Cecilion stared at Ceres, stunned by her words.
"Are you sure, Your Highness?" he asked again, his voice laced with disbelief. The idea of giving food enhanced with the Monarch's Blessing to the nobles, the Holy Order, and the mages after everything they had done was incomprehensible to him.
Outside Seiryu's Golden Canopy, the temperature was brutally freezing.
Most of the nobles and holy knights shivered violently, having abandoned their tents when they left the previous camp.
They had assumed that once they successfully awakened the Holy Beast, they would be immediately transported back to the capital.
They had not planned for failure.
Now, they suffered under the cold.
Meanwhile, the commoners were safe, shielded by the warmth of Seiryu's magic, a tent crafted only for them at the Empress's command.
Ceres had done nothing for the others.
At first, because she was furious.
And second, because she wanted them to experience the helplessness the commoners had felt.
To know what it was like to be left with nothing.
But in the end, Ceres also knew…
Most of them had only been following orders.
She let out a soft sigh and turned to Cecilion with a gentle smile.
"Yes, Sir Cecilion," she repeated.
They sat inside the Golden Canopy, the warmth protecting them from the harsh cold outside.
Delphine was at the far end of the room, cooking stew for Ceres.
Ceres glanced at Seiryu.
"Make them the same tent."
The Celestial Dragon simply nodded.
Robin, who had remained silent up until now, suddenly spoke.
"We do not understand, Your Highness," he admitted, his voice carrying a hint of frustration. "After what they did… they do not deserve kindness."
Ceres chuckled.
"I am not a kind person, Sir Robin," she said with a knowing smile.
Robin's brows furrowed.
Ceres leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table.
"But aside from a select few, I know that the knights, the Holy Order, and the mages out there only did what they were ordered to do."
Her voice softened, but her words carried weight.
"Because if they didn't, they would not have survived, too."
Robin clenched his jaw.
"This world is harsh." Ceres continued, her golden eyes glinting.
"And in a harsh world, you must save yourself first before you can save others… That is the truth of this world."
Cecilion, Robin, and Renee exchanged uncertain glances.
The Empress saw things differently.
She understood something they didn't.
"…I know you do not understand me now," she said after a moment. "But maybe someday you will…So, for now, take this as an Empress's order."
"You do not have to like it. You do not have to agree… But you will follow it. Because I said so."
The three knights had no choice but to nod.
Without another word, they stood and left the Golden Canopy, Seiryu silently following behind them.
Ceres turned her attention back to Delphine, who had been quiet as she continued preparing food.
She watched as Delphine placed a steaming bowl of stew in front of her.
Ceres picked up her spoon and twirled it between her fingers before asking,
"Do you disagree with what I did, Delphine?"
Delphine paused for a moment before exhaling.
"Personally, Your Highness?" she said, her voice calm but honest. "I don't agree."
Ceres raised a brow.
Delphine sat across from her, arms crossed.
"But…"
She tilted her head, smiling softly.
"For the last three months, I have come to realize something about you."
Ceres's eyes narrowed slightly.
Delphine continued.
"Every decision you make, whether right or wrong in the eyes of others, always has a reason."
She met the Empress's gaze with quiet conviction.
"And because of that, just like Legion, even if I don't agree with your choices… I will always support you."
She lowered her gaze slightly.
"And I will never question your intentions."
Ceres stilled.
A slow smirk curled on her lips.
"Really?" she drawled.
A playful challenge in her voice.
"What if I decided to feed those knights, nobles, and Holy Order members just to kill them all tomorrow?"
Delphine's expression did not change.
Instead, she smiled.
"If you did… My brother and I already know that you would give us time to decide whether we wanted to participate or not."
Her lips twitched.
"You would make sure that being your accomplice was a choice."
Ceres let out a breathy laugh.
She leaned back, shaking her head.
"I really should assign you a new job, Delphine."
She smirked.
"You've gotten too good at reading me."
Delphine grinned.
"I'll take that as a compliment, Your Highness."
Ceres's golden eyes glinted as she glared.
"It's not a compliment."
Delphine laughed.
"You're a Saintess now." She crossed her arms. "And if you become corrupt, I'll be the first person people will blame."
Delphine's smile dropped.
Her face twisted in horror.
"Not you too, Your Highness!" she groaned. She slumped onto the table, looking defeated. "I never wanted to be a Saintess!"
