The Age Of Arrogance

Then, Luka, who was listening next to him, excitedly added.

 

“Actually, to be precise, it’s ‘His Royal Highness’. Prince Carlyle has been stripped of his title as Crown Prince, you know.”

 

“Oh right, that’s true. I forgot.”

 

As Decker agreed, the people of Pervaz, who hadn’t yet heard the news of Carlyle’s dethronement, became agitated.

 

Everyone asked what had happened, but fearing the mood would worsen if he talked about Carlyle attempting to usurp his father’s mistress and being stripped of his title, Decker briefly condensed the long story.

 

“Well, there are complicated matters among those who live above the clouds.”

 

That explanation was enough. No one was interested in complex political talk.

 

Whatever the case, they had to put out the fire at their feet first.

 

“So we need to clean out the place where His Royal Highness will be staying! It will take about a month for him to arrive, so let’s work hard!”

 

Thanks to Decker’s encouragement, the people of Pervaz Castle began cleaning the castle together. Having lived through hardships for a long time, they were better at uniting than anyone.

 

Watching them, Decker thought of his friend who had passed away first.

 

‘Vincent. How can I protect your younger sister Asha? If you’re looking down from heaven, please help me. No, help Asha.’

 

When they were fighting the Luire tribe, everything was clear. All they had to do was fight and slaughter the Luire bastards together with the people of the Pervaz family.

 

But now, it was difficult to distinguish who was enemy and who was friend.

 

“Is His Royal Highness really on our side? Won’t Asha be in danger because of him?”

 

Feeling inexplicably anxious, Decker clenched his empty fists tightly.

 

***

“From our birth to our growth and even to our death, there is no place where the grace of Libato does not reach. Our only task is to ponder the words of God and follow His will…”

 

As if the sunlight streamed through a large glass window, the young man’s voice filled the white church with a lonely resonance. The piety of those who filled the church heightened further, feeling as if they were in heaven for this moment.

 

“Now, let us conclude today’s prayer by blessing each and every one of you.”

 

Gabriel, the young High Priest who led the prayer, dipped a feather quill in incense and waved it over the forehead of each worshiper who lined up one by one. This alone deeply touched the hearts of the worshipers, causing them to bow their heads. All of them were powerful figures within their houses.

 

And only when he reached the last worshiper did Gabriel’s blessing stop.

 

“The noble ones have arrived.”

 

“How could there be anyone in this church more noble than the High Priest?”

 

The woman who accompanied the man who looked like her son hid her face behind a tightly woven white veil and bowed humbly, but Gabriel offered her a hand kiss, something he wouldn’t do even for high-ranking nobles.

 

“May God’s protection be with the Imperial Family. I greet the Mother of the Empire.”

 

Beatrice looked down with satisfaction as the mysterious silver-haired High Priest took her hand and kissed it lightly.

 

Gabriel asked, his dark blue eyes shining between his long silver hair that flowed down like a waterfall.

 

“It has been a while since I have seen you, Your Majesty. How have you been?”

 

“Thanks to the High Priest, I have been doing very well. In fact, I came to talk about that. Would it be alright if I took up your time?”

 

“It would be my honor. I would be happy to oblige.”

 

He led Beatrice and Matthias to a corridor inside the temple. With a single gesture from him, the temple knights stood guard at both ends of the corridor, ensuring that not even a single mouse could peep while they finished their conversation.

 

“Here, only God can hear our conversation. Speak freely.”

 

Bathed in the brilliant sunlight, Gabriel standing in the corridor overlooking a serene garden truly looked like an archangel sent by God. Every time she saw him, Beatrice felt her faith soar.

 

“The High Priest once told me, didn’t you? That the future of our empire will be dark if Carlyle becomes Emperor.”

 

“That thought remains unchanged. And speaking of which, I recently heard some very fortunate news.”

 

Beatrice, seeing the beautifully painted smile on Gabriel’s face, tried not to show her excitement too much and nodded.

 

“It was all thanks to the High Priest. Without the High Priest, how could I have flushed out all the rats hiding in my palace?”

 

She hadn’t known that there were so many spies for Carlyle in her palace, so she had actually suspected Gabriel at first.

 

However, their disappearance truly decreased the number of incidents that troubled her and Matthias. Thanks to this, they also succeeded in stripping Carlyle of his crown prince title.

 

“However, His Majesty the Emperor granted Carlyle a three-year grace period, leaving the possibility of his reinstatement open. If things remain as they are, nothing will change, right?”

