The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 141
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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141.
To those currently waiting outside the Audience Chamber, the Pope’s words would be like a death sentence.
After the Emperor heard the Pope’s answer, he gestured as if regretfully, and the Royal Guards opened the closed doors of the Audience Chamber.
At the same time, the First Consort, who had been sitting beside Empress Trisha with a bored expression, spoke her thoughts in a flat tone.
“Oh my, it seems the Gods have abandoned them.”
“First Consort.”
When Empress Trisha called out as if warning her, the First Consort covered her mouth as if she had been careless and nodded once as an apology.
However, no one except Empress Trisha paid any attention to the First Consort’s words.
And for good reason, as their disheveled appearance after barely lasting three days was visible to all.
“Wa, wa…ter…”
The priests who were almost carried in by the Royal Guards desperately wanted to wet their throats.
When the Royal Guards released their supporting arms at the Emperor’s glance, their bodies collapsed onto the floor of the Audience Chamber with a thud.
“…”
The Pope showed surprised eyes as if this was an unexpectedly tragic result, then turned his head away as if he couldn’t bear to watch such a pitiful sight.
“Yo, Yo, Your…ness.”
Among them, an Attending Priest who had some strength left tried desperately to call out to the Pope, but his pronunciation was slurred and difficult to understand.
The Elder Priest was barely breathing and completely unconscious.
The result of the judgment was obvious.
The Emperor was about to habitually call for the ‘Palace Physicians’ to take them away, but then turned his gaze to the Pope.
“-I would like to ask if it would be proper to follow the Temple’s laws.”
In other words, if it was acceptable to follow Imperial law, he would treat them so they could receive a proper trial.
Conversely, if following the Temple’s laws, they would be executed immediately upon being dragged out.
At this point, the Pope could only look at the Emperor without being able to pretend to be sorrowful or regretful.
‘I suppose he didn’t think His Majesty the Emperor would hold everyone accountable for every single thing?’
Eliminating heretics was also an important duty for the Pope.
However, there were many people in this Audience Chamber.
He surely wouldn’t want to show that such a miserable end was the result of trusting and following the Pope.
He had planned to cut off only those people as scapegoats, not intending to cut off everyone who sided with the Temple.
Among those who came from the Temple, there would also be those who knew that they had acted following the Pope’s orders, making it even more troublesome.
‘His Majesty is planting the seeds of discord quite thoroughly.’
The Pope only moved his lips without being able to say anything, and now finally looked at Wesley.
Like someone hoping he would plead on their behalf.
Of course, Wesley wisely remained silent.
In this matter, Wesley was an innocent victim, and he had no need to take responsibility even if he remained silent.
The decline of trust within the Temple?
Anyway, the rotten people who sided with the Pope had weighed their options and chosen to cut Wesley off, so that was also meaningless.
“-Oh my, if Your Holiness cannot choose, I have no choice but to govern them under Imperial law.”
And there was another blind spot.
If he agreed to handle things according to the Emperor’s words here, the Temple would end up submitting to Imperial law similar to the Magic Tower.
It was truly a dilemma.
‘The three days of diligent preparation were worthwhile.’
He was manipulating the Temple even better than I had thought.
It had been a really long time since His Majesty had acted in a way that pleased me.
Indeed, perhaps because he knew the Temple well, his adaptability was quite excellent.
I felt that he would have achieved similar results even if we hadn’t prepared.
After long contemplation, the Pope finally reached a conclusion.
“First, since they have committed great sins against the Gods, I think excommunication procedures should take priority.”
“Did I offer such an option?”
And the Emperor responded nonchalantly.
“There doesn’t seem to have been a case where excommunication procedures were added to the punishment for divine judgment, originally…”
When the Emperor gestured, the Palace Servants simultaneously delivered organized documents to the Temple side.
“According to the precepts established by the Temple long ago, the moment one is subjected to divine judgment, the subject is considered excommunicated, and if they pass the judgment, their status is restored…”
The Emperor leaned sideways in his throne and spoke as if puzzled.
“Surely His Holiness the Pope hasn’t forgotten those precepts? Perhaps your judgment has dulled with age as you mentioned.”
“…But this judgment was not presided over by the Temple, was it?”
At the Pope’s words, the Emperor burst into loud laughter.
In an instant, the Temple officials looked at him with bewildered expressions.
The Emperor struck the armrests of his throne repeatedly and spoke in a tone clearly mixed with mockery.
“The Pope truly seems to think that you and we are equals in this matter!”
“Your Majesty the Emperor!”
At the Pope’s startled cry, the Emperor threw away the mask of courtesy he had been wearing and shouted angrily.
“Kneel immediately!”
“…Are you telling this old body to kneel right now?”
“Did I not?”
“Do you truly know what meaning that holds! Do you not even fear the Gods!”
“Ha!”
