Chapter 162

Lacey’s words carried a strange, almost prophetic certainty.

Even though I knew she had no prophetic abilities, it felt as if her words were destined to come true.

“Prince Matthias is in danger?”

Does that mean the 4th Prince is actually a hidden villain or something? Considering how the two church orders have become politicized and half-corrupted since he went to study in the Holy Kingdom, it does sound plausible…

But without knowing the detailed backstory, it’s hard to say. After Ernst ascended the throne, Leonor and Matthias were barely mentioned. At least Leonor had some detailed character settings, but Matthias only got one line: “He left to study in the Holy Kingdom to become a priest.”

Lacey, still with a stiff expression, nodded heavily.

“Yes. If what you say is true, the fact that the son of a witch became a priest in the Holy Kingdom is…”

====[Matthias von Wettin]====

“It’s been five years since I returned to the capital… This place hasn’t changed much.”

Inside the carriage of the Shaulite Order crossing the capital’s main street, Matthias looked around and shared a brief observation.

Considering the hardships the capital had endured just a few months ago, his remark might seem off… but it was only natural for Matthias to feel that way.

Now, more than half a year after the great fire, the capital had fully restored its outward appearance. However, the changes in the hearts of its citizens couldn’t be seen at a glance.

“You seem troubled, Priest Matthias.”

Hughes, the paladin escorting the carriage, responded while looking at Matthias.

With his delicate features, the boy gave off a fragile impression. At first glance, one might mistake him for a girl, but his face was now clouded with gloom.

“Is that so? I suppose I do feel a bit conflicted. Should I be happy to see my family after five years, or should I grieve for my father’s passing…”

Matthias trailed off. For him, it was indeed a complicated mix of emotions.

His parents had not been pleased when he left for the Holy Kingdom. His father, who had passed away suddenly, and his mother, who was likely in the inner chambers of the imperial palace now.

‘Only Ernst and Leonor supported me…’

His dream of becoming a priest and helping the people by their side had only been supported by those two.

He had vowed to prove his parents wrong by achieving his dream, but… he never expected to hear of his father’s passing right after accomplishing it.

“Just follow your heart, Priest. That must be Shaulite’s guidance.”

Hughes, scratching his beard, offered some comfort. Though clumsy, his words seemed to reach Matthias, who smiled faintly.

“I hope so… Thank you, Paladin Hughes. I feel a bit lighter now.”

“The honor is mine.”

Hughes slightly bowed his head and drew the symbol of the Shaulite Order—two semicircles, not the cross of Elpinel.

Matthias, also drawing the symbol, ended the small talk. It was almost time to arrive.

In the distance, the imperial palace, bathed in moonlight, shone with the same brilliance as before.

—-

“Welcome, Matthias. My dear son, it’s been so long. Did you not miss your mother?”

Despite Matthias’s tension, his mother Isabella welcomed him with surprisingly warm affection after five years. Unbeknownst to him, the inner chambers, which had been shockingly decadent when Ernst visited, were now impeccably tidy.

Empress Isabella, dressed in a neat black dress, greeted Matthias. Gone were the intoxicating fumes of drugs and the naked attendants.

Ernst or Leonor might have scoffed at the pretense, but Matthias, who had left the palace at a young age, felt no sense of strangeness.

He was only surprised that his mother looked exactly the same after all these years.

“I’m sorry. I was so focused on being ordained as a priest… I came too late.”

“It’s alright now that you’re here. Lift your head. I want to see your face.”

Matthias raised his head and met his mother’s eyes. The empress’s gaze, tinged with a bewitching allure, met his clear, dahlia-like eyes.

Surprisingly, Isabella smiled warmly. Those who knew her well might have been suspicious, but to Matthias, it was a genuinely affectionate expression.

“Yes… you’ve grown splendidly, Matthias. You said you became a priest of the Shaulite Order? I was worried, but now I’m proud of you. Come here. Let me hug you after so long.”

“Ah… yes, Mother.”

Slightly flustered, Matthias approached Isabella.

For a priest, embracing a beautiful woman was something to avoid… but when it was his mother, it was a different story. It was simply an expression of maternal love.

