The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 823: Volume 25: Struggling Against the Current, - 10: Malicious Speculation is Often Reality

Chapter 823: Volume 25: Struggling Against the Current, Chapter 10: Malicious Speculation is Often Reality

When the banner of the Homer Knight Order was raised again in Cyprus City, the shock to all social classes of Cyprus City was indescribable; the once-lost knights seemed to have found their place of belonging. In barely the shortest time, a thousand knights assembled under Lecler’s banner, which amazed Lecler himself. He had not expected the knights to be so eager to prove themselves that they would welcome him so enthusiastically after he had made clear the responsibilities and goals of the Homer Knight Order.

Komer did not choose to return to Cyprus City at this time, just as Fran had suggested. Now was not the best moment to enter Cyprus. Although the allegiance of the knights had already caused the voices calling for Komer’s return to Cyprus City to rise among the citizens, Komer still planned to wait for a more suitable time to complete the final ceremony.

Before that, Komer had many troublesome matters to resolve, such as the pressure from Cartin.

Katya stood by the window, and what greeted her sight outside was a heartening, intoxicating beauty and a casual fragrance carried by a gentle, light purple breeze. Lavender swayed in the mild wind, a field of dizzying purple that left one engrossed, serene in one’s heart. Had it been any other day, Katya would have preferred to enjoy this beauty alone, letting her restless heart bathe in the nourishing mild breeze and drizzle. However, she found she was increasingly unable to do so and even questioned whether she was showing signs of becoming neurotic.

The early autumn in Livonia was enchanting, a season of harvest, but for Katya, this early autumn seemed so irritable, all because of that fellow who had stirred up a storm in Homer.

The door "squeaked" as it was gently pushed open. Apart from Palermo, there was no one else who could enter directly without a servant’s announcement—well, maybe that fellow too, but Katya didn’t know if he would still enter her room in this manner.

"Your Highness, did you summon me?" At any time, Palermo always had that ingratiating smile, his corpulent figure making it somewhat difficult for him to walk. But this in no way affected his intelligence and judgment.

"Yes, have you not heard? Renta is to be engaged to Komer," said Katya, her voice quite flat, yet Palermo knew the topic was anything but.

"Yes, I’ve heard, but I thought it wasn’t much of an issue. It seemed more like it was Prince Hoffman’s side engaging in self-promotion," replied Palermo, equally calm.

"You think so?" Katya retorted.

"Could Your Highness truly think that Princess Renta still wholeheartedly supports His Highness Prince Hoffman? No, no, that is a thing of the past. Prince Hoffman has lost the power and qualifications to command the support of Renta. He should now be looking for a dignified way to compromise," Palermo said, a strange smirk spreading across his fat face.

"Are you saying that Renta wants to play her own part?" Katya’s gaze sharpened, and a sudden chill rippled through the room.

"Perhaps, but this is only beneficial for Your Highness," Palermo said with a shrug, an action that would have looked dashing, though it seemed somewhat comical when he did it.

"How so?" Katya’s expression remained unchanged.

"Your Highness, do you really think Viscount Komer is someone who can be manipulated and used?" Palermo asked with a smile, and seeing that Katya did not answer, Palermo continued, "Princess Renta is not someone content with being ignored, as we all know. Unfortunately, she has had few opportunities. With Your Highness and His Highness Prince Hoffman above her, she has, in fact, lost the chance to ascend via her Romanov lineage. However, if she changes her approach, that Romanov blood can still add quite a lot to her score. For Komer, having a Romanov family female member as his wife could provide many beneficial supports, more situational than substantive, of course."

"Are you suggesting that Renta is planning for her own future?" Katya’s eyes sparkled faintly.

"Isn’t that the case? Your Highness, haven’t you already foreseen this outcome? Perhaps the Countess of Flanders would have been a good match for her. However, I do worry if Flanders can satisfy Princess Renta’s appetites. Contentment brings happiness— I’m just afraid some people will never understand this truth until their dying day," Palermo’s last few words seemed rather harsh.

