Chapter 7 (Part 2)
“Your parents seem like really nice people, Yan.”
Contrary to the rumor of them being cold, they were cheerful and warm people. Yuliana once again thought that rumors could not be trusted.
“Have they finished their trip?”
“People think they went on vacation, but they actually went for work.”
“Work?”
Anthus immediately answered Yuliana’s curiosity.
“They went to a newly discovered dungeon in Ohamas.”
High-value dungeons often contain dangerous monsters that are not usually encountered.
“They went to a dangerous place.”
“It’s okay. My parents are quite strong.”
“That’s right. Madame Frey is a Sword Master, isn’t she?”
“Although Father was the one who pursued her first, everyone knows the story of them falling in love while crossing swords.”
Frey, originally the captain of the Rockbellion family’s knights, became the first female Sword Master. Phillip was the one who was captivated by her and pursued her.
“So, did they find anything in the dungeon?”
At the end of Yuliana’s words, Anthus spoke with a serious expression.
“It wasn’t the dungeon they found.”
“Pardon?”
“Like the northern dungeon found by Erzen and Anton and the incident at Luteons Village… They found that altar.”
“Could they have encountered a new type of monster?”
“Fortunately, they didn’t encounter any new monsters.”
“Then the culprit has been wandering around… killing people and doing something at the shrine.”
“Perhaps they’re conducting experiments to create new types of monsters…”
Anthus shrugged his shoulders and let out a deep sigh.
“It could be the work of dark wizards or religious fanatics, or those hoping for demon summoning or the resurrection of the Demon King. In any case, whoever did this is not sane.”
Yuliana frowned as she recalled the incident in the village of Luteons that she experienced with the investigation team when the new species of monsters were first discovered.
“We don’t know yet, but what is certain is that we must catch the culprit.”
A short silence lingered, making it impossible to continue the conversation.
Yuliana’s gaze met Anthus’s red eyes in the sky. She gently stroked his cheek with her right hand.
“We must solve this, Yan.”
Anthus held Yuliana’s hand that was stroking his cheek and kissed it.
“Yes, Lia.”
Anthus looked up at Yuliana with a steady gaze and spoke.
“It seems something dangerous might happen. I worry whether it was wise to involve you in this matter, Lia.”
“I don’t regret participating in the investigation team, so don’t worry about it, Yan.”
She understood Anthus’s concerns. She shared the same worries. But what they could do now was to rely on each other and solve the case together.
“We can do well.”
When lunchtime arrived, Yuliana moved to have lunch with Frey.
“Welcome, Lia. I’ve been waiting for you.”
As soon as she arrived at the lunch table, Frey greeted Yuliana warmly.
“Thank you for inviting me.”
Frey, with a bright smile, grabbed Yuliana’s hand and shook it up and down, showing friendliness.
“Mother, would you let her sit first?”
“I was so happy I forgot you were here, Yan!”
Anthus tried to escort Yuliana to her chair, holding her hand, but Frey didn’t let go of Yuliana’s hand.
“Mo. Ther.”
“Do you have a problem with me holding her hand?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Feel the dissatisfaction but don’t show it… unless you want to spar with swords in front of Lia after a long time.”
Anthus placed a hand on his forehead, indicating a headache. Sweat began to trickle down Yuliana’s back.
“Lia, it’s genuine when I ask you to call me ‘Mother’. If calling me mother is still difficult, you can call me by my nickname, Rey.”
“Yes, Rey.”
When Yuliana nodded in acceptance, Frey’s face lit up.
A white marble dining table was set on the wide lawn. Maids were busily carrying dishes with food on them.
Sitting down, Yuliana looked around at the food. The decorations were perfect, making it almost a shame to eat.
“Lia, eat a lot.”
“Thank you, Rey.”
When Yuliana called Frey by her nickname, Anthus pouted with a dissatisfied expression.
“When do you think is a good date for the engagement ceremony, Yan?”
