Chapter 456. A Bedtime Story (1)

Translator: Aura / Editor: Tiny Zebra

Where is the lovely little blue bird he talks about? I was so stunned that I couldnt answer right away.

Of course, McKenna is a blue bird, but how

Oh, my.

I shouldnt have thought about that while in the presence of Grand Duke Kapmen.

However, it wasnt easy to control thoughts. Now that the thought that McKenna is a blue bird crossed my mind, it was harder to shake it off.

I hastily looked over at Grand Duke Kapmen, but he only stared at Dols.h.i.+, as if he had not paid attention to my thoughts at all.

I was a little relieved. Anyway, on second thought, I realized that he must certainly already know about this.

Except for Dols.h.i.+, whose thoughts he couldnt read, was there anyone else in this world whose secrets he didnt know?

In any case, what was important now were Dols.h.i.+s strange words. Without hesitation, and without even batting an eye, I said,

A blue bird? I dont see any blue birds here.

McKenna was still frozen by the door. I could almost hear his heartbeat.

Dols.h.i.+s eyebrows rose as he stared at McKenna. He then turned back to me.

Right there. A lovely little blue bird. Oh my! So lovely how it flapped its wings.

I looked at Grand Duke Kapmen and wondered in my mind,

Dols.h.i.+ has repeated blue bird, blue bird several times. Does he really see him as a blue bird, or is he saying that because of his blue hair?

Grand Duke Kapmen didnt look at me, but he shook his head slightly. He didnt seem to know either.

He had said that he couldnt hear Dols.h.i.+s thoughts after all.

Meanwhile, Dols.h.i.+ approached McKenna, who turned and fled in a hurry.

Dols.h.i.+ ran after him.

***

Fortunately, Dols.h.i.+ seemed to come to his senses a few hours later.

I didnt witness it myself. I heard from McKenna that Dols.h.i.+ stopped the pursuit suddenly, looked around,and walked off somewhere.

But he didnt return to the room where he taught me to use my magic, so Grand Duke Kapmen also left. He promised to return at a later date.

What the h.e.l.l was that?

Once he determined it was completely safe to come to my office, McKenna came in with a pale face.

He may be a dragon.

When I told him about Dols.h.i.+, McKennas face turned even paler.

But but why did the dragon call me a blue bird?

Maybe he was hallucinating.

How could it be?

Since I couldnt talk about the love potion, I just shook my head. McKenna shuddered with fright as he rubbed his forearms.

He called me blue bird with his eyes fixed on me! Gosh, for a moment I felt like my heart would jump out of my chest.

Was there anything I could say to calm him down? I only smiled awkwardly while McKenna continued to grumble, until his expression suddenly became serious after a few minutes.

Oh, no. That strange dragon made me forget all about the urgent matter I had to tell you. Your Majesty, I need your opinion about a religious ceremony.

Religious ceremony?

Yes, a renowned priestess who left on pilgrimage will pa.s.s through our Empire. A neighboring country recently held a grand ceremony to welcome her. The priestess blessed them and said that the country will be reinvigorated by the royal familys next generation.

McKenna paused and spoke quietly.

Its only a blessing, but some interpreted her words as a prophecy.

Then, he continued speaking normally.

I heard that she usually says positive things. I thought it would be a good idea to welcome her and invite her to stay at the Imperial Palace.

Certainly, if the priestess says nice things about the Western Empires future, people will be happy.

These were troubled times, so perhaps a blessing for our future would sow the seeds of hope in the peoples hearts. However

Shouldnt you ask Heinley?

It should be Heinley who decides whether to hold the ceremony. If he agreed to welcome the priestess, I would take care of the rest.

Well

McKenna sighed with a gloomy face.

I think shell arrive before His Majesty Heinley returns.

Heinley had left only this morning and would return soon, but McKenna didnt ask for his opinion before he left? If a neighboring country had held a grand welcoming ceremony for her, how did we lose track of her whereabouts until she was so close to arriving?

How is that possible?

The priestess concealed her whereabouts after the last ceremony. She may have been overwhelmed. Its even possible that she intended to pa.s.s incognito across the Western Empire; members of our tribe discovered her on the way back from a mission to retrieve a mana stone.

I see. Its not an easy decision to make.

Thats right, Your Majesty.

In this case, it was not a question of whether I should welcome her or hold a ceremony on Heinleys behalf. It was a question of whether I should receive her with a lavish ceremony when the priestess might want to pa.s.s through discreetly.

If we were to hold a grand welcoming ceremony, the priestess might become offended and curse us. This would greatly hurt the public opinion about the Imperial Family.

But if we pretended not to know that she would be pa.s.sing through and she left without a welcome, if the people find out they might complain that we were too impolite.

Since Heinley was absent, I would become the target of any discontent.

McKenna anxiously asked,

What shall we do, Your Majesty?