Chapter 106
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Chapter 106
The Cardinal led Chesa and Belzeon to what appeared to be a reception room.
The reception room, covered in the Holy Empire's characteristic smooth white marble, felt cold and austere.
Though there were broad windows, curtains hung across them, obscuring the outside view and intensifying that frigid atmosphere.
The priests under the Cardinal's command stood like shadows along one wall.
Their condescending gazes irritated me deeply.
The Cardinal filled the teacup with hot water.
Upon examining the tea set arranged on the table, Belzeon openly furrowed his brows.
Strongly brewed black tea, large tea cakes, and forks and spoons far too big and heavy.
There was nothing suitable for a child to eat.
Whenever tea was served anywhere else, Chesa's portion always included warm milk specially heated, small tea cakes, and children's utensils prepared separately....
This Cardinal was being deliberately petty and spiteful.
The hostility emanating from the tea table left me speechless.
"...."
Belzeon exhaled softly, then cut the tea cake before him into small pieces and placed them on Chesa's plate.
At this deliberate act of caring for the neglected Chesa, the Cardinal's brows furrowed slightly.
However, the Cardinal soon smiled gently.
It was the kind of smile that suggested he would overlook such minor rudeness, which only infuriated Chesa and Belzeon further.
'But doesn't he have nothing to eat either?'
Chesa glanced at the child seated across from her.
The boy sitting beside the Cardinal had his hands folded doll-like upon his lap.
From the start, he showed no inclination to touch anything on the tea table.
Even from a distance, I had thought him frail.
Up close, he seemed not merely frail but genuinely troubled in some way.
A pallid complexion, skeletal arms barely visible beneath the loose folds of his oversized garments, and a dark expression.
His unchildlike, excessive obedience was grating.
There was an almost compulsive quality to the way he sat, barely breathing.
The boy had been stealing glances at Chesa the entire time.
Chesa stared at him directly, and when their eyes met, she glared at him with wide, fierce eyes.
'Don't get any ideas.'
Her intent came through clearly in her gaze, and the boy immediately drew in a sharp breath and lowered his head deeply.
While Chesa established dominance, the Cardinal finally spoke.
"I am called Miliod."
He gracefully brought the teacup to his lips while holding his voluminous sleeve with his other hand.
Miliod swallowed the tea silently and quietly, then spoke.
"I had hoped for an opportunity to converse with you."
No matter how much authority had been delegated to Belzeon as the next Count Basilian, allowing him to perform duties no different from an adult's.
He was still not yet of age.
Summoning such a young Belzeon along with the small Chesa for a private conversation could hardly appear in a favorable light.
Chesa regarded Miliod with sharp, piercing eyes.
Belzeon waited calmly for Miliod to continue.
"This child is...."
Miliod paused mid-sentence, casting a displeased glance at the boy beside him.
The moment the child felt the weight of attention, his small frame flinched.
Miliod placed his hand gently over the boy's small hand and resumed speaking.
"He possesses remarkable holy power. Strong enough that he could become a Holy Priest this very moment without any shortcoming."
Considering that his strength would only grow with age, he was certainly a talent worth boasting about.
Miliod regarded Chesa intently as he spoke.
"I believe he possesses the most fitting qualities for this Pure Child Prayer Ceremony, which seeks a sincere child."
"So, Your Eminence...."
Belzeon asked, careful not to let a crooked smile show through.
"You wish for Basilian not to participate in the Pure Child Prayer Ceremony?"
"No, well, it's not quite that extreme...."
Faced with such a direct question, Miliod's words trailed off ambiguously.
Yet the meaning he was trying to convey indirectly was ultimately the same as what Belzeon had pointed out.
Belzeon kept his lips firmly pressed together as he studied Miliod intently.
Had he thought that a little intimidation toward children would make them tremble in fear?
But rather than being frightened, when Belzeon precisely excavated and exposed his true intentions, Miliod couldn't hide his displeasure.
"I don't believe that sincerity is measured by holy power."
"That may be true, but...."
Miliod countered somewhat irritably as the conversation dragged on.
"It's difficult to call House Basilian a faithful family, wouldn't you say?"
"...."
Belzeon's eyes narrowed to thin slits.
It was an expression that bore a striking resemblance to the one Kieran wore when displeased.
Chesa chewed on the muffin piece Belzeon had cut for her, her thoughts wandering.
'So Basilian really is a strong favorite to win after all.'
For a Cardinal to resort to such transparent tactics spoke volumes.
