In the royal palace of Siacan Royal City, within the palace of the First Prince, Lucia, the entire room was pitch black, with only a single candle flame flickering on the tabletop.
The First Prince, Lucia, sat at the table, savoring the fine wine. He glanced at his kneeling head knight and asked in a low voice, "Still haven't found that woman?"
The voice was exceptionally loud in the silent night, making the head knight tremble involuntarily. He knew the First Prince was growing impatient and could only reply, steeling himself, "Your Highness, Princess Lucy is protected by Jones's guards. Her trail is too difficult to follow."
"Tsk... that woman, to actually dare abandon her status as a princess, how naive," Lucia sneered, but the veins on the back of the hand gripping the cup bulged, showing that he was still deeply bothered by Lucy's escape.
Lucia was furious. Lucy's departure made him extremely suspicious; he couldn't shake the feeling that his father, that old man, had given that bitch some sort of power. He knew his father had a mysterious order of knights at his command.
It was this mysterious knightly order that kept him, the Second Prince, and the Fourth Prince from acting rashly. Otherwise, they would have started a bloody battle for the throne long ago, instead of engaging in the current covert and overt scheming.
"Your Highness, this subordinate believes that Princess Lucy will likely not return," The head knight said cautiously.
"Hmph!" Lucia snorted coldly, casting a gloomy glance at the knight. "Likely? Even the slightest possibility cannot be allowed to exist."
In truth, he knew that the person who posed the greatest threat to his claim to the throne was that bitch, Lucy. It was all because his father doted on her the most. If not for her being a woman, the succession would have likely been decided long ago.
The struggle for the throne had reached a critical point, and he would not allow any new variables to emerge. The two known rivals, the Second Prince and the Fourth Prince, were already giving him a major headache. Even though he had the upper hand, until he was sitting on that throne, he dared not relax his guard for a moment.
"Have people monitor the major noble families. I don't want anyone secretly contacting that bitch," Lucia drained the wine in his cup in one gulp, his entire face scrunching up.
He did not want a repeat of the past incident where a princess became king. When women get ruthless, they can sometimes be more vicious than men. He remembered what had happened not long ago; she definitely held a grudge against him.
"Yes," The head knight replied respectfully.
"What has Greena been up to recently?" Lucia asked faintly, reaching out to pour himself another cup of wine.
"Replying to Your Highness, the Second Prince has been frequently heading out of the city. My subordinates cannot get close. Thirteen knights have already been killed," The head knight said in a low voice.
"Oh?" Lucia's hand holding the cup trembled, and his brows furrowed tightly. Not knowing what Greena was doing was not good at all. What on earth was that boorish fellow up to? What was outside the royal city?
"Your Highness, this subordinate will go investigate personally," The head knight said in a low voice.
"No need." Lucia shook his head and waved his hand. "You may leave. Let me think about this matter."
"Yes." The head knight paused for a moment, glanced at the dark corner of the room, and bowed his head as he exited the palace.
Creak!
The palace door closed. The wind blew in, making the candle flame sway, and darkness advanced and retreated.
"Come out," Lucia said faintly, his voice low and tinged with a hint of resignation.
As soon as he spoke, a figure stepped out from the darkness of the room, stopping at the edge of the candlelight's reach. One could vaguely make out a person in a red robe.
"You people are truly interesting. Do you enjoy staying in the darkness so much?" Lucia said coldly.
"Hehe... I've made a fool of myself before Your Highness, the First Prince," A hoarse, strange laugh came from the red-robed person.
"What have you come for this time?" Lucia's eyes narrowed as he spoke icily. "You've snuck in time and again. Do you really think I won't kill you?"
"Hehe... Your Highness, please calm your anger." The red-robed person stood motionless, laughing with that hoarse voice. "I have come this time to help you."
"Tsk... help me?" Lucia scoffed, the veins on his forehead bulging as he suppressed his anger. "Last time, you said you'd help me and took a thousand gold coins from me. This time, what do you want?"
This was the fourth time the red-robed person had appeared. The first time was in the wilderness, when the person had suddenly sought him out and provided a piece of intelligence, letting him know he had a spy from the Second Prince in his midst.
On the subsequent two occasions, the red-robed person had provided him with intelligence. After paying two thousand gold coins, he had gained the upper hand in his struggle against the Second Prince, but his treasury had also become a bit strained.
"Your Highness, the First Prince, this time I do not want gold coins, nor will I want gold coins in the future," The red-robed person chuckled, his tone light and natural.
"What do you mean?" Lucia frowned and said coldly, "Speak clearly."
"Your Highness, the First Prince, our Lord Bishop has sent me to discuss a partnership with you," The red-robed person said with a faint smile.
"A partnership? What kind of partnership?" Lucia felt the other party had ill intentions.
"We will help Your Highness, the First Prince, ascend the throne. We will provide men and power, our full support to help you reach the pinnacle," The red-robed person said in a low voice.
"What?" Lucia raised an eyebrow, staring at the red-robed person with suspicion and uncertainty. He had witnessed their intelligence-gathering capabilities. With their help, his chances of ascending the throne would be that much greater.
"As long as Your Highness cooperates with us, you will absolutely be able to ascend the throne," The red-robed person said in an arrogant tone.
"How can I trust you? You won't even show your face," Lucia sneered.
"As Your Highness wishes." The red-robed person, as if knowing Lucia would say this, reached up and pulled down the hood of his red robe, revealing an aged face. The most prominent features were a handlebar mustache and a full head of white hair. He looked to be at least fifty years old.
"Who are you?" Lucia's pupils constricted. He recognized this person. Wasn't this one of the cooks from the back kitchen?
"Me? Hehe..." The red-robed person said hoarsely. "I am Deacon Number Three of The Luminous Creed."
"Luminous Creed? What kind of organization is that?" Lucia frowned. He had never heard this name before.
"The Luminous Creed is an organization that believes in the Divine Lord, the Creator Father, Lomistro. Our purpose is to pursue the grace of the Divine Lord, so that we may enter the Divine Kingdom of Heaven and attain eternal life," The red-robed person roared with fanaticism.
"The Divine Kingdom of Heaven? The Divine Lord? Eternal life?" Lucia instantly grasped a few key points. He didn't believe it and sneered, "Stop spouting nonsense here. If I cooperate with you, what price must I pay?"
"Price? No, it is a cooperative transaction." The red-robed person waved his hand and said faintly, "We will help Your Highness, the First Prince, reach the pinnacle. After you ascend the throne, you only need to permit us to build a church in every city to proclaim the grace of the Divine Lord."
"That's it?" Lucia said in a low voice. This request was not difficult; it was quite simple, in fact.
"Yes, that is all," The red-robed person chuckled.
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