Chapter 549: The Holy Princess Has Fallen for Shengzai!

In less than three days, all the humanoid races of the Abelien Hills had come under Shengzai’s command.

Their number reached as many as eight hundred thousand!

Under Shengzai’s evolutionary power, they all underwent transformation, taking on the beastman forms from the fantasy anime in his memory.

Due to evolution, their beastly instincts had greatly diminished, and their intelligence had risen significantly.

Shengzai began teaching them human farming and animal husbandry, and provided them with numerous magical artifacts from the Eight Desires King to improve their living conditions.

Eventually, at Shengzai’s suggestion, these eight hundred thousand humanoid races established their own kingdom, named the “Holy Grace Humanoid Kingdom.”

The “Holy Grace” here clearly referred to Shengzai.

Though Shengzai was human, they erected statues to worship him, and many humanoid races revered him as the “God of Humanoids.”

Whenever Shengzai issued a divine decree, the entire humanoid kingdom would fight to the death for him!

When Shengzai finished handling affairs in the humanoid kingdom and returned to the Holy Kingdom, he was greeted by the entire populace lining the streets.

For the Holy Kingdom’s citizens had been fully informed of Shengzai’s deeds by their Holy Princess.

To the citizens of the Holy Kingdom, Shengzai—who had resolved the humanoid threat—was unquestionably their nation’s hero.

This event also improved the rumors circulating about the Holy Princess outside the kingdom.

Previously, the Holy Kingdom had long spread rumors that the Holy Princess and the Holy Knight Commander and High Priest were lovers.

But now, after the humanoid issue was resolved, many rumors claimed that Prince Shengzai and the Holy Princess were a pair.

It was precisely because they had bravely journeyed together to the Abelien Hills and cooperated to subdue those savage humanoid races.

After all, one was a prince-hero, the other a holy maiden—both brilliant and beautiful—prompting the kingdom’s populace to quickly produce numerous romantic tales.

In the royal box of the Holy Kingdom’s opera house, the Holy Princess glanced shyly at Shengzai beside her, then, after a moment’s hesitation, spoke: “Prince Shengzai, I am truly grateful for your help to our Holy Kingdom.”

“After finishing the establishment of the humanoid kingdom, what are your plans, Prince Shengzai?”

The Holy Princess had invited Shengzai to the opera, which already struck him as odd; and today she had not brought Remetios or Kuirat, making him even more suspicious.

“The humanoid races are subdued. Next, I’ll likely return to the kingdom to handle some matters.”

If Shengzai remembered correctly, Old Bone and the others would soon, upon the Empire’s suggestion, declare the founding of a Magic Kingdom after their attack on the royal capital.

And they would demand the Holy Kingdom cede Yelantir to them.

But from the king down to the nobles, the kingdom collectively opposed and resisted, even deploying hundreds of thousands of troops to exterminate Old Bone and the undead.

Yet they were utterly slaughtered by Old Bone’s ultra-tier spell, “Dark Abundance’s Sacrifice,” and were left utterly terrified.

Hearing Shengzai planned to return to the kingdom, the Holy Princess suddenly wore a look of disappointment on her face.

Then, watching the opera on stage depicting her and Shengzai pacifying the humanoid races, she finally gathered courage and looked at him: “Have you ever considered leaving the Ri Yestijie Kingdom and staying in the Holy Kingdom?”

As she asked this, the Holy Princess, who had deliberately dressed up today, blushed deeply.

Her bold words, in a sense, were nearly equivalent to a proposal.

There was no choice: as Holy Princess of the Holy Kingdom, bearing heirs was mandatory.

As she grew older, the Holy Princess had tormented herself over her marriage prospects.

As ruler of a nation, potential marriage partners were scarce; the Holy Church’s system differed from ordinary monarchies, and no suitable candidates existed there.

Kingdoms too distant were out of the question; the only remaining viable candidates for alliance were the Ri Yestijie Kingdom and the Bahas Empire.

King Zanak V of the kingdom was of suitable age, and his realm was powerful enough.

But as a beauty-obsessed princess, the Holy Princess had heard Zanak V was fat and unattractive…

The Emperor of the Empire, Gilknifer, had suddenly proposed marriage to her just days ago.

In the past, the Holy Princess would likely have accepted the Emperor’s proposal.

For the Blood Emperor Gilknifer was said to be not only handsome but also possessed great ambition—truly an ideal marriage partner.

But now the key issue was: Prince Shengzai had appeared…

In terms of appearance, Shengzai was equally flawless; even the beauty-obsessed Holy Princess could find no fault in his face.

Moreover, Shengzai had greatly aided the Holy Kingdom—he was from the kingdom, yet became their hero.

Lastly, and most importantly, there was Shengzai’s status.

Though his status as third prince was inferior to that of the Emperor, precisely because of this, he was more suitable for her.

If she married Emperor Gilknifer, the Holy Kingdom would naturally form an alliance with the Empire.

But the critical issue was: when national interests clashed, how would both sides choose?

It would be a political marriage with no affection; as rulers of their own nations, any conflict of interest would complicate matters immensely.

But Shengzai was different from Gilknifer.

His status as prince was neither too high nor too low—perfectly matched to her. Since he would not inherit the kingdom’s throne, if he married her, he would naturally center his life around the Holy Kingdom.

More importantly, the Blood Emperor Gilknifer remained, to the Holy Princess, merely a figure of hearsay.

But Prince Shengzai’s abilities and talents over these past days had deeply impressed her.

Even her confidante and close friend, Remetios and Kuirat, had said: since the Holy Princess would eventually marry anyway,

under current circumstances, no one was more suitable than Prince Shengzai.

Watching the Holy Princess, cheeks flushed, boldly asking him this question, Shengzai finally understood why Remetios and Kuirat had not accompanied her today.

They were avoiding being the third wheel while the Holy Princess proposed to him!

“Your Majesty… you may not know, but I already have a fiancée back in the kingdom…”

(End of Chapter)