The Pope’s expression looked strange, staring at many secret letters from various places at once.
The old pope couldn’t even see the letters’ details, but he already could guess what’s inside from the sender.
“David… …what do you think?” He wanted to ask for his trusted Paladin’s opinion before making his own judgment.
For the Pope, David was a perfect human being, as if he was sent to the world to prove God’s grace. The Pope believed his existence was proof of God’s incarnation.
“Everyone has different wishes, but Your Holiness must certainly go to the Imperial Palace and do God’s will.”
The Pope nodded at David’s steady voice as it was the same with his own thoughts.
However, the Pope didn’t know whether he thought of it first or David’s pleasing voice. He was still a wise Pope, but at some point, his trust in his Paladin was beyond the realm of judgment.
“Certainly, they didn’t have their marriage certificate. Since I didn’t make it clear that time.”
“But isn’t it impossible to remarry without Your Holiness’ blessing?”
“No… …it’s not…….” The Pope spoke with a loud voice. “Well, it’s hard to take sides.”
“You can postpone it.”
Duke Metis, one of the Vatican’s biggest patrons, not only opposed the Emperor’s remarriage, but he also sent a petition to clarify their divorce’s validity. But on the other hand, he couldn’t rule out Duke Akshire and the Felice Kingdom, who also sent a different petition.
Above all, the Emperor’s opinion, the owner of this Empire, was so clear.
“Let’s pending the issue and see the situation yourself.”
“Actually, …yes, I’ll have to see it myself.”
“Which is worthy of God’s will, is the Your Holiness’ judgment.”
“Indeed, your words are correct, David.”
David smiled faintly because it was his judgment, and he was always right. The Guardian couldn’t be wrong. So now, he had to finish his remaining mission quickly.
“Now, I will prepare a procession to leave for the Empire.”
The Pope nodded, and David busily moved his steps as he couldn’t wait any longer. If he let him be, soon, that stupid Emperor would have caused world destruction. In this time, he could be more extreme than before he used time magic.
“Why humans always repeat their mistakes?” David, who was left alone, muttered low. He could no longer use time magic. In other words, he had to decide everything now, to finish the knot that was already built by him.
“He’s a dangerous man.” He thought of Fabian.
An ominous dark eyes, the insight, and coldness that seemed beyond human beings. As evidenced by his ancestors’ blood, the whole Emperor’s bloodline was all out of the frame and human’s limit.
David didn’t want to listen to any excuses, and he couldn’t accept anyone who broke the balance of the world. That’s why if possible, he avoided getting into a fight with Fabian.
“This should be our last encounter.”
David realized that he was helpless. In his long life, he never felt as incompetent as he is now. After using the magic of Forbidden Time, he had a faint result and lost most of his power.
Even when he called the Wyverns to expel Fabian from approaching Evelyn and Adrian, David was already weak. So he had no choice but to save the Emperor’s flesh, Adrian, and used the child’s hard-earned hair to call the Devil Eyes.
“Now you can’t even control the demon, right. Really pathetic.”
Again, he was laughing at his incompetence. Now there was nothing David could do from far away. He could only intervene in this matter by meeting Fabian, the descendant of the sinister emperor, in person.
“But I must fulfill my duty.” David’s violet eyes filled with willpower. He will defend his balance as always.
And once again, he would save this continent from the sea of blood.
***
On the day that the Pope left Saint Iretta, anxiety rose in the hearts of many people. No one expected that the Pope, who didn’t give a clear answer, was coming directly to the Imperial Palace.
Duke Metis’s blood seemed to have dried up, and only Fabian remained calm in this situation.
“This is the first time I’m happy to see that old man come.”
“Are you serious?” Serus asked back with a shocked face.
“Because anyway, my marriage is legal only after being inaugurated by that old man. So he better come here.”
Fabian surprisingly welcomed his arrival. It seemed true that he had become more tolerant of everything since Evelyn’s return.
“What if the Pope doesn’t come at Your Majesty’s will?”
“As long as he shows up in front of me on his own feet, he will have to follow my will.”
“Oh… I see.”
Serus nodded at Fabian’s reasonable answer. Fabian didn’t respect the Pope from the beginning, and in the worst-case scenario, he was motivated to get the answers he wanted, even by killing that old man.
Fabian would be in trouble if the Pope were hiding in Saint Iretta. But, as he came directly to the Imperial Palace, it was advantageous for Fabian, no matter which side he chose.
“More than anything else, the Paladin in question also comes here.” Fabian narrowed his eyes.
“Yes. This time we have to see the ending.”
Serus nodded. Their opponent was incomprehensible and a mysterious being. The more opponents like that, the more it would be at a disadvantage if they were dragged into the long-term battle.
This would probably be their last chance, and Fabian would try to get rid of the Paladin, no matter what.
“Those who dare to target my son’s life have no right to live any longer.”
In Fabian’s eyes, Adrian was still too young, and he still had a long life. The way he protected his son was different from Evelyn’s, but they had the same feelings.
“Adrian can’t hurt anyone.”
Sometimes, Fabian had the same thoughts as ordinary people. It was the parent’s instinct to draw a beautiful future for their children. A future where their children could laugh and play happily. And as parents, he would get rid of anything that hindered it.
“So I’ll see the end by killing him with this hand.”
Still, Fabian’s conclusion was a bit different from ordinary people.
“I think that would be best.”
“The guard … Increase the number of guards in the Inner Palace, and escalate the security to the highest level.”
“Yes.”
A mighty wind blew. Seeing dark clouds coming in the distance, it seemed like it was going to rain soon.
