Alan, intrigued by Agatha's mention of ill-will towards him, paused in his actions.
The queen, basking in the afterglow of their passionate encounter, looked radiantly satisfied, her once fair skin now glowing like a ripe peach.
"Let me catch my breath," she whispered, casting a tender yet contented glance at Alan.
With a wave of her hand, she magically tidied the disheveled bed and dressed herself in her regal attire, restoring her dignified appearance except for the blush still adorning her cheeks.
Agatha then produced a document, her tone shifting to a more serious note. "First, there's the Flower Church, the principal religious institution in our kingdom," she began.
"Some clerics within the church have expressed disapproval of the Beaconburg paladins. I had refrained from commenting on this before, but now things are different."
She shot Alan a loving smile before continuing, "From what I know, out of the three bishops of the Flower Church – Bud, Flower Sepal, and Pistil – it is Bishop Flower Sepal Losa who harbors the strongest objections towards the Beaconburg paladins."
This revelation captured Alan's attention. The dynamics within the Flower Church, particularly the stance of its influential bishops, were critical pieces of information.
Understanding these internal politics would help him navigate the complexities of Rivenland's religious and political landscape, especially in light of his growing connection with Queen Agatha.
As he listened, Alan pondered the implications of Bishop Flower Sepal Losa's opposition, considering his next moves in this intricate game of power and influence.
Alan listened intently as Agatha continued to share vital information. "Bishop Flower Sepal Losa has garnered significant support from various nobles," she explained.
"But that alone wouldn't have prompted me to mention it now. My investigations have revealed that Losa is rallying a group of devotees and Flower Knights, seemingly with the intention of causing trouble for your paladins."
As Agatha spoke, she snapped her fingers, and a watery vision appeared before them.
It shimmered and then displayed several knights clad in floral armor, carrying flower-tipped lances and following a slender, bald man in green ecclesiastical robes.
Their direction unmistakably pointed towards where the paladins were.
"Indeed, it's clear to see," Alan noted, confirming that the magic revealed genuine events. He understood that Agatha, now aligned with him, had no reason to protect the bishop's interests.
In Rivenland, the court and religious sects, although supportive of each other, occasionally had checks and balances in place.
The church, backed by divine powers from the Divine Realm, enjoyed the love and trust of the populace.
Their miracles and the dissemination of floral fragrances contributed to the people's happiness, aligning with the court's objectives.
The Moon Goddess Sect operated under similar dynamics, balancing religious influence with royal authority.
Rivenland's unique climate, characterized by perpetual overcast skies and incessant rain, had once made it dependent on a plant known as the lantern flower for illumination.
However, the arrival of the Moon Goddess Sect brought the blessing of moonlight, transforming the landscape with its radiant glow and nurturing life.
Yet, the Goddess of Moon was a later addition to Rivenland's pantheon.
The God of Flower, indigenous to the land, held a more profound place in the people's hearts, with the Flower Church being the primary embodiment of this deep-seated faith.
But unchecked freedom and power often breed discord, and in the era of protagonists and antagonists, some individuals within the Flower Church rose as protagonists, their intentions skewed.
With suspicions regarding the Paladin General of Beaconburg being an antagonist, these protagonists from the Flower Church saw an opportunity to challenge and possibly undermine the paladin's authority.
Their actions, although seemingly premature and aggressive, especially during the ongoing Ceremony of Divine Grace, were mere skirmishes, a prelude to a greater conflict they intended to initiate against what they perceived as an antagonistic threat.
For Alan, this emerging situation presented an unexpected opportunity. It was a chance to confront these protagonists, an occasion he viewed not as a confrontation but as a fortuitous prospect to assert his power and influence.
In his eyes, what the protagonists considered a strategic maneuver was, in reality, an opening handed to him on a silver platter.
Alan, with a calm demeanor, remarked humorously about his role as a guest, stating that as such, he should simply accept whatever treatment his host, Agatha, deemed appropriate.
Agatha, the Queen of Rivenland, promptly responded, emphasizing that Alan, as her beloved, would not be subjected to baseless provocations.
She assured him of her unwavering support and protection against any untoward advances from the Flower Church.
With a mutual understanding, they decided to confront the situation head-on.
Agatha, exhibiting her prowess as a powerful magus, effortlessly conjured a teleportation magic pattern at their feet.
While this pattern allowed only for fixed-point teleportation, Agatha's skill enabled her to instantly create an entry point.
The entire city of Valer, including the vicinity of Bishop Flower Sepal from the Flower Church, was embedded with exit points, facilitating their swift movement.
In the next moment, Agatha, elegantly dressed, and Alan, donning his golden armor, were teleported to a street adjacent to the Paladin's assembly.
This move signaled their readiness to face whatever challenge the Flower Church's representatives planned, asserting their combined strength and authority in the city of Valer.
As the contingent from the Flower Church, led by Bishop Flower Sepal, approached with a formidable aura, the bishop couldn't hide a subtle smirk.
He prepared a special flower essence known as "Intoxicated Flower," renowned for its ability to swiftly induce a state of intoxication in those who inhale its fragrance.
Bishop Flower Sepal chose this unique scent knowing that paladins, due to their unique constitution, are typically resilient to common negative effects, including various magical potions and poisons.
However, the Intoxicated Flower's aroma was an exception. Instead of harming, it lured the target into a blissful dreamlike state.
This effect could be easily disrupted either by a significant energy disturbance nearby or physical contact with the person under its influence.
Nonetheless, Bishop Flower Sepal had carefully calculated his move, ensuring that the surrounding Order Officers, predominantly Flower Knights, would not intervene to alert or awaken the paladins.
Consequently, once the paladins succumbed to the enchanting dream induced by the flower's scent, they would be unable to rouse themselves promptly, potentially leading to an embarrassing display.
This was precisely the spectacle Bishop Flower Sepal eagerly anticipated witnessing.
When Bishop Flower Sepal released the "Intoxicated Flower" fragrance, intended to undermine the paladins, an unexpected turn of events occurred.
The scent, instead of drifting towards its intended targets, was blown back by an unforeseen wind onto his own Flower Church followers.
This resulted in them behaving as if heavily inebriated, speaking incoherently and staggering around in disarray.
Bishop Flower Sepal, witnessing this debacle, was utterly dumbfounded. Not affected by the fragrance himself, as he was the spell caster, he couldn't fathom the source of the abrupt wind that caused the backfire.
The spell, meant to humiliate the paladins, ironically boomeranged, leading to an embarrassing display by his followers in front of both Queen Agatha and the newly appointed leader of the Beaconburg paladins.
Realizing the severe implications of this mishap, Bishop Flower Sepal fell to his knees, overwhelmed by shock and dismay.
His plot to discredit the paladins had disastrously failed and instead brought shame upon himself and his followers from the Flower Church, especially under the watchful eyes of the queen and the paladins.
In the midst of this fiasco, Alan, with a tone of amusement, turned to Queen Agatha and commented, "Your Majesty, is this the kind of reception your followers offer to guests?"
His remark underscored the irony of the situation where Bishop Flower Sepal's intention to tarnish the reputation of the paladins inadvertently led to his own faction's humiliation.