Chapter 341: Empress and Sophien (2)
Swoooooosh...
Beneath the falling rain, I looked at the Imperial Palace's main gate, my stance rigid as I stared at the firmly closed door.
I seemed to understand Sophien's current dilemma and the depth of her struggles. It might even be that this was an anticipated matter rather than a sudden development, for now Sophien was in the process of becoming human.
For over a century, endlessly repeating death, having known and witnessed only the meaninglessness of existence, Sophien would come to love merely a man such as myself...
"Count Yukline, what is your decision regarding this matter?"
Now, my faction stood by my side. However, to call them a faction was perhaps an understatement, and they were indeed wretched individuals, tainted and corrupted by the Altar.
"What in the world is that Empress thinking..." continued one of them.
The tone was contemptuous and grating because the most insignificant wretch referred to the most noble woman without honorifics, calling her merely as that Empress.
"... What that Empress might be contemplating remains unknown for now. Our sole concern is our task. Indeed, the lighthouse stands ready," I replied.
The lighthouse was a guide leading the comet that would descend upon the continent, and on that day the continent would face destruction only to be reborn again, either by my will or by Quay’s.
"However... before that," I continued, shrugging off my overcoat and tossing it aside without a thought. "As a loyal subject, I must display at least this much."
Thud.