Chapter 630 - v4c15 Siblings(4) (1/2)
v4c15
Siblings(4)
“Master Archbishop.”
Edessa walked through a corridor and immediately saw the former Chief Archbishop of Ampere Seale pruning the flowers in the courtyard with a pair of clippers in hand. The old man was dressed in a long robe. His back faced her while he bent his head close to the lush green branches, looking absorbed in his work.
Wood shuddered slightly when Edessa called him. He turned around with a slight smile. “Edessa, you’re here.”
“Yes, Chief Archbishop. May I ask why you were looking for us?” Edessa bowed and asked.
Wood put away the clippers and turned around, casually placing a cut branch on the stone table in the courtyard. Edessa saw his silver-gray eyebrows relax as he spoke to her. “Go fetch your master and tell him that if he wishes to meet me, then the day to do so is today.”
The attendant stood there dumbfounded. It seemed as though she wasn’t able to respond for a moment, but after a brief pause, a glimmer of surprise appeared in her eyes. “Master Archbishop- ”
“There is no need to thank me on behalf of your master, Edessa,” Wood said, but then he waved his hand. “I have promised you nothing; he earned this opportunity, but I’m afraid it’s ultimately up to you all to convince Her Highness and that man.”
“Only you would give us a chance, Master Archbishop.”
“Then hurry up and get ready,” Wood replied.
Edessa hurriedly nodded. She bowed to this former Chief Archbishop of Ampere Seale with her utmost sincerity and then backed away. The old man sighed as he watched her leave the courtyard, watching her figure disappear down the corridor. He picked up the clipper again, but right then, the sound of rustling footsteps came from the other side of the corridor.
He was slightly startled and stopped what he was doing again.
……
The squire led Brendel, the princess, and her party through the corridor. The sunlight seeped in between the neatly trimmed walls of flowers and other plants outside, leaving a streak of light which resembled the stripes of a zebra on the floor of the corridor.
“Mr. Brendel, Haruz will be in your hands,” the princess said softly after she casted a glance at Haruz, who was silent, upon seeing them noticing them walking at the back.
Brendel also looked at the young prince.
In fact, Haruz was also discreetly looking at his gaze. The prince’s eyes – which were not quite the same as his sister’s somewhat dark gray eyes – were full of anxiety, and there was even a tinge of pleading in his gaze. Brendel couldn’t help but be a little amused. He didn’t really say much; he simply promised to keep the young prince’s secret.
He was, of course, capable of keeping a secret, but not this one. He knew that the true secret was that this young prince of Aouine might have some kind of unusual talent in him, like the one which was described in the article in a previous forum: with just a glance at those obscure black magic books, one could master all the spells. Even the talented Buga Wizards of the People of SIlver could only regret their inferiority for not possessing such a talent.
However, now was not the time to reveal this secret to the public. On one hand, he did not want Haruz to become arrogant because of it, and on the other hand, he wanted to protect His Highness, the tiny Crown Prince of Aouine.
He gave a light nod at the princess’s request.
Light began to fill their vision; the hedge of holly trees had come to an end. The squire led them around the corner of the corridor, and then Brendel saw the former Chief Archbishop of Ampere Seale.
To him, Wood looked thinner than he had been half a month ago, but also much more relaxed, as if the old man had been waiting for them for a long time. He smiled immediately when he saw them. “Princess Gryphine, Mr. Brendel, the two of you have arrived.”
Then, he looked further behind them. “Miss Amandina, Miss Romaine, and His Highness, it’s good to see you all.” Amandina nodded politely, while little Romaine beside her waved vigorously at the Chief Archbishop. Only Prince Haruz stood behind everyone timidly.
Princess Gryohine sighed at the sight of her brother. She bowed slightly to Wood. “Master Archbishop,” the princess looked up and directly said. “We are here regarding the negotiations with the north.”
Wood froze before he composed himself again. The princess of Aouine was so direct, her poise indicating that she had no qualms about the price. It was clear that she was telling him that she wasn’t about to compromise on the issue.
Princess Gryphine’s att.i.tude wasn’t quite what he expected, but that was precisely why he couldn’t help but sigh. He understood the princess’s determination from the start. The Holy Cathedral of Fire thought it had a victory in hand, but it had ended up causing a huge problem.
Although the Holy Cathedral had already compromised countless times with Aouine’s problems, it was clear that today was the final major event. If this princess could solve the problem in the north with a single move, then Aouine’s unification and even revival would only be a matter of time.
The Kirrlutz would not be happy to see a revived Aouine, but there was no core conflict between the two yet after all. Compared to the Hawk’s empire, Aouine was nothing more than a small kingdom that was content to live on borrowed peace. The same was true for Wood, who was a more faithful believer in the way of the Holy Cathedral of Fire than the Kirrlutz, and thus at one time advocated the neutral att.i.tude of the Holy Cathedral.
Even though this att.i.tude couldn’t continue to be maintained, he still supported every one of the Holy Cathedral of Fire’s actions. Those actions taken had proven to be wrong, but the former Chief Archbishop of Ampere Seale needed to consider solutions in repairing the damage caused by those mistakes, rather than questioning the actions of the Holy Cathedral of Fire.
He pondered for a moment, but he still didn’t speak. Brendel, who was on the other side, replied, “Master Archbishop, Aouine, after all, believes in the doctrine of the Holy Cathedral of Fire. The Holy War is imminent, and I’m sure the Holy Cathedral doesn’t want to see its allies fall into civil strife. But if there’s Aouine, then neither the foolish Holy Cathedral of Earth nor Madara will be an issue for the KIrrlutz.”
Wood flinched.
His gaze flitted over to Brendel. This was the fourth time he had seen this young man, and it was this young man that gave the Holy Cathedral of Fire a great deal of trouble, but Wood had no animosity towards Brendel. Instead, he had some appreciation for the man.
“Did you say the Holy Cathedral of Earth and Madara?” he asked, his eyebrows raising. “Mr. Brendel, I heard you were one of the first people to escape from Bucce and went through that war, and yet you speak those words. Don’t you think that it’s because of the stigma against the Black Rose of Bramando?”