Chapter 60
As she arrived in Arserion, the rain stopped as if it had been a lie.””
Sunlight poured through the dense trees, and the clear sky greeted her warmly.
She was certain it had been the forest of the Kingdom of Brivent, but how could she have entered a completely different place in an instant?
She widened her eyes and scanned her surroundings. Between the thick woods, a towering white building came into view.
“So this is Arserion.”
Leticia couldn’t help but be amazed at the sight of the papal palace she had never seen before. Though she kept her admiration to herself, golden accents adorned the white structure, and massive walls encircled it, making it easy to ward off intruders.
Even if Arden discovered her whereabouts, it wouldn’t be easy for him to enter. It looked challenging even at first glance—how could even knights of the kingdom easily break through?
The knights of the Kingdom of Brivent were widely known for their skills, and Arden was a swordmaster himself. If they set their minds to it, they could raise an army and topple even these high walls with ease.
Leticia reached out and stroked the solid wall. If it were merely stone, it wouldn’t stand a chance against their strength. But this wall felt different—imbued with a power that seemed sacred.
““Is it really okay for me to stay here?””
She had nowhere else to go. If she returned home, the royal knights would surely capture her. Leticia took a cautious step forward.
As she stood in front of the main gate, the grandeur of it struck her even more. The golden iron gate was so heavy that it would take several people to open. It was bound with chains and had to be pulled from both sides to open with a deep, heavy noise.
To enter Arserion, they had to pass the walls and cross a long bridge. The canal below was so deep it seemed bottomless, shimmering with a dark blue hue, discouraging any attempt at intrusion.
Once she and the people of Arserion crossed the bridge, a loud sound rang out.
“Boom!”
The echo was imposing. Though they had crossed the bridge, yet another wall awaited them. Leticia slowly lifted her head, gazing at the endless height of the wall.
“It doesn’t look like escaping would be easy, either.” Once she set foot inside, it seemed inevitable she’d be trapped. But she had no other choice.
She felt like she stood at a crossroads, uncertain if this place would become a safe haven or a prison. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she gathered her skirt, feeling the damp fabric between her fingers. Though the dress had dried a bit under the sun, it was still damp.
“Are you all right? You don’t look well,” the pope remarked.
Leticia gave a faint smile and nodded. Though he seemed hesitant as if something was bothering him, he soon pressed his lips together.
“It’s just that this is my first time leaving the Kingdom of Brivent, so I’m a bit nervous. But you don’t need to worry.”
The pope stared at her quietly without saying anything more.
“Arserion leaves no room for vulnerability,” he finally said.
“Since the empire became our enemy, that’s only to be expected,” Leticia replied.
“Why did you turn your back on the emperor?”
“It would be better to discuss this inside.”
Beyond the inner wall, golden waves shimmered. The sunlight reflected off the metal bars, sending a warning glimmer. As they passed through another large iron gate, a breathtaking view unfolded before them.
A meticulously maintained garden stretched out, with a stream flowing through the center, giving the impression they had entered a different world.
Green trees were trimmed neatly, standing like fences on both sides, while grass and flowers swayed gently in the breeze. The white marble papal palace looked even more radiant in the sunlight. Butterflies fluttered around, busy circling the flowers.
The fortress-like stronghold had, in an instant, transformed into a warm, inviting space.
“Welcome to Arserion.”
“””Thank you for your help. But I wonder… is it really alright for me to stay here?”””
“You’re welcome to stay as long as you wish,” the pope responded warmly.
As they reached the entrance of the papal palace, several cardinals came out to greet the pope.
“We’ve been expecting you, Your Holiness.”
“We made the necessary preparations upon hearing about your arrival. Please come in, Your Majesty, Queen of Brivent.”
Leticia felt a bit overwhelmed by the cardinals’ warm reception. Though she had never met them before, they welcomed her with kindness. She smiled softly, relieved by their hospitality.
“This place feels warm. Perhaps it’s okay to lower my guard a little.”
She relaxed slightly and prepared to follow them when one of the cardinals who had come to escort her mumbled under his breath.
“If it’s going to cause trouble, it’s not too late to turn back.”
Leticia turned to look at him. His rough demeanor and piercing golden eyes didn’t match the typical image of a cardinal.