 

“Hmm…”

 

“Since he was young, Carlyle has committed countless acts of slaughter and even belittles his own father If such a person were to hold power…”

 

Just imagining it made Beatrice shudder with horror.

 

Observing her story, Gabriel held the “Tree of Wisdom” pendant on his chest and said,

 

“Indeed, the lives of the imperial people are moving further away from the word of God with each passing day. This is a great concern.”

 

People now believed in money more than God, and they looked up to those with more money than priests.

 

Although the state religion of the Chad Empire remained the Elahe religion, the number of believers coming to temples was decreasing year by year, and various superstitions and sorcery forbidden by the Elahe religion were rampant, not only among the lower classes but also in the aristocratic society.

 

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. Additionally, Carlyle, who should lead the empire on the right path, is instead taking the lead in disobeying the word of God…”

 

“Someone born with the blessing of God shouldn’t behave like that… It is truly a shame and a source of immense sadness.”

 

Gabriel, remembering Carlyle’s arrogant attitude despite being born with an oracle after two hundred years, slightly furrowed his beautiful eyebrows.

 

Then, Beatrice approached him one step closer.

 

“High Priest Gabriel! It is those like you who must rise up and stand tall. Please support me and Matthias.”

 

Gabriel lowered his eyelashes, seemingly embarrassed by Beatrice’s public request for support.

 

“I would also like to help, but to be honest, I am not sure if the future of the empire that you envision aligns with that of the Elahe religion…”

 

“Matthias and I are different from Carlyle. We deeply agree with the ‘Holy Empire’ story you mentioned before.”

 

In an instant, Gabriel’s eyes sparkled.

 

“Is that true?”

 

“You know I’m from the Levline Count family, right?”

 

The Levline Count family, like Gabriel’s Knox Count family, produced many priests. In fact, it was thanks to this that Beatrice became close to Gabriel.

 

She tried to definitively sway Gabriel’s heart.

 

“Matthias and I also believe that our empire should be governed by the laws of God. That is the only way the Chad Empire can be different from the surrounding barbarian nations!”

 

Only then did a beautiful smile begin to grace Gabriel’s delicate lips.

 

“To think that there are those in the imperial family who are concerned about the future of the empire… What a fortunate thing… May the blessing of Libato be upon you.”

 

Emboldened by his words, Beatrice urged Gabriel again with determination.

 

“Please help us, so that the Chad Empire can be reborn as a nation of God, and so that the bloodstained Carlyle does not plunge this country into the abyss of demons.”

 

Gabriel stared at the garden for a long time with a conflicted expression before sighing softly and nodding.

 

“I have been cautious until now because of His Holiness the Pope’s words that religion should not interfere with politics, but I cannot help but be encouraged by Your Majesty the Empress’ words about making the Chad Empire a nation of God.”

 

“High Priest…”

 

“However, there is one thing I need you to promise me for sure.”

 

Gabriel turned to Matthias this time. The sun shone behind him, casting a dark shadow on his face.

 

“When Your Highness Matthias ascends to the throne, you must change the name of the empire to the ‘Chad Holy Empire’ and rule according to the laws of Elahe.”

 

“Oh, I promise.”

 

Matthias answered, glancing at Beatrice.

 

He had no idea what it meant to change the law, but Beatrice, who had been studying religious law since childhood, knew very well.

 

There were many ideal rules, but women’s rights regressed, people had to pay offerings regardless of how much they earned, were forced to worship, and the love of certain people was denied, and there were many other suffocating things.

 

However, it didn’t matter.

 

It wasn’t just her own business, and she too believed that the current empire was overflowing with evil.

 

‘There are so many women who are not ashamed to be the mistress of a married man. Ugh.’

 

Beatrice gritted her teeth, thinking of Viviana, who still enjoyed the Emperor’s favor.

 

The most absurd thing that happened after Carlyle was stripped of his crown prince title was Viviana claiming to be pregnant with the Emperor’s child.

 

Before, when Carlyle’s position was secure, Viviana had no intention of having a child, but after Beatrice’s intervention made the crown prince position vacant, it seemed she became greedy.

 

“But according to the laws of Elahe, all adulterers are sinners…”

 

Beatrice vowed that if Matthias became Emperor, women like Viviana would all be stoned to death.

 

However, Gabriel’s request didn’t end there.

* * * *

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