"Indeed.. But you told me clearly at that time that it wouldn't come in my generation." Emperor Valentin recalled with sadness in his eyes.
"That was why you told me not to say anything, nor do anything to the Empress even though we clearly witnessed all her wrong doings." He continued with grievance.
It was not because of what the High Priest told him at that time, but because he knew that he had no choice because he was powerless against Carolina's sinister powers.
"Surely, you clearly understood now what I meant. That time, it was because there was no one in your generation who could stand against her sinister powers. But now.." The High Priest needed not to continue the rest of his words, for he knew that Emperor Valentin had already understood.
"You mean Eli, she…" Emperor Valentin gulped in anxiety with mixed emotions in his heart.
He was jubilant that they had already found who could stand against Empress Carolina, yet he became worried because it was Eli, his future daughter in law.
"But now is not yet time. It was too early and too risky for her. No wonder, even though I have received the oracle, I felt no sense of urgency to find who the subject is. If you had not come to me, if I had not witnessed everything with my own eyes, I would never be able to understand the Creator's intention." The High Priest calmly said with an enlightened manner.
"To also think that the descent of the oracle coincided with the birth of your grandson.. I deeply believe that it was also the Creator's grace to send an oracle right after the ringing of bells. I reckon that your grandson will also grow to be an extraordinary person, favored by the Creator!"
"But now, what the both of us should do is to keep all these from other people until they are ready."
Emperor Valentin stayed silent, listening to the High Priest words, taking in everything so that he would never forget.
"But be ready! Sooner or later, we, the servants of the Creator, will need to contact and take her under our wings. Even if her calling is to go to the vast lands of the Empire, she still needs our authority and support. Of course, that would be after having a heart to heart conversation with her and your son~~"
"I understand, Esteemed High Priest. Just like you, I wanted to protect the Empire and the people important to me, as well. I will remember your words fully." Emperor Valentin finally said a word.
Ultimately, he professed his intention to listen to the High Priest's words, the one who wholeheartedly served the Creator. With the enemy hidden in the dark, while he was out in the open, the only thing that he could place his faith on was to the One Who Sees it all, the Creator.
"Uhn! Just be extra cautious. If possible, figure out why the Empress suddenly became active again in her schemes. What could be the main trigger of these things?" Pleased to see the Emperor take his words seriously, he continued to warn him of other things.
"Most possibly, she was threatened by the sudden attention given to the Third Prince. What she wanted was to take control of the throne through my first born Kazimir." Remembering this matter, Emperor Valentin was once again disheartened by what was happening in the Imperial Family.
He couldn't help but blame himself for his incompetence back then. If he could protect Tehila, there would only be one spouse to the Emperor, subsequently there would be no conflicts about the heir to the throne.
"The question is, would you give him the throne?" The High Priest asked him in a stern manner.
"Sigh…" Empero Valentin felt helpless, but an earnest expression appeared in his eyes as he looked at the High Priest.
"I would, if his heart lies not on the throne but on the people he would rule."
"Even if he and Antoine were a product of my weakness and Carolina's scheme, in my eyes, they were my precious son, equal to Leon. They all have the same rights and chances to ascend to the throne. To Kazimir, I will never identify him with the sins of his mother. He is my son, and so was Antoine and Leon." Emperor Valentin poured his heart out.
"Hmmm.. As long as your heart and eyes remain open, you will find who among them is fitting to be your successor." The High Priest gave an approving nod.
With the matters of the throne, he would not influence Emperor Valentin of his decision, that was because he knew well how desperate Emperor Valentin tried to be a just and fair father for the three.
It was just that, the matters of the throne were too complicated. No matter how good Emperor Valentin's intention was for his sons, it was completely up to them if they would accept their father's ideals.
"Alright, I think that's all I wanted to say…" The High Priest clapped his hands trying to lift the Emperor's mood and wrap the conversation up.
Cling! Cling! Cling!
But before they could continue, they heard an alarming sound of the bells coming from the High Priest's study table.
The High Priest stood up with a cold expression on his face, "Someone, took a book in the library's restricted section!"
He was actually baffled, to think that the simplest machine he installed at the bookshelves would be the one who would inform him of this matter, not the detection and trap spells that were even installed around the restricted section!
The intruder was definitely formidable!
"This…" Emperor Valentin was shocked, he knew how strict and secured the restricted section was, but it was compromised! What's more, it was compromised at the time he was coincidentally visiting the temple!
"Let's look at it first.." The High Priest was cautious, he deduced that the intruder was at least a peak stage A level mage in order to enter the section in such a scary manner.
The room was directly underground, if he was hasty, he could even implicate Emperor Valentin and the rest of the Imperial Family. He took the projection stone and casted a spell on it, it immediately projected the scene inside the restricted section of the library.
But what they saw from the projection stone made them unable to react for a long period of time.
"This… this.. Leon!" Emperor Valentin was in disbelief! How could Leon infiltrate the temple's restricted section! How could he even do that?!
Great panic and self admonishment appeared in his face as he looked towards the High Priest saying, "Esteemed High Priest, I apologize for my son's impudence. I take full responsibility for this.." His voice was shaking in shock and trepidation.
The High Priest raised his hand and gestured him to stop. A calm and unfathomable expression showed in his face as he watched through the projection stone silently.
Understanding that the High Priest wanted absolute silence, Emperor Valentin swallowed all his words and sat meekly. He watched along with him with an extremely anxious expression.
For the rest of the day, they watched Leon read through the three memoirs, contemplated, mumbled some words in deep thought, and took notes. They watched him carefully take the memoirs back in the bookshelf, change into another face and summon Biggie to exit the restricted section.
"!!!" As soon as Leon changed his face and summoned Biggie, the little golem, the two elders looked at each other in shock.
Who in the whole Prasinos does not know that the Third Prince of the Seirende Empire was unfortunately born with low aptitude in magic?! He was only a D class Devourer!
But how was he able to summon an earth spirit?! How was he able to change disguise so strongly?! How was he able to perform a high class summoning spell called "Fusion"?!
"Ah, hahaha!" The High Priest suddenly burst out laughing in amusement. "Oh, young Valentin! All your grievances in the past were washed away with the Creator's favor to your descendants!!" He exclaimed in joy.
"..." Emperor Valentin was still in a daze after witnessing Leon's prowess.
The son he tried so hard to protect back then, turned out to be blessed with a rare constitution! He was a devourer, caster and a summoner too! Looking at his fusion spell, he could be at least a peak stage A class!
"But still... To do this... I am embarrassed, Esteemed High Priest. I sincerely apologize for my son's conduct." Emperor Valentin put everything aside and still acted as a responsible father in front of the High Priest.
"Don't bother, just directly tell him to come to me if he needs more information, I could even grant him access to my own journal! Just reprimand him for me, but don't be too harsh." The High Priest answered in a carefree manner.
"Besides, what he was actually seeking was completely aligned with our worries. He only took the journal compilation about the curses. I could tell that he was starting to lay down the foundations for our Empire's Hope to combat the sinister curses!" He added with obvious delight and pride in his face.
He looked at Emperor Valentin and reiterated, "So be lenient when chastising him alright? After all, he was ultimately helping us!"
"This.. Alright, I'll heed your words, Esteemed High Priest." Even with his emotions unreconciled, he still affirmed the High Priest's advice.
And so, Emperor Valentin went home to the palace with a shaken heart and troubled mind. With so many things he discovered today, he didn't even know how he would face all of these in the days to come!