“Why does he seem so displeased?” Though she hadn’t expected to be welcomed warmly by everyone, she saw no reason for outright hostility—after all, there was no history of animosity between Brivent and the papal palace.
She didn’t feel any need to treat someone who was openly unfriendly toward her with kindness.
“What’s your name?” she asked.
“Eren. I am Eren Kis, the third cardinal of Arserion and one of the pope’s wings.”
“Eren Kis…” she repeated.
“You may call me Cardinal Eren.”
“You speak quite informally, Cardinal Eren. Unlike Cardinal Cavita, you don’t seem to care much for formalities.”
Eren scoffed. “Do you expect me to show respect to someone I’m not obligated to serve?”
“I’ve never asked for respect. I was merely speaking of basic courtesy.”
A tense atmosphere hung between them. Leticia didn’t appreciate Eren’s rudeness—after all, they were meeting for the first time.
It was only proper for people to treat each other with respect, at least at first. But Eren seemed to have no intention of being polite, and Leticia decided she wouldn’t waste her own politeness on him either.
“It seems we aren’t fond of each other. It would be best if we avoided crossing paths.”
“Funny, I was thinking the same thing,” Eren muttered.
“Eren, that’s enough,” the pope said, his voice calm but firm. “She is our guest, and you should treat her accordingly.”
“With all due respect, Your Holiness, I cannot accept that. I suggest we drop the matter.”
With a raised voice, Eren abruptly turned and walked off in another direction.
The pope smiled at Leticia, as if to ease the tension. “Don’t mind him. He’s been on edge lately, but he’ll come around in time.”
Leticia glanced at Eren’s retreating figure. He felt oddly familiar, but she dismissed the thought, assuming he possessed powers similar to Cardinal Cavita’s. For now, her priority wasn’t Eren—it was her own situation.
“Your Holiness, I…”
“You must be freezing with those wet clothes. Let’s get you changed and warmed up before we talk further. There’s no need to rush—you’re not leaving immediately, are you?”
As the pope spoke, priests dressed in white robes approached her.
“We will escort you,” one of them said.
Leticia took a step back, surprised by how many attendants had come—there were at least ten of them.
She hadn’t expected such elaborate hospitality, especially not as someone who was essentially a fugitive. Though she’d been welcomed as a guest, she felt more like an intruder whose presence might threaten Arserion.
Yet the priests showed no signs of concern and smiled warmly at her.
“Is there a problem, Your Majesty?”
“It’s nothing. I just feel a bit chilly… Please take me to my room.”
Composing herself, Leticia followed the priests into the palace.
As Leticia passed through the vast garden, she paused for a moment by a fountain, watching the streams of water burst into the air. The sunlight caught the spray, creating a rainbow suspended in midair. It felt surreal, as if she were standing in an imaginary place. She stood there in a daze until the sound of someone calling her name prompted her to continue walking.
Once in her room, Leticia allowed the attendants to assist her as she sank into the warm bath. She closed her eyes, immersing herself fully in the water, where all sound seemed to disappear. For a fleeting moment, she felt a deep desire to drift off and sleep forever.
“Ah…”
Her hand gently rested on her belly. She caressed it slowly, then rose from the water, inhaling deeply as fresh air filled her lungs.
“I’m sorry… I let my thoughts wander to dark places without realizing it.”
She brushed her damp hair back, gathering her thoughts. First, she needed to speak with the pope. She had to figure out where he stood before revealing the truth—that she wasn’t alone.
Leticia stepped out of the bath, lightly drying her wet hair with a towel, and slipped into a robe. Outside, an attendant was waiting to assist her in changing into the clothing that had been prepared.
“I apologize that we could only prepare a clerical robe,” the attendant said. “But I believe this will also suit Your Majesty’s comfort.”
“I understand.”
She knew they probably weren’t pleased to have an outsider in their midst, so she didn’t comment further. The simple robe was comfortable, practical, and allowed her to blend in with others easily—something she found useful.
Wrapping a cloak around her, Leticia followed the attendant as they guided her to where the pope awaited.
They soon arrived at the heart of the papal palace, a grand hall where light streamed down from above, filling the space with a radiant, sacred aura.
Leticia stepped cautiously into the space, and as she did, the eyes of everyone present turned toward her.
