Watching Alan lead the paladin procession from a distance, Queen Agatha of Rivenland felt her heart racing uncontrollably.
As the queen of Rivenland, Agatha was well aware that many in her court held reservations about the paladin force of Beaconburg.
On one hand, Beaconburg held a transcendent status in the eyes of the public, burdened with great responsibilities and serving as the closest guardians to the Abyss of the Demon World.
However, there had been no divine manifestation of the Almighty God for many years, and there had been no invasions from the demon world either.
This had led some nobles and royal families, favored by other deities, to speculate that the paladins of Beaconburg might have been forsaken by the Almighty God.
Though the paladins once shared a kinship with the Almighty God, the deity now stood as a supreme being far removed from their affairs.
The apparent indifference of the Almighty God towards the paladins raised questions about their standing as representatives of the Human World in the eyes of their deity.
For instance, in Rivenland, during their annual Ceremony of Divine Grace, either the God of Flower or the Goddess of Moon always descended to shower their blessings.
Bathed in the moonlight and grace of the Goddess of Moon year after year, many in Rivenland believed that the moon could potentially replace the sun.
Furthermore, the notion that the paladins of Beaconburg were still the favored followers of the God of Light, the Almighty God, was increasingly being questioned.
As Rivenland's strongest female magus and a queen who had never married, Agatha sought a powerful husband, a top-tier human warrior.
The predominantly female generalship of Beaconburg's paladins, under Vina's leadership, held no allure for a matrimonial alliance in her eyes.
However, this year's Ceremony of Divine Grace brought a male general from Beaconburg, a man of impeccable appearance who even seemed to possess some divine qualities reminiscent of the Almighty God in the legends.
This unexpected development caught Queen Agatha off guard, prompting her to swallow hard.
Queen Agatha's eyes were firmly fixed on Alan in the distance, scrutinizing him from head to toe.
It was as if she wanted to etch every aspect of his demeanor deeply into her memory. Her body seemed momentarily electrified by the sight of him.
As the queen's heart fluttered, her posture swayed slightly. Yet, realizing the solemnity of the occasion, Queen Agatha quickly composed herself, maintaining a dignified demeanor.
Despite her efforts to appear calm, her gaze involuntarily kept drifting towards Alan in the distance.
Each time her eyes met his silhouette, her breathing became more rapid, a clear sign of her growing fascination.
Queen Agatha could sense that Alan's strength was extraordinary, a match for her own 4-star king-tier capabilities.
As the youngest queen and the youngest 4-star king-tier powerhouse among the 12 kingdoms of the continent, Agatha had rejected numerous suitors.
Those who had been turned away were either top-tier geniuses or powerful monarchs and heirs to thrones.
Under the pressure of a king-tier's aura, ordinary people struggled even to stand properly. However, Agatha had also refused advances from those of significant status or comparable king-tier strength.
The reasons varied – some lacked the power to match hers, while others, although stronger, were either too old or unattractive.
Despite the ability of king-tier individuals to alter their appearances, Queen Agatha saw through such superficial changes. In her eyes, no amount of correction could compare to natural beauty.
In Alan, Queen Agatha perceived not only immense strength but also an intoxicating aura of natural charisma. He was the ideal consort she had been searching for.
At that moment, Queen Agatha's heart was filled with tumultuous emotions, her thoughts focused on the name of the paladin general from Beaconburg.
What was his name? Surely, this man must bear a name as splendid as that of the God of Light, the Almighty God Alan.
The prospect of union with such a man seemed both wonderful and incredible.
Furthermore, Queen Agatha mused that any child born from a union with the Beaconburg general would undoubtedly possess remarkable beauty, perhaps even surpassing that of the angels in heaven.
Queen Agatha, deep in thought, stumbled slightly over her words during the opening address of the Ceremony of Divine Grace.
Nevertheless, she managed to complete her speech successfully. Following that, she cast an invisibility spell on herself and stealthily made her way towards the Beaconburg paladin procession.
At Valer's largest square, dignitaries from across the continent gathered for the Ceremony of Divine Grace.
This event was not just a ceremony to receive divine blessings but also a grand occasion for countries to showcase their capabilities and artistic tastes.
The blessings of the deities were not randomly bestowed. They appeared only at the right moments, typically in response to outstanding performances by "performers" below, which moved a deity of the Divine Realm to grant their favor.
Hence, after the ceremonial walkthrough at the gates of Valer and hearing the queen's speech, the participants relaxed and began to tour the city.
The "Performance for Divine Favor" would only commence in a few days and continue for almost a month.
Traditionally, the invited members of the Beaconburg paladins also had their segment to display their abilities.
However, to many attendees, this was deemed inconsequential. After all, the deity worshiped by the Beaconburg paladins, the God of Light Alan, had never responded to them.
Numerous nobles from other kingdoms had mocked the Beaconburg paladins, calling them "skeletons in golden armor" or "zealots who only moved themselves."
More radical comments like "the Almighty God, the God of Light, has abandoned the paladins" were not expressed openly, as they bordered on direct blasphemy against the God of Light, the Almighty God Alan.
Although the Almighty God Alan had never appeared or bestowed blessings at the Ceremony of Divine Grace, the light power of the Beaconburg paladins had never diminished.
If the Almighty God truly disdained them, it would be expected that he would withdraw their power.
Thus, the main criticism levied against the Beaconburg paladins by factions unfriendly towards them was: "The paladins are not as favored by the Almighty God as they think! Therefore, they don't deserve the privileges they enjoy."
At the moment, Alan and Elizabeth were touring Valer. The artistic statues, floral landscapes, and street food stalls along the road intrigued Alan.
It was then that an Order Officer from Rivenland's Ceremony of Divine Grace approached Alan respectfully and handed him a piece of paper adorned with magic patterns.
"Paladin General, Her Majesty the Queen of our nation invites you to meet with her," the officer said.
Alan, somewhat puzzled, accepted the exquisitely crafted letter, made from century-old white oak. The handwriting was elegant and similar to the invitations he had received in Beaconburg – fragrant with flowers and imbued with magical essence.
However, the script on this letter seemed more hurried and unrestrained, as if it had been written in haste.
"Interesting," Alan remarked with a smile. "I hadn't expected the Queen of Rivenland to take an interest in me. Well then, let's pay a visit."
He pocketed the letter and, along with Elizabeth, started to follow the Order Officer towards the queen's location.
The middle-aged officer, wearing a ceremonial cavalry uniform and sporting a mustache, glanced at Elizabeth.
He raised his hand in a halt gesture towards Alan and solemnly said, "Paladin General, per the Queen's invitation, she has only invited you. No others are requested for this meeting."
After a brief nod, as if waiting for Alan's decision, Alan chuckled and shook his head.
He then turned to Elizabeth and instructed, "Go ahead and continue exploring with the other paladins. I'll return shortly."
"Yes, my lord," Elizabeth responded. She pounded her right fist against her left chest in a salute, bowed slightly, and then stood back up – the paladin gesture for accepting an order.