134. I Have No Conscience to Call It a Coincidence
Karl stepped forward and carefully traced the sign of the cross before offering his prayer.
Seated in the front row, thanks to the Pope’s consideration, were Selena and her grandfather Roem. Selena had a rough idea of what prayer Karl was offering.
*We family, my friends… I will pray for peace and well-being for all in the Empire. Ah, of course including Selena and her family as well.*
It was an incredibly surprising turn of events. The Great Feast of All Saints. On the Church’s grand festival day, the Pope himself was leading the prayers.
To offer prayers for everyone present, including himself, how could anyone not feel joy?
Karl continued with a faint smile, adding one more thing.
*Oh, sister. So the Crown Princess has conceived. Our nephew. Our prince, our future Emperor—please let him come to us healthy. I’ll make that a request too. Ah, and according to the Crown Prince’s request, if the beautiful girl who comes out is even better.*
He had heard the news just before arriving at the Holy See. The Empire’s Crown Princess had finally conceived.
The Emperor had burst into great joy at the news and even announced a general pardon across the land.
To receive such a personal request from the Crown Prince in the middle of that—despite being the Crown Princess’s brother—proved how highly Karl was trusted.
It was truly a Karl-like prayer. Thinking of others first, not himself.
Not hypocrisy, not for honor or some greater cause. Nor excessive self-sacrifice. It was simply, as Karl himself would say, ordinary. Yet it was the appearance of a man who was a hero.
An ordinary returning student. An ordinary person. And an ordinary hero. That was why Selena liked Karl.
He was not someone chasing light or climbing high. But that very sight was the most sparkling and most noble of all.
From Karl’s side, she wanted to be like that too. She wanted to watch, admire, and cheer him on from the sidelines.
“Aaaah!”
“Ah…”
Huh? Suddenly screams erupted from all around. Selena glanced sideways.
The reactions were strange. The people in the Holy See, who had been quietly praying until now, suddenly clasped their hands tightly, tears glistening in their eyes.
Selena quickly turned to her grandfather Roem to tell him what was happening.
But she soon stopped.
“…!”
Her grandfather was already shedding tears from both eyes. His mouth formed sounds of lament or exclamation, hands clasped tightly in overwhelming emotion.
What in the world was going on? Why were they all reacting like this? Thinking that, Selena shifted her gaze forward. And immediately afterward, she showed the same reaction as her grandfather.
Even though this was clearly an indoor space, the light streaming through the windows was blinding.
It felt as if every ray of light in the world, every beam of sunlight from the day, had converged here today.
So dazzling that it seemed to create heat haze.
“God’s will…”
“God’s will…”
“God is looking down upon this place…”
Whether fortunate or unfortunate, Karl seemed unaware of the change. It had started as a request, but now he was praying more earnestly than anyone else.
And right now, some being was answering his prayer.
“God’s will… God’s will…”
To not spoil this sacred scene, the Pope, the cardinals, the priests, Roem and Selena, and the four people standing opposite all desperately suppressed their voices.
So as not to disturb Karl’s prayer. So that the great being who answered would not frown. They all held themselves back with all their might.
Of course, Karl was not so dull as to miss the change.
“…Hmm?”
Feeling something off, Karl opened his eyes and glanced back. And realized.
The room had been brightly lit for the prayer meeting, yet now it felt strangely dark.
And the feeling was not just that—the unbelievable light was pouring down on him.
At the same time, everyone behind him was staring at him without missing a single one.
“No, this is—”
Startled, Karl stood up. The lights scattered to their own paths as if nothing had happened.
What remained was a slightly warmer temperature than usual and exclamations coming from all directions.
“Karl.”
In this situation, the Pope could not have been different from the others. He approached Karl with a trembling voice, legs as if about to give out.
“Um… Your Holiness. The thing just now was… really, coincidence… coincidence… Ah, no. Your Holiness.”
Coincidence? How could it be. Even so, suddenly light pouring only on himself?
Perhaps the priests here were all kneeling and saying something about God’s guidance, Karl was seriously worried.
“If it doesn’t bother you, I would like to ask what prayer you offered to God just now.”
“No bother at all, Your Holiness. I simply… really simply… prayed for my family and friends. More than that, for the Empire to be peaceful and strong.”
Naturally, and somewhat formal. Karl took a breath and continued.
“And as you already know, recently the Empress of the Empire has conceived. The prince who will shoulder the Empire’s future and, personally, my nephew. I also requested that you look kindly upon this small life.”
This was honestly a bit embarrassing. Already calling his nephew an idiot uncle.
Whether the Pope, cardinals, or priests would laugh, but fortunately (or unfortunately), no one laughed at Karl’s words.
“Is that all you said?”
The Pope’s voice carried faint doubt.
It did not seem to end there. There seemed to be something still unsaid. The Pope’s eyes and tone were asking exactly that.
Karl looked at the Pope for a moment, showed hesitation, then cautiously opened his mouth.
“Actually… I made one more request.”
“A request?”
“Yes. Your Holiness. That my comrades please be at peace. All the miracles that have happened to me so far, I thought they were just passing through for a while. Now this youngest one can live well alone. So… please let him sleep peacefully.”
Then the Pope finally understood. All doubts cleared. He took both of Karl’s hands.
*
Today was just another ordinary day. Chaotic work waves. Endless documents pouring in without a moment’s rest.
But I could endure it. I could hold on. I just wanted to finish everything and rush to the Crown Princess’s side.
“Ricata!”
Finally finishing today’s work and entering the palace, Ricata welcomed me.
The same as always. But now I was not alone. Inside her was me and our child. A healthy, wise prince who would one day inherit this Empire.
“You worked hard today too, Your Highness.”
“It’s nothing. Just thinking of Ricata and our child gives me strength.”
“He’s still not properly grown yet.”
“What does that matter? Soon he’ll grow big and come out in front of father and mother.”
If the Emperor and Empress had seen this, they would have scolded me to maintain dignity.
But what could I do? I felt so happy, as if I could fly. The woman I had cherished all this time was my wife, and next year—personally the fruit of love, and in a larger sense, the Empire’s prince would be born!
In this situation, how could each day not be joyful? I could even have God punish me.
No, I would beg for punishment because I could not overcome my own conscience’s guilt.
Tap-tap—
I was about to tell Ricata about the day’s events when a slightly unpleasant voice interrupted.
“Your Highness. A moment.”
It was the chamberlain. By the way, I did not dislike him at all. It was just that every time he arrived, new work came with him. That fact was the only thing that bothered me.
This would not do. I had wanted to spend tonight with Ricata. What had happened now?
“Enter.”
The door opened and the chamberlain bowed. He seemed to know his own apology, his face full of embarrassment.
“Yeah. Another urgent matter?”
“Th-that. Actually, an urgent report came from the Holy See earlier.”
“…From the Holy See?”
Holy See. Holy See. Wait. What was there now was Karl—
“Has something happened to Karl?!”
“Ricata, Ricata. Calm down. Calm.”
“But!”
I gestured to the chamberlain to tell me more. If I hesitated here, Ricata would immediately head to the Holy See.
“Yes, Your Highness. According to the news from the Holy See… so. It says that God personally answered the prayer of Friedrich Count’s eldest son, Karl Adelheit.”
“…Huh?”
Wait. What was this news?
“Right now the Holy See is in uproar because of this. The reaction of being deeply moved by this sacred event during the Great Feast of All Saints. And… this is really an unexpected development.”
The chamberlain said that, then suddenly smiled. What content made the chamberlain smile like that?
“Until the prince is safely born. From now on, the Holy See will personally hold prayer meetings every week… to convey that meaning.”