Chapter 433

“I am David Graf.”

The young man seemed somewhat surprised, but answered in a calm voice. Even to the court official, whose standards had been raised by seeing nothing but New Humans, there was something about the young man’s face that kept drawing his eye. He had a neat, composed appearance, and among all the Lakaien, he had the finest build. His features were somewhat sharp, but he looked sharp-minded as well, and the official liked that.

Relieved to have finally found the kind of Old Human he had been looking for, the court official studied the young man’s face closely.

“He certainly lives up to his name. If you had someone like him, why did you leave him behind and bring out the other Lakaien?”

“Pardon? No, I thought you just told me to select those who could measure up to New Humans…”

“Exactly. That’s what I said. So I’m asking why you didn’t bring him out.”

At those words, the Head Kammerdiener looked genuinely puzzled, as if he were wondering whether he had seen something wrong. It was almost as though he and the court official were looking at two entirely different people.

The court official likewise gave the Head Kammerdiener a strange look before beckoning to the young man. The young man immediately lowered his gaze and followed behind him. It was proper etiquette for a servant not to make eye contact unless given permission.

The court official inspected the conduct of the eleven Lakaien under his command as he led them through various parts of the palace, from the Swiss Gate to the Imperial Chapel and all the way to Heldenplatz.

By the time they headed back toward the Swiss Gate, he had already stationed nine of the Lakaien along the route the Archbishop would take. He then took the remaining two toward the entrance of the palace.

“It is 5:40.”

The world was still tinted blue beneath the light of the sun, which had yet to fully rise. Looking at the two Lakaien following behind him—more precisely, at the Old Human youth who had caught his eye earlier—he gave them some instructions.

“His Excellency the Archbishop will arrive at the Imperial Palace through the Swiss Gate in twenty minutes. His Majesty and the Oberhofmarschall will receive him there. You two will stand behind me. If His Excellency arrives without a secretary, or if his secretary needs assistance from someone here, step forward and offer your help immediately. And…”

“You haven’t met His Majesty yet, have you? Once you enter the chapel with His Excellency the Archbishop, you’ll meet His Majesty there. When you do, stand along the edge of the room, say, ‘Euer Majestät,’ and bow deeply. Do not add anything like ‘Good morning.’ It won’t exactly be the sort of situation where you could, anyway. And be careful not to stand up too quickly after greeting him.”

“Understood.”

The two Lakaien answered at the same time.

As they approached the Swiss Gate, they could see several high-ranking New Human officials who had been released early from questioning standing there. The Oberhofmarschall was approaching from a distance. They would have to wait like this for the next twenty minutes.

After greeting his superior and taking his place, the court official stole a glance at the young man he had personally selected earlier. His neatly parted black hair, swept back with plenty of volume, suited his clean-cut features perfectly. Looking at the Lakai in profile, the court official cast a soundproofing spell.

“Does the Head Kammerdiener dislike you? Or have you gotten a bad reputation because you aren’t treated well among the Lakaien?”

“No, sir.”

“Then why didn’t the Head Kammerdiener bring you out first?”

“That…”

The young man answered with a slightly embarrassed expression, but ultimately couldn’t continue. It looked as though he was about to say, I don’t really know. The court official shook his head and voiced his own guess.

“Perhaps everyone took it the wrong way because you’re much better-looking than the other Lakaien. It seems the Head Kammerdiener heard something unfavorable about your reputation from the Head Lakai.”

“I don’t think that is the case.”

“You don’t need to be modest. Still, being a Lakai or a Kammerdiener means dealing with people face-to-face, so you can’t escape having to win your employer’s favor. In the end, people like you are the ones who will survive to the end, so don’t let it bother you too much.”

“Thank you for the encouragement.”

David Graf replied in a calm voice with a faint smile. The court official nodded in satisfaction at his pleasant voice. Now that he looked more closely, the young man had every quality one could want in someone who dealt with people, without a single obvious flaw.

‘If this all ends successfully, I should take him with me.’

A New Human’s support was essential for an Old Human to advance in rank. And considering that he did not seem to be treated particularly well even among the Lakaien, promotion was all the more out of reach. But if the official, a New Human himself, put his weight behind the young man, he would surely win the favor of the Imperial Family before long. And whatever the outcome, helping the Imperial Household could hardly hurt the official himself.

The official briefly thought of his own younger days, then took one last look at the young man who would likely follow a path much like his own and turned away.

