271. Divine Leviathan Empire (2)
Fernandez finally woke up after being unconscious for two days straight. Considering it was Diemonica, his recovery was oddly slow.
It was due to the injuries he had sustained so far, the physical toll of being pushed to the brink of death, and the price he paid for using magic while being directly tainted by the Curse of the Great Demon.
So, when he finally opened his eyes, he saw Kirhas holding a blade to the doctor’s neck, Abel sitting quietly with her hands clasped in prayer, and Freya leaning on a sofa in the corner of the room with her arms crossed.
“What are you all doing?”
“Y-Your Excellency!!”
Kirhas jumped up with a start and fell back onto the bed. In that moment, Abel’s hand moved like lightning, grabbing Kirhas by the back of her neck and lifting her into the air.
“Guh!”
“Enough. He’s a patient right now.”
“Your Excellency! Your Excellency!!”
Fernandez averted his gaze from Kirhas, who was in a panic, and Abel, who was looking at him with a mix of concern and reproach. Freya spoke up abruptly.
“The Goddess sees you standing on the edge.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s not something to discuss in front of the children. Take care of yourself now. Doctor, you’ve worked hard. You may leave.”
She shrugged and walked out with heavy steps. Abel sighed deeply as she glanced at Fernandez and Freya.
Standing on the edge… It likely referred to his lifespan. Since Freya is the Goddess of Life, she might be able to see how much time he has left. Fernandez shrugged.
“I need some context. How much time has passed?”
“Two days! Your Excellency, you’ve been asleep for two days!”
“What happened?”
“Duke Carvelier’s forces have occupied the Imperial Palace ruins and declared a state of emergency in the capital. Negotiations with the Papacy have concluded, and both official and unofficial letters have arrived. One of them is for you. Shall I read it now?”
“Give it to me.”
Abel took a letter from her pocket and handed it to Fernandez. It was a letter sealed with the Pope’s wax seal. Without a word, he broke the seal and unfolded the letter.
“The Pope has recognized Duke Erbe’s martyrdom. Soon, Duke Carvelier will officially be beatified as a martyr saint, and Lady Rene Philippa will inherit the title under the Papacy’s approval.”
“I find that questionable. Does the succession of a title require the Pope’s approval?”
“Normally, no. But since the Duke’s death is being treated as martyrdom, the Carvelier family’s lineage now holds religious significance. Gaining legitimacy for this is unprecedented in the history of the Elector families…”
It’s a very powerful move. Normally, title succession is carried out by reading the will in the presence of a priest. It’s a ceremony where the deceased’s vassals, acquaintances, and relatives gather for both the funeral and the succession of the heir.
There are ranks even among the priests who preside over funerals. This is especially true for the succession ceremonies of Great Nobles equivalent to Electors. The rank of the presiding priest and the number of vassals attending the ceremony determine the authority, prestige, and legitimacy of the event.
For the Pope to personally preside over such a ceremony is highly unusual and incredibly significant. The Pope rarely attends secular noble events. Unlike the Church’s stance, noble events are often highly political.
In this context, the Pope, who had been extremely hostile to the Empire, attending the succession ceremony and beatifying the deceased Duke Erbe as a martyr saint…
‘No noble would view this purely.’
Various theories could circulate. The Pope is directly negotiating peace with the Empire. Behind the Emperor’s death is the Pope. He’s beginning political interference in the secular royal family through Rene Philippa.
None of these rumors are easy to answer, and all of them are uncomfortably close to the truth. The truth beneath political issues never wears just one face.
“If the Pope personally announces this, the next Emperor will be Rene Philippa.”
“That’s what they’re saying. But… there’s still no news of her return. Why hasn’t she entered the capital directly? Shouldn’t she be conducting the Duke’s funeral?”
“She’s probably solidifying her justification.”
In other words, she’s pruning. In the current climate, which is dangerously close to a revolution, the task of erasing traces of the previous regime is more intricate and complex than surgery.
Noble families are all intricately and cunningly intertwined, so she’s likely preoccupied with identifying and dealing with nobles who sided with the Emperor or were under his influence.
“Are you saying she’s indiscriminately slaughtering hostile forces now? Like the Pope did?”
“That’s unlikely. It’s too conspicuous. From her position, with justification on her side, she doesn’t need to take such a loss. She’s probably negotiating. With the pro-Emperor Electors who won’t vote for her ascension.”
Even with clear justification, about half of the Electors had sided with the Emperor. If all of them cast opposing votes in the Elector Council, a peaceful transfer of power would be impossible.
