"But that thing's undead! How can it lead a prosperous nation?! It's all lies!"
"Yeah! I don't believe any of it!"
Neia was now in what could properly be called the southern Holy Kingdom.
This was just a village, which is probably why they are so ignorant. News doesn't travel to such places as much.
Still, over the course of her journey these past few months, she's spoken at many such villages, and this one might have the most ignorant people she's encountered in a long time.
Indeed, this was the south. The land of the ignorant who kept holding onto ancient beliefs and useless "Gods" who did nothing to save them.
But these questions are not at all something she wasn't used to, or something she couldn't handle.
She's heard these sorts of things a thousand times before.
It looks like she'll see them a thousand times more very soon.
"I see your concerns, but can you truly dismiss my words as lies? The knowledge that it was the Sorcerer King who defeated Jaldabaoth and saved this country is now commonplace, is it not? It is a truth you've surely heard before! I am only saying what we should all see when we think about such things! The Sorcerer King is a great man! A great ruler who even helped the people of a foreign country! Since the war has been won, many of our people have visited the Sorcerer Kingdom, and they have all seen the same truth! The truth that the Sorcerer King is a great ruler who has granted prosperity to all under his rule! He has created a place where all can live together in peace!"
"But aren't there undead in the country?!"
"Of course! The Sorcerer King commands great numbers of undead! Within his kingdom, they serve many purposes! There are vast amounts of farmland which are tended to by these undead, who do not eat or tire! They are great workers when controlled! In fact, the Baharuth Empire has worked on such things even before the Sorcerer Kingdom appeared!"
Another tip she'd received from His Majesty. Apparently there was a famous mage named Fluder Paradyne, who has successfully performed such research in the past.
"Of course, they have not found the same immense success as the Sorcerer King did! But many can back up my words with their own! The undead build roads and homes! Undead horses transport goods at almost to no cost! The Sorcerer Kingdom prospers so much partly because of all this labour from the undead!"
She could tell that much of the crowd was still mostly unmoved. It is as she had predicted, such places would likely take far longer to bring on her side than the others so far.
She sighed.
The next place they would arrive at was a larger city further south, and the people there were likely going to be outright hostile.
She clenched her fists and continued her speech.
She could do this.
She was chosen by His Majesty.
She was a good servant.
She was his.
And she would not fail again, or she could not face him as his lover.
After today, Neia was tired.
Tired, but also determined to change this village's view of His Majesty.
She predicted it would probably take multiple weeks.
"Ugh, what a mess. Why can't they see His Majesty's glory? Why are they all so blind?"
With a crowd like this, she felt like she'd stepped into another world.
A world where everything was upside down and nothing made any sense.
How could the people reject him after everything he's done for the country?
They all reminded Neia of her old paladin Captain, Remedios.
Remembering that the woman was dead, Neia smirked without realising.
And then, her date teleported into the room.
"Your Majesty!"
She knelt down immediately.
"Hello, Neia."
He said this with a somewhat strange tone, like he was surprised or thinking about something else.
"... Hm? Ah, sorry. Please stand up."
She did so and met his eyes.
"Neia, perhaps you shouldn't kneel in front of me if it's in private? I feel at this point we are close enough that such a thing is no longer needed."
Neia was conflicted.
"Your Majesty, I appreciate that. I really do. But even if we are close in that way, it would still feel wrong to not bow in front of you!"
"I see. Well, if that's your preference, I am fine with it. Just know that I will not be offended if you do not kneel in private."
He moved to sit down on her bed, and she did the same.
There was a moment of silence as they looked at each other.
"Are you tired, Neia?"
The question seemed a little sudden.
She tried to appear a bit more energetic then she really was, but he saw through it.
Did he know her well enough to notice subtle signs like that?
"You noticed, Your Majesty? Yes, the crowds have been getting more and more difficult, and it will take quite a bit of time to reach their hearts."
"I see. Well, I hope you are able to push through for just a bit further. I'm very happy for the work you've done already, you know?"
"Yes, Your Majesty! I will do my best!"
In truth, much of what she's done so far has been related to places which already approved of her faith, or places which were slowly being converted either way.
This was the first place where the majority of people were against her. It didn't help that the plan proposed by His Majesty seemed to skip several other villages so she could go towards a big city next.
When she asked about why he chose a route like that, she was given an answer which she could not fully agree with.
She was told that it might be bad for her to face the anger and scepticism of crowds for long periods of time, and she might be mentally exhausted before reaching the city, which was ultimately more important.
"Are you sure it's fine? Being the target of many people's anger or doubts can affect you. I am concerned."
She was happy that he was worried about her.
"It is fine, really!"
She also did not want him to feel like she's useless.
Nor did she want to fail when he trusted her with this task.
"Is that so? Even if you can make it, I don't want you to push yourself. Perhaps if there was something to revitalise you?"
Nothing of that sort was necessary. She was already relying on him for all her meals, clothes, everything... no, in the whole time she's known him, he'd also saved her life and her country. She wanted to refuse everything she could unless it was necessary for a task or something like that.
Before she could say any of that, he continued.
"How about a hug?"
Nevermind. Hugs were fine.
"Y-yes, Please!"
Being embraced by His Majesty made her smile happily, blush intensely, and feel a little... excited.
She suppressed the last one for now.
A silence followed.
A happy silence.
It went on for a few beautiful moments, until His Majesty spoke again, without pulling away from the embrace.
"Neia, you have to promise me something."
She was surprised where this was coming from. She wanted to look him in the face as she was going to make something like a promise, but he didn't stop embracing her. She wasn't about to pull away from being hugged, and so she spoke without facing him, as well.
"Yes, Your Majesty! I will do anything in my power to serve you!"
"Of course."
There was a pause before he continued.
"Neia, there might be safety concerns if the crowds get particularly difficult. You must promise me that you will prioritise your own life."