Chapter 1507: Chapter 1507

"Yes. Neither of us mentioned the real reason the Countess invited us two and not the other three. The truth is, she sensed we both have non-human blood in our veins. That's why she didn't see us as entirely human."

Since the report was submitted to all twelve Orthodox Churches, neither Jenkins nor Miss Capet revealed this private detail. But Jenkins figured Miss Capet would later report it separately to the Church of All Things and Nature.

It wasn't a particularly significant detail. While descendants of non-human races and atavism were exceedingly rare in this era, they weren't non-existent. The fact that Papa Oliver had specifically brought it up, however, made Jenkins suspect he might have guessed the truth.

"How interesting... for Miss Capet to be suddenly transferred to Bel Diran at a time ."

Papa Oliver trailed off, lost in thought. He cast a suspicious glance at Jenkins but ultimately said nothing more. The elderly possess their own kind of wisdom, and Jenkins wasn't about to waste his energy trying to guess what was on the old man's mind. Even if Papa Oliver knew of the connection between Miss Capet and the Williams family, he would never send assassins after her. At most, the Inherited Sage Church would simply adjust its strategy to account for a potential new heir to the throne.

"I feel like I'm just drifting with the current," he thought. "Everyone is scrambling for that crown, while I'm content to just wait and see how things unfold... Perhaps I should take a more active role? Not for the crown itself, but to ensure this whole affair doesn't escalate into something worse—to steer it toward an outcome everyone can be happy with."

With that silent thought, he bid farewell to Papa Oliver and left with his cat.

Chocolate trotted along.

On Monday, Jenkins had breakfast in Ruen with Alexia and Dolores. It was an important day. King Sarlisi II had summoned all of his children, each required to bring an aide, to report on their recent political duties.

After lunch, Jenkins and Dolores set off for the palace. He couldn't appear as himself, of course, so he shifted through at least thirty different appearances in the carriage, letting Dolores take her pick.

The atmosphere inside the royal palace was immediately tense. Dolores's brothers and sisters were already there, all waiting in silence within the vast reception hall. Typically, the king only used this hall to receive important foreign dignitaries. To have his own children wait here surely held some hidden significance.

They weren't being assessed as a group. Instead, they were summoned one by one, in order of age, to meet privately with King Sarlisi II in his study, each accompanied by their aide.

Since all the royal children were present, Dolores, being one of the younger ones, had to wait her turn near the end. It was already past ten o'clock by the time she and Jenkins entered the king's study.

The king looked exhausted. Though summer was approaching even in Ruen, a snow-white fur collar still rested on his shoulders. As they entered, they caught him rubbing his temples. The gravely ill man looked at least a decade older than the last time Jenkins had seen him.

Jenkins had expected a grilling with difficult questions, but surprisingly, the king's inquiries were mostly about Dolores's personal life. The few times he touched upon matters of state, it was only to offer her guidance and support. This unexpected kindness left Dolores rather flustered.

After his audience with Dolores, Jenkins had to appear before King Sarlisi II a second time, this time as an aide to the young Princess Angelina Stuart. It was noon by then. Angelina was the youngest of the princesses allowed to handle political affairs, and her meeting would conclude the day's audiences.

The king again began with small talk, inquiring about her daily life and even commenting on Ruen's unseasonable weather. Sarlisi II knew Angelina had delegated all her authority to Dolores, so he didn't press her on political matters. He merely advised her to learn from her older sister, telling her that such knowledge would serve her well in the future, regardless of her path.

After this, he dismissed Angelina, telling her to rest for a while in the antechamber, leaving Jenkins—the aide he was now seeing for the second time—alone with him.

Once Angelina had dutifully closed the door behind her, the old king heaved a long sigh, the exhaustion he could no longer hide settling over him.

"Speak. Which faction sent you?"

"I'm here on behalf of Mr. Jenkins Williams."

He answered truthfully, standing ramrod straight before the desk. A moment ago, it had felt like watching others defend their theses; now, it was his turn.

"I thought as much. Love makes the young so impulsive. They never seem to understand that there are far more important things in this world."

The old king lamented, clasping his hands together. His left thumb stroked the ring on his right hand.

"So, you kept me here just to warn Mr. Williams to stay away from the princesses?"

"No. He's a very capable man. If Dolores were to choose him... I wouldn't be pleased, but I would not object."

The king opened a drawer and placed a document on the desk. Jenkins leaned forward to take it. He'd expected a bank draft—payment to make him leave Dolores—but it was an intelligence report. A file on the Williams family.

"So, everyone knew but me."

He mulled it over in silence.

"Her Majesty, the Queen of the Fidektri Kingdom... she's even older than my own father. I must admit, I'm glad to see her reign is finally coming to an end. None of my children would be a match for that woman. I thought the Middleton bloodline would die with her. I never imagined a simple investigation into her recent activities would uncover... this."

"To be honest, it's not much of a secret in Bel Diran anymore." Chapters fırst released on ⓝovelFire.net

Jenkins said, flipping to the last page of the report. It mentioned the Williams family but made no reference to Miss Capet. It seemed the Inherited Sage Church had been outmaneuvered by the Church of All Things and Nature; they had played their trump card too early. While it gave them an initial advantage, the final outcome was far from certain. The Inherited Sage Church might hold the most important pieces on the board, but a hidden piece could be just as deadly.

He wasn't surprised that King Sarlisi II knew, either. It stood to reason that Dolores's father would have an intelligence network at least as capable as her own.

"I know it's not a secret, and I imagine Jenkins Williams knows as well. His sudden departure from Ruen suggests to me that the situation in Bel Diran is about to come to a head."