6:00 AM.

The moment the minute hand moved from 59 to 00, three enormous cathedral carriages came to a stop before the official. Christoph Starhemberg, the Archbishop and a Cardinal, stepped down from the first carriage with a gentle smile. Bishops and monsignors followed one after another from the carriages behind.

“Your Excellency.”

Everyone gathered there, including the Oberhofmarschall, greeted the elderly New Human Archbishop. His appearance was considerably younger than that of an Old Human of the same age, but the seasoned air in his expression and gait made it clear that he was by no means a young New Human. His cassock, trimmed in purple, fluttered in the wind.

“I am deeply grieved by the tragedy that has befallen the Empire. Prime Minister Rudolf Trapp was a fine representative of both His Majesty and his subjects.”

The Archbishop spoke solemnly as he made the sign of the cross with his right hand, then slowly began walking. The Oberhofmarschall fell into step beside him and showed him the way.

The official signaled to the two Lakaien behind him and led them from the Swiss Gate toward the stairs leading to the Imperial Chapel. The moment he stepped through the entrance to the Baroque chapel, he saw its high vaulted ceiling and the crucifix of Jesus hanging above them. The glass ornaments of the chandeliers reflected the rising sunlight.

The official was secretly moved to be inside the Imperial Palace chapel. All those hours of running around the palace had finally paid off. The atmosphere in Austria had grown as sharp as a blade after the Prime Minister’s death, tightening around the throats of every subject. The official himself had felt suffocated by it all day.

Yet within God’s embrace, it seemed as though all those troubles melted away.

As he looked around the chapel with a sense of emotion, entering it again for the first time in a long while, his body instinctively bent forward in a deep bow.

“I pay my respects to Your Majesty.”

Countless voices echoed beneath the chapel’s lofty arched ceiling. A choir of young children stood behind the altar, with the court priests lined up before them. The Emperor of Austria-Hungary, dressed almost like a clergyman himself, stood before the altar alongside the Crown Prince and his younger brother, the Imperial Prince, and looked toward the Archbishop.

“You have arrived. I am glad you have come here for the sake of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.”

“It is only what I ought to do, Your Majesty. It is truly an honor to be able to bless Your Majesty and the Empire before the Papal See sends its mages.”

“That is most reassuring to hear.”

With a worried look on his face, the Emperor stepped down from the altar and took his seat in the center of the first row, where the other members of the Imperial Family were seated. The Archbishop led the priests to the front of the altar and made the sign of the cross.

“To God the Father Almighty.”

“…….”

“Today, we have gathered here for His Majesty and the Empire at a time when our nation is facing great hardship. The death of Prime Minister Rudolf Trapp, who devoted his entire life to the Empire and its people, has plunged the Empire into grief and uncertainty. Heavenly Father, in this dark hour, grant us comfort and light.”

His firm, resonant voice spread throughout the chapel. Sitting with the others in the fourth row, the court official clasped his hands together. The Archbishop closed his eyes and continued in a solemn voice.

“Lord, protect our Emperor. Grant His Majesty the wisdom and courage to guide us through this hardship. Strengthen His Majesty’s heart and grant him the insight to make the right decisions. Give him the strength to comfort and unite his people. Lord, protect our people…”

The Archbishop’s prayer continued. As he spoke, the court official took a deep breath, feeling his heart gradually fill with something warm and reassuring.

“Lord, grant peace to the Empire. Grant the Empire true peace in the midst of this hardship. Plant reconciliation and forgiveness in our hearts. Guide us so that we may forgive and understand one another and live together in peace. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

When the Archbishop finished, a chorus of Amen filled the chapel.

Afterward, silence descended upon the place as though time itself had stopped. The chapel felt more sacred and solemn than anywhere else. The Archbishop paused between his words, then opened his mouth with a gentle expression.

“My beloved brothers and sisters. Today, we have gathered here with heavy hearts. The brutal murder of our nation’s Prime Minister by an unknown force yesterday has left a burden on all our hearts, and anger, anxiety, and despair have begun to seep deep into our hearts. Proverbs 3:5–6 tells us, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.’ We are facing a hardship that cannot be overcome through human wisdom alone. But if we place our trust in God and live according to His will, He will grant us the strength and wisdom we need.”

