The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 738: Volume 21: The Dark Road - 18: Gloom After Gloom

Chapter 738: Volume 21: The Dark Road - 18: Gloom After Gloom

The silver-white hair had been meticulously combed, but the maid was still carefully tending to every little detail her master was unsatisfied with. Tailored court dress wasn’t something that was required at all times, but evidently today her master had special guests arriving. The crimson velvet chest was embroidered with beautiful lilies, and the maid stole a glance at her expressionless master, unable to discern anything amiss. Yet, she dared not slacken in her attentiveness; her master’s mood had seemed quite unstable lately, and several servants had already been punished. She had no desire to make the same mistake.

Philip’s mood indeed had been quite foul these days, and he couldn’t pinpoint the reason why. Upon reflection, there seemed to be many unsatisfactory elements, yet on closer examination, it appeared they were inconsequential details. However, these details had slowly accumulated, souring Philip’s mood.

As for Galle, something mysterious was afoot; recently, they seemed to have tightened their relations with the kingdom. While this wasn’t something that warranted much attention, it was still a thorn in Philip’s side; those two houses in the North had seemingly turned into turtles, withdrawing into their shells without a sound, as if trying to dissociate from the spectacle of the beastmen breaching the fortress. They seemed to not realize that they couldn’t possibly shake off their involvement. Neither Mathew nor Tez were fools; such actions only served to highlight their guilty conscience.

The Church of Light were insincere, to say the least, and the only good news was that no valuable clues could be obtained from their side. Komer had disappeared as if into thin air, leaving no trace behind. Meanwhile, the Church claimed he had gone on an expedition to the Continent, which was absurd. How could Komer embark on an adventure to the Continent at such a critical juncture? Even if Komer were fond of such ventures, he wouldn’t choose this moment. But Komer’s actual whereabouts remained unconfirmed. Those damned hypocrites even claimed that they were unable to communicate with the members of the Religious Court. Weren’t they part of the Church’s Court? Weren’t they under the leadership of Pope Julius? Their attitude was nothing but shirking responsibility, a contemptuous disregard!

At this thought, Philip’s mood flared with indignation. These people were insistently pressuring him to suppress all sects other than the Church of Light within Homer, which had already caused significant public discontent. Although it hadn’t erupted yet, Philip was aware that if allowed to simmer, this discontent could severely damage his own authority. But now, to ease the relations with the Church and secure their support, it seemed he had no choice but to compromise. Yet this time, the Church’s indifference was profoundly disappointing, particularly their refusal to disclose Komer’s true status. Sometimes Philip even questioned the significance of his cooperation with them.

Bruce Fortress remained under the control of that scoundrel, Komer, and only now did Philip slightly regret having bestowed the Caucasus upon him. Who could have predicted that what seemed to be a grand trap would be so easily escaped by that cockroach of a man, who had even managed to seize control of both Leon and Bruce? This was a direct challenge to his authority. If he couldn’t utterly defeat his opponent, Philip believed it wouldn’t be long before his position in Homer became precarious. To this end, he was willing to compromise on any issue.

His fingers drummed unconsciously on the dressing table. Suddenly noticing in the mirror that he seemed much older than last time, he stood up irritably, pushed past the maid – who had yet to react – and strode away without a backward glance.

The fine horse picked up a gentle trot at the slight pressure of Renta’s thighs. The horse’s smooth gait and rhythmic motion felt very pleasant, and the breeze played with the veil covering her head. Had it not been for the presence of that old fellow accompanying her, Renta thought her mood would be much better. At this moment, she wished she was not burdened with this mission, but reality dictated otherwise.

"Your Highness, my horse is satisfactory, isn’t it? It comes from Galle, a purebred Galle Horse. Its mother is a famous racehorse from Galle, and its sire is one of Duke Zellin’s most cherished racehorses. How do you find it?" Philip observed the Princess who had suddenly visited, pondering what might have prompted her unplanned appearance in Homer. Could something have happened in Versailles?

"Hmm, it’s indeed very nice, steady and strong. Although I’m not too knowledgeable about racehorses, I can tell this one is exceptional. I would not have thought the Duke still favored such vigorous exercise at his age. Exercise indeed keeps one young, but the Duke also needs to look after his health," Renta commented politely with a nod.

What did she mean by that? Was there a hidden message? Philip glanced at her, puzzled by the underlying implications.

"Sir, I’ve just come from Gutenberg. I had a very pleasant conversation with Duke Zellin, and I hope that this visit to Homer will result in an equally satisfying discussion with you."