Volume 14 Chapter 2 (1/2)

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Chapter 2: The Third Annual Enthronement Ceremony[]

The third annual enthronement ceremony of the pope was to be held 300 miles north-east from the city of Romalia, near the border Gallia, inside the Town of Aquileia This cererand festival

The Romalian church makes intensive preparation towards the journey to Aquileia

Inside a courtyard surrounded by five towers and one le civil servant, commander and priest board shi+ps, each decorated with specific religious crests In coantic warshi+p for the sole usage of the pope The pier aboard the e when the pope wayfares

The Holy knights of the church riding on pegasus' waited in the sky above, going through their procedures

Despite the fact that Guiche and Ondine Water Spirit Knights would be the ones acco Henrietta on board the shi+p, they were delayed fro the shi+p because of certain circumstances

Everyone on the harbour, which was extended like a balcony froe cathedral, waited impatiently for the arrival of their companions

”What in the world is Saito doing”

Malicorne murmured anxiously

Makes sense

Though the apparant fact that the departure ti, Saito, who bared quite a bit of responsibility, had yet to show up Since he also skipped the training yesterday, it was inevitable for everyone to feel anxious

”Did he escape out of fear?”

One of the students said with a hint of agitation Everyone in the Ondine water spirit Knights were informed that they must prevent Gallia's conspiracy towards the pope

Even if they assumed that the plan of Gallia was to assassinate the Pope of the highest authority in Halkeginia, they did not knohat it was Gallia was trying to achieve through this conspiracy But anyhow, it didn't see

More the reason why experiencing fear was expected

A few students started to murmur ”Knew he couldn't escape his status as a plebeian” and sirunt and shook his head

”I don't think so That is because he is a man ould still stand up no matter the number of times defeated by my Valkyrie”

”Besides, he is a ainst an army of 70,000 How could some feeble plan of Gallia scare him?”

Malicorne nodded whilst easily a the theories of Saito being a scaredy cat

Reynard, as silent the whole time opened his mouth

”Actually I saw Saito yesterday”

”What!?”

Everyone focused on this teenager wearing glasses with a seely serious character

”It's so I saw him and Louise walk out of the cathedral side by side”

”Why didn't you say so earlier?”

Embarrassed by Malicorne's roar, Reinard scratched his head

”Because soirls if I said that it would hurt Saito's reputation But on the other hand, I also understand Saito's feelings On the night before carrying out a dangerous mission, it is a ht be possible to die on the battlefield”

”Then aren't we the same?”

Hearing what Gimli said, Guiche shook his head

”The one in uy messed around with the Gallian enemies a few times Anyhow, it should be about time he comes out already”

As Guiche commented, Louise and Henrietta showed up, acco, Guiche and the group were stunned

”Aah! Isn't this the dress of a nun?”

What Louise and Tiffania were actually wearing was a white robe worn by priests All of the seae thread On the neck hung a holy object, giving the i nuns

”Both of them will participate the ceremony as the status of a nun”

Agnes explained to the people in frozen status

Tiffania's sharp, pointy ears were covered perfectly by the hood, a much better fit than her usual hat, since none of the Philipe? believers would dare lay a hand on a nun Just the perfect safety charm

Unknown if it was also because of the sahter than usual

On the other hand, Louise kept htly, as ifthe prayers to God With Louise's unusual attitude, Guiche could not help but feel uneasy himself

Although he wanted to inquire about what happened to Saito, under the presence of Henrietta, he was unable toabout what happened, Henrietta asked the exact thing that Guiche wanted to know

”Did so happen to Saito de Chevalier? It seems that he has yet to appear?”

Guiche lifted his head and said

”It is what I had in mind as well Louise, what happened to Saito? He ith you yesterday, right?”

But still, all Louise did was hold the holy object tensely Observing Louise's weird attitude, Henrietta see, and asked her

”Louise, you look like you knohat happened”

Louise took a long, deep breath and told everyone looking at her

”Saito has already returned”

Everyone was too stunned to say anything Henrietta stared at Louise ide eyes Tiffania covered her lips wide open from shock Guiche, with a surprised tone asked Louise for more details

”H-He went back to the Academy?”

Louise shook her head and replied

”He returned to his world”

Everyone froze like a statue after hearing those words from Louise

”Louise! What happened! Tell us everything!”

Guiche frantically shook Louise's shoulders Slowly, she brushed off his hands and replied

”You should all know that Saito is froht?”

The Ondine Knights nodded Everyone knew that Saito came from the place called ”The East”

” Saito received letters from his mother It told him to come home”

”So you returned her request?”

Louise nodded Malicorne pulled his hair and screamed

”At this ht at this critical moment”

After hearing what Malicorne had to say, Louise gave him a stern look

”What are you talking about! It is exactly at times like this we should send hi for us You call yourself an aristocrat! Is it not sensible to fix our own problems?”

