Translator: Dj2203
Editor: Dj2203
Advance chapters available for patrons on Patreon. And a chapter can be sponsored by buying me a ko-fi.
After arriving in Sig City, Luo Mi finally understood why it was called the “City of Machines”.
The walls and gates of Sig City were all made of metal, with gears turning “click-clack” in the uncovered areas, and pipes standing on the walls from time to time spewing steam into the sky.
The city gates of Sig were very dense, making the city wall look like a long and narrow bridge. The area of the bridge pillars was far smaller than that of the arches. However, upon closer inspection, it could be seen that the wide metal road surface and the shape of the city gates were perfectly matched, as if they could be assembled into an indestructible mechanical castle if they were erected.
Luo Mi examined the structure of the city gate and walls, muttering, “Why does it look so familiar?”
Pearl laughed and said, “The current structure of Sig City is modeled after the holy city of Bethlehem.”
Luo Mi understood: “No wonder.”
Towering chimneys and factories were everywhere in Sig City, and the roads were mostly filled with steam cars and steam motorcycles. Even the buildings were mostly made of metal beams, giving Luo Mi the feeling of stepping into a steampunk world.
In contrast to this glorious industrial civilization, the sky was hazy, with smoke billowing from chimneys and dust from factories causing serious air quality problems in Sig City.
Luo Mi even sneezed several times.
Anos had visited Sig City two or three times, so he calmly observed the scenery on both sides of the road, watching the bustling street scene and the relatively affluent life of the common people, his expression gradually softening.
The carriage finally stopped in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
This church was also made of metal, and the sacred cross was made of various gears, giving it a strange feel of both technology and religion.
After getting out of the carriage, Anos saw Archbishop Eugen standing at the church entrance waiting for him.
The archbishop was nearly fifty years old, with a bronze complexion and deep wrinkles, like a statue.
His expression was serious, but he was very respectful when facing Anos: “Your Highness, welcome to St. Patrick’s Cathedral.”
Anos nodded slightly: “Thank you for your hard work, Lord Oglin.”
Bishop Eugen bowed slightly: “A room has been prepared for Your Highness. Please rest with your knights.”
Anos didn’t bring many people with him to Sig City this time, only a small team of twelve Silver Knights.
Anos glanced at Reinhardt, who then dismissed the rest of the knights and left with the priest of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Oglin looked at Anos with some confusion.
Pearl stepped out from behind them and smiled, “His Majesty has invited Your Highness to stay at the palace for a while so that you may listen to the will of God, and Your Highness has agreed.”
Archbishop Eugen seemed somewhat surprised but quickly bowed again: “It is good that Your Majesty is willing to get closer to the true faith. Please send the schedule to the church later so that I can arrange for verification.”
Anos nodded: “Okay.”
Archbishop Eugen was a man who valued time management and planning highly, and disliked sudden events and broken promises. Therefore, Anos did not go directly to the palace but instead came to inform him.
After changing into the car sent by the palace, Luo Mi studied Anos’s expression and asked softly, “Are you unhappy?”
Anos smiled slightly, thought for a moment, and then said without hiding anything, “I’m not unhappy, I just don’t quite understand what Lord Eugen is thinking.”
The two of them rode in a car alone, with only the driver in the front.
Anos’s gloves gleamed slightly, blocking out the sound, before he continued, “I can tell that Lord Oglin’s feelings for me are negative, but he often acts very respectful and close to me, though I still don’t understand why.”
As a Holy Son of the Papacy, Anos rarely experienced being disliked. But what he disliked was not Archbishop Eugen’s negative feelings towards him, but rather the latter’s feigned affection and closeness—which was tantamount to lying.
Therefore, Anos had only visited Sig City two or three times so far.
Luo Mi touched his chin thoughtfully.
If the premise that the alchemists “created” an artificial angel was true, then it was reasonable for Archbishop Eugen, who was suspected of having a connection with the alchemists, to have aversion, fear, and rejection towards Anos.