“I was planning to proceed after the territorial war…”
“After the territorial war is too late.”
“So I thought about it. I plan to declare the territorial war the day after the engagement ceremony. I was going to explain it over the meal anyway.”
“Declaring the territorial war the day after the engagement ceremony is an excellent plan, no matter how you think about it.”
“Isn’t it, Mother?”
“Yes. No one would expect a territorial war to be declared the day after the engagement ceremony.”
“Then, have you thought about the date for the engagement ceremony?”
“I prefer it as soon as possible, but…”
Anthus looked at Yuliana for her opinion.
“If Lia has a preferred date, I’ll adjust to it.”
“I haven’t thought of a specific date.”
“I will discuss the date with Earl Loengrin.”
“Yes.”
“Yan.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Have you recruited enough people for the territorial war?”
“I’ve commissioned the mages of the Mage Tower to create scrolls containing fireballs in preparation for new species of monsters. Since we’re offering magic stones as payment, all the wizards have come to the Rockbellion family. As for the mercenaries, I think we can leave it to Erzen.”
Declaring the territorial war right after the engagement ceremony—Yuliana was left speechless by Anthus’s straightforwardness and quick decisions.
Yuliana turned her head to look at Anthus sitting next to her. Although the pace seemed too fast, seeing Anthus’s pretty smile reassured her rather than made her anxious.
* * *
Cloud looked at a marriage certificate in front of him.
“What a timing…”
Holding the paper, Cloud smirked with one corner of his lips.
“A marriage certificate sent by Pope Rybid from the Holy Kingdom… It’s already too late.”
The day after the hunting competition ended, the engagement certificate stamped with the seals of the Loengrin and Rockbellion families was submitted and immediately approved. Therefore, the marriage certificate sent by the Holy Kingdom became useless.
Cloud handed the marriage certificate back to his aide and said,
“Summon the Pope.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
After a short while, Rybid and Holy Knight Aens followed the chamberlain inside.
“Greetings, Your Holiness.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll get straight to the point. The land has been contaminated due to the monsters that attacked us during the hunting competition. Can Your Holiness take on the task of purifying the contaminated land?”
“I can take it on. I wanted to investigate it myself.”
“If you need money during the investigation, please let me know. The Sirius Empire has money in abundance, so there’s no need to worry, Your Holiness.”
“To rebuild the Sirius Empire, which was leaning towards war, in just nine years… Your abilities are outstanding, Your Majesty. Nine years ago, it seemed like it would surely collapse.”
Rybid smiled as he spoke.
“It’s better not to talk about nine years ago. Also, although Lady Loengrin is said to be the daughter of Saint Rosaline, she has no divine power. She is lacking as a consort.”
“That doesn’t matter.”
“I heard that the Holy Kingdom doesn’t care about bloodlines as long as there is divine power, but it seems that’s not entirely true.”
“Among the saints, Saint Rosaline possessed immense divine power. If Lady Yuliana didn’t inherit divine power, the next child might be born with it.”
“Are you considering bloodlines for succession?”
Cloud looked at Rybid coldly and kept silent.
“I’m aware that, according to imperial law, the Sirius Empire has no absolute veto power over a woman becoming the Pope’s consort.”
“Of course. But that’s only possible when they are unmarried.”
Cloud’s gaze turned mischievous as he looked at Rybid.
“Lady Yuliana of the Loengrin family has already submitted an engagement certificate with the Rockbellion family and received approval. Chamberlain.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Return the marriage certificate given by His Holiness.”
“What do you mean! We just returned, and in that time, the young lady got engaged?”
When the chamberlain handed over the marriage certificate, Aens spoke indignantly.
“Though they haven’t held an engagement ceremony, they submitted the engagement certificate first, so the two are engaged. Therefore, it’s difficult to accept the marriage request sent by the Holy Kingdom.”
“I can’t believe it…”
“Chamberlain.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Show the engagement certificate.”
