A saintess? She's just a bad woman.

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“Um… Melissa.”

"Is there a problem?"

"Seriously, aren't you jealous?"

Hero looked conflicted; it seemed she had thought this through carefully before asking the question.

"If I say no... Princess Hero, you definitely won't believe me, right?"

"Ah."

Hero nodded.

“However, we have different positions. I am the master’s pet, toy, and also a woman... You are free. Therefore, I have no right to be jealous and vent my anger on the master.”

Because he was facing away from her, Helo could not see Melissa's expression.

"..."

Helok did not pursue the matter further.

So, after combing Helo's smooth, shiny long hair, Melissa began to help Helo get dressed.

Unlike the underwater kingdom where people only need to wear underwear and have their legs transformed into fishtails, the only people on land who dress like this, besides physical therapists, would be mentally unstable female psychopaths who want to sell their bodies to have a heart-to-heart talk with someone willing to pay.

Heroine was dressed in a more fashionable short-sleeved shirt and denim mini skirt. Actually, her princess-like temperament is more suited to long skirts, which would better highlight her elegance. However, for a casual date, a light and inconspicuous style would be better.

This will make Hero appear very energetic and youthful.

After getting dressed, Melissa prepared a cup of honey tea for Hero, which they had agreed on earlier. Once everything was ready, Hero could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Are you ready, Melissa?"

This is Santa Karina's voice.

“Of course, Master. And I am ready to serve you at any time, Master. Your command is the greatest honor for me.”

"I trust you to handle things. You're a good girl."

Santa Karina patted Melissa on the head.

As Santa Karina's palms touched Melissa's hair and she began to rub Melissa's little head, she felt the softness and smoothness of Melissa's pink hair in her fingertips and palms.

As Saint Karina stroked her, she noticed Melissa's little actions. She rubbed her head against Saint Karina's palm and fingertips... Then, when Saint Karina noticed, she shrank back, pretending to be nonchalant, but a blush rose on her cheeks.

“I’m sorry, Master… I… I overstepped my bounds, I went too far… I shouldn’t have asked you for more affection.”

"Oh, it's okay. As a lovely girl, it's perfectly forgivable for you to do something so trivial. And I don't dislike you at all. Also... I won't order you to die, nor will I let you be chopped into firewood or burned."

Santa Karina always cherished her toys.

Moreover, she noticed that Melissa's emotions were off. As a cunning woman with high emotional intelligence, she would never tolerate the flames of a fire breaking out in the harem. At this time, appropriate comforting was necessary.

"Come on, lift your head up, I'll give you a buff."

Saint Karina used a witty remark.

"what?"

Although she was a little confused, she obediently did as she was told.

So, Saint Karina gave Melissa a passionate, deep kiss, the kind you do when using the little snake.

Saint Karina only withdrew the little snake after kissing her until her face was flushed and she was panting.

211. A Date with the Mermaid Princess

So, after comforting Melissa, Santa Karina finally went on a date with Hero.

Wow... there are so many people.

Hero, who hadn't left the palace area for a month, came out again with Saint Karina.

Standing in the bustling market, she exclaimed in surprise, sounding a bit like someone who had never seen anything like it before.

In the center of the square, there is a fountain. The fountain sculpture is an angel serving the goddess of order, holding a vase, from which cool water is sprayed and trickles into the bottom of the fountain pool.

The splashing water was quite large; the surrounding area was full of shops, each painted in a different color.

Besides shops, there were also some stalls set up along the roadside. The stalls were bustling with activity, some selling fruit, some selling woven goods and daily necessities, and even some selling ceramic pottery.

People wandered around, some busy with their own things, but some of these people had long ears, some had animal ears, some had animal tails, and some had wings.

"I can hardly believe... this is human society."

"To be precise, it's Sandy Market."

“I’ve seen many similar markets in books, but my mother says that humans are cunning by nature and that I’m too inexperienced to do it on my own.”

Hero looked excited, as if he had been looking forward to it for a long time.

