Chapter 154
Chapter: 154
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 154
>Chapter Title: Birthday Banquet (3)
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>Leonard’s immediate approach to the prince had been a calculated move to a certain extent.
>Since Prince Mores was infamous as a hopeless playboy, he figured it would be relatively easy to get close. Moreover, as Amelia’s partner for the occasion, chatting with him would naturally pave the way to the princess. That was the plan.
>But bringing up the Dark Church right away had been an impulsive decision.
>And for good reason—when Leonard approached, the prince was glaring sullenly at the Orthodox priests.
>“He really does harbor resentment toward the Orthodox Church!”
>Before coming here, Romain had told him as much.
—He is one who effectively conceals his true nature, and one day, he will bare his sharpest fangs against the Empire.
His prediction had been spot on.
>Coming to that conclusion, Leonard unwittingly relaxed. It was probably a backlash from the tension he’d been carrying since entering the palace.
>“Bethelah.”
>Of course, he inwardly winced right after saying the greeting.
>“……”
>But to his surprise, Prince Mores stared at him blankly without any sign of shock upon hearing it!
>It was clear he had anticipated someone from the Dark Church approaching him and prepared accordingly.
>“If he’s hiding his identity, maybe it really is true…”
>Meanwhile, Seongjin’s mind was a bit different from Leonard’s expectations.
>“What’s with this guy? Bee-el… what?”
>After the Holy Emperor had completely driven the Dark Church out of Delcross, the Orthodox Church had exerted every effort to erase all traces of heresy from scriptures and records.
>As a result, few people nowadays—unless they were elderly or deeply versed in theology—knew the old greetings of that underground cult.
>Naturally, Seongjin, who had zero connection to theology, had no clue.
>He felt puzzled for a moment, but seeing the man’s face, he seemed convinced Seongjin had understood the greeting.
>“Hmm…”
>What was it? Seeing that smug face made his blood boil for some reason.
>He suddenly felt an urge to play along.
>[He said Bethelah. It might be some kind of secret code.]
>Noticing Seongjin’s sly curl of the lip, the Demon King helpfully pointed it out again.
>“Bethelah.”
>Managing his expression, Seongjin echoed it back. It was an uncommon phrase, but surely the response wasn’t some different code word.
>And he was right. A visible wave of relief passed over the man’s face.
>“But who might you be?”
>To be invited to the Birthday Banquet, he must be a high-ranking official. Maybe even famous. It wasn’t impossible he knew Mores personally.
>Well, his reputation as a playboy was already notorious. He’d probably overlook a bit of rudeness.
>Now fully at ease, the man pressed his forehead and let out a hearty laugh.
>“Ah, my apologies. How rude of me! I got distracted by something trivial and forgot my manners!”
>Good thing they weren’t old acquaintances.
>With a flashy gesture, he swept back his hair and extended a hand toward Seongjin.
>“Leonard of Rohan. As you probably know.”
>“……”
>Of course, Seongjin knew the names of major kingdoms’ royalty. He’d crammed some etiquette lessons from his tutor ahead of the banquet.
>But.
>“We’ve crossed paths at Birthday Banquets every year, but this is probably our first time exchanging greetings like this. You’ve changed so much from last year that I almost didn’t recognize you.”
>What was with this sparrow of a man?
>The more he talked, the more irritating he became.
>“Mores. As you probably know.”
>Seongjin shook his hand and continued.
>“So, what’s this about? It’s a bit sudden.”
>“Nothing major. I figured you’d guessed as much, but I have a slight connection to them, so I thought I’d pass along some news. Do you know? Your forgotten brethren await your command eagerly.”
>Seongjin’s lip twitched.
>Hmm. The weird greeting, the cautious demeanor—it all reeked of something shady.
>‘Last time I played along out of nowhere and accidentally wrecked the Heresy Tribunal…’
>But what now? He really wanted to play along this time!
>Seongjin dramatically glanced around before lowering his voice.