Ceres chuckled, amused.
"Do you have any idea how demanding the Holy Church is?" Delphine complained, scowling. "They are even more demanding than royals!"
Ceres raised a brow.
"Is that so?"
"Yes!" Delphine huffed, crossing her arms in frustration.
"The only authority they recognize is Celestial power." She pouted. "They think they are above any kingdom."
Ceres chuckled at Delphine's irritation.
"And speaking of the church, be careful with that Saintess, Xul," Ceres warned. "She has a Charm ability that makes you believe everything she says is true, no matter how twisted it is."
Other than their earlier confrontation, where Ceres called Xul a bitch, she hadn't spoken to the woman again. But just seeing her had been enough to remind her of Ciena. And after noticing the Charmed Conviction ability in Xul's status window, she was certain, the woman was nothing more than a wolf in sheep's clothing.
"So that's what it was," Delphine muttered, making Ceres frown slightly.
"This morning, while you were still unconscious, the Duke came to see you. He was with the Knight Commanders, the High Court Magician, and the Saintess. While she was talking to me, implying that you might not be the true Empress, I kept hearing this irritating sound, like a ringing in my ears. And the longer she spoke, the more I realized it was coming from her voice."
"Irritating?" Ceres asked, amused. "Isn't Charm supposed to make her voice sound sweet and angelic to you?"
"It was really irritating, Your Highness. I think if it were you listening to her, you would've slapped her on the spot," Delphine said with absolute certainty.
Ceres smirked. "Is that so? That bad?"
Delphine nodded enthusiastically.
"Even Legion, Your Highness. Every time the Saintess speaks to him, his face darkens. And whenever she tries to flirt with him, I swear he looks like he wants to punch something. Good thing my brother has a lot of patience."
Delphine glanced around the canopy, despite it being just the two of them inside, as if making sure no one else would overhear. Then she leaned in slightly and whispered.
"Seiryu even said she isn't a real Saintess… because her heart is corrupt."
Ceres's eyes narrowed. "Seiryu said that?"
"Yes. Earlier, when you lost consciousness after subjugating him and giving your first command, Seiryu ordered for you to be healed. He called for the 'Saintess,' and of course, Xul thought he was referring to her. She even acted all virtuous, saying she would do it even if she wasn't sure whether you were truly the Empress. But then Seiryu shut her down completely."
Delphine grinned, clearly enjoying recounting the event.
"He told her she wasn't the one he was addressing. Because, according to him, no true Saintess would have a corrupt heart."
Ceres listened intently as Delphine continued explaining everything that had happened while she had been unconscious. Though she found some of it hard to believe, she knew Delphine wouldn't lie to her.
Their conversation was cut short when Seiryu entered the canopy.
"Your Highness," he said formally. "The Knight Commanders request an audience with you. They are waiting outside."
Ceres thought for a moment before making her decision.
"I will speak with them," she said. "But not here. I will meet them in their tent later, after I've finished my dinner."
Seiryu nodded and exited the canopy without another word.
Ceres and Delphine continued their meal, with Delphine animatedly recounting the events that had taken place earlier.
Ceres took her time eating. She refused to rush just because the noble Knight Commanders were waiting. If they expected her to be someone they could summon at their convenience, they would soon learn otherwise. She was not the Empress they had imagined, and she would make sure they understood that.
An hour later, she finally stepped out of the Golden Canopy. Seiryu was already outside, waiting for them.
As before, the moment the commoners noticed her presence, they immediately showed their respect. Though they no longer kneeled, per her previous command, they still bowed in deference.
Seiryu led the way, with Ceres and Delphine following. The moment Ceres stepped out, Legion was at her side instantly, a silent yet unwavering presence.
The tent of the high-ranking officials was spacious, dominated by a long table at its center. Seated around it were the Knight Commanders, along with Saintess Xul and the High Court Magician Celion. At the head of the table sat Duke Aurelian.
As soon as Ceres entered, Seiryu conjured a comfortable golden chair at the opposite end of the table. He took his position behind her, along with Delphine and Legion.
From the moment she stepped into the tent, Duke Aurelian's eyes never left her. Ceres merely raised an eyebrow at him, unfazed by his intense stare.
Meanwhile, most of the Knight Commanders struggled to meet her gaze, their discomfort evident. It was clear, they were beginning to realize she was not someone they could control.