Moira walked in a hurry, almost trotting through the corridor, not because she was absent-minded but completely ignoring all those who saluted her, not realizing that she had even forgotten to put on her shoes.

But when she rushed to the council chamber and tried to push the door straight in as usual, she was stopped for the first time.

The guard did not dare to cross his spear expressionlessly in front of the eyes of the queen, who had always been favored, but stretched out his arm and whispered to her in an embarrassed tone: "Your Majesty has an order that no one is allowed to enter." ”

“...... Can't even me?" Moira asked, her eyes wide and incredulous. It had never happened since she was married, and it made her more and more uneasy, but she didn't even know what to do—she didn't even know how to get the guard in front of her to pull away.

The pattern of pomegranate branches cast in black iron on the oak door suddenly became so strange and indifferent, and Moira unconsciously wrung the lace on her sleeve and stood for a moment, finally bowing her head in frustration and leaving. After walking not far away, he turned around suddenly and unwillingly, and almost bumped into the maid who was caught off guard behind him.

"Moira. ”

Agnes' lazy, half-conscious voice held her back, "Didn't you say we would have dinner together?"

She looked back. The newly widowed Countess Morris was dressed in a black veil today, but she still walked swayingly, and she didn't look a little sad.

Although she knew that she couldn't help anything, seeing a loved one made Moira feel a little more at ease.

"Agnes!" she cried, rushing over to grab her sister's hand. Eagerly asked, "Have you heard?"

“...... What did you hear?" Agnes blinked blankly, "what's the fun? Honestly, I've just woken up." ”

"Your Majesty's army has captured the Temple of the Water God in Dumbach......" Moira lowered her voice worriedly. "Just this afternoon. ”

Agnes jerked open the black veil, stared at her in surprise for a moment, and suddenly burst out laughing, "Are you serious?"

"It's not funny!" Moira stomped her foot in exasperation, "That's the sacred place of the water god!"

"I know, I know. Agnes casually put down the black veil and grinned and grabbed her arm: "But that's none of our women's business. ”

"But I'm the queen. Moira frowned in confusion, "Father always says I can't do nothing......"

"That's right. But you have to trust your king, Moira, who is a devout believer in the god of water, isn't he? I'm sure he has good reason. I'll be sure to tell you when he's free. Now, why don't you take care of your sister who hasn't eaten anything all day and is dying of hunger?" Agnes pulled Moira away without saying a word. Under the black veil. The smile on her lips was still normal, full of care. There was a twinkle in his eyes, but there was an irrepressible excitement.

Things were moving faster than she expected, and there were probably too many people who couldn't wait...... In any case, the world will never be so boring again.

Ante sat alone in the darkness.

He vaguely heard Moira's voice, but wasn't about to let her in. This time, even her purity and sincerity could no longer comfort him.

All the curtains in the room were drawn tightly to keep out the golden sunlight. He didn't like the dark. But now he is even more afraid of the light. Whether it was candlelight or sunlight, it reminded him of those golden eyes—eyes that were not human.

The man with those eyes should have come from the darkest underground...... The indifferent gaze cast at him was like a god looking down on all beings from the firmament. Let all his sins be hidden.

The demonic knight flew right before him, and no one could stop him. The guards claimed that he had suddenly disappeared in a rain of arrows, and that the knight who had been stripped of his armor had no idea how he had been attacked......

Everything was like a nightmare...... Together with his commands in anger and fear.

That's not how it should be.

He did want to break free from the control of the Water Temple, but not in such a drastic way...... He had spent several years stirring up the discontent of the other temples little by little, and given him a few more years, he was confident enough to let the discontent swell and spread, and then there would be no need for him to do anything at all, and naturally there would be people who would oppose Sean and his men overtly or covertly, until the temple had to rein in on its own, and even retreat to the far north, no longer pointing fingers under his eyelids...... Such a plan certainly requires patience, but if it succeeds, no one can blame him.

And his preparation for the current confrontation that can never be turned back was originally to prevent Sean from finding some reason to take the throne away from him in a grand manner...... Now in a hurry, in order to cover up his loss of control, he acted in a hurry.

When Tarber didn't show up early this morning, he realized that something was probably wrong, and in his panic, he began to secretly arrange his army before Brooke appeared...... The army of the unfaithful, who are truly loyal only to Him.

But he simply didn't have any conclusive evidence in his hands to make his army division famous, and he could only hope to find something in the temple...... Of course, if he wanted to, they could always find something, even evidence of rebellion - but how to convince people was another matter. The priests and paladins didn't even resist leaving, which only made him even more confused. He even felt that it was a trap at all, starting with the appearance of Borena and ending with Brooke's saying in front of him, "People will die......

