Chapter 207-The Manga Pariah's Guide to Self-Salvation
"Let them wait a bit longer. You summoned me here—surely there's something else, isn't there?"
Ye Zheng's gentle voice carried an imperceptible chill.
Yet the Emperor paid no heed. He stepped forward, grasped the door handle, and only then turned back. "The King and the Pope appearing together—that's what will push the celebration to its climax, isn't it?"
The heavy doors were suddenly flung open. The Emperor made an inviting gesture, the smile deepening the creases at the corners of his eyes. "Your Holiness, after you."
Ye Zheng gave him a long, deep look. She noticed that the Emperor's smile at this moment bore an indescribable resemblance to the painting from just now. It made her uneasy, but for now, she could only go out with him.
Muffled footsteps echoed down the long corridor. A retinue escorted the two most distinguished figures of the Empire toward the banquet hall. Along the way, Ye Zheng tried once more to call out to Marcy, but again received no response. Her heart sank.
Her right hand, hanging at her side, clenched into a fist. She confirmed that her abilities—[Stream] and [Mother of All Things]—were still intact, and felt somewhat reassured.
Ye Zheng cast an inconspicuous glance at the middle-aged man beside her. Sykes looked very much like him—especially their extremely rare golden hair and golden eyes. None of the Emperor's other children, including Roy who was currently at Percy's side, shared that resemblance.
She turned her head, and on one side of the corridor hung portraits of every Emperor throughout history. Starting from Aston XIV, each Emperor's portrait was hung on the wall in chronological order. The vivid oil paints rendered their expressions with lifelike precision, their eyes seemingly watching every visitor who passed.
Ye Zheng blinked uncomfortably. The people in the paintings all had different expressions and appearances, yet perhaps it was the inherited golden hair and golden eyes that were too striking—after staring for too long, it felt as though the heavy oil paints were swirling inside her own eyes.
Reaching the end of the corridor, Ye Zheng withdrew her gaze and lowered her eyes in thought about the Emperor's intentions.
He had sent Heath to bring her into that room. It certainly couldn't have been just to make a joint appearance at the banquet.
From the moment she entered that room, every action the Emperor took must have been deliberate. Marcy's disappearance was surely connected to him. And that painting—he had definitely wanted her to notice Count Luan.
Ye Zheng instinctively felt the Emperor was using the painting to test her, but she had no way of knowing his purpose, nor whether he had gotten a satisfactory result from her reaction.
Yes—the Emperor was bound to test her. From the moment he received word that she intended to hold her coming-of-age ceremony at the Imperial Palace, the most shocked and puzzled person would have been the Emperor himself.
But he hadn't asked her why. He had simply agreed and cooperated with her request, observing from the sidelines to discern her true purpose.
He would observe nothing, because Ye Zheng had indeed only had her mother arrange a normal coming-of-age ceremony. She hadn't interfered with anything in between.
In other words, she and the Emperor were now like monsters hiding in the dark, each desperately trying to see the other's true form.
In this silent contest, whoever revealed their secret first would be the loser.
The Emperor most likely already knew about Marcy and [Mother of All Things]. That was very disadvantageous for her. But as for the Emperor's secrets—the secrets of the Aston Royal Family—she seemed to have the beginnings of a clue...
The lilting sound of bagpipes struck up a cheerful melody. The guests' laughter and the languid rhythm of dancing feet drifted out from the banquet hall. Ye Zheng glanced at the Emperor, quickened her pace, and ascended the stairs leading to the second floor of the banquet hall.
No matter what, today was her birthday. She was the star of this celebration, and the star never loses.
The music in the great hall suddenly shifted. The dance tune gave way to a serene, sacred hymn. The nobles, mid-toast, hastily set down their glasses, stopped dancing, and looked up in unison toward the upper floor.
First, tall Knights lined up with solemn expressions. Then two figures emerged from behind them to the front. The brilliant lights instantly illuminated both their faces.
The atmosphere grew even quieter. The hymn faded to a murmur. The Emperor wore his most familiar smile—dignified yet approachable—as he greeted the crowd, then smoothly directed attention to the guest of honor.
