Chapter 4: The Capital: First Meeting with the Emperor
(For the people of this world, magic is not superstition, but another scientific system that actually exists in every aspect of human daily life.
People respected the monks of the Magic Guild just as they respected the scholars of the Science Guild, and often provided assistance to them within their capabilities. They believed that as long as they showed full respect to the Magic, they could bring various conveniences to their lives, and even save their lives in critical moments.
On the way to the palace with Yaris in a covered carriage decorated with pure gold and golden tassels, Xiao Yun kept repeating what John Deere had said to him in his mind, and the incredible words describing the Holy Family in "A Study of the Five Thousand Years of History and Peculiarities of the Holy Family" kept appearing before his eyes.
(…The successive rulers of the Sun Empire did not want to deprive the Holy Family of their privileges. Many even considered completely eradicating this ancient family, which, in the eyes of the rulers of the Western Continent, both the common people and other countries, represented the Sun Empire more than the royal family. However, they could not do so.
Including the sacred tower of Denos, almost all buildings and sacred objects directly related to the Twin Gods in the land of the Sun Empire will and will only respond to the prayers of the Holy Family and react only to the bloodline of the Holy Family - and it must be a high-purity direct bloodline.
A branch of the bloodline that has lost its purity cannot receive the response of the gods, and a counterfeit bloodline will be burned by heavenly fire and turned into dust the moment it touches the highest level of the divine tower, which is said to be transformed from the scepter gem of the twin gods, for blasphemy.
(…In the five thousand years of the Holy Family’s history, there have been rebels who have scoffed at tradition, believing that the Holy Family, like all things in the world, should naturally perish over time, and who insist on having children only with their loved ones. However, their resistance has always failed.
It seems that there is a power from a higher dimension—let's call it God—that controls the life, death, and inheritance of this ancient and mysterious family.
(…Except for certain facial features, members of the Holy Family generally possess a strong resistance to magic. Curses and evil spirit-related magic are completely ineffective against direct members of this family. Mind-penetration and consciousness hypnosis also only work on members who have never received magical training.)
After repeatedly studying the written records left by generations of the Holy Family, combined with the knowledge of eye anatomy I gained from the Academy of Sciences, I have come up with a bold hypothesis regarding the Holy Family's uniquely pure black eyes: the strange phenomenon of our irises and pupils appearing the same black as the night sky is because our irises reflect light that ordinary eyes cannot see.
(The beings collectively known as gods in higher dimensional spaces use their bodies to issue oracles to the world on their behalf. This ability to communicate with the gods is another special ability commonly possessed by members of the Holy Family.
In very rare cases, the ability to communicate with the gods will manifest in some individuals of the family as the ability to recall souls - by building an imaginary community, specific souls can be summoned to the present world in their own way...)
(Soul Retracing… The description seems to be a card drawing system for the Chinese Heroic Spirit within me. Could it be that…)
Xiao Yun subconsciously glanced at Yaris beside him.
Perhaps because he was wearing a tuxedo, he looked even more elegant and gorgeous than when they had lunch together yesterday. His flowing black hair was adorned with a simple and elegant crown of golden iris leaves, which made his skin look even whiter and smoother like a statue.
"what's on your mind?"
"I...I'm wondering if this kind of trip is too flashy and ostentatious."
After all, the carriage they were riding in, decorated with pure gold and golden tassels, was not only inlaid with ivory carvings depicting a scene of flying gods feasting, but the five tall horses pulling the carriage were pure white without a single stray hair on their bodies. Their manes and tails were decorated with golden rosamaria flowers, and their bodies were covered with crimson brocade embroidered with gold thread on the Holy Family coat of arms. The drivers were two dignified-looking paladins in silver armor.
There were more than a hundred guards on white horses and holding flags in front and behind the carriage.
"Gorgeous? Swaggering?"
An indescribable and complicated smile appeared on Yaris's lips: "You don't like it?"
"Yes, I don't like this kind of travel. Or rather, I don't like this kind of life. I don't like being stared at by at least ten pairs of eyes from the moment I wake up. I don't like having a large group of people following me wherever I go. I don't like..."
When he got excited, Xiao Yun couldn't help but clench his fists.
"Very uncomfortable?"
"Yes, I hate..."
"I know you dislike extravagance and prefer a simple and frugal life, but since you've returned to the capital, you must accept the aristocratic lifestyle..."
Yaris put his arm around his brother's shoulders and said softly, "In fact, I'm trying to reform the empire's etiquette system, abolishing extravagant, cumbersome, exaggerated, and meaningless content, and promoting frugality, simplicity, elegance, and value."
