"I see… Then I'll try to do it now!" Now that Eli understood the meaning of the exercise, she was excited to try it right away.
"No can do. You have to ensure that your body rests." The High Priest reminded her again. "No matter how enthusiastic you are, the training will resume tomorrow."
Remembering that she needs to rest, Eli meekly responded with a hum. It was because she remembered that even the elderly High Priest had to rest too. She felt a little bit embarrassed about forgetting that fact.
"Thank you, Teacher, for always reminding and training me…" Eli said gently, her tone was full of appreciation and gratefulness.
"En… Now, let's call it a day. I'll see you again on sundown unless something comes up in the Temple. If I wouldn't be available, I'll be sending Joab to supervise your training. He is a great devourer anyways and would be your future instructor after you have managed to get a grasp of your devourer's ability." High Priest Enoch waved his hand signaling the end of the training session.
He then put on his disguise before going out with Eli.
"Esteemed Teacher, Milady… I have prepared the dinner. Would you like to dine first?" The butler was patiently waiting outside the training room. Upon seeing that the training was done, he respectfully bowed and offered for the two to have dinner first.
Eli looked at High Priest Enoch worriedly and suggested, "Teacher, would you like to have dinner first before going back to the portal? You might have no time to take care of yourself when you go back."
"No need, for I still have to take care of some things in the Capital. I have Julian to take care of my well-being so do not worry." High Priest Enoch shook his head gently declining the request.
"Sigh… It can't be helped then. Let us see you off to the portal, Teacher." Eli could only reply disappointedly. She was guilty of causing such an inconvenience to the elderly High Priest just for her to be able to grow stronger. Her desire to improve ignited more intensely as she realized these things.
She cannot afford to take that long before she can go to the frontline. She had to.
–
The tension kept the Capital's atmosphere suffocating.
The noblemen felt like they couldn't breathe at the might that was displayed by the Imperial Family and innocent common people were caught in between.
On the third day after the issuance of the High Order search, the nobles started to get more concerned and agitated. They felt like livestock kept in the barn to eventually be slaughtered for who knows when.
They knew for a fact that this wouldn't be the case if the two princes of the Empire were not hurt by the recent chaos. Now even if they wanted to pressure the Emperor to recognize the importance of their dignity in the society, they didn't dare to, or they would be viewed by the Emperor as the traitor.
However, not all of the nobles thought this way, some of them approved of the measures done by the Emperor although they could only keep that in their hearts. The Astazes and the neutral faction were the majority of the group who were most supportive of the Emperor's decision.
While the Vesala's and their allies thought that this would be a stain on Emperor Valentin's legacy after the matter settled. They thought that this move will make the Emperor powerless toward the nobles in the future, for they will no longer support him after trampling on their dignity.
Unfortunately, for the Vesalas and other nobles who were thinking like this, they were all in the wrong. This effect was something that Emperor Valentin has been aiming to create.
A true division between the aristocratic faction.
He was sure that by isolating these nobles and limiting their communication lines, he would breed some kind of a division between those who were truly loyal to the Empire or those who only fawn over the Imperial Family for power.
With no one to influence each other, the traitor's mindset would continue to think that the longer the oppression the likelier it is for the Emperor to lose support from the greater nobles.
However, the nobles, who were truly loyal, would set aside the powers they were supporting, may it be the first or the second prince, and see the real threat in the current situation.
They will realize that even if they supported their prince, the Empire would be long gone if they wouldn't cooperate in solving the case of the murders that have hurt their political leaders.
He planned to suddenly lift the ban while everyone was on the verge of exploding. Emperor Valentin was sure that on the day of their freedom, the first thing they will do was to form a coalition to convince the nobles to overthrow him at the next council assembly.
At that time, he will also let them have a little moment of glory high in the clouds before watching them fall in disgrace.
Now came the fifth day of the restrictions and Emperor Valentin knew that the time for everything to unfold would be just around the corner.
All he needed was the signal of his brother Fidel and the two Grandmasters, Andvari and Reuben. As soon as the preparation on their side was done, he will immediately announce the lifting of the restriction and start the show for Duke Maxim and his fellow traitors.
Setting the things outside the palace, Emperor Valentin started to think about the things inside his Imperial Family.
It was almost a week now yet there was no improvement in First Prince Kazimir's condition. Greatly worried, he visited his chambers every day and could only ask Princess Consort Arielle about him.
Through this, he was made known of the fact that Kazimir had just gone through an episode of depression during the time that he implemented a sanction on the Vesala family.
It was new to him to discover that his eldest son would be the one with the most vulnerable state of mind when things were not in his favor.
"Then this must be one of my shortcomings as a parent." Emperor Valentin realized as he was talking to Arielle.
"Your Majesty, please do not say those words! Everyone knows how you dote on His Highness! Please do not blame yourself in this matter." Princess Consort Arielle was flustered upon hearing Emperor Valentin's words so she immediately tried to dispel his crestfallen mood.
Emperor Valentin could only gently smile and shake his head, he knew that it was really his fault. Although he loved his three sons, he know for himself that he was not able to give them the kind of love they needed as they grow up.
To Kazimir and Antoine, he gave them all the material things that he could give because he knew that he couldn't give the two a complete family. He will never be able to give them a picture of a mother, a father, and a child in a happy household.
Thus, the two grew up with the best of the best and had never experienced being in lack. They have been sheltered by top-notch teachers and servants and had almost not experienced any setbacks in life.
To Leon, while he had the ability to give him a great picture of a happy family with Tehila, it could only be done inside the secret chamber. As soon as they were outside, he had to treat him and Tehila as distant as possible.
It even became worse when he had no choice but to send his poor little son to the battlefield - it was the cruelest decision he had ever made.
Now, the one who was suffering the impact of his shortcomings as a father was his children themselves.
Kazimir was depressed.
Antoine was in a coma and still recuperating.
And Leon couldn't do what he wanted because he had to hold back everything about him - his talents, his brilliance, and his family.
'Believe in your son's destinies…' He remembered Lucia's words. But the situation could not help but put a doubt in his heart.
"Sigh…" Emperor Valentin could only shake his head, patting his legs as he was about to stand up. He looked at Kazimir who was still staring blankly in the window, he looked like a beautiful puppet with no soul.
Emperor Valentin gestured for Arielle to give the two of them a time to talk privately to which she obliged by immediately exiting Kazimir's quarters.
"Kazimir, my son…" Emperor Valentin sat at his bedside as he gently pulled Kazimir's stiff hands.
"I will make my move soon… But it pains me knowing that you have to go through all this. I will never understand the pain you were suffering right now because I have never experienced being in that situation."
His son only stayed still without a reply, it was as if he was in his own world and was not hearing the words he was saying.
"Tell me what pains you the most… In that way, I may have the chance to understand you even a little bit." Emperor Valentin said these things gently, enunciating every word coming from his heart.
In three decades, this was the first time he had coaxed one of his children. It might be awkward for a fifty-year-old man like him to coax his son who was already in his thirties, but he didn't mind.
His eldest son, Kazimir, needs him as a father now.
