As expected, as soon as the Empire's female general left, maids started coming in one after another to serve tea and water.
Bell, standing behind Iri, felt a bit out of place. During her time in the lower ranks of the Windflower Scripture, she had rarely seen such a scene. The intelligence gathering tasks she was usually assigned mostly involved Adventurers and nobles, and more often than not, it was primarily focused on eavesdropping.
Although she was considered an ace in the Windflower Scripture, the title of Apprentice Priestess meant that no matter how strong her personal abilities were, she would be finished the moment the stolen Sage's Crown was recovered. Fortunately, she had now latched onto Princess Elizabeth. While Elizabeth was a powerful patron, if she displeased her, Bell would also be dead.
Soon after, the Emperor of the Empire personally arrived, which surprised Bell even more. Logically, Princess Elizabeth's identity was that of a princess, and to uninvitedly come to someone else's territory and then have their Emperor personally come to meet her... wasn't that a bit against the rules? Even Bell knew that.
"Yo! Emperor Brother, long time no see!" However, Princess Elizabeth directly greeted the Emperor of the Empire in a tone as if speaking to a long-lost friend. Were their private relations really that good? If their relations were good, then why did he directly betray Princess Elizabeth during her meeting with Dominic? Bell was very confused.
"Princess Elizabeth..." The Blood Emperor rushed over, panting, and hearing Iri greet him like that made his expression even worse.
"Uh... it's not exactly 'long time no see,' is it? We just met at the Arena two days ago!" Iri said, of course... she was saying it on purpose.
"Yes... yes." The Blood Emperor's face turned green, and he stood rooted to the spot, looking like he didn't know what to say.
"Hmm! Emperor Brother, please sit! It's rude to make you stand. Aren't the terms for the vassal state still being negotiated? Currently, Emperor Brother's Empire is not yet a vassal state of the Magic Kingdom!" Iri said. The Blood Emperor was a smart man and should understand the hidden meaning in her words.
"Hmm... they are still being negotiated, but... no one in the Empire would oppose the Empire becoming a vassal state anymore." The Blood Emperor still did not sit down, but stood and spoke with Iri.
"Oh? No one opposes it anymore? But in my impression, Emperor Brother, weren't you unwilling?" Iri said with a smiling face.
"No, no such thing... The Empire becoming a vassal state was my suggestion, how could I be unwilling?" Sweat was clearly visible on the Blood Emperor's forehead. He must be extremely nervous right now. Iri's visit this time was purely to get revenge on him and make him lose more hair.
"Is that so! Mmm-hmm! Let's just assume it is..." Iri maintained her exceptionally bright smile as she spoke. With these words, the Blood Emperor, with his intelligence, would surely realize that she didn't believe he could be honest. Indeed... looking at the Blood Emperor's awkward smile, she knew how flustered he was.
"Then, my interruption this time! It's mainly to thank you, Emperor Brother." Iri said as she stood up.
"This... what is this about?" The Blood Emperor looked bewildered, completely unaware of what Iri's thanks were for.
"I don't have much time to stay, so I can only make a long story short. Emperor Brother, I really have to thank you for helping me this time. I was always wondering how to subtly reveal my identity as a princess of Nazarick to the high-ranking officials of Theocracy, and I didn't expect Emperor Brother to understand my difficulties so well and help me with such a big favor." Iri said with a smile.
"Ah... that, this... this is just..." The Blood Emperor immediately panicked, looking completely at a loss for how to respond.
Although Iri was ostensibly thanking him, in reality, it was not so.
Iri just wanted to deliberately embarrass the Blood Emperor. He had revealed her identity to Theocracy behind her back. Fortunately, when she left, she had a sudden thought to scare the Blood Emperor. Otherwise, given the Blood Emperor's nature, he would have certainly thought that Theocracy had already taken control of her, and the Empire would not need to become a vassal of the Magic Kingdom.
