“Your Majesty the Emperor, unless you are joking, are our ears playing tricks on us? If even you cannot protect Imperial Princess Tracy, then who can?”
Idledra felt the powerful Mana radiating from Augustin’s side.
It wasn’t so much that the sword itself was emitting Mana, but rather that this Emperor had bestowed a formidable power upon the blade.
As a monarch of the Empire whose status, reputation, and personal strength were above 10,000 people, if even he was helpless, could two weak girls like her and Hailey really accomplish anything?
This was simply asking too much.
However, she seemed even more eager to hear the answer from the man before her.
Hailey also looked at Augustin with curiosity.
After all, she had no idea what their combat standards were; she only knew that she had recently transformed from a defenseless person into an ordinary one who could barely use Mana to fight…
Of course, compared to that damned old man, the Pope, she might as well be nothing.
“I know you two are confused, but this is something I must ask of you. It is also a promise I made to her mother,” Augustin said after a moment of silence, beginning to tell the story…
Even as the ruler of the Empire, Augustin could not dominate every aspect of it.
The Empire was built upon different tracks, supported by Noble families of all sizes who jointly constructed its foundation.
The Carter Family was an indispensable part of the Empire’s structure.
As a junior of the Carter Family and the daughter of Marquis Carter’s eldest daughter, Tracy’s position in the Empire should have been unshakable.
To put it in more exaggerated terms, if Tracy’s mother had not refused to let her join the struggle for the Imperial Succession, Tracy might have very well surpassed her worthless brothers.
At least, that was true for the second and third princes; as for the First Imperial Prince, it was hard to say.
“But if the Empress said that, how could anyone still find the Imperial Princess a threat? Isn’t that just looking for trouble?”
The Emperor nodded, but as the saying goes, possessing a treasure is a crime in itself.
Although the Carter Family had declared they would never join any faction, their influence as Imperial relatives made them invaluable in the eyes of the various princes and the forces behind them.
“Coercion, temptation, provocation, induction… if you cannot sway a stubborn old Marquis to join your side, your greatest fear is naturally that others will succeed. So…”
Augustin did not need to say the rest; the answer was self-evident.
If they couldn’t have it, they would destroy it completely.
To ensure no one else got the chance to be supported by the Carter Family, certain ill-intentioned individuals began to set their sights on the youngest, Tracy.
“Kidnapping, poisoning, assassination… most of what little Tracy suffered was intercepted by Marquis Carter and me, but it still couldn’t stop the soaring ambitions of some… even if it meant using children.”
Augustin suddenly mentioned Adost.
This was the son who made him afraid, yet he had to admit Adost was the one who resembled him most.
Just as he appeared now, Adost played the role of Tracy’s ‘perfect big brother.’
“However, the brainwashing by the First Imperial Concubine and her family caused that child’s attitude toward his younger sister to waver, leading to a tragedy. Perhaps Marquis Carter has already told you about it.”
He was likely referring to the incident where the First Imperial Prince had tricked Tracy into the water during her birthday party.
“In short, my meaning has been conveyed. This is also my wife’s wish. She hopes to find a pure land for Tracy that won’t be discovered by those with malicious intent. That is why I found you, Saintess Idledra. Although I do not trust the Holy See much, as a Saintess, whether in the words of the people or through my own observations, you are so holy.”
According to the Emperor’s words, did that mean that while she was praying in the Church, the old Emperor was secretly hiding in the crowd?
Hailey laughed awkwardly, but she felt a cold sweat running down her back.
When she thought about how she occasionally complained about nonsense to the followers—among whom the Emperor might have been—she began to panic.
‘I should start worrying about being arrested for leaving the house with my left foot first.’
“Enough, Your Majesty. Why should we agree to this and take on the hostility and threats that don’t belong to us for the sake of that little Imperial Princess? We aren’t scapegoats.”
Idledra was the first to raise a doubt, startling Hailey beside her.
“Ah, haha… Your Majesty, my bodyguard might be a bit excited. Please don’t misunderstand, it’s just that this matter is indeed a bit troublesome… Auntie, he’s the Emperor! What if he gets angry and calls the soldiers outside to chop us both up? I don’t want to be the one burying you… even though your hair is black now.”
Hailey gently tugged at Idledra’s sleeve, signaling her not to be too agitated.
If they provoked him, they were still on his territory.
“It is fine. Since I have made such an unreasonable request, I naturally intend to give you a satisfactory answer. If I am not mistaken, you are actually at odds with the Pope, right?”
As his scrutinizing eyes searched them, Idledra gave a reluctant snort and swung her hand to shatter the Blessed Vase sent by the Holy See.
A thick black mist flowed out from within; one didn’t even need to think to know whose handiwork it was.
Pope Issar loved to flaunt his little tricks everywhere.
Every time he appeared with an impeccable fake smile, every movement and every gift he offered felt as if it were poisoned.
“A strange thing has been listening to your words this whole time. Aren’t you afraid that after today, the Holy See will turn against you directly?”
The Emperor looked at Idledra’s still-hostile gaze and understood.
He lightly drew his sword from its scabbard, and the black mist that was slowly drifting away was instantly swallowed by a surge of cyan flames.
“If they dare to spy on me, let them do so.”
The blade shimmered with a bluish-white luster, as if it had lightly wiped away some insignificant dust.
The Emperor merely frowned slightly before sliding the sword back into its sheath.
“I have fulfilled my responsibility. As for what comes next, I ask you two to consider it carefully. Of course, I will not expose your secrets. If the situation requires it, I can even acknowledge on behalf of the Holy See…”
“Acknowledge what?”
Hailey asked timidly, playing it safe.
Both Idledra and Hailey perceived the unfathomable depth of the man before them, and they also vaguely guessed what he was about to say.
“The Empire will announce to all its citizens that the Holy See possesses two equally sacred…”