Chapter 197 [Event] [Celesta Twins' Birthday] [10]



"..."

The hall fell into an uncomfortable silence as I found myself caught in an awkward situation. Three pairs of eyes were fixed on me, each holding a different expression. The new one, with her reddish-gold hair and striking blue eyes, looked both beautiful and horrified. Seraphina seemed flustered, her face turning as red as a tomato. And Maria, with her captivating heterochromia eyes, appeared both curious and uncertain.

"H-Helen?! Hey! Move away!" Seraphina hurriedly pushed me aside, her concern for Helena evident in her actions.

Oh, it's Helen.

She was also a Saintess Candidate but in if I remember, she was going to be an antagonist in the Third Game. All of that because of the Pope.

Helena, one of the Saintess Candidates, seemed distraught. "H-He t-touched me... a man touched me," she muttered, clearly shaken by the incident.

Damn it...

I needed to get out of here before the Pope caught wind of this. Things were already complicated enough.

"D-Don't worry, Helena! He also touched us!" Maria's voice piped up.

"Maria!" Seraphina turned around with a deep blush staining her cheeks.

All eyes in the hall were now on me, and I could feel their judging gazes. It was an uncomfortable situation, to say the least.

[<You never change, do you, Amael?>] Cleenah's voice echoed in my mind, accompanied by a mischievous giggle.

'This isn't funny!'

I didn't want to turn around and face the scrutiny of those judging gazes.

[<No one is judging you except the men. The women are all excited about this secret relation...>]

'There's no relation, secret or otherwise! Heck, there isn't even any relation at all!'

"H-He also insulted H-His Excellency..." Helena's words barely reached my ears, but they struck a nerve. She regarded me as if I were the devil incarnate.

"I didn't lie about that, though," I retorted, frustration seeping into my voice.

Helena's eyes widened in shock. "H-He is the devil in human skin..."

Seraphina couldn't hold back her laughter at Helena's comment, which only fueled my irritation. A vein throbbed on my forehead as I glared at Helena.

"Since when do Saintesses wear makeup?" I pointed at my own eyelashes, a mix of annoyance and disbelief in my voice. "Is that part of being a Holy Saintess?"

"W-We need to look presentable, Demon!" Helena, or rather, the future evil Saintess Helen, as I liked to call her, fired back, her face turning even redder. "Y-You touched and c-caressed my b-body this whole time..."

"I don't remember doing any of that!" I shot back, slowly backing away from the heated exchange. "Ahem... well, I'm busy..." I turned around, ready to escape the situation, but--

"Wait!" Maria's voice stopped me in my tracks.

I halted, waiting for her to speak.

Maria hesitated, her gaze shifting between me and the whining Jayden standing behind me. "I-If I-I think of s-something I'm certain of, I-I won't forget it, right?" she asked, her voice tinged with shyness.

Truth be told, I had only suggested that to calm her down. It probably wouldn't work against the influence of Eden. It would be too easy if simply thinking about something else could counter its effects.

I let out a sigh and nodded. "It could work, but if the influence becomes too strong, ask your 'sister' for help, Maria."

"I-I'm not stupid--"

"Same goes for you, Seraphina," I interrupted, addressing Seraphina before she could defend herself. "If you find yourself under any influence, turn to Maria for help. And if you ever find yourself in extreme danger or feeling threatened, call out to me. I'll be there to assist you." I spoke with a serious tone, my smile fading slightly.

But then I turned my attention to Helena. "Not you, though."

Helen let out an indignant cry. "Whaaaa! I don't need help from a demon!"

"See ya," I waved my hand dismissively and walked away, ignoring the stares of the women who were guarding us.

"Edward..."

I turned around, surprised by Jayden's sudden presence. "Jayden? What are you doing here?" I asked, feigning surprise.

Jayden glanced at Maria and let out a sigh. "I wanted to speak to Maria, Seraphina, and Helena since they are the Saintess Candidates and I'm the Apostle, but it seems they're occupied."

I glanced back at the three girls, who were still engaged in their own conversation. 

"T-The devil is looking at me..." Helen blurted out, her voice loud and uneasy.

"W-What? M-My heart is not ready for that…!"

Ready for what, exactly?

