Chapter 54: Underlying Currents

A blond man with a gentle face sat across from Beccas.

He had smooth, light blond long hair that fell naturally, with one side braided.

His eyes were amber; when calm, they held the aloofness and majesty of the Imperial Family, but his expression was very gentle, and he spoke in a soft voice.

“Commander Beccas, has the Saintess not come today?”

Beccas replied, “Mhm, Prince Gelis Highness, the Saintess is feeling slightly unwell today and is currently resting.”

Prince Gelis saw that the person in front of him didn’t seem to give him much face despite his status as a prince.

He wasn’t quite used to it, but considering she was a distinguished guest he had invited, it wouldn’t be good to show his dissatisfaction.

He suppressed the annoyance in his heart and continued to speak gently.

“I wanted to introduce our Empire Capital to the Saintess Highness today. I think she would like it here.”

Beccas didn’t seem to take the Prince’s words to heart. She took a sip of tea and spoke slowly to Gelis with a hint of disdain.

“Prince Gelis, please remember that we accepted the invitation to attend the Emperor’s Banquet. The Grand Archbishop allowed me to bring the Saintess Highness out this time to relax, not to get involved in the political struggles within your Kalishi Empire.”

Prince Gelis, having his intentions exposed, felt a bit embarrassed.

The smile on his face stiffened for a moment, but he still followed along, “Mhm, Commander Beccas, I know the Saintess Highness and you are only here for the banquet. I simply wanted to meet the Saintess Highness and tell her a bit about the more interesting sights in our Kalishi Empire.”

“Forget it, Prince Gelis Highness. The location of the Empire Capital was chosen only for transportation convenience; there are no special landscapes. The Saintess Highness has already seen the Holy Mountain of our Holy Nation many times, so she won’t be interested in the scenery around the Empire Capital.”

Beccas was very sensitive. The more Gelis wanted to see Vivian, the more she felt the Prince had bad intentions in inviting the Saintess.

Gelis had a bitter smile on his face, “Commander Beccas, is it really that difficult for me to meet the Saintess Highness?”

In reality, Gelis didn’t have bad intentions. Besides wanting to see the rumored heavenly beauty of the Saintess with his own eyes, he wanted to discuss whether both parties could truly cooperate. After all, he possessed many political resources.

But Beccas didn’t care about that. She replied, “The Saintess Highness decides for herself whom she wants or doesn’t want to see. I have no right to decide for her. If you truly want to talk about cooperation, just talk to me directly, and I will report truthfully to the Grand Archbishop.”

“Then is there anyone the Saintess Highness wants to see? I can help with that.”

Beccas thought for a moment. It seemed Vivian really did have someone she wanted to meet in Kalishi: Sharlo Fogmoon.

It was said that this person’s talent was comparable to the Saintess Highness’s, and many people back in the Holy Nation compared Charlotte and Vivian.

“Sharlo Fogmoon. Does the Prince have a way?”

Gelis gave a bitter smile, “Has the Saintess Highness never thought of seeing me?”

Beccas shook her head, “She never mentioned it.”

Seeing that Beccas’s defense was airtight, Gelis no longer felt like continuing the conversation. He didn’t need to keep pushing where he wasn’t wanted, or he would lose face as a prince.

However, he didn’t dare to get angry. Currently, he couldn’t afford to offend any major power.

A trace of fatigue flitted through his amber eyes, yet he maintained his royal gentleness:

“Alright, since the Saintess Highness wants to see Sharlo, I can arrange an Evening Banquet in a few days. All young Nobles will be invited then. I hope Saintess Vivian Highness will also do us the honor of attending. Today I invited Commander Beccas because I sincerely hope to cooperate with the Holy Nation. As I said before, I joined Karen Enis, the Duke of Ennis from the East Territory, in persuading His Imperial Majesty to allow your Aetherlan Divine Church to build a church and preach in the East Territory.”

“Commander Beccas, I know the Holy Nation’s wariness toward the Empire is not without cause—our two nations indeed have some friction in our positions. But I think it’s time to end all that. I need the power of your Holy Nation to establish myself in the Imperial Capital. You need the prestige of Kalic to legitimate yourselves. This is a transaction where each gets what they need.”

The surname Kalishi was indeed too tempting. If even the family that once resisted the Gods accepted the Aetherlan Divine Church, it wouldn’t be strange for other countries to do the same.

Beccas set down her teacup, and the bottom of the cup made a light sound as it hit the table. Her cold gaze swept over Gelis’s intentionally soft face.

