How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 422

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

“David Graf.”

The young man spoke in a somewhat surprised but calm voice. Even to the chamberlain, whose standards had been raised by seeing only Espers, he had a face that continued to draw attention. He had a neat and composed impression, and among the many lackeys, he had the best physique. Though his features were somewhat sharp, they looked crisp and appealing. The chamberlain felt relieved that he had finally found the type of Human he wanted and scrutinized the young man’s face.

“Lives up to his name. Why did you leave such a person behind and bring out other lackeys?”

“Pardon? No, surely Your Excellency just said to select those who could compare to Espers…”

“Exactly my point. That’s what I said, so I’m asking why you didn’t bring this man out.”

At those words, the Head Chamberlain looked genuinely puzzled, as if wondering what he had seen wrong. As if he and the chamberlain were looking at completely different people. The chamberlain also looked at the Head Chamberlain with strange eyes before gesturing to the young man. The young man quickly lowered his eyes and followed behind the chamberlain. It was a servant’s courtesy not to make eye contact when not permitted. The chamberlain inspected the behavior of his eleven assigned lackeys as he toured various parts of the palace from the Swiss Gate to the Imperial Chapel and Heldenplatz.

When they headed back to the Swiss Gate, it was after the chamberlain had positioned nine lackeys along the route the Archbishop would pass. He headed to the entrance of the palace with the remaining two lackeys.

“5:40.”

The world was still bluish under the light of the sun that hadn’t fully risen. He looked at the two lackeys following behind him, actually focusing on the Human young man who had caught his attention since earlier, and gave instructions.

“In 20 minutes, His Excellency the Archbishop will come to the Imperial Palace through the Swiss Gate. His Majesty and the Oberhofmarschall will greet His Excellency the Archbishop there. You two will stand behind me, and if His Excellency the Archbishop hasn’t brought a secretary or if his secretary needs help from someone here, then you should step forward actively. And.”

The chamberlain now looked at the two lackeys alternately as he spoke.

“You haven’t seen His Majesty yet. When you enter the chapel with His Excellency the Archbishop, you’ll see His Majesty there. At that time, you must stand at the edge of the room, say ‘Euer Majestät’ while bowing deeply. Never add words like ‘good morning’ or such. It wouldn’t be an appropriate situation for that anyway. And be careful not to stand up too quickly when greeting.”

“Understood.”

Both lackeys answered simultaneously.

As they approached the Swiss Gate, they could see high-ranking Esper officials who had been released early from investigation standing there. The Oberhofmarschall was approaching from the distance. They would have to wait like this for the next 20 minutes. The chamberlain, who had greeted his superior and taken his position, glanced at the young man he had personally selected earlier. His black hair, voluminously parted and swept back, matched well with his neat features. The chamberlain looked at the lackey’s profile and cast a sound-blocking spell.

“Does the Head Chamberlain not like you much? Or has your treatment among the lackeys been poor, giving you a bad reputation?”

“That’s not the case, Your Excellency.”

“Then why didn’t the Head Chamberlain call you first?”

“That’s…”

The young man answered with a slightly embarrassed face, then ultimately couldn’t continue his words. It was clear he was about to answer ‘I’m not sure.’ The chamberlain shook his head and voiced his own speculation.

“You must look much more distinguished than the other lackeys, so everyone’s gotten jealous. The Head Chamberlain probably heard unfavorable things about your reputation from the Head Lackey.”

“I don’t think that’s it.”

“No need to be modest. Still, jobs like lackey or Kammerdiener ultimately involve face-to-face contact with people, so you can’t escape from winning the employer’s favor. In the end, people like you will survive to the end, so don’t worry too much about it.”

“Thank you for the encouragement.”

David Graf smiled gently and answered in a calm voice. The chamberlain nodded with satisfaction at the pleasant voice. Looking at him now, he was a young man with the best conditions for dealing with people, without a single problematic aspect.

‘If this matter ends successfully, I should take him with me.’

Promotion as a Human was impossible without Esper support. Since he didn’t even seem to be treated well among the lackeys, promotion was even more distant. However, if he, an Esper and chamberlain, supported him, this young man would surely win the favor of the royal family quickly, and whatever good work he did for the Imperial Court wouldn’t hurt the chamberlain himself. The chamberlain briefly thought of his own youth, then observed once more the young man who would walk a similar path to his own before turning his head.

