Forsaken Priest of the Hero's Party-Chapter 95: A Brief Farewell

There was once a quiet, desolate, and lonely room. Now it brims with luxurious furniture, and a brilliant chandelier hangs from the ceiling. Despite her newfound position and success, Ardein had grown fond of this modest room and had no desire to leave.

She had overcome her illness and reclaimed a position even greater than before. Hardship transformed into fond memories after success, yet its bitterness lingered in the wake of failure.

“Your Highness has truly returned.”

Carneil, a female knight of the Imperial Palace, requested an audience upon hearing of Ardein’s return. But when she saw her, she realized she had little to say.

After offering her congratulations and admiration, nothing more needed to be said. Years had slipped by without contact, so any conversation beyond greetings and old tales would have been unexpected.

Have you come running to bow your head, fearing I might seek revenge?

There were no thoughts of resentment or gratitude. That was the extent of their relationship.

Carneil was neither unwavering loyalist nor a notorious traitor. As the saying goes, when a tree falls, the monkeys scatter, she was merely one of the birds that flew away when Ardein’s influence waned.

However, she hadn’t tried to win favor with the new rulers, which was commendable.

Even if she wanted to return to Ardein’s side, there was no intention to hire her back. Ardein wasn’t angry enough to drive her away, yet it wasn’t a matter requiring further thought.

Ardein had to rebuild her power, and there was no reason to treat a former subordinate harshly or risk fueling rumor.

“For now, continue your duties. Good things will come soon.”

If fortune did not smile upon her, she wouldn’t dare complain. Ardein dismissed her with promises that rang hollow.

Though insincere, Carneil departed, repeatedly voicing her gratitude, unaware of Ardein’s cold gaze, and left brimming with emotion.

“Your Highness has been receiving many visitors lately,” Maien, now a lady-in-waiting with brown hair, said, hesitating.

Upon Ardein’s return, she promoted the two maids who had loyally stayed by her side to ladies-in-waiting. In a single night, they transformed from mere servants to trusted aides.es.

Their responsibilities shifted, cleaning and laundry were reassigned to other maids, and the head maid, once deferential, now greeted them with smiles.

The change was overwhelming for the two maids. They were shocked to realize they were now nobles.

It was merely a junior baroness title, yet Ardein felt a pang of regret that she couldn’t elevate them further.

Commoners couldn’t receive such titles without merit. With the rise of the Cidatel Republic, the nobility’s power had weakened, especially with Master-level powerhouses gaining influence.

The divide between commoners and nobles was not as vast as it appeared, particularly for those who attained high levels of mana.

The nobility clings to their titles and status, insisting on their uniqueness. They may reject commoners, yet commoners rarely aspire to cross that threshold.

Did Rayman or Geher ever want to become nobles?

People of common birth with influence can wield power just fine without titles. Even without formal recognition, nobles show them respect, so there’s no need to fight for a title. That is why Ardein couldn’t simply grant her maids a noble title.

She could force it, but deeply rooted noble families wouldn’t recognize them. They’d only face ridicule as upstarts. After considering this, she gave them the title of junior baroness, which is symbolic and bought with money but carries no real power. It can’t be inherited and is closer to an official position than a noble title.

Still, it enabled Meabil and Maien to serve as Ardein’s ladies-in-waiting.

“It’s only natural. When a tree grows, people gather in its shade.”

“This is the first time I’ve seen you use something like this. Who are you trying to impress?”

Ardein gave a bitter smile. She couldn’t fathom why she wasted effort on cosmetics for someone who wouldn’t notice. Perhaps it was because he was her benefactor, but even that seemed a feeble excuse.

The two ladies-in-waiting were excited. Palace gossip, especially about romance, was always the most interesting.

Maids would often exchange romantic stories to pass the time and ease their weariness. Most rumors were false, but sometimes they were true. And since high-ranking people had the power to twist the truth, the real stories often spread only through whispers among the maids.

Rumors swirled through the palace about the Third Imperial Prince Edmund and the ever-present female knight by his side. Some even whispered that they had a child together, though no one dared seek the truth, and the rumors persisted.

“Could it be... someone you have feelings for?”

“W-what nonsense! It’s nothing like that... It’s just...”

“Just?”

They smiled, amused by Ardein’s rare flustered state.

Because the imperial bloodline was so revered, any love stories involving it became fascinating. The two ladies-in-waiting, almost like sisters to Ardein, watched her with eager eyes.

“It’s just that I want to express my gratitude. Don’t get any strange ideas.”

Yet, as is human nature, forbidding thought only deepens curiosity.

Before her illness, Ardein had never been interested in love despite many marriage proposals. Her sole focus had been power and authority, with the latter as her true aim, power merely a means to that end.

Those who genuinely seek power don’t care for authority. If they do, it’s only to accumulate more power. It’s from such people that the truly great can emerge.

Like Grimudo of the North, Master Heron from five hundred years ago, and Grand Master Teresia, known as the Moon Lady, from the generation before. Now, Rayman and Geher.

There exists a realm attainable only by those who do not devote themselves entirely to authority.

Ardein was not that kind of person; if anything, Roka was more akin to it.

For such a woman, good heavens.

To be blushing like a woman in love, the ladies-in-waiting hoped their mistress’s affections would come to fruition. To be frank, their mistress was well past marriageable age.

If she could meet someone worthy and spark a swift connection, they would welcome it with all their hearts.

“So it’s him.”

“I see...”

The two women murmured as they observed the visitor. Seeing their mistress, an imperial princess, personally go out to greet him, they could almost be inevitable.

The visitor, dressed in black and far less flamboyant than the young noblemen who once vied for Ardein’s attention, was not adorned with gold or silver. His attire was neat, yet striking in its understated formality..

As that person approached, lost in thought, a warm coziness spread to the two ladies-in-waiting, even from a distance. Like people seeking sunlight, they unconsciously took a step forward.

He had an inexplicable warmth that enveloped others. Their mistress must have melted in that warmth without realizing it.

Ardein’s gaze toward the priest, Kyle, remained consistently warm. The two ladies-in-waiting exchanged whispers and smiles, convinced that spring had finally arrived for their mistress.

“Your Highness. I have an urgent matter to discuss.”

Kyle spoke seriously. The two ladies-in-waiting looked at each other, covering their mouths. They’d read enough romance novels to guess what might come next.

A woman exhausted by the affairs of the Cidatel Republic and other significant issues.

What could a man, whom such a woman had unknowingly set her heart on, say at a time like this? It must be a confession, surely. The two ladies-in-waiting could hardly contain their excitement, and they were delighted by it.

“Please, speak freely, Holy One. What words do you have for me?”

“I must go to the Cidatel Republic.”

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It wasn’t a confession but a declaration of farewell.

“I am grateful for everything thus far, but I can no longer remain by your side.”