When the announcement echoed through the chamber attached to the ballroom, a ripple of movement swept through the assembly. Some rose from their seats out of respect, others out of skepticism, but an uneasy silence lingered in the air. The ballroom, dimly lit by the flicker of golden chandeliers, held its collective breath, the rich scent of wine and perfume mingling with the tension.

The empire and church never interfered with each other, not caring about any of the events held by the other. It was like both of them were doing well in their own places. So why did the church suddenly send people on this occasion?

Murmurs of speculation rose from the crowd on the ground floor.

“Who would it be? Did they send some archbishops? Or maybe the Cardinal?” Someone raised a question.

With everyone’s eyes fixed on the entrance, no one had the luxury to look at the person asking the question, so people just replied one after another.

“We can’t be sure who’s coming, but isn’t it strange for them to come today?” Another person chimed in, her voice laced with suspicion.

It was still vivid in the memories of people of the empire—the incident that had strained the relationship between the empire and the church more than before.

They could still remember how one of the church’s members was proven to be a member of the dark church—a devil worshiper.

That incident was proven to be the church’s fault and resulted in the church giving up some of its authority, which resulted in a significant decrease in its influence.

Since then, the church and the empire have been at odds. Neither interfered with the other’s actions unless and until they found the other to be wrong. It was to a point that even the smallest fault the church could find against the empire was used to sully the empire’s image and vice versa.

But something different was happening. The people from the church were coming to the birthday celebration of the same person whose awakening ceremony was destroyed by one of them. Even if that person was a part of the dark church, the one at fault was the holy church.

“What do you mean strange, huh? Do you guys think that the church is evil or something? Why do you think that the church would repeat the same mistake again?”

A pro-church faction’s noble spoke up right then, defending the church and breaking other pro-church nobles out of their reverie.

“Yeah, last time was a mistake. Why are you all making the church look evil here?”

Murmurs grew heated with that, people finally turning at each other. Glaring as they pointed at each other.

“I’m not making the church look bad. The church had always been like that.”

“Yeah? What proof do you have?”

“Did you forget the last incident?”

“Is that the only incident you can speak of? You label someone evil with just one incident—something that was not even in the church’s control?”

“Yeah, just the fact that the church took a step back was showing how generous and forgiving they were. Even if the incident wasn’t their fault, they still accepted the blame.”

The empire’s nobles had been divided into pro-church factions and empire loyalists since long ago. That didn’t change even after the incident two years ago—more like the conflict between those two factions increased, almost reaching a point where it seemed like war could break out anytime.

It was a situation where the only reason the war was being held off was the fear of being attacked by the other empires in the moment of weakness and the fear of grand dukes and duchess that supported the empire loyalist faction.

After being in such a situation for a long time, the church’s making a move wasn’t a good sign. The higher echelon of both factions—unlike the lower ones who were bickering with each other—were tensed precisely because of that.

This was the worst time to make a move, as the delegates from the neighboring empires were here.

Most of the people on the first floor, especially Maurice and Cassandra, had their eyes searching for Vanessa’s presence. The situation was already worse, but if Vanessa were to make a move—which she most probably would—then things might not be able to turn chaotic.

‘Wait! Was this the church’s intention?’ Maurice suddenly thought as his fists clenched in rage. Everyone in the empire knows how much Vanessa cares about Alex, including the church, yet, out of all the times they could choose, they chose this occasion to crash into. It was as if inviting the bull straight to themselves.

‘The church wants war…’ Maurice’s gaze grew solemn as he realized the intentions of the church. They wanted Vanessa to kill the ones they had sent, as the moment she did, the church will have a reason to turn the public on its side and wage war.

His gaze, along with other higher nobilities, desperately searched for any signs of Vanessa, only to fail as there was no sign of her anywhere.

“Go,” ordered Maurice silently, and the next second, shadows around the corner of the ballroom shifted as if nodding in agreement and moved to search for Vanessa.

It was then that the door of the chamber Alex was in got pushed open, revealing Alex, who started walking down the stairs without a word, making the ballroom go silent; even the murmurs ceased. The tension increased by folds as everyone grew shocked and bewildered by Alex’s actions.

But before anyone could react, from the other side of the door, footsteps were heard, followed by a voice filled with apologetic relief.

“Ah, my friend. You have my heartfelt apology for arriving this late, along with my best wishes on this merry occasion of you finally becoming an adult.”

The moment that voice was heard, the people from the church came into view, sending another wave of shock to everyone present.

“The Pope?!”

“And Cardinal Thomas?!”

Gasps filled with disbelief rose; people were unable to believe what they were seeing.

Vestian Holdstaffen, the revered Pope of the Drakathor Empire’s church, walked in with a gentle yet apologetic smile, his presence commanding and serene. Beside him, Cardinal Thomas—a man whose demeanor was more subdued, almost deferential. Unlike what people had thought, this was no mere delegation; this was the pinnacle of the church’s hierarchy.

From the lowest of the nobility to the emperor himself, none were spared of the shock. All of them just stood rooted in their spots as they saw Vestian Holdstaffen, the pope of the church, and Alex Drakathor, the rising star of the empire, exchanging a friendly hug.

Maurice, who was imagining different scenarios in his head, imagining some disposable pawns of the church to arrive to get killed, was shocked when he saw Vestian and Thomas, the main force of the church, coming here personally.

All of Maurice’s plans shattered as this situation was out of his calculation.

The surprise and stupefaction of the spectators only increased—gasps rose and the air stilled—as all of them saw Vanessa, the person who could turn the whole situation into a mess yet was nowhere to be seen until now appearing right behind Alex with her palm resting on the hilt of her rapier.

The tension reached an all-time high as everyone waited for Alex’s response, as that was pivotal in this situation, and soon they saw him smiling as he patted Vestain’s back.

“Better late than never, I guess,” Alex said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. Leaning in, he added in a whisper only Vestian could hear, “Tone down your acting a bit lest you make it seem forced.”

Vestian stiffened imperceptibly, but the smile never left his face. To the crowd, it was a moment of reconciliation, a gesture of goodwill that eased the room’s oppressive tension. Vanessa’s hand slipped from her rapier, her expression neutral and cold like always, but her eyes sharp and watchful.

Soon, Vestian distanced himself from Alex, still smiling as he waited for Alex to say something, making Alex sigh on the inside before he spoke.

“Come, let me reintroduce you to the pillars of the empire and the emperor of this great empire.”

With those words, along with Vanessa, Alex led Vestian and Thomas, who, out of fear, wasn’t even raising his head, to the first floor under the shocked gaze of the crowd, who could do nothing but stare at the things happening with a bewildered look.

‘Just what the hell is going on?!’

This was the only thing passing through the heads of each and every person present in the ballroom.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep