The Empire's vast army trampled step by step across the desolate land. How long had it been? The fields that had once been cultivated had already lost all semblance of farmland. Inside Vera Fortress, the Duchess was deeply uneasy. With the Imperial Army at her gates, she believed no noble could calmly face such a sight.
Especially since the Holy Kingdom Knights had actually lost.
"Commander Damon, you must give me an answer. Vera's territory absolutely cannot be brutally ravaged and destroyed by an army!"
Duchess Vera questioned him furiously. Knight Damon did not argue, merely saying,
"The Lord will watch over His people."
"We have not lost the war. The glory of Dawn endures. I guarantee that the Empire's army will not pass beyond your fortress."
"But the Empire's army is right outside my doorstep."
"They have already sent someone. They said they wanted to invite me to become an Archbishop of the Church of Light, form an alliance with me, and dispel the Church of Dawn."
Damon became serious and denied it. "That is merely the blasphemers' side of the story. No believer would grant you the glory of faith just because they needed your title. The Church crowned you Archbishop because you are a devout believer of our Lord."
Duchess Vera left in anger. In her eyes, there was no difference whatsoever between the two.
"The only ones we can rely on are ourselves."
"Has the Wansu Kingdom responded?"
"My Lady, they agreed."
"Good. Go build me a church. It must be magnificent and grand, but do not tell anyone whether it is a Church of Morning Radiance or a Church of Light."
"Now that House Vera's secret has been exposed, there is nothing improper about us being children of The Sun."
"Go see what those Dawn