Chapter 57
Two Cardinals
I could roughly guess what he meant.
But I had no intention of letting it pass so easily.
“I understand the intent, Your Majesty. But must it be now—at a time when the state’s important event is only a few weeks away?”
I hadn’t even received the proper list of candidates yet for the duel between the magician and the awakened, scheduled for three weeks from now.
And I was the one who had to perform magic at the gate.
On top of that, there was the bombshell news that the envoy from the Holy Kingdom of Luseid was coming earlier than expected.
‘Dragging all that trouble here, and now this?’
When I snapped in displeasure, Kaishis pierced me with his ice-cold, beautiful blue eyes.
What? What now? Did I make a mistake?
“So you truly have forgotten, Duke.”
My heart sank.
I had forgotten far too many things.
“In two days’ time, the season of the Red Sun begins.”
I felt the blood drain from my face.
For Duke Ariel, the pillar of the Empire, that was a time one could never forget.
For just a few days each year, when the sun was at its highest point, the dangerous creation of gates mysteriously stopped for about four or five days.
The Holy Kingdom claimed that it was because the power of the sun, symbol of their god, reached its peak and suppressed the power of the gates.
‘Wow… and of course, the only things I remember are things like this.’
I masked my unease and nodded. The Emperor’s lips curved in a subtle smile.
“So, could there be a better time for a hunt?”
From the Emperor’s perspective, even the Holy Kingdom’s sudden decision to bring forward their visit might be grounds for suspicion.
‘So he might want to test the waters before they arrive.’
Not a bad decision.
I understood that much with my head.
But my eyes still lingered bitterly on the towering piles of paperwork I had yet to finish.
Kaishis followed my gaze, then twisted his lips into a wicked smile.
Wow. Even with such a handsome face, being able to smile in a way that makes you want to punch him—what a talent.
“What, do you dislike my visit that much?”
“Yes, I do.”
“……”
“Would I possibly enjoy it?”
My reply came without a second’s hesitation, and the Emperor’s smile faltered for a moment.
What, did I hurt your pride?
“No matter how poor relations between us may be, an Emperor’s official visit is usually an honor to a noble house.”
I snorted.
“That only applies to ordinary houses. I am the head of the magicians. As far as I know, not once in House Ariel’s history has His Majesty ever visited.”
“Is there another reason? Perhaps… your domain feels unfamiliar after such a long absence?”
“……”
“Surely not. A woman with such annoyingly good memory as you wouldn’t find her birthplace strange.”
“……”
Strange? It’s utterly strange!
I didn’t even know who was staying in Duke Ariel’s castle.
I knew less than I did about the man standing before me.
‘There was no such scene in the original story, so of course I never looked into details of the Ariel estate.’
As I sweated inwardly, the Emperor crossed his arms leisurely and studied me.
Damn, this man…
“What is it? If there’s a reason you can’t visit, then explain in detail.”
“……”
[Warning!
Your character’s identity is wavering!]
My vision spun.
If I insisted too strongly now, the Emperor would only suspect me more.
‘So I saved him, and now he wants my purse too?’
Should I just blurt it out?
Go by yourself. I’m not going!
Like that?
But the status window coaxed me instead, dropping a quest.
**[Territory Hunt Event Triggered!
The Emperor has requested you accompany him to your ducal estate.
Your decision will lead to minor branching.
But be careful.
Character Kaishis will scrutinize your answer.
Accept: Affection maintained
Refuse: Affection -100]**
“……”
Really? You’re pulling this?
What affection?
‘You won’t even show me the actual numbers, yet you’re using it like some dating sim system? If you’re going to give me quests, at least put in some effort!’
Still, refusing meant something dreadful would happen. It was a warning.
My head throbbed.
‘Damn it.’
I squeezed my eyes shut, then opened them again.
“Very well. We’ll depart in two days.”
“A wise decision, Duke.”
As I looked into the man’s quietly curving blue eyes, my heart ached.
‘That bastard…’
The Emperor was clearly suspicious of me.
And not in a good way.
In the Holy Kingdom of Luseid, where divine authority still reigned supreme, there were five Cardinals beneath the Pope.
And among them, two were most beloved by the people.
One was Cardinal Serwyn, a man said to possess the last fragment of God himself, radiating immense holy power.
The other was the man now kneeling in the prayer chamber, murmuring scripture—Cardinal Hanuel.
With his soft sky-blue hair and mysterious silver eyes, Hanuel was praised for his beauty by many followers.
His saintly appearance, combined with his ascetic, gentle nature, priestly dignity, and broad shoulders, made him deeply admired.
He had renounced his noble title upon joining the temple, yet remained the king’s nephew and fifth in line to the throne.
It was then that his quiet prayer was interrupted.
Footsteps echoed. A man entered the chamber without hesitation and stood before Hanuel.
“Hanuel, I hear you’ve volunteered to join the royal envoy this time?”
Hanuel lifted his eyes, smiling serenely at the man before him.
“Cardinal Serwyn.”
Glossy dark hair, pale skin.
A man with the radiant beauty of an angel in a holy painting.
The mole by his eye lent him a strangely sensual air. His lips, vividly red, curled in a mischievous smile as he licked them.
“Hanuel. You, of all people—the stuffy man famous for never leaving the holy grounds—made quite the bold choice.”
“The balance of power between gates and the awakened is an intriguing matter, is it not? I could hardly sit idly by.”
One was called the great fragment of God, still carrying His fading miracles.
The other, possessing not a shred of divine power, had risen to Cardinal through wisdom, virtue, and honesty.
The two did not get along very well.
Hanuel stood.
Inwardly, he clicked his tongue.
‘How could such a frivolous man be blessed with God’s miracle?’
But he showed no displeasure, only his gentle smile.
“I was surprised as well. To hear that you, Cardinal Serwyn, would join the envoy.”
“Ah.”
Serwyn’s eyes glinted oddly.
He swept his midnight hair back and asked languidly,
“What, is it strange for someone like me to attend such a dull affair?”
Hanuel stiffened slightly at the rude tone, but quickly relaxed his expression.
After all, this man never did follow the temple’s rules properly.
That such a man was adored as Cardinal and revered as God’s last fragment was something Hanuel simply could not approve of.
“I meant no such thing. You value freedom, and the journey to the Empire will not be easy.”
“That’s exactly why.”
“…Pardon?”
“That’s why I must go.”
Hanuel’s eyes widened at the smiling man.
But Serwyn had no more to say. With that, he rose to his feet.
It was a few days before the Holy Kingdom’s envoy set out.
