Her hand is covered by the blue feathers; the texture has an indescribable softness and smoothness. Irene's wrist are the only thing that can be seen as her whole hand is buried within.
Her servants were greatly surprised and worried. "MY LADY, PLEASE DISTANCE YOURSELF!!" someone shouted.
Irene didn't listen and the bird lowered its head, making the servants more anxious as it looks like it would open its big mouth and bite her head. However, their wild imaginations weren't to become reality as the bird rubbed its head onto Irene's.
They all sighed in relief but their hearts were beating fast. Some were clenching their fists while others held hands, suddenly they look like people who are watching a thrilling soccer game.
"Big guy, what name do you want?" Irene asked as she allowed the bird to repeatedly rub its head onto her head.
The bird stopped his action and seemingly went to a deep daze. 'Name me whatever you want,' a mysterious gentle voice resounded inside Irene's mind; it felt like telepathy.
Irene wasn't expecting for the bird to use its newfound strengths, immediately. She chuckled inwardly and telepathically said, 'Since you are blue as the sapphire sky and have feathers as colorful as the arch that appears during rain and shine. And a little gentleman..'
She looked at the bird more closely, its wound had healed instantly because of her spell and mutated because of it. The bird who barely filled her palms with its body, is now wider and taller than her.
"Ezio, one who is like an eagle. That will be your name from now on," Irene caressed Ezio's feathery head, "big guy."
— HOLY EMPIRE, CENTRAL ALTAR
The Pope filled one seat near the round table while the cardinal and high-priests filled all the seats. They were in a calm discussion but the atmosphere is tense.
"Someone probably messed with artifact because we all know that the Celestial Saint wouldn't descend for something meaningless."
"Where did your faith go, Aniello?" one of the gathered people asked.
"Do not plant seeds of doubt within our hearts, Jerome." The cardinal said while narrowing his eyes.
"Aniello is doubting the legitimacy of the artifact. We all know what kind of thing it is!" Jerome tried to cast the accusation away.
"Correct. We all know what kind of thing it is but we have yet to know whom gave it to us," The Pope spoke with a calm demeanor.
The two fell silent from the Pope's sudden interruption. Jerome gulped while the Cardinal closed his eyes and breathed.
...
....
.....
"Your Majesty, the Pope sent a letter."
"Your Majesty~" The second empress' voice filled the luxurious bedroom of the Emperor.
Frederick's servant gulped as he maintained his position of kneeling on one knee while lowering his head before the closed bedchamber door.
The Emperor kissed the forehead of his second wife before he left her on the bed. He took a comfy white coat before opening the door of his room.
"I do not need to tell you what you should do next, am I correct?" he said while giving a sharp glare to his servant.
"Yes, Your Majesty." He calmly replied before disappearing within the shadows of the dim-lighted hallway.
Seeing his servant dismissed himself for the fear of his fury, Frederick closed the door and walked towards a small desk with a lit candle on top.
He looked at the white envelope stamped with red wax before he opened it. Frederick took the paper inside and read the words written on it, "This in particular can fool anyone, Pope."
The Emperor placed the paper near the flaming light of the candle, 'But my third son has passed my expectations in a mere time.'
The white paper slowly became ashes as the fire envelope it. Frederick returned to the bed where his second wife seemingly slept.
"Let's continue, shall we?" he said before he slid the coat off his aged yet athletic body.
"Of course, my dear~"
...The night has passed and the Crimson Palace prepares for the return of its Crown Prince.
— HENRY'S MANOR
"Is everything fully prepared?" Henry asked while fixing his crimson suit and his scarlett red hair before the tall rectangular golden-framed mirror.
"Yes, Your Highness." William said as he took a medium-sized notebook covered in black leather.
"Including the palace? Are the ladies prepared for this dazzling prince to return?" Henry turned around and reached out the leather notebook that his butler offered.
William looked his master's appearance in awe and a blank expression which slightly gives off the vibes of disappointment. Although he felt a bit annoyed of Henry's usual words, he is proud that the young cheerful child became a more cheerful man.
"Yes, the ladies including Lady Aveline is patiently waiting for your return."
"That is a bad omen.. I would say," Henry had a bead of sweat appear on his forehead.
"Being handsome is sometimes misfortune, Your Highness," William smiled.