Funeral

A winter day, in the North Borough Backlund, at St. Samuel Cathedral.

"Finally, I can leave..."

Emlyn White was undoubtedly filled with excitement the moment he emerged from the underground prison.

After he appealed for help through his fellow members of the Tarot Club, the Sanguine elite communicated with the Church of Evernight multiple times, finally securing his release. However, in lieu of release, he must return to the church periodically.

When he was captured by Bishop Utravsky of the Church of the Earth Mother last time, although he had his family ask the Sanguine for help, the Sanguine's response was rather indifferent.

"Is it really because I've been favored by the Ancestor that they value me so much...?"

With this thought in mind, Emlyn felt his legs become Feather Fall, and in a few steps he crossed the underground corridor, climbed the stairs, and arrived at the ground floor of the church.

He was in such a good mood that he didn't notice anything unusual. Everyone inside the church, whether clergy or people who had come to pray, remained silent and solemn.

Emlyn's gaze passed over the church and landed directly on the entrance, where light was streaming into the dimly lit interior.

"It's light..."

Although he was very sensitive to sunlight as Sanguine, Emlyn had been imprisoned underground for a long time and felt a deep longing for the light. He couldn't wait to rush through the Altar area and Prayer Hall, almost running towards the gate, towards the world that represented light and freedom.

Stepping out of the church, one is greeted by streets teeming with people, the atmosphere heavy with tension. Most of the people on the street are dressed in dark clothes, their expressions solemn, standing silently on both sides of the road. In the middle of the road, a troop of soldiers in scarlet dress uniforms and bearskin hats marches forward in perfect unison, their ceremonial rifles with bayonets gleaming with a cold, metallic sheen.

Is this a march?

Emlyn found it strange, because the atmosphere on the street was too quiet, unlike the joyful atmosphere that a parade should have.

He walked down the church steps with curiosity, joined the crowd, and looked out at the street.

Following the guard were one after another luxurious black carriages. The carriages were decorated with white ribbons, the surface of which was painted with the royal coat of arms of "Sword of Judgment". The coachmen were all dressed in black formal attire, wearing black ties and black Top Hat, with neatly trimmed beards and sideburns, skillfully maneuvering the white horses to keep the distance between each carriage consistent.

Following a dozen or so horse-drawn carriages was a huge hearse.

On the hearse lay a top-quality coffin crafted from hard oak, its surface adorned with overlapping "Sword of Judgment" and handles in forged brass, draped with the Royal Banner of Loen, upon which rested a scepter. The coffin was surrounded by flowers: golden dahlias, pure white gladioli, and solemn green fir trees...

Emlyn stared blankly at the coffin.

"Who... is dead?"

He said it Consciousness.

"???"

Those around him turned to look at him with disbelief, as if he were some kind of freak lacking common sense. "Ahem..."

Feeling awkward under so many gazes, Emlyn cleared his throat and turned to leave.

Damn... I've been trapped underground for too long, I don't even know what's been happening lately... I need to find a newspaper stand and check the news...

Emlyn encountered a newsboy selling newspapers at the next street corner, bought a copy, unfolded the front page, and stared wide-eyed at just the headline.

His Majesty's mourning period at Storm Church has ended, and he will be laid to rest today.

Was it George III who died?

George III, who planned to become a god, is dead?!

Wait...

He suddenly remembered that during the last Tarot Club, [Temperance] had publicly warned the members in Backlund to be extra careful in the near future... Could it be that the guy was the one who did all this?

Emlyn quickly read down the text and soon found the cause of George III's death: supposedly, during a public speech to pray for the people, he was shamelessly attacked by the Blood Bishop, the kingdom's most wanted criminal. The king could have escaped, but sacrificed himself to protect the people...

"So it really was him who did it..."

Emlyn, of course, didn't believe the false praises of the king in the newspapers; he was certain that this matter truly had something to do with [Temperance]. Having figured this out, he lost interest in wandering the streets and, with the newspaper tucked under his arm, hurried home. The young Sanguine brushed past two ladies.

"So, have you gotten any information from MI9?"

Fors looked at the grand funeral procession ahead and asked her roommate.

"No."

The blond-haired Hugh shook his head.

She had originally wanted to watch the funeral procession, but the crowd was taller than her and blocked everything, so she could only see the backs of a group of people, which made her somewhat unhappy.

"No? Why? Doesn't MI9 report directly to the Military and the King?"

Fors in surprise.

"You're right. Because we report directly to the King, the entire department changed drastically once he died... The Minister himself seems to have been affected..." Hugh let out a philosophical sigh. "The Gold Mask who's in charge of my communications warned me not to get involved anytime soon."

"Oh, then he's quite responsible towards you."

Fors nodded, "Um, do you want me to use 'Trick' to get you up there...?"

"Unnecessary!!"...

Is someone making noise outside?

Inside the carriage behind the king's hearse in the funeral procession, Audrey, dressed in a conservative dress, seemed to faintly hear some sounds from the street.

She didn't peek out out of curiosity, because they were still on their way to the funeral, and it would be very impolite to do so. So she simply sat upright in her own carriage, and like the other invited nobles, followed behind the king's coffin, circling the city three times, until they arrived at the Storm Church Royal Mausoleum next to Storm Castle.

This cemetery covers a vast area, built on a hillside, facing a wide open field with a beautiful environment featuring lush green lawns, groves of trees and shrubs. The overall design adopts the traditional Loen style, with distinct scenery in each of the four seasons.

Many members of the Royal Family Rian, including the "Nation Builder" William I, the former Duke of South Wales, and the Duke Georgina, who passed away last year due to illness.

"May the Lord of Storms bless His Majesty's soul, witnessing his great deeds, and grant him Rian in the Divine Kingdom of wind and Thunder..."

The king's coffin had been placed in the tomb, and the surrounding environment was quite beautiful. At the Altar in front, a Priest the Church of Storms, dressed in dark robes, offered a solemn prayer.

"Waaah..."

Upon hearing this, many Royal Family women wrapped handkerchiefs around their black veils to wipe away non-existent tears.

Audrey watched this scene calmly, as if the image of the dead in the East Borough's Great Smog were appearing before her eyes, their bodies cremated, their final resting place a mass grave made of rows of densely packed metal cabinets.

[Temperance] Sir, you see, this is truly ironic...