"We have no obligation to lecture or warn others, nor will they listen to our advice," Katya said indifferently.

"Of course, I never harbored such naive thoughts," Palermo said with a smile, "but we do need to give some thought to our own affairs."

"That damned Ilot and those vulgar Half-Beastmen have heads as stubborn and inflexible as granite. Their presence here in Livonia is nothing but a token gesture; I see no value in them staying here, yet we still have to provide them with all sorts of supplies and support! They have no desire to help me, and all of this is at Komer’s behest." Katya’s voice rose slightly, only at times like this could one sense a change in her emotions. Her cool demeanor helped her conceal her inner fury effectively. "I don’t know what to do now. I have given him everything he wanted, yet he’s still evasive and noncommittal. Palermo, what should I do?"

Palermo naturally knew that the ’he’ Katya referred to was Komer. Although his relationship with Komer had grown close, Palermo was still puzzled by everything concerning Komer. The man was too deep, too mysterious for Palermo to describe in a word. His actions were always unexpected and unorthodox, from colluding with Barbarians to challenging the Church of Light, from leaving the Southern Mediterranean to counterattacking Homer, and nearly every move was unpredictable until the very end when people could barely catch up with his pace.

Palermo had a feeling that his master’s every move was being manipulated by Komer, and perhaps his mistress had also realized this, but pride and vanity still prevented her from admitting it; she preferred to believe it was temporary. Although Komer still showed considerable respect for Katya on the surface, even leaving two thousand Half-Beastman warriors in Livonia at her request to boost her morale and strengthen her influence, on many principal issues, Komer’s attitude was ambiguous, or even could be described as obedient in appearance but defying in secret, especially his subordinates who didn’t put a speck of respect for the heiress of the Romanov family. This disdain, even someone like Palermo could clearly feel.

In the eyes of those Half-Beastmen, there was only one master, and that was Komer. If Komer told them to die, they would die without hesitation because they believed their deaths would earn them something more valuable than life itself as granted by Komer. This attitude alone made Palermo realize his mistress would likely never be able to control that rural Noble whom she had always looked down upon.

"Your Highness, regardless, had it not been for this army, Prince Hoffman’s banner might already have been raised above Cartin City by now. Whether for deterrence or support, this army has already played its intended role. But if you hope for it to help you achieve everything you desire, I think that’s unlikely. What you want, you must take for yourself, and right now you don’t seem to have the power," Palermo’s words were very straightforward, and his expression was serene, "Maybe Komer will be your greatest enemy one day, but in the current situation, no matter how dissatisfied you are in your heart, it would be best to put those feelings aside, as you still need Komer’s support and help."

"So what should we do now?" Katya certainly understood her current situation; as long as Hoffman did not concede and recognize her legitimate inheritance rights, she could not legitimately become the Queen of The Kingdom of Nicosia, and without this legitimate claim, she could never control all the resources of the kingdom. Without sufficient resources, she could not command or even influence the Lords who had already amassed considerable power.

"We can only endure and persevere, keep going. Prince Hoffman won’t last much longer. Even Princess Renta has abandoned him now, and the Anson family will certainly not offer him substantial support any longer. His most important pillar, the Church of Light, has also suffered great damage. I can’t imagine anyone else he can rely on. Those Great Aristocracy will soon depart from him, and once this pillar falls, he will have no choice but to exit the stage of history," Palermo spoke with certainty, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he realized he had forgotten a very important factor. Without these supporters, Hoffman will naturally have to withdraw, but the desperately ill Hoffman seems to have reached out to Komer as well. Would Komer support Katya’s ascension? Considering this, Palermo felt a chill in his heart; with Komer’s current temperament, would he be pleased to see Katya ascend unimpeded? Perhaps it’s the current chaotic situation that is most pleasing to the Great Lord that Komer now represents? Maybe this is just a malicious conjecture of his own, but Palermo knew that often his worst assumptions would become reality, because people seldom wish to think of the worst. (To be continued, for further reading please go to www.qidian.com, where more Chapters are available. Support the author, support authorized reading!)