Ye Zheng took over seamlessly, speaking with effortless composure. The red cape and magnificent crown lent her bearing an even richer depth, softening her gentleness while adding a mesmerizing majesty.
"Dear friends, today is the joyous occasion of my birthday. By the grace of the divine, we are gathered here to bear witness to our shared faith..."
"I thank you all for your support of the Sei Curia. I shall pray for the divine to bless you with peace and happiness in the days to come, as we strive together for our common faith."
Ye Zheng accepted a glass from an attendant and raised it high. The people in the hall immediately followed suit like a wave, glasses clinking with crisp sounds. Soon, thunderous applause drowned out the sacred music.
Amid the revelry, Ye Zheng took a light sip of wine with a faint smile, set down her glass, exchanged a glance and a slight nod with the Emperor, then removed the heavy crown and handed it to a Knight. Accompanied by two Sei Curia Knights, she turned and headed downstairs.
Entering the banquet hall, a steady stream of people came to exchange pleasantries. Nobles who had once lost their tempers at her when she was still the Saintess now wore cautious, ingratiating smiles. Members of the Ye Family who had severed ties with Ye Fanjing also had the audacity to approach. Even the head of the Colonna family greeted her with a smile and struck up conversation.
He didn't mention a single word about the illegitimate son Riley she had killed, as if the boy had never existed. He only inquired about the Sei Curia's new tax policies.
Ye Zheng maintained a warm expression as well. Although she felt a touch of impatience with this kind of socializing, it was unavoidable as Pope.
When she had been the Saintess, she had attended such occasions too, but back then she only needed to play the role of a mascot beside the Sei Curia's senior officials. Now, truly participating in the tedious social affairs and becoming the center of everyone's attention, Ye Zheng felt neither joy nor vindication. She only wished Marcy were here—perhaps the first Pope could have taught her some tricks for dealing with tiresome social situations on the spot.
Then Ye Zheng noticed a White-Clad Sei Curia Knight appear silently at the entrance. She found an excuse to decline the congratulating nobles around her, and her two escort Knights somewhat firmly blocked others who tried to approach.
Ye Zheng followed the White-Clad Knight to a corner of the banquet hall and casually picked up a glass of wine to hand to her.
"Try it. It's not bad."
"I'm not of age yet. I can't drink."
Bai Muqing declined.
Ye Zheng laughed, took a sip herself, then wrinkled her nose slightly. "Alright, I was lying just now. It doesn't taste very good."
"I remember your birthday is coming up soon. I'll share a proper drink with you then."
Bai Muqing was somewhat exasperated by her mischief.
"I'm here to tell you—Wu Shu has already brought them into the Imperial Palace."
Hearing this, Ye Zheng was mildly surprised.
"You're saying Wu Shu brought them in?"
Bai Muqing nodded. "I don't know what she's doing either."
"Well, the mission is accomplished all the same. Nothing beats becoming a companion for keeping tabs on their movements. Though I am surprised that Percy and the others would actually trust Wu Shu."
Ye Zheng remarked with some emotion. Bai Muqing seemed to recall something, her expression growing even more reticent.
Ye Zheng noticed the change in her expression and guessed that Bai Muqing was probably thinking about certain events from the tournament—the things she had helped conceal.
Bai Muqing had silently kept her secret without uttering a single word of reproach. But Bai Muqing might not have been able to forgive herself for covering for her. She had broken her own principles and beliefs, and perhaps the torment still lingered in her heart.
And toward Ye Zheng, she might not be entirely free of resentment either. Ye Zheng could understand all of this. Even between friends, it was impossible to be completely without friction.
Then Bai Muqing suddenly turned her face away. Her pale, bloodless lips moved slightly.
In the banquet hall, a beautiful harp played a soothing, lyrical melody. The chatter was noisy and indistinct, masking the voices in the corner.
Ye Zheng leaned forward a step, drawing closer to Bai Muqing. She heard her softly call her name.
"Ye Zheng."
"Happy birth—"
Bang—
A thunderous crash shattered the warm, festive atmosphere. The banquet hall doors were suddenly thrown open with tremendous force, slamming against the walls on either side. People nearby screamed on the spot.
