Inside the King's study.
Heavy curtains were half-drawn, sunlight filtering through the gaps and spilling onto the deep red carpet, casting a warm glow.
The walls of the study were adorned with portraits of past kings, their gazes seemingly fixed on everything within the room.
Augulas sat behind a finely carved oak desk, holding a jewel-encrusted golden goblet in his hand, the red wine within gleaming a deep crimson in the sunlight.
"Your Majesty, Miss Isaacson wishes to see you."
The servant reported, head bowed low in humility, a hint of trembling in his voice.
Augulas's brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of impatience in his eyes.
Before Augulas married Emma, he had maintained a close relationship with Mona Isaacson, even leading her to believe that she had everything under control and could become his queen.
However, Emma Burke's sudden intervention shattered Mona Isaacson's dreams.
In the past, Augulas would never have refused to meet with her, but now the situation was different.
"I will not see her."
Augulas's tone was icy, and he slammed the golden goblet heavily onto the ground.
The red wine in the cup splashed onto the carpet, as glaring as blood.
With the crisp sound of shattering glass, the servants fell to their knees, foreheads pressed to the ground, fearing that the young emperor's anger would consume them.
Augulas was not angry with Mona Isaacson, but rather he had always regarded her as a substitute for Dolores.
Now that Dolores had thoroughly angered him, Mona Isaacson's appearance would only make him more displeased.
What angered him even more was that his bride, Emma Burke, had not yet consummated their marriage.
Their marriage was nothing more than a political alliance, and although he knew this, the accumulation of all these events still left him feeling incredibly oppressed and angry.
The servants knelt on the ground, cautiously cleaning up the debris, until Augulas coldly waved his hand, and they retreated from the study with a sigh of relief.
The door was gently closed, and silence returned to the study, leaving only Augulas's heavy breathing.
In the shadows where the sunlight could not reach, a slender figure slowly emerged.
Randall's figure appeared like a ghost in the corner of the study, a mocking smile on his face, his eyes flashing with dangerous light.
"Our young emperor, who has angered you?" Randall's voice was low and hoarse, with a hint of sarcasm.
Augulas's eyes were as cold as ice as he raised his head, his gaze like a knife piercing Randall.
"Randall, remember your place and kneel before me. You are no longer the Pope, but a wanted criminal."
His voice carried an unquestionable authority, and although he had secretly reached a cooperation with Randall, he still could not tolerate this former Pope.
Randall chuckled lightly, shrugging his shoulders indifferently.
"Hehe, if I kneel, will you be able to win back Dolores? Or will you be able to snatch the Azure Dragon Whip from Leon's hands?"
His tone was full of sarcasm, as if deliberately trying to provoke Augulas.
Augulas's fists clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white with force.
Randall's words were like a sharp blade, piercing his heart.
He took a deep breath, trying to suppress the anger in his heart.
"Angering me will not do you any good. If it weren't for my protection, you would have been found by the Creed family's joint capture team long ago."
Randall smiled faintly, with no gratitude in his eyes.
"Oh, then I should thank you." His tone was full of irony.
If Augulas had not agreed to the Wise Men's Court taking over his case and trying him within the Church, Randall could have completely avoided punishment based on his status and influence.
Augulas was largely responsible for his current situation.
Just then, the air in the study suddenly twisted, and a black rift appeared out of nowhere, the gates of hell slowly opening.
The beautiful young man with black hair and brown eyes, Loll Jackson, walked out, a bright smile on his face.
He wore a gorgeous black礼服, holding a jewel-encrusted cane in his hand, his whole person exuding an eerie and fascinating aura.
"Executive Officer of Yssofa, Loll Jackson, greets His Majesty the Emperor, wishing His Majesty eternal singleness."
Loll performed a signature noble salute, his tone laced with a hint of jest.
A trace of coldness flashed in Augulas's eyes, and if it weren't for Loll's control over the gates of hell, he wouldn't have minded sending him to the guillotine right now.
"Loll, your blessings are truly unique." His voice carried suppressed anger.
Loll smiled, a glint of cunning in his eyes.
