The imperial palace sank into silence.

An intelligence officer from the intelligence department was holding a white bone urn in his arms. He was an officer with a red feather. The red ribbon on his shoulder meant he was carrying urgent news to the emperor’s palace, so do not block the way.

The chief attendant suppressed his tears and pleaded.

“Your Majesty… Please give your orders.”

Benjamin murmured in a low, settled voice.

“Set down the bone urn.”

A place was prepared in the courtyard of the imperial palace. The bone urn was placed on a white marble table. The hastily arranged setting was lonely.

The intelligence officer set down the bone urn. Personal belongings were also placed alongside. The white bone urn showed that the elderly person had overexerted themselves inappropriately for their situation.

‘The late Empress.’

Charlotte looked down at the scene carefully.

‘You’ve finally come.’

It may have been a long wandering. Perhaps she didn’t want to return to the palace again.

“The high priest…”

Benjamin murmured in a gentle tone.

“Has the high priest heard?”

“The high priest has arrived, Your Majesty.”

The high priest hurriedly ran up. When the priest placed his hand on the bone urn, a blue energy surged.

The temple was a sacred realm ruled by the god of healing,

And the high priest could read the energy of people dwelling in objects with divine power.

“Ah…”

The high priest withdrew his hand. He took a couple steps back and paid his respects.

“I pay my respects to the late Empress.”

The meaning of these words was clear.

“When I came at the summons of the imperial family, I doubted my own ears. Your Majesty, these are indeed the remains of the late Empress.”

Having paid his respects, the high priest stepped back. Benjamin placed his hand on the bone urn.

“Are these truly the remains of my predecessor?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“It’s been twenty years.”

“Yes. Much time has passed.”

All the attendants bowed their heads. The knights knelt and paid their respects. The intelligence officers all paid their posthumous respects as well.

Charlotte watched the scene from behind. Hundreds of knights knelt, and attendants bowed their heads.

“Who has been keeping the remains?”

“This elderly man, Your Majesty.”

A plain old man was kneeling on the marble floor.

His appearance was shabby. Even Benjamin, looking down at the bone urn, felt it.

He must have made an effort despite difficult circumstances.

Though the weather had turned cold, he was wearing clothes suitable for spring or summer.

“…Prepare a place for the old man to rest comfortably.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Later. I will speak with him again later.”

The chief attendant took the old man away.

“Bring the remains inside.”

The bone urn was enshrined in the resting chamber of the resting palace. The resting palace had a management office to maintain the facilities. An altar was also prepared inside.

The chief attendant carefully asked.

“Your Majesty. Shall we leave?”

“…What did you say to me?”

“I asked if we should leave.”

Benjamin silently looked down at the bone urn. He just gazed at it endlessly.

“Everyone leave.”

All the attendants departed. The door to the resting chamber closed, and curtains were drawn over the altar.

It was like a white veil. The inside of the altar was covered, and candles were lit along the pathway.

Benjamin walked along the path. As he took steps, the candles flickered slightly.

“Your Majesty.”

Charlotte called to him from behind. The long hem of her dress dragged on the floor.

It was an elegant outfit without flashy lace decorations or jewels.

The only embellishment was the old-fashioned puffing of the dress using layers of high-quality fabric.

“Shall I leave as well?”

When Charlotte asked from behind, Benjamin shook his head.

“It’s fine, stay as you are.”

“Is your mind troubled?”

“Indeed. Was this the reason my heart has been unsettled these past few days?”

Charlotte answered with a small smile.

“The late Empress would be hurt if she heard that.”

But she understood his feelings.

“Too much time has passed, so it’s understandable that it’s hard to believe.”

“That’s right. It was a long time…”

“The imperial palace isn’t a place where you can believe just because you want to believe. Your Majesty has ascended to the throne, and from that position you’ve simply reexamined the facts that needed to be reexamined.”

That position now was one that had no choice but to be that way.

“Is this comfort?”

“Yes. Probably.”

“How dull.”

Benjamin trailed off as he examined the altar again.

“A long wandering has ended, so you must be tired. Mother also needs to rest, so I’ll leave for a while.”

With that, Benjamin left the resting palace. The door to the resting palace closed. Charlotte watched him leave.

“I know how you feel.”

Those mixed emotions of being unable to freely grieve even upon seeing those remains.

A feeling of being unable to rejoice or grieve.

Benjamin was rational. Perhaps even ruthlessly cold.

‘Late Empress.’

Charlotte inwardly murmured.

‘Please don’t be hurt. It’s been such a long time. It’s not his fault that he can’t simply believe the facts in this position.’

“The old man has been brought to the audience chamber. As he’s not a noble, he may be clumsy with etiquette.”

Benjamin said it was fine and dismissed the person.

The old man who had brought the bone urn knelt on the floor. He trembled and hunched his shoulders as if he had committed a crime.

As Benjamin approached, the old man prostrated himself flat on the ground. Though terrified, he still offered a greeting first.

“I, I am in the presence of His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Have you committed a crime?”

“This lowly one does not know where to put himself, being in Your Majesty’s presence.”

Benjamin examined the old man’s shabby appearance. His worn clothes were torn and tattered here and there.

