Chapter 471: A Day Before Ceremony

I went to the first floor with Tris and Eli to prepare for the morning prayer.

They were really clingy even though we did it for 6 days straight. I kinda miss their anger and tsundere act now. However, I believed they would return as usual once the ceremony ended.

On the first floor, Vivian looked at us while giggling playfully, with Garcia standing on the corner, bowing her head when she saw me.

"Fufufu, you really holed up in the room for a week. My... How naughty my daughter has turned. I hope you take responsibility for her, Arthur."

"Hahaha, isn't that what I plan to do?"

I stopped before her and the girls returned back to their senses. They immediately stepped away from me and blushed in embarrassment.

"Tomorrow will be the engagement ceremony. I will take care of Eli and protect her with all I have until I breathe my last breath."

"I am reassured." Vivian nodded with a soft, jealous smile, "Well then, shall we go to the church together to pray? Everyone has been waiting outside, although Cecil returned to Lima Port City last night to have a morning prayer in that city."

"A shame," I answered. But she had friends over there, so I didn't really mind her doing that, "Let's get going then. I need to talk to Archbishop Sana after the morning prayer too, regarding the ceremony tomorrow."

"Y-Yeah, let's go."

"I-I will go first! I... I need to patrol with the knight squad."

Eli and Tris walked ahead of us. The latter was more like running, though.

As expected, they would be embarrassed once they came back to their senses. I chuckled while watching them and followed my childhood friend from behind.

The other nuns were already waiting outside with the two maids. Milea looked at me with a cheeky smile while the twins bowed at me.

We went to the church together for morning pray. No one but Sandra stayed in the mansion.

The sun had yet to rise, and the sky was still dark. However, many people went out and walked to the church with pious expressions without any complaints.

Summer heat helped to combat the morning cold. No one wore long sleeves, unlike before.

Arriving at the church, I was greeted by many people and was given a way to enter. The people here were really polite.

Sana was already waiting on the second floor of the hall, prepared to welcome me.

"Welcome, Sir Arthur. We really are honored that you always joined our morning prayer. I am sure the believers also think the same way."

"I am glad to know that." I approached her and gave her a light peck. She looked surprised and flushed, but I only smiled and continued, "Let's sit. I have something to request from the church, if possible." I walked past her and sat on my seat.

"Huh..." Sana returned to her senses and looked at me. "O-Of course, we will help with everything. Just... That was a bit unfair, Sir Arthur. Kissing me so suddenly like that..." She went to her seat and slowly sat down, fidgeting while glancing at me.

"I just suddenly wanted to," I smirked at her and caressed her thighs.

For some reason, I wanted to do it since I met with Misa. The Archbishop's clothes were just... perfect to do that.

"S-Sir Arthur... We're in front of many people." Sana moaned softly as my hand entered her inner thighs. "We can't... Not here... Sir Arthur!" She raised her voice and grabbed my hand.

I went too far because her reaction was adorable. Tears welled up in the corner of her eyes from embarrassment.

"Sorry, but you're just too cute." I chuckled and retracted my hand.

"Hnn... You said that, but you left me behind with Ertha in the Capital City." Sana pouted; her cheeks were bloated slightly.

"There was an urgent matter."

"You left me with a job after you finished that urgent matter. And yet, not even once... You didn't visit the church not even once... For almost 7 days..."

"That's..."

I couldn't say anything. She checkmated me.

What she said was true. I made the whole Virtue Kingdom panicked and disappeared to have fun.

"I can't say anything. I am sorry."

Hearing my words, Sana smiled proudly.

"You're forgiven, Sir Arthur. I apologize as well. That was a bit immature of me. I was... quite lonely, you know?"

"You said you have forgiven me."

"I did." Sana grinned and leaned back.

"But that was a different matter. I can wait until you are free. Also, I support your relationship with both of them. We've prepared for the engagement ceremony long before... The Pope has ordered us to make the most grand ceremony ever, and she shall attend to be your witness."

"Pope Juriel will?" I asked in surprise, not because of her order but because she was willing to be the witness of my engagement with Eli and Tris.

She was busy defending the Holy City from the advancing monsters. Just leaving once or twice a year would put a burden on her to restart the barrier again.

"Yes." Sana nodded in confirmation, "She said the monster on the edge is rather tame lately. She knew something big would happen. Until then, there was still time to prepare. That's why she's able to leave Holy City a bit more often for now."

"I see... So Pope Juriel will be in my engagement ceremony."

"Yes."

That somehow made me happy. The ceremony was also prepared without me asking for it. They were really supportive, though Sana said she was lonely and looked a bit jealous.

Grand ceremony... I doubted Queen Eve would be able to attend.

'She will be swamped with work right now.' I thought as I rested my head on my hand.

The morning ceremony would start soon. Ertha walked into the altar, smiling brightly as she clutched the holy book. She stopped in the middle, slowly opening the holy book.

"Verse 6 of Year 002, The Goddess' said..."

She began to recite the testament in the book, starting from whatever it was. I wasn't pious enough to remember it, even though I was a Paladin.

No, it was because I was a Paladin that I didn't care about them. Because in one of the sentences...

"... Hear my words, my child. My beloved will be forgiven for everything."

That was written.

Well, knowing how crazy the Goddess actually was, I wasn't really surprised.

Anyway, the morning prayer began with that, and the believers listened without making any voice.