Chapter 282 – ROSE AND LILY (1/2)

CHAPTER 282 – ROSE AND LILY

In Meteora’s palace, in the Rose Garden.

The Rose Garden is named with two meanings.

One is well-known. It is Queen Rica’s harem’s other name.

And the other one was literally where the name came from, a garden of roses.

Glass surrounds the whole garden and within that giant glass box, you could see blooming roses of various colors.

I am sitting in the pavilion within that garden as Rica leaned her body to mine.

She did not show her air as a queen, she leaned her body to me with the air of a bewitching woman.

Both of us are wearing clothes. From the side, we probably look like a flirting couple.

「Sorry for that, coming so suddenly to borrow a room」

「It’s okay. I told you, right? This is Kakeru’s harem. But I was surprised」

Rica giggled. She is wearing a pleasant smile.

「I was surprised when I came to take a look. It was an unbelievable sight even though I couldn’t see Kakeru’s appearance. It’s as if they’re being played by an invisible man」

「It’s supposed to be “by the grace of god” after all」

「It was fun watching though after I calmed down」

「It was probably a surreal scene」

I could see myself, so I could see myself sleeping with the nuns as usual, but it probably looked different for other people.

It’s exactly like Rica said, as if an invisible man was playing tricks on them. I could easily imagine how surreal it was.

「If people continue to believe the Child of God’s oracle just like that, it’s not impossible for her to become the pope」

「I wonder how it would actually go. Though I think she has a good chance」

「Let me see……」

Rica thought for a second and raised her right hand.

She raised to finger and made a pulling gesture. Soon after, a young girl entered the Rose Garden.

「Did you call for me, Onee-sama」

「Onee-sama?」

「Her stature is a bit special. Alice, introduce yourself to Kakeru」

「Yes. It is an honor to meet you, Kakeru-sama. My name is Alice Annis」

「Alice huh」

『Hou』

「What’s the matter Eleanor? Why’d you suddenly speak?」

When I asked her that, I could feel Eleanor rolling her eyes.

『Of course I know. I know that you do not remember anything』

「Don’t remember?」

I looked at Alice.

She has a chestnut-colored wavy hair and has a beauty that could be described as young yet strict.

She’s definitely a beautiful girl, one that I’d never forget if I met her once.

「I’ve never met her before」

『Annis』

「Annis?」

『See. You don’t remember after all』

But when I was tilting my head like “what do you mean?” about what Eleanor said.

「Therios, Annis, Gate. Those are the names of the three noble families that tried to carry out the Three Lords Regency in Aegina」

「Now that you mentioned it, that happened」

It means that it’s a man’s name. No wonder I can’t remember anything.

「……since she has the name Annis」

「Yes, when Duke Annis came to ask for help, I took Alice in return to giving some assistance」

「I see」

A hostage huh.

I looked at Alice once again.

Her nature is similar to that of Colaria, the type that Rica likes.

I understood that she is also one of the roses.

「Alice. Report to Kakeru what I made you investigate」

「Understood. I shall start to report, Kakeru-sama」

Alice looked at me, she even adjusted her posture so that she would be looking straight at me.

I thought that she’s a diligent girl.

「I surveyed the approval rating of the Solon Church believers for the next candidate to be the pope within this kingdom」

「You made her investigate that?」

「I thought that it might be necessary」

「The one on the top is the God of Child, with a high rating of 50%. Next is the Immortal Saint Melissa with 20%. And next would beーー」

I listened to Alice’s report.

Caroline is in an overwhelming advantage and following her is Melissa. There were others, but you could say that they aren’t much at all.

「The approval rate for Caroline is overwhelming for those who are married, and oppositely, for those who are singleーーespecially men, Melissa’s ratings have reached 40%」

「Those who are being helped by the schools are those people who have children after all」

「What about the other four kingdoms?」

Rica asked Alice.

「The ones who went to survey has yet to return. They should be able to, after a few days」

「……that survey, how much result will it have?」

「What do you mean, Kakeru?」

「Some guy came to invite Melissa to become the pope. He sounded as if he has absolute confidence she would become the pope if she agreed to become a candidate」

『You don’t even remember the man’s name yet you remember that』

Eleanor said in sarcasm.

It’s about Melissa after all.