The Male Lead isn't Following the Script!
Chapter 132: Demands

Chapter 132: Demands

Dimitri smiled faintly, then turned and began walking down the path, the weight of his decision heavy on his small shoulders. Adeline watched him go, her heart aching with worry and pride.

"I hope he knows what he’s doing," Aaron muttered. He crossed his arms. Seeing his sister be so hurt over Dimitri made him a bit jealous but he also felt sadness too. He became a good friend of theirs.

"He does," Alaric said, though his tone was uncertain. His eyebrows furrowed before he added, "He has to."

Adeline stood by the window of her chamber, arms crossed and lips pressed into a thin line.

Dimitri’s departure was a heavy blow, leaving her feeling left behind. He had chosen to walk a dangerous path to grow stronger, while she, despite her holy powers, felt stagnant.

"Why does everyone else get to grow, to change, to be powerful?" She muttered to herself. "I’m stuck here with my powers, only good for healing."

She looked at her reflection grimly. She was young, she still had time to grow... She tried to cope by telling herself that.

Well, the Goddess did tell me to go to that ruin. Maybe I’ll find something. Here’s to hoping. I am on copium.

She wanted to protect those she loved, to stand beside them as an equal, not as someone who needed to be shielded. There was enough of that in the original story, she was here to change things up.

She needs tools to make it happen. She was looking forward to going to those ruins, from what she heard there were defence and offence artifacts. Of course, no one was able to get them because they were locked up.

But she had the Goddess with her, however unreliable she might be. That has to count for something! She was sure that she could get into the ruins easily.

Adeline took a deep breath and stepped away from the window. If she stayed in this room any longer, stewing in her thoughts, she’d go mad. She needed a distraction.

She wanted to ask her father permission to go out. But there was a catch: her father would never let her leave the estate right now.

After the ordeal in the Eastern Duchy and Dimitri’s departure, he kept a closer eye on her than ever. She’d have to bide her time and wait for the right moment.

It was like everything was against her! It’s not fair! Resigning herself to fate she made herself a holy eye mask and went to take a nap. As a child, she didn’t have much going on anyway.

She immediately ran into an obstacle. The holy mask was glowing. How could she sleep if there was light going straight into her eye?

Stupid Dimitri... Stupid Holy Temple... Stupid Goddess... Stupid Holy Powers...

Adeline hated everything. She was throwing a tantrum... To put it in simple terms. Yes, she was older, but she behaved like a five year old because right now, she IS a five year old!

She started to remember when she came to this world. She just wanted to avoid the male leads and live a normal life... How the hell did she end up in this situation?!

Meanwhile, in the Holy Temple, the tension between the Emperor’s representatives and the Holy Temple had reached a boiling point. The Empire had sent its representatives to discuss the escalating situation at the borders.

The Holy Temple, which had recalled healers from the West and other regions, seemed to be deliberately provoking conflict. The Emperor’s representative, a seasoned diplomat named Lord Kazamir, had been tasked with resolving the matter.

Lord Kazamir strode into the Holy Temple’s grand hall, his polished boots echoing against the marble floor. He expected Edward to be present during the meeting.

The soldiers who had reported the situation to the Emperor gave great detail about this young boy who seemed to take command of the situation.

But instead, the Head Priest, a man well into his sixties with a nervous demeanour, awaited him. Lord Kazamir’s narrowed his eyes. Edward’s absence was telling.

The boy clearly intended to use the Head Priest as a scapegoat. Whatever schemes Edward had in motion, they were unlikely to end here.

The Head Priest greeted Lord Kazamir with a strained smile, motioning for him to sit. The meeting began with formalities, but it didn’t take long for the tension to surface. Lord Kazamir laid out the Empire’s demands with calculated precision:

1. Healers must be reinstated at the borders to support the Empire’s soldiers.

2. Any ongoing recall of healers from other regions must cease immediately.

3. The Holy Temple must adhere to its previous agreements with the Empire.

They were reasonable. He wanted to go and impose restrictions and punishments for their behaviour but the Emperor didn’t want that.

The Head Priest listened silently, his expression unreadable. When Lord Kazamir finished, the priest took a deep breath and spoke words that shocked the room: "The Holy Temple rejects your demands."

Lord Kazamir’s brow furrowed. "Rejects? Surely you understand the implications of such defiance. We are not requesting your assistance; we are demanding adherence to the agreements already in place."

The Head Priest’s voice grew steadier as he continued, "The Holy Temple is dissatisfied with how the Empire has treated us. Our resources, our people, our healers—they’ve been exploited without adequate respect or compensation. Therefore, it is we who will set the terms moving forward."

The demands the priest laid out were audacious: financial compensation for healers, expanded territory for the Temple, and a share of the Empire’s strategic trade routes. Lord Kazamir’s face darkened with every word.

"Are you declaring war on the Empire?" He asked. His voice was as cold as ice. He couldn’t believe the arrogance the Holy Temple was showing right now.

"We seek only fairness," The Head Priest replied. Even he had to know he was asking for too much. But if it was the real him he would have never even asked for these demands in the first place.

He was under the control of Edward, and he will do everything as per his instructions.

Fury ignited in Lord Kazamir. He stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. "The Empire does not bow to extortion. If this is your stance, so be it. But mark my words—the Empire will not forget this insult."

He turned on his heel and stormed out. He wanted to teach them a lesson. He always had. He hated how much authority the Holy Temple had... He had a personal vendetta against them anyway.

His child... Was taken away by them. He would never forgive them.

The council were split into two, one half advocated for disposing of the Holy Temple entirely. They wanted to get rid of these pests who dared to act so arrogantly.

While the other argued that their existence is vital. There was a reason why the Empire had come to an agreement with them. The monsters were destroying their borders, they needed the healers if they wanted to keep the territory safe!

Lord Kazamir led the former faction. He was trying his best to poach the people in the latter faction hoping to come to a decision using the majority vote. He wanted them gone. He wanted revenge.