6:00 AM.

The moment the minute hand moved from 59 to 00, three massive cathedral carriages stopped before the chamberlain’s eyes. From the first carriage, Archbishop and Cardinal Christoph Stahremberg descended with a gentle smile. From the carriages behind, bishops and monsignors were getting out in turn.

“Your Excellency the Archbishop.”

Everyone present, including the Oberhofmarschall, greeted the elderly Esper Archbishop. His appearance was much younger compared to Humans of the same age, but the seasoned atmosphere emanating from his expression and gait revealed that he was by no means a young Esper. His cassock with purple trim fluttered in the wind.

“I feel deep sorrow for the calamity that has befallen the Empire. Prime Minister Rudolf Traf was an excellent representative of the subjects and His Majesty.”

The Archbishop made the sign of the cross with his right hand, spoke in a solemn voice, then slowly began walking. The Oberhofmarschall stood beside the Archbishop to guide the way. The chamberlain signaled to the two lackeys behind him and entered the stairs leading from the Swiss Gate to the court chapel. The moment he set foot in the Baroque-style chapel entrance, what the chamberlain saw was the high arched ceiling and the hanging crucifix of Jesus. The glass decorations of the chandeliers reflected the rising sunlight.

The chamberlain was inwardly moved by the fact that he had entered the Imperial Chapel. The hard work of running around the palace for the past two hours had been worthwhile. The atmosphere in Austria, sharpened like a blade by the Prime Minister’s death, strangled the breath of all subjects, and the chamberlain himself had been suffocating all day from that atmosphere. But in God’s embrace, all troubles seemed to melt away gently. While examining the chapel he was entering after a long time with a moved heart, the chamberlain’s body naturally bent in half.

“We greet His Imperial Majesty.”

Numerous voices echoed through the high arched building. The youth choir stood behind the altar, and in front of them, priests working in the court were lined up. The Habsburg-Lothringen Emperor, dressed exactly like clergy, stood before the altar with the Crown Prince and his brother the Prince, looking at the Archbishop.

“You have come. I am pleased that you have taken steps for the Austria-Hungary Empire.”

“It is what must be done, Your Majesty. I am truly honored to be able to bestow blessings upon Your Majesty and the Empire before the Holy See dispatches a mage.”

“What fortunate words indeed.”

The Emperor with a worried face came down from his position and sat in the center of the front row seats where other royals were seated. The Archbishop led the priests and stood before the altar, making the sign of the cross.

“To Almighty God the Father.”

“…”

“Today we have gathered for His Imperial Majesty and the Empire amid great difficulties facing our nation. The death of Prime Minister Rudolf Traf, who devoted his life to the Empire and its subjects, has plunged the Empire into sorrow and anxiety. God the Father, in this dark hour, please give us comfort and light.”

A voice that was neither small nor weak spread through the chapel. The chamberlain, sitting with others in the fourth row of the chapel, clasped his hands together. The Archbishop closed his eyes and continued in a solemn voice.

“Lord, please protect our His Imperial Majesty. Give His Majesty wisdom and courage to guide him through this crisis. Strengthen His Majesty’s heart and give him enlightenment to make right judgments. Give him strength to comfort and unite his people. Lord, please protect our subjects…”

The Archbishop’s prayer continued. While he spoke, the chamberlain felt his heart becoming increasingly full and took a deep breath.

“Lord, please give peace to the Empire. In this tribulation, please give true peace to the Empire. Plant reconciliation and forgiveness in our hearts. Guide us so that we may live forgiving and understanding each other. Through our Lord Christ we pray.”

When the Archbishop stopped speaking, the sound of “Amen” filled the chapel. After that, this place became as quiet as if time had stopped. The chapel was more sacred and solemn than any other place. The Archbishop, who had slowly spaced his words, opened his mouth with a benevolent face.

“Beloved brothers and sisters. Today we have gathered here with sorrowful hearts. Now that yesterday’s incident, where our homeland’s Prime Minister was cruelly murdered by unknown forces, has left a burden on everyone’s hearts, anger, anxiety, and despair are seeping deep into our hearts. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.’ We face difficulties that cannot be solved with human wisdom. But when we rely on God and live according to His will, God will give us strength and wisdom.”

