episode_0088

Encountering Lycia on the street, she was sticking close to Raven.

At first glance, there was no better harmonious family than them.

They appeared to be like lovers, but due to a slight difference in stature, they seemed more like family at first glance.

Although she usually claimed to be a ward rather than a child, from an outsider’s perspective, it was undeniably such a sight.

After exchanging greetings, Haine didn’t continue the conversation but instead looked at them for a moment.

It wasn’t jealousy towards Lycia.

She wasn’t hardened enough to feel such petty emotions towards a child younger than her, and even if she were to feel jealous, she wouldn’t show it, given her position as a princess.

So, if you had to put a name to it, it was envy.

“It’s nice to see you again in a place like this, Your Grace. May I ask the reason for your visit?”

“I have something to discuss with His Majesty, so I came along as his escort.”

Even without asking what that something to discuss was, it was clear.

Nobles who usually split and oppose each other were finally coming together to voice one thing.

Is the Pope in his right mind? Or is this a joke of a scandal?

If that was the case, it wasn’t the right time to persuade Raven.

Trying hard to convince him here would be in vain, as there was a high possibility that if the Pope were to easily retract the scandal, it would all be for naught.

So, after briefly discussing the grim and dark world, Haine spent time chatting with Lycia.

It was just a simple conversation with a pure and cute girl, but amidst the troubled minds of the nobles, it felt somewhat calming.

However, after a brief rest, the harsh realities were waiting in line.

“What’s the matter?”

“Your Majesty, there is something you should know about Lord Raven.”

Unexpectedly setting the mood and coming late at night, the bishop looked around to see if anyone was there, then spoke softly.

“He may be a noble’s bastard.”

Sure enough, the words that came out of his mouth were definitely a delicate subject.

It wasn’t something to openly talk about. But Haine’s impression was just that.

“I just found out… Could it be that Lord Raven has been hiding his peasant status?”

“No. I have confirmed that he was liberated as a freeman.”

“Then is this a big issue? It doesn’t seem like a matter worth worrying about.”

If a peasant left his land and roamed around the world, it was a crime and he would be punished.

And if he inherited a noble’s position and hid the fact that he was a bastard, there would be controversy over whether it was a legal succession.

But since he was a freeman and the land he received was merely a reward for his labor, it wasn’t an illegitimate succession.

Of course, one could call him a bastard instead of an orphan when cursing him, but that was about it. There wasn’t really a problem.

“Do you know Lord Raven, the Viscount?”

“Yes, isn’t he the Viscount of the diocese you once oversaw?”

“That’s correct. And unfortunately, he has revealed this to His Majesty. He is currently leaning towards the rebels.”

“…So are you trying to offer Lord Raven a noble position?”

“As you mentioned, his background could be a basis for demanding a noble position, but it is insufficient to be considered legal. However, there are exceptions to everything, aren’t there?”

By now, it was easy to see where the conversation was heading.

There were only two ways for a bastard to inherit his parents’ position.

One was to be recognized by the parents through a formal letter and directly receive it.

Apart from cursing him as a bastard, what else could you do, shouting to the world and openly changing the family tree.

If you are not loved by your parents to a considerable extent, it was an acceptable method even if it was impossible.

And if it was true that he was born a noble, it was natural that it did not apply to him, who did not seem to have grown up in his parents’ arms.

Therefore, what Gilberto was talking about was ultimately the second method.

“If you kill everyone with the right of succession….”

“Yes.”

In any case, the succession order of a bastard is always pushed to the back.

But in other words, if you remove everyone ahead, it meant that it was not impossible. Since there were many people to push aside, the difficulty would be much greater than the fierce struggle to obtain the succession rights that were one or two steps behind in the imperial family.

“Of course, this only applies if Lavenna Viscount is Lavenna Baron’s true son… So, I would appreciate it if you could verify that fact yourself.”

He was asking if his father was the Lavenna Baron, and if he said yes, it meant asking if he would kill his father.

*****

The Pope, also known as Parmon Dispenser.

Despite having acquired a quite hip nickname, it seemed that he was beginning to feel some limits.

The long line was slowly but surely getting shorter for a reason.

And before we knew it, it was our turn.

“My lord, it’s time for you to start.”

“Yes, I must give His Holiness my sincere advice. Then let’s go.”