Ah, how could anything be so sacred? There could be no more sacred prayer than this. The court official had completely forgotten how he had panicked after being told that he had to prepare everything within the allotted time. His heart had been completely captured by the Archbishop’s sermon. Every word the Archbishop spoke felt utterly sincere, and his face looked like that of a sage unlike any other. Courage welled up within the court official—the courage to overcome the trials that had befallen the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The Lakaien standing in the side aisles beside the court official, as well as the court priests standing beside the altar, seemed just as moved by the Archbishop’s words. Their faces were filled with genuine devotion. The Emperor was no exception.

The Archbishop of St. Stephen looked upon everyone in the chapel with thoughtful eyes before speaking softly.

“Psalm 46 tells us, ‘God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.’ Even if the earth gives way, the mountains shake and fall into the heart of the sea, those who are with God shall not be afraid. Our God the Father will be our refuge on high and protect us.”

When the Archbishop finished speaking, a court priest placed a holy water font on the table beside the altar and stood beside it. The Archbishop fell silent when he saw the court priest he had never seen before placing the font there, then gave him a gentle smile.

He then took out a small container of salt himself and began reciting the prayer. For a moment, the court official was struck by the Archbishop’s unassuming manner and felt a surge of admiration. The Archbishop was not merely reciting the prayers—he was personally carrying out every part of the blessing.

“Almighty God, we humbly beseech You to bless this salt. In days past, You commanded the prophet Elisha to cast salt into the water so that it might not become corrupt. Therefore, wherever this holy water containing salt is sprinkled, may the Holy Spirit be present, drive away every assault of our enemies, and protect us always. Through Christ our Lord, we pray.”

The Archbishop sprinkled the salt into the holy water font, then poured some into a small golden cup and dipped a palm branch into it. Slowly, he raised his hand and lowered the branch from above. Clear droplets scattered in every direction beneath the sunlight. At that, the choir standing in a semicircle behind the Archbishop began to sing in high voices.

‘Gregorian chant, is it?’

The court official listened to the children’s clear voices with a peaceful heart. Dawn gradually broke, and pale sunlight poured brilliantly into the chapel. At last, it was time to bless His Majesty the Emperor. Having finished his preparations, the Archbishop turned his gaze toward the Emperor.

“Your Majesty.”

When the Emperor rose from his seat, his vestments embroidered with gold thread gleamed. After the Emperor made the sign of the cross, the Archbishop approached him and dipped the palm branch into the holy water font. Droplets of holy water gathered at every tip of the branch. The court official saw the Emperor close his eyes and straightened his back, determined not to miss a moment of His Majesty’s blessing.

BOOOOOOM—!!

“…!”

The court official threw up an arm to shield himself. A blinding blue light and a deafening roar erupted right beside him. A terrorist attack. It could be nothing else. The culprit had not stopped at killing the Prime Minister—they had infiltrated the palace as well!

The court official let out a shrill cry and slammed his head against the back of his seat. When he opened his eyes again, his mouth fell open. The palm branch soaked in holy water was not above the Emperor’s head. It was suspended in midair. The Archbishop’s eyes widened in shock as both his arms were seized by blue mana that had flown in from somewhere.

But that was no longer important.

A blue gale whipped through the chapel, driven by mana. Dozens of wands held by countless aides and soldiers all pointed toward the same place. The court official stiffened. His neck had gone rigid, and he slowly turned his head with a creak to see where the cluster of wands was aimed. No. He had already looked once. He looked again. And then once more. He simply could not believe what he was seeing. His mind went completely blank.

[In the name of Almighty God the Father, our Lord who created the heavens and the earth, I ask you: do you think it is right to commit an injustice against tens of millions of lives?]

The chapel reverberated as though the voice itself were magic. The tremendous resonance spread through the chapel, overpowering the howling wind, and the court official’s shoulders gradually stiffened.

The hair of the Lakai he had been watching—the “young man”—was turning pure white and whipping in the wind. The black pupils between his pale blue irises were chilling. The young man stood there, eyes blazing, pointing the Papal See’s platinum staff at the Archbishop of St. Stephen’s.

The court official’s vision went hazy. The young man was not a Lakai. He was not an Old Human, either.

The Papal See’s distinguished guest had already entered the Imperial Palace wearing the face of a low-ranking servant.

Amid the shock that showed no sign of fading, the Vatican mage’s voice rang through the chapel.

[Is it truly right for the apostate Pleroma to hide behind the rites of Roman Catholicism while carrying out the schemes of heretics?]