Coming out of the awkward silence, everyone straightened in their seats inside the pulvinar. The brief display from Aliastar had left a subtle tension in the air, one that no one present dared to acknowledge openly.
Even those who had witnessed countless political exchanges understood that what had just occurred was not a simple act of arrogance, but a reminder.
"Ugh!! Forgive me, my lord. I have failed to discipline those entrusted with arranging the seats here. I will surely see that this error, born out of their pure ignorance, will be accounted for with heavy punishment."
Winston spoke quickly; his expression was strained and slightly twisted as he forced the words out.
The earlier cheerfulness that had filled his face was gone, replaced by a cautious restraint. His voice carried an attempt to recover lost dignity.
Aliastar did not respond to his ramblings.
He simply sat on his newly formed throne.
His attention remained invested in the vast colosseum below, where the common populace of the Holy Sun Empire moved about in ignorance of the subtle power struggle unfolding above them.
The guests present were not ordinary figures.
Aside from the pope himself, there were cardinals and archbishops seated in their designated positions.
Primarch Aliastar sat at the center while his personal guards lingered within the shadows of the pulvinar, observing everything and finding clues for any threat to their lord.
Beyond the church’s own hierarchy, representatives from other empires had also gathered to witness the event.
The Holy Sun Empire, though relatively young, occupied a strategically important position within the continent of Aris. Its territory was divided into five provinces, each contributing differently to its overall structure.
Luminor province in the north, positioned at the foot of the Sunspire mountain range. The terrain there was harsh, but it served as a source of rare resources like crystals used to make light stones.
Solmere in the east. Beyond it stretched endless foglands, marking the uncertain and dangerous outer limits of the Aris continent. Few dared to venture too deep into those regions, and naturally, the population was not dense.
Dawnhold, located in the southeast, housed the capital city. It was the most developed and prosperous province, the center of administration, trade, and religious authority. It was the most populous province.
Veridian lay in the southwest. Unlike the capital, it was largely composed of forests, scattered settlements, and tribal populations. These tribes were forced to pay annual dues to the church, and their lands were frequently exploited for resources. Unsurprisingly, this province was also the origin of the highest unrest and military resistance.
Lastly, Aurelia, the western border province adjacent to Riverdale, had been seized by the church 16 years ago from the Riverdale Empire forcefully.
The region was still recovering from that conflict. Most of its population had either fled or been displaced, leaving behind small villages and a single central city that struggled to maintain relevance.
At present, deacons from all five provinces had gathered for the Founder’s Festival, each representing their respective regions under the unified banner of the church.
Alongside them sat the commander of the Holy Knight Order, the primary military force of the empire.
As an empire formed only 16 years ago through the aggressive expansion of religious doctrine, the Holy Sun remained unstable beneath its surface. Its foundation was weak in reality.
Its military strength was weak and fragmented, and this alone reflected this instability.
Despite ongoing recruitment efforts and forced conversions, their army remained insufficient in number. The vast borders they claimed required constant vigilance, yet their resources were stretched thin.
The primary reason the empire continued to stand was Pope Winston himself.
As an Elder Astral Warden, his individual strength acted as a deterrent. In addition, the widespread belief that he held the backing of a god further solidified his authority.
Whether that belief was entirely true or not, it was enough to discourage many potential threats.
Equally important was the alliance with the Ashfall Empire.
Though phoenix-kind generally regarded humans as inferior, they maintained relations with the Holy Sun Empire for practical reasons.
The first was the supply of Light Stones.
The Holy Sun Empire had established a secret defense pact with the Ashfall Empire shortly after its formation. In exchange for reserving forty percent of its Light Stone production for Ashfall, the church received protection against invasions and external threats. This agreement was set to last for fifty years.
Under it, the church always showed deflated numbers of lightstone production to the world while filling the Ashfall Empire’s coffers.
There were additional clauses within the pact, but this exchange was its core agenda.
