Chapter 161 - His Greatest Regret
The three girls were ready to go as Priest, then they went to the kitchen to make their light and healthy breakfast. It only took them a matter of minutes until their breakfast was ready to be served on the table.
And at the same time, Alexander came over with a bright expression to greet the morning greetings of the three girls who were there.
However, what was different from the current Pope, he was not wearing his trademark Pope robe or his usual casual clothes. Instead, he was wearing a Cardinal robe.
"Good morning to you too, ho-ho, you're ready for a morning like this, so excited as Priest on the first day, huh." Alexander laughed as he sat on the main chair at the dining table for their warm and light breakfast.
"Yes, grandfather, on my first day as Priest, I have two friends coming with me, and it feels great." Ella put breakfast at the table for her grandfather. While two girls and a cat were ready on the table to eat breakfast together.
"Oh yes, grandfather, you are currently wearing the Cardinal robe. Will you be attending Blessing Day as Cardinal Aiden again?" Ella asked while sitting on her chair.
"Hmm, of course, Pope Alexander has never appeared to the outside world since your father and mother married. While most people think the Pope is meditating in seclusion to ascend for divinity, but all of them never know that Pope was there, there with them with various identities... Hahaha... I always love to imagine that." Alexander laughed so cheerfully, he immediately took a sip of his favorite herbal tea right after.
"Hmm? Is there some reason why you never go out into the outside world again, Grandpa? Um, as a Pope, that's what I mean..." Elysia was a little confused about choosing the right word. Still, her curiosity was suddenly sparked to know more than that.
"For that, there are many reasons. However, let us take care of complicated and difficult matters. You are still too young to dive deeper. But, what is clear, you can think of me as 'happy go lucky Grandpa', ho ho-ho..." Laughing at the rhythm of an old man with a white beard in winter, Alexander felt that it was not the time for these young girls to know more.
Ella just nodded gently, she knew about it, and she didn't really think about it. It was only a matter of time until she was told. Her grandfather was so wise, and he knew what was better for them.
Elysia also just nodded her head slowly. She didn't try to find out any more. The answer just given was enough for her to draw a conclusion. It was not an easy and trivial matter.
The most potent human on the Human Continent, the Pope hid his identity in the Holy Central Region's capital. There must be a good reason for that, not just because the Pope wanted to relax like a cheerful grandpa who was unconcerned about the future.
Maybe the Pope was looking for something, or he was wary of something. Obviously, she didn't know much more than that. Elysia immediately put her thoughts aside and ate her light breakfast.
'SIster Elena, it's morning now, why aren't you awake yet...' Elysia tried to wake up the sleeper in a soft voice. This was the second attempt. She needed to wake Elena up, as she had said to the sleeping girl.
'Uhh... Is it morning already? Please give me five more minutes...' Elena changed her sleeping position. The comfy bed made her lazier in the morning.
'It's been five minutes from the previous five. Now wake up at your request last night~ On the third chance, I won't be so kind by just speaking softly~' Elysia hummed with a melody.
'Okay, I'm up... Look, I've opened my eyes now.' Elena immediately opened her eyes, afraid of what Elysia might actually do in the third chance.
'Good morning, Sister Elena. Now I have fulfilled your request. How about your sleep last night? We've only slept for four hours.'
'Ah, Ely, this comfortable bed has a large force of gravity. I feel reluctant to part with this bed and pillow… This bolster too.' Elena spoke as if she was rambling in the morning. She was a little reluctant to get up from a lying position.
'Hey, that's my spirit, not a bolster...' Elysia felt quite helpless. Her spirit role changed again from a cuddle doll to a bolster.
'Hehe... you're so warm, Ely. I love it.' Elena buried her face briefly into the soft pillow and then bid her temporary farewell to the bed with many struggles against gravity.
Elysia knew what Elena meant by warm. It was not because of the words from her, but the bolster, namely her spirit.
After that, she and others at the dining table finished their breakfast and enjoyed drinking hot tea together. Until the hour was approaching half-past six, it was time for the young Priests to rush into the main hall of the Cathedral.
"Grandfather, it's time for us to go. Is this time, it will be you who will lead the event again?" Ella put her mini Priest hat on her head, saying goodbye before leaving.
"Not this time, Cardinal Archibald will lead the event. I will only be around without you knowing ho ho-ho. Have a good day, my granddaughters." Alexander waved his hand, escorting the girls to leave with his trademark laugh.
"Okay, see you later, Grandpa." Elysia gave a little bow of respect, then she grabbed Vanessa to be taken away with her. However, before she had time to walk away, the Pope suddenly gave her the signal to wait a moment.
"Oh, Elysia girl, for your pet cat, you can leave her in a cage on our private training ground. Besides Ella's four pet rabbits for her training, there's an empty cage. You can use that."
"Thanks for the offer, Grandpa. My Vanessa is a smart cat. She will behave well throughout." After saying that, then receiving a nod from the Pope, she walked out with the two girls... Evelyn and Ella were waiting for her.
Alexander watched his granddaughter and two other girls. Ella was his real granddaughter, but he considered the other two as his own granddaughter as well. When the three girls had wholly left the room, and the door was closed, his cheerful face suddenly became a little sad.
Then, he took out a framed photo from his Space Bag hidden behind his robe. There were a great golden-haired man and a beautiful black haired woman holding hands together. They looked so happy and harmonious.
"Haa... It's been more than 200 years since your departure to the Divine side, and I still can't fulfill your greatest wish. I still can't even unravel the mystery of our lost world history..." Alexander wandered in a brief reverie. He recalled his beautiful and unforgettable moments from his past.
Suddenly, his eyes became somewhat nostalgic and solemn. However, he simply stroked the woman's picture in the photo in his hand. It was a picture of himself and his wife.
"They calmed down somewhat, as I never appeared to the outside world as a threat. However, it seems like the war between races will never end. This endless war threatens our race... Your belief in peace is unlikely to ever materialize. Even this holy capital is no longer as safe as it used to be..."
"I will struggle for another 296 years, with all my strength and all my power. If it still failed, I don't care what happens. I will burn the entire Devil Continent! So, please forgive me when I return to the Divine's side full of sins..."
"Ah, maybe it will be faster... Once this holy capital becomes a battlefield, perhaps I will advance that greatest war in human history." Alexander said sternly, not to anyone but only to himself.
The war continued from the time of the first Pope. It continued from generation to generation until it was too ingrained between the two eternal enemy races.
Although every intercontinental race was hostile to one another, it did not extend to the eternal enemy of some races to other races. Like the dispute between the Human Race with the Devil Race, the Beast Race with the Beastkin Race, and the Elf Race with the Dwarven Race. They were eternal enemies to each other but not outrageous to the other races.
If the peace that his wife always craved could not be realized in the right way, then there was only one way that could happen... The annihilation of another threatening race. Something Alexander had kept and prepared because of his wife's assassination, a reality unknown to the world.
He was patient enough to this day, despite knowing the mastermind behind that assassination. It was all because of his wife's last wish, in her letter, before she slept eternally and never woke up again. His greatest regret, and made him reluctant to go far from this city.
Alexander smiled slightly, then put the photo back into a special place in his Space Bag, and he also left there for Blessing Day. Today was supposed to be a joyful day, but his heart suddenly became sad and nostalgic, for some reason and for no reason.