Chapter Thirty-Eight
_ The Last Duty
* * *
" This is what happened with the young Marquis. "
He set down his cutlery as he finished recounting the events, then looked at her face, which for a moment seemed as still as ice. However, he realized that behind this silence lay a storm. He gazed intently at her face until she swallowed her last morsel and set down her fork, speaking with a smile that didn't reach her eyes:
" Elliot hates it when I stop eating for any reason... "
" ... "
" My brother is certainly about to do something foolish... "
" ... "
" Raph, save my brother... please. "
Her calm tone shattered like brittle ice. Ariana allowed the tears to flow as she tried to stifle her quickening breath, but Raphael placed a glass of water in front of her and said in a kind, warm manner:
" I will not let him be harmed... "
" ... "
She raised her tear-glistening eyes to him, and he smiled warmly at her. In his mind, he thought... he had always heard of the beauty of the sky after the rain, but today, he believed it completely...
" He is important to Aya... so I will do whatever it takes... "
There was a look in Ariana's eyes that pierced his soul; she trusted and believed in him.
* * *
" Did you hear?! "
" I heard it too... a new medicine for the plague has been made... "
" The substance 'Red Fire Flower Wreath' has been completely banned. "
" It's said to be cursed and one of the reasons the plague spread. "
" My God... that's terrifying... "
" The Temple did not interfere this time. "
" I heard His Majesty is distancing himself from the Temple... "
" I heard Duke Silvano supports His Majesty the Emperor. "
" Silvano was never aligned with the Imperial Family before. "
" It seems His Majesty will declare his independence from the Temple. "
" My God!! It's a miraculous event that only happens once every thousand years... "
" Didn't the Temple distance itself from helping people at the height of the crisis? "
" I heard that many noble families made huge donations to the Imperial Treasury to resolve the crisis. "
" Isn't the Silvano Dukedom at the top of the list... "
" I heard that the future Empress and the commander of the Silvano knights, Elena Brian, are friends. "
" And what is the connection?! "
" There are speculations saying Baroness Brian is the future Duchess of Silvano; didn't you witness the Spring Festival months ago... "
The events of the past few weeks did not leave the tongues of the people. Summer began to announce its final weeks, and it seemed even the plague was beginning to bid farewell with it...
The gossip that had come to dominate the empire was about what the young Emperor was doing, and how Cassian, which was on the brink of ruin, was now pulsing with the spark of change. Even the gossip was moving in the right direction...
It was a monumental task overseen by Casper with great help from the Duke of Silvano, while Meer Roalf took care of erasing the traces of the hidden events...
* * *
He kept tapping his fingers quietly on the table, his eyes fixed on the large envelope before him. He swallowed hard and pulled the envelope with trembling fingertips. He opened a box that looked for a moment like a large, old, important book, placed the full envelope inside the book, hugged the book, and looked up at the ceiling of his office decorated and engraved with gold. He stood up carrying the book, looking at the active movement outside the palace; carriages moving in order carrying the silver dragon symbol, the emblem of the Imperial Family. He sighed again, then returned to sit quietly at his desk and rang the bell for the servant to enter...
" Young Master, you called for me. "
" Tell the Empress's lady-in-waiting to come to the office..."
" I follow the orders of the young Marquis. "
The servant bowed and went to execute the orders. Moments later, Maryann entered with steady, graceful steps, accompanied by a young servant wearing the Imperial Palace uniform, but his build was several times larger than any ordinary servant. Elliot looked quietly at the palace servant with suspicion, then at his own servant:
" You may leave. "
The servant bowed and left, looking at the two people with Elliot in confusion, then closed the door behind him...
After his servant left, Elliot spoke quietly, gesturing to the servant:
" Who are you?! Or rather, who are the two of you?! "
" I expected that. "
The servant looked at the maid and smiled after moving his hand while speaking. The magic was removed to reveal silver hair and eyes like the moon on a dark night, and the orange hair became the color of honey, and the eyes brightened to reveal their blueness like a warm summer sky. There was a hint of warmth permeating it. Elliot smiled and left his seat to embrace his sister, who received her brother's hug with longing..
" I missed you, brother... "
Elliot pulled away from his sister and looked at her, then at Raphael with a frown and annoyance:
" What Your Majesty and my sister did is dangerous. If anyone knew of your disguise, things would not be well... "
" I am the Emperor... have you forgotten?! "
Raphael spoke with a puff of arrogance, raising an eyebrow.
" I haven't forgotten, but my sister... if my father suspected her involvement in all this... her life would be in danger... "
Raphael's shoulders dropped, and he spoke in a calm, steady tone:
" I will not allow that.. "
" Why did you two come? And what if one of your servants recognized you? "
" All the servants here are disguised; they are the Emperor's most loyal assistants. "
Ariana spoke with a bright face, while Elliot's astonishment grew. The transfer of the Empress's belongings had begun a week ago, and there had been no sign of anyone being disguised...