"Really?"
Xiao Yun raised his head.
"Of course it's true."
Yaris gave his brother a soft smile.
…
…
"Is it raining?"
Xiao Yun looked up at the crystal-clear rain shield above his head, and the colorful flowers outside the corridor that were wrapped in soft rain like mist.
(The technology tree in this other world is a bit strange... Magic and science advance hand in hand, and weapons are still stuck in the era of cold weapons, but they can mass-produce large pieces of flat, load-bearing glass for rain shields... Although this technology is apparently only used in the palace and the mansions of the great nobles...)
"It rarely rains in Guangming City this season. It's clear that the Rain God was moved to tears by Your Highness's reunion with his brother."
The person who took the initiative to talk to the two people in the corridor was a guy with a vengeful look. Although he was wearing a decent court dress, he gave people the feeling of a tramp.
His gray-brown hair was messy as if he had just escaped from a fire. His lack of nutrition gray eyes flashed with a depressed light like a dead fish. His sunken cheeks and drooping mouth corners were full of deep wrinkles. He was thin and his height was estimated to be no more than 1.7 meters.
(This guy...is more like a bat or a rat transformed than a human.)
The moment he saw the man, Xiao Yun couldn't help but mutter to himself.
"Ulysses, your dark circles are worse than the last time we met."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."
The man known as Ulysses hung his head in frustration.
Jarris introduced his brother in his beautiful, soothing voice, "Lucien, this bat-like fellow is Edmund's most trusted deputy prime minister, Lord Ulysses. Of course, you'd better not call him Mr. Bat to his face, as he will get angry and wait for an opportunity to retaliate."
"Your Highness, you are making fun of me again."
Ulysses said dejectedly, "Even if I become your Majesty's most trusted man, I am still a beggar unworthy of the palace."
"I admire you, a beggar, if you can change from my political enemy to my ally."
"My loyalty is solely to Your Majesty."
"Even if Marina—"
"Marina..."
Ulysses scratched his messy hair and smiled bitterly: "Lias recommended a restaurant to me yesterday. Can I go there while Miss Marina is on vacation..."
"She is currently dating the tall and brave Monglis grassland mercenary."
Yalist paused for a moment and added, "Even if I ordered her to accept your invitation, my dear foster brother Mikael would not allow his only sister to date my enemy."
"That's a real shame."
Ulysses sighed and prepared to leave.
Yaris suddenly reminded her: "If you come to Silver Moon Palace tonight, you will meet her when she returns to the palace."
"Thank you, Your Highness. You are so kind."
"No need to thank, in the hearts of lovers, the goddess of love is more sacred than the twin gods."
Jarris said this with a double meaning, and took Lucien into his exclusive lounge in the palace to wait for the audience summons.
——Although as a descendant of the theocratic co-ruler recognized by law at the beginning of the Yula Dynasty and the cousin of the current Emperor Edmund, Yaris can enter the audience room directly without being summoned.
…
…
"His Highness Jarris, Prince Lucien—enter—"
Upon hearing this, the numerous nobles and foreign envoys surrounding the huge throne turned around and surged towards the Yaris brothers like a tide, their faces filled with genuine joy.
Including foreign envoys, they would rather talk to Yaris, who was wearing a pure white dress and had a bright smile on his face, rather than the gloomy emperor sitting on a golden chair and wearing a heavy purple cloak.
"Long time no see, cousin Charlie, is your relationship with Princess Julia going well?"
"As long as I have time, I will definitely go to your favorite restaurant in Karon to taste the dishes you recommend."
"Lias, you look good. Could it be that your wife is pregnant again?"
"Uncle Alfrid, please come to my lounge for tea later. I have a question about hunting that I would like to ask you, my teacher."
…
Yaris greeted everyone with ease, and his soothing, clear voice ensured that his younger brother following behind him could remember these people's names.
Everyone also noticed Lucien behind Jarris, but no one showed dissatisfaction or impatience towards Lucien.
The same is true of Edmund on the Golden Chair.
He raised his head, and his gloomy blue eyes tried to force a smile: "Yaris, you've come at the right time. I have something very important to consult with you."
"Oh? What's going on?"
Yaris took his brother to about two meters in front of the golden chair, stopped, and bowed slightly as a salute.
Seeing this, Xiao Yun imitated Yaris's actions.
The atmosphere suddenly became a little depressing.
In the audience hall where you could hear a pin drop, Edmund squinted and stared at Jaris and Lucien for a long time, as if trying to guess their intentions.
Finally, Edmund looked away and uttered something insincere: "I'm glad you've recovered so quickly, Lucien."
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