That was his deepest fear.

He fears the unknown after death and hates the ugliness of death itself. More than a decade ago, he made a choice under that fear, and he could no longer find a little solace in his belief in the gods...... Is he really going to be the one who destroys all faith?

This world ...... What will it become......

There was a soft sound in the darkness. Ante looked up as Lydia closed the door of the secret passage as calmly as if she were in her own home.

“...... What have you done to me?" asked Ante in a low voice, each word dry as if it were sticking to his throat.

He had no intention of investigating why the mysterious mage seemed to know all about the secret passages in Rockburg. He wants to know how much of today's situation is her masterpiece.

He's not someone who loses control so easily...... At least not once.

“...... Seriously. Again?" said Lydia's chuckle with disdain, "is it so hard for you to admit that something is your responsibility?, with all due respect, Your Majesty, I know what you are worried about, but it seems to me...... To this day, you feel more or less like a real king. ”

“...... What do you want?" asked Ante coldly. There was no doubt that there was poison hidden in this woman's compliment, and he was not stupid enough to accept it.

"A little fun?" said Lydia with a smile. "And if you intend to hold on to your due majesty to the end, rather than to prostrate yourself to the great 'sage' of Collins in fear...... I have a gift. Maybe you'll like it. ”.

In the evening, more news reached Collins from Tonbutch. The king's army took possession of the temple, and even when it found it empty, they did not leave - without giving any reason. The tried-and-true Tonbuchi people didn't fall into chaos easily, with speculation running through the streets. The king in Lockburg remained silent. There are many opinions. Tabor Winter, who is usually in charge of giving explanations, is said to have been sick at home and did not show up at all, and the other temples in the city chose to watch cautiously, after all, no one could tell what was going on.

Although all the people in the Temple of Tonbuchi were withdrawn, they did not lose all sources of information. Browder was vague, but to Ed's ears, the "devout and powerful believers" who were responsible for reporting to the temple. In fact, it is a clergyman who does not reveal his identity and acts in secret...... Isn't that a spy?

He wisely didn't say anything that didn't seem like a nice name. At all costs. They really need these "believers" right now.

Although his face had been torn, Ante's next move was still unpredictable. While trying to find another avenue of communication, they can only prepare for the worst. The temple had no army, and all the clergy together numbered less than a thousand, and it was clear that an attempt to confront the king head-to-head was an egg against a stone - there is no shortage of historical records of a god whose clergy were hunted down for angering the king or lord, and not only was the temple destroyed, but even the god himself gradually disappeared...... The most recent example is probably the "God of Creation" who almost suffered the same fate. But as the world's oldest and most revered water god, such an encounter is almost unimaginable.

Browder proposes to ask Payne Silverleaf for help, and if the Elven King is willing to arrange a meeting, Ante can't refuse anyway...... But Ed immediately shook his head and vetoed.

The Silver Leaf King clearly had his own troubles, and until things became clearer, he didn't want to draw another race into a strife that seemed to be confined to humans for now.

Browder instead suggested seeking the support of the lord of Visa, and let the low-key and capable and powerful lord mediate, after all, the existence of the Holy Land Collins has always benefited Visa City a lot, even if it is only for the sake of profit, he will not sit idly by, and the power of Visa City, even the king has to be jealous, Brooke suggested sticking to the temple and seeing how things develop first......

Even though they weren't arguing or even fighting each other over different opinions, Ed was still dizzy to hear. He looked at Scott pleadingly, and Scott smiled apologetically at him, never saying a word - this was not facing the unintended Anktann army, or the gap to the otherworld, as a priest of another god, he could not hesitate to save Brooke...... In this situation, it is really difficult to speak.

“...... We heightened our vigilance, strengthened our defenses, waited for more news, including from the Borena side, and immediately sent an emissary to the city of Visa, inviting Lord Ayr to the temple for an interview. ”

In the end, Ed had no choice but to make such a compromise decision.

As he dragged his tired body back to his room, he stood for a moment, unconsciously kneeling on his knees in prayer - he did not expect Ni'o to suddenly use some miracle to solve all his troubles, but in the face of an unpredictable future, prayer did calm him a lot.

...... Still, he couldn't remember many prayers.

(To be continued......)

PS: I want to rewrite the whole seventh chapter...... Ah, let's change it when I'm done...... OTZ