"Oh, Your Majesty, I sincerely mean the blessing. You will never know what it feels like to be betrayed by your friends and family, or what it feels like to be with someone you don't like, or even a plant."
His tone was self-deprecating, as if recalling some painful past.
The reason why Loll betrayed Catherine and Leon was because he had recalled everything.
Leon made him believe in the Golden Goddess, and as a result, he became madly infatuated with plants.
Catherine, in order to continue the family line, got him drunk without his consent, suddenly giving him three mistresses, and finally even having him marry Catherine's personal maid.
In Loll's eyes, he was like a pawn, constantly being manipulated.
And he hated being manipulated, he wanted to control his own destiny.
"I never knew you had such a nasty side, Loll Jackson, you truly surprise me."
Mary's voice came from outside the door, and she pushed the door open, the guards and servants at the door having already been dismissed by her.
She wore a deep red dress, with gold patterns embroidered on the hem, her whole person exuding a noble and glamorous aura.
Mary had now reached a truce with Augulas, which was also the intention of Frank's family head, Seth.
If the two were unwilling to compromise, family head Seth would personally step in and teach his nephews and nieces how to be loyal to the family.
Seth's position in their hearts was no less than that of their father, the old king.
"My ex-wife, it's a pleasure to see you again, it's gratifying that you didn't die on the Eastern Border battlefield."
Loll said indifferently, his tone laced with coldness. Seeing Mary, he no longer felt that kind of psychological shadow.
Mary smiled slightly, a playful look in her eyes.
"Perhaps we can get married again." Her tone was provocative.
"Sorry, I just want to be single right now." Loll replied coldly, a smile curling up at the corner of his mouth.
"Or do you want to experience the taste of the gates of hell?"
Mary raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.
"It seems that you really like plants, human women no longer attract you at all." Her tone was mocking.
"At least plants aren't like women, only using and betraying, with no sincerity at all." Loll's eyes suddenly turned gloomy, his tone laced with suppressed anger.
Mary felt this kind of aura on Loll for the first time, Loll had completely changed, and was completely different from the timid and down-and-out nobleman he used to be.
"Randall gave you a new life, you should thank Randall. You've become very charming now." Her tone was admiring.
"Thank you. I am constantly thanking Randall, and also thanking you, Leon, Catherine, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't be who I am today."
Loll's voice carried a complex emotion, as if recalling something.
"Mary, is there something you need?"
Augulas asked impatiently, his mood already at its worst.
Mary smiled slightly, a look of schadenfreude in her eyes.
"Dolores and Leon are engaged, I wanted to come and see your expression." Her tone was teasing.
Augulas's brow furrowed slightly, a flash of anger in his eyes, "Mary, you-"
His voice carried suppressed anger, he should have known that Mary was just here to laugh at him.
"I asked Mary to come, since we are already in an alliance, I think it's time to share some information with everyone."
A gentle and clear voice rang out from outside the door, and Emma Burke slowly walked into the study.
Her temperament was different from before, her skin was paler than before, her lips were as red as blood, and she wore a black gothic dress, her whole person exuding a morbid beauty.
Just a day ago, Emma completed the transformation from human to blood族, becoming a true immortal.
In addition to her Sage body, even without Constantine, she now possessed super healing powers and was immune to magic.
"Sorry, Augulas, I will never be able to bear children for you, but I won't mind you having mistresses and illegitimate children."
Emma said to Augulas.
Augulas did not speak, but nodded slightly.
He knew what Emma had done.
For Augulas, having a powerful ally was more important than having a gentle wife. Besides, there was no love between him and Emma.
Emma saw that everyone was present before slowly saying:
"Duke Moria and Count Hall have become Eight-Star War Knights."
The air in the study instantly froze, and everyone's faces showed surprised expressions.
Even Randall had not guessed that Duke Moria and Count Hall had advanced.
"No wonder the two families dared to directly announce the marriage alliance."
Mary said in a low voice, a complex look flashing in her eyes. Although the Eastern Border battlefield had accelerated her growth,
she was still some distance away from becoming a War Knight.
