Chapter 387: The Birth of Life
Corleon responded, 「For a woman who wishes to nurture offspring and become a mother, how can this possibly be considered a sin? No one would declare such a thing sinful. Melia, you must remember, a father and mother are but guides along a child's path in life. Even without a father's presence, sufficient love is enough to make up for it. Just as you lost your parents at a very young age, yet Nyx raised you alone and gave you the love of both a father and mother.」
Corleon took two steps forward, squatted down, and gently placed his hand on Melia's head.
He said, 「When the right time comes, you will have a child of your own. When that child is born, perhaps George can become the godfather. After all, it was he who carried you out of that cave, and in the future, he can once again carry your child for you.」
Melia lowered her head and asked, 「When is that right time? And how should I prepare myself to welcome this new life?」
Corleon said, 「You don’t need to prepare anything extra for this new life. As long as you are truly ready yourself, that is enough. Before that, all you need to do is make yourself happy.」
「For a new life, to be born into a joyful environment is to witness the beauty of the world.」
Melia left, and Olivia no longer kept a stern face. She walked over to the bench and sat down.
She said, 「So this is enough for Melia to have a child? No need for @#¥%! @#」
The latter part was incomprehensible gibberish.
Of course, Olivia had long anticipated such a situation, so she made a gesture while speaking.
She formed a circle with the index finger and thumb of her right hand, then inserted the index finger of her left hand into it.
Corleon pressed her hand down and said, 「The birth of life isn’t limited to just that form. Didn’t I just mention the birth of Cicero? Have you forgotten already?」
「Melia is a smart girl. She mentioned the Holy Child Alice of the Theocracy. The Phil she nurtured was created from a part of the will of the Theocracy's Patriarch after the three sages of the Theocracy became demigods, along with the will of Saint Zecel preserved in the Patriarch’s mind. Together, they formed an artificial embryo.」
「The three components of life—will, soul, and flesh—are the three paths through which life can be born.」
Olivia asked, 「Then what path will Melia take? Will it be through will?」
Corleon said, 「Who knows? Perhaps after leaving the Church, she’ll meet someone she loves, and with him, bring new life into the world.」
Olivia was dissatisfied. 「I might believe that if someone else said it, but you? Seriously?」
Corleon said, 「What the Lord decrees is only the final future. But the paths leading to that future are filled with countless possibilities.」
Olivia fell silent, but disbelief still showed on her face.
Corleon withdrew his hand and stood up, saying, 「Melia is a pitiful child. She lacks the idealism of a priest, yet remains in the Church, an idealistic place. Especially with Ando, Cicero, Agamemnon, and even you—those who accompanied her as she grew—each now having their own goals. What she has left is only loneliness.」
「If she hadn’t stayed in the Church, perhaps she would’ve already had a beautiful family.」
Olivia added, 「But more likely, she’d have found some petty noble, and after a short-lived marriage, be faced with countless lovers that noble would bring. Then one child after another would drain her energy. Eventually, once those lovers’ illegitimate children grew up, she’d have to busy herself protecting her own child’s status as heir.」
「And most likely, once she’s aged and lost her youthful beauty, and all her value had been squeezed out, that petty noble would arrange a time to have her killed and then marry a new, pretty woman.」
Corleon sighed and said, 「At your age, you should be thinking of beautiful stories, not such harsh realities.」
Olivia said, 「That story is already beautiful enough. At least she wouldn’t be discarded after giving birth.」
Corleon said nothing more, merely patting Olivia’s head.
Olivia twisted her body and said, 「Are we done with today’s matters? If not, I want to go find Melia. She’s about to leave. If I don’t spend some time chatting with her now, it’ll be hard to see her again later.」
Olivia still didn’t want to go to the ‘interesting place’ Corleon had mentioned, and she thought Melia’s situation was a good and reasonable excuse.
Corleon said, 「What Melia needs more now is peace. Besides, things aren’t over yet.」
After speaking, he returned to the small wooden table.
Olivia was stunned for a moment, then quickly moved to stand beside Corleon, her face taut.