Crushing them with military force would only lead to a new civil war. It was clear how history would remember an Emperor who began their reign with a civil war and the backlash they would face during their rule.
So, Rene is likely deep in secret negotiations. With the Pope’s approval, the Emperor’s corruption, and overwhelming military power as her cards, the negotiations shouldn’t drag on.
“But there’s another strange letter. This one’s unofficial.”
“Hmm…?”
“Didn’t I say there’s another unofficial letter from the Pope?”
Abel took out another letter and handed it over. It was a sealed secret scroll. Fernandez used a letter opener to break the wax seal and read the letter carefully.
Then he read it again. This time more slowly, savoring each word.
When he had repeated this process four times, Abel couldn’t hold back any longer.
“May I ask what it says?”
“Hmm…”
“Your Excellency!”
Kirhas, sitting on the bed, wagged her tail excitedly. She glanced playfully at Abel and quickly snatched the letter.
“I’m part of the headquarters, so I can read it!”
“It shouldn’t be classified as top secret…”
“As long as Your Excellency keeps it a secret, it’s fine!”
Fernandez shrugged, and Kirhas giggled as she started reading the letter… then stopped.
“Huh?”
“What does it say?”
“Oh my… this… this can’t be! This can’t happen!”
Kirhas screamed and threw the letter. It was the worst way to handle a secret letter from the Pope. Abel caught the fluttering letter and read it, her face turning pale.
“A… marriage alliance?”
“Hmm…”
“I knew that woman was up to no good! I didn’t like her from the moment I saw her! I oppose this marriage!!”
Before Fernandez could stop her, Kirhas ran out, screaming at the top of her lungs. Abel watched her go, then composed herself and calmly sat down next to Fernandez.
“This might be sudden, but something just occurred to me.”
“…What is it?”
Fernandez asked, rubbing his cool neck. Abel smiled softly.
“Is the Papacy designed to withstand a dragon’s breath?”
“Calm down.”
“A marriage alliance? Marriage…”
……A marriage alliance? This is an unacceptable outrage. I am…… a dragon who protects the free will of people. Such oppression cannot be tolerated.”
“You seem to be getting too carried away. Calm down.”
“Did the princess really make such a request to the Pope? No, she could make such a request. You are so exceptional among humans that it would be hard to find a match for you. But are you saying the Pope approved it?!”
Fernandez sighed and rubbed his forehead. Abel was quietly burning like a flame.
The Pope’s secret letter was simple. In exchange for approving the beatification of the martyr saint of Vaitas Church, the establishment of the state religion of the Empire, the preemptive declaration of a holy war, and other secret agreements with the Church—
Renée Philippa de Carvelier requested an official marriage with Fernandez Sernerd, a monk of St. Bartholomew Monastery.
The Papacy’s stance on this was very simple. Marriage is a beautiful sacrament, and it is only right to respond with joy…… but while they could officiate the ceremony, they could not directly oversee it. The gist of the letter was that they would approve it based on the will of the parties involved.
From the Papacy’s perspective, it was an unbeatable condition. Considering the influence the Church would gain over secular society in exchange for simply giving up one monk. For the most powerful nation in the civilized world to officially convert to a state religion was a monumental event.
Fernandez read the letter for a while, then nodded decisively.
“Not a bad condition.”
“……What……?”
“Religiously, monks are not forbidden from marrying. And from the Pope’s perspective, if the Emperor and a monk were to marry, their descendants would become ecclesiastical electors. As long as the Empire doesn’t fall, it means the Pope’s influence would extend to the election of emperors for generations to come.”
“No, besides that condition. Aren’t there other conditions?”
“Even if it’s a personal condition, it’s not so bad. With the Emperor’s authority backing me, I could guarantee various forms of support. It’s much more positive than the position of an Inquisition Officer, who faces official restrictions on operations and approvals.”
Fernandez calmly assessed the situation. The process of getting operations approved by the Inquisition Office was too complicated.
In his judgment, there were operations that needed to be carried out immediately and those that didn’t. However, to get the operation plans he had established through memories of his past life approved by the Church in this world, he needed plausible justifications and procedures.
By skipping all those formalities and jumping straight into the mission, he would have a solid backing that no one could question. Not a bad outcome.
“Are you really approving a marriage for just that?”
“Just that? Officially, I would simultaneously hold the positions of a monk and an imperial envoy. With the support of both the Papacy and the Imperial Palace, in effect, there would be no one in the civilized world with more authority than me.”
“You……. You……!!”
Abel panted for a while, then suddenly stood up and stormed out. Fernandez watched her back and sighed.
-Getting caught up in a woman’s troubles, Fernandez. What a fate.
