Immortal's Ascending Path- Episode 42
Episode 42. Royal Wedding
The old capital of Osnover was Solna. Solna had been the capital even before he inherited Ditmarsken. The people of this country said that the capital had never changed even when the dynasty changed five times. But today, the sixth dynasty had taken over, so Icelandburg was the capital of Osnover.
Icelandburg was a city at the southern end of the kingdom. There were few cities south of it in Osnover. It was virtually a border city, and it had only become part of this country a hundred years ago.
"I've heard the stories, but it's a bit much to call it a capital."
Roberta scanned the cityscape as she headed to the north gate with her three companions. Looking at it, she couldn't help but compare it to Witten. This place is the capital of a country?
What was Witten, the central city of Meyer County, like? It was a prosperous place even from a distance. There were men and women enjoying the summer scenery on boats in the river that flowed around the city, there were many buildings taller than the walls, and the night view was bright.
In comparison, Icelandburg was a small city. It felt more like a local city than a capital. That's actually the case.
"It can't be helped. There's no other choice."
"Ah… you said you didn't have an inherited Yeongji, right?"
"Even if I wanted to give it, there were reasons I couldn't."
Ulrich rode his horse alongside her.
"As you know, His Highness Richard is the Duke's adopted son."
Roberta looked at him with a strange expression. It was because of his tone. Because the dwarf Toruhel was right behind him. He used the alias Armin and always spoke highly of himself, and every time he did, she felt a sense of discomfort.
"The Duke's Yeongji is the entrance to Ditmarsken, the Ice Peninsula. Giving such a place is of no help at all. It's better to settle in a place far from monsters and winter, even if it's small."
Like the Meyer family.
Hilde and Ulrich's adopted son Hohenlohe, his descendants married a noble and obtained a Yeongji outside of Ditmarsken, and after cultivating it for hundreds of years, they created the current Witten.
Unlike Meyer, Richard inherited the throne from the start. He received the throne before the Yeongji. In a situation where he had nothing but his own body.
"Thinking about it that way… this place seems pretty good too."
"Well, it's not bad. But I can't say it's the best."
"How did you get this place? Did you receive a dowry or something?"
"You know how the civil war ended, don't you?"
Something suddenly came to mind, and she nodded.
"Spoils of war, I see."
Near the end of the Osnover civil war, a force conquered the kingdom and attacked Ditmarsken, but Ulrich crushed them, ending the civil war.
"Since it wasn't a group based in Osnover, I didn't get much. Just a few areas besides Icelandburg. However, Solna was among them."
Ulrich added that it would have been best for Richard to settle in Solna, the old capital of Osnover, but Richard didn't.
"The reason he left Solna and settled here must be because of the Pantheon, right?"
She asked in a whisper, but with conviction.
"That's right."
Ulrich had said that the forces that attacked Ditmarsken were instigated by the Pantheon. That it was the Pantheon's plan for him to end the civil war and ascend to the throne.
Richard must have seen and heard it from the side. He witnessed the civil war growing due to the Pantheon's intervention, Count Willem of Meyer succumbing to temptation, and the imperial crown being given to Ulrich.
He couldn't have had good feelings towards the Pantheon. Moreover, Solna was the city with the only great temple in this country, and there was an archbishop appointed by the Pantheon.
That was the reason why this ordinary city, Icelandburg, became the capital. It was a base that Richard chose to avoid the influence of the Pantheon as much as possible.
#
"Thanks to you, we arrived without being late. Thank you!"
After passing through the north gate, the dwarf Toruhel expressed his gratitude. Ulrich got off his horse and shook hands with the dwarf.
"Have you decided where to stay? I'm thinking of going straight to the royal palace. If you don't have anything else, come with me."
"We have a place to stop by separately."
"Is that so… then we'll have to part ways here."
Toruhel tapped the ground with a regretful tone.
"We'll meet again soon. There's a wedding, isn't there?"
"Yes, you said you'd attend too, right? Then I'll see you then."
The dwarf turned his back and left.
Fritz watched the scene of him walking away and opened his mouth.
"Ulrich, are you okay?"
The rest of the words were omitted, but he knew without saying it. It was a question of whether he didn't have to reveal the truth to Toruhel Alladelio. He was a descendant of a slave whom Ulrich had saved long ago under the name Selim.
The dwarf from a mountain pass in the Esta-Mauneto Mountains still remembered Selim even after a long time. However, he walked away without realizing that Selim was alive and in front of him. He said he would see him again soon, but they might not meet because they were at odds.
"Knowing each other isn't always a good thing. If there's a connection, we'll find out even if I don't try to reveal myself."
Ulrich looked at Toruhel. Roberta noticed the faint smile on his lips.
"I hope so."
Fritz scratched the back of his head. He had a look of regret. The Meyer family and the dwarves of Esta-Mauneto seemed to feel a sense of kinship because they had a history of receiving mercy from the same person.