" Did you do that during the transfer process?! "
" You guessed right, it was my idea. "
There was a proud smile on Ariana's face like a child waiting for praise. Elliot laughed in disbelief; to what extent had he underestimated his little sister's mind...
He patted her head, and she smiled brightly, then looked at Raphael, who was crossing his arms, looking annoyed at feeling like a mere vase in this room...
" Fine, has it not come time to tell us what made you act this way, Elliot Silas? "
Elliot looked at the floor, clenching his fist and feeling a great deal of hesitation. However, he turned to the desk, pulled out the book, and gave it to Raphael:
" Manuscripts and magic circles that linked our world to other worlds, and I believe the world of Hell is one of them... "
Raphael and Ariana looked at each other with wide eyes, then looked back at Elliot, who was deeply immersed in his shame...
" The war more than thirty years ago, and other incidents... the cause was the Temple... and the manuscripts did not use ordinary magic... forbidden magic was feeding them... "
Elliot shrank back, looking at the floor, feeling like a trivial ant because of what his father had done. His words, his heart, his self—all were shattering with every truth..
" The Black Wizard was.... the Black Wizard who supported the Temple for many years was my father... It was a fact that the Temple had been corrupt for centuries, but it went too far in its corruption in recent decades... "
Elliot looked at his sister with complex eyes carrying a thousand meanings. He sighed and raised his head:
" The manuscripts cannot be replicated or forged. You must take them before they use them again... "
" But as far as I know, manuscripts and magic circles work only once... "
" Your Majesty, unfortunately, Alpin Silas is a genius wizard. He knows that feeding them with more blood will raise their power and increase the number of times they can be used... "
There was a rage that seemed about to explode... Raphael looked deeply into the eyes of Elliot, who spoke in a calm tone despite his burning eyes..
" That's why it looked like you were announcing your departure. Once the Marquis realizes they are missing, he will know you betrayed him... "
" ... "
" Are you trying to commit suicide?! Brother, please... don't do it... don't leave me and go... "
Before he could open his mouth, Ariana spoke angrily, tears choking in her eyes. She finished her words with sad, painful tears...
' In my previous life, I had a twin brother, and strangely, he and Elliot are oddly similar... My brother lost me, and I know he is sad now for my death... but being placed in this situation, I realized my brother's words... I should have at least not said in front of him that I would die... '
Raphael looked at Ariana, then at Elliot. He sighed and spoke quietly, holding Ariana's hands:
" Aya... we must return... if we stay longer, it will increase suspicions about your brother... we will find a solution... "
" ... "
Ariana looked at him with tearful, sad eyes, as if she needed more reassurance. He smiled warmly:
" I promise you. "
Ariana wiped her tears violently, but Raphael gently patted her cheeks, removing the traces of tears and restoring the disguise magic on her...
" Go ahead of me, I will carry the things for you. "
She nodded yes while he restored the magic on himself. He looked at Elliot, having taken the book in his hands. He looked at Elliot, who pointed to another set of books, addressing Raphael as if he were a servant when he opened the door:
" Take these books as well, for Her Majesty loves reading this type of book very much.. "
Raphael approached and carried the books near Elliot and whispered to him:
" Do not die for her sake... please.. "
" ... "
" If you need help, I will be there. "
Elliot looked at the artifact that somewhat resembled a pocket watch. He looked at Raphael, then at the watch, and nodded yes...
Raphael left carrying the books. He was sure he couldn't dissuade Elliot from the thing he wanted to do, because he realized that if the news broke that the Empress belonged to a family that uses black magic, she would not only lose her status but even her life or her freedom... If there is one thing people hate besides monsters, it is black magic, which is based only on human sacrifices. The purer the victim, the greater the power... and the purest sacrifices are innocent children. Is someone who finds it easy to kill children not capable of other atrocities?!
* * *
Later that same day, in a place as quiet as the stillness of the dead, the long corridor was semi-dark, pierced by moonlight passing through the white columns lined up regularly along the way...
He had finished all his accumulated and exhausting work, despite the decrease in the number of visitors due to the collapse of the Temple's reputation after they announced their non-interference in the Ruler's wrath due to the Emperor's actions... His work was always the most exhausting, for it was a routine and boring clerical job. He yawned and walked toward his room at the end of the hall, but a deep voice stopped his progress...
" Cardinal Evan Jerome... are you free?! "
Evan yawned and looked back, his eyes still looking at the man before him with sleepiness, as if he didn't care...
" Is the matter important, my Great Master?! "
Despite Evan's words, which carried much glorification, his body and eyes didn't mean them at all. Patriarch Rokshan had always realized this; Evan's personality was amazing to the point of overlooking his lack of respect..
