Only God
Chapter 390 - 345 Primordial Church

Chapter 390: Chapter 345 Primordial Church

The silver tassels and silver plate that hung from the Princess’s waist swayed gently.

Engraved upon them was her full name, as well as that Scripture passage, which her mother had favored most.

"This grace is sufficient for us to squander."

Mira watched Anos, who moved with stiff motions, slowly, very slowly, opening the door before stepping inside.

After following in, Mira closed the door and asked,

"Have you ever thought about becoming the Emperor?"

Anos turned slowly, a complex expression on her face. She then brought a hand to her forehead and sighed lightly,

"Mira, that’s not a good question."

Mira, puzzled, asked,

"Why isn’t it a good question?"

Anos sighed again and after pondering for a while, she said softly,

"Before Laslo was born... it was I who was to inherit everything of the Empire.

That is why, even at the age of twenty, I have yet to be betrothed."

Mira looked at the Princess in surprise. She hadn’t realized that the Princess was once the heir to the throne.

Anos’s eyes lowered as she silently sat down. After a long while, she gave a bitter smile and said,

"If only Laslo had not been born,

then I would have been the one to inherit the entire Empire, the Great Shepherd would crown me, and I would have sworn my unwavering loyalty to God in the Grand Cathedral."

Mira suddenly felt some sympathy for Anos,

"I’m sorry, Anos."

Anos looked at Mira and smiled,

"It’s nothing, Mira. I came to terms with my situation a long time ago.

After all, a woman ascending the throne and donning the crown, even if it has happened in the Empire’s history, to me, it is but a fanciful tale."

Having said this, Anos sighed once more, feeling sentimental,

"Come to think of it, I’ve never been betrothed until today, and that is truly... truly an unspeakable matter."

Mira leaned forward, half her body on the bench, and asked,

"Unspeakable? Is it really that unspeakable?"

Mira knew that mortals would marry at a very young age, such as fourteen, sixteen, and in some places even as young as twelve. According to the laws of the Empire, the legal age for a woman to marry was thirteen and for a man, fourteen.

"For Nobles, it is so."

Anos gave an example,

"Take Stephanie from the poetry society, for instance. She is now twenty-five but has already been married twice, sadly both husbands passing away.

And sixteen-year-old Elena from the society already has a betrothal arrangement, just waiting for her graduation from the academy before marrying."

Mira listened and nodded. She hadn’t realized those two young women had already had encounters with marriage.

Anos looked at Mira and playfully teased the girl,

"Mira, I know you’re kind-hearted.

If there were a lady who suffered from the Nobles’ criticism for being unable to marry, would you be willing to propose to her?"

Mira nodded, her expression excited.

"Sure."

"What, what?"

"Sure, I’ve wanted to try it for a while now."

The Princess, intending to tease the child, was surprised instead, looking at the girl’s innocent face, she felt somewhat outmaneuvered.

"No matter what... Mira, it’s still best not to agree to others carelessly."

Anos shook his head with a wry smile,

"...Mira, although I am your friend, not every friend can be trusted."

Mira looked at Anos and retorted:

"It’s strange what you’re saying, if I don’t trust you, how would I know whether you’re trustworthy?"

Anos was momentarily at a loss for words.

The girl’s innocent words fell upon his ears and his Golden Heart within his chest throbbed uncontrollably.

...

Danschel Imperial Palace.

The ruler of the Empire today, the guardian of the True Religion world, Emperor Leo stood behind his Flower Garden, while the Chief Steward followed behind him.

"So you’re saying that Laslo requested a meeting with Anos but was rejected by her?"

The Grand Steward reported respectfully with his head bowed:

"Your Majesty, that’s right.

Princess Anos stayed up all night the night before, just to investigate the matter of the Primordial Church; perhaps it was due to fatigue, so she..."

"No need to make excuses for her, I know my own daughter."

Leo spoke briefly,

"The Primordial Church... I remember, that assassin named Olivia mentioned it too, right?"

At the time, Princess Anos was attacked on her way back from hunting, and Olivia was one of them. She was originally a Sword Guard of the Princess, sworn to protect her safety at the cost of her life.

Yet such a person, trusted thoroughly by the Royal family, was bewitched by the Primordial Church and took part in that assassination.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Romannus, issue my decree to the Night Watchman, in the name of God, order them to guard Anos with their lives for the next few months, especially her current residence, assign more people to watch over her, day and night."

Leo turned around and slowly issued his decree.

...

Mira lay on the soft mattress, sinking slowly into dreamland, the sensation reminding her of the white clouds of Heaven.

In the deep slumber, within her faint consciousness, she felt an extreme viscosity around her, as if sinking into some kind of darkness.

She wanted to open her eyes, though somewhat hazily, but found it difficult, vaguely sensing that there were lights interweaving in front of her as if casting a net over her.

Those glimmers were blue and green, flickering like will-o’-the-wisps, exuding a somewhat sinister aura.

Mira didn’t know what dream she was having, but since she was asleep, she didn’t want to wake up.

Suddenly, a tremendous pulling force came from those ghostly lights.

Suddenly, Mira felt herself being rapidly pulled up by the light, her entire body teetering in the vast darkness, so sticky that one couldn’t struggle.

Mira panicked a bit then; she didn’t know why she was having such a dream, she tried to wake her own body, forcing her eyes to open.

Then, as her consciousness gradually cleared, the sense of her limbs became more real.

In her ears, came waves of strange yet pious prayers, the ghost lights flickered in every direction, and the smell of rotting corpses filled her nostrils.

A cold touch reached her innermost heart from her back, Mira opened her eyes, stunned by everything she saw.

She seemed to be in a place resembling an underground tomb.

Looking down, Mira saw the wide altar, lying motionless upon it.

Now, she appeared to be in a Spiritual Body state, as if pulled into some ritual.

Around the altar gathered kneeling Believers, men and women, old and young.

The scene before her was like a solemn and sacred sacrifice ceremony.

The leading figure, resembling a Priest, spread his arms wide, praying with utter devotion:

"Most high and holy Lord! Great God! Light is your true form, darkness too is your true form, in the name of the Golden Prophet Shan’en, we beseech you to grant us eternal peace, to let us return to the cradle of origin!"