Augulas's face became extremely gloomy, his fists clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white with force.
He never thought that Count Hall had been deceiving him from the beginning, and that the cooperation with the Azure Dragon King was all a conspiracy.
It turned out that what he had always wanted was to provoke a war between the two sides, so that he could advance and become an Eight-Star War Knight.
Duke Moria may not have known this before, but he must have known the truth during the second expedition.
These two people had been keeping him in the dark and playing with him like a child!
"I will never forgive Alex Moria, Bain Hall!!!"
Augulas's voice was full of anger, the veins on his forehead bulged, and anger flashed in his eyes.
Mary looked at Augulas and suddenly felt a trace of sympathy in her heart.
"Nothing good will happen as long as you encounter Leon Moria, and you insist on believing him."
Emma continued:
"Dolores is stronger than before, she has completely merged with [The Book of Fairy Tales].
In addition, Leon also controls [The Eye of the Future], [The Split Seal], [The Azure Dragon Whip], and a Gift I don't know the name of."
Her tone was solemn,
"We must convene a secret meeting before all the families have left. We cannot let the Moria family return to the Northern Border, nor can we let the Hall family leave the royal capital."
"Things have become interesting." Loll said with a smile, a flash of excitement in his eyes.
Almost no one could smile except him.
Two Eight-Star War Knights, a legendary witch, plus five Gifts, and a dragon, such a force was enough to tear up the face and overthrow the existing rule.
Randall's voice rang out coldly:
"Oh, I forgot to remind everyone, [The Ear of Ignorance] is also in Leon's hands, so he has now mastered six Gifts."
Everyone's hearts sank to the bottom.
Legendary Witch, War Knights, two major Creed families, Guardian Dragon, six Gifts-such a force could directly overturn the table and change the dynasty.
Augulas and Mary felt a deep sense of crisis.
If the Frank family wanted to continue to rule, they had to destroy this force.
"Such a force is enough to make anyone fear, and fear is a strengthening agent for uniting people's hearts."
"The reason why the Creed families have been able to maintain a balance for hundreds of years is because the family forces are comparable. If this balance is broken, it will lead to an uneven distribution of interests, so now is the best time to unite other Creed families."
Duke's Mansion, Alex Fort.
Duke Moria was holding a family banquet for Leon and Dolores as a supplement to the engagement, inviting the important retainers of the Moria and Hall families to participate.
The firelight of the silver candlesticks cast dancing shadows on the stone vaulted ceiling, and sixty oak high-backed chairs surrounded a long table carved with vine patterns.
Duke Moria, in the main seat, pierced the quail breast with a silver fork, and the deep red wine juice flowed down the edge of the gold-plated plate, leaving a dark red blood stain on the linen tablecloth.
The aroma of roast meat mixed with the sweet spiciness of cinnamon and cloves steamed in the hall, and twelve servant boys shuttled with tin pots,
the dark red wine made a viscous gurgling sound when it was poured into the tall glasses.
Count Hall's silver fork suddenly tapped the porcelain plate, and the crisp sound startled the maid carrying the roast venison to stumble half a step, the gravy splattering on the unicorn embroidery on the tapestry.
A muffled sound of swords and armor colliding came from the far end of the long table, and the knights still maintained their spear-wielding posture, their eyes in the gaps of their helmets wandering with the waist of the wine-serving maid.
When the third course of honey-glazed cherries was served, the old duke suddenly pushed away the plate, and the sound of bone china colliding caused the musician to pluck the wrong string on the lute.
All the knives and forks were suspended in mid-air, and honey dripped from the silver spoon, making a clear ticking sound in the silence.
Duke Moria and Hall raised their glasses at the same time,
"May the Moria and Hall families advance and retreat together, and prosper forever."
"May the Hall and Moria families advance and retreat together, and prosper forever."
The retainers of the Moria family and the retainers of the Hall family raised their glasses and repeated,
"Advance and retreat together, and prosper forever!"
Li En and Dorothy exchanged a smile, their eyes only for each other in that moment.