The door to the Clock Tower was opened once more.
In walked a woman with tied-up hair wearing a grey long dress.
Terry Adams, Agamemnon’s grandmother.
Compared to when she brought Agamemnon here, she now fully showed her age, though her demeanor was more graceful.
That was only natural.
The Adams Family now held one of the top positions among the gentry in Greenwood.
Under the matron Terry’s leadership, the Adams Family had abandoned the leather armor business and monopolized the high-end clothing industry in Greenwood. It was said that any noble in Greenwood without a dress made by the Adams Family would be ridiculed at a banquet.
Wealthy merchants would also pay a high price for a garment from the Adams Family in hopes of acquiring some of that noble air.
As for why Adams clothing was held in such high esteem, it wasn’t just because of connections with the powerful, but also due to the family’s monopoly on silk-making technology.
Only the Adams Family could barely meet Corleon’s demanding clothing specifications.
Today, Terry had come to deliver an outfit Corleon had commissioned.
Naturally, the dress was for Olivia.
So when Olivia saw Terry, her expression instantly darkened, glaring viciously at her.
In Olivia’s eyes, Terry was one of Corleon’s accomplices in persecuting her.
However, Terry didn’t know her identity—only that she was the Church Maiden favored by His Holiness.
Thus, Terry simply gave Olivia a kind smile before turning to Corleon and bowing deeply.
She said, 「Your Holiness, the formal dress the Adams Family made at your request has been completed. I believe it will surely please you.」
「It is so beautiful that I believe even exposing it to sunlight would diminish it. So I had a carriage specially made to transport it. It’s right outside the Clock Tower. Would you like to view it now?」
Corleon said, 「No need. I trust the Adams Family’s craftsmanship. Have your people deliver the dress to Castle of Lundex.」
Terry looked troubled. 「Because of the two magical beasts that flew into the castle some time ago, it is now under lockdown.」
Corleon smiled and said, 「Then have Agamemnon handle the arrangements.」
Terry’s expression immediately straightened. 「There’s no need to trouble him. I believe that simply delivering a dress to the castle is something the knights guarding it would allow.」
Corleon said, 「I trust you’ve kept the design I gave you.」
Terry replied, 「Of course. I always carry it with me.」
She then took out a scroll of parchment.
And saw its contents change—becoming a royal order for the dress, bearing Lundex’s seal.
Corleon said, 「Give this list to that knight. I doubt anyone will stop you.」
Even Terry couldn’t hide her changed expression.
If this were real, it meant the king—who had never appeared on the throne—had finally shown signs. The implications would be massive.
Yet this was an order from His Holiness. Terry dared not ask more. She simply planned to find Agamemnon after completing the task.
Terry was shrewd enough, but at this level, she couldn’t be as informed as Agamemnon.
Terry said, 「Very well. I will personally deliver your will to the castle.」
Then she asked, 「After this, would you still like the Adams Family to craft further garments?」
Corleon said, 「No need. Olivia has grown up. In the future, she can commission her own clothes as she wishes.」
At that, even Terry’s face shifted slightly.
The Adams Family’s status was due not only to Agamemnon but also their close ties with the Church.
Arguably, the latter was more important.
After all, ordinary nobles and officials found it difficult even to enter the Church’s headquarters, let alone get close to the Clock Tower and speak directly with His Holiness.
Look at Aen of Greenwood—his path was one all those dreaming of a Church connection aspired to follow.
That was why the Adams Family stood so high.
But now, if ties with His Holiness were severed, could they still remain so transcendent?
Would this shift even affect Agamemnon?
Even now, Terry was extremely cautious, never letting Agamemnon overly interfere in family affairs.
She understood the danger of Agamemnon’s position—power always meant risk.
At least since recorded history, there had never been someone like Agamemnon who, without personal power, held such a high office solely through royal appointment and Church support.
Back then, Piero could barely manage a single town, and even then, the gentry didn’t hesitate to assassinate him.
Now Agamemnon controlled all of Greenwood.
And now, he was even pushing the Senate to implement a guild system.