‘Anyway, the position of imperial envoy is just a formality. It’s just a token needed for the secret agreement between Renée Philippa and the Pope. It has no real meaning, so I don’t know why everyone’s getting so upset.’
-Frankly, I don’t get it either. If you think about it, from the start of this operation, you’ve been Hearttaker’s concubine.
Faijashi and Fernandez were in chaos until the servants came in to prepare the meal. He blankly watched the servants prepare the tea and snacks, then suddenly asked.
“Brother Zephis…… no. Where is the man who came with me?”
“Are you referring to Sir Shiradast? He volunteered to go out for the underground waterway disinfection work.”
“Underground waterway disinfection?”
There was still a high possibility that demons of the Urkathia faction or their followers remained in the capital. In fact, there had been a surge of disappearances in the nearby waterways.
Fernandez chuckled. That was Diemonica’s characteristic diligence. Even though he was no longer an Inquisition Officer, he still threw himself into purging heresy. Probably not out of duty, but out of conviction.
In any case, it was a posture worthy of respect. There were mountains of things he wanted to discuss immediately, but he decided to put that aside for now.
“Then the princess……. No, no. Where is Lady Tremule?”
His tasks were varied. There were urgent matters piled up. Negotiations with the Tremule Count’s family, drafting the script needed for the upcoming official announcement. He needed Everiz’s help.
But the servant spoke with a somewhat cautious expression.
“She followed Sir Shiradast.”
“Huh?”
“Well…… Lady Tremule said she would personally resolve the capital’s dire situation and volunteered. She is now participating in the underground waterway disinfection work with Sir Shiradast.”
A noble lady who had spent her entire life in the Imperial Palace volunteered to confront demons in the underground waterways? What kind of thinking is this? Fernandez was confused again.
Of course, approaching it rationally, it would be a very sharp political show. The vassals of the Carvelier Duke’s family hated Everiz. If she could show herself volunteering in such a harsh environment, it would at least reduce the risk of sudden assassination attempts.
But was that necessary? No. The lady’s value lies not in the goodwill of those around her, but in the special position she holds. There was no need for her to personally roam the underground waterways.
-I get it now!
‘What?’
-Romance!
Faijashi laughed confidently.
-Did you forget Everiz’s situation? The Emperor tried to sacrifice her to summon a Great Demon. Do you think she was treated well in that situation?
‘It must have been horrific.’
The only reason she didn’t fall was because of the Archangel’s spirit within her. Once the Emperor decided to use her as a catalyst to summon Urkathia, she was likely confined to a laboratory or worse.
-In that situation, imagine Zephis, that uncultured Diemonica, appearing and smashing everything around him to rescue the princess. How would that look to a noble lady? Isn’t that knightly romance?
‘That seems a bit too forward.’
Fernandez shook his head.
* * *
“Let’s go together……!”
“Wouldn’t it have been better to rest at the mansion?”
“But……! Huff, huff……. Just a moment! Let’s go together!”
She could endure traversing the filthy waterways and witnessing the slaughter of foul-smelling monsters. But what was exhausting Everiz wasn’t the disgusting underground waterways, but simply walking for a long time.
A princess who had spent her life avoiding exercise. For a noble lady from the depths of the palace, even just walking for a long time was a constant challenge to her physical limits.
Zephis let out a short sigh. The progress was slower than expected, and the planned area disinfection was not yet complete.
“We’re too late. Lady Tremule. This is near the slums’ underground. Unlike the noble residential districts, these people have almost no means of self-defense. If we don’t disinfect this area by tonight, they will suffer at the hands of these vile creatures overnight.”
“You are…… such a…… chivalrous knight!”
“…….”
Zephis silently looked at the panting Everiz. Under his cold gaze, Everiz shivered slightly and leaned against him.
“I just want to help you, Sir Knight……. Am I being a burden……?”
Just as he was about to say yes, he saw Everiz’s deer-like clear eyes. She was trembling, looking up at him pitifully.
Even if he sent her home now, could he proceed with the mission with peace of mind? The milk was already spilled. Getting back up to the surface was a problem in itself, and the security of the slums was, at best, no better than a lawless criminal gang in the wasteland.
There was no way she could return home alone. He sighed and said.
“Follow me as carefully as possible.”
“Yes, yes!”
* * *
-Yeah, sorry. No matter how I think about it, that doesn’t seem right.
‘Of course. Putting everything else aside, the age difference between those two is too much.’
Around that time, two dark mages, who had a son with a twenty-year age gap with Aria, shook their heads as they discussed such matters.
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