The Pope Emerges: A Divine Revelation

A wave of disappointment toward the elders of her family washed over Evelyn's heart.Leona, her father, looked at his daughter's defiant expression and found himself at a loss for words. He was torn, proud of her courage, yet deeply worried that her resistance might lead to harm.Derrick, his patience fraying, roared in fury:"Are you mocking me? Guards, tie them up!"Everyone gasped in shock, and the Third Elder, his voice trembling with fear, shouted:"Are you trying to destroy the entire family? Apologize to His Highness the Prince, now!"The Second Elder was equally enraged and shouted at Evelyn:"You ungrateful child! This is your moment to contribute to the family!"The First Elder's cold voice followed, laced with disdain:"This is not up for debate. You will marry him, whether you like it or not."Evelyn's mind raced with fear and anxiety, her prayers growing desperate:"If the Pope doesn't arrive soon, am I going to die here?"She thought back to the promise Rowan, the Pope, had made to her. Her only hope was that he would come to her rescue, like a savior.Meanwhile, Derrick smirked, convinced that his intimidation tactics would force the family to bow to him. He sneered inwardly, seeing them as nothing more than a bunch of fickle sycophants.He spoke arrogantly:"Evelyn, stop defying your elders. You're marrying me today. Once you're in my household, I'll make sure to 'discipline' you."Evelyn's face turned crimson with shame and humiliation.Just then, a voice rang out with authority from outside:"The Pope has arrived!"To everyone's shock, Pope Rowan and Cardinal Raymond, clad in imposing red robes, entered the room."Why are they here?" the family murmured in confusion.Some members of the family, seeing the Pope, were struck with awe and excitement."Could the Pope be here to support the Prince's proposal?"Others, more cautious, whispered among themselves:"The Prince is no one to have the Pope come for a mere engagement."The Third Elder's eyes widened as a thought struck him."Could it be? Did the Prince truly invite the Pope? If so, this will make everything easier."The Second Elder's heart raced with excitement. He quickly began to calculate the benefits:"If the Pope is here, then this marriage is inevitable. We must agree. This could be a golden opportunity for the family to connect with the Church."The First Elder, always calculating, had his doubts but remained silent. He knew better than to defy the Pope's will.Evelyn, filled with relief, sighed deeply, whispering to herself:"He's really here... He didn't lie to me."A wave of gratitude surged within her. Finally, she had someone to rely on.Derrick's heart sank. He had not invited the Pope, and certainly, he could never have. Yet here he was, interrupting his plans. He forced a calm smile, trying to mask his unease:"Your Excellencies, your presence is an honor. It truly elevates my proposal."But inside, Derrick's mind was racing, uncertain of Rowan's intentions. Was this an attempt to sabotage him?Cardinal Raymond scoffed, disdain flashing in his eyes as he mocked:"You think we're here for you? You aren't worthy of our attention. We came because the Pope has come to propose to Evelyn."The room fell into stunned silence.While the family was shocked, there was a palpable sense of excitement."If Evelyn marries the Pope, the family will rise to unprecedented heights. This is a thousand times better than marrying the Prince."Some whispered, already imagining the wealth and influence the family would gain from an alliance with the Church.The Third Elder, still processing the shock, mumbled to himself:"What is going on? How did I not know about this?"Confusion filled his mind as he struggled to make sense of this sudden change.The Second Elder, still in shock, thought quickly:"If this is true, how should I position myself? But regardless, I must show support for the Pope."His mind raced with plans, trying to figure out how to maximize his advantage in this new development.The First Elder, equally stunned, thought to himself:"How did I not know about this? Am I losing control of the family?"Unsure how to respond, he remained silent, waiting to see how the situation would unfold.Leona, still processing the shock of the Pope's sudden proposal, stood frozen. His thoughts were a whirlwind. How could the Pope, of all people, be interested in his daughter? And wasn't the Pope a little older than him?Leona remained speechless, his heart torn between astonishment and confusion.Derrick, furious beyond measure, cursed Rowan in his mind:"You old fool, how dare you ruin my plans!"But he had to maintain his composure, forced to smile through gritted teeth:"Pope Rowan, surely this is a joke?"His eyes betrayed a hint of panic, his fists clenched tightly in his sleeves, fighting to suppress the rage bubbling inside.Rowan, calm and unshaken, met Derrick's gaze."I love Evelyn. We are mutually devoted to one another."Cardinal Raymond nearly choked on his own breath at Rowan's bold declaration. He couldn't help but admire his brother's audacity, muttering to himself:"Really, Brother? You've only met her a handful of times. How can you claim mutual devotion? I wish I could speak with such shameless confidence."The Third Elder, seeing the Pope's stance, quickly piped up:"I support this union! Evelyn and the Pope are a perfect match. This is true love."His face was plastered with a sycophantic smile, calculating the benefits of aligning with the Pope.The Second Elder shot a glare at the Third Elder, annoyed that he had stolen his words. He quickly recovered, speaking with more urgency:"I agree! Evelyn will be so fortunate to marry the Pope. We will ensure the wedding is grand and splendid, with the richest dowry."He nodded enthusiastically, eager to show his support for this new alliance.