Though he was now over fifteen and felt a bit of embarrassment and resistance to being held by his mother, the guilt of not seeing her for five years and the joy of her finally acknowledging his dream outweighed it. So Matthias willingly embraced Isabella.

“Alright, Matthias. My proud son… You’ve really grown up well.”

“Mother…”

The warmth of his mother’s embrace, after five years, was comforting.

Matthias unknowingly let out a childlike smile.

As if the years of effort had finally paid off, he was overwhelmed with emotion.

“You’ve… grown up so well.”

Isabella also smiled, her lips curling up to her ears.

**Finally, the second harvest had arrived.**

“Take care.”

Isabella’s right hand pierced through Matthias’s chest.

“Huh? Mom? Uh…?”

Unable to believe the reality, Matthias, in shock, numbly looked down at his chest.

His mother’s arm, tearing through his priestly robes, was now stained red with his blood.

The shattered holy emblem of Shaullite fell to the ground, making a sharp metallic sound.

At that moment, a pain he had never imagined surged from his chest.

It felt like molten lava had been poured into his heart, his limbs trembling from the searing agony.

“Ugh, ah—!”

Isabella’s left hand covered his mouth, stifling his scream.

“Shh… It’s late at night. Be quiet, Matthias.”

His mother, now facing him, was smiling ear to ear.

Her purple eyes, glowing with ecstasy, shone brightly, and dark magic seeped from her lips, revealing her fangs.

‘A… witch!’

In Matthias’s mind, the knowledge he had learned in the Holy Kingdom flashed by.

But it was too late.

Betrayal and despair swept over him like a storm.

“You worked so hard to help your mother, Matthias. I’m so proud of you. You not only achieved your dreams but also fulfilled your mother’s dreams.”

As Matthias clenched his teeth and tried to summon his holy power, Isabella roughly yanked her right hand out.

“…! ……!!”

A stifled scream. Red paint soaked the wall.

In Isabella’s right hand, dripping with blood, was her son’s heart.

Matthias, his eyes rolled back, convulsed.

The fatal wound he had sustained before he could even use the holy power he had gathered.

He had lost any means to retaliate or recover.

Staring at his own heart, spurting blood, Matthias felt his consciousness fading.

“You won’t be able to join Shaullite, but… you won’t be lonely. Joseph is waiting for you.”

Mother—no, the witch’s final words didn’t reach Matthias’s ears.

The young priest, his breath cut off, collapsed forward lifelessly.

Holding her son’s corpse and stroking the back of his head, Isabella quietly sang a lullaby.

Just like before.

Above the pool of blood Matthias had shed, only the shattered holy emblem floated pitifully.

=======[Ha-shal-leur]=======

“-It’s practically the same as calling him prey.”

Lacey’s words carried a concern opposite to what I had expected.

It wasn’t that Matthias was a dangerous person, but rather that Matthias himself was in danger.

“…Prey?”

“Yes. A priest full of holy power. Moreover, his own kin, and a direct descendant of the imperial family… He would be an immensely valuable offering to an evil god.”

“The Empress would kill Matthias…? That would be political suicide, wouldn’t it?”

Even if only nominally, Matthias was a bridge connecting the Holy Kingdom and the Imperial family.

If such a prince were to suddenly die after meeting the Empress, wouldn’t it only weaken the Church’s influence?

It wouldn’t be easy to cover it up as a disappearance like they did with Joseph.

People might let it slide once, but not twice with a simple, “Ah, another disappearance. How tragic.”

“Judging a witch’s actions by human standards is meaningless. For them, the top priority is following the evil god’s commands. That is, of course, if Empress Isabella really is a witch.”

“So, we have to somehow stop Matthias from meeting Isabella?”

“…I’m not sure if it’s possible. Without evidence, there’s no way to stop a boy who just lost his father from going to see his mother… I can’t think of a way. But we have to try.”

Indeed, without the witch angle, there’s no real way to persuade him.

You can’t ask a saint candidate to lie and detain someone, and you can’t forcibly detain someone who’s both a priest of the Holy Kingdom and a prince of the Empire.

But if we leave him be, he’ll surely lose his life, so we have to do something.

“…It might already be too late.”

Lacey turned her head to look toward the Imperial Palace.