The second reason lay in the ambitions of the Ashfall Emperor. The phoenixes had a small land compared to the rest, thus a lack of precious resources. Each phoenix consumed much more than the empire could produce.
But the expansion of land required resources, endless conflicts, and control over supply chains could determine the outcome of conflicts.
With the Holy Sun Empire acting as a controlled supplier, Ashfall gained a strategic advantage over its rivals.
In times of war, restricting Light Stone distribution to enemy nations could shift the balance of power significantly.
Though the Ashfall Empire could expand to no man’s land, the amount of time it would need to uplift and secure the area was much more significant than other methods, and thus, there was a matter of the council’s interference.
This was why the number of phoenix representatives present exceeded that of other races.
Until now, it was assumed that these were the only notable attendees.
Everyone waited for Winston to formally begin the ceremony.
But then, the sudden sound of footsteps echoed from the entrance of the pulvinar.
Every gaze turned toward the source.
A dragoness, dressed in pristine white robes, stepped into view. Her posture was relaxed, her expression calm, and a faint smile rested on her lips as she entered.
For a brief moment, silence erupted in the lobby.
Then, suddenly, Winston reacted. "Hahaha!! Miss Andrea, finally, you have decided to keep past misunderstandings aside," he said loudly as he stood up and walked toward her with a welcoming posture.
Andrea stopped a few steps inside and let out a light chuckle. "Of course. It is going to be such an important event in your life. I would not miss the opportunity to witness it personally."
Winston’s smile widened as he approached her, though his eyes carried a depth beneath the surface.
"Not only me," he replied. "Today is significant for many people. Many lives will change forever, some for good..." His voice lowered slightly. "Some for bad."
After a brief pause, his cheerful expression returned.
"I have prepared quite a few surprises for you, Miss Andrea. I hope you will find them to your liking."
Andrea laughed softly. "What a coincidence. I have brought many congratulatory gifts as well."
Winston looked at her pleasant expression.
He knew it was not genuine.
In his mind, he imagined the moment when her composure would finally break, when the true highlight of the event would unfold. The thought filled him with anticipation.
For now, he completed the formalities and gestured toward the seating area. Andrea walked forward.
As she passed Aliastar, she did not stop to bow; she did not even acknowledge his presence.
Aliastar’s gaze followed her briefly, though he did not react. Whether he chose to ignore it or simply did not care remained unclear.
Andrea took her seat calmly.
From a distance, she could feel his attention, but her expression did not change. Only when she was certain no one was observing her closely did her fingers tighten slightly against the armrest.
She did not know how William or even the eternal sovereign cult intended to deal with a primarch.
That uncertainty remained the most dangerous variable in her mind.
Still, she had fulfilled her role without error. Whatever came next would depend on the plan they had set in motion.
She could only hope it would proceed as intended.
Soon, the Founder’s Festival began.
Bells rang throughout the colosseum, their deep tones echoing across the structure. Trumpets followed as formations of knights marched into the arena below.
Several displays were conducted, including organized marches, coordinated weapon demonstrations, and symbolic performances meant to showcase the strength and discipline of the church and its army.
To the common population, it was a display of power and unity. For the more knowledgeable ones, it was subpar.
After the final demonstration concluded, it was time for the speech.
Winston stepped forward, but before he could begin, he paused. With a slow motion, he turned toward Aliastar and bowed slightly.
In the presence of a higher authority, he could not assume precedence.
Aliastar rose without hesitation.
He stepped forward and addressed the gathering in a neutral tone. His introduction was brief.
He offered a few lines of acknowledgment and formal congratulations before returning to his seat without adding anything further.
Despite the simplicity of his speech, its impact was significant.
Across the continent, those watching through the broadcast were stunned.
A primarch had attended the festival. For many, that alone was enough to reshape their perception of the Holy Sun Empire.
Had it truly risen to such a level?
The question spread quickly, though no one had an answer.
Now, with Aliastar finished, all attention returned to Winston.
The pope stepped forward once to give his speech.