CH 60

“…….”

The Emperor stared at Hellion with a troubled expression on his face.

The return of the Divine Beast to the Empire was something that all denominations were eagerly waiting for. There was no reason for the Emperor to react like that.

The Emperor returned his stare, lost in thought. He conveyed to all of his subordinate priests, priestess, paladins and servants who attended with him.

“Empty the palace. I need to speak with the High Priest.”

There was no need to explain anything else. The priests looked puzzled and, they just bowed their heads and rushed out of the palace.

They would not understand the Emperor’s reaction because the appearance of a new divine beast must be a happy occasion.

The Emperor fixed his gaze on Hellion. As he sat on the throne, his face was carved with deep agony.

“Say it clearly, High Priest. What the revelation dream revealed……Nedesmer will never again allow the divine beasts to be sent to the Empire.”

Hellion was enlightened by the Emperor’s words. He was a man who acknowledged why the Divine Beast had not visited the Empire.

“Do you know the reason why the divine beast did not come to this land?”

“Did the god of heaven also show you that?”

Hellion said yes in response to the Emperor’s question.

When Saintess Agnes was alive, the Pope was still a very young boy. 

Agnes, who was greatly shocked by the death of the divine beast, lost her power and became ill, but this did not prevent her from sharing her writings.

She confessed all of her sins to the Pope at the time. The conversations she had at the time were recorded in the vault of the church. It was a relic left by the previous pope as a forewarning of what was to come.

“The Empire had not been forgiven by the God of Heaven. The Duke of Cardian is proof of that.”

The curse that was placed on his body was proof enough. Only then did Hellion remember the Duke of Cardian.

A knight with red eyes.

The Duke of Cardian possessed blood-red eyes. Everyone thought it was because the eyes had been cursed.

‘Oh……’

Suddenly, Hellion remembered Celia Montague, who had married the Duke of Cardian. She was a beautiful young girl with wavy pink hair.

‘Pink hair……’

The dragon was a pattern that was only allowed to the imperial family. The imperial crest was a dragon holding a tangled snake, whereas the duke of Cardian’s crest had a dragon wielding a spear and a sword.

Suddenly, a thunderous realization penetrated into Hellion’s head.

‘It’s the Duke of Cardian!’

The Duke of Cardian became the new Emperor. His wife awakens the divine beast and breaks the curse on the Duke of Cardian!

Hellion, on the other hand, couldn’t decide how much to explain to the emperor in front of him. Even though he knew it was a sinner who killed the divine beast, the Emperor was the one who kept the current Imperial Family a secret.

If he spoke it out carelessly, he could have thwarted God’s plan.

“Why didn’t you make it public? The present imperial family was loved by God! They must be sinners……”

“How am I supposed to tell the world that the saintess colluded with the emperor to murder the divine beast? All of the priests will turn their backs on the denomination.”

The congregation isn’t the only one affected. The New Church of Heaven now serves as the religious head of all churches, but if the truth is revealed, they will be dragged down from their perch.

The Pope was elected by Nedesmer, the only denomination that worshiped the God of Heaven, and he led all faiths.

The Church of the Heavenly Gods may no longer be able to elect the Pope if the truth is revealed. Other denominations may be able to elect their own heirs to the throne.

“……The God of Heaven will not send a new Divine Beast as long as the current imperial family rules the empire. What did the high priest see? Isn’t it only the divine beasts and saintess you’ve seen?”

The sharp look of the Emperor made him wonder if he had already seen it.  The Emperor did not press Hillion further after seeing his silence.

“You don’t have to say it in detail. It would be unusual if the revelation dream was given to the High Priest…….”

Most of the revelation dreams were given to ordinary priests or priestesses. It was very rare for an oracle to be granted directly to the Pope or a High Priest.

This is what happens when something big happens to shake the continent.

“I will only ask you one thing.”

Hellion’s face was tense as he glanced at the Emperor. With an intense wrinkled face, the Emperor faced Hellion.

“Did the God of Heaven not forsake us?”

Hellion knelt at the Emperor’s feet and bowed her head.

“The God of Heaven has a new plan. He……He still has not abandoned us.”

A soft exclamation leaked from the Emperor’s face as he looked at her Hillion. Despite of all his sins, he did not know if he was happy with a God who did not forsake them.

“……The same mistakes should not be repeated. The imperial family’s eyes and ears are already in too many places.”

“I had the exact same thought.”

“The report came to this. We will support whatever the High Priest may need.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor nodded slowly. As he backed away, Hellion’s face was filled with deep concern.

