The next day, Gris prepared to go to the Palace after he finished his morning training with Alaric. The curious children peeked out from a distance as he waited for Blayz at the gate.
Rowena passed by briefly and took her eyes off Gris. Yesterday, Alaric spread the word to the children that Gris had received the Bloomfire Terror.
It was a monster that a strong beast tamer could conquer, and it was expensive. Rowena instantly became dissatisfied with the mage expert that Blayz sent to be her tutor.
"Mom, Father is taking that boy to the Palace now!" Rowena complained to Matilda and flung herself onto the sofa.
Matilda was arranging Blayz's schedule when her daughter entered without knocking. She already knew what had happened recently.
But she did nothing out of respect for Blayz. Before she knew him, she was an entertainer, sometimes selling her body to nobles to survive.
Rowan and Rowena were the children of a count who had spent several nights with Matilda. She was convinced since her children have the same hair color as the count, not black like her.
However, the count refused to recognize Rowan and Rowena. Perhaps because their father was a mage, his natural ability to manipulate mana could be mastered by Rowena since childhood.
Blayz often inspected the slums and discovered Rowena's talent. In short, he made an offer for Matilda to exchange her children for a decent life.
Knowing Blayz was an influential man in the empire, Matilda approached him and managed to become his concubine. Having multiple wives was common since many women lost their husbands in the Doomsday Wave and found it difficult to find work.
"Be patient, my sweet daughter. You can get revenge on Gris when you're strong enough," Matilda was afraid that Blayz would be mad if she touched Gris, so she stayed quiet from the beginning.
Rowena slammed the door on her way out. Even her mother and brother could not understand her feelings.
Meanwhile, the carriage sent by the Palace arrived. Gris smiled with relief when he found his seat soft. The trip to the Palace would not be torturesome for his butt.
Blayz sat across from him. He dressed like Gris, wearing a white tunic and a brown coat with wolf fur on the sides.
However, Gris was not wearing a red wool chaperone on his head like Blayz. All he knew was that nobles often wore chaperones in medieval times.
The chaperone showed Blayz's status. Because of his excellent reputation, people considered him equal to the nobles.
"Sir, we have arrived."
Gris snapped out of his reverie. Since Blayz did not engage him in conversation, he was lost in his thoughts.
The carriage door opened, and Blayz stepped out first, followed by Gris.
The knights pulled open the tall, sturdy doors, allowing the Empress' guests to step through. Lyora stood waiting with three elderly men dressed in white who seemed to be priests ready to purify Gris.
"Your Majesty, may greatness and glory ever grace your path!"
Lyora smiled as Blayz and Gris gave her a respectful greeting. She tried to divide her attention evenly, but Gris caught her attention more.
"I've heard that you've been feeling better lately and are now able to visit Doomkeep," she said.
"That's thanks to the blessing of the Goddess Amarthia," Gris replied with a smile. "I always feel healthier when I'm under the sunlight. Additionally, my father has worked hard to improve my health."
"May you always be under the protection of the Goddess. The black mages seemed to target you because they knew your body was weak."
"Forgive me for troubling you with this matter."
Lyora shook her head and glanced at the priests. "Would it be alright with you to go to the Palace chapel for purification while your father and I have a discussion?"
"Please enjoy your time, Your Majesty."
The priests led Gris to a small shrine near the magic tower. They asked him to stand on the altar.
Looking down, he found a magic circle carved into the stone floor of the shrine. As the priests chanted a spell, golden light streamed through the symbols on the magic circle.
"O Eternal Sun, I call upon you in this darkness. With your divine power, I purify the dark energy that disturbs our peace. Let your light cleanse every shadow that dares to defy the light. With your power, I banish the darkness and restore harmony to this world. Shine your sacred light upon us!"
The priests looked up as they raised their hands. The golden light in the magic circle crept into the soles of Gris' feet.
Warmth flowed from under his feet, gradually heating up as it spread deep into his body. People often described hell as burning, and the purification process felt like torturous hellfire to him.
Although his mind raised the alarm, telling him to run away, he could not move his feet from the magic circle. To release the heat trapped in his entire body, he shouted so loudly that it gradually faded away.
[Warning: Your dark energy has been cleansed by divine power! You have lost all your dark energy!]
"Young Master, how do you feel now?" A priest caught Gris as he was about to fall.
Gris spewed black blood, staining the priest's white tunic. "Ugh, f-forgive me. It just came out unexpectedly."
"It's alright. It was the dark energy stored in your body. Now that it has been released, you should be fine."
"Thank you very much, priests. I feel better now."
The priest led Gris to sit on the prayer chair. "We have some business at the magic tower. Would it be alright if only one priest accompanies you?"
"I prefer to be alone. I will wait for my father to return while praying to the Goddess Amarthia," Gris refused gently.
"Very well. Meet us at the magic tower if you need help."
The temple door was shut. The priests had departed, leaving Gris alone.
He glanced at his hands, still trembling from the effects of purification. "I only had five dark energies left last night. What will happen if I keep more than that?"
His attention was drawn to the painting of the Goddess Amarthia embracing the sun on the wall. A knock on the door interrupted him.
"I have come to pray. May I join you?"
Gris turned around, and his eyes met Lux's luminous amber. He immediately stood up and gave a respectful greeting. "Your Highness, may the protection of the Goddess be upon you!"
"Y-You recognize me?" Lux, his half-body still hiding behind the door, blinked in surprise.
"This shrine was constructed specifically for the imperial family. The only brown-haired prince I know here is you."
"Ah, so you recognized me because of that..."
Lux looked a little disappointed and sad. He knew others could not possibly recognize him because of his achievements. But still, he hoped that people might talk about how determined he was in the Palace.
[Rhetoric Dominance affects the target: Griswalden Silverth!]
[+10% anger gained!]
[+15% hatred gained!]
[+25% feeling has been collected.]
The notice made Lux stare in disbelief. His face was unable to hide the emotions that were overflowing inside him.
'Why does Young Master Griswalden harbor such strong anger and hatred towards me? Are there negative rumors circulating about me?'
Gris could tell that Lux had only obtained Rhetoric Dominance recently, as evidenced by his inability to hide his real feelings.
"Your Highness, is there anything you would like to ask me?" asked Gris, tilting his head.
Lux was still puzzled by the percentage of Gris' feelings, so he subconsciously replied, "What do you mean? What should I ask you?"
"I apologize if my words made you uncomfortable. I simply thought you might be curious about my identity. Having lived in the Palace for so long, I must seem like a stranger to you."
Hearing that, Lux became embarrassed for not thinking of such a simple thing. He stepped into the shrine and stood before Gris.
"I'm aware that you are the young master of the Silverth family. Her Majesty the Empress requested that I accompany you," he bowed briefly.
Gris glanced at Lux, who stood shorter than him. "I appreciate your offer, but I prefer to be alone. Would you mind giving me some space?" he requested with a smile.