***
The rain and wind that had pored the Imperial Palace for several days suddenly disappeared, and the sky suddenly became clear as a lie.
The Empress Palace, which had always been empty, had a different look every day. It’s glowing as if showing off that its owner had returned. It was the result of Evelyn’s strong will and Rebecca’s behavior.
“You’re like the Imperial Empress now,” Rebecca said satisfactorily as she watched the Royal maids and the shimmering Empress.
“I’m still not the Empress now.”
“It doesn’t matter. The important thing is that everyone thinks so.”
Evelyn nodded at her wise statement. Rebecca was bringing her skill in managing the Akshire mansion to Empress Palace. It was a pity that such a talented woman was trapped in Perth’s family.
“Thanks, Rebecca.”
“It’s just the beginning.”
Evelyn agreed with that. It was not enough to trim the Palace in a couple of days. They only had minimal preparation. It was also a preparation time to meet their enemies and let the world knew who had the authority.
“Here, the invitations are ready. And this is the list.” Rebecca handed over a long list.
The names of Empress Dowager and Lady Stella were at the top. Below them were the names of noble wives and ladies who had an influence on Imperial society.
“I had discussed the seating arrangement and detailed tea sets with the maid.”
“That’s enough, then.”
Evelyn checked her list and handed it to the maid beside her. Looks like this was the first time she had been so busy since her newlywed days. Besides, now there was another creature she needed to take care of.
She walked quickly to the room where Adrian was. Sir Philip had finished Adrian’s treatment just in time. The old doctor saw Evelyn and gave her an example that only he did to the Empress.
“Princess……I see you.”
“Sir Philip, thank you for always working hard,” Evelyn replied gracefully. “I want to know more about Adrian’s condition.” She pointed at Adrian with her eyes. He was a child who acted childish in Nora’s arms.
“His progress is good.”
Gladly, Philip’s face looked bright when he said so. Naturally, a joy spread in Evelyn’s heart as well.
“The detoxification is still in progress, but if there’s no big problem, he will fully recover soon.”
“What if there’s a big problem?”
“It would be a problem if he is infected by another poison. Detoxification would be ten times more difficult if the amount of poison in his body increased… But it won’t happen as he’s in the Imperial Palace. So you don’t have to worry about this.” explained Philip.
“Oh, I see.”
Fabian deployed a large number of knights to guard the Empress’ Palace. There were many things to keep an eye on, but he also sent his Black Hawk to protect them in secret. The security level was so tightly maintained that it was looked like a watertight Palace.
“What about other problems other than poison?”
“Another problem… … .” Sir Philip looked puzzled.
“What I asked you before.”
“Oh, the Prince’s development … Yes, I’ve been watching him, but there’s no big problem.”
Philip was a little embarrassed by that question. Evelyn sighed briefly as if she had already expected, “But he still has a small problem, doesn’t he?”
“…a little.”
With an honest heart, Sir Philip told Evelyn the truth. Adrian grew smarter and stronger than other children his age. However, at the Imperial Family’s level, his etiquette knowledge was almost like a blank paper.
It was too impolite to call the Emperor ‘Jimoo’, even though Fabian had allowed him to do so.
“Sir Philip, I’m sorry to keep asking you. Because I have no one else to ask for help.”
“To me… … This old man… … That energetic Prince… Oh no. I can’t.” Philip shook his head quickly. His sweat poured out, just looking at Adrian. How could he teach that child an etiquette?
“But I can introduce you to my disciple, who has received the title as a sage,” added Philip.
“I don’t like having new people around me, but…….”
“He’s not a new person.”
Philip glanced his eyes at his assistant holding a bag. The assistant seemed he didn’t know anything. But clearly, that’s not a new face.
“Hans,” Philip called him.
“Yes?” The young man, who had vowed to study science all his life, replied naively.
Philip began to serve Fabian at his age. He suddenly felt a little sorry for his assistant as Philip recalled the hardships in his youth.
“Introduce yourself to the Princess as the Crown Prince’s etiquette teacher.”
“……Yes? Well, I’m Hans Tylen, the second son of Count Tylen. I apologize for my late greeting to the Princess.”
Unlike his sheepish face, his polite words flowed out of Hans’s mouth naturally.
Indeed, it was a fact that a sage wouldn’t accept any disciples. In fact, Hans was Philip’s chief disciple, and he was specially qualified to go to the Palace as his assistant.
When Philip died, Hans would have taken over his role. So naturally, he’d stand by Adrian. However, he didn’t expect the time came a little early.
“Sir Hans.” Evelyn saw a young man with a mix of expectations and worries.
“Yes, Princess.”
“I’ll tell you in advance, by Imperial standards, Adrian is a very spoiled child. Well, you’ve seen him often during the treatment, so you know him well.”
“Yes.”
Hans didn’t deny it and his answer reassured Evelyn.
Only
An honest person was better than a person who used to praise anything. She knew that such people were rare in the Imperil Palace, so it would make them more precious.
“Not because he’s my child, but Adrian also very smart. That’s why he learns everything very well,” said Evelyn.
“I’ll do my best once I start.”
Become the best teacher for a young Prince. Evelyn’s request ignited Hans’s enthusiasm for more remarkable achievement.
“Please take good care of him.”
The day for Adrian to graduate from ‘Jimoo’ was approaching. No one could predict how intense the teaching process would be.
However, Evelyn believed in Adrian. Arthur’s rough and fiery upbringing shaped his behavior like that. But he was Fabian’s son, not someone else. From the fact itself, Evelyn had nothing to worry about
Comments