"You said you had a place to stop by separately, right?"
"I said that to separate Toruhel from us. We have to find a place to stay from now on."
"If you're okay with it, would you like me to take you to our mansion? There's a mansion that my father uses when he stays here. It'll be much better than staying at an inn."
Ulrich put his hand on his chin.
"There might be people who recognize me."
As if an idea came to mind, Fritz made an 'ah' sound.
"Are you going to keep using an alias?"
"If possible, I'm thinking of doing that until the wedding."
"Then I'll tell them it's Armin. You don't have to worry. No one at the main house recognized you either. Besides, all the servants here are locals."
Ulrich nodded and looked at Roberta as if to ask what she thought. She nodded as well.
"I'll stop by the temple first and then go. There's something I need to check."
#
Roberta, who had separated from the group, stopped in front of the temple's main gate after a while. The door was tightly closed. She didn't go in right away and looked around. There was no one around. Whether the city was big or small, there were always people lingering around the temple, but only silence lingered.
'Did this place also follow the summons?'
She clicked her tongue inwardly. She came with a bit of expectation, but it seemed like this time it would be a wasted effort. The reason she left the group and visited the temple was to meet a Priest.
On her journey, she had never met a Priest of the Pantheon. It was because of the summons. The Pantheon had summoned all the Priests of Osnover.
'I thought at least one would be left in the capital.'
The conflict between the Empire and the Public Church had reached its peak. The Emperor summoned the Public Church to change the Pope election law. To prevent the Cormilius family from monopolizing the rights to nominate candidates and elect the Pope.
It was shaking the power that no one had touched since the establishment of the Third Empire. And in the midst of that, King Richard of Osnover helped, and the Pantheon issued a summons in retaliation.
"Are you there?"
Roberta slightly opened the main gate, put her face in, and raised her voice. There was no answer. The voice that called out as if shouting echoed for a long time.
The inside of the temple was stuffy. It was because the windows and doors were all closed. The summer heat was full because the wind didn't pass through properly. She took a step into the temple's veranda and felt suffocated.
"Excuse me! Is anyone there?"
After raising her voice once again, she walked through the central corridor of the temple. There were long chairs on the left and right for the believers to sit on, but they were not dusty. It seemed like there was someone managing it.
But there was no one there right now. Not only voices but also the sound of approaching footsteps could not be heard. She looked around the temple for a while and then went up to the altar at the end of the corridor.
The platform was covered with a purple cloth, and several extinguished candles were placed on it. Since each one symbolized the gods of heaven, she lit all the candles and offered a prayer.
After a while, footsteps were heard.
"Oh, my… you were a Priest."
The owner of the footsteps was a Priest. The moment Roberta saw the color of the Priest's robe he was wearing, she flinched. Red was the symbol of the Archbishop, and there was only one Archbishop in Osnover.
Vinicio, Roberta repeated the Archbishop's name inwardly. He was an elderly old man, but he straightened his back and approached her with wide strides.
"Hello. Your Excellency."
Hiding her surprise, she knelt on one knee, bowed her head, and placed her right hand on her chest. Then Archbishop Vinicio raised her up and lightly exchanged a hug.
"Nice to meet you, Priest. Where are you from?"
"I'm Roberta from Ditmarsken."
The Archbishop flinched and widened his eyes.
"Ditmarsken?"
Is there a reason to be surprised? Roberta examined him without showing any reaction.
"Yes. I have been appointed as the Head Priest there by His Holiness's order."
"I see. I know. I've heard a lot about you. Roberta Priest, you were appointed as the successor to the missing Clemens. With Alonso's recommendation. I was going to call you soon anyway, but I didn't know it would be so perfect."
"What do you mean you were going to call me…?"
"Ah, before that, let me ask you one thing. By any chance… did that person come with you too?"
She paused at the words 'that person'.
"Yes?"
Her intuition naturally asserted that it meant Ulrich. But common sense opposed it. Is there a reason for the Archbishop to call the Duke of Ditmarsken 'that person'? Because Ulrich is the father of King Richard? Or because he knows Ulrich's old past?
She rummaged through her memories and listed Ulrich's names. Among them, there was no name that the Archbishop would call highly. Knowing the answer that would come back, she carefully asked.
"Who are you referring to by 'that person'?"
"Don't you know, Priest?"
The Archbishop stared at her intently.
"I'm talking about Duke Ulrich of Ditmarsken."
A shout of 'as expected' arose within her. The Archbishop knew a name that she didn't know, or rather knew but couldn't confirm.
"I don't know what to answer."
"···Alonso didn't tell you anything, I see."
"Hmm," the Archbishop groaned, covered his mouth with his hand, and pondered. Hesitation was evident whether he should speak or not, and he kept scanning her expression.
"First of all, Priest, tell me about that person you know. At least you know that his name is not just one, right? You've spent over a year there, so."