“I’m going to check on Brandon. You wait for me here,” said the Duke.

In a moment of desperation, Li Aili grabbed the 'Duke's' hand.

"etc!"

After saying that, she secretly handed him a bottle of medicine with the cap slightly loosened, saying, "Take this for self-defense."

The Duke, unsuspecting, smiled slightly at her and tucked the item into his pocket. "Don't worry, nothing will happen."

After saying that, 'Duke of Cold Jade' quickly went upstairs.

A short while later, Brandon, who had hastily put on a coat and was reeking of alcohol, staggered down the stairs.

Upon seeing him, the nobles of Nanjun felt as if they had found a pillar of support.

"Your Highness! St. Ser's Cathedral is on fire!"

Brandon walked to the window, saw flames shooting into the sky outside, and cursed, "Damn it."

The Interior Officer, Mark, followed behind him.

"Go and invite Bishop Joshua down."

Mark immediately went to fetch someone.

Before long, Bishop Joshua and the Holy Knights of Light from the Holy See all came down.

The knights of light saw the firelight outside the window, and their eyes turned red.

A Knight of Light roared angrily, "Damn it! Brandon Red Pomegranate, you're responsible for this!"

Brandon smiled casually. "What responsibility? Tell me about it?"

"Should I pretend I know nothing and marry that woman who was having an affair with the cardinal, or should I have let you go yesterday and become a coward?"

"You!!" The Knight of Light was so angry that his face turned red.

"Enough!" Bishop Joshua shouted.

The Knights of Light all looked at the young bishop.

He was Michel's student.

Although his future is in jeopardy due to Michel's scandal, he is the only one they can count on for now.

"What should we do now, Bishop Joshua?" a Knight of Light asked anxiously.

Joshua's pale golden eyes reflected the towering flames. "Right now, all we can do is pray to God here. And then, wait..."

“The Holy See’s inquiries,” he said softly.

Even the Knight of Light changed his expression upon hearing this word.

Li Aili quietly moved closer to Duke Red Pomegranate.

Brandon reeked of strong liquor.

Of course, locking yourself in a room and drinking for a whole day and night, or pouring a whole bottle of wine on yourself, will have the same effect.

Sure enough, amidst the strong smell of alcohol, Li Aili detected the extremely subtle scent of 'fragrant vine'.

The 'fragrant potion' made from the Hundred Fragrance Vine can have a strong fragrance that lasts for three days if only a tiny bit is applied.

The "fragrant potion" was the same potion she had given the "Duke" for self-defense not long ago.

Although it's hard to believe, it turns out that the 'Arthur Cold Jade' we just saw was indeed Brandon Red Pomegranate in disguise.

Her mind was in complete turmoil. If that was the case, where was Arthur right now?

The tangled clues flashed through her mind, and the scene by the lake that day came to mind.

The unfamiliar cloaked figures, Arthur Cold Jade, and Brandon.

The burning sanctuary...

"Oh!! My God of Light!!" the nobles exclaimed, many covering their mouths in disbelief.

The Holy Temple collapsed in an instant.

The tremendous noise of the collapse could even be faintly heard here.

"Let us go! This is divine wrath! The God of Light is angry!" one of them shouted in terror.

As a sanctuary collapsed before their eyes, the guests' panic reached its peak.

However, before Brandon could speak, Bishop Joshua said coldly, "No one is allowed to leave Neuschwanstein Castle before the Holy See's inquiries arrive."

“Those who disobey will be punished by the Holy Light.” The handsome bishop coldly swept his gaze over everyone present.

Li Aili silently took a step back.

Clearly, an overly young bishop could not command the obedience of the nobles.

His prestige was far less than that of his teacher, the (former) cardinal.

One of them pointed at his nose and yelled, "Don't listen to him! He's a disciple of that 'false saint' who betrayed the God of Light!!"

So the nobles began to flee.

The knights of Neuschwanstein Castle clearly had no intention of interfering.

Li Aili retreated silently, then ran with the crowd toward the gate leading to Swan Lake.

Not long after, she left Neuschwanstein Castle.

She lifted her skirt and sped along the shore of Swan Lake.

It was very dark, and she couldn't see the path beneath her feet. All she could hear was the splashing sound of the lake water.

A tree root tripped her, and Li Aili fell to the ground.

Sharp stones in the soil cut her palm.

Just as she was about to get up, she heard a loud splash from the lake beside her, a 'plop' and a 'splash'...

Beside a dark, deserted forest, the sound startled her so much that she immediately pulled out three or four bottles of alchemical potions, ready to throw them at the slightest provocation.

Suddenly, two tall men dressed in black leaped out of the lake.

She screamed in terror and threw the four medicine bottles in her hand away violently.

"Ahhh—"

A familiar voice urgently called out, "Don't use your sword!"

Arthur?!

Li Aili realized what was happening and breathed a huge sigh of relief.

The other, even taller figure decisively stopped.

The two moved extremely quickly, one on each side, and firmly caught the medicine bottles that Li Aili threw.

Arthur finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"What is this?" the stranger asked in a hoarse voice.

"Take those two bottles back and study them," Arthur said hurriedly.

This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!