Please wait a moment. Cardinal Eminence.”

As always, the moment when Cardinal Paul was about to decline the invitation.

The saintess who returned to the church after a long time stops such a cardinal.

“Saint?”

“Sorry for the sudden interruption. Will you forgive me?”

“No. Not at all. This nogu is fine. Rather, seeing that she just asked to wait, it seems that the saintess has a different idea.”

At Cardinal Paul’s question, the saintess nodded her head.

“How about accepting this invitation?”

“Saint?”

“There are congratulations for the meritorious figures, but it is also said to be a place to pray for the rest of those who died honorably. I think the prayers of our church should resonate at least once in such a place.”

The cardinal drools at the unexpected opinion of the saintess.

First of all, the rejection of banquet invitations is an act of the church that has been done so far.

It is so old that it is now considered a kind of tradition.

However, being old is unconditionally proud, and it cannot be great.

As time passes, the time to make changes also comes.

Look at the priests of the Order right now, even Cardinal Paul himself.

My body, which used to get tired quickly, is now stronger than most soldiers.

With a stronger body and patience, I can have a more sincere heart and will.

Change can bring positive results.

And the person who led the change was the saintess who brought Kyle.

“… If not, the number of people participating in the banquet in the church….”

“I’ll go. As a saint, I pray for the rest of those who have become the glorious stars of the empire. We will show that our church is praying for them. Cardinal Eminence.”

At the saintess’ unwavering voice, Cardinal Paul finally nodded her head.

*

You finally came. Well, I have no choice but to come.

Kyle looked at the invitation to the imperial banquet in his hand.

The emperor personally summoned them, congratulated them, and even mentioned their birthday.

It’s strange if the invitation doesn’t come in that situation.

Inside, kindly, it was written who was attending the banquet.

For example, the Archduke Schrelitz and the members of the 10 lectures that can attend.

Even some of the characters who played an active part in the battle with the eastern nomadic tribes.

In addition to that, in the Grand Duchess of Littorio, Elgar.

In the church, there was even a part written about the coming of the saint.

‘Considering that it’s an imperial banquet, of course there’s even a princess….’

In the end, the princess, the princess, and the saint will all gather there.

All that remains is the ‘witch’, but that part was also resolved with this invitation.

‘I can pick up to three people to attend the banquet with me.’

First of all, Tisha’s seat is unconditional. Of course she has to go with her.

The princess, the princess, and the saint have already gathered, and it’s sad when a witch falls into it.

‘And… One should also take her Ian with her.’

Ian also distinguished himself in the battle with the nomadic tribes in the east.

Perhaps if he had been a knight rather than an academy student, he would have received an award right away.

So I thought I was qualified to attend the banquet.

‘One seat left… Who should I take with me?’

Since Elgar said she would attend as a substitute for Archduke Litto Rio, she passed.

As a bonus, Leto will join Elgar as an attendant, so pass as expected.

For some reason, the church that wants to attend the banquet sends a saint, so she passes.

‘… Yes. Let’s give him a seat.’

With a decision in his heart, Kyle headed straight to her gymnasium.

“Nell!”

“Yes, Kyle! Did you call!”

“Come over here for a second!”