The chamberlain approached Rybid with the engagement certificate that Cloud handed over.
Seeing the engagement certificate, Aens raised his eyebrows in disbelief.
Seeing that expression, Cloud sharply retorted.
“It’s unfortunate. Please look for the Pope’s consort elsewhere.”
Aens felt overwhelmed, knowing that Rybid couldn’t marry, wondering how much he would complain.
“Your Holiness…”
Aens glanced sideways and saw Rybid, lost in thought with a serious expression, unlike his usual demeanor. The lack of his usual light-heartedness made Aens uneasy.
“I have a question.”
Rybid asked Cloud in a serious and polite tone, different from usual.
“Please speak, Your Holiness.”
“How long does it take to process a breakup in the Sirius Empire?”
Cloud answered Rybid with a serious tone.
“Why are you asking about a breakup?”
He knew Rybid’s intention. It meant he wouldn’t give up since Anthus and Yuliana weren’t married yet.
“Are you asking to gauge my intentions?”
“Your Holiness, those two will not break up.”
“That’s something we can’t be sure of, Emperor of the Sirius Empire.”
Cloud felt displeased by Rybid’s words. Despite mentioning Anthus’s engagement, it seemed to be ignored.
“No matter how great the Pope of the Holy Kingdom is, your remarks are extremely dangerous and unpleasant to hear!”
Bang!
Cloud slammed the armrest of his chair forcefully.
“Lady Loengrin is to become the Duchess of the Rockbellion family, not the Pope’s consort.”
“Our Holy Kingdom will not easily let go, as with Saint Rosaline.”
“Let go? It was simply Saint Rosaline’s choice to choose our empire.”
“It was Emperor Rezeph who abducted her first!”
Cloud stood up abruptly. He couldn’t hold back any longer.
“It’s best to stop talking now, Pope of the Holy Kingdom!”
The audience room quickly froze over with tension.
Rezeph was notorious in the empire’s history for having many concubines and mistresses. He didn’t care if they were commoners if he liked them, and he took them by force.
The people and nobles all cursed Rezeph and pitied the women forced into becoming concubines. So parents with daughters of marriageable age quickly married them off.
There was only one woman Rezeph couldn’t have: Saint Rosaline of the Holy Kingdom.
So he continuously sent gifts to the Holy Kingdom, held various balls and banquets with all sorts of excuses, and invited delegations from the Holy Kingdom.
And Rosaline was always among them. Rezeph, driven by desire for Rosaline, committed an unforgivable act. He abducted Rosaline.
Fortunately, the one who discovered and rescued her was Matthias. Rosaline fell in love with Matthias, who saved her.
Immediately after the abduction incident, Rosaline became close with Earl Loengrin and had Louis.
The Holy Kingdom labeled Rosaline as a ‘disgraced saint’ and stripped her of her saintly status. Rezeph, obsessed with Rosaline, quickly gave up on her because she was carrying Matthias’s child and sought another woman.
After that, diplomatic relations between the Holy Kingdom and the Sirius Empire were severed.
As time passed and Cloud dethroned Rezeph and ascended to the throne, the severed diplomatic relations between the Holy Kingdom and the Sirius Empire gradually began to mend.
“Saint Rosaline chose Earl Loengrin because she loved him.”
Cloud spoke coldly, looking down at Rybid.
“It’s fine. Saint Rosaline gave birth to my consort, so I think it’s destiny.”
Rybid glared at Cloud with eyes filled with malice.
“We will never let her be taken like before. After all, she will say she wants to become a saint and return to the Holy Kingdom with me.”
Rybid smiled crookedly at Cloud and turned away.
“That’s all I have to say. I will stay in the Imperial Palace for a while to purify the land contaminated by the monsters. Let’s go, Aens.”
“Yes, Your Holiness.”
As Rybid and Aens left, Cloud spoke to his chamberlain.
“Immediately summon Duke Rockbellion and Earl Loengrin to the palace.”
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