Early morning on the day of the bishop election, in the Protos Empire.
The sky over Herrom remained a deep grayish blue. Clouds and mist veiled the tops of the architectural complex, and a thin dawn haze clung to the ground.
The Parliament Building stood on the south side of Herrom, appearing all the more mysterious and imposing in the dim morning light.
The ground floor served as a reception and security checkpoint, the primary entrance for the public and staff entering the building.
The central hall on the second floor functioned as the main visitor area, open to the public most of the time to allow visitors to tour and learn about the Protos Empire's legislative process and history.
The floors above comprised offices and conference rooms, serving as work areas for parliamentarians and staff.
From the fourth floor upward were more offices and committee chambers for smaller discussions and meetings, generally used to support the legislators' drafting and research work.
Today, however, the Parliament Building was not open to the public; only a handful of journalists from the Herrom Broadcasting Corporation were permitted into designated areas.
Down below, a sea of people had already gathered outside the building.
Media reporters packed the surrounding streets, clutching equipment and microphones as they anxiously awaited the arrival of this historic moment.
Tension and anticipation hung thick in the air. The faces of those being interviewed were written with curiosity and uncertainty about the future, each person trying to catch a glimpse of the monumental event about to unfold from every possible angle.
Herrom police officers had erected security barriers around the building, though this did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the gathered throng.
Meanwhile, citizens of the Imperial Capital clustered beneath giant screens throughout Herrom's commercial districts.
The proceedings inside the Parliament Building today would be broadcast live by the Herrom Broadcasting Corporation.
Inside the Protos Parliament Building, within a dedicated mana elevator.
Hyperion was dressed in a black suit today, her hair tied in a crisp high ponytail. Resembling a butler or deacon, she stood beside the Bishop of Domination.
The mana elevator ascended slowly. In the silence, only the faint hum of machinery and the breathing of the two women could be heard.
Ordinarily, a Cardinal would be accompanied by their Holy Son or Saintess, but the Holy Son of Domination was unable to escort the Bishop of Domination today.
Hyperion's thoughts were a tangled mess.
For reasons unknown, Lanqi's request to her had been to serve as a temporary direct retainer of the Domination branch to escort the Bishop of Domination inside, so as to prevent the Bishop of Domination from acting unless absolutely necessary.
Possessing a wealth of survival techniques herself, and having received brand-new protective spells from the Ice Snow Witch, she was indeed an ideal bodyguard.
"Young lady, why are you so wary of me?"
While Hyperion was lost in thought, the Bishop of Domination tilted her head slightly, leaned in closer, and whispered in her ear.
Hyperion jolted in surprise and hastily recoiled a step.
"..."
She stared at the Bishop of Domination, unwilling to speak carelessly.
In truth, Hyperion was terrified; she had never expected to meet the Bishop of Domination at such close quarters.
Moreover, the Bishop of Domination was completely different from what she had imagined.
Clearly such a terrifying, ruthless woman, yet when they were alone, she would take advantage of an unguarded moment to whisper in her ear.
"Would you like to come be my Saintess?"
The Bishop of Domination looked Hyperion up and down, asking with keen interest.
"Out of the question," Hyperion refused firmly.
In the Church of the Goddess of Fate, attaining a standing comparable to a Holy Son or Saintess of the Resurrection Church was harder than ascending to heaven, yet here was the Bishop of Domination casually extending an olive branch.
Of course, it was far more likely that the woman was merely testing her.
Though startled and at a loss as to what the Bishop of Domination saw in her to suddenly offer to elevate her to Saintess of Domination in a single leap, Hyperion kept a strict boundary between herself and the Resurrection Church—she would never sink any deeper into this abyss!
"I can give you motherly care, you know. I'll protect you so well that no one will dare bully you."
The Bishop of Domination looked at Hyperion, spreading her hands slightly with a smile.
"...No need."
Hyperion had a strange feeling that the Bishop of Domination might not actually be joking...
She had thought the Bishop of Domination was an utterly terrifying figure, but in private, this contrasting demeanor inexplicably made her seem... gentle?
"Did you hesitate?"
Sigrid observed Hyperion's furrowed brow and conflicted expression, asking again.
"No. I only ask that Your Eminence honor your promise—once my work today is finished, pretend you have never seen me and do not make things difficult for me."
Hyperion gazed at the Bishop of Domination, answering without wavering.
She was certain there had to be a catch to this "Saintess" invitation.
Although the Bishop of Domination clearly harbored no malice toward her, Hyperion felt the woman was somewhat toying with her.
"What a pity. I actually quite like you; after all, you're the boldest girl I've ever seen. At my wedding in the future, having you sit at the children's table would surely be delightful."
The Bishop of Domination shook her head regretfully.
"...Can you really judge that from meeting me just this once?"
Hyperion could not understand why the Bishop of Domination considered her bold.
Could it simply be because of her cold attitude toward the Bishop of Domination right now?
The doors of the mana elevator opened, and light poured in.
The floor was etched with intricate patterns that produced dull echoes underfoot.
The lamps overhead were dim, providing only bare illumination and casting deep shadows along both sides of the corridor.
"One day you'll understand."
The Bishop of Domination merely suppressed the curve of her lips and stepped outside, gesturing for Hyperion to follow.
"..."
Hyperion pulled her thoughts together and walked out toward Franklin Hall.
Yet another wave of confusion arose in her heart.
Generally speaking, a Cardinal could have at most one Holy Son and one Saintess. Lanqi was currently the Holy Son of Domination, and now the Bishop of Domination was inviting her to become the Saintess of Domination... Could it be that the woman who tried to seduce Lanqi at that manor back then was not even ranked as a Saintess of Domination?
Soon they emerged from the corridor, and their vision brightened.
In Franklin Hall on the thirty-third floor of the Parliament Building, tiers of fan-shaped seating fanned out in concentric rings rising from low to high. Imperial nobles and ministers bustled among them, their conversations, laughter, and debates intermingling. Most of the attendees were already seated, murmuring in corners to exchange opinions.
Inside the spacious hall, the morning light of Herrom streamed down through the high transparent dome, softly illuminating the ancient stone floor laid centuries ago, weaving history and the present into a subtle tapestry.
Hyperion looked up and saw Count Milford on the left side of the tiered seating—currently her uncle in her identity as Milian Milford. And not far away, on the other side, sat Lanqi in leisurely composure, as if belonging to an entirely different world.
Now dressed in a sharp suit and leather shoes, Lanqi was surrounded like the moon among stars, chatting and laughing freely with numerous prominent figures of the imperial political world.
"..."
Hyperion felt a lump in her throat.
Back then, she had also watched Lanqi inexplicably become a headmaster in the Shadow World, sitting in a conference room assigning tasks to a cadre of school administrators.
Now that he had reached an even grander stage, his absurdity truly knew no bounds.
Chapter 466