Chapter 53: Be good, open your mouth

Ophelia’s icy crimson eyes swept over everyone present.

The temperature around them dropped sharply by more than ten degrees.

Even their breath turned to visible mist.

The oppressive aura of the “Authority of the Night” slowly retracted.

The sealed space’s teleportation returned to normal.

But the Queen’s next words were even more chilling than her earlier presence.

“Next time…”

Her voice was calm, with no fluctuation at all.

“The City of Dawn will cease to exist.”

The words floated lightly, yet sent a chill down the spine of every human there.

Uther VII, hearing this, did not show any fear.

Instead, a fanatical fire ignited in his eyes.

He trembled with excitement.

Falling to his knees in deep prostration.

His forehead almost scraping the stone floor.

“I understand! I completely understand!”

The Pope’s voice trembled with fervor.

He was so excited that his tongue stumbled over his words.

“This is the voice of God’s emissary delivering a warning from the Sacred Host!”

“Our performance just now was abysmal!”

“Our reaction was too slow! Our faith insufficient!”

“The Sacred Host is disappointed in our negligence!”

Sylvia listened to these words.

A string of question marks appeared above her head.

I just went out for a stroll…

This old man’s imagination really has no cure.

“I…”

She tried to speak up to explain.

But Avira abruptly scooped her up horizontally.

A swift and decisive move.

Giving those humans no chance to keep staring at her sister.

“Don’t mind those lunatics, little sister.”

Avira’s tone was clearly impatient.

“Let’s go back to the room.”

Sylvia reflexively buried her face in Avira’s embrace.

So many eyes staring at her.

That feeling of being watched was far scarier than going into battle.

“Sis, walk faster…”

Her voice was muffled.

Carrying an obvious plea for help.

Avira strode quickly toward the guesthouse.

Glancing back fiercely at the humans.

Her crimson eyes burning with dangerous light.

“If any of you dare look at my sister with those disgusting eyes again…”

“I’ll gouge out your eyeballs and kick them like marbles!”

Sylvia curled up into a ball in her sister’s arms.

Her silver hair spilled down, covering most of her face.

Through the gaps in her hair, her blood-red eyes peeked out secretly.

Once she confirmed that those dreadful humans could no longer see her, She finally relaxed a little.

Avira carried her back to the room.

Gently laid her down on the soft large bed.

Then stretched out her slender fingers.

Lightly scratched Sylvia’s nose.

“Sylvia.”

Her voice held a fond, teasing smile.

“Next time you go anywhere, you have to tell me.”

“Got it…”

Sylvia obediently nodded.

Her silver hair fanned out across the pillow.

“I thought you just wanted to get some fresh air…”

“Who knew it would turn out like this…”

Her voice carried obvious grievance.

Avira sat down at the bedside.

Picked up a blood-red apple from the nightstand.

Slowly peeled it with a dagger.

The blade flashed expertly in her hand.

The peel curled off in a long spiral.

“Next time you want to go for a walk, take me with you.”

“I’ll go with you.”

She hummed a tune off-key as she spoke.

Sylvia watched her sister’s skilled knife work.

Feeling inexplicably reassured.

Outside the guesthouse, Uther VII had already descended into full-blown fanaticism.

He urgently summoned the five great kings and the seven Knight Order commanders.

“Emergency meeting! Now! Immediately!”

The Pope’s voice carried an unchallengeable authority.

Half an hour later, in the Great Cathedral’s conference hall, the five kings and Knight Order commanders arrived hastily.

Confusion and tension marked every face.

“Your Holiness, what has happened?”

King Lorion spoke first.

His voice filled with obvious unease.

“The vampires suddenly sealed the entire city, and our people nearly went to war…”

“That’s exactly what I’m about to say!”

Uther VII slammed the table abruptly.

The teacup on it jumped.

His eyes blazed with fanatic fire.

“We have just endured a divine trial!”

“And our performance…”

He shook his head in anguish.

“Was disastrous!”

“Trial?”

Bartholomew, captain of the Sword of Judgment Knight Order, frowned.

“Your Holiness, what exactly do you mean?”

“The Sacred Host’s divine test!”

Uther VII waved his arms excitedly.

He almost spat as he spoke.

“She used her own ‘disappearance’ to test us!”

“To see if we are truly loyal!”

“To see if we truly care for her safety!”

Whispers stirred in the conference hall.

Some wore skeptical expressions.

“But…”

Bartholomew tried to voice a different opinion.

“Wasn’t the vampires’ reaction a bit… excessive?”

“Excessive?”

Uther VII’s tone instantly turned severe.

“That is the Sacred Host’s care for us!”

“She warns us of danger approaching in this way!”

“And what about us?”

The Pope’s voice grew mournful and angry.

His fist pounded heavily on the table.

“We responded poorly! Our faith was weak!”

“We almost caused a catastrophe!”

He began pacing the hall.

Waving his hands through the air.

Like a mad preacher.

“Can’t you see?”

“The Sacred Host sees our complacency!”

“Sees our negligence!”

“So she sent down a trial to keep us vigilant!”

“She’s not causing chaos!”

“She’s saving us from future calamity!”

After these words, a brief silence fell.

Then the King of Windermere suddenly realized and slapped his thigh.

“So that’s it!”

“The Sacred Host’s intentions are truly benevolent!”

“We failed to understand her heart at first!”

Others nodded in agreement.

Their expressions more devout than witnessing a miracle.

“Indeed, our response was too slow…”

“If real danger struck, how could we act fast enough?”

“The Sacred Host was helping us find our weak points!”

Bartholomew listened to the consensus.

Still harboring doubts.

But seeing the Pope’s fanatical eyes,

He chose silence at last.

“So!”

Uther VII slammed the table once more.

This time shattering the teacup.

“Starting tonight, we must strengthen vigilance!”

“Increase patrols!”

“Improve emergency plans!”

“If a similar situation arises again, we must not disappoint the Sacred Host!”

“Yes!”

Everyone responded in unison.

Their voices echoing through the hall.

After the meeting ended,

The kings and Knight Order commanders hurried away.

Beginning arrangements for new defenses.

The City of Dawn’s alert level rose three tiers instantly.

The number of patrols doubled.

Back in the guesthouse, Sylvia hugged a pillow as she tossed on the bed.

Avira sliced the peeled apple into small pieces.

Offering one with a fork to Sylvia.

“Good girl, open your mouth.”

Sylvia obediently opened wide and bit into the apple.

The sweet juice burst in her mouth.

Finally easing some of her gloom.

“Good?”

Avira’s eyes were full of affection.

“Mm…”

Sylvia nodded, cheeks puffed out.

“Then eat more.”

Avira continued feeding her.

“Thank you, sister…”

Sylvia leaned on Avira’s shoulder.

Their silver and white short hair intertwined.