Chapter 64 - Seth (2/2)

But the things that he gave away couldn’t be taken back, the aristocrats tightly held on to those benefits to the point that they wouldn’t let go even if it meant the end for their country, because the benefit of their family outweighed everything else.

Seth the First couldn’t do anything but watch as the nobles numbed themselves with their banquets and parties and pretended not to see the looming threat over their heads. But if one asked Seth if he regretted anything, he would reply that he wouldn’t have regretted instigating the coup, rather, he had only regretted that he was too impatient. If only he had ascended in a more stable manner, he wouldn’t have had to give up so many benefits.

“Your Majesty, the people of the Church of Divine Grace are here” an official nervously approached Seth the First and reported to him. Due to the war’s situation, Seth the First’s mood had been quite erratic recently. Although he might have seemed helpless in the war, he was still a King in charge of considerable power, and quite a few officials had already vanished without a trace.

“What are they here for?” during the royal family’s internal struggle, these people acted impartially towards the chaos and even took advantage of it to prosper considerably. Before the war, they were completely supportive of putting a new King on the throne, but as the war became hopeless, these people instead turned to support him.

Seth the First knew exactly what the Church of Divine Grace was after. If it wasn’t Royas who were invading Interkam, or if the envoy that the Church sent to Royas over a dozen years ago was successful, then the current Church of Divine Grace would have definitely remain impartial to the war.

Truthfully speaking, the people from the Church of Divine Grace could no longer be considered the part of Interkam. They represented a different class of people, the class that held ‘divine authority’. If it wasn’t for Eldridge’s disdain of their God, the Church of Divine Grace would never support him.

“I heard that it was because… of the Saintress of Salvation” the official hesitated a bit before he replied. He could still remember clearly how Seth went berserk when this prophecy first spread. He sent out his black ops to eliminate a large number of young girls from various royal branch families who fit the description, resulting in him offending many aristocrats. This was also one of the reasons why those aristocrats didn’t want to help him right now.

The official had thought that Seth the First would become furious, but unexpectedly, Seth remained completely calm.

In that brief moment, the official almost felt like he saw the young Seth the First again. At the time, Seth could definitely be considered a great leader among leaders. Step by step, he pushed the royal family at the time into a dead-end and even obtained the support of most great forces in the continent at the time. If not for Eldridge, Seth could definitely be considered one of the greatest rulers in the history of Interkam.

In fact, at the start, Seth and Eldridge were considered equals, some even considered Seth to be a bit more praiseworthy. Afterall, Eldridge was already the crown prince of Royas, while Seth was only a small aristocrat from the Interkam royal branch family.

But being one step behind resulted in being every step behind. Seth’s efforts still couldn’t match up to Eldridge’s background. The impatient Seth believed that he would be able to gradually unite Interkam under his rule after he ascended the throne, but he failed.

Where he stagnated and couldn’t move forward any longer, Eldridge did not, and now Eldridge became the one who held the absolute advantage, leaving behind the rival who was once on the same level, or perhaps even slightly ahead of him.

“I’ve already reached the end of my rope” Seth the First commented, naturally, he could choose to give up on his throne right now. With the power he was in charge of, even without the throne, he could be the leader of a considerable organization, but Seth would rather die than do such a thing, as that was his pride as a King.

“Who is the envoy from the Church?” Seth the First asked.

“Luen Donner” the official sighed in relief and replied: “A newly appointed Cardinal of the Church, as well as the eldest son of the Donner family”

“Call him in” Seth helplessly said. At this point, as long as it wasn’t the throne, he could agree to compromise on anything.