Luo Mi tentatively asked, “Haven’t you tried to find out why?”
“I asked my father when I was young,” Anos replied. “My father told me that Bishop Eugen was always the kind of person who was good at maneuvering and hiding his true emotions, and only such a person was suitable for the capital cathedral of the empire. He told me not to think too much about it.”
This was why Bishop Eugen concealed his emotions, not because he had negative feelings towards Anos… Although Luo Mi wanted to remind Anos, he thought about it carefully and decided not to speak for the time being.
Soon, the car drove into the palace, and Anos and Luo Mi met Her Majesty Empress Caroline II, the current emperor of the Alpha Empire.
The queen was exactly forty years old this year, but she was very well maintained and looked as young as someone in their early thirties. She bore some resemblance to Princess Charlotte and Prince Pearl. Her long, light blonde hair was tied up high, revealing her elegant swan-like neck.
On the way to the Empire, Reinhard had already explained the deeds of Caroline II to Luo Mi.
When the empress ascended the throne, she was only fourteen years old. The empire had just experienced an internal strife, and her brother had died at the hands of her uncle. Nobles and ministers were unpredictable and intrigued, and they all believed that the empire might be split as a result. However, the fourteen-year-old Caroline II soon demonstrated her amazing political wisdom and skill.
On the one hand, she consolidated the power that had once been loyal to her brother, then divided the nobles who belonged to her uncle, and used her marriage as a bargaining chip to buy off the military. She also gained the support of the Papacy, successfully stabilizing the turbulent empire.
In the following years, Caroline II worked diligently to promote the vigorous development of the economy in various territories, making all the lords willing to obey the command of the capital and completely conquering the constantly conflicting noble class. Afterwards, she abolished the powerful Hood family, which held military power, and completely seized military power, suppressing two rebellions.
During her 26-year reign, the Alpha Empire had transformed from a state of decline, chaos, and near collapse to one of stability, prosperity, and progress, a feat largely attributable to the Empress.
It was precisely because of Caroline II’s tough approach that she gradually developed conflicts with the Papacy.
The only dissatisfaction the empire had with Her Majesty was her marriage.
Perhaps because she had used marriage as a bargaining chip to temporarily appease General Hood’s family, Caroline II immediately divorced her husband after regaining military power and never remarried.
However, after the divorce, Caroline II gave birth to Princess Charlotte and Prince Pearl and never revealed who the father of these two princes and princesses was. After Charlotte and Pearl grew up and showed their talents, they were both included in the list of candidates for the imperial succession.
On the contrary, the legitimate first prince, Charles Pelant, had been largely ignored by Caroline II in recent years.
This drew criticism from the conservative Alpha Empire, which favored primogeniture, but they dared not voice their discontent due to the power of Caroline II.
When Luo Mi actually met this shrewd and capable Empress, he stood cautiously behind Anos, fearing that he would be dragged out and beheaded by the Empress for taking an ungentlemanly step with his left foot.
Queen Caroline II, on the other hand, was very gentle, with a soft voice, like a kind elder: “In the past, I was busy with government affairs and always forgot to pray for Mass. Now that His Highness the Holy Son has come, he can preach to me and make me realize my past neglect.”
Anos bowed slightly: “Your Majesty has a devout heart; God will not ignore it.”
They were just being polite… Luo Mi didn’t believe that an empress who would compete with the Papacy for interests could have any sincere piety. However, he still cautiously glanced up at Caroline II.
Queen Caroline II happened to turn her head, her sky-blue eyes gazing at Luo Mi with a slight smile.
Guys, ads are my only source of revenue, so please do not turn on the AdBlock when you are accessing this website…. Thank you, this would be a great help…
You can buy me a ko-fi and sponsor a chapter on: https://ko-fi.com/midnightrambles
Or become a Patron and access advance chapters on: https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=45665005
If you support me, I would be able to provide more chapters….
Previous • Table of Contents • Next