Beguiling the Enemy’s Patriarch - Chapter 152

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 152
Ch 12. A Sweet End to Summer
After the events of that night had settled, the Barisha Imperial Palace fell into considerable disarray for some time. Day after day, remnants of the Dark Mages were dragged into the Imperial Palace Underground Prison. The Archbishop and Vice-Bishop, along with the priesthood, practically took residence in the Imperial Palace, devoted entirely to purifying the captured Dark Mages.
Because the Emperor had revoked his summary execution order against the Dark Mages for nearly two hundred years, the purification process required more complex and laborious methods. Since each one had to be fitted with Holy Restraints and have their magical power sealed, all high-ranking priests with strong holy power were summoned to the Imperial Palace.
Thus, the Underground of the Imperial Palace was never silent. Beyond the groans of Dark Mages suffering from their sealed magical power, there were the death-like sounds of priests who had exhausted all their strength in performing the sealing.
“It’s only been so long since we finished the purification work across all of Belgot, and now you’re giving us such grueling tasks….”
“I’m truly dying, Vice-Bishop. Please save me….”
Diego Schmart offered a strained smile toward the priests who were moaning with ashen faces.
“Who do you think wants to die the most right now, brothers?”
“….”
Diego Schmart was simultaneously applying Holy Seals to five Dark Mages. The dozen or so priests who had been groaning fell silent all at once. One of the priests made the sign of the cross.
“May the blessing of Raulus be with us….”
“Raulus will surely be with you always, Vice-Bishop. I have no doubt that he will recognize this hardship….”
“….”
Diego Schmart finished the sealing and laughed hollowly. The fact that Raulus himself was lounging about upstairs in the Emperor’s office and bedroom was something he absolutely could not tell the brothers. Diego Schmart forced a smile to preserve their faith.
“Yes…. May Raulus always be with us.”
Once today’s purification work was roughly finished, the next task awaited Diego Schmart.
* * *
[Raduer, Raduer. Play with me.]
“Raulus….”
A massive silver wolf wagged its tail. Contrary to the overwhelming pressure radiating in all directions, the words it spoke were rather frivolous.
[That Sheier child doesn’t care about me at all. She’s completely absorbed in that crumb.]
“Raulus, that’s not because she’s absorbed—it’s because she’s deeply concerned….”
[Either way, she’s abandoned me. The crumb won’t even wake up. I’m bored.]
“Yes….”
Diego Schmart, his face weary, was dragged along by Raulus.
‘As expected, I can never breathe a word of this to the brothers….’
Repeating the same resolve silently once more today.
* * *
While Diego Schmart and the priests spent days upon days handling the purification and sealing of the Dark Mages, Auredhian Belgot was plagued by the matter of Soleia Elad.
“Absolutely not. Have you lost your mind?”
“Why not? It doesn’t seem like an unreasonable request.”
Soleia Elad shot back sharply. Auredhian Belgot responded firmly.
“It is unreasonable. I made it clear that I cannot grant autonomy to the Dark Mages.”
“Once they wear the Holy Restraints and have their magical power sealed, they’re no longer a threat to Your Majesty’s realm. They’re no different from ordinary mages.”
“Sealing their power only prevents them from committing further crimes. Does becoming powerless erase the sins they’ve already committed?”
He was truly unyielding. There was not a single room for reconsideration. Soleia Elad bit back her tongue inwardly and retreated a step.
“Then what about a pardon….”
“No.”
“A reduction in sentence….”
“That’s not acceptable.”
“….”
Her beautiful face lost its composure, shattering like glass. This man truly seemed intent on sparing her only from summary execution. Soleia Elad spoke with a vicious edge to her voice.
“Isn’t this supposed to be a negotiation? If you’re going to reject everything outright, why bother arranging this meeting at all?”
“Speak plainly. This isn’t a negotiation—it’s a discussion of your sentence.”
Auredhian Belgot replied coldly.
“I wouldn’t have arranged this meeting at all if it weren’t for Yerenika.”
They were a faction that had dared to taint the Magic Tower—built by our ancestors—with darkness and committed unspeakable atrocities in the Kelkita Underground. He had no intention whatsoever of forgiving this wicked organization and its ringleader, this woman.
“Treason, murder, abandonment of corpses.”
From Auredhian Belgot’s lips poured forth charges that alone warranted capital punishment.
“Dark magic, human experimentation, attempted regicide against the Imperial Family, attempted assassination of foreign royalty, unauthorized intrusion into the Imperial Palace.”
“….”
“Extortion, embezzlement of state funds, defiance of imperial decree… this list is endless.”
Auredhian Belgot pressed his temples as if nursing a headache.
“Do you truly believe yourself bold enough to demand a pardon or sentence reduction from me despite all this?”