The screams drew the celebrating guests' attention toward the entrance. When they made out the newcomer's appearance, they gasped and covered their mouths, exchanging loaded glances with those around them.
Crown Prince Sykes being sent to the lower district was the biggest recent news in the upper district. Everyone said he had fallen from grace, that his misconduct had earned the Emperor's disfavor, that the Crown Prince title might be given to someone else. No one had heard that this celebration had invited him back.
The music grew softer and softer, until it was nearly silent.
"S-Sykes, Your Highness..."
Ye Zheng also looked toward the entrance. The curve of her smile remained, but it had lost its warmth, replaced by an icy edge.
Sykes had actually barged straight into the banquet hall... which was indeed in character for him.
"Sykes, what do you think you're doing!"
The Emperor's voice rang out with anger, echoing especially loud in the dead-silent palace.
Today, Sykes wore a sharp, well-fitted uniform, his bangs swept back to fully reveal his brooding features. He ignored his father, swept his gaze around the banquet hall, and fixed it on a certain corner.
"I'm here—to celebrate our Pope's birthday, of course."
In the corner, Ye Zheng met those piercing golden eyes from across the room. She curved her lips and raised her glass to him.
She was about to stride toward the center of the hall when her wrist was suddenly seized. The grip released almost immediately.
"Don't worry. Today I have you as my Knight for a day."
Ye Zheng turned to reassure the person beside her, then stepped out from the shadows into the center of the banquet hall. The brilliant chandeliers illuminated her face, and in an instant, every eye in the room was on her.
"There's no need for Your Majesty to be angry. Today, all who come are guests. We are gathered here under the guidance of the divine, and the God of Hope bestows blessings equally upon everyone."
"Welcome, Your Highness Sykes."
Sykes casually picked up a glass of wine from the table and toasted Ye Zheng. "Thank you for your generosity, Your Holiness."
His tone was mocking, not nearly as respectful as his words.
Sykes drained his glass in one gulp. Ye Zheng simply watched him in silence, thinking that Sykes probably wasn't going to let her read his memories willingly.
"A birthday banquet this quiet—did someone forget to hire the musicians?"
Sykes clapped his hands. The court musicians hurriedly resumed playing, not daring to provoke the mercurial Crown Prince.
A lively dance tune struck up, but the guests didn't start dancing as before. In the strange atmosphere, no one dared make any sudden moves. Calculating gazes darted back and forth between the key figures.
Yet Sykes, the source of the eerie tension, seemed completely oblivious. He stepped forward and, in full view of everyone, extended his hand to Ye Zheng.
"Your Holiness, may I have the honor of a dance?"
The golden-haired young man bowed slightly, their eyes level with each other.
The entire banquet hall held its breath at the sight. The Crown Prince inviting the Pope to dance—had he lost his mind? The Pope was the God of Hope's representative on earth, solemn and inviolable. She couldn't possibly dance in public.
Ye Zheng looked into Sykes's blazing golden eyes, then lowered her gaze to the hand he offered. It was not the right hand clad in a black glove, but his bare left hand—the hand that defied convention.
The air seemed to freeze. Sykes held his inviting pose, his smile gradually fading, his golden eyes growing dark.
Just at this awkward moment, Ye Zheng extended her right hand and clasped his, shaking it up and down in a friendly handshake gesture.
Upon closer inspection, Ye Zheng's right hand was covered by a transparent film of water.
"Thank you for your gracious invitation, Your Highness, but I'm afraid I must decline. Please forgive me."
The words had barely left her lips when Ye Zheng suddenly felt her hand being crushed in a vise grip. She looked up to find Sykes laughing maniacally.
Before Ye Zheng could pull her hand free, a wave of sinister, frigid energy swept over her. Screams erupted one after another as elegantly dressed guests scrambled in chaos, shielding their heads.
A swaying chandelier crashed to the floor. Behind her came shrill, inhuman shrieks. Ye Zheng didn't need to turn around—she already knew what it was.
—Demonic Domain monsters.
Sykes had brought down a Demonic Domain upon the Imperial Palace.
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