The Viscount, who spent the previous night compressing his words of advice into a 10-minute speech to deliver to the Pope, was unusually determined.

Of course, the order was not based on a fair first-come, first-served basis. It was not to be expected in a place where social status was openly present.

Bypassing the priest who had a curious look on his face, the nobles who had requested an audience like everyone else, and other miscellaneous reasons, the Viscount and I successfully entered the Papal Palace.

Following the guidance of a priest, we strolled through the magnificent interior of the palace.

At the end of the corridor lined with marble sculptures and murals depicting myths, the priest stopped when we reached the door.

And as he raised his hand to knock on the door, he murmured softly so as not to be heard beyond the door.

“His Holiness is waiting behind this door. Um, just in case, I’m telling you in advance that he is currently in a very sensitive state….”

“Don’t worry. I understand the difficulties His Holiness is facing.”

“Very well. Your Holiness, Viscount Canosa and Lavenna Viscount have arrived!”

“Already? You may come in.”

The expensive door, with even the latch looking luxurious, opened silently as we entered and closed behind us.

“It’s been a while, Viscount. And even his knight. Come this way.”

The Pope, whom I hadn’t seen in two years, seemed a bit older.

It seemed more like he had aged gracefully rather than being directly hit by the years.

Of course, I was not the main actor in convincing the Pope.

It was because the Viscount, who had more persuasive power than me, was openly present.

However, it wasn’t just a matter of being a screen, but rather adding flavor to the persuasion by occasionally inserting a comment or two in the gaps.

“I heard you have something important to tell me.”

“Yes, Your Holiness.”

It was a straightforward matter, so we could get to the point without any hassle.

After clearing his throat a couple of times, the Viscount took a deep breath.

His persuasion began by soothingly reassuring His Holiness that he understood his feelings and not to trigger any paranoid delusions.

Despite being packaged with all sorts of elaborate rhetoric and circumlocution, the underlying message was ultimately about how the people’s hearts were burning, so please do something about it.

Indeed, the position of a viscount was not obtained through mere formality, so the lord presented his prepared presentation during the audience time given to him.

At times when the viscount paused to catch his breath during his intense speech, I waved around a future blueprint written in a 10-point Lysia Gothic font on parchment next to the Pope.

It was a shame not to make use of such a font, so I had obtained it a few days ago upon request. Thanks to it, I even heard compliments about how well the viscount raised the girl.

After a while, the presentation ended, and the Pope slowly spoke.

“I understand your intentions well.”

“Your Holiness, then…!”

The viscount, wiping the sweat off his forehead, turned pale.

“But if I were to cancel the excommunication, wouldn’t that be changing my mind? I’ve already changed my mind once, and I have no intention of doing so again.”

“Isn’t there a way to resolve this more peacefully? Must brothers of faith point swords at each other?”

“If necessary.”

“…”

At that firm answer, the viscount opened his mouth to speak but hesitated.

Having changed his mind twice already, it was not appropriate to suggest changing it a third time in person.

But more than that simple logic, it seemed that he saw a determination in the Pope’s words not to change his mind.

“…Then, I will take my leave, Your Holiness.”

I followed the viscount, who left weakly.

In the end, I knew things would turn out this way, but facing the truth directly was still a bitter experience.

*****

Heine was one of the first to see the Pope’s face.

Naturally, he knew the Pope’s stubbornness. It was easy to anticipate the future that others would face.

That’s why he was waiting for Lavender now. There was no need to hide his schedule, so it wasn’t difficult to get hold of it.

Having entered the Papal Palace not long ago, he was now walking back to the lodging with his companions.

Both the viscount who came out after seeing the Pope’s face and Lavender couldn’t hide their gloomy feelings.

There was no need to ask how things had turned out.

According to the original plan, he should have asked Lavender to persuade him, but he had come to him from the beginning.

It felt like if he did that, it would seem like he had approached him with a hidden agenda.

At that moment of realization, their friendship seemed nothing but a facade, and he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

And there was also the calculation of how his father would react.

In times of urgency, internal conflicts among allies cannot be allowed. As long as he doesn’t openly cross the line and rebel, he won’t cause unnecessary turmoil.

Although politics and personal matters are not easily distinguished, Lysia had no vested interest in this war.

So if negotiations were to be made, it had to be with Lavender himself.

As a noble member of the royal family, as a knight.

“Lavender, may I have a moment to talk?”