The Struggle for Power

“But, Madam, you must understand, no matter what, she is the Dragon King’s niece. Even if you have blood ties, have you truly considered the price?”

The Archbishop tapped the tabletop with his rough fingers, producing a crisp sound. His ancient, murky golden eyes reflected a scrutiny of past years; memory allowed him to examine matters from a broader perspective.

“I have already thought it through. I am merely helping my daughter reclaim what rightfully belongs to her. As for that bastard, if she is sensible and steps down, I don’t mind leaving her a way out.”

The beautiful white Dragon Tribe woman seemed to be radiating immense goodwill, her eyes filled with satisfaction at her own “benevolence.”

“So, even if her Saintess position is abolished, you will still allow her to return to the Academy of Revelation?”

“Heh, how could that be? Allowing her to return to the Academy of Revelation—she has accumulated considerable power under the name of Saintess these past years. Letting her go back is like letting a tiger return to the mountains. Furthermore, the Principal of the Academy of Revelation is notoriously unreasonable and fiercely protective of her students…”

“I don’t want to shoot myself in the foot. Not killing her, abolishing her cultivation, and placing her under house arrest is already the greatest mercy for her.”

The beautiful white Dragon Tribe woman sneered coldly, her eyes full of indifference.

“But you must consider carefully. Although Her Highness the Saintess does not acknowledge her relationship with the Dragon King, blood is blood and will not be severed without reason. The Dragon King, who holds the royal power, and the Saintess, who holds the divine power, both belong to the Imperial family.”

“Regardless of the relationship between the Saintess and the Dragon King, at least overtly, they are still family. A family holds all the power. And now you wish to depose the Saintess and disrupt this balance. Dragon King Hax might not agree to your doing so…”

The Archbishop said slowly.

“What of it? If they are family, am I not family too? Purer blood of the Liuli family flows in my veins than in that wretch’s! She is the Dragon King’s niece; am I not too?”

The beautiful white Dragon Tribe woman angrily slapped the table.

“Furthermore, my mother died defending the safety of the Great Dragon Divine Dynasty! And that wretch’s mother?! Nominally, she was my mother’s full-blooded sister, my so-called aunt. Yet she couldn’t even uphold the dignity and chastity of the Imperial family!”

“What right does she have to compare herself to me? What right does she have to compare herself to my daughter?”

The beautiful white Dragon Tribe woman roared, seemingly wanting to pour out all her anger. Yet she still maintained her rationality.

She knew that the person sitting before her was the Archbishop, an existence in the entire Great Dragon Divine Dynasty who was older than even the Dragon King. She suppressed the rage in her heart, but her eyes were still red as if about to spew fire.

“Please calm down, Duchess.”

The Archbishop sighed, tapping his finger on the tabletop.

“I know you have too much anger and grievance in your heart, but please calm down. Duchess Delphina, perhaps your mother was not as unchaste as you imagine. Legend has it that the reason her pregnancy couldn’t identify a husband was because she herself was conceived immaculately.”

The Archbishop took a sip of the clear tea in his cup, speaking calmly.

“Immaculate conception? Is she using some religious jargon to fob us off? Do you truly believe everyone in the Imperial family is as foolish as those commoners? Immaculate conception? Then who put this child in her belly?”

“The Dragon God? Or some other so-called wild god?!”

The beautiful white Dragon Tribe woman seemed completely unwilling to listen to any explanation, her every word filled with a belligerent tone.

“Alas…”

Seeing that the woman wouldn’t listen, the Archbishop merely sighed deeply and said no more.

Leaving the Duchess’s mansion, the Archbishop, accompanied by the Head Sister, returned to the Dragon God Cult cathedral.

Inside the cathedral, it was solemn and dignified.

Stained-glass windows of various colors cast dazzling light.

Under the pervasive, dim concealment, the Head Sister closed the cathedral doors and walked thoughtfully to the side of the Archbishop, who resembled a living fossil.

“Your Grace the Archbishop, are you truly prepared to support the Duchess’s faction?”

As a core member of the entire Dragon God Cult, possessing the most secrets apart from the Saintess and the Archbishop, Head Sister Zenora naturally could not detach herself from the vortex of power struggles within the Great Dragon Divine Dynasty.

