Chapter 1598: Chapter 1598
The day passed uneventfully until evening. As planned, Jenkins first went to the inn to look for Papa Oliver. Finding him absent, he visited his family in their rented rooms to say hello. He learned they were planning to take the train out of Bel Diran tomorrow night to return home, and that Her Majesty the Queen herself intended to see them off.
Later, he went to the church, where he found Papa Oliver with the church's Keepers of Secrets, just as he'd expected. When he spotted Jenkins, Papa Oliver waved him over.
“Go back and pack your things. We’re leaving Bel Diran together tomorrow evening.”
“Alright... Tomorrow? Why the sudden rush?”
“It’s not so much a rush. The first contingent sent by the Twelve Orthodox Churches to Nolan is also taking the train tomorrow at the same time. It will be much safer if we travel with them.”
Because Jenkins, in his guise as a Believer of Lies, had casually mentioned heading to Nolan to discuss a partnership, the Twelve Orthodox Churches had decided to transfer their key teams and delegates to Nolan first, and only then begin the lengthy process of negotiation.
“It’s good that we’re traveling together. Robert and Mary have also decided to leave with Newman and John tomorrow evening...”
“Yes, it was the Church's recommendation. That way, everyone can travel on the same train,” Papa Oliver explained.
“Can I bring some other people along on the train? Hathaway, Briny, and their friends. With everything that’s happened in Bel Diran, I doubt they’ll want to stay here much longer. Could the train accommodate another twenty or so ladies?”
“You don't need to worry about that. Once word got out that the Church delegation was leaving, many of Bel Diran's nobles decided they wanted to accompany them to Nolan to take temporary refuge. And what's more...”
Papa Oliver glanced around. Seeing that besides the Keepers of Secrets and a few others flipping through books, the library was otherwise empty, he continued in a lower voice:
“This won’t be announced until tomorrow morning, but Queen Isabella is leaving for Nolan with us. She'll be accompanied by Salhir II and a number of important nobles and officials.”
This news left Jenkins utterly stunned.
“The damned plague, of course. The city simply isn't safe right now. No one knows if a second source of infection will emerge. The Tri-King Summit can't possibly be held in Bel Diran under these conditions. If they're going to move the summit, Nolan is the most logical choice. It's one of the largest cities in the kingdom, you see. The delegation from Cheslan is set to land there, and most importantly, Nolan has already dealt with a similar plague. As everyone knows, that means the populace will have some degree of temporary immunity...”
There were a host of other political and security reasons that Papa Oliver didn't bother to list, but it was obvious this hasty decision was now set in stone.
Jenkins was astonished by the rapid turn of events, and then it dawned on him that this all seemed to be the result of a single, careless comment he'd made. The prophecy that Nolan would become the stage for the end of the epoch had been circulating for a long time, and now it truly seemed to be turning into a vortex of conflict.
That very evening, he heard from Hathaway and Briny that their tour group was set to depart the following night, an arrangement made by their families. Later, he got confirmation from Dolores and Alexia that the Hamparvo delegation would also be departing tomorrow evening. It seemed everything Papa Oliver had told him was true.
So Jenkins hurried to pack his own things, though not without first discussing the implications of these developments with Miss Windsor. As he'd expected, Miss Windsor was also heading to Nolan, since most of the people involved in the royal succession were relocating with Queen Isabella. He could already imagine Nolan becoming the political center of the world within a matter of weeks.
On Friday afternoon, Jenkins met with Queen Isabella again at the palace. The elderly monarch spoke plainly, saying she hoped Jenkins would also be leaving Bel Diran. Upon learning he already intended to do so, she expressed her wish for him to join her in her personal carriage.
“I know your friends in the Church have already arranged for your ticket. But now that you are a member of the royal family, you must prepare to distance yourself from such religious matters, lest you become the subject of gossip. I've heard the Nolan diocese intends to make you the next archbishop? Oh, Jenkins, you can't seriously be considering that, can you?”
Jenkins had never once considered succeeding Bishop Parrold, so he earnestly assured her he had no such intention. Her Majesty was pleased that Jenkins shared her view, and for the first time, she formally broached the subject of the royal succession.
“Of you and your brothers, you are, in truth, the one best suited to wear the crown.”
She said it without reservation, and Jenkins knew it was true—after all, the choice was limited to just the three of them.
“I know there are many sensational rumors circulating at the moment, but I have a great deal of faith in you.”
She seemed to be alluding to the information Miss Windsor had shared, but Jenkins pretended not to catch her underlying meaning.
“Once we arrive in Nolan, I believe it will be time for me to make my choice. I would like to invite you to meet with the other collateral heirs to the throne. I wish to see you all together, so that I may better judge which of you is most suited to take my place.”
She was implying that all the heirs would be accompanying her to Nolan, so Jenkins needn't read too much into it.
“That's wonderful. I too hope this kingdom will have the finest possible monarch. However, I've already promised my family I would travel with them on the train, so...”
Jenkins trailed off, putting on a troubled expression.
“No matter. Go and spend time with your family. When you are a little older, you will realize how precious such moments are. I must say, you look remarkably young. If I didn't know you were in your twenties, I would have taken you for a boy still in his studies.”
She patted Jenkins's shoulder twice in a familiar gesture, then told him to go and get ready, agreeing they would meet again in Nolan.
The number of people leaving Bel Diran far exceeded Jenkins's expectations. Since the nobility and the royal family all wished to travel with the Church delegation, the twenty-car train was mostly outfitted with simple, facing bench seats to accommodate as many passengers as possible.
And this was only the first wave of people fleeing Bel Diran for Nolan. The Tri-King Summit may have only involved three monarchs, but the number of personnel connected to it was vast and complex. After Queen Isabella and Salhir II departed, many more would surely follow them from Bel Diran to Nolan.
They were, of course, happy to go. After all, nearly everyone was convinced a plague was about to break out in Bel Diran—why else would the monarchs leave in such a rush? Fınd the newest release on Novᴇl_Fire(.)net