>“As you can see, given the setting, I hope you understand my need for discretion.”
>He’d said “brethren.” The scale was unclear, but it hinted at some shadowy group operating in the dark.
>Maybe even connected to the Gray Plague somehow.
>“I’d love to meet the brethren, but right now, I can barely leave the palace alone. Especially at a time like this.”
>“That makes sense. I understand.”
>As Leonard nodded, Seongjin continued softly.
>“So? If you’re passing on their news, you must have a way to resolve this, right? Can I hold out some hope?”
>“……”
>Leonard stared piercingly at Seongjin for a moment. Then, hesitantly, he made a proposal.
>“Then, how about meeting my friend? I think he could be a great help.”
>“Your friend?”
>“Yes. He has direct ties to your brethren. It might be tricky, but I’ll try to arrange a meeting.”
>“Oh! Really?”
>“Of course, it would be a secret rendezvous outside the palace for security…”
>“The location doesn’t matter! I’d be truly grateful if you could.”
>And so Seongjin and Leonard exchanged smiles.
>Done! This was too easy!
>‘To so casually spill ties to a shady group—what a pushover!’
>‘See that, Romain? I made proper contact with the prince! Expect progress on the princess front too!’
>Hahaha.
>The two men, each lost in different thoughts, burst into satisfied laughter simultaneously.
>Meanwhile, Amelia, who had been greeting the empress and consorts before returning, stopped in her tracks at the unexpected sight awaiting her.
>‘Leonard…!’
>That irredeemable enemy she could never forget even in her dreams was standing before her brother, grinning innocently!
>Amelia bit her lip.
>She had known she’d encounter Leonard at the Birthday Banquet. That’s why she’d been mentally preparing all this time.
>But facing him now made all her preparations meaningless—her hands and feet turned ice-cold, her whole body trembling in an instant.
>It was a fear etched deep into her unconscious over a long time.
>—Keep your eyes wide open and watch closely, Amelia. Your poor maid is suffering this pain in your place.
>Peeling off Mirabel’s skin, searing her flesh, and shoving it before her eyes one by one.
>—Hmm? Why aren’t you crying anymore? Tell me. What more do I need to show you?
>Tilting his head curiously, looking genuinely puzzled and dissatisfied.
>—If they’re so precious to you, what choice do I have? I’ll have to send them along. But I won’t let them go unharmed.
>Plunging a dagger into her chest without hesitation before Mores’s eyes.
>‘I…’
>Her body began to shake like a leaf.
>‘What have I…’
>Just then, Mores noticed her presence and turned to look.
>His bright gray eyes held only her.
>“Sister?”
>‘Mores!’
>In that moment, her mind cleared slowly, like clouds parting.
>He had said it to her once.
>—Just imagine him on his knees, begging you, nose bleeding. I guarantee you won’t feel down.
>Guiding her when she had lost all purpose in life.
>—True revenge, sister, isn’t just enduring a process until it bears fruit.
>That utterly fearless, carefree voice in a world full of terrors.
>—Retaliation from him? What’s there to worry about? Your father is the empire’s greatest backer.
>Yes, you’re right, Mores.
>I truly, with all my heart and strength, without a shred of doubt, desperately wish for revenge against him—for you, for our family.
>Repeating that to herself, peace settled over her heart as if by magic.
>Click-clack.
>Amelia slowly approached the two.
>Toward the one she loved more than anyone, whom she vowed to protect no matter what.
>And toward the one she hated more than anyone, whose utter destruction she craved from the depths of her soul.
>With her composure restored, things she hadn’t noticed before came into view.
>The sleazy young man’s true nature, desperately rolling his eyes to strike up a conversation with her.
>‘…Was he always like this?’
>To the eyes of a queen who had rolled through Rohan’s filthy high society for years, Leonard was just an immature greenhorn.
>‘To think I fell for his tricks so easily…’
>Rage surged within her.
>Not toward Leonard, but toward her own foolish self.
