The invitation was delivered to Faust during breakfast. Seeing the prince browse it briefly before letting out a soft hum, Alkin could not help but ask.
"What is the 【Sacred Alliance】?"
Faust flicked the invitation with his finger and laughed.
"Oh, for the Fog Moon Kingdom, which has been locked away for a century, it is only natural that you would not be familiar with an alliance that has only been established in the last few years."
The prince explained the origins and context of the 【Sacred Alliance】 to the wolf-girl in detail.
Ever since the Radiant Dynasty erupted into the dragon disaster, the empire's core territories had been seized immediately by the likes of Charlotte and other royals who were well-prepared.
Those royals who had not been recruited under Lian's banner had long been dispatched to the frontier regions to serve as governors. Upon learning that the empire's guardian deity had fallen to a dragon, they immediately raised the banner of restoration and marched toward the imperial capital.
Thus, the civil war of the Radiant Dynasty was ignited, and both sides fought several major battles within the empire's borders.
However, after years of civil war, the opposition was completely unable to gain an advantage. Instead, they were crushed by the followers of the dragon king Lian to the point where they could barely breathe. If the Second Empire's rule had not been so unstable, they likely would not have been able to even hold onto their own governorates.
The authority of a living true dragon was simply too overwhelming. This was even with Lian not taking action personally. Although Lian, being human-obsessed, could not bring herself to slaughter humans on a massive scale, others did not know that.
In the eyes of the empire's dragonslayer faction, the evil dragon had not even moved, yet her minions alone had beaten them into such a miserable state. If that world-ending evil dragon were to take flight, wouldn't it wipe out their very existence?
Under such immense threat and pressure, the people of the empire finally lowered their arrogant heads and sought alliances with neighboring kingdoms.
Before this, the eight-hundred-year-old Radiant Dynasty had never formed alliances with foreign powers. There was only conquest and domination—fight, fight, fight. Wherever the empire's cannons and iron hooves stepped, all became subjects.
Those who did not submit were also ravaged into utter ruins.
Naturally, the empire's reputation was not very good. It was not quite 'a rat crossing the street that everyone beats,' but it was certainly enough to make children cry at night.
If the empire had erupted into civil strife for any other reason, the surrounding neighboring countries would have only had one reaction.
How delightful! Pop the champagne!
Hahaha, so you finally have your day! Now it is time to carve up the empire, right? Is there anyone who understands the saying that taking revenge after nine generations is not too late?
However, the empire's fragmentation was not due to human folly, but a 'natural disaster.'
The existence of an evil dragon was a terror etched into the bloodline of all sons of man. Even if the imperial capital were occupied by some great fiend, everyone would gloat and stab them in the back.
But it just had to be... a dragon.
Even the most foolish of fools could not harbor illusions about an evil dragon. That was an existence that could truly plunge the world into misery and eliminate over half the population with a single move.
In the face of an evil dragon, all national grievances and family vendettas should be set aside for the time being. Therefore, when the people of the empire began seeking dragonslaying allies, the vast majority did not step forward to take a stance.
The one that ultimately stepped forward to support them was the Sanctuary.
"The Sanctuary... is that the monastic organization that worships fairies?"
Selena asked, folding her arms and raising an eyebrow at the mention.
Faust nodded. "Correct. As long as it is not a kingdom that has closed its doors to the world, there are more or less branches of the Sanctuary distributed everywhere."
The tradition of the world regarding fairies as deities to be worshipped was something propagated by the Sanctuary. This ancient organization was older than any human kingdom, boasting at least several thousand years of history. It was intertwined across the entire continent, constructing the most complex and far-reaching organizational network.
In terms of religious faith, the Sanctuary almost dominated the spiritual plane of humanity. Only those kingdoms possessing their own guardian deities could be immune to the Sanctuary's proselytizing.
After all, the worship of fairies was a tradition that had existed since ancient times. As the organization that first transformed this faith into a religion, the Sanctuary naturally garnered the support of countless people. No kingdom felt this was a bad thing; after all, the Sanctuary's doctrine was truly simple, and it did not interfere too much with internal affairs.
We people of the fairy tale world are all very simple, and our faiths are very pure, without so much petty scheming.
It was mainly because fairies truly existed that this faith was indeed sincere.
"Come to think of it, doesn't the Midwinter Kingdom lack an organization from the Sanctuary?"
Faust asked curiously. During his time in the Midwinter Kingdom, he learned that it was one of the rare places without any Sanctuary presence.
Oh right, the Fog Moon Kingdom was the same, but that was a very normal situation. After all, one had its own worshipped deity, and the other had been locked away for over a hundred years; even if there had been any, they would have been destroyed by the wolf packs long ago.
Selena scraped her chin with her fingertips and said:
"The Sanctuary once came to the Midwinter Kingdom to proselytize, wanting to establish a branch here. And every year, a group of missionaries would come, tireless and never giving up."
The black-haired girl revealed a smile that was clearly disdainful, yet breathtakingly beautiful.
"I have to admire their perseverance; it seems they never know how to give up."
Faust let out an 'oh' and said:
"That's a bit strange. If the Sanctuary is rejected, they usually don't insist."
The Qingxi Kingdom had also been visited by Sanctuary missionaries who wanted to establish a church there.
But the old king had refused them, so the Sanctuary had returned empty-handed.
At the time, Faust had thought it strange why his father would not accept the establishment of a Sanctuary branch, as the Sanctuary could have helped the people of Qingxi rebuild their homes.
It was only after taking over Mephisto's contract that the prince realized his father was expressing his loyalty to Mephisto.
A loyal minister does not serve two masters!
I will not lick any other fairy; licking one is enough of a cough, so I only ask for Lord Mephisto to grant me some blessings!
Selena, resting her plump, sensual thighs and holding a piece of cut fruit in her mouth, said:
"Who knows? Lola has always been the one to negotiate with them; ask her."
Following the Snow White's gaze, Faust looked at Lola, who had remained silent.
The mature, coldly alluring woman in a black veil and dress, her fingers interlaced over her towering chest, lightly bit her alluring red lips, appearing to be lost in deep thought and memory.
The Queen of Midwinter had arrived at the Qingxi royal capital a few days ago. As a co-ruler, she was entitled to the same treatment as a king in the Qingxi Kingdom.
However, for those present, there was no hierarchy of status. Everyone was connected by their love for the prince, so she did not sit in the seat of honor.
"It is because of the Sacred Deity. They come for the Sacred Deity."
When she was being serious, the queen was extremely formal, dignified, cold, and peaceful. She spoke slowly:
"The ancestors of the Midwinter Kingdom were once followers of the Sacred Deity. It was only after the Sacred Deity fell that they came to the River Valley to establish the Midwinter Kingdom."
"Including the frost-walker, they are also a legacy from that time. The Sanctuary comes in the posture of pilgrims, wishing to pay respects to the ruins of the era of the Sacred Deity."
"The Sacred Deity..."
Hearing Lola say this, Faust could not help but reveal a smile full of profound meaning.
Rate on N.U.
