Chapter 64: A Prince For The Church

King Aldrius stood frozen at the railing.

The Church had waited years for a mistake like this. He had come anyway, because a tired man will walk into any trap that smells like wine. And now his own son had pointed a finger at him in front of the whole hall.

’I would have done the same.’

That was the worst part.

He couldn’t even hate the boy for it.

Below, the nobles whispered behind their fans and cups. Half of them had been in this very house an hour ago. A few had even looked disappointed, the way a man is disappointed when a rival’s secret turns out to be smaller than his own.

"The King, in a place like this..."

"And exposed by the useless one, no less."

"Perhaps His Majesty has simply gone mad."

"Well, Prince Godfrey is second in line, and he DOES kneel and do all that... ugh, praying in the Church..."

Aldrius pretended not to hear, easier said than done.

Mother Euphemia’s calm voice interrupted.

"There was a time the Church and the crown walked together, all that ended with the war against the northern theocracies, two centuries ago. Our association with Soron tainted our morals and turned us to sinful rubbish. Since then, this kingdom has rotted into nonsense. It is the Church’s duty to mend it."

She rested a hand on her scabbard.

"The King may do as he pleases. But I cannot promise he will keep his seat for long."

Aldrius’s knees went weak.

Then a hand touched his shoulder. Old Hershant stepped past him with a gentle smile, and the King nearly wept with relief. Ah. His chamberlain would speak for him. Hershant always knew what to say.

Hershant opened his mouth.

"Quiet for a moment."

Adonis had stepped in front of him. He didn’t even look at the old man’s face. If he had, he’d have seen the smile curdle into something ugly.

He leaned on the railing casually and looked down at Mother Euphemia with a cool smile.

"Since when does the Church punish people for good deeds? Especially the King, for doing his job?"

"... HUH?" said the entire hall.

Euphemia’s pointed ears bounced softly in a way Adonis found attractive but he said nothing.

"I fail to see your idea of a good deed. A king disguised in a brothel and sleeping with shameless women, that’s it?"

She narrowed her eyes.

"The Church has been patient. He’s been given time, he’s been given mercy and more lee-way than most. Yet he keeps many wives, does not attend service, turned the nobles against us, and even had the audacity to marry a blood witch. Where, exactly, was he strong-armed?"

"Hmm. Well."

Adonis rubbed his chin and paced the balcony.

"The truth is, my father came here because of complaints. About his unruly fifth son."

He pointed at himself.

"... Eh?" said Aldrius.

Hershant’s fists tightened.

"You see, there was a time I was his favorite."

Adonis clutched his chest as his voice cracked tragically.

"He only wanted to put me back on the right path. And what do I do? I make him chase me through the red-light district and taint his purity. Aiyaah, what an unfilial son I am..."

He sniffled loudly and squeezed out some tears.

Hershant saw exactly what the boy was doing.

Aldrius saw it too, and his red, teary eyes went wide.

’He’s... protecting me? After everything?’

The nobles took the bait faster than he expected.

"Of course! His Majesty has four wives, why would he need pleasure girls?"

"He’s a busy man. He came to guide his son!"

"After the Duel of Princes, anyone could see the boy had talent that must be protected and nurtured!"

"A father’s love, truly."

Euphemia’s brow twitched. The nobles might think the King was a good man, but in her eyes he’s a sinner.

"You expect me to believe that?"

Adonis smiled coolly at her with cold blue eyes devoid of any bother or worry in the world. They were completely calm like a cold-blooded killer slicing a victim’s neck.

The Man With No Qualities.

In the end, this level of deception was second-nature.

"I don’t care what you believe. I told everyone what they already know in their hearts. That’s all that matters. If the Church is so holy, maybe it should discipline the priests who come here to sleep with prostitutes, before it points fingers at the King. It’s unbecoming."

Behind her blank face, a small annoyance flickered in those celestial red eyes that decorated her snow-white face.

He flapped his hand at her.

"Well, you should go now. Shoo."

"..."

She found it incredibly annoying.

But there was nothing she could do. Euphemia turned to leave with her four disgraced priests, and Aldrius pressed a hand to his chest, nearly collapsing from gladness.

