The glow of the magic lamp was dim, too heavy to pierce through her eyelids.
A faint ink scent mingled with a fresh fragrance in the air, seeping into the Holy Queen's heart.
The chest beside her ear rose and fell with a steady, muffled strength.
Her hand gripped a large one so tightly that she could trace every line of its palm.
Calca held that hand, greedily breathing in the scent that calmed her.
It felt as though the owner of that hand was the most dependable person in the world, the one most worthy of her trust.
Mmm…
Sweet dreams were always short. Consciousness returned, and her senses sharpened.
She seemed to be protected within a solid, reliable embrace that shut out all pain and pressure, leaving only warmth and comfort.
Wait, an embrace?! I went to meet Helant!
The memory of throwing herself recklessly at Helant flashed through her mind.
It couldn't be…!
Her steady breathing froze at the thought. She cautiously opened her eyes.
A man of impossible beauty with snow-white hair gazed at her gently, concern in his eyes.
Her suspended heart finally settled.
Calca felt heat rush from her delicate neck to her cheeks, then burn in her ears.
She quickly covered her face with her hands and buried it against the chest beside her, mortified.
She tried to summon the usual warmth and composure of the Holy Queen, but the words came out like a girl's coquettish whimper. "I—I'm sorry, I lost control..."
Looking at the golden-haired beauty playing ostrich in his arms, Helant neither pushed her away nor woke her, simply enjoying the softness and fragrance.
"Your Highness, you carry the same power as I do; it makes me feel close to you." His voice held a gentle smile, soothing like a spring breeze.
Helant finds me endearing too?!
Right, I've also received the blessing of the Holy Domain God Lord!
Calca moved her beautiful hand away from her face and lifted her head with newfound courage.
Sure enough, the moment she saw Helant, warmth, security, and affection surged from her heart, like the feelings of a secret crush nurtured for many years, impossible to restrain.
Softness filled her almond-shaped eyes, and the blush on her cheeks slowly faded. "I was granted a revelation from the Holy Domain God Lord. He told me to find you..."
For no reason she could name, she adored the man before her, a fondness that felt as though it had been ordained by the gods themselves.
So using Faith Power to bestow a holy-light blessing turns the Holy Queen into this... Tch, I'd better not hand out blessings so carelessly in the future.
At least not to ..men.
As this thought crossed his mind, Helant's handsome face turned solemn. "Since it is the will of the Holy Domain God Lord, I will give my all. Besides, the affairs of humanity are my affairs as well, as the third-generation Human Emissary of the Holy Domain God Lord."
Mm! The Holy Queen had intended to say more, but at his promise, she swallowed her words.
Somehow, she simply felt that this man could truly do it, as reliable as the Holy Domain God Lord she had once met.
"Hmph, anyone can talk big." Remedios, seated opposite Helant, found this pretty boy more irritating by the second.
Especially when Her Highness the Holy Queen lay so contentedly in his arms.
As one of the Holy Kingdom's Three Heroes, she ground her molars audibly. "You, a mere Mithril Rank Adventurer, plan to change the entire war with your face?"
She felt no resentment toward her beloved Holy Queen; all her fury was directed at Helant.
"Tch, frogs in a well who've never seen a true powerhouse..." Clementine, seated at Helant's side, spoke more sharply than her stiletto. "All they can do is croak. They never solve anything."
"What did you say!" Remedios drew her sword in a flash, its edge gleaming coldly. "Don't think I won't strike!"
Clementine watched Remedios's reddened eyes and heaving chest, a playful smile on her lips. "Oh? Already angry? My, the truth really does sting~"
"Please don't provoke Remedios," Calca quickly intervened. "Remedios, Sir Helant is important to me. Do not underestimate him."
"Hehe~ Your Highness, if you wish to mediate, perhaps you should climb out of that man's lap first?" Clementine raised her brows with a smile, a faint trace of jealousy coloring her tone.
"Ah?" Calca shifted her hips uncomfortably. The next instant, her body trembled as a fresh wave of heat surged within her, tinting her fair skin pink.
Only then did she realize that, blessing or not, pressing herself against a man's chest like this was improper.
Especially for her, the Holy Queen, the face of the nation.
"Ugh, what's come over me? Lounging in Helant's arms without a care, how shameless!"
She hurriedly scrambled out of his embrace, buried her face in her hands, and moved a short distance away.
"You could've stayed where you were. I think Helant rather liked you there." Clementine tapped a finger against her cheek, feigning indifference.
The remark made the Holy Queen flush even deeper, white steam nearly rising from her head.
"I said, do not disrespect Her Highness!" Veins throbbed at Remedios's temples, murder in her gaze as she stared at Clementine.
This madwoman dared mock her beloved Holy Queen again and again.
She then turned her glare on Helant, contempt mixed with fury.
"Pretty boy, what trick did you use to bewitch the Holy Queen like this?"
In her heart, the Holy Queen was sacred. Even if she loved someone, she would never throw herself into his arms at first sight.
Helant felt a twinge of embarrassment. She had guessed correctly; he had indeed used a method.
He simply had not expected the blessing to make the Holy Queen fall for him.
Of course, even if he had known, he would still have used it.
"Uh, I—"
Before he could speak, Calca stepped between them, her expression grave. "Put away your sword. His holy scent is just so—ehm—I mean, Helant and I fell in love at first sight."
Her gaze was steady and dignified, and she once again became the Holy Queen Remedios knew.
Remedios let out a heavy sigh, her eyes locking onto Helant. "You have no idea how strong the demi-humans have become."
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