Unless he had lost his mind, there was no way he would forgive the very source of his suffering these past years. The mere thought that this woman had attempted to kill Yerenika multiple times still set his blood boiling. Auredhian Belgot spoke with icy finality.
“Your role is to be a guardian, not some second Hades.”
He intended to send Soleia Lisard beneath the Temple Underground. To guard Remordi as closely as possible. It was also the role for which she was most suited.
She was the only Dark Mage powerful enough to survive in the earth beneath the Temple, and moreover, she was the sole mage capable of commanding the wicked creatures that swarmed in the underground as if they were extensions of her own limbs.
If Soleia guarded Remordi, there could be no more perfect seal. In fact, this had been Yerenika’s idea as well.
[She’s too valuable a talent to kill. Today’s enemy becomes tomorrow’s ally! Don’t you know that?]
The memory of her persuading him with various arguments surfaced once more. Her words weren’t wrong, and truthfully, from a practical standpoint, assigning Soleia to a role suited to her abilities was the most efficient solution. That’s why he was showing her this leniency.
“Only I can fulfill the role of guardian. If I refuse….”
When she spoke with such audacity, he wanted to undo all this leniency and forget it had ever happened.
“If you refuse, then all of you will be annihilated. You and your disciples.”
In the end, harsh words spilled from his lips.
“You should understand that testing my patience further will do you no good.”
Whenever he stood before this woman, his head ached like this. Part of him wanted nothing more than to send her straight to the pyre without complicating matters, yet he stopped himself here….
[You promised me.]
Because Yerenika would disapprove. So this was precisely the limit of what he could permit. Auredhian Belgot pressed the Emperor’s seal onto the documents without even looking at Soleia Lisard.
“Felix.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
His aide Felix received the documents he offered. They contained the official sentence for Soleia Lisard and the Dark Mages. Purification and magical seal binding, followed by collective life imprisonment.
“Imperial citizens must abide by imperial law. Having escaped summary execution, you’ve become the first exception—surely that should satisfy you?”
Soleia Lisard did not answer. She glared at him coldly, then spoke sharply.
“Does she know what you’re truly like?”
Who she meant was unmistakable. Immediately, the holy restraint collar around Soleia’s neck tightened sharply. Soleia let out a weak gasp.
“Ugh.”
“So you speak freely the moment you think you’re being shown mercy. How presumptuous.”
Auredhian Belgot saw no need to continue this conversation with her and waved his hand dismissively.
“Radin, Lugie, take her away.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Holy Knights pulled the chain connected to Soleia Elad’s restraints. Even as she was forcibly dragged away, she let slip a remark.
“Is the Princess still in the same condition?”
“….”
A crack appeared in his cold expression for a moment. Soleia Elad caught it without missing a thing.
“It seems like more than a week has already passed.”
“…Radin.”
Auredhian Belgot did not respond, instead calling out the name of his direct subordinate Holy Knight once more.
“Gag her as well before you take her away.”
Bang. With those words, the door closed.
* * *
“The Princess still hasn’t awakened, I hear? Did you ask about it, dear?”
“Well, there’s no need to ask directly. His Majesty has been growing increasingly sensitive….”
“She really ought to wake up soon.”
Clarisse looked around the Imperial Palace with a worried expression. She had just returned from the palace with her husband, Aiven Count. The Princess, who had returned to Lebovni two years ago, had suddenly reappeared at the Barisha Imperial Palace. Since it was the Emperor himself who brought the Princess back, some had anticipated a state marriage, expecting His Majesty had finally taken action—but matters had unfolded differently than expected.
“Should I perhaps visit Schmart…? I’m worried because I can’t understand what’s happened.”
Clarisse murmured anxiously. That the Princess lay in a deathlike sleep was already an open secret in the Capital. Aiven Count comforted his wife.
“At least she’s not gravely ill, which is fortunate. Since she’s always been frail, recovery simply takes time, or so I’m told.”
“What on earth could have happened….”
Aiven Count fell silent with an ambiguous expression. He had been strictly cautioned not to disclose the misfortune that had occurred on the journey to retrieve the Princess from Lebovni. Similarly, a gag order had been issued regarding Soleia Lisard and the Dark Mages, whom they had thought expelled.
Naturally, Lebovni was in an uproar. Not only had the Princess vanished, but more than a fortnight had passed without her awakening—it was only natural. Somehow, it seemed no coincidence that this echoed the incident two years prior, when the Princess had collapsed just before leaving Belgot.
“She really ought to wake up soon.”
The one fortunate thing was that the Emperor was not as sharp and sensitive as he had been two years ago. Auredhian Belgot appeared outwardly little different from his usual self. This was a great relief to the nobility, including Aiven Count, who had keenly felt how merciless the Emperor became when his temper sharpened.
“It seems like something always goes wrong whenever she comes to Belgot.”
Clarisse murmured dejectedly.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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