NOVPUB
Chapter 336: You Will Forget About Your Grudge
The Saintess of the Heavenly Direction Church holds a special status and position within the church’s hierarchy. Politically, the Saintess is not as influential as the Pope, but in religious matters, she is even more revered. This is because of her ability to ’communicate’ with the heavens.
Another unique aspect of the Saintess’s position is that she is not always chosen from within the church’s ranks; she can come from outside the church as well. Regardless of status, the appearance of the Saintess is revealed by the heavens, and the church knows how to identify each generation’s Saintess through divine signs. In other words, the Saintess is chosen by the heavens, making it a highly revered status that can even surpass that of the Pope.
Aldrian had already heard about the Saintess of this generation. Many said she was unique, even compared to her predecessors. His curiosity grew as he thought about meeting the Saintess that so many spoke of. 𝑛𝑜𝑣𝑝𝑢𝘣.𝘤𝑜𝘮
"The Saintess wants to see me? For what? Does she need something from me?" Aldrian asked.
"To be honest, I’m not entirely sure either," Arthur replied. "But it seems she received some kind of sign that she needs to see you. She asked me personally and discreetly, so no one else in the church knows I’m here. You’d better ask the Saintess herself, because I really don’t know the details."
"A sign?" Aldrian thought. He didn’t fully understand the Saintess’s abilities, and his curiosity only grew stronger.
However, he knew that it was still too soon to leave the empire. There were still some matters he needed to take care of. He looked at Arthur.
"I see. I would also like to meet the Saintess who is said to be special, but I don’t think I can leave the empire just yet. There are still some things here that I need to take care of."
"May I know how long you will be staying?"
"Well, until my business here is finished, but I don’t think it will take too long, so you don’t have to worry," Aldrian answered.
Arthur tapped the table as if he were pondering something before looking at Aldrian.
"Alright, I will stay here for a while. You can take care of your business, and once you’re done, just let me know."
Aldrian nodded. He then stood up and left the inn, followed by Sylphia. He still needed to talk to the Duclan family about Princess Loraine’s punishment and their next course of action. The sooner they finished, the better.
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In a hidden part of Larson City, two figures hung in a truly pathetic state, their hands tied to the ceiling of a dark room. Their bodies were covered in wounds and bruises—clear traces of violence. The once-noble appearance that had defined them was now completely overshadowed by their miserable condition.
Before long, the door to the dark room opened, revealing a beautiful woman with shoulder-length black hair. Carol stepped inside with an expressionless face and stopped in front of one of the figures. She stood before Clark, the young master of the Larson family, and looked at his swollen, bruised eyes. Blood trickled past them, forcing him to keep them shut.
Beneath his body, a bloodstain served as silent evidence of the torture he had endured in this place. The man did not react, even as she stood there for a few seconds. She then patted his cheek a few times, leaning her head slightly to get a clearer look at his eyes beneath the bruises.
"Wake up. Don’t you know that today is your special day?"
Clark did not answer, but Carol didn’t seem to care.
"You’re going to be even more famous after this. Isn’t that great? Your fame will surely rise after today." She then glanced at the figure beside him. "Along with your father."
She smiled warmly before looking back at Clark.
"You know, I’ve been waiting for this day for so long. And now that it’s finally here, it gives me the ultimate satisfaction. Don’t worry about what happens next. You’ll be freed, and you won’t feel any pain anymore."
Clark did not answer. His eyes seemed deadpan, as if he had no spirit left to live. Carol truly enjoyed this side of Clark and was about to speak again. However, she then heard footsteps behind her and a voice from one of her family members.
"Milady, our benefactor has come to see you."
Hearing that, Carol raised her eyebrows and, without hesitation, left the room. She walked toward another room and saw Aldrian already seated there, wearing a different mask from the one he had worn when he became the guardian during the attack on the Larson family’s mansion. Beside him sat another figure—this time, a woman whom Carol assumed must be the elf accompanying him.
Once she entered, she immediately closed the door.
"Young master, young miss, what a surprise. My apologies for not greeting you in more appropriate attire," Carol said with courtesy.
"It’s okay. I came to tell you something. It’s about Princess Loraine," Aldrian said as he removed his mask, followed by Sylphia.
Hearing Aldrian mention the princess, Carol narrowed her eyes, a surge of fury rising in her chest. Though her anger wasn’t as intense as what she felt toward Clark and the Larson family, the princess’s judgment had been the catalyst that ended her family’s life. Everything her family had built was destroyed by that one decision.
A premature judgment that had ignored every defense her parents made, even though they had been deceived by the Larson family. If only the princess had not passed that judgment at the time, her family might have been able to survive and find a way out.
"What about her, young master?" Carol asked.
"Carol, what I’m about to tell you may not make you happy, but I still have to tell you so you can consider it."
Carol fell silent, sensing that Aldrian knew something she didn’t. After a moment, Aldrian finally revealed what he had discussed with Emperor Herman. He told her about the emperor’s decision and the fate that awaited the princess in the future. He also explained the reasoning behind that decision and its potential impact on the empire.
He explained all of this to Carol so she would understand why the emperor’s final decision was what it was. Carol, however, sometimes gritted her teeth, holding back her fury as Aldrian continued his explanation. What she heard from him felt like being asked to let go of the princess and allow her to live—albeit with all of her privileges stripped and her body crippled.
Although it sounded cruel and deserved, Carol felt that it wasn’t enough. What she wanted was for the princess to be publicly punished or even executed, for her wrongdoings toward Duclan family. She wanted the princess’s sins to be acknowledged in front of the masses. Her family’s reputation had been tarnished by the princess, so it only seemed fair that the princess’s reputation be crushed in return.
But from Aldrian’s explanation, she also understood the implications if the princess were punished according to her desires. Causing the entire empire to plunge into instability was beyond her target and would only add unnecessary bloodshed.
Additionally, for the emperor to compensate her and her family after their misfortune showed his goodwill in restoring the Duclan family’s name.
Carol lowered her head, clenching her fists. She couldn’t bring herself to ask more from Aldrian because everything he had given her so far was more than enough. Without his help, there was no way she could have enacted her revenge on the Larson family or gotten the emperor to punish the princess.
"Carol, I know you still harbor a grudge against the princess, but there’s another big event coming that will make you forget all of your revenge. When that time comes, you’ll need to protect your family. No, I dare say that at that time, you’ll forget everything except for yourself. The stability of this empire will be crucial when that event arrives," Aldrian said, voicing his opinion once more.
"A big event?"
"Yes, the prophesied time by the Heavenly Direction Church. You will need to prepare yourself for that time, and believe me, your revenge or grudge will be forgotten because of the chaos that will unfold," Aldrian said.
Carol had already heard about the prophecy from the church, told to her by her parents, since at the time the church announced this prophecy to the powers across the continent, she still had her family.
She looked at Aldrian.
"Do you know what kind of event we will face, young master?" Carol asked.
Aldrian nodded.
"There will be war, Carol—a war that will decide our continent’s future," Aldrian said, his expression serious.
Seeing Aldrian’s serious expression for the first time, Carol felt that the situation might be much worse than she had thought.
"Anyway, that’s for the future. Let’s focus on the present. You still have something to deal with regarding the father and son of the Larson family, right? The imperial family has given you the right to judge them however you see fit and support whatever actions you choose to take," Aldrian continued.
Carol sighed as her gaze turned chilling. Yes, today was the day she would finally show herself to the world without any disguise and punish the Larson family!
