“Hmm, noisy. More importantly, now you need to prepare for my granddaughter.”

“Is that what you said earlier? Is it a path for your granddaughter or for yourself?”

To that, Hubert replied without hiding his irritated expression.

“Obviously, both.”

After the meeting in the Grand Temple.

A mournful sound echoed from the waiting room.

“The sacred artifact is being destroyed! Oh, the wrath of the goddess in the continent, it will be terrible! Sir Ahilun!!”

“Quickly, you must request the Empire to exterminate that monster! How dare it… to the sacred artifact of the goddess…!”

“Certainly, the goddess’s punishment will come. A gruesome punishment…!”

The priests who entered the chaotic prayer room after the meeting, groaning while lying on the floor.

As if the remains of the sacred artifact were their limbs, they had lost their sanity.

But Ahilun was staring blankly at that scene, unable to speak.

Even if they demanded disposal, the sacred artifact did not return, and the power to destroy such an immense divine artifact was comparable to the power of a god.

Then, it meant that there were no humans on this continent who could inflict punishment on her.

So, she didn’t even have the strength to clean up the debris, nor the strength to stop their wailing.

When Lucia destroyed the sacred artifact, it was no different from when her predecessor had destroyed it.

However, at that moment, someone rushed into the priests and, among the two who followed, a woman in a simple black dress stood up the fallen chair.

And the gentleman, who followed slowly, sat in that place, and Ahilun soon uttered a chant.

“…Please, everyone, leave.”

“What? But, Sir Archbishop! How can you ask us to leave after seeing this situation?”

“Yes! This is a matter of life and death for us…!”
As they wailed, they met the gaze of Ahilun, and they fell silent.

His gaunt face showed no hint of emotion.

As those who were observing closed the open door and left, the Duke slowly parted his lips.

“It was an interesting scene. Shocking.”

“…In the end, it fell into the hands of the Empire. Your Highness. What happens now?”

Ahilun, whose strength had drained, wanted to hear a command that would force her to move, even if it was forced.

However, the Duke seemed to have no intention of fulfilling that expectation.

“Quite remarkable, isn’t it? We thought only we possessed such power. Moreover, it seems even more exceptional.”

“….”

Instead of Ahilun, who listened to his intriguing words, Archbishop raised her gloved hands, observing them for a moment.

Through the white gloves, her black hands, tainted black between the fingers, were visible.

A power akin to a curse.

Today, she almost used that power to stop her in the eyes of everyone.

“No matter how I think about it, I can’t understand why that monster behaved like that. Until this day, she has been nothing more than a spectator who hasn’t received a single act of arrogance.”

“…It must be the order of Lord Fedelin Ruins.”

“That could be. Even if it was called rebellion, in the end, it was handed over to someone who couldn’t be punished, and thanks to that, no one could lay a hand on the tree.”

“….”

Even though the plan had failed, he was judging the situation very calmly.

“The current emperor has a small vessel. If I had taken that mantle, I would have used it in a better place.”

“Surely…”

“Yes, if you listen to others, you may also listen to what others say. There must be a lot of hardships for one who has lived as a spectator to become the leader of a country. This should be quite helpful.”

He pulled something out of his pocket.

“Your Highness, is that by any chance…!”

The emblem of the disappeared Arkis Principality.

“Oh, your discernment is quite good. It’s the most pleasing gift I received from the Marquis.”

At his words, Ahilun looked at her.

At that moment, Anna seemed to be recalling something, smiling with a hint of amusement.