" I need you for an important matter... can you come with me?! "
" Fine, although I desperately want to sleep, there's no harm in one last task. "
" Thank you for your hard work, Cardinal Jerome. "
He smiled a smile that didn't reach his eyes as he looked at Patriarch Rokshan, then moved boredly behind him... The office—he didn't even turn to the office but continued walking for additional steps, then they turned right, and it was the intended place. Evan smiled mockingly and followed Steve Rokshan until they entered the room. This was his second time entering this room. The Patriarch looked and said indifferently:
" Are you thinking of making me clean your room as a last task?! "
Steve clasped his hands behind his back and said with a dry laugh, feeling foolish:
" There is a better task; we haven't arrived yet. "
" At your command, Master.. "
Evan sighed indifferently and followed Rokshan, and as expected, Evan was taken to the secret room within the secret space... When Evan showed surprise inside the room, Steve Rokshan spoke:
" Are you pretending not to know about it now? "
" Know about what? "
" Who used to live in this room... "
" Was someone living in it?! How amazing!.. "
" Evan Jerome.... let's reveal the cards. Everyone knows of your collusion with the Emperor and your betrayal of the Ruler.... "
Evan moved boredly toward the bed, stretched out on it, yawned, and said sleepily:
" And do you want to imprison me here... for my betrayal?! "
" I won't be able to imprison you here; I know your ability to get out easily... "
Rokshan replied, taking a chair he used to sit on when he came to this room, and sat in front of the bed from a distance..
" Then why did my Great Saint Master interrupt a poor servant's need for sleep and rest after a long day of working for the Ruler... "
Rokshan looked at the coldness of Evan's reaction to the truth and said:
" You deny the fact of your betrayal to the Ruler. "
Evan gave no reaction, but sighed and said with depth and reflection...
" When I was young, I didn't care about the existence of a god or lack thereof, but when my mother disappeared... and I was left alone waiting for her, the innkeeper told me before I left to pray to God to find her, for the prayers of children reach faster... so I wandered in the capital praying to God to find my mother. People led me to the Temple and told me my prayer would reach faster. I was certain I would find my mother one day. When you took me to the orphanage and even when you took me to train under your wing to become a priest, I still carried a deep faith in God... "
Evan sat up, brushed the dust off his white robe, looked at the robe, and smiled mockingly...
" But when I became a real priest in the Temple, my faith became distorted as this robe gets dirty... deception and fraud in the name of God. But I thought the Great Saint was different; I didn't look at him like any other priest. It's foolish to say I considered him my father... "
Evan stood up, took off the robe, looked at Rokshan with cold eyes, and spoke in a mocking tone:
" I lost my faith the moment I knew that the cause of all this was my Master... "
There was a calm look in Rokshan's eyes; he didn't seem affected, not even in the slightest. Evan laughed mockingly and sat on the edge of the bed..
" Master... I didn't betray God, but you... In fact, you realize in your heart that you did too.. "
" And why do you think I would tell you the truth... "
" Isn't it a father's duty to be frank with his son... Father.. "
Evan's manner was mocking as he said his sentence. Rokshan laughed loudly until he leaned back slightly, then looked at Evan with highly focused eyes:
" I was truly deceived because of her.... that woman... so the child didn't die, and he is alive before me... now everything has become clear... "
It was the laugh of a deceived man. Evan wasn't surprised, but he knew that the man before him wouldn't give up easily; if he felt defeat now, he would do the worst to win what he wanted...
" With all due respect to fate, I am alive.. "
" Then what is your magic?! "
" I do not possess a specific magic... "
" Like the Emperor's magic then.... "
" Perhaps... "
The questioning resembled an academic style. Evan knew that for Rokshan, that child was nothing but an experiment; if it succeeded, it was something great and a weapon for the Temple, and if it failed, its case was like the one before it. The matter didn't sadden Evan, as he had lived around this man for more than ten years... thus he realized his personality and no longer needed to think or feel sad..
" Are you still practicing these experiments?! "
" We stopped with the death of the previous Patriarch. They were exhausting experiments that cost us much time and money... even the experiments that succeeded did not live more than six years... you are the only exception. "
" Good.. "
" Then what do you want from me now, Cardinal Jerome?! "
" Weren't you the one who summoned me? "
Rokshan laughed, for he understood now why he liked the boy so much; he resembled him, and his blood ran in the veins of this boy... But there was a problem: the boy was no longer under his hand. Rokshan sighed and said:
" Why don't you come back to my side, and I will overlook what the Emperor has done... "
" Is this a threat to a man on the brink of collapse? Do you think I will accept it... His Majesty the Emperor is stronger than ever... your loss is imminent, my Great Saint Master.. "
" I am not threatening. I want to win you to my side, Evan, and I will step back with my people... "
" And why do you want me?! "
" My last duty as a father... "
...... To be continued ......