Louise bit her lip, still holding the holy object tightly, and continued

”In any case, from this point onwards, ill never involve Saito in our conflicts!”

Malicorne then said with a troubled voice

”Although I don't completely understand does this ain? Or will he co his mother?”

Louise closed her eyes for a while then nodded A pale-faced Louise never let go of the holy object in her hands, and returned to herIt was a prayer to God

Noticing Louise's actions, the Ordine Knights' faces changed to a worrying white

”Prayers, you can continue later I still have another question, may I ask you of it?”

”Go on”

”Is it of Saito's own decision? Did Saito hio home'?”

Louise shook her head

”I sent him back”

”How did you do it?”

”That I can't answer”

Everyone standing next to Louise became aware of Henrietta's strained face and stopped further pursuit Everyone seemed to sense that this involved top secrets of the country

However, the words of Louise sti on this subject, voices of blahts

”This is no good! Even if he is your fa too much on your own accord!”

”I Did not! I thought it through thoroughly first!”

Malicorne tilted his head a little and said

”Right, but I don't think in the saside us If I were hiht this way”

The teenagers all concurred with Malicorne's words and nodded vigorously Louise began to say so, but was interrupted by Henrietta

”Do you intend to shame me?”

All of this coht the attention of the priests and officials of Romalia nearby, all of ere desperate to eavesdrop

With the sudden reminder from the Queen, the boys made a flustered face

”It's a probleuards because of this is another big issue And I originally considered all of hts”

Being scolded by the Queen with such a serious tone, it stroke fear in all of the boys' hearts Henrietta promptly followed Louise, who hurried to board the shi+p, and walked up the gangplank Without exchanging expressions or words, one by one the Ondine Knights all followed Henrietta aboard

Louise entered her cabin that was prepared for thean to pray as she kneeled on her bed Tiffania was staring at Louise across the room with concern

She was obviously confused with the sudden event

What does she mean by 'Saito returned'?

She once heard a story in Westwood of Albion that there was 'another world'

She said that letters were received by his mother from another world I don't kno letters can be sent from a different world But since Louise said so, it is probably true

Speaking of which, when he ith an crying I consoled him that time

Tiffania was having mixed emotions I'o back to his hoh a lot of trouble together and helped each other, but this is a sudden turn of events

She wanted to know the full story fro

Obviously troubled, she folded her ar what to do next, knocks sounded from the door

Standing there was Henrietta, accones

”Henrietta-sama”

Henrietta approached Louise but Louise didn't notice her as she continued to pray

”Louise, please stop praying and look at me”

Finally, Louise lifted her head in silence, but did not look at Henrietta either

She remembered the spell cast by the Pope 'World Door'

”Louise, did Saito really go back to his world? You must have spoke to the Pope and Julio(?) Did the Pope really use void ic to send him back”

Louise closed her eyes and nodded

What would make her send him back?

They would have liked to ask for a detailed story, but right then there was no time

Henrietta placed her hand on Louise's shoulder and whispered to her ears

”We'll talk about this later on”

Henrietta went to the cabin of the Ondine Knights and gave theh the boys seemed to disapprove, this did, after all, came from the Queen and they had no choice but to nod their heads

She then returned to her own bedroones leave

Resting her head on her elbows on the sill, silent tears glittered froht, a direct comparison to her smooth white skin

While letting tears flow, she realized how dependent she was on the fah he did not have erous tasks with heavy burdens

He has now returned to the world he belongs to

”Isn't this supposed to be a blessing?”

Until now I've always made mistakes Now, I have to somehow do all this by myself I am the Queen

She understood her own reasoning, but for some reason the tears continued to flow from Henrietta's beautiful pair of eyes

”It must be that I wasn't prepared for the sudden farewell”, Henrietta thought

As soon as the boat carrying Pope Vittorio on the other side of the ay left, the crowds congregated on the docks of Maltailago bursted into cheers

The city of Aquileia next to the border of Gallia, which wasthe oceans to connect several artificial island using just sand and stones An incredible nuhly, just like afor famous conspiracies and romances for quite a few times in history

The shi+p ”Saint Moraco” carrying the pope started to descend slowly The hull of the shi+p seereat waves The water started to overflow and for across the surface of Aquileia's centre Soon, the centre was flooded with seawater This fact, however, did not upset the gathered group of Aquileians, who risked being completely drenched to approach the shi+p closer

Actually, the seawater here was considered as a type of Holy Water To the highly religious people of Aquileia, this was priceless

The people of this city were completely used to ceremonious atmosphere caused by the arrival of the pope's shi+p

After the aggressive descent, the shi+p slowly edged itself next to the walls of the centre Sailors quickly jumped onto the dock and anchored the shi+p

With the chorus singing hy staircase used to welco sounds wherever they went The staircase was installed at the gunwale of the boat, and cloth made of purple coarse fabric was laid down from the staircase onwards to the central part of the centre

Awaiting at the end of the winding staircase were Mayor of Aquileia with Lord Letsosonic, the other Archbishop They knelt down and greeted the honored guests with hospitality

The first ones to appear frohts They wore purely white mantle that covered most parts of their body and lifted holy staffs to their chests

After a long procession of knights that cae of Roh to make everyone not help but wonder ”where from the shi+p did they come from?”

