Chapter 1406: Chapter 885: Empress Maria II (Part 2)

Looking at the increasingly chaotic meeting venue, he finally couldn’t hold back, and used the power of a Legend to stop it on the spot.

The pressure of the Legend spread out, and the venue gradually quieted down. However, when the great nobles led by Duke Correns looked at Bishop Wenstar, their unfriendly gazes quickly turned into cold smiles:

"The Holy War is unfavorable? If it weren’t for the Eternal Church forcibly declaring the Great Holy War at this time, urging the Empire to march on the Southern Territory and Fengyue Free Territory, how would things have become like this today? Moreover, why haven’t the Church’s Judgement Army and Angel Army taken action, now that the war has reached this stage?"

"Watch your words! Duke Correns! Are you expressing dissatisfaction with the Church?!"

On the other side, representing the Eternal Church, was Archbishop Cahill, one of the three Church Electors among the Empire’s seven Electoral Princes, he stood up from the Church’s seats, his expression changed, and angrily rebuked.

Next to him, besides Wenstar Archbishop, the last Church Elector, Archbishop Doron, also stood up, looking at Duke Correns with a very gloomy gaze.

"Am I wrong? This Holy War was initiated by the Church in the first place."

Duke Correns snorted coldly.

In the noble seats, apart from the former Fengyue Domain Family, representatives of the Rosen family, Correns Family, and the Borrenzia family, who held three of the four secular Electoral Prince positions, all stood up to express their support for Duke Correns.

For a moment, the noble council, originally discussing the heir to the throne, became even more chaotic and disorderly.

Bishop Wenstar sat in the position of Regent Minister.

Watching the red-faced nobles and bishops shouting, even indulging in verbal abuse and physical brawls, his gaze was very disappointed.

He sighed lightly, no longer stopping them, but quietly stood up and left the chaotic venue.

Stopping the attendants of the Priest and Knight, Bishop Wenstar came alone to the outside of the Parliament Building.

The June sunlight shone on the clean streets of Eternal Holy City Mania, giving the platinum-colored buildings on both sides a layer of sacred radiance.

The distant church’s faint bell sounds were carried over, mingled with indistinct choir chants.

Looking at the increasingly deserted streets since the Great Holy War began, looking at the noticeably increased number of homeless and destitute people in the corners of the streets, Wenstar Archbishop paused slightly, and sighed softly.

He stepped forward and slowly walked towards Mania’s Eternal Cathedral.

Just like the streets, in front of the Eternal Church, it was still cold and quiet, completely unconvincing that this was once a religious sanctuary bustling with devout believers.

Entering the Church, passing through the sparsely populated Cathedral, Bishop Wenstar returned to his prayer room.

Kneeling before the holy Eternal Divine Statue, he extended his hand to draw a sun symbol on his chest, sighed lightly, and murmured:

"Great and wise Lord..."

"May you bless your people, to weather this calamity, may you bless your people, to rise anew from the flames..."

"Your radiance forever shines upon the earth, your true name forever flows among mankind."

Just as Bishop Wenstar was sincerely praying, the door of the prayer room was hurriedly knocked on.

"Lord Wenstar! The Court Guard Knight is here! They say Her Majesty has awakened! Her Majesty has specifically asked to see you!"

It was the voice of the Church Priest.

The action of Bishop Wenstar’s prayer paused slightly.

He sighed deeply, slowly stood up, and walked out of the prayer room.

...

When Wenstar came out of the Church, the Court Guard Knight was already waiting at the front gate, along with a luxurious carriage bearing the royal emblem.

"Lord Bishop!"

Seeing Wenstar, the knights knelt on one knee and saluted respectfully.

Bishop Wenstar nodded slightly, and, with the help of a knight, boarded the carriage.

The distance between the Church and the Imperial Palace was not far.

Taking the carriage, Bishop Wenstar quickly entered this palace representing the Empire’s highest authority.

Perhaps because today was the day of the noble council’s grand meeting, the Imperial Palace was also quite deserted, only some maids and palace attendants could be seen coming and going.

And when Wenstar arrived at the chamber where the Empress was, he still did not see a single noble.

"Lord Bishop, Her Majesty is waiting for you inside."

The knight saluted, opening the elegant chamber doors for him.

Bishop Wenstar nodded and entered the chamber.

Inside the chamber, it was cold and quiet, besides Empress Maria II lying on the sickbed, there was no one else.

The Empress, who ruled the Holy Mania Empire for seventy years, at this moment, seemed like a solitary figure.

No feudal political entity could tolerate its supreme ruler being inactive for two years.

Even in the history of the Blue Star Dynasty, those emperors who did not attend court for decades, still firmly controlled the government while staying outside the court.

Moreover, the history of the Holy Mania Empire is one of constant power struggles between nobles and the Emperor, a continuous contest between decentralization and centralization.

Two years of intermittent coma, two years of political hiatus, although this Empress’s prestige still remained, she had essentially been sidelined by the noble council.

At this moment, she had been abandoned by the nobles.

Maria II was half-reclined on the bed, quietly watching the scenery of the garden outside the window with her head turned.

Her hair was disheveled, her appearance gaunt, looking as if she was a brittle branch that could break at any moment.

She was almost 84 years old.

Looking at this ruler of the Empire who resembled the setting sun over the western hills, Bishop Wenstar felt an inexplicable pang in his heart.

He was also from the Treis Family.

According to the family rank, he should even address Her Majesty as cousin.

In their youth, they even had a good relationship, once inseparable playmates.

Of course, he stepped into legend, gaining a lifespan far longer than that of ordinary people, while Maria II lacked talent in the path of the extraordinary.

Bishop Wenstar vaguely recalled the days when he played in the Imperial Palace with Maria II, then a princess, during his childhood.

Now in retrospect, perhaps that was the time of the greatest beauty, the most carefree days.

Seventy years is very long, yet seventy years is also very short.

Bishop Wenstar personally witnessed the young girl inheriting the throne from her suddenly deceased father, Maria facing domestic opposition, facing the four secular Electoral Princes eyeing her.

He personally witnessed the young girl constantly striving in a precarious political situation, learning continuously, and at less than sixteen, personally leading troops to suppress one aristocratic rebellion after another, ultimately stabilizing the situation.

He also personally witnessed the young girl initiating reforms after ascending the throne, injecting new vitality into this empire which showed signs of decline decades ago, patching the Holy Mania Empire, this giant ship with a thousand holes, sailing in the ocean of history for a thousand years...

However, one’s power is too insignificant.

Even if that person is an emperor, even if that person is the ruler of an empire.

She has exerted all her efforts but still cannot truly resolve the internal conflicts of the Empire.

And at this moment, the once innocent and lovely girl, the intelligent, decisive, brave girl, has reached the twilight of her life...

Despite striving for a lifetime, despite toiling for a lifetime, what she leaves for the successor is a more chaotic and unstable nation.

Bishop Wenstar’s gaze was very complex.

And hearing the sound of the door being opened, Maria II gently turned her head.

Her cloudy gaze looked toward Bishop Wenstar, her elderly face showing a smile.

Unlike the sickly appearance of a few days ago, today Maria II seemed to be in good spirits, with some redness in her complexion.

"Lena, you are here."

She whispered.

Lena was Bishop Wenstar’s childhood name before he entered the Eternal Church and became a monk.

His former name was Linus von Treis.

Or rather, Prince Treis.

Upon hearing the long-lost name Lena, Bishop Wenstar’s nose felt a sting.

He sighed lightly and bowed:

"Cardinal Wenstar of the Eternal Church, greets Your Majesty..."