And he would probably have been more actively allied with Theocracy. After all, it was the Blood Emperor himself who previously wanted to use her as a trump card against Papa Ainz.
"Alright, Emperor Brother, the words have been said, and I should go. I truly apologize for disturbing you at this time. I should return to Theocracy. Oh, and Emperor Brother, don't tell anyone about my visit!" Iri said, then ignored the Blood Emperor, who was completely at a loss for how to react, and activated High-Tier Teleportation Magic.
This time's teleportation... took them to a seemingly luxurious room. Bell was once again bewildered. Where was this now?
"This should be enough... Ugh... this thing is really hard to take off, Bell! What are you standing there for! Come help me undo the clasps at the back of my dress!" As soon as Iri teleported back, she started muttering to herself, then unhappily shouted at Bell. While shouting, she began to take off her dress. A group of maids had helped her put it on, but taking it off was troublesome. It was really troublesome... to have to change into a dress for only a few minutes, those maids were truly excessive.
"Huh? Coming right away? But Princess Elizabeth, why are you taking off your dress?" Bell quickly ran over to help.
"Nonsense! If I don't take it off and change back into my original clothes, how will I return to Theocracy?" Iri replied irritably. She really didn't know if Bell was genuinely stupid or just pretending. Someone assigned to monitor her should be a very capable individual, shouldn't they? Theocracy clearly knew her identity.
Hmm? Speaking of which, she just remembered one more thing she hadn't confirmed with Bell.
"Bell, do you have any idea how the high-ranking officials of Theocracy found out about my identity?" Iri asked while changing clothes with Bell's help.
"I don't know about that. I only found out by secretly reading a note at the Arena. I wonder if there might be someone else monitoring you besides me? Or perhaps they deduced your identity from somewhere else?" Bell replied, offering her own speculation.
This was strange. After she arrived in Theocracy, to avoid suspicion, she hadn't done anything out of the ordinary for such a long time. She hadn't even returned to Nazarick or contacted anyone via message. The only thing she had done that could cause suspicion was the Dragon Kingdom incident.
After all, she had just rescued them, and the Queen of the Dragon Kingdom immediately surrendered to the Magic Kingdom. It was highly possible that she was suspected after that incident. After she returned that time, she was put on hold for a long period, and only after she dealt with the Black Scripture was she given the status of Extra Seat.
But the strangeness lay here: if the high-ranking officials of Theocracy already knew she was a princess of the Magic Kingdom, why would they give her such an important position?
"Princess Elizabeth, is there anything you're concerned about? I'll help you investigate, but it will require a little more time." Bell said, seeing Iri remain silent for a long time, looking like she was deep in thought.
"I find it a bit strange. Why would the high-ranking officials of Theocracy give me the status of Extra Seat of the Black Scripture, knowing my identity? Did they perhaps acquire information confirming my identity from somewhere after giving me the seat?" Iri blurted out, but regretted it immediately. What was the use of telling her troubles to this simple-minded girl?
"Uh... Princess Elizabeth, could it be that they gave you the status of Extra Seat of the Black Scripture *after* knowing your identity? I think the Holy Scripture Chief Priests of Theocracy's Six Scriptures would surely try to exploit your identity. Earlier, when Dominic asked me to monitor you, he repeatedly reminded me to investigate your identity. So, they didn't know your true identity at first." Bell once again presented her opinion.
What Bell said did make sense. There was a high possibility that Theocracy wanted to use her as a trump card against Papa Ainz.
After all, didn't the Blood Emperor want to do the same thing earlier? The reason they arranged for her to fight six opponents was probably to directly test her abilities, and that battle was secretly watched by them the entire time.
Ugh... although she didn't want to admit it, this simple-minded girl was somewhat useful; she hit the nail on the head immediately.
"Then, Bell, after we return, I'll need you to investigate when those scoundrel Chief Priests found out about my identity, and what they plan to do next." Iri thought for a moment and said to Bell.
"Understood!" Bell replied very firmly.
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