"The books are rich and the stories are wonderful. But how should I put it, you know, it's that feeling. I've looked at the pictures so many times that I've lost count, but coming here in person and experiencing it firsthand, I've never seen, heard, or smelled so many details before."

This is the difference between reading a novel and immersive reading with VR that includes a copy.

In particular, just like in isekai (another world) novels, when your favorite book, game, or anime suddenly becomes reality, you are no longer just an observer watching someone else's story and world. You are no longer just the sole reader.

Hero could feel the breeze ruffling her hair, leaving a faint scent—the smell of the shampoo she had used. She could hear the clinking of coins as they traded, and the lively, bustling conversations of the common people.

The aroma of delicious food wafted from nearby food stalls and shops. He could smell sesame flatbread, fried chicken legs, and even the smell of barbecue.

Besides beef and lamb, the barbecue also includes vegetables such as potatoes, enoki mushrooms, and green beans. And grilled fish with a slightly fishy smell.

That fishy smell was hard to mask even with spices, yet heroin didn't find it unpleasant at all.

“I am standing here so real... and it is so beautiful here.”

"beauty?"

"Yes, the sky is so bright and blue, the breeze is so gentle, and the people are so full of life. Everyone is living their lives with hope. It's really wonderful. The weather is so nice today, isn't it?"

Hero had never seen the Lorian Empire under attack by demons and on the verge of collapse, so he naturally felt that things were fine now.

In fact, after Saint Karina helped the young emperor purge some nobles and dealt with the short-term invasion of the demon army, many people breathed a sigh of relief and were able to breathe a sigh of relief living without so many corrupt officials.

From a stagnant nation and its people, devoid of future, to people who yearn for and aspire to a better life.

"I have no problem with the weather, but... Hero, are you satisfied with just looking at the market?"

"Hmm...actually, I'm satisfied."

Hero nodded, smiling somewhat shyly.

She was a bit like a naive country bumpkin, or perhaps a fool from a remote area, but now she felt a little embarrassed. She was afraid of being laughed at by Saint Karina.

"I've never felt so good! Really. It feels like I've been groping in the dark for so long and finally seen the light of day."

"In the underwater kingdom, I didn't know what I wanted to do or where I wanted to go. Every day was the same... monotonous, like a stagnant pool that couldn't stir up any waves."

"But now, I feel very content. I have found a new reason to live. I am happy to have found a new reason to live."

Her smile looked a little silly.

It doesn't suit a princess's temperament at all.

"Let me take you to the flower shop. Although the residence the little emperor provided for you has a garden, the flower shop has a wider variety of flowers."

The little emperor planted mostly lilies, in various colors. There were also some green plants, but not many kinds of flowers.

"Okay."

Helo had no objections, or rather, she was happy as long as she could wander around and be among people.

This is probably what's meant by a "cow's constitution."

So Saint Karina took Hero and walked to a nearby flower shop.

The flower shop is roughly the size of two storefronts combined, filled with a dazzling array of flowers in all their glory. These include roses, lilies, daffodils, violets, lisianthus, gerberas, carnations, swans, baby's breath, lucky bamboo, asparagus fern, and pothos, among others.

For example, the rose market offers brands like Corolla, Freedom, 90s, and Bride, each with its own unique characteristics.

Hero had only ever seen bioluminescent flowers that bloomed in the ocean. Seeing so many flowers on land, numbering in the hundreds, truly dazzled her.

Girls probably all love roses; her excited, sea-blue eyes darted around, and she, not being very bright, let out a cry:

"Wow! So many flowers! And this one, this is called a rose, there are so many colors, I really love them!"

Then, she stopped in front of the pot of a particularly beautiful, delicate rose and asked:

"Saint Karina, may I pick this flower?"

"Of course you can. It's okay if you pick them. Roses only last a short time, and I have plenty of money. Take whatever you like and buy whatever you want."

Saint Karina made a declaration of being a rich woman, saying, "I'm so poor I only have money left," and nodded to indicate that she was completely okay with it.

Although she was excited, she waited quietly for a few seconds for Saint Karina's permission before bending down to pick the flowers with great interest.