“What would you have done if I had not agreed to meet you?”

“I had not thought that far.”

Seeing the man’s worn and calloused hands, Benjamin asked.

“…You’re a farmer?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“How long have you been farming?”

“I’m not sure. My parents were farmers, so I took over their work. I do small-scale field farming. The farm is small too.”

Benjamin checked the old man’s fingernails. They were indeed a farmer’s nails.

“You were the one keeping the remains?”

The old man hung his head low.

“This old one simply could not leave an elder of the imperial family abandoned in the cold fields.”

“Why?”

“This old one has lived in the empire for nearly 70 years. This lowly old man felt sorry for not even being able to enshrine a memorial tablet in such a humble place.”

Looking down at the old man, Benjamin replied.

“Thanks to you, the late Empress has set foot in the imperial palace again. The palace will not forget this help and will repay you.”

“No, Your Majesty. It was not done for reward. I deserve divine punishment. Please, withdraw your words.”

The old man trembled violently. As if he would really be punished. It was evident enough in his appearance.

The old man had obtained a bone urn that didn’t suit his circumstances and enshrined the remains.

Each of his actions that he called insignificant was not merely trivial.

“Chief attendant, listen.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Did you call for me?”

The chief attendant bowed.

“Prepare grain and clothing for the old man. Also provide ample firewood, and send someone to see to his needs.”

“Th-thank you, Your Majesty.”

“The imperial family will not forget this. Chief attendant, bring warm and comfortable clothing to take care of the old man.”

The old man shed tears. Indeed, he had not done it for compensation.

His hands and feet trembled. The old man sat down and wept quietly.

After the old man left, a shadow approached behind the audience chamber.

The wind blew behind the folding screen. The high priest, Hanelli, walked out from behind the audience chamber.

Having already sensed his presence, Benjamin turned around, running his hand through his hair.

“You don’t have to return to the temple right away?”

“The Pope has given permission to return slowly.”

Hanelli let his long golden hair fall. It swayed beautifully like silk below his waist.

It was an appearance befitting one called beloved of the gods.

Dignity could be felt in his every gesture.

“A clear soul.”

“You can see that?”

“I often see it in those who have lived long lives. Seeing the transparent energy, I can see his character.”

Hanelli hid liquor inside his priest’s robes.

“Is a priest allowed to drink?”

Hanelli pretended not to know and closed his robe.

“It’s fine if His Holiness the Pope doesn’t know.”

Hanelli quietly muttered as he hid another bottle of liquor in his priest’s robes. “The Pope won’t strip me down this far.”

“The late Empress is resting peacefully. I could see her soul entering into rest. It seems she regained stability alongside that clear energy.”

Benjamin cast his gaze out the window.

“And.”

Hanelli raised eyes that seemed to contain emptiness. Unfocused eyes turned toward Benjamin. A voice mixed with divine power echoed.

“The one who was to have no one by her side has been given someone. She has offered that place beside her.”

“…Is this a prophecy? I thought prophecies weren’t to be spoken aloud. Is it alright?”

The temple makes prophecies but they must not be spoken aloud. Arbitrarily interfering with cause and effect invites divine punishment.

“It is a prophecy but not a prophecy.”

As he finished speaking, Hanelli began walking again.

Hanelli took out some hard liquor from his robes. Seeing him drink straight from the bottle, the young priests were shocked.

“If, if His Holiness the Pope sees…”

“If you keep your mouths shut, no one will know. Any fool who rashly wags his tongue, I’ll hang upside down from a tree…”

Hanelli stopped with the bottle in his mouth. It was because of the Pope looking down at him with a demonic expression.

“You get all twisted up just from running one errand!”

Hanelli dispelled the alcohol with divine power.

“Your Holiness has become stubborn in your old age.”

“You think speaking formally is enough!”

“Divine power won’t help high blood pressure. Be careful with your health in your old age.”

Hanelli walked out alone. As he wiped his mouth, blood seeped out. He spat out the blood pooled in his mouth.

“Did you speak what should not be spoken again! Did you utter a forbidden prophecy!”

“This body can’t even say a few words freely… Enough.”

Hanelli was born with the most powerful divine power in this generation. Hanelli sees the future through prophecy, but his prophecies go hand in hand with taboos.

As an example, Hanelli’s tongue was cut for the things he said at the imperial palace.

‘One must not interfere in outside affairs through prophecy.’

As Hanelli took a step, small bells tinkled at his ears.

“It will heal soon. Tsk.”

“I sent you out to look broadly beyond the temple doctrines… You go to the imperial palace as soon as you return and come back with your tongue cut out!”

The Pope clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“Did you send off the late Empress well?”

“Yes. Then I will return to my room now.”

“Hanelli…! Leave the alcohol before you go. I saw you have another bottle inside. What are you trying to become when you grow up…!”

The Pope took the liquor bottles and suddenly left. The temple’s white marble buildings are endlessly boring.

The doctrines are outdated, and the laws are antiquated.

“I saw a soul wailing before death.”

It is a past gone by, and a future that will not come. A soul that has lost its way. Please comfort it well.

Only when alone did Hanelli mutter. His voice sank low and echoed quietly.