>“Excuse me…”
>But just as Leonard opened his mouth toward her.
>Mores, who had been glancing between them, turned his back on Leonard and extended a hand to Amelia.
>“The music has changed, sister. Didn’t we agree to dance the first song together?”
>His stance, completely blocking Leonard, made his intent to cut off the intrusion crystal clear.
>Amelia blinked.
>This seemingly carefree boy occasionally showed astonishing perceptiveness in odd places.
>“Yes, let’s. Mores.”
>The man had no choice but to seek her out anyway, so standing him up once wouldn’t derail her revenge.
>Flashing a radiant smile at the dumbfounded Leonard, Amelia firmly took her brother’s hand and headed to the center of the banquet hall.
>Soon, the hall’s most dazzling pair began dancing under the crowd’s gaze.
>Enchanted, no one could tear their eyes from the beautiful siblings gliding like flowing water to the elegant melody.
>And another couple drew attention for different reasons.
>The little saintess, dangling cutely from the sturdy youth’s arm, stepping daintily with her tiny feet, was utterly adorable.
>But unlike her doll-like, impassive exterior, the young saintess’s little head swirled with complex thoughts.
>“Is something troubling you?”
>Orden asked softly, noticing she hadn’t focused at all.
>Sisle let out a deep sigh and replied in a small voice.
>“Yes. Actually, Brother Mores gave me some advice. He said instead of just doing simple charity work, I should try helping with the knight order alongside Brother Logan. It makes sense, so I think I’ll do it, but…”
>Knight order? What kind of sudden suggestion was that for a saintess?
>Unaware of the context, Orden just blinked in bewilderment.
>Leaning close to his ear, Sisle whispered.
>“This is a secret, Grand Prince Sigismund, but… I’m actually really scared of swords.”
>“Swords… you say?”
>“Yes. Swords are weapons meant to cut people, right? If a blade infused with aura strikes a vital point, most people would die instantly, wouldn’t they?”
>It was probably influenced by the Delcross chronicles she’d seen in her dream. In the end of volume two, her life had been snuffed out in one stroke by the Holy Emperor’s beloved sword, the Nutcracker.
>“Of course, I’m not belittling the holy knights who serve the Lord God. But when I imagine holding a sword myself, it terrifies me for some reason.”
>Orden couldn’t comprehend her worry at all.
>Why would she think she had to wield a sword just to work with the knight order?
>She was clearly misunderstanding something. She seemed so mature beyond her years, but she was still a child.
>Pondering deeply, Orden replied.
>“If using a sword is the issue, it’s not unsolvable. Aren’t there holy knight orders trained to avoid killing enemies with a single blow as much as possible?”
>“Huh? Where?”
>As Sisle’s eyes widened, Orden couldn’t help but smile faintly at her innocence.
>“The Saint Marthius Knight Order.”
>The Heresy Tribunal’s enforcers, the Saint Marthius Knights.
>Unlike other holy knight orders that trained in imperial standard swordsmanship, they primarily used blunt weapons like maces and flails. They called themselves the “Lord God’s Iron Mallet,” and that “Iron Mallet” was more than just a metaphor.
>—All sinners have a chance at redemption, so we shall give them the opportunity to repent!
>The inquisitors of the Saint Marthius Knight Order would proclaim this while swinging their iron mallets.
>Of course, the reality was they aimed to subdue demon worshippers alive for torture by the Heresy Tribunal.
>No need to tell the little saintess that much.
>“Saint Marthius Knight Order…”
>Sisle’s eyes shone with grave determination, as if she’d made up her mind.
>Orden tilted his head briefly but soon shrugged it off. He had no idea what was brewing in the little saintess’s mind.
>‘Right. Hit them with a mallet so they don’t die, then heal them later!’
>He probably should have asked for more details then.
>Who could have guessed that his words today would one day birth a terrifying holy warrior who swung a viciously spiked flail, smashing people just short of killing them?