The three exchanged glances—why would the Bishop summon them at this moment?

  The church was filled with people from the clergy, so it wasn't surprising that the Bishop's informants had noticed them. However, what puzzled Kenley was that, although the three of them were Golden Descendants, they had not received an official invitation from the church. Wasn't this a little too abrupt?

  Kenley had no choice but to ask,"Did the Bishop mention what this is about?"

  The Paladin replied,"The Bishop only requested that the three of you come with me."

  Well, it seemed they would only find out once they arrived.

  Kenley nodded."Then, I'll trouble you to lead the way, Sir Knight."

  With that, the three followed the Paladin through the crowded streets and walked straight into the grand entrance.

  "Hey, look! A vampire? A filthy undead creature!"

  "Yeah! Why would a Paladin bring something so unclean into the sacred church?"

  "Wait a minute—look at the vampire's hand! Is that a Mark of Devotion?"

  "And that man, too! His hand bears the same mark! Am I seeing things?"

  Amidst the murmurs and scrutinizing gazes, the trio walked into the church, feeling utterly uneasy.

  The moment they stepped inside, Kenley spotted familiar faces—Golden Scissors Tyler, Heavy Hammer Smith, and a large group of others, some he recognized, some he didn't. Well, well, so Smith was invited, too.

  The moment Smith saw Kenley, he glared at him as if to say,"You brat, I'll deal with you later!" Kenley averted his gaze on purpose, pretending not to see him, which only made the burly man puff up in anger.

  Tyler, on the other hand, was much friendlier. The moment he saw Kenley and Tia, he offered them a warm smile, to which they returned the gesture.

  As they walked further inside, a solemn scene unfolded before them—an elderly man, crowned and clad in golden embroidered robes, was bowing in the center of the church. Meanwhile, the Bishop, dressed in a golden priestly robe, stood before him, eyes closed, solemnly chanting a sacred rite.

  Around them, the church's Honor Guards stood at every entry point, their sharp eyes scanning the room for any disturbances. Below the platform, seated in neat rows, were ministers, nobles, devout believers, and high-ranking clergy—there was not a single commoner among them.

  Although the Paladin led Kenley, Tia, and Sylph into the church, not a single person turned to stare at them. This alone spoke volumes about the solemnity of the ceremony and how much the people of the Cain Empire revered the Holy Benediction.

  Once Kenley and his companions took their places, the Paladin gave a slight bow before returning to his post.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  The grand atmosphere made Kenley feel uneasy. He hadn't intended to enter the church, yet now he had been brought in by the Bishop. He couldn't refuse, but he also didn't know what was expected of him. What was he supposed to do?

  Sitting still, he let his gaze wander around the church.

  Brook? He was here too? Wait, was that the Flower Sword Saint? Of course—he was likely here to ensure the emperor's safety. Oh, and there were the emperor's two sons as well.

  Finally, Kenley's gaze settled on the crowned elder at the center of the hall—the most important figure of this Holy Benediction Ceremony. His full title was:

  His Grace, Grand Duke of Heather, Hawkhou, Arbiter of Estar, Suppressor of Danels, Subjugator of Bangaro, Doomsday Crusader, Gladius, Kevin Ian VII, the Crimson Emperor.

  Excessive, wasn't it? His name was ridiculously long. In fact, this was already a shortened version—the full title had at least thirty or forty honorifics.

  Kenley wiped the cold sweat off his brow. In this kind of fantasy world, the more powerful a human emperor was, the more titles he liked to pile onto himself—it was practically a staple of this world.

  The important thing was to remember that he could simply call him Gladius, Kevin Ian VII, or just Emperor, which was much simpler.

  The Crimson Emperor was no ordinary man—he had reformed governance, quelled rebellions, built canals, and defended the northern borders against demonic tribes. His entire life had been spent working tirelessly for humanity.

  Unfortunately, Kenley knew all too well that his two incompetent sons would later bring ruin to the Cain Empire. They wasted their days indulging in debauchery, neglecting their duties, and ultimately causing the empire's downfall. They were bound to drive their father to his grave…

  Of course, Kenley had no intention of meddling in royal affairs. That was a dangerous game—one misstep and he'd be trapped in a web of intrigue with no escape. Even in the real world, how many political struggles didn't end in bloodshed?

  But that was still far off. The Crimson Emperor had a long lifespan ahead of him. At least in this expansion pack, he was still alive and at his peak.

  Perhaps it was precisely because the Emperor was so powerful and controlling that he suppressed his sons to the point where they could never rise on their own, leaving them to squander their lives away. Kenley couldn't help but think maliciously.

  The ceremony dragged on—long, monotonous, and mind-numbing. Kenley found himself struggling to stay awake. But he couldn't fall asleep—that would be far too disrespectful to the gods. After all, the Sun God had helped him before; he couldn't afford to embarrass himself here.

  Who knew how much time had passed before the ceremony finally concluded? The Emperor, along with his two sons, retired to the side hall to rest, granting Kenley his long-awaited freedom.

  "Uncle Brook!" Sylph immediately ran up to him.

  "Hm? Sylph, you haven't forgotten what you promised me, have you?" Brook's troubled expression made his concerns all too obvious.

  Sylph quickly nodded."Uncle Brook, it's not even noon yet! I'd like to spend a bit more time with Tia…"

  While Sylph was occupied with Brook, Kenley patted Tia's shoulder."You two go ahead and chat—I'm going to check out the back."

  He had noticed that the Flower Sword Saint had left through the rear exit, and he wanted to follow. Perhaps he could find an opportunity to ask for an apprenticeship. The chances were slim, but he wasn't willing to let it slip away.

  Tia was startled."Master, where are you going?"

  "Don't worry, I'm just going to take a look behind the church—I won't go far." Kenley reassured her with a smile.

  Tia, still anxious, pleaded,"Master, please don't go too far. I'm afraid I won't be able to find you."

  "I promise." Kenley winked at her playfully.

  "…Alright. Tia will wait here for you." She nodded hesitantly, looking genuinely uneasy about their separation—even if it was only for a moment.

  After all, they had only just fallen in love—it was their sweetest, most intimate phase. Even a single second apart felt unbearable for Tia.

  Reassuring her once more, Kenley quickly followed in the Flower Sword Saint's footsteps.

  He suspected that the Bishop had something important to say to them. However, with the Emperor present, he likely had to accompany him first, which was why he hadn't spoken to Kenley immediately after the ceremony.

  Not long after, Kenley saw Roland heading toward the training grounds behind the church.

  Huh? What was she doing there?