When these two tea out from the shi+p, another round of cheers, more enthusiastic than the last, came from the crowd

The next group that caently walked down the ramp with the cohts sandwiched her front and back The allied young Queen, Henrietta also harboured a popularity worthy of credit here

So live the Queen of Tristian!”, Henrietta responded with a light wave

And after all those honored guests had showed up, as soon as the starring actor of this day showed hily quiet Even the young boy selling water as yelling ”Hari!”(?) took off his cap and drew a cross in front of his chest

When Pope Aegis the 32nd, Vittorio Cervale with dazzling eyes appeared in front of the people, the congregated people of Aquileia involuntarily sighed

It was as if the shi+ning light from this holy man had focused on each of the many people in this centre

As soon as Vittorio raised his hands, and a smile was laid across his face the spell of silence was broken imhout the place

On the first night the pope and the people accoround of Aquileia, all of theat the round table sitting inside the Cathedral of St Lutia Aquileia

Tiffania and Louise sat next to Henrietta, and next to thenes In a fairly distant side of the table sat Guiche with a strained face

The other half of the table was surrounded by the officials of Romalia

Right in the middle was pope Vitorrio himself, in the cohts Next to theh Priest of St Lutia Church, discussing topics with uneasiness

The mayor who had been informed of this plan worriedly said

”I am familiar with the plan, but is it true that Gallia plans to attack the pope?”

It was, in fact, the aie”, but to avoid confusion, it was not mentioned

Vittorio nodded while wearing a kind smile

”It is undoubtly true The incoinia Our father in heaven, my ancesestors and myself are all obstacles in his eyes”

Listening to how the Pope said that without hesitation, thefrom his forehead

Just my luck that such a troublesome incident had to happen within my term

The ht

”In these circuer thou self”

One of the events of the annual coronation ceremony was continuous prayers with numerous priests and priestesses

During this event, Aquileia would be crali

”The Gallian syndicate would be disguised as one of the believers to take action”, the Pope and the rest of the people thought But to the eyes of the Mayor, this plan was like a horrendous nightuards of the Pope fail, he would have his nauilty of incapability to protect the assassinated Pope

”The Mayor's concerns are inevitable However, race towards our enemies”

Julio stood up and began to write the plan on the blackboard

”As we all know, the thing we have to fear ic”

Smoothly, Julio drew the layout of the Cathedral with chalk

”Therefore, to prevent our assailants froical tools capable of detecting ic to surround the whole Cathedral!”

Julio marked a few points on the board

”Obviously, wands or staffs are banned when visiting However, suppose they use ic, ill be alerted by this device, and the hts around here”

The mayor looked as if he let out a breath

”Of course, that is not all We would also cast several folds of 'air shi+elds' to ensure the Pope's safety Coainst this”

The Pope and the Mayor exchanged reassuring expressions, and nodded in agreement

Although at many times most of the people were impressed by this plan, one of them just didn't seem to be convinced

That person was Tiffania

After hearing what Julio had said, for some reason an indescribable emotion seemed to flash across her mind now and then When she was se and killed her

When an organisation as large as a country wants to eliminate people in their way especially when it would have a big influence on future events, would they use a conspiracy? Or would they attempt to assassinate?

If they wanted to coet, wouldn't it be more sensible to use other methods?

They would have applied a reliable, infallible method

Tiffania hesitantly raised her hand

”Miss Westwood?”

Bea a smile, Julio looked at Tiffania

”Y-yes may I ask a question?”

”Of course”

”Then in front of all these great people, although I consider it to be foolish, it has troubled me for quite some time And , what if Gallia sends their army in?”

Henrietta sently and said

”Tiffania, you do not have to worry about that Gallia is a country of deep history The Kingdos, not the alliance of nobles They still have to keep up their reputation, and would not dare violate the contract signed, and lead their army across the borders and this sort”

As this point, Henrietta realised that with the exception of herself, no one was s On the other hand, Julio nodded his head in the direction of Tiffania

”I'd say there's a fifty percent chance of that happening”

”What!?”

Henrietta's face immediately lost its colors Calmly, Julio continued

”Until last week, there have not been many troops in redeployment But now, since I was cut off from my informant, we have had to prepare ourselves Near the border of Gallia, I have positioned 9,000 elite Holy Knights from 4 united tea above them for protection The only fleet fro them is the 'multi-purpose fleet'”

”You amassed an army at the borders of Gallia? Isn't this an act of provocation!”

Henrietta stood up and yelled

”It does notas it makes our job easier”

”This is different froer a war?”