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If there were such a timeline,
Suppose this is the real historical line.
The Polante Empire reached its peak after a fortuitous victory as if aided by heaven.
The era of peace had arrived.
All promises were fulfilled.
But the heart of Black Sun Lankros seemed to shatter.
No one knew what irreplaceable treasures he had lost in those years.
Or perhaps he knew his life was coming to an end and didn’t want those around him to suffer the same punishment named love.
Thus, he estranged himself from Siegler.
Though only dozens of miles apart, he hadn’t seen her for years.
He planned to die alone and let time bury him.
In the Saint Polante Papal Hall, within the Throne Hall,
Lanci listened to the Grand Justice Elm’s answer, relieved.
As Calila’s letter had said, Siegler was indeed brought back to the Polante Empire.
Hearing she was safe was better than anything.
"I want to see her,"
Lanci told Elm.
"Your Holiness, please follow me,"
The black-robed Grand Justice Elm said, his voice restraining excitement and eagerness.
Although the news of the Pope’s health was not optimistic, the change in the Pope’s disposition brought him solace.
Dying without regrets was better than living in agony.
Elm sincerely thought so.
After wrapping up the affairs in the Throne Hall, Pope Lanci followed Elm out.
His gaze swept over the grand hall for the last time, and then he passed through the Throne Hall’s ebony doors, with clergy promptly stepping forward to open the heavy doors along the corridor for him.
From a distance, the Saint Polante Papal Hall doors, the members of the Temple Knight Order were still in strict formation, their silver armor gleaming with holy brilliance in the slanting sun.
Lanci stepped steadily down the pristine white steps, with Grand Justice Elm closely following.
Pope Lanci boarded the Papal carriage again, embellished with the embossed Holy Mark.
The carriage started slowly, moving through the bustling streets of Helshalem City towards the outskirts.
Minutes went by.
The scenery outside the window gradually changed from the noisy and bustling city to the tranquil countryside.
Expanses of green fields spread out under the sunset, white mountains rose and fell in the distance, like endless roads reaching the sky, occasionally passing by pastures, sheep, and seas of flowers in the distance, exuding an extraordinary serenity and peace.
Lanci quietly looked at the scenery of the suburbs of Helshalem City, and his thoughts involuntarily drifted to a summer many years ago, when the city-state was still shrouded in the gray haze of war.
Nothing like it was now, filled with color.
Inside the vehicle, Lanci gently petted the Little Black Cat, his hand gradually lightening.
"Teacher Lan, aren’t you afraid that the strong-willed Tata and the untameable Siegler will clash, meow?"
Cat Boss, expressing dissatisfaction for Lanci calling it Little Black Coal, decided in this Shadow World everyone would call Lanci Teacher Lan.
It was worried that the Shadow World was too peaceful, causing trouble for Lanci.
As its ace ride, safety was always the top priority.
"It doesn’t matter, I will intervene,"
Lanci said with certainty.
"..."
Cat Boss didn’t know where Lanci’s confidence came from.
But if you were to say he completely messed up before, he always managed to rescue the situation every time.
Before long, the vehicle slowly stopped in front of a church in a small suburban town.
The church was situated beside a stream, surrounded by lush woods, the sound of birds chirping melodiously, colorful flowers blooming in competition, with their fragrance carried by the wind.
The Church’s main entrance was a white wooden door, simpler and cozier compared to the buildings in the city, with walls adorned with climbing vines and blossoms, extending to several detached houses, which must include the orphanage and a small schoolhouse.
After getting off the carriage, Lanci was greeted by an elderly woman Priest in plain but neat attire.
"Pope Your Holiness, it’s quite a surprise that you would come to a place like ours, I’m sorry we didn’t have time to prepare."
The other party seemed shocked by the Pope’s arrival.
When Grand Justice Elm had informed them, they were a bit incredulous.
To think the Pope really came.
"It’s okay, I just decided to come on a whim,"
Lanci replied casually, nodding, and he followed the elderly woman Priest through the gate of the church,
"May I please see Sister Siegler?"
he asked.
"Siegler is here, she’s always been a good child. Starting at the age of ten, she braved the winter to work and earn money for the church and the orphanage that was in poverty at the time," 𝘯𝑜𝘷𝘱𝘶𝑏.𝘤𝘰𝑚
the elderly woman Priest replied, slightly quickening her pace, leading the Pope toward the interior of the church building.
Along both sides of the corridor were hung the immature paintings of children.
Among them were even a few letters, the writing twisted and ugly, but they had been preserved very well.
At the end of the corridor was an arched door.
"I will take my leave now, Your Holiness."
The elderly woman Priest bowed.
"Okay, see you in a bit."
Lanci nodded in acknowledgment, watching the elderly woman Priest depart.
He pushed open the arched door, and was greeted by the faint scent of candles from within the Holy Temple.
Behind the chapel was a high Altar, with the Statue of Goddess of Fate under the Rose Window looking compassionate and resolute.
Neat rows of benches lined both sides, with a red carpet leading to the Preaching Stage at the end of the chapel.
In front of the Divine Statue, Lanci saw a light-haired nun devoutly praying to the Goddess.
She had soft long hair draped over her shoulders, wearing a close-fitting white nun’s robe, edged with silver lace, and a Trinity Holy Pattern purple ribbon tied around her waist.
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