Ah, how can this be so sacred? There could be no prayer more sacred than this. The chamberlain completely forgot about the panic he had fallen into upon hearing the thunderbolt-like news that he had to finish all preparations in time, and was captivated by the Archbishop’s sermon. The Archbishop’s words were truer than anything else, and his face looked like an incomparable sage. Courage to overcome the calamity that had befallen the Austria-Hungary Empire welled up from within the chamberlain. The lackeys standing in the side aisle next to where the chamberlain sat and the court priests beside the altar also seemed moved by the Archbishop’s words, showing sincere faces, not to mention His Imperial Majesty. The Archbishop of St. Stephen embraced everyone in the chapel with thoughtful eyes and spoke quietly.

“Psalm 46 tells us that ‘God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.’ Even if the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, those who are with God will not fear. Our God the Father will be our high fortress and protect us.”

When the Archbishop finished speaking, a court priest placed a holy water font on the table beside the altar and stood next to it. The Archbishop saw the unfamiliar court priest place the holy water font, fell silent, then smiled gently. Then he took out a small box containing salt himself and recited a prayer. For a moment, the chamberlain was amazed by the Archbishop’s humility. The Archbishop was someone who personally carried out not only the recitation of prayers but every process of this blessing.

“Almighty God, we earnestly beseech You to bless this salt. You once had the prophet Elisha put salt in water to prevent it from spoiling. Therefore, wherever this holy water containing salt is sprinkled, may the Holy Spirit be present to repel all attacks of the enemy and always protect us. Through our Lord Christ we pray.”

The Archbishop sprinkled salt into the holy water font, then divided it into a small golden cup and dipped a palm branch in it. Then he slowly raised his hand and lowered the branch from top to bottom. Transparent water droplets scattered everywhere under the sunlight. Starting with that, the choir standing in a circle behind the Archbishop began singing high notes.

‘Gregorian chant.’

The chamberlain listened to the children’s clear singing voices with a peaceful heart. Dawn was gradually breaking and white sunlight brilliantly illuminated the inside of the chapel. Finally, it was time for blessings to be bestowed upon His Imperial Majesty. The prepared Archbishop’s gaze turned to His Imperial Majesty.

“Your Majesty.”

When His Imperial Majesty rose from his seat, his ceremonial robes decorated with gold thread shone. As His Majesty made the sign of the cross, the Archbishop approached His Majesty and dipped the palm branch in the holy water font. Holy water formed at every tip of the branch. The chamberlain could see His Imperial Majesty closing his eyes. The chamberlain straightened his back, not wanting to miss a moment of His Majesty receiving blessings.

CRASH―!!

“…!”

The chamberlain blocked in front with his arm. Bright blue light and a loud noise erupted right next to him. It was terrorism. It had to be terrorism. The culprit hadn’t stopped at killing the Prime Minister but had entered here! The moment the chamberlain, who had screamed and hit his head against the backrest, opened his eyes, his mouth fell open. The palm branch holding holy water was held not above the Emperor’s head but in mid-air. The Archbishop, with a surprised face and wide eyes, had both arms caught by blue magic power that had flown from somewhere.

But now that was no longer important.

A blue whirlwind caused by magic power swirled. Dozens of wands from numerous aides and soldiers all pointed in one direction at once. The chamberlain stiffly turned his rigid, frozen neck creaking to look where the cluster of wands was pointing. No, he had already done so once but looked again. And once more. He couldn’t believe what he had seen at all. The chamberlain’s mind went blank like white paper.

[In the name of Almighty God the Father who created heaven and earth, I ask you who would commit injustice against tens of millions of lives.]

The chapel resonated as if the voice itself was magic. Shoulders stiffened under the massive reverberation that spread, suppressing the whirlwind.

The lackey he had been watching, the ‘young man’s’ hair, turned pure white and flew. The black pupils between the pale blue irises were eerie. The young man with gleaming eyes was pointing the Papal States’ platinum staff at the Archbishop of St. Stephen.

The chamberlain’s vision became distant.

The young man was not a lackey. Nor was he Human.

The distinguished guest from the Papal States had already come to the Imperial Palace wearing the face of a lowly servant.

In the midst of the endless shock, the Vatican Mage’s voice echoed through the chapel.

[Is it truly right for the apostate Pleroma to hide behind Roman Catholic rites and practice heretical sorcery?]

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