Chapter 27: Deep, Deep, Deep (Part 1)

The ceremonial hall of the imperial palace remained brightly lit throughout the night. Ministers who had been summoned to the royal chambers by the cardinal earlier in the day were now gathered again. However, the emperor was notably absent. While meeting the envoy from Orford might have been significant, he deemed it more fitting to remain in the inner palace with the empress. For matters of state, the presence of seasoned ministers, Commander Roland, and the Prime Minister was sufficient.

The visitors were Theodorus, the lord of Orford, and his deputy, Lord Borugan. Arriving in a hurry, their attire lacked the dignity of emissaries sent to negotiate with a foreign nation, appearing almost threadbare in their simplicity. Yet, no one regarded them with disdain. Theodorus's personal visit during this critical time demonstrated the gravity of the situation. Orford was equally crucial to Einfast, and even the most traditional ministers had no energy to fuss over such trivialities.

The meeting lasted nearly until dawn. When the ministers emerged from the hall, their expressions were peculiar—relieved yet devoid of joy, as though another ominous shadow loomed over them.

Theodorus only briefly rested at his assigned quarters before being discreetly escorted by carriage to the Prime Minister's residence, where another meeting awaited him.

In the Prime Minister's study, Elaine, Commander Roland, and Asa were already present. Except for Asa, everyone had been up all night. While the debates in the palace centered on the relations between Orford and Einfast, the discussions here delved into deeper, more concealed, and essential matters.

"Mr. Sandru rejected my proposal, didn't he?" Elaine began. It was her suggestion to invite Sandru to serve as the court magician.

"It seems unlikely he'll agree," Asa replied with a bitter smile.

Even among the ministers privy to the fact that cardinal Jarvis was a necromancer, there were many truths they remained unaware of. For instance, Jarvis's true identity, his connection to Marquis Inham, and the matters concerning the Dehya Valley were glossed over with vague explanations. Sandru's identity remained a secret as well. To the ministers, he was merely a reclusive magician from the Dehya Valley and a friend of Bishop Ronis, invited by Commander Roland to avert the recent crisis. Elaine, however, intended to bring Sandru further into the limelight.

Theodorus shook his head with a knowing smile. "The fundamental rule for necromancers of the Dehya Valley for centuries has been to avoid meddling in worldly affairs. Although recent decades have seen more power-hungry individuals joining their ranks, someone like Sandru would never dirty his hands in the murky waters of political struggles."

Despite his long journey followed by a sleepless night of meetings, Theodorus remained remarkably energetic. His sharp eyes showed no hint of weariness, though the faint discoloration under them betrayed how long it had been since he rested. Nevertheless, his vigor was fueled by the outcome of the night's deliberations: Orford and the Einfast Empire had agreed to form an immediate alliance. For Theodorus, this was a momentous achievement.

The cardinal sent by His Holiness the Pope had turned out to be a necromancer conspiring to overthrow the throne. Though this revelation could not be made public, the evidence was irrefutable. The empire's relationship with the Church had now irreversibly fractured.

This schism had been brewing since the days of Bishop Ronis, whose efforts to distance the Magic Academy from the Church were subtle yet deliberate. His refusal to travel to Celeste to meet the Pope was one such example. Over the past two decades, the general populace of the empire had come to view the Magic Academy in the capital as their true sacred ground, rather than the distant Celeste. This shift in perception laid the foundation for the eventual break with the Church.

The groundwork laid over twenty years had finally come to fruition, though Ronis could not witness it. Ironically, it was only after his death that Celeste's strained relations with the Magic Academy came to a head, creating the opportunity for a decisive split.

Cardinal Jarvis now languished in prison, his martial and magical abilities jointly stripped by Roland and Sandru. Officially, it was announced that the cardinal had succumbed to a sudden illness. It wasn't for lack of trying to concoct a more plausible explanation, but no credible reason could account for a cardinal who had been so active in political machinations suddenly disappearing after summoning ministers to the palace.

This thinly veiled lie was a public affront to His Holiness the Pope. Whether or not the Pope had the capacity to retaliate now, it was clear that the empire needed to prepare for the worst. In this context, securing a reliable ally was imperative.

Orford, already a buffer zone between the eastern and western continents, had demonstrated formidable combat capabilities during its resistance against the Church's coalition forces. By all measures, an alliance with Orford was a logical step.

During last night's meeting, Theodorus himself proposed the alliance, offering terms that satisfied the ministers. With trust in the Church shattered, both the emperor and his council saw no alternative but to agree. Under Roland's leadership, the ministers debated the alliance's finer points throughout the night.

Forming the alliance was no simple task. It escalated the empire's break with the Church into outright hostility. The details of the alliance required meticulous negotiation and coordination. Despite its inevitability, the ministers needed to assess whether Orford's strength and potential warranted severing ties with the Church entirely.

For hours, Lord Borugan single-handedly addressed every concern raised by the empire's ministers. Though unassuming in appearance, his mastery of military, domestic, economic, and agricultural affairs left everyone in awe. He not only outlined strategies for collaboration between Orford and the empire but also identified existing issues within the empire and proposed clear solutions. His sharp intellect, unique insights, and eloquence were so impressive that even the capable Prime Minister seemed overshadowed.

After the exhaustive discussions, any lingering doubts about Orford's potential vanished. While the orcs' formidable combat prowess was already acknowledged, the ministers now recognized the extraordinary synergy between military strength and Borugan's political and economic acumen. This combination signaled boundless potential.

Exhausted from the intense debates, Borugan was now resting in his quarters. The current discussions, unrelated to politics or economics, were not his domain.

"If Sandru were to publicly stand with us, it would serve as a powerful deterrent to both the Dehya Valley and the Church. We could craft a plausible backstory for his identity and motivations…" Elaine mused, her expression darkening with a subtle, calculated intent. "Is there truly no way? Perhaps Sandru desires something... or is bound by something…"

"I warn you not to play such petty games with him," Asa said sternly, his tone tinged with annoyance as he shot Elaine a sharp glance.

Surprised by Asa's reaction, Elaine hesitated, then fell silent.

Asa himself was taken aback. He was surprised both by Elaine's suggestion, which hinted at a willingness to resort to underhanded tactics, and by his own instinctive anger, which carried a note of concern.

Commander Roland nodded in agreement. "It's best not to force the issue. Sandru's temperament might lead to unintended consequences. His tacit support alone has already been a tremendous boon. While we've kept his involvement under wraps, the Church and the Dehya Valley will inevitably learn of his stance. For now, that is enough."

"Other ministers believe the Pope made a deal with Jarvis to reclaim control of the Magic Academy. That explanation suffices for them. But we know the truth runs deeper," Theodorus sighed. "Magnus would not have failed to recognize Jarvis's identity. Even if he didn't know of Jarvis's past as the assistant to Duke Murak, Roland's disciple, he could certainly discern his ties to the Dehya Valley. So, Magnus wouldn't send him here merely to reclaim the academy."