That was when Hershant spoke.

"Mother Superior, a moment."

His hand landed on Adonis’s shoulders from behind.

"I just had a thought. Since the prince has decided to turn over a new leaf, wouldn’t it be nice if he joined the men attending the Church’s spiritual week? I hear you need many men to test the celibacy of your nuns."

Euphemia stopped as her ears twitched.

"... Eh?" said Adonis.

"Hershant, what are you doing?" Aldrius asked.

The old man bowed to the hall like a statesman.

"A gesture of good faith. The peerage and the Church have quarreled too long. If the Church reforms the Fifth Prince for us, the nobles would be most grateful. And surely the prince has no objection. He has been SOOO unfilial, hasn’t he?"

He laughed and patted Adonis on the shoulder like a doting grandfather.

’The brothel was only the bait. This is the real plan.’

The King’s disgrace would have been a bonus. Getting Adonis into the Church was the real prize. The next phase required him there, at all costs. And with him inside, the Church could watch him, and keep him from ruining any more of their schemes.

"No! That’s ridiculously stupid! Why should I serve a Church I don’t believe in? That’s stupid!"

The furious voice belonged to the Fifth Prince.

"Oh? Don’t you want to make your father proud? Or was all that crying a lie?"

Hershant smiled like a sheep.

Adonis ground his teeth and went silent.

The nobles seized on it.

"A prince is too valuable to waste!"

"If he were more like Godfrey, we’d finally have a capable enchanter in our thriving nation!"

"Look at what he showed at the duel!"

"Take him to the Church!"

Adonis glared at them, Then he desperately turned to his father with wide, wounded eyes.

Aldrius looked at the carpet.

"Perhaps... Adonis should go. It would be good for him. If he truly wishes to change."

"... I can’t believe you’d do this to me."

Aldrius quietly looked away.

Ignoring the drama, Hershant clapped procedurally.

"Well! That settles it. We’ve seen what we came to see. Mother Superior, are you satisfied?"

She nodded as her red eyes and beautiful stare rested on Adonis with no expression at all.

"I look forward to seeing you soon. With a face like that, you’ll make a fine test for my nuns. And for my daughter. I suspect she isn’t as faithful as she should be."

She adjusted her sword and left.

The King and his chamberlain were next.

Feeling bad, Aldrius hesitated, then walked over and placed a hand on his son’s shoulder.

"Don’t be too frustrated. This will be—"

... Slap, Adonis immediately swatted it away and dusted his shoulder like it had become filthy.

"Don’t act like we’re fine now. I’ll never acknowledge a spineless and vacillating man as my father, that’s why Minerva will never love a lily-livered bastard like you. You care about nothing but your throne. But don’t worry. It won’t stay that way for long."

Aldrius shook with fury. But he had just been saved by this boy, disrespectful and as he was, shouting felt wrong. So he bit his lip until it nearly bled.

"... Enjoy your time in that miserable church!"

He stormed off with a calm Hershant who followed behind.

When they were gone, Adonis stroked his chin and smiled.

’Heh, I outsmarted your outsmarting.’

Hershant thought he’d forced him into the Church. But getting in without raising suspicion had been Adonis’s goal all along. Now he had the perfect excuse. He could tear the Church apart from the inside, and steal both Euphemia and Noelle from the protagonist while he was at it.

He swished his black tailcoat, fixed his dark cravat, and strolled out of the brothel.

...

The next day, Prince Adonis was nearly done packing in the servants’ quarters.

Prussia sat on his desk with her golden-brown thighs crossed and her arms folded.

"You’re really going to that Church?"

"Mhm."

On the bed, Alpis shook her head.

"I don’t like churches. But I suppose I’ll come for you."

She shrugged proudly.

Prussia narrowed her eyes. "So what’s the goal this time? You don’t do anything without a reason anymore. That’s why I wasn’t mad about the prostitutes."

"Wait, what? Why would you be mad about that? It’s not like you’re really my fiancée."

Her face turned red, and she looked away.

"... Right. Right...!"

He stood up straight with his hands in his pockets and smiled softly at his beautiful warrior princess.

"I want to destroy the Melcian Church."

"What...?"