Chapter 13: Believe in Lord Luo Xiu
The Maya Empire has endured for hundreds of years.
The relationship between the Holy See and the Royal Family is no longer as close as it once was.
Therefore, upon receiving news that Luo Xiu had forcibly taken the witch from Livia Church, the Royal Family convened a secret meeting that very night.
The outcome of the meeting was clear.
Everyone unanimously agreed that this was a rare and excellent opportunity.
The Royal Family was already dissatisfied with the Holy See’s increasingly significant influence in recent years. Now that such a good leverage point had fallen into their hands, they naturally had to stir up trouble.
After weighing the pros and cons, on the afternoon of the next day, Third Prince Lance, accompanied by a unit of Imperial Guards, rushed to Luo Xiu’s manor.
They intended to muddy the waters further before the Holy See could react.
With this thought, Lance narrowed his eyes and beckoned behind him.
An Adjutant, sensing the cue, leaned in closer.
Lance gazed straight ahead, quietly asking, “How are things progressing with the matter?”
The Adjutant lowered his head and replied, “Your Highness, everything has been arranged. By tomorrow at the latest, rumors of Luo Xiu betraying the Holy See and the Empire, falling into depravity, and colluding with witches will spread throughout the outer city.”
Upon hearing this, Lance nodded in satisfaction. He stroked his chin, and a hint of barely discernible ferocity flashed in his eyes as he looked towards the manor.
He suddenly sighed again, his face etched with regret. “Damn it, I wish he had actually colluded with a witch.”
Yes, although Luo Xiu’s actions were outrageous, even Lance, his adversary, did not believe Luo Xiu had truly betrayed the Holy See.
Who among those who attained the position of Priest did not possess absolute loyalty to the Holy Light?
This was why Lance felt regret.
For merely taking the witch on a whim, the charges were far from sufficient.
They were nowhere near enough to arrest that man, let alone fulfill Lance’s wish to see him dead.
The Adjutant beside him was startled by the Third Prince’s lament.
He was aware of the conflicts between the Royal Family and the Holy See, but he hadn’t expected them to have reached this extent.
That was Lord Luo Xiu…
Not only the youngest Priest in the Holy See, but also the most outstanding talent in their Maya Empire.
However, the Adjutant soon reconsidered. Having been with the Third Prince for a long time, he knew Lance’s nature of being jealous and seeking the spotlight.
Coupled with the dazzling halo that had surrounded Lord Luo Xiu for the past two years, so brilliant that everyone had forgotten about the existence of a Third Prince within the Royal Family.
He supposed that without Lord Luo Xiu, given the Third Prince’s talent, he would surely have been the focus of public attention?
It was only because a more dazzling gem was present that everyone overlooked this raw jade, the Third Prince.
Thinking thus, the Adjutant no longer found the Third Prince’s resentment towards Lord Luo Xiu strange.
After waiting a bit longer, until Lance was completely impatient, a stir finally came from the manor’s main gate.
With a creaking sound, a slender figure appeared behind the door.
He had a distinguished bearing, stood tall and upright, and his pure white robe, fluttering in the wind, drew everyone’s gaze.
A solemn black cross hung on his chest.
He surveyed his surroundings, then looked at Lance, who was leading the group, and frowned slightly.
“You have come to see me, yet you do not pay your respects?”
Hearing this, Lance’s face twitched.
He hadn’t expected the other party to deliver a preemptive strike before he could even make a move.
However, according to the Holy Canon, a Priest’s status was second only to the Pope and the current Emperor.
All other Princes and Princesses were required to kneel and bow when meeting a Priest, kissing their shoes as a sign of respect.
Therefore, Luo Xiu’s question was not without basis.
Despite his intense displeasure, Lance did not dare to openly defy the Holy Canon in front of so many people.
He took a deep breath, slowly walked up to the man, and then knelt on one knee, offering his respects.
At the same time, Lance’s resentment towards Luo Xiu escalated.
He, a Prince, had been overshadowed by someone of the same age for over a decade. Now, he had to publicly kneel before him.
And yet, he couldn’t show any sign of displeasure.
Humiliated, so utterly humiliated!
Lance gritted his teeth and lowered his head.
A cold light flashed in his eyes, and he thought, “Just wait until I find that witch inside; you’ll be in for it.”
Luo Xiu stood in place, observing Lance’s reaction, a slight smile playing on his lips.
He nodded with satisfaction, then asked, “Your Highness Lance, may I ask if you have brought your Imperial Guards here in such force with the intention of arresting me?”
Lance cursed inwardly, thinking, “What a pretense.”
But outwardly, he displayed a genial smile. “Lord Luo Xiu, you overstate things. I merely heard that an inauspicious person like a witch has appeared in your manor, and I hurried here to help you resolve this issue.”
Luo Xiu let out a cold laugh. “Your Highness Lance’s news is indeed well-informed.”
He waved his hand. “However, there is no need to resolve any issues. I can handle matters within my own manor myself.”
Lance scoffed inwardly.
“You say it so lightly, but if I really leave empty-handed like this, how will I ever face my two older brothers again?”
Lance narrowed his eyes and beckoned behind him.
“Lord Luo Xiu, your words are mistaken. Since I am already here, how can I ignore the witch? Don’t you agree?”
He finished speaking, his expression suddenly turning grim.
“Enter, search for me.”
At Lance’s command, the formation of Imperial Guards received the order and began to move.
They did not dare to confront Luo Xiu directly and prepared to bypass him, heading straight into the manor.
Luo Xiu did not try to stop them. He merely gazed at Lance.
“Third Prince, intruding into the residence of a Priest, do you know what that signifies?”
Luo Xiu’s gaze was calm, and his tone was indifferent, yet Lance inexplicably felt a pang of unease.
Not wishing to lose his momentum, he forced himself to meet Luo Xiu’s gaze and said with a strained smile, “Forgive me, Lord Luo Xiu.”
Luo Xiu simply turned away and no longer looked at him.
In the front half of the manor, the usually tranquil garden was filled with the sound of hurried, disheveled footsteps.
The Imperial Guards began to search room by room.
In a corridor near the main building, Anna looked anxious. She watched the actions of these soldiers, hesitating to speak several times.
Then, she saw Luo Xiu reappear within her sight and let out a long sigh of relief.
She quietly whispered into his ear.
“Lord Luo Xiu, do we really not need to stop them?”
Luo Xiu’s expression was calm and unhurried.
“It’s fine. Let them search. We’ll go upstairs first.”
On the second floor, in a certain room.
The two young ‘witches’ whom Luo Xiu had brought from the church waited quietly.
The commotion outside was considerable, and they could naturally hear it all.
“Selena, do you think he will hand us over…”
Eileen trembled slightly, no longer calling him a pervert, and asked blankly.
Selena gently held her small palm.
She said firmly, “We must believe in Lord Luo Xiu.”
(End of Chapter)
