Chapter 08: Princess Celestia

The atmosphere inside the prayer hall of the temple instantly turned ice-cold. From the middle of the elite knights, the princess of the Aquallia Kingdom appeared, her every step echoing throughout the entire hall. Her hair waved as she walked, and her sharp eyes scanned her surroundings with authority. Realizing who she truly was, the High Priest dropped to his knees and bowed.

“P-Princess Celestia. We are honored by your unexpected visit.”

“Save your flattering words for later… I am here to meet Aria, the Sword Saint. Where is she?” she asked him confidently, without adding an honorific to her name.

“Sorry, Princess, but I must correct you. Please do not insult our dear Aria-sama by addressing her by her name without an honorific.”

Tsk.

She clicked her tongue and, ignoring him, diverted her gaze to Shawn, who was slowly trying to hide from her presence.

“Hey, you…” She pointed her finger toward him. He stopped and pointed his finger back at himself.

Damn it! Why, after all this time, does she have to visit right now, when that drunkard has launched herself out of a window to help that raccoon beast-girl!

He managed a smile as he bowed with a certain degree of respect. “How can I serve you, Princess Celestia?”

“Are you joking around, or did you not hear when I asked, 'Where is Aria?'”

What should I do! I can’t tell her that Aria is currently not on the premises after lying to the High Priest that she was meditating. The High Priest may be easy to deceive, but deceiving the kingdom's ruler herself is another matter!

Lost in his thoughts, he paused to find an excuse as Celestia's patience reached its limit.

“Augh… Why is everyone here so annoying… Fine, I will search for her myself. Knights—” As she was about to order them, the High Priest interrupted.

“Princess Celestia, I apologize, but currently Aria-sama is in a deep state of meditation, as she is communicating with Goddess Iris.”

“Goddess Iris…?” Celestia's eyes narrowed with disbelief, while Shawn, on the other hand, thanked the High Priest in his mind for keeping him from being exposed.

“Hehe…” She laughed a little and continued, “What a dumb excuse… Who told you that? Did you clearly see this with your own eyes?”

“Well, Shawn… being Aria-sama's personal attendant, told me on behalf of Aria-sama,” the High Priest explained.

“Shawn…? Seems like I’ve heard that name before…” She seemed confused, as the name was familiar to her.

“Ahaa… You really might have heard it, as he was formerly one of the elite knights back in the kingdom, and now he is serving under Aria-sama as her personal attendant. Right, Shawn?” the High Priest explained as he turned toward him.

Shawn kept his head down in panic, looking at the floor.

You damn bastard! Why did you have to overexplain everything to her? You might not know it, but I was offered the position of her personal knight at first. I declined and left the elite knights just so I could learn from Aria here. So, she might be holding a grudge against me, thinking I dumped her for Aria.

“Ahh… Now I see why you are trying to be so quiet. So, this is the one who dumped me and went over to that blind fool who knows nothing but babbling things without any meaning.”

“Princess Celestia…!” The High Priest raised his voice upon hearing the insult to Aria, but Shawn stopped him and walked a few steps forward. He raised his head, giving Celestia a sharp look.

“Princess Celestia… I apologize, but you have to take those words back. You might be the current ruler of the Aquallia Kingdom, but insulting Aria-sama without knowing her fully doesn’t give you the right to do so.”

She gasped upon seeing his piercing eyes, and then chuckled. “So, what will you do if I don’t take those words back…?” The elite knight beside her took a stance, ready to attack him if he made any move.

He sighed, and with a sharp grin, said, “Then, I must report to the king that his daughter is insulting the very same person who, along with other nations' kings, gave her the greatest title in the entire kingdom to match her personality: The Sword Saint.”

She ground her teeth in frustration and sighed in defeat. “Fine… I will wait until she finishes her so-called meditation. At least prepare a royal guest room for me.”

Shawn bowed as he called Aria’s maid. “Please, show our guest to a room.” The maid bowed to Shawn and led the other knights, along with Celestia, toward their quarters.

Phew, safe for now. It’s a good thing the king himself is a great devotee of Aria. But Aria, please return soon, or I will really be beheaded for acting rudely to Princess Celestia.

Meanwhile, Aria and Rikka were on their way to the Verdantis Kingdom to meet the Hero summoned by the kingdom.

“Rikka, I am telling you the truth, this apple is really corrupted to its core… Look, how can an apple be so sour? I’ve had apples before back at my place, but they were all sweet and juicy.” She pushed the half-eaten apple toward Rikka's face, but Rikka pushed it back.

“Aria-sama, how many times do I have to say it? There are some apples which may taste like that. Also, you hold the greatest title, so they would never serve you something like this.” Rikka sighed as she glanced back at Aria, who, regardless of how sour it was, made a face every time she took a bite.

Are my ears ringing, or has the divine Aria-sama started acting like a spoiled child…? No, maybe this apple really is corrupted. Aria-sama never tells lies or acts like a child.

Yes! She must be acting this way to hide her identity and deceive any enemies who might ambush us, right?

Rikka, lost in her thoughts, walked ahead and left Aria behind. While Aria was still savoring the new taste of the apple, her foot stepped on a branch. It snapped, and Aria was caught in a net that lifted her upward.

Hearing the noise, Rikka turned around to find Aria dangling upside down in the net.

“Huh? WHAA— ARIA-SAMA!” Rikka panicked and helped free Aria by cutting the net, causing Aria to fall on her rump.

“Ouch! That hurts! Who the hell creates such petty traps around here…?” Aria complained, raising her voice, leaving Rikka in disbelief. Hearing such words from Aria’s mouth, Rikka was stunned.

“Aria… sama.”

After a long two-hour walk, they finally crossed the border and were about to reach the kingdom, but they were suddenly stopped by a commotion. Aria and Rikka peered through the bushes into a clearing, where a boy wearing weird clothes and holding a sword was saving two beastkin—a mother and daughter—from a large, one-eyed monster.

Rikka whispered in a panic, “Aria-sama, we should help him… if we don’t, they will be…”

Aria stopped her with a raised hand as she turned her face toward them.

“That person holding the sword has a very distinct mana from others. If I am thinking right, then he might be the person I have been looking for…”

“You mean…” Rikka pressed.

“Yes, he might be the Hero we were searching for.”