The Emperor clicked his tongue loudly as if he was sick of that obvious repertoire.
“For that to be the case, it seems the Gods’ wrath has descended on your side instead?”
“You should watch your words!”
“Why should I?”
The Emperor leisurely tapped the armrest with his fingertips.
“It seems the Temple is the one that has been making false claims and tarnishing others’ honor all this time.”
“Those were words spoken by wicked ones!”
“Ha, wicked ones! You people recited the same words to my son and the future Imperial Princess.”
The Emperor glared at them with fierce eyes.
“Even though the results have come out so clearly, you still dare to say such things! Well, these are the people who tried to cut off even that precious Saint, so what more can be expected.”
At the Emperor’s words, the Pope couldn’t hide his bewilderment and raised his voice.
“Were your words about wanting to maintain friendly relations with the Temple all lies, Your Majesty the Emperor!”
“Do you truly not know which side first destroyed that friendship?”
Bang-!
The Emperor struck the armrest hard with his fist.
“You drove my sons into danger without any evidence, and you dare spout such words?”
It sounded like the words of a father who loved his sons very much.
“Ah, come to think of it, those people said there was evidence at the Capital Grand Temple. Where did you bring it?”
When the Emperor spoke with full sarcasm, the Pope jumped up from his seat and opened his mouth with pitiful eyes.
“-Didn’t I explain that those people made it up on their own! Your Majesty the Emperor, I came here representing the Temple to offer an apology, even if humiliating, and to strengthen our friendship going forward!”
Then he willingly lowered his body according to what the Emperor had said.
Though he didn’t kneel.
Of course, even that sight made many priests feel embarrassed, not knowing where to look as if they had seen something they shouldn’t have.
“I’m not asking you to forgive them, or trying to spirit them away by excommunicating them first as you misunderstand. I simply wanted to avoid causing the Imperial Court more trouble.”
“So, it’s all my misunderstanding, is that it.”
“That’s correct.”
The Pope cast a tense gaze toward the Emperor.
On one hand, I found his confidence that the Emperor would fall for his words disgusting.
At those words, the Emperor turned his head toward us.
“What do you think of His Holiness the Pope’s words?”
To this, Casian answered with a cold expression.
“-Father, you already know the answer, so why are you asking me?”
“Casian.”
“After visiting Riedern, I came to understand. Why Father told me to inspect that place.”
Casian looked sharply at the Emperor.
Like a famous sword that had been heated and tempered with patience, he seemed like someone who had been sharpening himself for this moment alone.
“You told me to go and find out exactly what the Temple has done to this Imperial Court, to Father, to me… and to my mother.”
At the sudden mention of Riedern, the assembly stirred.
The Temple in particular looked even more bewildered.
“Why on earth are you bringing up Riedern now?”
“If you’re talking about Prince Casian’s mother, that would be the late Empress… shouldn’t you be grateful to the Temple for that?”
“That’s right, didn’t the Temple prove her innocence when she was about to be wrongfully accused?”
The priests were looking at Casian’s anger as if it were ingratitude.
However, the Pope merely remained silent.
As if it didn’t matter what story Casian told.
No, rather, from the moment Casian brought up Riedern, I could feel a glimmer of hope taking hold.
I instinctively glanced toward the Fourth Consort.
She appeared to be wearing a mask of expressionlessness.
Until now, that is.
“Father.”
Casian felt all of that atmosphere and called out earnestly to the Emperor.
“I believe the Imperial Court and this Empire should no longer yield to the Temple. The time has come to restore Mother’s honor and Riedern’s reputation.”
“…”
The Emperor fell silent listening to Casian’s earnest voice, and just as he was about to say something.
The Fourth Consort’s expression changed.
Scaletti Zamotti pulled her lips into a bitter smile as if she had been waiting for this moment all along.
“-Your Majesty.”
Finally, she opened her heavy mouth.
Over the face of the woman who had been cautious and pretending to be respectful, the flower of boldness bloomed.
Just like when she had commanded as Empress several months ago.
“How long do you intend to sin against this Empire and the previous Emperors?”
She spoke quietly yet solemnly.
Everyone’s gaze shifted from the Emperor’s lips to the Fourth Consort, who remained seated but had raised her head.
“-How long do you intend to be so cruel to Charley? How long must I endure this?”
“Fourth Consort.”
The Emperor’s eyes grew fierce.
As if he wouldn’t let her be if she opened her mouth.
“When will you recover from your unrequited love for the late Empress!”
However, the Fourth Consort gripped the armrest tightly and shouted while looking straight at the Emperor like someone fighting alone against enemies.
“You’ve been causing all this trouble to give everything to Prince Casian, who has no Imperial blood and isn’t even your real son, and now you’re trying to give him legitimacy too!”
She drew the final weapon she had been harboring all this time.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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