While the power of a house certainly played a significant role, the attitude and conduct of the child participating in the ceremony were equally important.
That's why he had deliberately come here to dampen their spirits and seated Chesa as well.
But now his plans weren't breaking as he'd hoped.
'He's probably going to reveal something even more impressive now.'
Chesa watched Miliod's efforts with keen interest.
Miliod tapped the back of the boy's hand, who had been sitting silently until now.
The child's lips then parted slightly.
"...I am the ninth prince of the Hebaton Kingdom, Remil Lu Hebaton."
A small voice whispered forth.
The Hebaton Kingdom was a realm that shared borders with Hilderd and was known to be blessed by the divine.
This was because many children blessed with holy power were born there.
As a result, it maintained an exceptionally amicable relationship with Hilderd.
In the midst of all this, a prince with exceptionally potent holy power was born.
For the Hebaton Royal Family, it was truly cause for celebration.
Having received the Fairy Queen's crown through the Pure Child Prayer Ceremony, the Hebaton Royal Family wished to boast far and wide across the continent that they alone had been chosen by God.
"Since God has bestowed holy power upon me... I wish to become proof of His divinity."
Remil Lu Hebaton, speaking in measured tones, glanced sideways at Miliod.
At that, Miliod summoned the priest standing behind him.
Without hesitation, the priest extended his forearm and drew a dagger from his pocket, inflicting a shallow wound.
Blood welled up from his skin.
As crimson droplets fell steadily, Remil Lu Hebaton brought his hand to the priest's forearm.
A pale, sacred light spread softly across the wound.
It was the healing of a Holy Priest.
"Ah, O God...!"
The wound sealed itself without a trace in an instant.
Miliod's face filled with profound emotion at Remil Lu Hebaton's display of holy power.
The Holy Priest who had cut his own arm also wore an expression of awe.
...
Yet Belzeon and Chesa, who should have been startled and praising the miracle, remained unmoved.
This was hardly surprising—they had grown accustomed to watching Hailon lavish holy power without restraint.
When the expected reaction failed to materialize, Miliod let out a hollow cough.
Taking it as a signal to demonstrate another trick, Remil Lu Hebaton whispered with a pale face and cold sweat beading his brow.
"I can also infuse withered flowers with holy power and make them bloom anew."
The Holy Priest pulled the vase from the table toward Remil Lu Hebaton.
It was like watching a circus act—absurd and laughable.
Yet Chesa could not laugh.
Something was deeply wrong with Remil Lu Hebaton's condition.
And for some inexplicable, utterly strange reason...
'Why do I sense fairy power?'
From Remil Lu Hebaton, who wielded holy power, I detected the faintest trace of fairy essence.
There was no possibility that Remil Lu Hebaton, being male, could be a fairy.
All fairies possessed female forms.
While I puzzled over this internally, Remil Lu Hebaton reached toward the flower in the vase.
He channeled holy power once more.
White light blazed forth, enveloping the flower in its radiance.
...!
I leaped from the sofa.
And bounded onto the table with a spring.
The landing scattered the carefully arranged tea set into disarray.
But I paid it no mind, dashing across the table to seize Remil Lu Hebaton's wrist.
Our eyes met.
His bloodshot pupils stared directly at me.
I watched my reflection trembling in Remil Lu Hebaton's dilating pupils and spoke.
"Stop."
The white light pouring from his hands intensified.
I screamed at Remil Lu Hebaton.
"Stop now!"
"No, I can't—I can't stop—!"
Remil Lu Hebaton shrieked, his body convulsing.
Just before the pristine white light erupting from his hands could detonate.
I poured my strength into him forcefully.
As fairy power suppressed the holy energy, the light faltered for an instant.
"Chesa!!"
Belzeon vaulted over the table in a single bound and pulled me into his arms with swift precision.
In the same motion, his other hand struck Remil Lu Hebaton's solar plexus.
With a sharp crack, the white light that had been about to engulf the entire reception room vanished in an instant.
Remil Lu Hebaton collapsed unconscious where he stood.
No one in the reception room could speak in the aftermath of what had unfolded so suddenly.
Only the sound of Belzeon's ragged breathing filled the silence.
"...What exactly are you doing?"
Finally, once Belzeon had steadied his breathing, he asked with remarkable composure.
But I, cradled in his arms, saw it perfectly clearly.
"My brother nearly died just now."
Just as his eyes had been when he detonated the bomb at the Basilian Estate's townhouse...
His gaze was now coldly, methodically calculating.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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