If what he guessed is true, this saintess will not enter the church. she’ll ascend to the position of Empress if she is his wife……

‘She will become the Empress of a new empire.’

Although the power of the Duke of Cardian was enough to overwhelm the current emperor, but only while he was in the Duchy of Cardian.

Hellion began to think about how to protect the denomination and support them in their fight.

✦ ✦ ✦

Since the Duchess of Cardian had requested an outdoor outing, the dress sent by the Third Empress was also picked out the make her easy to move.

Amelia was not easily pleased with the new dress she received.

Phil won’t let her do anything strange already, as this is only our second meeting. But Amelia was still determining how she would face the Duchess of Cardian. She could still make out the bloodied duchess she had dreamed about.

“Why did you do that to me? I only treated the princess with kindness…… ”

She didn’t think the real Duchess of Cardian would have treated her only favorably. But the Duchess had told her so in her nightmares.

But Amelia didn’t have the power to reject the invitation. She had to remember Lucy, who Phil still held in his grip.

Amelia shed a few tears as she dressed. The maids were knocking on her door and pressuring her to get dressed so she quickly did.

The maids grumbled when she opened the door to them.

“Are you trying to make it obvious that you’re from a commoner…… Wasn’t it because you were secretly dating a man? There are marks left on the body.”

That was said by one of her maids, who glared at the skin beneath her dress. Amelia became agitated and grabbed her by the collar. She then turned her scathing glare back on him.

“A man? Who’s going to take care of a princess like this?”

“You bet.”

Amelia had a pathetic expression as her face heated. She wanted to yell at them, but she only bit her lip.

When the maids noticed that, they laughed at Amelia. This always happened, so Amelia just hoped the time would fly by.

Meanwhile, Amelia needed to look good in front of the Duchess of Cardian, so they dressed Amelia up. When the banquet was over, the servant dashed to the door and opened it.

Even to a low-ranking noblewoman, opening the door without knocking was impolite, but no one could point it out. Amelia, the person who was called out by her, also looked calm.

“The carriage is ready, Princess.”

“Should I go?”

In a snarky tone, Amelia raised her head. If she is lucky enough to escape this palace one day…… she’ll be a commoner by the time that happens.

‘Let’s suppose I get used to it beforehand. After all, the only people who are polite to me are the servants of aristocratic families….… ‘

Outside of the imperial family, No one had ever treated her as disrespectfully as they were now because she was a member of the imperial family, even a princess who was not respected. It could be construed as an insult to the entire imperial family if it did.

Amelia stretched her chest and followed her maid through the palace of the concubine.

She felt sorry for the Duchess of Cardian, but her first priority was Lucy’s safety. 

✦ ✦ ✦

The imperial carriage’s mounting steps appeared to be in good condition until Amelia stepped on them. As soon as Amelia was about to greet Celia, she let go of the escort knight’s hand that had been holding her.

“Kyaaah!”

She had never heard a scream like that before.

The Third Empress’s personal attachment to Amelia had a limit.  Therefore, on this outing, there was just one maid and one escort knight.

Although the number of escort people for a princess in the outing was not made sense, the fact that the opponent was Amelia caused people to make grimace as if they knew why it had to be that way.

After escorting Amelia out of her carriage, the escort knight naturally stood a few steps away from her. Originally, there was another escort knight who had to help Amelia’s maid get off the carriage, but only one person followed as Amelia’s escort knight. 

‘The maids just got off without an escort.’

But this time, the situation was different, as was the case with the maids. The carriage’s mounting stairs started to crackle as soon as the maid stepped onto them.

The maid rolled out of the carriage and there was a moment of silence.

“Oh my.”

Celia exclaimed wistfully. Amelia’s maid rolled out of the carriage and across the dirt floor. The other knights rushed around her and lifted her up.

“Ugh….”

She didn’t just fall off; she sprained her ankle. Not even mentioning her filthy clothes. Her face, which had turned red, sank down in an instant when she noticed Celia staring at her.

“I was planning on going on an outdoor picnic, but that maid can’t accompany you.”

“Picnic?”

She thought she was going to have tea time in the garden because she wanted to spend some time outside and sleep. Amelia was astonished when Celia smiled at her.

“I was recommended to a place with a nice view near the temple instead. I’m sure princess will like that place as well.”

I can’t believe I’m going outside!

She thought it would be fun to travel anywhere. Amelia turned back to her when her maid, sent by her third empress, was unable to accompany her.

The maid was giving a look as if she should not refuse.

“But. I don’t mind if the maid doesn’t follow me, but my escort knight will, right?’

“Th-that sounds like fun. When are we going to leave?”

“Right now.”