“I will report the invitation to the banquet to the Saintess. As for a transaction where each gets what they need? Prince Gelis, I’ve actually always been curious: what exactly are you afraid of? Why do you need our Holy Nation’s power? As far as I know, many of your siblings don’t have the ability to threaten your path to the throne. The only one who could pose a threat is the Second Prince, Roy Kalixi, who has a massive force of new Nobles behind him. But isn’t it rumored that his personality is somewhat erratic?”

Gelis’s heart skipped a beat. He had heard a topic he most disliked touching upon.

As expected, everyone thought that the only one competing with him for the throne was his brother, who was so stupid he couldn’t be stupider.

But he didn’t think so. He vaguely sensed that his greatest enemy was definitely Cresia Kalixi.

Although he treated others gently and seemed to have no defenses, he feared this Imperial sister from the bottom of his heart. Even though she currently had no faction, she possessed a unique advantage.

That was the fact that she had been valued by the Emperor since childhood and was the only member of the Kalishi family to enter the Kalishi Academy…

***

The bedchamber was filled with the thick, inescapable bitterness of medicine. Cresia stood before the sickbed, feeling somewhat sad.

The Emperor of the Kalishi Empire—Barthel Kalixi. The back that once carried the Imperial scepter had slumped as if the bones had been removed.

The loose silk robe wrapped around his thin, withered body, and his exposed wrists were knotted with veins.

His skin was so thin it was almost transparent, clearly showing the dark blue blood vessels underneath.

Cresia looked at her lying Father and felt heartache. The Emperor’s Banquet was about to start, but her Father’s physical condition was still like this.

It might be difficult for him to host the banquet when the time came.

Several Servants nearby took a few more pillows to prop up Barthel’s body, and only then could he sit up.

“Father…” Cresia said softly, “if it’s really not possible, let’s postpone the banquet for a while.”

Barthel slowly opened his eyes. Although his voice was weak, it still carried sufficient strength. “No, the Nobles of the Kalishi Empire have all arrived.

This is the face of the Kalishi Royal Family. I cannot keep them waiting, as they have all come after setting aside the affairs of their respective territories…”

A Servant waited for Barthel and Cresia to finish before stepping forward quickly. “Imperial Majesty, Prince Gelis has been talking with the guest from afar for nearly an hour.”

Barthel froze for a moment, then showed a thoughtful expression. He sighed again, “Gelis, in the end, did he go… to see the Commander of the Holy Church?”

Cresia didn’t expect that the problem that had troubled her for so long would be answered so easily by her Father—it seemed the person connecting with the Holy Church was indeed the First Prince, Gelis.

Barthel seemed to notice Cresia’s abnormality.

Thinking she was worried about something, he explained, “Even though your Father is sick now, I still have a good grasp of the things in the Imperial Palace. Rest assured. I even know about you secretly bringing Charlotte into the palace that night.”

Cresia’s face turned a bit red. Perhaps her Father really had misunderstood something…

However, it was truly a bit terrifying. Even on his sickbed, the Emperor was monitoring every movement within the Imperial Palace.

Barthel thought back to the past again, “That little fellow, he even dared to stand before me…”

The “little fellow” he was referring to was Charlotte. Barthel liked Charlotte very much; he saw a shadow of his younger self in Charlotte, though he himself could no longer lift a sword or step onto the battlefield.

Looking at Barthel’s somewhat disappointed expression, Cresia roughly understood her Father’s current mindset.

Although the First Prince was kind and had a good hand for governing, and being the legitimate eldest son meant the throne would naturally fall to him, he was too eager for quick success.

He was rallying dukes from all over and secretly communicating with the Holy Church.

The Second Prince had a strange personality and practiced favoritism, while the other children were still young. There was no suitable candidate for the next Emperor—and he himself was gradually growing old and weak.

Barthel looked at his hand, which was no longer as strong as before. He probably couldn’t even lift a sword now.

“Gelis has forgotten our surname after all. Has he forgotten the sword and blood of Kalishi?”

Barthel’s voice held only regret. He turned to look at Cresia, his amber eyes reflecting his only hope.

“Cresia, if my health is poor, which of your two brothers do you think can host the Emperor’s Banquet?”

Cresia was stunned. Anyone would feel a great deal of pressure being suddenly asked this question.

This was because she was discussing who should host the Emperor’s Banquet in front of the Emperor himself. The Emperor’s Banquet could only be hosted by the Emperor.

By asking this question, Barthel was undoubtedly asking who Cresia believed should be the next Emperor.

“I’m sorry, Father… I…”

“Hahaha, you find it difficult, don’t you?”

“It is indeed difficult…”

Barthel saw Cresia’s predicament and said no more.

“Cresia, you were raised by my side since you were a child and only went to the Kalishi Academy after you became an adult… You are the one I trust most. Therefore, I will leave the hosting of the Emperor’s Banquet to you……”