"Your attitude has already told me everything."
Aaron nodded, understanding that there had to be some hidden story between the Child of Dawnbreak and the Sodoma royal family.
"If you insist on knowing, then I'll tell you... My father decided to get rid of that monster because He always stood with the Church... even though He was born through the bloodline of our Sodoma." Princess Sophia sneered.
"A struggle between royal power and divine authority?" Aaron knew he had guessed correctly.
Thinking of the marching crowds and Triss's experience, he could not help asking, "Why... didn't you share the benefits with the citizens?"
"The royal family isn't foolish. Of course we saw the conflict, saw how the lower class had become a powder keg ready to explode... But there was nothing we could do." Sophia sighed. "My father appears to wield supreme authority, yet he may not even be able to trust the commander of the Royal Guard... Not to mention the Church!"
"The Church?" Aaron was surprised.
"The Church wants more power. In secret, they let the great nobles and wealthy merchants brutally exploit workers and farmers; in public, they support workers fighting for their rights, funding and inciting their uprisings... Then they use the demonstrations breaking out everywhere to threaten my father!" Sophia explained.
Aaron believed only half of that explanation.
But he knew the Church was fighting the royal family for power. That much was probably true.
And Princess Sophia had already converted to the Keeper of Secrets. As an ally, she was barely trustworthy.
"Alright, let's return to that monster... Why do you call Him a monster?"
Aaron asked curiously.
"That is Sodoma's nightmare!" Sophia's body actually trembled slightly. "Do you truly understand mythical creatures?"
"..." Aaron had no answer.
"The madness of mythical creatures is