"..." Seraphina remained silent, but she crossed her arms with a beautiful smile playing on her lips.

"They are busy, yeah…" I muttered, still shaken by the odd trio of Saintesses, and gently forced Jayden to back away.

How did they change this much in two years?

In the Third Game, they are completely different though...

[<The Pope doesn't seem to give you a happy look.>]

Figures...

The Pope had adopted Helen and groomed her for a decade as part of his plan, but now I had tainted her image in front of everyone.

But this Helen is not like the one in the Third Game…

Maybe she can be changed?

At least right now, she spoke in a different tone with me.I think you should take a look at

I glanced behind me, and indeed, she was arguing with Maria and Seraphina, something she wouldn't have done before.

Have I influenced them somehow?

I hope so.

"E-Ehm…Edward…has something really happened between you and the Saintesses?" Jayden suddenly asked.

What?

"Nothing…" I replied with a frown, trying to avoid the topic.

"M-Maybe I should try again to meet them-"

"Your attention, everyone," Charles spoke up, clapping his hands to gather everyone's focus.

Nice timing.

Everyone started to gather at the front.

"Hm?"

I stopped my steps as I spotted Aunt Belle with my father and my grandfather.

Aunt Belle?

She's crying?

She was covering her mouth with her hand to muffle her sobs, and my father had a distraught expression.

"Aunt Belle?" I called out, concerned, and she turned toward me, quickly wiping her tears.

"F-Father! W-We shouldn't care about that anymore! He died! He needs to know that!"

"No. This is not the moment for that," Grandfather shook his head, his expression grave.

What's happening?

"What about Lydia?" Father asked.

"...she was furious when I refused," Waylen replied.

What the hell are they speaking about?

"Alfred, bring Milleia."

"...what?" I stopped my steps and turned back toward Charles, who was smiling at Alfred.

Alfred smiled back and walked toward the confused Milleia.

"Milleia, I'd like you to become my Queen."

"...!"

The hall gasped at this shocking news, including the King and the Queen.

What did he say…?

"My Queen and this Kingdom's Queen."

My brain froze, trying to understand what Alfred had just said.

"Alfred!" Aunt Edith stood up in shock.

"U-Um…! I-I…" Milleia was unable to utter any words at that sudden declaration.

"Brother…?" Even Aurora and Sylvia couldn't believe it.

"W-Wait! Prince Alfred!" Jayden stepped forward, trying to intervene.

Whispers started to spread throughout the hall, and the situation continued to plummet.

Milleia stepped back slowly, her eyes wide with confusion and surprise.

"What does that mean, Your Majesty?" Jarett Tarmias, Layla's father, asked Charles, seeking clarity.

"Alfred, what are you doing…?" King Charles asked his son, his tone filled with concern and bewilderment.

"I'm the Heir and the soon-to-be King, father. I know how to choose my Queen, and Milleia fulfills all the requirements," Alfred replied confidently, his gaze unwavering.

The atmosphere in the hall grew heavier as the implications of Alfred's words sank in.

"Is she the woman you want as your Queen, Your Highness?" Layla's voice cut through the chaos as she confronted Alfred.

Alfred looked taken aback by her bold question, but he tried to defend his decision. "Layla…I already told you-"

"You told me what?!" Layla interrupted Alfred angrily. "That this commoner would be a better Queen than me?!" She spat out the words with bitterness.

"Layla, stop it," Alfred frowned, clearly unhappy with Layla's behavior toward Milleia.

"Just because Raphiel chose her doesn't make her a good Queen, Your Highness!" Layla continued, her emotions raw. "I was also chosen by Raphiel, but it didn't make me a good Queen! No! I worked hard, really hard to be a strong and perfect Queen for this Kingdom and for you, Your Highness! Only after that, I was acknowledged by the Queen, your mother!"

Layla's words struck a chord, and I couldn't help but feel sympathetic toward her. She had dedicated herself to fulfilling her role as the future Queen, and now she felt betrayed by Alfred's sudden decision.

"What about my choice then?!" Alfred snapped back. "Why can I not have the choice of choosing my Queen?!"

"C-Choice…?" Layla muttered with a weak laugh. "Your Highness is the Crown Prince…you were raised to be the next King, and with that status comes responsibilities!"