Hero's hand touched the stem of the rose, but it's important to know that rose stems are usually thorny.

then--

"Ouch—there are thorns here!"

She cried out in pain from the stab and gasped. Her right hand recoiled immediately, as if electrocuted.

Blood was already flowing from the pad of her index finger, not too much, just a small cut the size of a pinprick, but the blood that flowed out was the size of a soybean.

Moreover, it continues to bleed out.

Saint Karina felt pain just looking at her, so almost without thinking, she bent down, leaned close to Helo, grabbed her finger, and sucked the blood flowing from the pad of her index finger.

Hero's mouth gaped open in shock, somewhat flattered.

Rose thorns aren't poisonous, they just sting a little. Saint Karina's concern for her suggests that she also likes her. If we disregard her fickle nature...

"Thanks……"

Even when he tried to express his gratitude, Hero stumbled over his words.

The way she looked at Saint Karina was probably because she was moved. A deep emotion flickered in her normally clear eyes.

Saint Karina didn't spit out the blood; instead, she swallowed it. The blood wasn't poisonous, and she didn't find Hero's blood offensive.

Although the taste of sea creature blood is similar to that of human blood, it has a very faint metallic flavor, almost like plain boiled water, just a little bit. Then, sea creature blood seems to have an innate coolness, and the taste is like a uniquely flavored Ramune soda. The cold sensation enters from the esophagus, reaches the stomach, and goes straight to the skull.

"Don't be so polite to me."

Santa Karina gave a gentlemanly smile and didn't take it to heart.

"It's my honor. Taking care of a lovely girl requires hands-on experience. Everyone says that human saliva has a hemostatic effect, but I've never tried it before. This is the first time."

"And look at my lips, they look like I've applied lipstick."

Saint Karina cleverly changed the subject, and after Saint Karina said that, Helo actually focused his gaze on Saint Karina's lips.

Those lips were thin, and their original cherry-colored petals had turned a deep crimson from licking blood. Indeed, they looked as if they had applied rouge.

Then, Saint Karina drew a short knife from her waist, removed the thorns from the rose stem, and handed it to Hero.

"Here, everything's fine now. You can keep it."

Her smile was warm, like a ray of sunshine, dispelling the gloom in Helo's heart.

212. Founding Emperor

Having company felt wonderful, and Helo's mood improved steadily. The world above the sea was full of wonder, and with Saint Karina leading the way, she felt even more eager to explore.

Partington, the capital of Lorian, is one of the world's premier metropolises and a place where countless people pursue their dreams.

The situation in other countries is also turbulent, with constant internal and external troubles. Since the saintess of Lorian awakened, the situation has become more stable than in previous years. Recently, more and more people have migrated to Partington, which in a sense has filled the previous manpower shortage. Every position needs fresh blood, and the operation of the city cannot be separated from ordinary people who act as small parts.

Thanks to the efforts of relevant government departments, the damaged streets have been restored to their original state. The sky over Partington is clear and sunny, with a cloudless blue sky that is both clear and expansive, which puts people in a relaxed mood.

Santa Karina and Hero strolled along the clean and tidy streets, passing by vendors pushing carts and children playing, everyone with a carefree smile on their face.

Passing by the newly renovated Partington Theatre, Santa Karina suddenly remembered that many years ago it was just an obscure little drama club. The members of the drama club met because of their shared interest, not for money or fame, but simply to pursue their dream of acting.

She once secretly sponsored the drama club with several sums of money as an audience member, enabling the members to purchase costumes and props to make the performances more complete. She herself sat in the last row of the audience, silently watching the actors' actions on stage.

She enjoyed sitting in the audience watching the game, and she still does.

Although things have changed, the original drama club has become the largest and most famous theater in the capital, with a constant stream of ticket buyers. Those who pursued their dreams have all turned to dust in the long river of time, and the theater's business is now being inherited and managed by their descendants.

Today's performance is "The Founding Emperor," which tells the story of Emperor Ernest Hugo's rise from humble beginnings to build a vast empire. She was originally just an ordinary girl from a rural village.