She had heard all the conversations between His Grace the Archbishop and the Duchess before, but His Grace had never clearly stated his position.

At this moment, her heart, seeing His Grace’s attitude, regarded the conversation with the Duchess as more of an ambiguous cooperative relationship. At this thought, Zenora became even more determined to clarify the matter today.

“Hehe, supporting the Duchess’s faction? Why would you think that?”

The Archbishop looked at the largest Dragon God statue in the entire Great Dragon Divine Dynasty before him, laughing calmly.

“But Your Grace, in the recent conversation, you didn’t try to dissuade the Duchess at all. Isn’t that…”

“My not dissuading her means I agree to help her?”

“This…”

“Furthermore, I did not fail to dissuade her. I explained the pros and cons of her actions to her. Her doing so will inevitably anger the Dragon King, but blinded by anger and ambition, she will never listen to my words.”

The Archbishop slowly shook his head, as if lamenting, or perhaps letting out a final, disappointed sigh.

“But once the Dragon King gets angry, even Duke Casimir might not support the Duchess, right?”

Zenora said worriedly.

“Hehe, haven’t you seen it yet, Zenora? Since the Duchess has such confidence, it means she must have the support of Duke Casimir behind her. What kind of person is Duke Casimir?”

“Since he has made moves to support the Duchess, it means he has long thought about how to deal with the Dragon King’s wrath.”

“Your Grace means…”

Zenora understood the meaning in the Archbishop’s words and instantly covered her mouth in alarm.

“It’s exactly what you’re thinking. If the Dragon King agrees to depose the Saintess, then the position of Saintess will naturally fall to Miss Delphina. Duke Casimir already holds a portion of the Great Dragon Divine Dynasty’s military power. If his daughter becomes Saintess, divine power plus military power would weaken the Dragon King’s faction…”

“And if the Dragon King disagrees, then I imagine that ambitious Duke must have already prepared for a change of dynasty.”

His murky golden eyes now became utterly clear. The aged Archbishop continuously gazed at the majestic, divine Dragon God statue, the ravines on his face seemingly recounting the hardships and years he had experienced.

“Then what should we do? Whether it’s the Dragon King or the Saintess, once a conflict erupts, the Dragon God Cult absolutely cannot stay out of it!”

Although holding the important position of Head Sister, Zenora’s psychological fortitude was clearly not as strong as that of the Archbishop, an old veteran who had lived for countless years.

She knew that no matter how much turmoil the Dragon God Cult had experienced in the past, they had their worldly status, and he always managed to lead those around him safely through it.

“Sit back and observe, act according to the rules.”

“The Dragon Tribe has always believed in the law of the jungle. Only the strongest can be the Dragon King. If the Dragon King truly dares not confront the Duke, then it means this Great Dragon Divine Dynasty truly needs a change of dynasty. Similarly, the position of Saintess follows the same principle, and we will always be the ones who see through the situation and help push it along.”

The Archbishop lit the extinguished candle before him, his golden eyes overlapping with the burning candlelight.

“But if we truly consider the situation, the Dragon King and the Saintess are at a disadvantage. Are we really going to support the rebels?”

“No, no, no, Zenora. When things haven’t reached the final step, never say you’ve fully understood the situation…”

The old Archbishop chuckled, waving his hand.

“Let me tell you a secret. In truth, the legend of Princess Yumona’s immaculate conception is actually true, because I witnessed it with my own eyes…”

As he spoke, old memories seemed to drag the elder back to that night.

He had finished his last prayers of the day, but heard a faint dragon’s roar. He followed the roar out of the cathedral and looked towards the sky, only to see a streak of light, like a meteor, falling towards the direction of the Imperial Palace.

“Not long after, rumors spread of Princess Yumona’s inexplicable pregnancy.”

“Come, Zenora, let’s go for another walk.”

The old Archbishop rubbed his hunched back and walked out.

“Your Grace the Archbishop, where are you going?”

“A sudden whim. I want to go meet the general who once hunted our Saintess…”

(Bonus chapter progress: 16/32)